Here They Are!

The process is here. 

Heart Factory

My beloved niece wanted some hearts for the bookstore window. 

I can't wait to see what she does with them. I guess I'll find out on Monday.

Here's the reveal.

When you think your kitten's lost

Because he's disappeared for 4 hours.

But he always wants dinner

So you are outside calling and calling

Eventually Frank goes into the garage. 

And sees the kitten inside my car. 

Which I parked just over 4 hours ago

Psycho kitty quest que c'est. 

The Beauty of Lowered Expectations

Most years I eagerly anticipate Christmas so much, but when it is over I feel let down and sad at having to pack everything away again.

This year, for the first time since 1987 I did not put up a tree or decorate. 

In December 1987 we were in escrow for this house, finishing a kitchen remodel on the prior house, and everything we owned was in the process of being packed, boxed, or stored.

This year, I blame it on the kitten.

I was afraid to put up Pink and Sparkly! For sure, I thought, he would attack it and climb it and play vigorously with the breakable ornaments.

Then I thought I might buy a small tree, strongly tie it down somewhere, and put on only non-breakable decorations. I never got around to that.

I ended up with a wilted wreath, a foot-high shrub, and a Christmas tablecloth. Not so much anticipation.

But by golly, no post-Christmas let-down. That feels wonderful.

Meanwhile Kitten is attacking the computer screen as the cursor moves.

Head Warmer

Or is it earmuffs?

Either way, Hunter's favorite place to sleep is curled around Handy's head. 

One Man's Trash

...is another man's treasure.

We took a defunct appliance to the dump transfer station and I noticed a lot of salvaged treasures around the area. 

Outside

The wind came from different directions today. We usually feel the wind from the west but around noon today were hit by a vortex from north, east, and south. Yet still no storm. Tonight I hear a thrumming outside, building. Just now, a rumbling up the center of the house. Louder and louder outside, and then it's gone. It's going to drive me crazy. 

Nocturne

Lying awake in the middle of the night, I analyze each noise. The house's creaks and pops, the cats' nocturnal adventures, the husband's snores, the drone of faraway freeway traffic. Like that snippet on a Tom Petty record, "it's just the normal noises in here."

Tonight the wind has added an extra dimension. A dull thrum, a clash of chimes, a big rattle. Noises I can't place. 

I lie restless, anticipating the next noise, waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. 

Traditions

Keeping my regular New Year's Traditions: 

The Rose Parade.

and the Twilight Zone Marathon. 

And then we cleaned the gutters, threw away broken things, and tidied up outside in preparation for the rain which is supposed to arrive next week.