Friday cat blogging on New Years Eve

This is how Tim drinks. Here she has wound around from the kitchen window. If you look carefully you can see foam between her toes. It looks like she has some sort of odd disease. She kneads constantly and tears up every foam pad she gets. I get a new pad for BCF every summer then, when I get home, put it in the canoe for Tim to snuggle up in. And tear up.

New family photographer/World's Cutest Grandniece

Friday cat blogging on Sunday

Evening treats for Jellico and Tim. PuddyTat got hers on the shelf below where she dwells. She doesn't come up top now for some reason. These two do not get along. Shortly after the photo was taken Tim chased Jellico away. He did get to finish his treats first.

Morning vigil after breakfast. Tim rules the roof.

December gloom is still pretty in a way

A December sunrise

Friday cat blogging on Tuesday

Tim was asleep when I started to do dishes. She woke up when I ran the water. Yes, the window is filthy.

It's 61 outside so I opened the upper window. Tim carefully marked every inch of the frame. She does that to the window too which is why it is always dirty.

Then she expected me to rub her head which I did until I got tired of it. I have to stand on a small wobbly chair to reach her. She was not pleased when I quit.

Friday not cat blogging

Say Hello to Kaya, a year and a half old golden retriever. She is a sweetie tho still definitely a pup.

She managed to get some gravy and got caught just before she got some turkey. She licked some of the dishes when the dishwasher was open too.

And finally got banned from the kitchen.

She watched the dog show closely.

And occasionally chased and caught her tail.

This is Kaya's, um, slave.

She did most of the cooking. She said Kaya cried after I left and watched me drive away. The doggie really did seem to get attached to me very quickly. Despite the cats, she knew I'm really a dog person.

Occasionally Kaya settled down looking very regal - as she is.

It was a lovely Thanksgiving with good friends.

Friday cat blogging

Tim seems to have abandoned her foam in the barn for the cathouse box. It may have something to do with my being home so little lately. She has wanted much more attention than usual. It may be that she isn't feeling well. Anyhow I gave her her own heating pad last night. She's a bit deaf so she didn't realize I was taking her picture until I dropped something in the sink. And yes. The window needs washed.

Good scenery in lousy weather

The drive home from Diocesan Convention was gloomy but the scenery was lovely. I was going to take the northern route but decided to check out Kinzua and the rolling hills of northwestern PA instead.

Snow in the air and little light made this a little blurry. I only got one shot.

Hills are steep here. Much of this part of the country is still woods and hills with marshes and creeks between.

Another hill with farms visible.

Ours is a beautiful corner of the US even on a chilly, damp, dreary day.

Friday cat blogging

The flowers were given to me a week ago. I have no place to put them other than on the sink. Here Jellico adds interest to the photo.

18 October beauty

Dawn as I pulled out of my driveway.

The sun was far enough up to illuminate the trees on the other side of the lake.

Tonight we had dinner in Erie after which we saw this. If you look carefully, hopefully, you will see a faint rainbow outside the obvious one.

Friday cat blogging on Saturday

LittleOne got his own box last night. He was sleeping on an old pillow in the corner but it was too cold for that last night. He doesn't have heat but his entrance is smaller keeping his heat in. He's also much younger than PuddyTat who does have heat when the temp falls below 35 or so. Tim sleeps in the foam in the canoe in the barn while Jellico has a small heating pad under the blanket in the kitchen window. He has been curling up next to the window for a couple of weeks. PuddyTat climbed in and thoroly investigated LO's box this morning but quickly decided to go back to hers. Yesterday morning, PT's box was almost on the ground, suspended by the heating pad cord. The next time I get a right sized box, I'll give her a new one. That one has been battered by the raccoons for a couple of years. And, yes, the trap has been set but nobody was in it this morning. Will have to use more attractive bait.

Fall colors in PA brighten a dreary day

A grape party

Grape pie making at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, North East, PA.

On Tuesday, the flour and shortening are cut together while boxes are folded and labelled.The "dough" then rests in the fridge.

Boxes are folded and stickers affixed.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the crew makes pies. One makes the dough. Several roll. I filled. Another adds cinnamon and margarine. One wets the rim for a roller to cover. Another crimps. One cuts a pattern in the upper crust - sugar and sugar-free get different patterns. Finally a baker takes care of the baking.

Yes, guys roll too.

We do take a break for lunch.

Deadly serious we are not.

The tent is assembled.

And the 2012 grape pie sale is under way.

The "uniform" with one finished product.

Looks and feels like fall

This was the Hartstown Swamp after church this morning as seen from 322 by my iPhone. The sun was on the trees in the background. North of that you can see the rain.

My front yard a few minutes later as seen by my camera. There were dark storm clouds everywhere punctuated by blue sky and white puffy clouds. This patch disappeared quickly to be replaced by the dark clouds behind these trees.

Later there was a storm in the distance on the way to Meadville but clear to the south.

And almost sunset over Pymatuning with still more rain to the north.

Fall is my favorite season. I'm happy to be back in turtlenecks, to turn the air off, to not have to coat my skin with bug repellent. I love the changing colors and the brightness that the trees bring to drab days. I'm not fond of ordering fuel oil but no season is perfect. Always something to look forward to.