Morning Light
Hi Friends...here it is Wednesday afternoon, and to be honest, I haven't been able to do much writing this week primarily because we've had appointments and other things going on, and also because I just can't seem to 'get with the program'. I was going to try to do the Tuesday 4 yesterday about "reading", but I haven't been reading anything lately because of the holidays and also when I was sick for two weeks I didn't feel like reading. Hopefully I will get back into the groove now that the holidays are over...well, I still haven't put away our Christmas decorations or tree...it's been that busy and I just don't seem to have any extra energy for tackling that issue yet...hopefully tomorrow will be the day...
Meanwhile, Blackie the Porch Kitty keeps trying his best to become a House Kitty. We can barely get in the door without him scooting past us and getting inside before we can stop him. I'm about ready to say okay, but we need to do something about his fleas first. Since he is an outdoor cat, he definitely has some fleas, and I don't want them in the house or on me. So I am looking for recommendations for the best treatment. I'm not crazy about flea collars and have heard mixed reviews. I tried a "spray" that was recommended at a PetSense store, but cats don't like things sprayed on them. The pills are expensive, but I guess we will have to bite the bullet and use them before the fleas bite us!!
Fleas or not, I can't help but pick him up and snuggle him, and he sure does love it! But then out the door he goes before he has a chance to leave too many little friends behind. We're working on it...but still, I have reservations about him becoming a full time house cat. He really loves climbing the tree and watching the birds and being "free" to do what he likes to do.
This story will be continued.
Meanwhile, why have we been so busy? Let's see...Monday morning we had to go to Walmart to do some grocery shopping and also return a Christmas gift...No, not Lily Grace...but you can barely see that I am sitting on a back/body heated massager. Remember when I bought a new chair that had heat/massage in it and we ended up returning the chair and got a new one that didn't have it? Well, I still wanted a heated massager, and we saw this one in Walmart that looked like it would do the trick. It did feel pretty good, but it had some issues that I didn't like and after trying it for a week or so I decided it wasn't what I really wanted so we decided to return it.
Later: hubby just left for the meeting without me. I'm just going to relax tonight and hopefully have the energy to tackle the Christmas tree and decor tomorrow and get the house cleaned out. |
| Me on Christmas day, relaxing with a nice heated massage at least for a few minutes. |
The man at the return/customer service counter in Walmart said it was the 50th one that had been returned! So I guess I'm not the only one who didn't like it! Too bad. It had potential, but needed some "refining".
After we got back home from that trip we had lunch and then I went to the Ladies' Bible Study, which I had missed for a few weeks while I was sick. It was good to be back. And then that evening we went out to supper at Chili's with the kids. Rose got a gift card for her birthday and wanted to use it before she had to go back to work after being off for a week, so we decided we would all go. It was good to go let someone else do the cooking!
Tuesday morning I had a much overdue dental appointment. Before Christmas I lost a filling in a tooth, and even though it didn't hurt, it was a problem keeping food cleaned out of that tooth, and also because I was sick I couldn't go to the dentist until I was better. So finally Tuesday morning I went, and of course they couldn't just replace the filling! Oh no! That would be too simple and not cost much! How silly of me to think they could just do that. Oh no! Lots of x-rays and examination and the determination that I needed a deep cleaning of my teeth and gums because that had not been done back when another dentist first said I needed that but I just never got around to it, and then the dentist also decided that most likely he will need to do a root canal of that tooth and put a crown on it...Of course! $$$$ Cha ching! Anyway, they convinced me that all needed to be done, and today I went back for the first half of the deep cleaning, and then I will go again next week for the 2nd half and also for the root canal/crown. Oh what fun!! (NOT!). 
Internet photo. Definitely not my teeth!
So between all of those things going on (plus the normal daily routines of living) I just haven't had time to write a post or do anything really interesting to tell you about. And tonight I'm supposed to go to a church Administrative Board meeting (I'm the secretary of the board), but I am not sure if I will make it. The numbness is wearing off in my mouth from that procedure this morning, and I am feeling a bit woozy and headachy and I don't really feel like going out tonight. We'll see how I feel after supper. Hubby will go as he is the chairman of the board, and I know there's someone else there who can take minutes.
Here's a last look at the tree and its reflection in the window before we take it down tomorrow. I will miss these lights!
But we still have the beautiful evening skies to enjoy (while they last). (by the time I added this photo to the post it was totally dark outside!)
But we still have the beautiful evening skies to enjoy (while they last). (by the time I added this photo to the post it was totally dark outside!)
Regardless of what the lights in the house and outside the house may be doing...here are some good words of hope and promise regarding the "Light shining in the darkness".
John 1:1-5, 14 NIV
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
And that is what Christmas truly is all about.
Happy New Year my friends.
Good Night.
I am sorry about all of the dental work you need done. That's never any fun and so expensive too. I think Blackie is definitely enjoying being a house kitty. If you can get him to take the pills, he could go in and out and it should take care of the fleas. (If it's the same thing Zoey takes.) We never had many fleas in Washington, but here they are bad in the summer and ticks are worse too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling much better tomorrow and ready to tackle the tree.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
You have been busy! I hope you can get the flea issue resolved for Blackie. He's certainly made his way into your heart. Funny how they do that. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry about the dental work, that's never fun, and then you have to pay for it too.
I hope tomorrow goes well. It does feel good to get it down and put away.
I hate when the dentist starts talking about work like that! So sorry you have to endure those deep cleanings!! Pam, I use Revolution Plus for my kitties. They are always inside, so I only treat them once a year. It requires a prescription but I get it from my Vet. They charge $26 for each cat. If Blackie becomes inside/outside, you might want to use it quarterly (not every month). It is also good for ticks, worms, and a few other nasty bugs. They tolerate it well, and you just squirt it on the back of the neck, where they can't reach it to lick it off. Your Vet could show you how the first time. The sprays, powders, and collars are more dangerous and don't really do the job. They shouldn't be able to groom the treatment off and swallow it. (I do it once a year, before Jim and Elaine come to stay with Bella. She doesn't have fleas, but is in and out and can track them in from her walks and the dog park.) Take your time with the decorations. No hurry!! Take care of yourself! Hope to see you for lunch on the 17th!
ReplyDeleteOh boy, the dental costs a lot even just for cleaning around here. Like you my dental appointment has been very delayed for a multitude of reasons including having some kind of cold or flu that lingered. So I can really empathize with what you've been going through.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you've become a cat lady, lol. I do agree that you need to get rid of the fleas before Blackie gets to stay indoors. Since he does like his freedom he will then probably like to escape, at least at the beginning until he gets used to things. That was how my cat 'rescue' was. Then she became a real home body. I couldn't ever imagine her being an outdoor cat because she was pure white with a beautiful long coat of hair and very elegant looking. But somehow she ended up outdoors and my friend rescued her. I think the cats just respond to their 'wild' instincts no matter how long they are indoors.
Your tree looks beautiful and I'm glad you will rest another day before taking it down. I took ours down on January 1 but haven't been in the heavy duty cleaning mode so far in the new year. I always hear that winter is a time for rest so I am trying to listen to that. I wish you, your husband and Blackie well in this new year. God bless. xx
The older we get, the more problems we seem to face, Pamela. While our family was here, I'm flossing my teeth and one of my crowns just pops out! Fortunately, the dentist could see me the next day and fix the problem. That was a blessing, for sure! We finally took our Christmas decorations down today, leaving them in place through Epiphany, and I must admit that I truly miss the lights. I loved seeing your photo of your tree with the lights still aglow. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHi Pamela, I have been busy putting away Christmas. I am almost done. I took off the ornaments on the big tree Sunday. I packed them up on Monday and Tuesday. Hubby put the tree back in the garage today. It is hard to see it go. I do keep a seasonal tree that stays up all year. You set the timetable, so if you are not ready, then wait. Sorry about the dental issues and I do understand. I do a little reading each night. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteDear Pamela, sorry about the dental work.
ReplyDeleteAll my cats that I have had in my 69 years have been indoor cats so thankfully no fleas or ticks. Not all cats climb Christmas trees. They do like the colourful balls and may bat one or two around but none of my cats ever climbed a Christmas tree.
Take good care of yourself and cuddling a pet is good for both the pet and the care giver.
NexGard for cats. One has to have a prescription from a Vet which is ridiculous. It's a chewable and it works. I use it for my doggies. It says can be used monthly but I give them one every quarter (3 months) and it works fine. It's not cheap but it does eliminate fleas and tick. ❤️
ReplyDeleteIf there is one appointment that I dread more than any others, it's the dentist. I think many people are like me. For one..it's way too expensive. My decorations are down and packed away. I have everything in containers. I purchased a metal shelving piece that will allow me to slide the containers into slots and this should make things easier. Still have to get the thing put together though. You have such a beautiful tree and the train under it, sure caught my eye.
ReplyDeletethe pills work really well and we have never had fleas on the dogs or in the house with 6 dogs in 40 plus years, 3 at one time for a few years. expensive is right, but I justify by diving the cost into the 6 months supply and its sounds cheaper. we spend about 100 a month on Beau, with meds and visits. I take the total spent for the year and divide by 12 to make myself feel better. its just hard because it comes out in lump sums.
ReplyDeleteI also justify by saying, we don't take vacations or eat out and it cost a lot more to do that the take care of our sweet boy.
Next Guard is what we use. we also have to do heart guard for heart worms. that 100 is a normal year, this past year was way over that, 2000 for two ER visits.
Glad you are better than you were but sad you are still dragging. Prayers for your health to bloom and get you back to your normal self
Glad you got some quiet time--it doesn't help when you have to add medical/dental fun to the list!!! We use Capshield (off brand of Capstar) for our cat. We find we only need it for a few months in Jan-Mar.
ReplyDeleteYIKES!!! ... on that dental procedure(s) that is. I've just about decided to change dentists, but I'm afraid of what he's going to recommend. (I can always say "no", right?)
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved to Alabama I was seriously horrified to discover our girls had developed fleas. Thankfully, we were able to get an immediate veterinary appointment -- and he didn't think we were awful; (b/c) fleas aren't a thing in Arizona. Since then, they've been on once/month Simperica chewable pills for fleas and ticks and we've not seen evidence in 8 years. It requires a doc's Rx, but ours has been really good about okaying them through Chewy.
We used the pills for our dogbabies, yes, they are expensive but well worth it if you have inside pets. A bad reaction to a Hartz flea collar is what killed our Willie Dog, broke my heart. The dreaded dentist . . . even with insurance it's expensive. Hope all your procedures go well, sending prayers your way.
ReplyDeleteI hope you bite the bullet and let Blackie in. Everyone needs to cuddle a pet if they can.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your tooth. Dentists are so expensive.
Good luck taking your tree down.
Love, sandie
Bravo on doing a post about "nothing". You my dear have been really busy and its so hard to get the energy back after being so sick.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you stayed home and just rested and enjoyed your tree some more. Why not? The Decor police aren't going to come and give you a bad time for decorations still being up (:0)
Take care and that sunset photo and verse are the perfect ending.
Sue
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had so little energy lately, and then all the dental issues on top of that. I can really understand how hard that must be. Some people go happily to the dentist, but for others it can feel like a real ordeal, especially when it takes so long. It’s good that the care is there, but that doesn’t make it easy. I truly hope everything will go well for you.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a shame the massager didn’t work out, and the fact that so many were returned really does say something. A warm massage sounds lovely, though. I usually rely on my electric blanket. We have one for two people, so my husband and I can sit together under it. It’s very cozy, although I get warm quickly and then he gets to enjoy it a bit longer. Especially on cold days, it really is a comfort.
I also loved the way you wrote about enjoying the beautiful evening skies while they last. May you continue to find strength and comfort in God, and may He give you hope, peace, and renewed energy for the days ahead.
I pray for you Pamela. xxx from me
---
Isaiah 40:28-31
Our God does not faint,
Nor grows weary each day
There's no searching His understanding
Or knowing His infinite ways
He gives power to the faint
Increasing their strength and might,
For even the young lie exhausted
And grow weary in their lives
But those that wait upon the Lord,
He shall strengthen and renew
They shall mount up close to God
And soar as eagles do
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not grow weak
They shall be changed and renewed
As their God they humbly seek.
© By M.S.Lowndes
Indoor cats: it may be very hard to train Blackie to follow necessary rules inside the house. I am thinking of how cats like to jump up onto the kitchen counter. I personally struggle with having little paws that walk in litter boxes traipsing over surfaces where my food is prepared.
ReplyDeleteA family member had cats. When I stayed in her house after a child was born, one of my tasks was to prepare the meals. They told me to use a squirt bottle of water and aim it at the cats whenever they jumped up onto the kitchen counters or the table. It worked well, but they would come back. Forgive me. I'm not a cat person. Just food for thought.
As for the fleas, years ago (decades ago) we had a dog with fleas. We had to use a veterinary-prescribed flea bomb and vacate the house for a couple of days to give the chemical time to dissipate. I found out that even after following all the directions exactly, there remained a residual [whatever] in the house that gave me the most horrible headache. Although it was advertised to be all herbal, some people (me, included) are allergic to those things.
So forgive me for being a wet blanket, but don't let sentimentality and the undeniable cuteness and cuddliness of Blackie lead you to make decisions you may soon regret. To have indoor pets, it's really better to get them as kittens/puppies so you can train them before they get older and more resistant.
That is a gorgeous Christmas tree! No wonder you don't want to take it down yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm finally over my cold, but on Sunday Chuck and Beth went to church without me. I wanted to give myself one more day to heal, before being with a large group of people. I was sad to miss being in church, but like yours, my body really needed the rest.
I hope you can get rid of the fleas for Blackies sake. Sounds like he really wants to be an indoor cat! :)
Prayers for your tooth , and all good things .God bless.
ReplyDeleteYou've had a busy time but I enjoyed your post, even if you gave been doing 'nothing very interesting' ☺️ Don't forget you've been unwell so don't rush into things. And I hope Blackie isn't too much of a problem to deflea, they don't always take too kindly to taking pills. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of stuff you had to deal with at the dentist would have set me back. I hate going to the dentist and I have the sweetest most gentle lady who cleans my teeth and the most kind AND handsome young man who is my dentist. I start dreading it the night before. I have too many bad things that happened when I was young.
ReplyDeleteAs for fleas, I do give Gus, my Springer the flea pill from the vet only during the summer months. He doesn't seem to have them in the winter months. He is an inside dog but we are outside a lot. Since I don't have to give it to him as often the price turns out to be more reasonable. Now my vet encourages year round, but I am of the mindset anything we can keep out of us or them is best. Only take when needed.