WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR AUGUST 2023

LisaInArkansas wrote: »

Morning, afternoon and/or evening, as the case may be,

Life in the country or... this morning's excitement:

Trying to get my adrenaline down... got up an hour or two earlier than usual, and of course, it's full dark outside at 3:30am. I was putting together an iced coffee in the kitchen, when Egg came running through from wherever she had been asleep and was peering through her little plexiglass kitty door. It was locked, but she didn't seem to want to get out, she was just agitated. So I walked over and flipped on the light, and there were too big old raccoons wandering around our little backyard patio area. Probably three times Egg's size and Egg is not small.

They completely ignored the light coming on, and continued exploring the plants and the area, so I smacked my hand on the metal door a couple times to try to surprise 'em. They didn't even flinch. Then the one started climbing the old phone pole, ten feet from the house, where I have a suet feeder hung up on one side and started yanking on the suet cage.

I grabbed the BB gun and got it cocked, yanked open the door and popped the one on the post in the butt. Not trying to kill or even injure it, just get it to believe this place is not a good place to be... the entire time, the slightly smaller one that was about six feet from me is just kind of staring at me, interested in what I'm doing until that percussion startled it.

The bigger one bailed off the pole, and joined it, and one of them was growly/grunting, so I cocked the gun again and sent a bb in their direction, and they started moving faster. A third pop finally got them to head out.

Had Egg not alerted me to their presence, I'm not sure I would have heard them - the katydids are sounding off like someone's buzzy alarm forever going off in the distance, and we've got windows open all over the house to get the cooler night air in. Good kitty!

Pretty sure, too, that it was the big male that was up on that pole. It could have figured out that suet cage in seconds, and was pretty Arnold Schwarzeneggery, so strong enough to easily yank it down. Wonder if that's what the growly/grunt was? "I'll be back..." in raccoon?

So, thus endeth (one hopes) the excitement for today... whew!

Started off yesterday morning with a short yoga session to get things stretched out a bit, then relaxed after getting all the chores done. Added a short nap in the afternoon, and I think I finally caught up on my exhaustion levels. I woke up this morning with my brain in full design mode, with the decision made (not sure who made it ) to try making a couple of couch pillow-cover-sized miniature versions of the bookcase quilt I'll be building.

I need new pillow covers anyway, and it will give me the chance to try out a number of design elements in a small space that are new to me, such as appliqué and paper piecing. Also want to try some fabric paints and possibly some inkjet printing of old photographs, and figure out how to include them in a 3D spatial design. Easier in a small area than learning on the fly in the larger materials when I'm making the quilt. Maybe. If it gets too fiddly, I'll just go to the bigger version.

As we hit this last day of August, I'm one pound higher than I want to be on my maintenance range, at 150.8 pounds, as my range is to 145-150, but I do know that I was craving salt yesterday, so may well be up a pound or two from water. I'll keep an eye on it. Really pleased that I've stabilized in this range, and do not want to gain again.

For those who are new, keep your eye out here for the link Barbie will post later today to our new September thread, so we can start the month with a clean slate, and support each other as the year goes on. Don't forget to bookmark it!

Later y'all,
Love,
Lisa

Lisa- there is a good chance they will be back for the suet. Once they know there is food out there, they tend to come back. They will stand their ground for sure. Have had quite a few over the past few years- had a few litters born either under our house, or deck or the neighbor's house. The babies are cute but the bigger ones can really tear things up. They have dug up part of the lawn, dumped pots over, one tried to run off with the plastic container of cat food. The worst ones were the ones that tore a huge whole in the catio screen or tore the latch off the pass through door of the catio. Not a fan of waking up and having a coon just a couple feet from my face while I am in bed. We have covered almost all the catio now with chicken wire over the screen(only one wall isn't and it is covered in tarp but we are watching that spot). They will literally stand up to you. We think that is what tore a gash in one of the feral /neighborhood cat's neck a few months ago. Thankfully the cat is friendly enough that we were able to treat it

I really want to try quilting. My friend from Zumba makes some great ones. I have tons of fabric. Just need to get things organized and start one. I love quilts. My favorite is the one that stays on the back of my couch that was made by my great grandmother.

Debbie
Napa Valley,Ca