Week 32, 7-31-2016

Thoughts and Quotes:  Every obstacle is a stepping stone to your success.
                                                                                                Author Unknown

I don't know whether it's true, but I've heard there's a Chinese saying that if you save a life, you're responsible for it.  With Linda's help, I saved Pepper, so now I feel he's mine to keep. Pepper's wounds were serious.  He's going to end up with a floppy ear and a strange-looking eye; but, the thing I'm most concerned about are his back legs.  The vet thinks he might have some neural damage which causes him to walk like he's very unsteady.  He might never be able to jump up on things like the bed or the couch.  Time will tell.  But no one wants a damaged kitty, so now he's mine.  He was in the hospital from July 2 until July 30.  Of course, he was handled by humans during that time, but he's still very skittish. I understand that some feral kitties never adjust to being a house kitty. I brought him home yesterday, and he's examined every part of my house - 2,800+ sq. ft. on one level, so he can get around.  He's eating well and uses his litter box (except for one accident so far), oops!  make that two, but at least he tinkled on the throw rug in the bathroom and not on the carpeting, and he had a long nap in my closet today.  With all the goings on at a vet's office, plus some boarded dogs who bark, he probably needed a good rest.  

Hence, my quote.  Another kitty wasn't in my plan - travel was in my plan, and finishing my books, and reading my accumulated books, and using up all my card supplies, and entertaining, and trying new recipes. So I've had to examine my philosophy and this is what I've discovered. All needs are met. Thoughts held in mind, produce after their kind. In the past, I've had what I thought were problems turn out to be exactly what I needed to accomplish my goals.  Looking back, what I thought were some of my biggest problems turned out to be some of my biggest blessings.  So - The Universe knows my goals; they're all in writing.  The Universe hasn't failed me yet.  I've had a wonderful, happy, healthy life so far, doing things I meant to do, seeing places I wanted to see, acquiring things I wanted to have as my own. So why would it all stop now over one little kitty who needs me?  Maybe he's the obstacle mentioned in the quote above.  So - now we'll see how this all works out. Say a little prayer for Pepper's legs, please.

I'm sorry I haven't much to show you this week, but I've been trying to run all my errands so that I can be home while Pepper adjusts. I've been on the couch this weekend, watching TV and reading, so that Pepper knows where I am. More of these long naps, and I'll be able to get busy in the coming week.

Time for Others:  Friend Katie and I had lunch and did our show and tell of Sketches 46 through 50.  Mine are on the right.

And a couple of Katie's other creations

Tablescapes: The end of the 2014 Tour of Tables

Opening Night at the Symphony

Garden Party

Dining on the Emerald Coast

Thrifting:  Remember the kitty named Baby at my local thrift.  She has now decided that the checkout counter makes a nice place for a nap.

I found a few bargains:  Glass napkin rings for 20 cents each.

These smiling napkin rings - also 20 cents each

A strawberry pitcher for $1

And a woven ceramic basket made in Portugal for $1.65

Tidbits:  Ready for Pepper

You can see the two wounds on his forehead and his right front leg.  He almost looks as if he was run over by a lawn mower, but I can't imagine that he couldn't get out of the way, because they're so noisy he'd have to hear it coming.

But as you can see, he has a hearty appetite

Stay tuned

Togs:  Surprise, surprise!  Only one brown this week.

Day 64

Day 65

Day 66 Same Fuchsia Top

Day 67

Day 68

Day 69

Day 70

STAY COOL

PRAY FOR PEPPER

EAT YOUR GREENS

DO SOMETHING NICE FOR A FRIEND OR RELATIVE WHICH WILL BLOW THEM AWAY

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

Week 31, July 24, 2016

Thoughts and Quotes:  I'm not sure who said it, but it went something like this, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans".

This is a perfect example of what's happened to me.  I haven't mentioned what I'm about to tell you because I wasn't sure how it would end.  You remember that my precious kitty Tiki went to Kitty Heaven in January and I swore I'd never have another kitty.  She was my one and only.  I disposed of everything which would remind me of my baby, and started making plans to travel in the fall.  I still cry for her every single day.  

However - On July 3, I took a feral kitty who had been injured to the vet, and he's still there. He's a black kitty like Tiki and about two years old.  He was born somewhere around my neighbor Martha's backyard and has been hanging out around there since he was born.  We started calling him Pepper.  We decided that he was a male because he didn't show up with a litter of kittens.  If I called him, sometimes he would slip under my back fence and I'd feed him.  Sometimes he'd just show up, and if I saw him I'd feed him.  Well, we didn't know if Pepper would survive, but the vet just started treating him as if he would.  He has two large injuries on his forehead and deep scratches on his front right leg.  The vet said that another cat couldn't have inflicted such deep scratches, and thought maybe a coyote.  The big yellow kitty I called Bomber disappeared the day we found Pepper injured, so I'm thinking more than one attacker.  Anyway, here is my newest purchase.

I took it to the hospital so that maybe he'll sleep in it and have something familiar when I bring him home.  He'll need more recuperation time.  Now that he's getting used to people, perhaps he'll be happy as a house kitty.  Maybe not.  He has to stay inside until he's over his trauma enough to be neutered, because if he does insist on going back outside, we might not be able to catch him again.  With feral kitties, you just don't know. He's going to have some permanent scars with a loss of hair, so I told him that he'll look like a washed-up boxer and his new name is Kid Pepper.  To be continued. . . . .

Thrifting: Still looking for the elusive yellow teapot for the library.  Remember the thrift store kitty? She was outside chewing on some grass, and then later she was hanging out in the check-out area begging pets.  She's sporting a new blingy collar and acting like she's the princess of the palace.

I found some really great bargains.  I can't believe I went all those years refusing to wear second-hand clothes.  Now that I've grown up and don't have to, I love shopping thrift stores and searching for bargains. I hit the jackpot.  It was two for the (low $3) price of one on clothes and senior day, too. I bought two jackets and six tops for $1.20 each. Such fun!  

I also found these happy candle holders for 40 cents each.

And six of these sweet little bread-and-butter or dessert plates for 40 cents each.

It was Christmas in July with brand new jewelry, total cost $7.20, less than the retail sticker price on the back of the pin.

What fun I'll have making cards with this stationery set that cost 80 cents.  The paper is two-sided, and the envelopes can easily be cut down to card size.

Temptations:  I know this is supposed to be a week of salads, but I just had to pick up Mexican food for one last splurge.  It came with tortilla chips and salsa also.  Burp!

Tasting - LOTS of Tasting:  While we're on the subject of food, I have lots more to show you. Remember the photo of the new place in Ozark I posted before?

Friend Katy and I had lunch there and what a delightful place and wonderful food.  The inside has an eclectic decor, with all sorts of mismatched things which make up an interesting whole.  And things I've never seen.  Like this hanging light.

There were fresh flowers on the coffee bar.

The place is rather dark - restful and comfortable.

I ordered the beef brisket and Katy had a vegetable pie.  Sorry about the blurred photo.

Iced tea or hot coffee comes with the meal.  We both had tea and we also got a bottle at our table for refills.

Katy ordered chocolate-berry creme brulee which I tasted and declared it divine.

This is Cafe L and you can find it on Facebook.  They're located just one block north of the Ozark square at 2nd and Brick - 209 North 2nd.  Phone 417-581-0477.  They're right next door to The Persimmon Tree.

They keep the door between them open, so you can also browse for unique home decor or gifts.  Cafe L is run by a mother and daughter with a chosen sister-aunt.  The Persimmon Tree is separately owned by a good friend.  A perfect combination.

The Cafe L team also does catering and arranges special events through their company The Frog Prince. Here's the mascot.

Seems we go to Ozark restaurants a lot.  Friend Joey's husband Robert took us to Rosie Jo's yesterday for lunch.  They're an Ozark institution and their secret ingredient is grease.

Robert had Frito Pie

Joey had a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

And I had a Patty Melt

And here's the cake I didn't post on Bastille Day.  It's a new recipe I found on the website www.greatgrubdelicioustreats.com called Apple Pecan Cake with Caramel Glaze.  I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my cake didn't turn out like I wanted.  It seemed too fragile to try to remove it from the tube part of my pan.  It tested done at 50 minutes, but hadn't baked all the way through.  

It's rather labor intensive, so I'll probably just make the apple bread my friend's mom came up with and add the glaze from above (but only half the recipe).

OTHER MOM’S APPLE BREAD

Effie Cox

3 eggs

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 cups peeled and grated apples

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour, sifted

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1/3 tsp baking powder

3 tsps cinnamon (note)

1 cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Generously grease and flour two loaf pans.

In a large bowl, beat eggs fluffy.

Add oil, sugar, apples, and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients (sifted) into egg mixture.  Blend well and then add nuts.

Pour into loaf pans and bake approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remove immediately and cool on racks.

Freezes well.  Good with peanut butter and honey spread.

Note:  Yes, I know this is one tablespoon, but my tablespoon won’t fit into my spice jar.

And I actually did eat some salad this week, as I planned.  I made Taco Salad which lasted forever.  

And that wonderful Sweet Kale Salad which comes in a kit and you buy it at Sams.

And today I made Dana's Library Soup with pork instead of chicken. It worked. You can find the recipe on Week 3.

Tablescapes:  More from The Tour of Tables. 

Here's Summer Fun

Fall Harvest Time

Things That Grow:  Friday will mark six months since Brother Sonny had his fatal accident. I felt brave enough to go to the Botanical Garden to order a memorial brick in his name. The director, Lisa, was very compassionate, passed the tissue box, and we got through it. We followed Sonny's wishes and scattered his ashes over his property, so there's no headstone. Brother Jim and his wife Becky bought him a memorial brick in a Veteran's Monument in Kansas, but I wanted something here where Sonny was born and grew up.  I chose the White Garden which is very beautiful at this time of year.

The memorial walk goes through the center of the White Garden -

and ends at the Hosta Garden, another of my favorites.

Togs:  And the brown goes on and on . . . but next week we'll take a break from brown.

Day 57

Day 58

Day 59

Day 60 (Change jacket and necklace)

Day 61

Day 62

Day 63

STAY HYDRATED

BE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE SHADE AND COOL WATER

WEAR A HAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE SUN

GO TO AN AIR-CONDITIONED MOVIE

EAT A STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM CONE

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

P.S. To those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, the above suggestions do not apply.  Wear your mittens when you go out, and feel sorry for those of us who are having a heat wave.