That cat!

Mini wonders what she can get into today...

Shh... Don't tell...

It's me, Mini.
They are off to VMI and mom left her computer on. She thinks we don't know how to surf the web! Ha! If they only knew the porn sites we surf: Animal Planet and Petco are the best! Heck we felines know how to work the TV, too. They think we spend our days curled up asleep when they aren't home. We will continue to let them think that. This is our little secret, ok?

I've only got a little time to type this up. It seems the #1 son will be arriving home shortly. I need time to go collect some socks and spread them in the hallway. Mom loves it but it irritates the heck out of Dad. He doesn't like his socks touched. I choose each sock carefully. Sometimes I take them from the dirty laundry and sometimes - when I get the urge - I open the sock drawers and choose from there because it's more of a challenge and the socks aren't smelly.

These snowy days have me cooped up in the house and I'm kinda starting to lose it. There is just not enough cat nip in this house to keep me calm. I need to get outside and chase some rodents! Yeah, I chase 'em for about 10 steps, and then it's nap time. I really need some warm weather so I can get back to my afternoon nap by the pool. This napping on their bed all day is getting really old -- even if their bed is very comfy.

I am even beginning to think that Zeb is starting to go stir crazy. He asks to go out and then proceeds to sit out there on the pool deck with his butt in the snow. In.the.snow. That stuff is cold! I touched it with my paw once. I will not to that again -- that stuff is worse than plain old nasty water.

Oo... I just noticed some papers they left on the counter. They are pristine and need to be munched and shredded. I love to shred paper. Napkins shred the best... I'm just sayin. Hmm... I wonder if we have full toilet paper rolls. Let me check... Why yes, yes we do. I think those need to be unrolled while I have the time.

Ok - well, I've got chores to do before the boy gets home. The best part -- he won't notice anything. He will just whip up some mac and cheese, turn on the TV, and settle in. I'm golden until Mom gets home.

Mini - out.

Aubergine

I decided to make a triangle shawl for my next project. I've got the buttery mohair mittens on hold until I get the shawl to the point that it will cover my lap. I need to get it big enough to keep me warm while I work on it during Saturday's meeting. :)

I've got 14 rows done. I figure another 5 or six and I will be able to keep warm while I work. Then I'll get back to those yummy buttery mittens.

Sunshine, snow, and bitter cold

This is what the front yard looks like this morning. It is deceptively lovely.

I can guarantee you that I'm not ready for any of the predicted weather except the sunshine part. Now, 75 and sunny with low humidity -- I'm all over that!  We don't have much snow - unlike my dear friends in New England and I'm fine with that.   What I'm not fine with is temps that are supposed to drop like a stone to below zero. I live in the south - where cold is supposed to be 40, not -10. 

I'm off to Prayer Shawl today. I think I'll start a shawl or a lap robe today and finish it during the VMI Parents Council Meeting on Saturday. The room is notoriously cold and if I'm working on a larger item, it will keep me warm. See? I'm always thinking. 

2 years?

It's been 2 years since I last posted. How can this be?
I guess I'd better get back to it, huh?

I can attribute my return here to a friend who told me that he, too, was censored, but didn't much care what people said.  I thought - you know, he is right. This is my blog. It's my opinion. Opinions are like a$$holes. Everyone has one. If you don't like what I have to say, click the little red button up there in the corner, close the window, and don't come back.

Much has happened in those 2 years. Almost too much to say.
I will post the past 2 Christmas letters and that will catch you up.

For now, it goes like this:
Both of my cherubs are in college.
We are enjoying our empty nest, but we also love spending time with the kids when we visit or when they are home.
I work at a local winery part time and as Mr says, "I've become a wine snob." Nah! I just know what I like. FYI: I like a good Merlot.
I've picked up another bell choir to direct. I start with them in a week and a half and I'm really looking forward to getting to know the ladies and making music with them.

Well, the wood stove needs feeding and the dog needs to go out.
Mini keeps trying to steal my blog and type her own thing. Maybe tomorrow, I'll let her post. If I do that, my next post might actually post sooner than 2 years from now...

Christmas Letter - 2014

Hello!

I thought I’d fill you in on our family life this year. Since there is so much to tell and I’m too lazy to write it all down in each and every Christmas card with a pen, you’re getting this note.

#1 is now 22 and is a Senior Chemistry Major at Virginia Military Institute. His senior thesis is about some bacteria I can’t say never mind spell and the effects of spices on it.  Cinnamon is the spice that works best to kill it – so my advice is to sprinkle cinnamon on everything.

He is an S2 Lieutenant, which – in my world - means he gets a sword, has a whole lot of embroidery on his sleeve, and marches up front for Parade. #1 continues to play the tenor sax in the Jazz Band. He is headed to Florida – to the beaches and Disney World for a week with the Jazz Band in just a few days. It certainly pays to be in the Jazz Band at VMI!

He spent a good part of this past summer in Fort Knox, Kentucky at LDAC – the Army’s Leadership Development Assessment Course. He scored an E for Excellent and came back “Army Strong”! Upon graduation, he will commission with the US Army and will be headed to Arizona to become an Intelligence Analyst – his first choice pick. His training there should last about six weeks and then he thinks he will be placed at Ft. Meade in MD for his first assignment.

LLB is a Sophomore Applied Mathematics and Physics Major at VMI. She continues to play the trumpet and is a member of the Regimental Band, the Jazz Band, and the Brass Ensemble. LLB has had an amazing year. She is also a “ranker” and holds the office of Corporal. As far as I can tell, that means she has some embroidery on her sleeve and gets to tell the Rats what to do. She has embraced all that VMI has to offer and has figured out how to “make it pay”. She is on the Recycling Committee, is a tour guide for the VMI Museum, and plays jazz gigs. Emma will be headed south with Matt and the rest of the Jazz Band to see Mickey and lounge on the beach. I’m sure they have a gig or two to play somewhere in Florida. When I find out where they will be, I’ll post it on Face Book.

This past summer, she spent a month learning about all the great things the US Navy has to offer her upon graduation. Sub Week was her favorite, Aviation Week came in a close second, but Marine week and Surface Warfare Week tied for last place. Needless to say, Submarines are where she wants to be.

LLB is back at the Episcopal Church in Lexington this fall – she missed the liturgy and the traditions of the church we call home here. Because of that, she acquired a new host family but also managed to hang on to her original host family, as they are terrific people. The new host family comes with a cat and a 4 year old. She loves it there!

Mr is still busy working. He enjoys sawing fallen trees with his chain saw and mowing our acreage with his tractor in his spare time.  He continues to play bass guitar in the Church Gospel band, and rings bells in two choirs.  I still direct a handbell choir and am active in the Prayer Shawl ministry at a local United Methodist Church.  Mr and I are involved in the VMI Parents Council and a half dozen other volunteer committees. Basically, we keep busy.  

Christmas 2013

Hello!

It's Christmas! Time for me to fill you in on what we've been up to. We've been busy!

#1 is now 21 and is a Junior Chemistry Major at Virginia Military Institute.   How time flies!  And no, I’m not old enough to have a college junior. This fall he got to participate in Ring Figure and got his VMI Class Ring. VMI is the toughest college in the nation and their rings are hard earned!

#1 continues to sing in the Glee Club and play sax in the Regimental Band and Jazz Band. FYI: VMI’s musicians travel much further than their football team. He played for the Presidential Inauguration in Washington DC this past January, spent Mardi Gras in New Orleans marching in the Endimyon Parade, spent spring break in Florida with the Glee Club, and is looking forward to the Gubernatorial Parade in Richmond in January and the St. Patrick’s Day parade in March in Savannah.

LLB is a Freshman Applied Mathematics and Physics Major at VMI. (I can spell that!) How do they grow up so fast?! She graduated from high school in June. Her senior year was busy and full. She once again directed the Pit Orchestra for the spring musical, went to USC for an Honor Band Clinic, and ran track for the first time.  She did all of this while she took AP classes, did an independent study in Multivariable Calculus, and fought off the symptoms of Senioritis.  All of her hard work paid off and she received a 4-year Navy Scholarship as well as an Institute Honors Scholarship to VMI.  

LLB continues to play the trumpet and is also a member of the Regimental Band, the Jazz Band, and the Glee Club, as well as the Brass Ensemble. LLB has had an amazing fall. She was selected to play the Herald Trumpet, played a few Jazz gigs for pay, and got to see her brother get his ring at Ring Figure.   She was privileged to be able to attend the VMI vs. Citadel game with the Regimental Band in Charleston this fall. (As a freshman, or Rat - as they are called at VMI, her time off campus is extremely limited.) She is looking forward to Break Out – that time where they cease to be Rats and become full-fledged 4^th Class Members of the Corps. She will march all those parades with Matt, and has been informed that the Brass Ensemble will be headed to Morocco next year. Unfortunately, they don’t need chaperones, so Mr and I will be here…

LLB likes to get off campus and away from the Cadre on Sundays, so she is playing handbells at the Lexington Presbyterian Church. She has a wonderful host family who provides her with a soft place to land between church and rehearsal.

There is so much more to tell, but I’m running out of space…

Mr works. He enjoys sawing fallen trees with his chain saw and mowing our acreage with his tractor in his spare time.  Once a month, he plays bass guitar in the Church Folk and Gospel band.  I direct a handbell choir and am active in the Prayer Shawl ministry at a local United Methodist Church.  We are involved in the VMI Parents Council and a half dozen other volunteer committees. Basically, we keep busy.