Cats Day

What the cats did yesterday.

The Black

Tabby

Gatto

Jigs

Frieda

Of course, it's the same as any other day.

It's currently -3 F/-19 C. With the wind factored in it feels like 

-23 F/-31 C. Because of the wind factor the equines will stay tucked into the barn. I will stay tucked into the house and dear Mark will venture forth with hay. 

I plan to make a lasagna for tonight's dinner. It is comfort food weather, after all. Osso buco is on the menu in the coming week. I love it but haven't thought to make it for awhile now. I use beef or pork shank instead of veal. I brought shredded zucchini and carrot up from the freezer which I plan to turn into zucchini bread. The carrot will add a little something. The cold is inspiring me.

This is as far as I have got with decorating. I'm not going to put up my fake tree this year. Instead I'll take the tree lights and string them around windows. I'm just not feeling it.

Cold With Snow

Good Morning

We've had a few snowy days, one which was a storm because of wind. Very happy to be able to stay safe and warm at home. I still haven't done one bit of decorating. I spoke to my longtime young friend yesterday who said she hasn't either and she's a decorating ninja. So.....it's not all about me.

I did manage to bake bread and sandwich rolls yesterday. We are now covered for a few days. I told Mark with the high cost of seemingly everything I may need to start cooking like his mother did. He gave me a look of horror. This is not criticizing her abilities. Mark grew up on a dairy farm in SW Minnesota in a family of ten children. His mother grew up on a farm in the same area in a family of fourteen children. She knew how to stretch the food supply. He was never hungry but let's just say one can of tuna was stretched to feed them all. We had completely different lives.

 

Just Stuff

Happy cold December morning. I told Mark we forgot it's winter, having had such a mild November. The two part time house cats are officially snuggling in for the winter. Their sister, Mona, still, after all these years, refuses to come inside. The tripod kitty and her three siblings were born to a stray older kitten in the barn Mother's Day 2015. Jigs became a full-time house kitty years ago after the injury which left her a tripod. She got her name because her coat pattern looked like a jigsaw puzzle. The two boys got names based on color and coat pattern. The Black and Tabby. I know, so original. After naming what seems millions of animals I just gave in and went for the obvious.

Today being Monday, the washing machine is doing its thing in the room next to my office. My one constant, Monday laundry. Fascinating, right? I stopped decorating for Christmas after I developed debilitating back pain. Last year I did decorate, more than I had when I was still doing it. I am thinking of doing at least some. It is only the two of us now but I like all the sparkles so why not do what I can, if I want to. I'll see if the spirit moves me.

 I used two leftovers for dinner. Pork chop and pearled emmer. 

Not Much

We are 31 degrees F warmer this morning than we were yesterday morning. Downright balmy! I finally got the wood pellet stove working yesterday. Gatto is quite pleased. It has not consistently worked since he has been in residence. It does a lot to warm the openness of the space. One thing that made a difference is the pellets. I've always used softwood because it burns hotter. The auger kept jamming after the initial fix, which can be a problem with softwood, I learned. My dear man went to Fleet Farm, not a quick drive, to buy one bag of hardwood pellets. I didn't want to buy a pallet and find it wasn't the problem. So far, it's not jamming.

I did get around to making rhubarb bread yesterday, although this recipe is more cake-like. Regardless, it's good. One for now, one for the freezer. 

brrrrr

Another snowscape from the farm. We're currently 10 F/-12.2 C, dropping to -10 F/ -23.4 C. Hello winter! I hope the ICE Agents zooming in on Minneapolis are all from the hot climate states. Please let it be so. 

I made turkey stock a few days ago and turned nearly all the rest of the turkey into soup with my stock. I have lunch for two more days. Yippee!! I don't like coming up with lunch everyday. Bah.

See how it is around here? We are here to serve, make no mistake. They get very cranky if they are moved from the chairs. We can eat on the floor. People say cats are easier than dogs. I beg to differ. My dogs stayed off the chairs and were grateful for every little thing they got from me. A pat on the head, a big wag of the tail and a doggy smile. Cats, well..... 

I think I may warm up the kitchen with a little baking. I have a LOT of rhubarb in the freezer so maybe some rhubarb bread. It's been like forever since I made popovers so we'll see if that happens, too.

It's beginning to look a Lot Like Winter

Zing enjoying the hay.

Saturday was an all day snowfall. We got about five inches of the fluff. It's so much prettier than the bleakness of November. So, now here we are, the last month of 2025. How can time move so quickly by? If I could place time in a bottle. Don't I wish.

Place Time in a Bottle 

It's Me Again

Good morning one and all. The hustle and bustle of the holiday is over and I am finally unstressed. How can someone with three people at the table become so stressed? My stress line has obviously lowered by a lot. Lori had asked for a photo of our Thanksgiving table and I remembered partway through to do so. The Thanksgiving plate is rather brown, at least at my table but, hey, it's potatoes, gravy, dressing and turkey. I have whittled it down to the basics over time.

We had a pleasant afternoon. Matthew talked about his new career, how much he has learned over his orientation period and how much more there is to learn. His co-workers are great and he feels like part of the team. We are proud of him for taking this big step at this age. It is a brave move. He was relaxed and seemed happy.

Of course, it wouldn't be Caturday without some cats and the Cat Man. He is a cat magnet. 

 

I cannot close without a weather report. It's been cold and today we are having snow, 2"-5" predicted. I may be plowing. It is pretty.

 I’m not going to be around for a few days, I’m actually busy!

See you all soon. Nothing is wrong, just got my mojo working. 

Tip-Toeing Toward Independence

I walked into the kitchen yesterday afternoon and saw the elusive  November sun casting a glow across the living room. The sun is so rarely seen during November it felt worthy of a photo. It was much more vibrant in person, but it does bring a little light to a day.

Another news flash; I drove into Waconia by myself. Again! This makes three, count them, three trips in the car by myself. I feel like a newly driving teenager. Well, more like an old lady trying to regain some independence, which may be close to the same thing. It was a grocery pick-up, so driving was the extent of the adventure. As an aside, my olive oil has gone up in price by $4 since a year ago. I have order records so I know this is not my imagining.

I have everything but the turkey for Thanksgiving. Mark will pick that up from the meat locker on Wednesday. There is a farm in southeastern Minnesota that raises free-range turkeys we have been buying for years. Now I need to muster my ambition. I don't know if Matthew will be here. With his new career he will very likely be working. He was able to find a job relatively quickly at a major hospital in Minneapolis. He is happy so far, which is wonderful. To switch careers at fifty-one is a courageous move. 

Now, a second to honor all cats on this Caturday.

 Happy day to one and all.

Home Is Where the Hearth Is

Now that we are finally having November weather I am into the hygge of the season. I have a friend in Denmark so the word carries meaning for me. This time of year the sunroom is renamed the snug, for good reason. My favorite room in the house.

In the meantime......

Frieda decided to emulate a Gustav Klimt painting. She is talented.