New Jessie, BirdBuddy and cat buddies

Jessie has been reliably coming in in the mornings and evenings for a while now. She sleeps overnight in the cozy spot on the floor next to our bed. 

She also reliably wakes me up at 5:45 am to go out for a pee, but the new Jessie comes back in and stays in the house until about 12:30. That’s a big deal!

And yet she still insists on shivering out there on nasty, cold, windy, snowy days like today, until I convince her to come in when it gets dark and she gets hungry. 

The BirdBuddy has a hard time getting good pics on days like today when the birds have a hard time hanging on long enough to catch a seed or 2. That was a white-breasted nuthatch who succeeded. 

Monkey and Martin are getting better at being buddies. They still have a boxing match at least once a day, but then they act like BFFs. 

And the last pic is what happens when I spend too long writing a post. Even in his sleep, Martin tries to get my attention away from the phone (which was in that hand).

Happy New Year!

I didn’t manage to write a Christmas post, so here’s one for New Year’s Eve. 

The barking Keith Haring sign was one of my gifts to The Husband. It was meant for the Music Cave in the basement, but for now it’s doing double duty as a Christmas decoration.

We are headed out to dinner with Julie and Tom. Most likely we will succeed in getting to bed by 10 pm, our New Year’s Eve tradition.

Wishing you all a peaceful happy healthy and wonderful new year!

Christmas helper and Morrissey's Pub

Adding his freshly bathed (in the kitchen sink) mousie to a gift bag

Writing every card with me

My little Christmas elf, Mr. Martin, is responsible for the lack of ornaments (and a tree!) in the house. Trying to make up for his evil ways, he is helping me wrap every present and write every card. He is especially helpful when chewing on the pen I am writing with.

If you received a card (with messy handwriting), you would know that on the front was a photo of the pub and former grocer in my Granny's hometown in Ireland. Husband and I had a great time at the old homestead catching up with my cousins. Tony and Rose served an excellent dinner and there were plenty of stories from them, and Geraldine and Donal, and Liam and Mary. After dinner, we went to the pub for more stories and a few pints. 

We had too much fun there as well, so I sent Morrissey's a card. I was quite pleased when they responded with an email or 2, showing the pub all decorated for the holidays, AND my card behind the bar. It was appropriately draped over some Guinness bottles.

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is coming!

A nice dusting of snow yesterday made our porch tree look even prettier. The warmer temps today melted the snow and also the ice that was supposed to be water for the tree.

The little Monster of Mayhem (the reason the tree is outside this year) is resting comfortably in the sun today. He pretty much ended any attempts at decorating inside. The only bit that survived is the Christmas lights on the windows. They might have to go outside as well—he stands on the back of the sofa and pulls them off the windows. At least he has not (yet) discovered the cord that is plugged in behind the green chair.

He did discover (and destroy) the one poinsettia on the windowsill behind the kitchen sink that he likes to play in. That's what I get for washing the dirty dishes that were in his way before.

Ho Ho Ho!

Christmas spirit

Christ Church, Episcopal

The Voices of Cooperstown, at Christ Church

The Husband had to do some serious convincing to get me out of the house and into the spirit of Christmas. This was not so much because of my recent sour mood, more because the 2 latest indoor pets have made life...more interesting. And made me more tired.

I was afraid to put a live tree in the house as I have done every year for the past 40 years or so. Martin the Master of Mayhem would not only take care of any dangling ornaments, but he also has a fondness for electrical cords—especially the ones that are plugged in.

So the poor little Charlie Brown tree is banished to the back porch. Maybe I will get some ornaments on there today. Even with just the lights on it is perfect, but I am not sure how to keep it happily watered when it is this cold.

After more than a year of living here, Miss Jess is just starting to get used to coming in the house willingly. She will (still wake me up at 5:45 am) to go out in the morning, but she is just starting to run back up on the porch to come in, probably because it is so stinkin' cold out there. I need to see her through that back porch window, which would be blocked by the tree inside.

So thanks to Husband for getting me out to hear some beautiful music. We joined the other old folks (and maybe a youngster or 3) in 2 very spirited locations to soak up some Christmas joy.

No more ranting. I promise.

The Fenimore Chamber Orchestra at the Farmer's Museum

Return, ranting, rain, and reading

I got the Kia back home on Monday after more than a month of torture. Also on Monday, I got a response from Corporate Kia that is so comical I have to share:

"Dear Kathleen,

This email is a status update to your case. 

Apologies for the late follow up as I did have to wait for the dlrship to respond back to me. I have reached out to them again requesting an update for repairs, and have been made aware that repairs shall be completed by today. I will f/u back up with yourself and the dealership later this week to verify the vehicle repairs have been completed...

Sincerely, 

Kia America”

Am I wrong or did they not address my problem? They just made it their excuse (dealer not responding) AND said “f/u back up with yourself”.

At least that made me laugh. That must be the supreme insult they have available for any whiny American car owner. 

The pretty snow is being washed away today. I think the rain has washed away some of my anger as well. I will save what remains for Kia of Korea and Kia of Utica. 

The inside children are getting some quality time with mom upstairs. Jessie likes to hide up here when the weather outside is frightful. And Monkey has become even more attached to Cyrus because kooky Martin is so exhausting.

Mom is reading and enjoying "Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik.

Still no car!

 😡😡😡

!!!!!!!!!!

The snow isn't quite as pretty any more, and there are no new cat pics, and the Kia dealer called this morning to say they haven't heard back from Corporate Kia with a solution to my problem—a back door latch that won't open. AND no one seems to care that I haven't had my car for 2 full weeks, they don't give out loaners, and apparently I am not going to get my car back any time soon.

Sorry. No pretty picture can cure me now, so you'll have to just avoid my rants for the next few days...

Ready to rant

I am trying to remain calm and distract myself with pretty snow pics and adorable cats in my lap. Husband says I am not allowed to really rant until we get our car back.

The Kia dealer has had our 2024 Soul since November 19. Door latch stopped working, also found the starter had to be replaced. Two weeks later, still no Kia. 

Good thing we are retired.

Aren't those cats adorable?

Look at that pretty snow and the sun shining on Don's house on the hill!

 

It was almost a cold turkey!

Happy White Thanksgiving from the cold North Country! Power on and off all day... Thought we weren't going to cook our turkey, but it is now done! Yay!

Let the fun begin (she said sarcastically!)

Animals make me happier than people do sometimes. I'll stick with the pet posts for awhile.