WillThink4Wine

Dad’s mowing his newly planted grass.

Some areas are coming up much better than others. For instance this area at the back fence… not so good! Dad ran out of seeds.

This area gets “2 Paws Up” from Grayson!

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Tags: Aging Gracefully, Cats, Dad, Family, Grayson, Weekend Snapshot

I talked with SisterDear3 tonight for well over an hour, one of our frequent Wine Chats. At the end of our conversation, as I was hanging up, I realized that Gandalf was in my lap. I was stroking him and he was purring. When did he get in my lap? I have no recollection of him jumping up and no idea how long he’d been there.

I’m a 53 year old woman who smokes, and I’m a bit on the “fluffy” side. I have ”text book” blood pressure and enjoy good health. I attribute this to 3 things:

1. I love Red Wine!
2. I love my cats (and my dogs that came before)

3. I have no children (through no fault of my own, that’s for another post)

I had a comment on my cat’s blog the other day that basically stated that she was in awe of people who had such lovable cats. I can’t explain why her cats are afraid of strangers and visitors. I only know that my cats are exposed to lots of people and lots of love. I don’t think it’s all that complicated. I don’t do anything special, I just love my cats.

I must admit that I was a bit concerned when my parents moved in with us 2 years ago. They haven’t been around cats all that much. After a brief period of getting to know each other I watched as my cats won over both of my parents. Yeah, they’re totally cat lovers now!

My parents Blood Pressure medication? Their doctor cut it down to 3/4 of what they use to take BC (before cats). Am I giving medical advice? No, not at all. This is just my own personal observation. Many articles and studies have been done touting the beneficial influence of pets. I won’t even try to go there.

Oh, my parents have also taken to having a glass of wine or two after dinner.

Yeah, that’s a good thing, too.

Tags: Cats, Daily G's, Gandalf

It’s funny how dogs and cats know the inside of folks better than other folks do, isn’t it?

Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna, 1912

I’ve had pets all of my adult life and I believe that quotation to be completely accurate. It’s absolutely amazing how intuitive a dog is, and a cat. It’s really is as though they can smell fear and sense mistrust.

For the last 4 years I been owned by 2 amazing cats. Prior to then I have always had sweet, lovable dogs; 2 sets of Pekingese and 2 lovable Shepherd mixes. I have never had one you could remotely call a guard dog. If someone had ever broken in my home they may well have been licked to death.

I did, however, have a neighbor at my office in Florida who had the most gorgeous Yellow Lab named Tag. Tag’s Dad started bringing him to work with him when Tag was just a small bouncing puppy. Tag always sat in the front passenger seat. He was so funny. He was playful, lovable and energetic. And Tag was incredibly smart. I don’t mean just tricks and obedience smart, which he was, but people smart.

Tag was also the most intelligent dog I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He could sense whether or not he liked a person before they got within 20 feet of him. Since I spent so much time with Tag (5 or 6 days a week) until he died, Tag treated me as part of his pack and he was very protective of me. I had truck deliveries once or twice a week. More often than not, the truck drivers came and went without incident, quite unremarkable. Every now and then one would come and suddenly Tag would show an instant protective posture. He would come stand next to me, or partially in front of me with the hair on his back up and would let out a low growl with his mouth open just enough to show teeth. Tag knew something I did not. If the driver made a move towards me, Tag increased his warning ever so slightly.

I learned to trust Tag’s instincts and started paying more attention to which drivers he had this reaction to. There was usually good reason. Loving Tag has made me want to get a Lab. After I moved to Georgia I got 2 beautiful Black Lab puppies. There was just one problem; my cats wouldn’t let me keep them.

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Tags: Daily G's, Finally Friday, Gandalf, Grayson

I love Gatherings. I love to gather together all the people I love into one place, at the same time. Any excuse that I can get everyone to rally behind will do!

So often we often hear the phrase “Small World”. Well I certainly don’t think so, at least not in the ways that really matter. Just try and plan a Gathering! We’re scattered up and down the east coast. Schedules make it nearly impossible to gather: work, social, school, sports, dance… Busy, Busy, Busy we are!

The SisterDears and I are trying to plan our first annual “Once a Year, Everyone’s Here” Day for next July when my parents and I travel back to New England. The logistics are quite challenging! We want everyone from all 4 generations to gather. I’d also like as many cousins to show up as would like with their families. We want a new Family Photograph. Perhaps a Burgers & Hot Dogs family picnic. It will be magnificent if we can pull it off!

Happy OY, EH Day! I hope the holiday that I insisted upon will become every family’s favorite! So go ahead, start planning yours! Best Wishes for 100% turnout. Please let me know when you post about it! I’ll certainly be posting about ours!

Thank Goodness, my boys’ schedule always permits plenty of time for me!

P.S. - I so want the necklace in the banner that the ImageChef made for me!

If you like my idea of 100% Family Reunion Participation Vote here!

Are you still here? Leave me some Comment Love & get outa here. Go start Planning your first OY EH Day!

Tags: Daily G's, Family, Gatherings, Grayson, Random Thoughts

This week’s Photo Hunter Theme is Free.

After Thursday’s post about my love for The Swamp, this week’s Theme Free was an easy choice. I can think of nothing that epitomizes “Free” better than Nature itself.

Our Swamp is completely “unmessed around with”. It is as God and all His wonderful creatures have made it. Free and Natural. So here are a few more photos of my wonderful Swamp.

In this one you can see some of the handy work of our Beavers. Isn’t it nice of them to cut some Free firewood for us? You can also see one of their dams in the top right.

In this one you can see Tucker, off on yet another Purrfect Adventure.

An added Bonus, our view is Free. Can you imagine what it might cost to hire a Landscaper to do this?

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Tags: Cats, Free, Photo Hunt, Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, The Swamp, Tucker

My Valentine’s Day post is about my Love of The Swamp. My Thursday Thirteen is first. Scroll down for Karen’s Photo Contest #6. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Thursday Thirteen - 5th Edition

Thirteen Things I love about The Swamp

As some of you know, I moved to The Deep South, Georgia a few years ago. While my home is in a lovely subdivision built in an old Pecan Orchard, my office is located at The Swamp! My former business partner owns an unoccupied home on two acres overlooking The Swamp. And while he hopes someday to move back into the home, it’s currently my Office! Here’s 13 of the reasons I absolutely love it!

1. Tranquility. It is so peaceful! It even smells quiet.

2. Natural, protected wetlands. Nobody will ever be able to build and obstruct the view!

3. Cypress Trees

4. The pair of Canadian Geese that migrate here to mate each year. They arrived about 10 days ago. We can’t wait to see the Goslings again this Spring!

5. Red-Tailed Hawks

6. Beavers and all 4 of their dams

7. Racoons

8. Woodpeckers. We have 2 different species here, but I’m not sure which ours are. One of them is quite large!

9. The tall Georgia Pine Trees and Pine Cones.

10. No Alligators! Whew.

11. Our great neighbors. Everybody looks out for each other. They are the kind of neighbors that walk around to the back patio or just come in the back door. The kind of neighbors who bring you food when you’re not well. The kind that mow your yard.

12. Many, many kinds of birds: Crane, Egret, Cardinals, Finch, Wrens, Mockingbirds, Dove, Blue Jays, Black Birds, etc…

13. My cats, Gandalf & Grayson, love it here. They take full advantage of the expanded Hunting Ground!! Every day is full of potential for another new Purrfect Adventure!

One of my cats, Grayson and cousin Cosmo Kitty on a “Great Hunt at The Swamp”.

I am entering Karen’s contest and would appreciate your vote when polling starts at 5 PM Central on 2/15/08.

To me, LOVE IS… Spring at The Swamp.. unspoiled, natural, wonderful!

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Tags: Cosmo, Daily G's, Grayson, The Swamp, Thursday Thirteen, Write From Karen

Creature Comforts - cats have this one nailed down, don’t they?

Well, yesterday the humans in the Yellow House gave the cats a run for their catnip.

MotherDear made a fabulous Roast Chicken dinner, with all the fixings. We had some friends over for supper who brought a 3-layer German Chocolate Cake for dessert. We sat by a magnificent crackling fire, built by Dad. As if more ambiance were needed, we also enjoyed a nice glass of wine with a sax CD softly playing in the background.

It was a day full of Creature Comforts! A perfect way to spend a cold, rainy day.

Tags: Cats, Daily G's, Family, Gatherings, Simple Pleasures