Remember Elsie?

When was the last time you saw Elsie?  It's been years and years for me.  Remember when she used to be on the TV commercials?  She was so sweet.  I didn't realize that I even missed her until she showed up on a truck the other day when we were on a road trip up to Debbie and Joel's farm in Tennessee.  I guess she has retired in  East Tennessee.   I'd say it's a pretty good place to retire. Beautiful mountains and pretty green valleys.  So glad to see you again Elsie!!

Teaching an old cat a new trick!

Annabelle's new chair

Got my chair back!!!!

It is very strange only having one cat in the house since Marmalade has been gone.  Even though Annabelle and Marmalade were OK being brother and sister(by adoption) and they did eat off of the same plate at meal time.  At one time in their lives they even slept together, up until it got so where Annie couldn't jump up on my bed any more.  They kinda drifted a part in the past year or so.  I guess that is a good thing though because now she doesn't even miss him.  I'm doing the " missing" for the two of us.
  Ever since we got our wing back chair recovered, Annie thought it was HER chair.  I started putting a blanket over it because I didn't want it ruined with kitty feathers ( that's what Genavive called cat fur when she was little)  all over it.  Plus didn't want to take the chance of her throwing up on it.  Any ways.....I just gave up the thought of ever getting to see or sit in my new chair until Annie was gone.  At Thanksgiving time, Michelle helped me move the chair over by the fire place so Annie would be nice and warm...ha.  As I was telling Michelle how I so wanted to be able to use my chair, she came up with the idea of training Annabelle to sleep in another chair.  I said it would never happen.  Once Annie gets her mind set on something...she does it!  Well, Michelle suggested the old " tin foil in the chair trick".  So, I went and got a piece of foil.  Annie jumped onto the chair just twice with the foil on it and that cured her right then and there.  I just had to put her blanket in the chair I wanted her to sleep in and TA DA!  taught an old cat a new trick!!! Annie is happy by the front living room window and I'm happy being able to sit in my new chair by the fire.

An Icicle Kind of Day

An Ice Puddle

Icicle making an icicle.  

Notice how blue the sky was. 

Ice formations coming out of the ground 

This icicle had to be at least 15 ft long if not more 

After the super duper low temps for 24 hours, we decided that there HAD to be some pretty neat icicles in the forest.  When we left the house it was 11 degrees out.  Ice in all of the creeks and ditches but the roads where all clear.  We went to Chapel Hill Falls because it was close to the road and we wouldn't have to hike in the really cold for long.  As the waterfall and canyon came into sight, we knew it was going to be a winter wonderland experience.  Huge, beautiful icicles every where.  Snow all on the rocks at the bottom of the waterfall.  There were some really "different" ice formations all along the ground where the icicles were melting.  It sure was worth taking a couple of hours out of our day and checking out what the coldest temperatures in the past 20 years in Alabama did to the forest.  Gotta love a real winter!

Let it Snow!

Well, we're ready for the coldest weather in 20 years!  I'm about to be in the coldest temperatures that I have ever been in.  Monday night it's suppose to be 6 degrees and the high on Tues is going to be between 14 and 16 degrees   Yep! that's pretty cold but it's not going to last long.  As the week goes on, it's going to warm up each day.  The good thing is, we're suppose to get a little snow Sunday night.  Only about an inch though.  Better than nothing, I say. I have to admit I'm glad we aren't living in the TT without power and running water, this winter.   It's fun having a real winter when you live in a nice warm house.  Plus, it makes Spring really special when everything starts blooming and popping out of the ground.  I know that is two or three months away but it gives you a whole new world to look forward too.  I'm loving all four seasons! Super Duper cold temps and all.