What the …?

Early this morning I went from sound asleep to wide awake with a feeling that something was seriously wrong. Trusting my instincts I listened for any sound of an intruder yet heard nothing but one of the wifes cats snoring.

Then I realized the house was pitch black inside with no light to be found anywhere. Not from the streetlights out front, the security lights, or the light we keep on in the kitchen. After my daily exercise of standing up while my body makes strange noises I prepared myself for a trek to the kitchen to find my flashlight.

I can usually walk around the house in complete darkness as I know the layout yet had to wonder if the cats plotted against me and drug something into my path that I wouldn’t be able to see and could trip over. They didn’t, and after grabbing the flashlight and my coat I ventured outside around 5 am to see if I could spot the problem.

Neighbors to the south had power, neighbors to the east had power, and ourselves and neighbors to the north were dark. I knew this because no security lights were on and it was dark. Realizing it was snowing and I didn’t grab my hat I returned to the house to find a few candles so I could make a cup of coffee.

Since the electricity was out, decided on instant as even though our stove has electronic ignitors it can be lit with a lighter. In the candle glow and with a hot cup of instant coffee I contemplated what my action should be.

Yeah, I had another cup. Knowing our landline wouldn’t work I debated calling the power company on my cell phone and telling them it’s cooling off inside the house. Not enough to freeze pipes, just enough to get your attention. At around 6:30 am the power came back on, the furnace kicked in, and things were back to almost normal.

Enjoy our Tuesday even if your day started as ours did. Now for more coffee in case the power blinks off again. Comments are always welcome.

Oops!

Seems I misspoke yesterday when I wrote that Little Bit was the last feral cat left. I saw this white one in a trap and later said trap was gone. Silly me, I thought that meant we’d never see this white cat again.

Imagine my surprise when going out later yesterday to find the cat had gotten away somehow and was now in the wind again. Even Little Bit seemed happy with that. She went from several playmates to none in a short time.

Not sure how long the white ghost will remain free but look forward to find out on my own. With feral cats you never know. We’ll just enjoy her while she’s around and miss her when she’s gone. As mentioned yesterday we can’t bring them all in or we’d have to add a room to the house.

It’s turning cooler today and we may get some liquid love from above to make it seem cooler. Don’t know about where you’re at, but it’s been windy here and though we’ve gotten used to it we could use a calm day. We’re just looking forward to a little vacation next month, unless everyone is on lockdown.

Enjoy our Saturday as it’s one of the shortest days of the week. Now I need coffee. Comments are always welcome.

Bound to happen

Overslept again and I don’t like it. For years I’ve gone to bed around midnight and got up around 4 am. And I usually sleep in 2 hours spurts and wake up thirsty. Hope this isn’t what the future looks like as I like being outside for the sunrise.

Used a picture of the white kitten as when I went out to feed the 3 remaining feral cats I almost tripped over a live trap set up to catch such critters. The trap had some canned cat food in it and after some sniffing around this one walked right inside to get the goodies.

Imagine our surprise when looking out a little later that the food was gone and so was the cat. Kind of like this cat but will not spring another’s trap to release it. Yes, said trap is in our yard but it isn’t my trap and two wrongs don’t make a right.

Tomorrow we venture to the grocery store to see what overpriced food item the store thinks we can’t live without. Even my favorite frozen pizzas aren’t on sale this week! We also heard there could be another toilet paper shortage due to the uptick in positive virus test results. We don’t see the need to stock up.

And the new talk of lockdowns. These didn’t work the first time so some in our government feel we need them again. To spring the trap for acceptance, talk of giving us money to ride it out is on the table. Since the government doesn’t have the money, and it’s our tax monies anyway, this could get interesting.

What is with these ‘positivity rates’ governors and others keep taking about? Here in Iowa they mention we have a 46% positivity rate yet only 1 million of our 3.3 million residents have been tested. Shouldn’t someone clarify the number is of test results and not per capita? A friend wants to know.

We’ll end it there and wish you a great Thursday as the end of the work week is only a dream away. Now for some coffee and leftover pizza. Comments are always welcome.

Getting it done

Was out this morning feeding the feral cats and had to defrost the water bowl to add fresh water. It is that time of year. Am working on uploading some more pictures and will share a few of those soon.

And this morning I figured I’d give local news one more chance to actually report local things of interest. They did mention the Governor of Iowa has rolled out some new guidelines for the Covid virus picking up steam here.

As usual I don’t agree with them but will play along as much as possible. If understood correctly we can have up to 10 people in our homes if they wear masks and social distance. Public events such as weddings and funerals are allowed up to 30 people again if wearing masks and social distancing.

I can’t wear a mask and refuse to get a doctor’s excuse for not doing so. I left the third grade decades ago and no employer who requires it anymore. With the hippa laws it should not be a issue for those of us who can’t wear them.

If I come across a business that requires a mask and won’t let me in without one, I find one that will let me in and spend money there. It’s not that I don’t care about anyone else’s health as I do. I also know I don’t have said virus so am not spreading it.

But I digress. Another thing our governor mandated was that bars must close at 10 pm and masks must be worn when social distancing isn’t possible. I’m sure there’s more that I’ve missed but those mentioned should give you an idea of the situation here in Iowa.

Enjoy our Tuesday as it means we’re another day through the pandemic. Now for some coffee. Comments are always welcome.

What next?

We made it to Monday! Since we woke up breathing today we had a good start. Got enough exercise getting out of bed and the sound effects have become a good friend. The ‘snap, crackle, and pop’ doesn’t come from the breakfast cereal anymore.

We had been hearing the local news that I said I wouldn’t watch as the wife wanted to watch. With what little I listened to I’ll go back to not watching again. It could cause some to drink!

While I checked my email came across an article that said some eating places would be closing for good thanks to the Covid virus. A few that stuck are Golden Corral, Applebee’s, and Steak & Shake. Hope they’re wrong as I like Steak & Shake.

One thing I did see while watching a little TV with the wife is the media is still convinced the election is over when it is not. The votes have not been certified. Yet because the AP declared Biden the winner they were wondering if Trump would physically have to be removed from the White House.

Another thing I saw was that Elon Musk got tested for the Corona virus 4 times in one day with 2 coming back negative and 2 positive. That gave me pause. Does anyone actually know how accurate those things are? Seems like the bean counters are including all positive results and not factoring in the false positives.

We don’t know where things are headed but don’t think we’ll like the answer either. Whatever happens, and whoever is president, it’s looking like things will get crazier. Enjoy our Monday as I will after more coffee. Comments are always welcome.

It’s Saturday

Instead of being short tempered and lashing out due to all the forecasts of gloom and doom we should all just take a deep, relax, and be thankful for all the little things that keep us sane. I’ll start, did you know today is National Pickle Day?

News like that always gets a chuckle out of me as the wife likes dill pickles and I like sweet pickles. So we may go out later and see if we can find a place to eat that has pickles, at least on cheeseburgers. If the eating establishment we pick puts the extras beside the burger I always give any dill pickles to the wife. If I ever get one with sweet pickles that deal is off.

Yesterday we went later to get groceries as the wifes’ new hours have her getting home later. As expected the crowd of shoppers was much bigger than when we go early but we also noticed some shelves were bare of what we wanted. That usually doesn’t happen when we’re early. It was interesting though.

We rounded the corner into one aisle and a little old lady asked if I could grab a box of muffin mix off the top shelf as she couldn’t reach it. She went on to explain that since I was ‘tall’ I could reach it. She then thanked me and was on her way. In my warped mind I wondered why short people never ask us taller people to get something on the bottom shelf.

After all, while we have farther to go to get down there we would still have a longer reach. We got everything we needed including some peanut M & Ms and checked out. As we were walking out another lady stopped us and asked if I was a veteran. When I replied yes she asked if I came to their free dinner Wednesday.

I replied that I had not so she handed me a piece of paper, I thanked her, and we left. When we got home and things put away I looked at the paper and it was a poem about veterans thanking for our service. For some reason I didn’t mind going to get groceries later.

Enjoy our Saturday as here on the east coast of Iowa it’s going to be a little warmer, but wet. Now for some coffee and donut holes. Comments are always welcome.

This month

Well it’s the first day Of October, and the rest of our lives. The
bonus is we’re one day closer to end of 2020 and hope that 2021 will
bring an end to the insanity that occurred during this year.

October is the 10th month of our year and is usually associated
with autumn in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern
hemisphere. The following is list of things that occur this month.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Health Literacy Month,
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month, World Menopause Month and
Vegetarian Awareness Month to name a few.

Here in the United States we have National Adopt a Shelter Dog
Month, National Domestic Violence Month, National Work and Family
Month, American Pharmacist Month, National Dental Hygiene Month,
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, National Pizza
Month, and National Pork Month.

Oktoberfests and Halloween are observed this month and car shows
start to become less frequent until the indoor shows start next year
here in the Northern part of country. Leaves on the trees start to
put on a show of color before dropping to the ground and critters
grow their winter coats.

This poem by Robert Frost sums up this month better than we could-

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

Enjoy our Thursday as the start of the weekend is only a dream
away.
Comments are always welcome.

Random thoughts

Yesterday got away from me and there was no post so decided to post
early today and have it done. Yesterday I woke up late and had some
errands to run while not being properly fueled with caffeine. Even
after stopping for lunch and a bunch of coffee the feeling persisted.

Hopefully, later this morning I’ll have met my gallon of coffee
quota and function better. Let’s blame it on the cooler weather and
leave it at that. Hopefully it won’t happen again.

The clouds were something to see yesterday and the sky looked
interesting wherever you looked. White in some places, gray in others,
and a bold mixture looking elsewhere. Not sure what was going on but
we liked it.

This little grouping of leaves reminded me it won’t be long before
we’ll be raking, and bagging, leaves. May even have a frost tomorrow
night that will help the process along. It also means our lawn mowing
days are almost over for the year.

No pictures of cats or kittens as they were scarce but we’re sure
they’ll be around at some point. Thought we’d get lucky and get a
few shots of cardinals or other birds but they must have overslept
also. Or there are too many feral cats for them to chance being out.

Did watch a little of the so called debate before having to change
the channel. Didn’t care for the bull being shipped so turned the TV
over to some re-runs. The debate should have been called the ‘I know
I am but what are you?’ Special.

Enjoy our Wednesday as we made it to mid-week. Now for more coffee.
Comments are always welcome.

The weekend

The moon looked ready for Halloween Saturday night with a strange
orange tint. It was a little hazy out but the picture should give you
an idea of what that looked like.

The following morning the clouds and sky put on a similar display
for the fall season. Not sure what was going on but later Sunday the
clouds opened up and we got a good rain. Thinking that might help
at least a little to ease the drought.

Sunday I heard a sound that got my Navy training going so I
grabbed the camera and got a shot when this old war plane flew
over. They make a sound like no other and although I wasn’t sure
what kind of plane it was, I knew it was old military.

One of the feral kittens was playing hide and seek again. Thought
he was invisible and seemed surprised I looked right at him when I
talked to him. The feral kittens are entertaining. And I know, it
doesn’t take much to distract me.

And a squirrel was on top of an old gate getting his fill of the
overgrowth. By the way this one was eating he should be a lot bigger.
Or perhaps he’s getting ready for winter and will plump up before
cold weather hits. Plus he kept the feral cats busy as they were
watching his every move.

Finally, we have someone coming today to check the furnace and tell
us if anything is wrong with it. If there is he’s pretty good at
quoting a price to keep the place cozy this winter. The newer furnaces
may be more efficient but they sure don’t last as long as the old
ones did.

Enjoy our Monday as it’s here anyway. Now for more coffee.
Comments are always welcome.

An awakening

Yesterday was going pretty good, until the mail came. Sorting out the
junk we ended up with three envelopes. Two for the wife and one for
yours truly. Mine was from a law firm I didn’t recognize and in the
past that meant bad news.

Turns out it was copy of Dads last will and testament. I guess they
have to send that out before a notice goes in the paper. Reading said
will got me thinking that he really is gone and there will be no
more weekday talks with donuts and coffee.

Soon there will be a reading of the will and end that chapter of
our lives. Would have been nice if he could have lived to see 100
but as a realist know we can never be sure when our number is
called. At least he got 95 years and I got to know him for 69.

Today, we have the start of a run of cooler days and I’m ready for
that. Around Thursday the lows are supposed to be around 40 and I’ll
open the windows when I sleep so the neighbors can enjoy my musical
snoring.

Leaves are already turning colors and dropping from the trees. So
it won’t be long until we’ll be raking the fallen leaves again. And
perhaps we won’t be moving lawns for a while. After all, it is that
time of year. When the free lawn waste pick-up starts I plan on
having enough bags filled to keep the city busy.

Enjoy our Saturday as we will. Now for some coffee and donut holes.
Comments are always welcome.