Kate Collins's Blog, page 100

I TOOK MY CAT TO THE VETS. NOW HE HATES ME

By Mary Kennedy
                                                              
   We all know the importance of routine vet check ups for our cats. As humans we know this, I mean. Our cats seem to have other ideas.  One look at the cat carrier, and all heck breaks loose. It's an immutable law of Physics that what goes in (cat into carrier) can come out. Ask any cat owner!                                                             Damian was an absolute Houdini when I took him to the vets for his "well cat" exam last Monday. I finally managed to get him inside (but not without a herculean struggle). Like many cats, he was subdued but not too irate at the vets. In fact, he was pretty well behaved.  Maybe he was intimidated. Here's Grumpy Cat (I think) at the vets. Like Damian, he seems to be compliant.                                                             The moment we got home, I praised Damian for his good behavior and gave him cat treats. After an initial period of coolness ("I can't believe you stuffed me in a box and drove me to that awful place") he warmed up. The real problem, my friends, began this past Friday. I did the unthinkable. I brought Damian to be neutered. I thought of explaining the procedure to him ahead of time, and figured some things should just be left unsaid. In some cases, ignorance really *is* bliss. The procedure went well and Damian is safely home with me. But the feelings of hurt and betrayal in his heart rage on. How can I get back in his good graces?   I'm thinking a nice selection of cat treats...                                                        loads of belly rubs and maybe some new catnip mice.  And of course, my heartfelt apologies. With Damian, love doesn't mean you never have to say you're sorry. Any ideas from my readers? Thank in advance, Mary PS It's day three and he is still giving me the cold shoulder.

Like I need something else to collect...

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

 A couple of years ago, I found a Bossons head at an estate sale.  What's a Bosson's head?  A picture tells a thousand words, they say. Basically, it's a head made of plaster of Paris (or chalkware).  You can read all about them here.

My mother and aunt collect(ed) them, neither of them had/have a huge collection, but they're very interesting and kind of delicate--they chip very easily.  Mr. L gave me two for Christmas and wasn't as careful as he might have been. One of them broke after he wrapped it. Luckily, he has a friend who can mend things so that you can't tell they've been broken.  (One of our cats chewed the ears off a cat statue Mr. L had given me and his friend was able to repair it so that there was no trace it had been gnawed.)

I've now got five. Women Bossons heads are very rare indeed, and Mr. L bought me a female for Christmas. I wish I could say she was pretty, but she's a fisherman's wife, and she looks it. In fact, not many could be considered "pretty," but they are true-to-life.

Most of my Bossons heads are fishermen (and woman), but I do have a policeman (who was my second head). I've looked at a lot of images online and I think I'd like a Beefeater next. But that can wait. I've still got a birthday and Christmas to go in 2017.

The other day, I was at a thrift shop. Sad to say, I did NOT find a Bossons head, but I did find a small plaster of Paris plaque of a fisherman at the helm. Mr. L said it reminded him of the Glouesster Fisherman statue in Massachusetts.

As you can see, it's rather humble, but sweet. I thought it would make a nice addition to my wee Bossons collection.

Do I really need to find anything else to collect?

Nope.

Is that going to stop me?

Nope.

What useless things do you collect?

Amid Snow...Looking Toward Spring

by Karen Rose Smith



After the holidays can be a blah time.  And once the frigid temperatures and snow move into Pennsylvania, I need an activity that takes my physical challenges of arthritis and fibromyalgia into consideration. I've found that growing and nurturing plants (as well as cats) does that for me.

Gardening started as therapy and it still is. But more than that, it relaxes me, takes me away from the computer and enhances my ability to live in and decorate my patio and garden surroundings with joy. I never thought I had a "green" thumb. The first year, I planted heirloom tomatoes in my kitchen, sat them on the windowsills and watched them grow. It was a surprise that they did! But the whole process was so enriching, I expanded it. My husband put grow lights in the basement over his work benches above heat pads. So each year beginning in January, I start to plant.


This week I planted Purple Pirouette Petunia seeds and Red Pirouette Petunia seeds in peat pots. These are hard to grow. Last year out of 35 seeds, I only managed about six plants.  But they produce beautiful, unusual flowers.









I will also start geraniums this month. In February I will start Twinny Appleblossom Snapdragons and Marigolds. In March, heirloom tomatoes will line my tinfoil pans. I'll tell you more about my spring and summer flowers in upcoming months.



Starting plants gives me a way to increase standing time, begin lifting in degrees, and generally just add more activity to months when ice and snow might prevent me from going out. Watching seeds grow into plants and then provide color in my gardens also rejuvenates in me the promise of spring.






What activities do you plan for January and February to see you through winter?

This Little Piggie Went to Market...

We all have to grocery shop, either that or starve. So here in Cincy I go to Kroger’s. I go there because it’s close to my house and they have organic. But they are often out of stuff I want and lately they’ve taken to self-scan check out. After eight at night that is the only option and I often shop then as I’m getting off work. 
I hate Self scan!! Especially at the grocery where there are a lot of things in my basket and fruits and veggies have to be weighed. Like I told the person who oversees the scan area...if I wanted a job at Kroger’s I’d apply. I feel like I’m doing their job!
And the biggest thing is if the person overseeing the check out area that isn’t all that busy opened a register we could all check out there and I’d be out of the grocery so much faster. If you buy fruits and veggies there are a ton of glitches!
I don’t mind self-scan at Lowes or Home Depot as their stuff is marked and it goes smoothly. At the grocery it never goes smoothly and then the overseer of the self scan acts all put out that I don’t know the ten step process for weighing and entering the amount.

Did I mention how much I hate self-scan.
So what about you? Have they introduced self-scan at your grocery? Do you like it? Are there registers open in case you don’t like it and a human actually checks you out? Does your store have clerks wondering around chatting and are you thinking... Just open the blasted register so I can get out of here and go home.
Okay, I feel better now after my rant but if you hear about a clerk getting decked by an irate customer in Cinch 
you’ll know who it is.

Hugs, Duffy

Do You Have Any New Year's "Intentions?"

by Maggie Sefton


One of my favorite "Winter" photos.  Daughter Serena sent it to me two winters ago.  :)  



You notice I'm not calling them "Resolutions."  I'm using the word "Intentions" instead.
Yes, yes, it's a weaker term, wishy-washy, whatever.  But the word Intentions doesn't carry with it the same judgmental quality as the word Resolutions.  I know. . .only people like writers who work with words all the time would make that distinction.  What can I say?  We writers are a strange bunch, granted.  After all, we walk around looking normal, while we have all sorts of different people dancing through our heads.


But, back to the subject of this post----Intentions/Resolutions.  Mine are very simple this year.  I intend and/or resolve to save some money and NOT go on a cruise this winter.  I fell in love with cruising a couple of year's ago as a wonderful way to escape some of Winter's harsh cold weather during either January or February.  I have really enjoyed my previous cruises, especially last year's February 2-week cruise in the Eastern Caribbean.  The ship went to of my favorite places plus all of the other islands I had not reached yet.  I would dearly love to cruise the Western Caribbean, but that will have to wait until next year.  Having been an accountant and CPA, I am able to "summon" enough will power to accomplish my money-saving goals when necessary. Thank goodness.    It's the only way I can stay on track living this precarious existence as a writer of fiction.  


So-----this year, I am going to escape for a week down to Florida to visit my dear childhood friends who always escape the Winter Cold of the Metropolitan No.Virginia/DC/Maryland area and go to their second home in Florida.  For years, I've been promising them I would visit sometime during the winter, but I never have.  I think this is the year.  I've always enjoyed every trip I've ever made to Florida, whether it's spring, summer, or fall.  So, I imagine I will enjoy a winter trip as well.  Do any of  you Readers "escape" Cold Weather during the Winter?  If so, where do you go?  Tell us.  :)

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO CARBS

By Mary Kennedy                                 
                                                             
 Good-bye! Adieu! A bientot! Breaking up is hard to do, but I'm saying good-bye to carbs for the next 4 weeks. But don't shed a tear for me, I'm not saying farewell to *all* carbs, just bad carbs.  And we all know what they are, right? I'm ditching anything made with flour, sugar, corn syrup, molasses. No noodles, no pasta, no rice, no sweets of any type, and of course, no bread, rolls or pizza. (Unless it's the pizza crust you can make with "cauliflower rice" and I have to admit I've never gotten up the energy to try it.)                                                                In case anyone has a burning urge to make pizza  crust with cauliflower rice, you can just put raw cauliflower in the blender or food processor in small batches until it looks like rice.                                                                                               Or (easier) just a buy a bag in the frozen veggie section at the supermarket.  You can find directions online for a pizza crust made out of "cauliflower rice." Not sure how much it resembles the real thing.  I'll be eating good carbs, of course, and we all know what they are. Fresh veggies, for example, but nothing starchy like potatoes in any form. (Yes, I know this is a downer.)                                                        Since I'm a big fan of veggie burgers, I'll be making "cloud buns" to go with them. Have you tried cloud buns? My recipe makes 8, but you really need 2 per sandwich as it is practically impossible to cut them in half.  They have zero carbs and are 80 calories for two halves. Sometimes I just use one half for an open-faced sandwich. This is what they look like and they're good for those times when you are dying for a piece of bread! They're about the size of a McDonald's hamburger roll.                                                      Here's how you make them. They're super easy and have two ingredients, eggs and cream cheese. Oh, and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar if you have it. Recipe: separate 4 eggs, add cream of tartar and beat 4 minutes they stand in stiff peaks. Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl, add 2 tablespoons cream cheese (you can also use cottage cheese if you prefer) to the egg yolks. Beat until well blended. Next, carefully fold in the liquid yolk mixture into the egg whites. Do this a little at a time, do not overbeat.  Fold. don't stir! Place big globs of the mixture on an ungreased cookie sheet. It should make 8 buns. Bake in pre-heated 300 degree oven for about 15 minutes, but keep checking. They should be golden on top, like the ones pictured. When cool, keep in a plastic bag in the fridge. After a few hours, they take on a "bread-like" texture. No, they don't taste exactly like a real piece of bread, but you knew that, right? I've gotten used to them (they're not to everyone's taste) and I eat them in the morning as an egg beater sandwich with a veggie sausage patty. Or at lunch with a veggie burger, lettuce and tomato etc. Give them a try and see what you think! And if you decide to take the no-carb challenge with me, welcome aboard. Bon appetit! Mary Kennedy     

SPOTLIGHT On "Who Are You People?"

by Maggie Sefton






Today it's my turn to Spotlight some of my writing, and I've chosen a Nonfiction short piece which I wrote a little over two years ago.  I decided to do an "in-depth" character study of all the people who make up the cast of the Kelly Flynn Mysteries.  If you've just discovered our Cozy Chicks Blog and all of the Cozy Chicks' many novels, short stories, and other pieces that we, the Chicks, have produced over the years, then you may be surprised.  We Chicks are a prolific bunch.  :)  


A couple of years ago I decided to write what I call "a short, short story" featuring the characters that inhabit the Kelly Flynn Mysteries.  But, first, I wrote a short nonfiction piece that featured all of the regular characters that appear in the Kelly Flynn mysteries.  It's entitled, "Who Are You People?, " and it's an excellent way to become acquainted with all these characters that inhabit Kelly Flynn's world.  If you're new to the Kelly books, why not give the introductory piece a try.  You'll find it on Amazon's Kindle Books.  And you'll also find that short, short story featuring the Kelly Flynn characters I mentioned in the first paragraph---Halloween Scare.  Check it out.  You don't have to wait until Halloween to enjoy it.  :)  

More phone woes...

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Last year, I lost my flip phone. I'd had it for about five years, and considering how often I lose things, I thought that was pretty good.  I bought a small Android phone and thought I'd stepped into the 21st century.

Well, that phone was not only TOO small, but it took crappy pictures, too. So after about six months, I bought a bigger, better Android phone. I actually took time to watch some videos on how to use it (but still have a terrible time typing on the thing).  I downloaded a few apps and with my better camera, took some pictures of my cat (and lots of pictures of lunch martinis) and could even upload them to Instagram.

I sent my first text on Thanksgiving. Since then, I've forgotten how to do it (and don't really have anybody but my brother to text, anyway).

Then in early December, my phone just stopped being a phone. A message came up that said SAFE MODE. I didn't know what that meant, and who had time in December to figure it out?  It no longer rang or vibrated when somebody called me.  All my apps disappeared. I kept charging it in case I had to make a call (and I actually made a couple), but it was relegated to the bottom of my purse.

Last week, my brother had had enough of not being able to reach me.  He bought me a used iPhone 4.  (It's pink!)  Not only did he buy it for me, he put me on his account. (He's a great guy.)

There's just one problem. I don't know how to use it, either.

He's working and won't have time to walk me through using it (which I will probably forget in a heartbeat). Thank goodness for YouTube videos.

I guess the real problem is that I don't like using the phone. I go out of my way NOT to use phones -- cell or otherwise. I do like having the camera, but uploading the pictures has not been easy.

So, why do some people take to cell phones like fish to water and people like me just have a mental block about it?

Stray #Cats In Winter--Bonnie & Clyde

by Karen Rose Smith


As some of you might know, I'm a cat lover.  We have four inside rescued cats.  One of them, our senior London, has to be separated from the others.  So we really aren't equipped to invited more cats inside the house.  A sibling pair of stray cats my hubby dubbed Bonnie & Clyde have been coming to our outside feeder since fall a year ago. Their ears were clipped so we knew they'd been caught up in a Trap/Neuter/Release program. Another stray we were caring for (and lost last winter) led them there.  We already had shelters on the property for Sunnybud.  We also have a sun room detached from the house at the patio which has shelters and heat pads there.  So we were hoping this winter Bonnie and Clyde would use them. Last winter, we think they were staying under a not-cat-friendly neighbor's porch. But in the spring the neighbor used lattice and stones to block off under the porch so no cats could house there.

After we Sunnybud crossed the rainbow bridge, I vowed I would not get attached to a stray again.  But...
This is an igloo shelter protected by straw bales.
We knew we had to do something to help Bonnie and Clyde.  However, they were definitely feral and so skittish.  Throughout the summer we made progress. We started a relationship by leaving wet food on the patio where they didn't have to worry we'd bother them.  Then we began talking to them through the screen in the basement while they were eating.  Finally by the end of the summer they came inside to eat twice a day if we kept our distance.  Clyde began staying around our property more, though Bonnie was still a flibbertygibbit.  We still don't know where she goes sometimes.

As summer ended, we decided to put a kitty door in the storm door.  Hubby handled that project.  We taped open the door and they began coming in and out.  Clyde even began sleeping on a chair in the basement during the day and in the evening.  As temperatures began dropping, they started climbing up on top of my book boxes near the heat vent.  We had other strays who came in the kitty door to look around (we always take out the food at night) and Bonnie and Clyde felt safe up high.

When the temperature dipped below freezing, we decided to try closing them in at night.  The first night was an experiment and to our surprise, another stray had been hiding in the basement!  So we let them out that night.  They came back so I knew they weren't too freaked out.  We tried it again.  To our amazement, they used the litter boxes we provided and slept most of the night.  (We have a camera in the basement to watch their activities.)

Now, we have a routine.  Clyde will let me pet him at times. Bonnie won't.  They still run and hide if hubby or I move too fast or reach toward them.  Every evening, I feed them inside while hubby goes to the outside of the door.  They won't run "toward" him.  He steps in and closes the door then leaves again.  I sit until they come out and eat more.  Then Bonnie usually heads up to the top box under the heat vent.  They are starting to realize they are safe inside from other cats and creatures--our camera has also caught photos of a raccoon and possum.  I wake before sunrise and feed them and let                                                                       them out. It's working for now.
Bonnie & Clyde at night
A cat we call Scruffy is using one of the outside shelters and possibly the heat bed in the sun room. I know someone has been in it because I put a receiving blanket on the pillow and whoever sleeps there pushes it aside.

There are so many strays who need protection, especially in winter.  Shelters with heat pads or well insulated ones can save their lives.



Another shelter with a heat pad inside.

Where the heck did I park that thing?

I sometimes read a thing called Good News online as I get so tired of all the bad new. Today I read about a guy in the UK who  parked his car in June and just found it today.
I so get this!
It may not take me six months to find my car but a lot of times it feels that way. A lot of time I forget where the heck I parked the thing. When I pull into a parking spot I’m thinking of what I have to buy or do and go on auto pilot and park the car not giving it another thought till I’m ready to go home.
Then it hits me... Okay where’s the blasted car??
My daughter suggested parking in the same place at the grocery, etc. It works...when I think to do it. I even bought a red car thinking that would help narrow the field and my car would stick out. Do you have any idea how many red cars are out there? Tons!
The best solution that didn’t really start out as a solution was this Christmas. I bought reindeer antlers and red nose for my car. I had a Rudolph car. Not only was it totally adorable I could find my car. Just look across the lot and find antlers! Fantastic!!

It worked so well in spotting my car I’m thinking of keeping my Rudolph car all year round. I know it’ll look a little nuts but I ask you is that worse than this nutty lady wondering around the parking lot looking for her car ‘cause she can’t remember where the heck she parked it??
So my question to you is, do any of you forget where you parked? Do you have some trick so you don’t forget where? If the answer is just concentrate that ship has sailed years ago. I think I’m doomed.

Hugs, Duffy