This and That

While I was in Michigan spoiling my newborn granddaughter, Isabella, our barn cat had four kittens. Bob had moved the large oval shaped washtub (the one that had been home to Liesel, Tina's dog, while we were waiting for Tina to come and start the spoiling process) also the washtub was home to twelve baby chicks last summer - both times the washtub was housed in my kitchen - this time Bob placed it in the perfect spot in the barn and put hay in the bottom and a quilt on top so Bootsey (the barn cat) would have a nice place to have her babies. Bootsey was not pleased with our selection of a birthing room and chose her own on the second story of the hay loft in the larger of our two barns. In order for us to see the kittens we have to climb up a very old ladder into the hay loft and then up to the next loft above that.

Here is Bob on the first loft level(yes, he still has that beard - until the middle of June).

Bootsey isn't too pleased that we are spoiling her new babies. She knows that after we get tired of them we'll give them back to her and then she'll have to settle them all down again.

Kittens are just so cute. Three of them are tiger stripped and one is solid gray with blue eyes. Their eyes have just opened.

Aren't they just adorable? We have homes for two of them but we need good homes for the other two. We had homes for all four before they were born and then the family that wanted two of them got restless and went to the humane society and got two cats.

This is Bootsey's choice of a birthing room.



Finally, signs of spring.

Hannah and Matthew came over this past Sabbath to play with the kittens and Hannah picked me a bouquet of daffodils which now brighten my dining room table.

I made this purse, and I'm so disappointed that this picture doesn't show the pleats. The purse has pleats on the front and back of the purse that took me three hours to pleat and stitch.

It's much bigger than I thought it would be.

On the inside I made a hanging pocket with a zipper for my camera and cell phone.

Shannon and Madeline came over on Sunday and we had a great time together. Shannon made a purse for herself and I made one for a friend at work. My batteries were dead so I couldn't take a picture.

Bob has started working in the garden already - he has planted strawberry plants, three more rows of raspberry plants, onions, and potatoes. We have 20 gallons of maple syrup this year from the sap Bob gathered in March.

I'm going to try and take some maple syrup to Russia for Tamara and her family. I'm not quite sure how to pack it. Any ideas?

I'm going to . . . You're not going to believe this one

This past Sunday morning, I packed the car, with the help from Todd and began the long 12 hour trip home. Tears streaming down my cheeks as I pull out of the drive-way waving towards the windows of the house that I can't see through, but am hoping the kids are waving back at me. By the time I reached Indiana the tears had stopped, but not my desire to be back with my girls and grandchildren in Michigan.

The trip was - for the most part - uneventful. Derrick's parents had given me The Hiding Place by Corrie Tin Boon on CD and I enjoyed every minute of it. I made only one stop to fill up with gasoline and a quick potty break - and oh, there was one more stop - the "door ajar"light came on shortly after I had just passed Buffalo so I pulled over on the highway and re-arranged the back luggage and re closed the door. I returned to my seat anxious to get going to continue listening to my story - only to discover the light "door ajar" was still on. I got back out - opened the door that didn't seem to be ajar in any way, reshuffled the stuff inside and re closed the door. That's when I realized that it was the window and not the door. I never open the window in the back of the vehicle, so I'm not sure how it popped open after so many hours of driving but it did. Soon I was back on the road.

I decided that since I had made my trip is such record time I would stop by Shannon's house and meet Charlie, Madeline's new dog. It's really quite hard to find your cell phone in a purse the size of a small suitcase, find the number on the contact list, watch for cops - you get ticketed in New York in you are caught talking on a cell phone - and watch out for the cars that are passing because you're paying too much attention to the story on CD's. Finally, I turned off the CD player so I could concentrate on the phone call. Soon I arrived at Shannon's and enjoyed a serving of homemade vegetarian pot pie while we waited for Madelin, Andy, and Charlie to get home from the park. Soon they arrive and I meet the sweetest dog I think I've ever met - excluding my three (Punkin, Lola, and Checotah) of course. And then there is Calvin, Carl, and Stella - Rachael's dogs - And of course there's Brewster, Lori's dog - And then Molly, Ryan's dog - And I can't forget Walter, Natalie's dog. But Charlie is a really sweet well behaved dog that Madeline just adores. I remember some time back when I was visiting at Rachael's house and her nanny didn't seem to mind the two big dogs running around in the house. I made some comment to her about the animals and she told me that you can tell what kind of person the owner is by the way their dogs act. Interestingly enough, I've found that statement to be true! Except for poor Tina and her dog Liesel.

I arrived at home late Sunday evening. Bob wasn't at home so I hauled everything into the kitchen and then began carrying each box, suitcase, etc to the correct room. It didn't take long to put everything away and I was soon ready for bed. Five thirty A.M. came much too soon on Monday morning, but I managed to pull myself together and head for work. Upon my arrival to my office, I opened the door to see a beautiful gift basket sitting on my desk. I picked up the card and opened it. It was from my boss - "Welcome back" was on the inside of the card. My week was extremely busy, but rewarding. I took the basket home and Bob and I enjoyed unwrapping the clear plastic wrap and looking at the treasures - an antique hummingbird feeder and food - a suet feeder and food - a copper bird feeder and food - Bob and I will both enjoy this thoughtful gift.

Monday morning, I checked the blogs that I read to see if there was any new news. There was nothing new with my girls, so I continued looking at the other blogs I read. I noticed that on Tamara's blog she blogged about a ridiculous low round-trip price ticket to Moscow. I thought to myself - that's a great deal - in the back of my mind I was wishing I could take her up on the offer she put out to - I'm sure it wasn't for me - why she only knows me through her mom and my daughter, Rachael.

Later that morning, I checked my e-mails and there was one from Tina. I clicked on the message and I couldn't believe what I was reading. Tina had just informed me that Rachael, Katya, and Jack were going to Russia. Tina suggested that we both go too! Tina had already called her daughter and had all the accommodations, meals, and entertainment taken care of. All that was needed was a "yes" from me. I wanted to stand up and jump up and down, but I needed to get back to work - so I quickly e-mailed Tina to let her know I would talk to Bob when I got home from work and get back with her on Tuesday.

Once I got home I called Rachael and we talked about what all would be involved with going. It sounded so complicated. Not only did I need a passport (which I already have) I would have to get a visa. I had no idea how to go about getting a visa and then I would have to drive to JFK because that's where the cheap flight originates from. I was too tired and decided that I couldn't go. On Tuesday I couldn't get my mind off the chance of a life-time to visit Russia. I mentioned the opportunity to my boss and he told me to change the committee meetings to another day, notify the pastors, and go! Bob had told me I should go the night before - but I wasn't sure. I wanted to, but I was a little apprehensive about flying. Then I remembered the e-mail I received from my friend Cathy in California - she was right - I would fly again.

I got home on Wednesday evening much too late to call Rachael and let her know that I wanted to go with her and the kids to Russia, so I e-mailed her and then I e-mailed Tina too.

Rachael purchased my ticket today - Tina's daughter purchased her ticket today and we will all be traveling to Russia (Rachael had already purchased her ticket and the children's). I'm so excited!!! I can't believe I'm going to Russia!!! What am I going to wear?