Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, cats, home, illness, loss, Thoughts on January 13, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Recently I was asked if I was ready for another cat, and I have to say that I’m not quite there yet. My memories still fill the house with cat-shaped holes. I see Neko around corners, on the stairs, by the patio doors.
So, not yet. But someday.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Fiction, history, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers on January 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I’ve always liked coins.
Maybe it was my love of fantasy tales where every dragon had a horde and every economic transaction involved coinage (paper bills? what are those and why would I accept them when I could have a lovely gold piece?). Or the fact that coins encapsulate a wealth (see what I did there?) of information about a society’s evolving history, economy and culture. Or it might have had a little to do with my not-entirely-transitory pirate fixation (they were often bad, sometimes misrepresented, always fascinating).
Regardless, I like coins. Back when we still went out and touched other people’s money, I saved the shiniest examples of each new coin I came across. I have a pressed penny collection. And I love new coin designs. When they have one of my favorite female writers on them? Win!
Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on the U.S. quarter
Check out the U.S. Mint site for more on the America Women Quarters program.
And next Christmas, shiny new Maya Angelou quarters will be on my list!
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“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
― Maya Angelou
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Thoughts, Tuesdays on January 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I wish I had time to bring you a happy story about writing or science or food or magic. Instead I’m neck-deep in the news. It’s… not all bad?
Here, a super cute bunny.
Tuesdays, so fun!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, recharging, Thoughts on January 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Yes, I had plans. Yes, this is one of those days where I say, “I had plans but…”
I regret nothing!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, family, Thoughts on January 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »
For various reasons I need a dose of cute today. Here it is, in case you do too.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, adoption, birthdays, creativity, history, inspiration, music, Thoughts on December 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Today is (probably*) Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthday, and it’s a date I note every year. That’s because it also happens to be my adoption date.
Like a lot of kids, mini me went through an early phase where I pronounced new words as they were spelled (like “Zay oose,” here’s hoping no Greek gods were paying attention). And so in some corner of my mind this German composer will always remain “Bee Thoven.”
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The 20 greatest Beethoven works of all time – Classic FM
Here’s where I admit that I find a lot of his work a little over the top, like he was angry at the piano or something. As my stepmother has been known to say, “Too many notes!” I still recognize brilliance when I hear it, and his approach is a lesson for creatives of all forms.
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
― Ludwig van Beethoven
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* Beethoven was baptized on December 17th in Bonn, Germany, making it likely that he was born the day before. Let’s just go with it, shall we?
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, ruhro!, Thoughts on December 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
― G.K. Chesterton
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, community, home, pandemic musings, Thoughts on December 14, 2021| Leave a Comment »
This pandemic just keeps on keeping on, and while we are in a much better place than we were last year we’re not back to normal yet.
I watch my neighbors walk by, the teenager who gets off the school bus alone every day at 3:45, the man who drives a cab that may or may not be in demand, the new father who strolls up and down the street every afternoon, the older couple who always hold hands as they walk their dog, and the orange cat we are (almost) certain has a home.
I wave and say hello but mostly I want to ask, “Are you ok? Are your homes warm, your pantries full, your hearts whole?”
I know that in my neighborhood and others, the answers will not always be what I hope. And so I smile and wave and when I can, I help food pantries, animal rescues and other groups who do their best to keep our community strong.
And that helps me be ok, too.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, snowy afternoon, Thoughts, yay on December 11, 2021| Leave a Comment »
“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”
― Guillaume Apollinaire
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Posted in Likes, Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, #justaddkittens, cat herding, good people, inspiration, kittens, Thoughts, Writers on December 10, 2021| 1 Comment »
I may have mentioned our adventures in kitten trapping over the past couple of years (short version: hard but rewarding, remote cameras for the win).
Here are two organizations that were great as we tried to keep the neighborhood from being overrun by adorable, yet vulnerable, kittens:
The good people in these groups have done an amazing job even under the stresses of the pandemic, which has increased demand for pets but also restricted a lot of shelters and the vet services they need.
Fortunately, we were able to help our local cat rescue groups get a lot of kittens off the street before winter. Just as an example, take a look at two of the kittens we saved: Comet and Dasher. So cute!
If you’re in the market for an adorable fur friend, check out the adoption pages at these or your local rescue groups. We’re not ready for a new cat just yet but when we are we’ll go through a group like this.
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