Monthly Archives: May 2012
El Café de la Mañana ~ Morning Coffee
My morning starts with charging up and starting the coffee maker. Today I opened up a new package of Sozo’s La Flor del Café from Guatemala. It is a fabulous medium roast coffee that I particularly like. Sozo owner, Rodney Hensley, describes this coffee grown by small farmers in the valley of Antigua as “Medium bodied with very mellow citric notes layered in rich velvety bittersweet chocolate.”
I cut an S-shape into the top of the zip-lock pack on the front and on the back. It may be quicker to cut straight across, but every time thereafter my fingers fumble struggling to separate the two sides. Not a good thing when coffee is needed.
I’m on my second pot now and feeling fine. Life is good. 😀
Blogger bud, Rebecca also posted about coffee on The Freaky Frugalite this morning. Her experience was much different than mine. She had a restless night, I “slept like a log” as they say. 🙂 My coffee was wonderfully delicious her was . . . well, click on the link you know you want to do it. Go ahead. I dare you.
If you are interested in the way Rodney buys coffee, click here. I pay more for this coffee than I would for supermarket brands. I believe it is better. Read the story and you’ll know why.
My cup is nearly dry. Time for another refill.
The Life of Midnight
I’m going to try to write this on Sunday afternoon for posting on Monday. Sylvia is reading a book while relaxing in her recliner after our walk together.
Midnight was born probably in late March of 2009. (We don’t know the exact date, so I have celebrated his birthday on the first of April. I do things like that. ;)) His mother, a feral calico cat we called Checkers, gave birth to a litter of kittens in neighbor Meghan’s barn. When the kittens were a little older, Checkers moved four of them to our barn, which was her home. Sylvia and I enjoyed watching the little ones when they would come out to play with their mom and with each other.
Checkers, gray tiger & Midnight enjoying summer weather.
Fall came and so did a strange queen. I don’t know where she came from, but she was ready to pick a fight with anyone or anything. One afternoon, I heard a terrible sound and looked out to see that queen attacking Checkers, and the fur was flying. It was all Checkers’ fur. Checkers was driven off and we didn’t see her for several months.
The kittens were never to be seen again either. That is except for a little guy that was mostly black. To tell the truth, he didn’t seem to be the cutest kitten of the litter, but he was the only one left. We didn’t see him for a while. Every day Sylvia or I would put out food and water for feral cats in our barn.
One day, Sylvia came back from feeding the cats and reported that the queen had hissed at her and acted aggressively. I decided put an end to that and did. (Don’t ask! And don’t mess with Sylvia.)
Then Midnight appeared we fed him and watched him play as the days got shorter and the air got cooler. He was a lonely little fellow. He would play with an old stick he found laying on the driveway.
Midnight and his friend and playmate, the stick.
That little guy would pick that stick up in his mouth and carry it around and play with it. He seemed to never tire of his “friend.” We could tell that he was lonely. Whereas he would run and hide when Mama had been around, he now would come running up to us wanting our attention and affection. How can you not love on a cute kitten like that. (By then, he had become cute to us.)
Midnight loves on Sylvia.
Midnight works his magic on me.
A major storm and cold snap was forecast for the night of December 3, 2009. I said something to Sylvia about the poor kitten out in the barn not being likely to survive being alone in the cold weather. She thought briefly then spoke, “Let’s bring him in.” We did that the same afternoon.
Our life changed radically that day. We are glad that it did. Midnight spent many evening stretched out beside Sylvia in her recliner as she read a book or watched TV. He bonded very well with me. We had many a nap together. We would play peek and chase games. One his favorites was to bat a ping pong ball back and forth with me. He loved to play “Horse in the house.” The day before he came down sick he was particularly crazy playing that rambunctious game.
So many of you have expressed sympathy and have even said prayers. Sylvia and I appreciate that. Our thanks to two very special friends who even posted their tributes to midnight. Thanks Lin and thanks Rebecca. We feel the love.
I’ve written plenty about him on various Mondays. If you’ve been around here for a while you are well acquainted with Midnight. He’s gone now. But the memory lingers.
Midnight
No “Horse in the House”
Our kitty has slipped away
We miss you Midnight
Midnight 2009 - 2012
Remembering Our Mothers
Chuck and his mother, Mary
You can see my first kitty behind mother. He was a black and white tom cat. 🙂
- Mary
Sylvia and her mother, Elouise
Elouise
Elouise “borrowed” some items from her father for this picture.
Feeling the Loss
Midnight 2009 - May 10, 2012
Earlier this week, Midnight took sick. He had a rough night, but seemed a bit better the next. Soon we noticed that he was not eating. He would drink water, and so we hoped that he would get better. Wednesday evening, he took a turn for the worse.
Thursday morning, Sylvia called the vet. She was in surgery, and the assistant was not able to help us. Before the vet called back, Midnight stopped breathing. Our hearts are heavy.
We wrapped our friend in one of Sylvia’s old shirts. Midnight had often slept on that, and it seemed appropriate that he have that in his final rest. Sylvia and I buried him in a special place. We placed weeping willow branches at his head and at his tail. The ground is damp and those branches should grow and give us a fitting marker for our friend.
I must stop now. I’m sure you understand.
Echoes of Spring
I had taken these two photos earlier this spring. I had planned to use them for a Wordless Wednesday post. But the best laid plans . . . as they say. Indeed, events overtook my plans and I never did post this. If flowers make you happy, then this is for you.
A crocus, and another crocus
There is an explanation for that silly caption. The truth is I don’t know if the plural of crocus is crocuses or crocii. The spell checker indicates a preference for the former wouldn’t the scientific approach lean toward Latin and the latter? Can you help? One thing for sure, the crocus on the left is not going to work today.
What's that on the lovely flower?
As you can clearly see the crocus on the left has a bug. Cough. Cough. I’ll try to make it in to work tomorrow boss. 😉 Pity these pix weren’t posted on a Wednesday. If that had happened, you would have been spared such horrible humor.
Crocus
Lovely Miss Crocus,
Announces arrival of spring,
With merry colors.
A Dramatic Exit for the Sun
Participating in:
Not a Happy Camper Kitty!
Midnight started his day yesterday as usual. By afternoon, he was acting listless. He spoke a plaintiff “Meeooow” to Sylvia as she walked past him. He barely touched his afternoon food. He was obviously not feeling well. 🙁 In the evening, Sylvia and I found some time to watch some TV. I became concerned when kitty didn’t join us. He always wants to be with us when we settle in the recliners. But not last evening.
I went to look for Midnight and found him on the bottom step of the basement stairs. He looked so sad. 🙁 I went down and sat beside him. He didn’t react. (He normally nuzzles me at times like that.) When I tried to pet him, he gave a mournful moan and walked away. I left him in the basement. (He spends his night there and it is his getaway place.)
He’s neither hungry nor happy this morning. I sure hope he gets to feeling better.
My Other Companion
The Master looks down upon the world
Midnight likes his shelf. It was a gift to him from my sister, Clara. He loves to relax on this comfy platform and look out the window. It’s even better when I open the window to let in some fresh air for my little buddy. While I type at the keyboard or listen to an audio book (I’m currently listening to The Fellowship of the Ring, having just listened to The Hobbit), Midnight relaxes and enjoys the view. He is really good at that first part–relaxing.
I frequently call him a lazy boy, but he just yawns at me. Sometimes when he’s doing his thing in front of the window, I take the hint and nod off for a cat nap here in front of the computer monitor. One more reason why I don’t have an Internet cam on this machine. 🙂
Later, we are apt to take turns chasing one another around the house. Sometimes we bat a ping pong ball around as we take turns chasing it down and then send it flying at one another. Those are fun times. I feel the need for a cat nap coming on. Here Kitty, Kitty.
What Do You Do While Waiting?
Each one of us will at some point be found in the waiting room. What do you do while you await the call to pass beyond the door to the inner sanctum?
If there is a TV, I’ll choose a spot that puts my back toward the infernal contraption. I prefer to enjoy the company of my own thoughts. Those thoughts may go to the scene of the hawk diving upon the young rabbit in the field beside the road that I saw as I drove to the doctor’s office that morning. Then there were the five young deer I met on the road. We examined one another carefully before they moved on to complete their rounds. Sometimes, I think of rich dark earth and green growing things or dark blue skies on a sunny summer day.
On occasion, I remove the notepad and pen from my pocket and write a note or start a poem. I find that far more enjoyable than watching daytime TV. Or TV at anytime for that matter. Here is what may come from a moment like that.
In the Waiting Room
While I sit and wait
I kill time by taking notes
Might write a haiku