Merry Day After

Yes Christmas is gone, done with, over and out.

For another year.

The frenzied buying, the loneliness of those without family, the glitter and tinsel and wrapping paper and repeats of old Christmas movies.....all gone.

For another year.

Onward to infinity.....

Ending the year is kind of like dumping the trash and watching the garbage truck carry it off, then pulling a completely empty light garbage can back to the house.
It will fill again.  But for now, it's empty.

I had an epic Christmas.

My younger brother and his wife stopped by on their way north to spend Christmas with their daughter.   We met and ate breakfast at Elmers.  It was so nice to see them.

I was still in recovery mode from the Wednesday and Thursday trips on Friday.  On Saturday I slept half the day, despite plans otherwise, still recuperating.

I need my sleep.  I don't function well unless I have my sleep or until I catch up.  When fully rested, I am ready to rumble.

Sunday I rumbled.  I drove up to see my other brother and his wife.  Their daughter was gone, off with other relatives.  It was me, my brother, his wife and her 90 year old grandmother, who can't really hear.  She's fun nonetheless.  I began to wonder if we all shouldn't learn sign language once we hit 70.

Carter, their dog, was in fine form, by the window, announcing every passer by.  Their small tree was by the window too.   My brother loves the movie "Elf".  Not me.   But we both had seen Christmas Vacation a few too many times.  Grinch too.   Dinner was coho salmon, baked, and cauliflower/Brussel Sprout goulash.  Light and delicious.

I was home by about 6:30, light traffic on the drive back.  I was relieved.

I'd found this goodie bag outside my garage Sunday morning  Someone was playing Santa.  It was delightful and full of cat toys, cat litter and other goodies.

I had been blessed through the last two months with donations from a Canadian friend, arriving through Amazon.  Everything from a huge box filled with 10 canisters of Party Mix treats, to Fancy Feast dry cat food, wet food, tuna flakes, a kennel pad and even a nifty litter box.  Thank you Elaine!

Gretal loves the the Meow Mix tub wet food.  Elaine remembered!

My cats LOVE Fancy Feast dry.  They don't get it very often.  Their usual is Kirkland purple bag dry from Costco.  The FF dry Elaine sent literally vanished overnight.   They ate it all!

And Elaine never forgets that Miss D loves the FF broth packets.  Oh my does she love them.

We also were gifted a case of Nine Lives on Christmas Eve from Diana and a case of Friskies wet from Kimberly.  These were wonderful Christmas gifts for the cats.

It was an epic Christmas all in all.  But now its over, and my eyes are looking forward.....

Baby, let the new year loose!

Many of my kitties are quite old.   Miss Daisy is now over 17.   I love her so much.

My car too has aged another year, but is still running.

We have had a good year with the nonprofit too.  Got lots of cats fixed.  We've only been able to do so with the help of a lot of people.    I can't even begin to name everyone but I want to say thank you to all.   I call one friend, Joan of Arc, because she will suddenly send a donation when HCC is in desperate need of help, seeming to be psychic and know when the chips are stacked up against us.   Midori and her husband are long time supporters, as is Barbara clear out in Nebraska!

Thank you to all of you!

 I understand I am the one setting the traps, feeding the cats, sitting in my car long hours watching traps or in parking lots waiting on cats to be fixed, delivering food to caretakers of colonies....these are things I can do.   The real people behind HCC are those parting with their hard earned money to pay for the costs.  We all have things we can and cannot do.   We all are good at some things and not at other things.  Those who donate money, food, anything or support are HCC too.    We're all in this together.  THANK YOU so much for being part of Happy Cat Club!