D is for Ding.

The cat that I would never have thought we'd have IN the house.  Husband is allergic.

So, I thought, that was that.

But he found an ad for a kitten. After a couple tries, we took her home. I named her Schrodinger.  No one but me seemed to remember that, and she liked playing will bells, so she became Ding.  This has lead to some not so quality nicknames, Ding a ling, Ding Dong, Ding Bat, Ding Ball... You get the idea.  She ignores all of them equally, so it's not a big deal.

She is a pretty laid back cat.  I think since she was raised with a Dachshund and a Golden Retriever, she is more oriented to "dog" than "cat".  Considering my husband has been known to come up to her and thump her on her back like you would a mastiff, this is probably a good thing!

She does have her cat moments, like the above, where she has figured out how to sit in just a way to maximize coverage of heater vents.  She also loves to bring us toy mice... In the bathroom, or in bed, at 2 in the morning...

But for never expecting to have an indoor cat again, it's been fun.  And husband is okay!  So it works out great for everyone.

Now if I could just teach her to clean her own litter box.

D is for...

Denim.

Jeans are Husband and my wearables of choice.  In fact, when we were on our honeymoon, we were turned away from a restaurant because the only 'slacks' Husband had were corduroy.  (Figured that if they were that picky, we could eat elsewhere... Hmph!) I don't know why I like jeans, I have other styles of pants, but jeans are just... "Do all" for me, they can be somewhat dressy, depending what I wear them with, I can go out and take care of animals without (much) fear of damaging them, they last, and well, let's face it, they can go with nearly anything.

And when they do finally wear out?  Well, I have a pile of them.  Originally, they were for a gal to make jean quilts out of.  She moved, and so I have a large pile of them.  I've been saving them for several years, and so I have a collection of colors from black and blue to near white (Husband's fade a lot, for some reason), and I needed to do something with them.

I found a pattern for a bag made from jeans, which I want to try.  I also want to see if I can try making a vest from scraps...

Nancy's Notions

I was in a car accident sometime back.  I was badly hurt, and remember the EMT telling me that fact.  I was not too upset by this (I assume that they had given me something), but then he said he was going to have to cut my jean jacket up to check my arms.  That was when I had a problem!  

I was NOT going to have my jacket ruined!  

Um.  

Did you know that EMT's can move much faster than people who are injured and doped up can? I did lose the jacket, but sometime later, in the hospital, one of the nurses handed me a small bag.  I looked at it again, and realized it was a pocket from my jacket (the pockets buttoned) the EMT had cut out to put my rings and eyeglasses in.  

Why that pleased me, I will never figure out, but to this day, I figure, at least the jacket was able to still serve to the good, even after being cut up!   

But, let's just say, I would prefer the cutting up of jeans be of my choosing this go 'round, yes???

D. Delights.

(Please vote!) ----->

Hot cocoa.  

Reading on the porch, and the cat deigns to give you purr time, sans claws.

Having deer nearby, without the garden being sacrificed.

Hot tea while watching the turkeys land in the morning, from the tree they roosted at.

Watching the neighbor's young calves play king of the hill.

The smell of hay bales.

Looking in the freezer, and seeing it nearly full of most of the things grown in the summer.

Waking up to realize you don't have to hurry, you can just get up slowly.

Waking up and WANTING to hurry, because you know it's going to be a great day!

Walking outside after a snowfall, and finding tracks... That you don't recognize, and follow.

Finding out the tracks are a black bird against the white snow.

Watching your animals breathe out steam in the cold, but knowing they are safe, fed, and okay.

Hearing one of the hens announce an egg.

Hearing everyone else announce... The same egg!

Looking at quilts.

Wearing my ugly sweater, because I knit it, and it's comfortable.

Talking to the mail lady.

Sitting out in the sunshine on a summer day.  With something cold to drink.

Just having a good day.

D. Dogging bulls, Dinner.

Husband twisted his back wrong, and is not doing well at the moment...

Woke up this morning and I truly thought we had an elk bugling in our yard.  I got up, stumbled awake, grabbed my glasses, and looked out the window. 

Nothing. 

Odd. 

Hmph.  Must have been one of the cattle next door then.  But it was sure loud...  I figured, well, I was up, get dressed and do my walking.  I went out, and Rudee didn't seem quite as wound up as usual.  That was odd, as well.  But, it was a beautiful day, (and only a slightly gushy walk), and so I came back and was ready for a shower and breakfast.

Had to be subtle about the shower, as the In-Laws are here, and I knew I would probably plan wrong. 

I did. 

I showered, and came out dressed and clean, to find everyone at breakfast.  The spot that I would sit at was buried in my stuff.  Rather than move it, I just went and sat on the couch.  SMIL wandered over, and I was regaled with tax info, religious info, her family info, and I think I zoned out somewhere about there... 

They went back to the trailer, and I asked Husband about the loud bugle call.  He pipes up, oh, yes, there was a young black bull out, and I thought you were asleep, so I just got Rudee out, and we herded it back over to the neighbors. 

THIS MAN IS WALKING WITH A CANE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE HURTS SO BAD!!!  Dingaling!  We have trained Rudee with some herding skills, but I was surprised when I found out he was able to transfer the 'chicken' training to 'cattle' work.  That's using your "A" game!

Did pretty well, according to Husband.  I informed him that if something got out again, WAKE ME UP.  Especially since I really didn't sleep all that well through a bull bellowing about 20 feet from my bedroom window! Shee-yit!  But, we can add it to the family stories about my Dad going out and chasing down a bull, after the doc patched up a torn muscle.  Stay off your feet, the doctor said.  So, Dad chased the bull with a tractor.  When Mom threw a fit, his reply?  Well, I am not on my feet!

Pfft.

So.  FIL's 80th birthday.  We went to a local restaurant, and it was a quasi-surprise.  Quasi, because he thought it was just going to be 5 people.  There was actually near to 30, including a quick visit from one son, who would normally be out on the road (he is a trucker), but wanted to give a quick birthday greeting before he got going again. 

I don't speak loudly.  This is a problem in this environment.  SMIL asked her daughter what she had ordered, and I said it was the X special, as daughter was 4 people away.  I was one person away.  After repeating it 4 times, daughter was laughing, and finally we said it in unison, and then, and only then, did SMIL hear it.  Yoiks.  I then offered to help cut the cake. 

SMIL kept asking if I had a piece of cake.  Yes.

Do you have a piece of cake? Yes...

Dear, do you have a piece of cake?? 

I finally looked her right in the eye, and said as loudly as I could manage, YES.  THIS ONE IN MY HAND IS MINE! 

She then looked sour and replied, I was just checking.

I can't win.  I just can't. 

Does anyone know where I can buy a good megaphone?

(The irony was not lost on me that they had Audio equipment right behind me, and it included a mike and speakers.  Sadly, I think it may have been Karaoke stuff, but still...)