Getting Ready for Easter

It was family tradition. Every Easter my mom made a big dinner and the whole extended family would gather at her house. She always made her famous Easter Egg cake, which was served on a bed of green coconut and decorated with jelly beans. I have photos of myself, my sister and our cousins posing with our Easter baskets. Several years ago my mom admitted that it was too tiring for her, in her eighties, to do all the preparation and hostessing. It became my turn to take over from her; so, for the past three years, everyone comes to my house on Easter Sunday. I prepare dinner and make Easter baskets for all the children (four nieces and two nephews). These are the Easter things I have gathered so far this year. It's fun just looking at them. It brings the promise of spring to my house, while it still looks like winter outside.

Cat Fur Everywhere!

Cats! We love them, feed them, house them, buy them toys and beds. We really wouldn't want to live without them.

But the fur! The fur is everywhere!

Too true!

I have four indoor cats, and cat fur is everywhere! It covers all my carpets and rugs. It's all over my furniture. It's all over my curtains and drapes... even the shower curtain! I have spent a fortune in cat hair removal products. I have a sticky lint roller thingy in every room. I have Pledge fabric sweepers for pet hair. I have a Eureka Pet-Mate vacuum. I haven't tried the Furminator yet, but I have ordered two from eBay.

The cat fur looks like this:


And this:

And this:

At my house, this is all too true:


First we had Katie. Most of the dark fur comes from her.
She sits on the coffee table, and leaves fur there:

She sits on the sofa back, and leaves fur there:

She sits on my husband's desk while he works, and leaves fur there:

Then we got Tink and Tiger. They leave white fur everywhere, great big clouds of white fur!


And now there is little Munchkin... adding her black hairs into the mix!


As I said, I have ordered a couple of these. I have high hopes for this thing!

Extension of Unemployment Benefits Blocked by One Man

GOP senator repeatedly blocks unemployment benefits on floor of U.S. Senate

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His closing comment was "Tough S___". Is this "compassionate conservatism" at work?

Waiting... Waiting... Waiting

The view from my back porch now...



The view from my back porch last summer:




Waiting, waiting, waiting for this view to return!

When I look at my summer photos, I can feel the warmth of the sun. I miss that warmth so much. I have always lived in places with cold, snowy winters. I would like to try living in a warmer climate.

Unsure

I've been unsure of myself today. First, I posted about a fight I had with my husband about money. I decided it was too petty and deleted it. Then I posted about selling my first item on eBay. But... I was doubting whether I could be successful, so I deleted that one, too. Also, I was worried about going on a trip with some friends... we've lost touch over the months and I wonder if things will be the same between us.

It's just been that kind of day. I feel unsure about everything. Hopefully, this will pass and tomorrow will be a more productive day.

Image from mixed-emotions.com

Not That Anyone Asked...

In my opinion, this man is the most negative person in the United States of America. I have never heard anything but negative comments out of his mouth. Quel bummer!

Travel Worries

In a few weeks, we are going to Italy... to the Amalfi Coast. So, what am I worried about? When it comes to traveling, I worry about everything. The long flight. Making our connections. The weather. What to pack? I always get nervous when anticipating a trip. Suddenly, staying at home in familiar surroundings looks better to me.


See these photos? It's beautiful there, isn't it? Most people would be eager to go. I am worried about my cats. I am worried about leaving my house. I am worried that I am packing all the wrong things. I am worried about not being able to communicate in a foreign language.

Don't get me wrong. Once I get to where I'm going I always have a wonderful time. I love seeing the world. I relax and enjoy everything and go with the flow. It's just the anticipation that gets to me. I always have to go through this. I drive my husband crazy during the weeks before a trip. "Oh, maybe we shouldn't go." "How much money would it cost us to cancel?" I get this tendency from my father. He was always nervous before we took off on a family vacation. He would fret and worry, wringing his hands and not sleeping at night, thinking of everything that could go wrong. What a legacy! But I know I will go; I always do. And I know I will have a wonderful time; I always do. It helps just to write about it.

Last of the Snow?

Tomorrow and the next day it is supposed to be warm enough to rain. So, all of our snow could be washed away. I decided to go out and take some photos while it was still on the ground.

Icicles on a nearby church:


A rather ghostly looking tree:


There is a pond in our neighborhood:


Houses along the edge of the pond:



I like the way the houses are kind of scattered around at different angles:


At a little farm down the road:




As you can see, it's a rather gray day here... rain coming tomorrow.

Reading Bumpers...

I have been carrying my camera around with me when I run errands. Here are some bumper stickers I have observed in recent days.

This one is on my own car:


They reflect many different ideas:






Others urge us to act:




Some reflect the interests of their owners:


Others just puzzle me:


Sorry for the dirty state of some of the bumpers. We've had a lot of rough winter weather recently!

My Cats... A Gallery

KATIE: She's a Maine Coon cat. She comes from Lancaster County, PA. She moved with us here to Kentucky. She's a bit of a diva.




TIGER: He and his sister, Tinkerbell, were feral kittens who came to us in our back yard. He is my "zen" cat; quiet and laid back. He has beautiful blue-green eyes and often appears to be thinking deep thoughts.




TINKERBELL: Tiger's sister, formerly a feral kitten, who adopted us. She is sweet and a bit klutzy.




MUNCHKIN: Our most recent adoptee, also formerly a feral kitten. Right now she's a little ball of fire, running, jumping and getting into mischief.

Our Winter Wonderland

This is our little house in the snow. I am very thankful for my 4-wheel drive vehicle, which is in the driveway.


These are icicles hanging from our porch. Doesn't it make you cold, just looking at it?


This is our back deck, and those are the little shelters we put up for the feral kittens who live in the back yard.


Yesterday we had to shovel a path for them, so they could come up to the back door where we feed them.


This morning, one of the little black kitties came up to the window for a curious look inside:


Hello!