Love the Holidays?

New shelves i installed over the tv in my cozy newest living room. NOW i really really need a new tv stand - corner style in the same walnut wood tones as the shelves, futon and fireplace in here! I think it will be my 'after Christmas' gift to me.

Yes, the family living great room is decorated too. Fact is i have four Christmas trees around the house... the ceramic shown here; two pre-lighted small trees, one in front of fireplace and one in the greatroom near the wood burner, and my five foot fiber-optic tree in front of the window in greatroom! This is the first year i've actually FELT that Christmas joy in my heart since my life changed drastically more than four years ago.

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Today i put up my tree... and my sis put hers up too! It's looking mighty pretty around here. Already had a few new decorations outdoors on front porch. Life is good and getting better. Will arrange a few more decorations tomorrow and that's enough.

Dear daughter cleaned (my monthly cleaning) and it sure feels good around here. She also brought up the boxes of decorations because i'm still having some pain and planned on doing less decorating because of it.

My last post was...... WHEN???

A casual look at my slippers one morning... and what is it? Miss Kitty has a toy mouse that she absolutely loves!!! Was I EVER glad it wasn't a real mouse.

A couple of days later she actually caught a real one!!! What can I say, I live out in the country and field mice love to move on up to 'house' mice. Yup, the little twerp is only five+ months old and already the mouser of the house!

She is a bundle of activity - in constant motion! See her almost hanging off the Christmas tree? I put it up last minute and took it down as soon as possible after our Christmas get-together! Little Miss Kitty tried like crazy to detach the bottom branches... and yes, she actually does rest occasionally. Of course she prefers serving as centerpiece on the dining room table!

...and just last Friday she had to stay overnight at her doctor's place. Yup, I had her fixed and ya know... she wasn't even broke! The most difficult part is post-op. She had to wear a collar the first night because I couldn't stop her from trying to bite off the stitches. It slowed her down but not much!

So what have I been doing in my 'spare' time? Well one thing was a big ol' update on my website at salascove. Been wanting to do it for a long time and just decided the time is now. Let me know what you think of it.

Another thing I've been wanting to do... getting involved in the stock market again. Just a little bit... it's sort of my 'recreational fund' so it's okay.It's really fun and I've really missed it... having quit 'playing' after September 11, 2001 when everything crumbled.

Hey! did you know there's another 26 Things challenge? I guess there was one in November too but I missed that one. I guess I'm not on the mailing list anymore. Anyway, it looks like a good one! I just might try it. How about you?

Merry Christmas!!!

Last year I did not feed the birds in my backyard. Fortunately my neighbors had just built their new home next door and Jack feeds the birds faithfully. I think I was overwhelmed with my new position in life... and afraid to use the deck stairs in wintery snowy conditions. Earlier this year, when I was down with the 'creeeping crud' - I even considered giving all my bird seed to Jack!

Well Friday I finished Christmas shopping and while in town I bought four new feeders. Yesterday I loaded them up - moved my other 'shepherd's hook' from the garden and placed it with the other. Less than two hours later Mr. Squirrel arrived. He looked up and left... I guess he didn't figure he could get up there easily. He was pretty plump so I think he has easier targets in the neighborhood. Shortly after he left the chickadees began stopping in!

This morning - loads of birds!!! What a beautiful surprise on Christmas morning!
Merry Christmas!