Well, it doesn't really look like Christmas here just yet. I still have pumpkins on the porch and a turkey wreath on the front door. But soon....very soon. We went crazy and bought a real tree today. We have been using artificial trees for years, and although the convenience of that is wonderful, I still miss having a live tree every year. Yes it's a hassle to keep it watered. Yes, needles get everywhere. Yes, fitting it in a tree stand and getting it straight takes effort. But still, nothing beats that wonderful Christmas tree smell.

I had mentioned to Bruce that I would love to have a real tree this year. He rolled his eyes and grumbled so I asked Stephen to come over this weekend to help drag the artificial tree out. The thing is HEAVY and it's in the attic. Yikes. But Bruce called me late this afternoon to say he was at a tree lot, had picked something out, but he wanted to see what I thought. I drove over and seriously thought he was kidding. His tree was huge! It wasn't so much the height, but the diameter. This tree was large and in charge. I had doubts that it would even squeeze through our front door.

Anyway we compromised on something smaller. It's still a good 8 feet, but not as big around. I think Bruce was a bit disappointed, and I told him that if he really wanted the Big Daddy tree we would make it work....but he ended up with the smaller one. I think it will fit better in the living room. We will probably get it set up tomorrow so I can begin the decorating. I want to get these things done before my surgery this Thursday. I'm not sure how much I will feel up to doing much for a while afterwards.

28 years ago today our son was born and our little family was complete. I know he doesn't like anything too overly mushy, but I love you Stephen. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and a fabulous year ahead.

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. We all pitched in so no one person got stuck in the kitchen all day. Those who didn't cook helped with clean up. There are pics of Bruce washing dishes. LOL. And the food was awesome. The bourbon turkey was yummy, the biscuits were fantastic and the flan....oh my, the flan was my most favorite part. After dinner we had the bonfire. Somehow the bonfire has become part of the holiday tradition. We did it Thursday night, right after the big meal because Delaney had to leave early Friday to work. Since we were all so stuffed we didn't cook hot dogs, or even roast a single marshmallow...but it was fun all the same. I have pics but I haven't downloaded the camera yet. I will....

Anyway, Greg and Lori, and Jeanne and Calvin (and all the kids, of course) are coming around Christmas to see Erica while she is home from England. We plan to have us another bonfire then....and food will be part of the deal this time. Not only hot dogs, but Hannia's signature bacon on a stick and full out s'mores too. Weather permitting, it will be awesome.

So tomorrow think happy thoughts for me. I have to go in for a breast biopsy. Apparently 2 mammograms and an ultrasound are inconclusive. Of course I am a little nervous, but not completely freaked out. I feel like its going to be just fine. I am lucky to have access to good care, and besides, worrying won't change the outcome anyway, right?

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I am jealous of those who have commenced the Christmas decorating already. I haven't had the time or the inclination yet. No shopping done yet either. I am leaning towards a Christmas that is all about enjoying family, my daughter being on US soil for the first time in a year, and good food and cheer. It might be a very anti consumer holiday because honestly? We are all so blessed that none of us really needs any more stuff........

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are just gearing up. I baked a cake (German chocolate with coconut/pecan frosting), and made a batch of sausage balls this afternoon. Spiral ham is waiting in the fridge and Jeanne is bringing a bourbon marinated turkey. Stephen and Hannia are making pumpkin pie and my personal favorite....FLAN! Also homemade biscuits. I am making Lila's recipe for baked sage dressing, and oh sweet Lord we will be stuffed!

Anyway, it's been crazy around here as usual. We were sad to see the little kitten leave us but he was adopted yesterday by a co- worker of mine who was looking for a cat for her animal-loving 7 year old son. I hope they will love him as much as we did. Seriously, we were so sad even though we know it's a good thing. Our cat Vixen just can't seem to tolerate another cat in her house (beyond the other 3 that she tries hard to ignore). She has spent the past few weeks hiding out in our bedroom, grumpy and barely eating. It's not healthy for her. She is out more today, but is cautious and suspicious, peering around corners as if the kitten might ambush her at any moment. I wish she wasn't so skittish, but she is what she is.....

This will be our first Thanksgiving without Erica. I can't tell you how bad we are missing her right now. But she will be home in a few weeks for Christmas so we will be looking forward to that. Jeanne and Calvin are on the way as I write this....let the holiday begin!

We lost the little girl kitten yesterday. She got sick again over the weekend. Having FIV and no immune system, she just couldn't shake the upper respiratory infection. She would seem better for a few days, giving us hope, only to crash again. She was running a high fever even on antibiotics and our vet felt like it was time to make the tough call. It hurts because she was such a cute baby. But she couldn't get well and no amount of medicine or time or money could fix it.

Anyway, it's been a rough couple of weeks in that respect. But on a positive note the little boy is doing well. He still has a weepy eye and is still on meds. But he eats well, is gaining weight, and is very active and playful. We believe he will make a full recovery.
It's been an expensive emotional roller coaster trying to save these rescued kittens, but honestly? I'm sure we would (and will) do it again if the need arises. It's what we do and I am so thankful to have a husband who believes in taking care of animals in need as much as I do.

Is anyone else relieved that the election is over? Of course, I am also relieved that things went the way I had hoped, too. It gives me hope that maybe our nation is moving forward, moving towards tolerance and equality for everybody. The fact that attempts to buy the election failed, voter suppression failed, voter fraud, intimidation, lies and pandering ALL failed....well my faith in America and it's future has been restored. At least temporarily. I feel like maybe things will be ok.

Beyond the election, life here is as crazy as always. Bruce is at the sleep center tonight to have his final sleep study. He wasn't too happy about it, but it has to be done. He has snored worse than ever recently so we are hopeful this will help both of us. I got called back for a second look mammogram. Ugh. I think it is pretty common so I am not overly concerned yet. It is more like annoyed at the inconvenience but I can't preach to hubby about taking care of his health and having him do this sleep study and then not follow through with my own issues. So I will go back. I won't like it but I will do it.

So about the kittens....baby girl kitty got terribly sick over the weekend. Like fever high enough to cause a seizure and go to the emergency vet kind of sick. They thought at first that she may have some terrible virus known as FIP which is pretty much always fatal. But then her fever broke and she recovered so that wasn't it. We had to move her from the emergency clinic to our regular vet on Monday morning where it was discovered that she is FIV positive!!! It is kind of like kitty AIDS. Her brother was also tested and he is negative. Anyway this poses a dilemma for us. FIV is not a death sentence. She is doing so well now, running and playing and eating like a pig. But.... It makes her very difficult to rehome. ????

Our vet assures us that it is extremely rare to be contagious. To pass this on she would have to brutally attack and bite our other cats. It can't be passed through shared food, water or litter boxes. It puts her at risk of future health problems as she will have a lowered immune system. So what to do? I have an unadoptable yet adorable and seemingly normal kitten on my hands. And her brother??? They are so inseparable right now. He cried and meowed until he was hoarse while she was in the hospital. We have to think this through. And it's a lot to consider, too. We have even discussed rigging a cat proof fence and having outdoor cats. We have the chain link fence already but need an angled top attached to the entire fence to prevent escapes. Cats could never survive this road we live on if they left the fenced area.....Bruce installed a pet door this weekend for the door leading into the courtyard area. I don't know what to do or what to think. Is 6 cats unreasonable? If some are outside ( and we would leave that up to the preferences of each cat to decide) does that help?? We are having a hard time with this one, and have to think about our options some more.

When we left for work yesterday morning all the cats and kittens were fine and dandy. Breakfast was eaten, playing was going on. Things were good. But when Bruce got home from work first yesterday afternoon, the baby girl kitten was limping on one of her back legs. We were concerned but she was still eating and getting around a little bit. Not running wildly like usual, but nothing too panic-inducing. But by last night she was lying around, very lethargically. And worse, she was crying out in pain every time we touched her. We started to worry.

This morning our vet agreed to see her. Bruce took her. They had to X-ray but nothing was broken. Good news because having her in a tiny kitten cast would have made me so sad. Anyway, she has pulled or sprained something in all her girls gone wild playing. They gave her a shot of pain meds and sent Bruce home with more. Now we have to try and keep her from running and jumping for a few days until this heals. The vet warned that this might be a little difficult since the meds will mask the pain. But we will do the best we can. Just look at that face!