Giardia.  Yup.  So much for these fosters coming and going quickly.  Ugh.  One had loose stinky poos.  It's possible the others don't have it... but prb not likely.  All will be treated and I will need to continuously disinfect their room - which is an extra challenge w/ carpet.  Thank God the were kept separate.  Eff.

I neglected to mention the critters in my earlier post.  First, Indigo - our betta - passed, Christmas would have been a year with us.  It didn't seem to phase Avery.  I am a bit sad about it; I feel like I should have done more for her.  My monthly subscribe and save is in shipping, which included more filters.  Go figure.

Our other critters are well.  The fosters are adjusting decently.  Vader, the longhaired black cat is a delightful cuddle muffin.  Christian, the gray shorthair, is playful.  Buddy, the orange tabby, is terrified but still sweet.  All three allowed us to trim nails without too much complaint -- color me surprised. 

Today I put in some work cooking.  I cooked up ground beef for tacos which I froze, roasted yams and butternut squash, made a match of chicken soup, made a few chicken-stuffed green peppers, and prepped the mix to stuff the small sweet peppers.  I should be eating off of this all week.

I wanted to get all of the Christmas decorations up, but that didn't happen.  Yet another chunk of the tree would not light, so the extra lights I bought last year to supplement wouldn't cover me.  We ran to Big Lots and snagged more warm lights, but they are pretty cool compared to the other warm lights -- so they cannot go together.  I ran the three strands I bought unplugging all other lights and it was pretty thin.  Several batches of colored lights had chunks burned out.  I almost lost my sh*t and pulled out the lights from when I was a child.  Yes, I fully expect the nearly 50 year old light to still work.  Instead I pulled two tri-colored strands that allow control over how the lights change -- these are probably 25 years old, something I bought early in my adulthood.  Neither of the tree toppers match the color of white so I threw something Avery made at the top and called it a night.  No ornaments have made their way on there yet but that seems to be too bad at this point.

I'm finally sitting down on the couch for a minute and the cat has swarmed me.  Sorry Churchie... I need to go spend some time with the other kitties too!  But first, some of that soup.

I have moaned about it enough here through the years, so I'll cut the mixed emotions and sadness about holidays brief in this post.  As usual we went to one of his aunt's/uncle's. The weather was decent enough that we had our appetizers outside. It receiving a dose of sour on the way home really ruined the day for me.  I'm grateful I don't have to host a big to do because I feel like the amount of work that goes into preparing just a few (unappreciated) dishes isn't a worthy investment.

I am trying to back off the Christmas shopping this year - finally giving in to my sister telling me to not do anything for her and her husband.  I am spending less on my niece and nephew -- well, actually some of the nephew spending is instead going to their kiddo instead.  I am not buying for all of the kids in his family - I'm so over needing to hunt and hunt.  I don't know what to get for him... and it's all odds and ends for Avery at this point - no big/main gift.  Not a thing is wrapped, the thought of that is part of the reason why I am willing to back off how much I am buying.

With my several days off I am hoping to get numerous things ordered.  I got some organizing achieved and some light cleaning checked off.  I also have quality time in front of the TV cuddling with Church and time in the hot tub on my agenda.  I have also been working to get to know 3 new fosters that joined us between Tuesday and Wednesday.  These 3 were with another foster - along w/ 4 others that she trapped as kittens. They're fully vetted, so hopefully their stay will be short.  There is Vader, a long-haired black cat who is a sweet cuddly guy who loves attention, Christian, a gray guy who was a bit more reticent but still quite friendly, and then Buddy who... if I'm being honest, up until a couple of hours ago I thought could be a spicy boy.  He wouldn't return slow blinks and had buried himself under the dresser after pushing books that blocked his path out of the way.  Earlier today I tried to get his attention with a toy (again).  He sat ignoring it until I put it just in front of the dresser.  Next thing I knew a little paw reached out slowly... and then a head popped out.  Next I knew he climbed out and asked for pets!

Waking to another dusting of snow this morning.  I once again am fighting with my sinuses.  It is the same 'routine', so I am pretty sure I can call this chronic sinusitis.  First the drainage gives me a sore throat.  I've gotten smarter and pulled out the netipot sooner during all of this to shorten that part of the process.  This of course clears it out and avoids a sore throat, but it leaves me with nosebleeds and swollen sinuses.  The drainage isn't colorful, so I don't think there is infection - just lots of pressure and inconvenience.  I think I'm headed out the other side already (which is definitely a shorter run) but maybe I'm just feeling better because Tylenol sinus is doing that good of a job.  Hot tea has been a good friend.

Today's the day... first snow.  For a while there were some big fat flakes falling.  Ended up being enough to coat the lawns, but nothing stuck on the roads (thank goodness).

What incredibly odd weather.  Sure we have had several Novembers and Decembers with unseasonably pleasant/warm temps but today had a different feel and smell to it.  It felt like spring - something tangible, maybe the humidity levels?  You can hear the evening sounds like it is spring.  The only thing missing this weekend was my motivation to get a bunch done.

I really need to wash my windows.  What better chance?  Lost.

I did get some organizing and laundry done.  Halloween is all down and on the dining room table - but not away like it should be.  I even put the battery for the drill on the charger so I could properly store the outdoor items (note I bought the brackets I want so screw in LAST Halloween and half-ass put away these items thinking I'd properly stow them in the near term.

We did see Tulip off yesterday afternoon.  Yes, I cried for a minute after she left.  Lavender is set to leave tomorrow while Avery is at school, so she got some extra play/cuddle time in this evening before bed.

It will be a busy week.  Tomorrow I head to get the tires changed out.  Hopefully that all goes as planned and at the cost anticipated.  Later in the week the dentist gets to terrify me again.  There are consignment items to ready and take to an appointment. Oh.. and that voting thing.  God help us.

Ah, anxiety.  There isn't one thing I can put my finger on that is triggering it, but perhaps it is death by 1000 cuts.

I woke up just after falling asleep the other night not quite in a panic attack, but with my brain very focused on an awful event that happened back in the mid-90s.  Yep, it sucked, but I had also not thought of this in years... and the individual involved put me through way more painful stuff a few years later, so what the hell brain?

I tortured myself a bit last night by watching a video an old friend posted.  Sadly, I am no longer part of that person's life and (even more sadly) I know they hurt another friend very much.  Seeing how their life moved on just hit too close to home, likely exaggerating the feelings all around.

There is of course the insanity of our world today.  Prices in general, looming shortages/outages, the forthcoming election... all of it.

I had a day trip for work earlier this week.  Fortunately the weather was good.  It was good to see familiar faces and to have a brief change of pace.  But even this leaves me with unease that feeds the anxiety monster.

Good news that may also add to the pile (simply because I am terrible with change) is that 2 of the kittens are slated to leave for their forever homes in the next week and the third may also have an approved adopter in the next day or two.  That would give me at least an hour of each day back.

I blew it.  I wanted to take Avery to 100 Acres Manor today - they had 2 kid-friendly days, one of which was today.  I had no idea however that I should have booked tickets online in advance.  When I checked the website earlier today for hours I found it was sold out.  I'm bummed.

Instead Avery wanted to go to Spirit... so we drove down to Washington and hit Spirit - and Rural King right next door.

We also baked the quick pumpkin print sugar cookies we bought this morning.  Then I made apple sauce (again -- I know, I'm obsessed) and tried to make caramel apples.  They're in the fridge, hopefully when I pull one out of there it will be in better shape than they were this morning..  If not - that was an expensive fail.  The cans of La Leche are like $3.50 a friggin piece and don't even get me started ont he price of heavy whipping cream.

On the foster cat situation - an update! 2 of the 3 kittens are spoken for, but both will be holding until the start of Nov for pickup... and then there was 1.

Friday fun time!  Since I'm off every Friday this month I gotta get some things done, right?

Today I got up and made a batch of stuffed shells (at 9am).  It served me well for dinner time since we had to run a former foster to the vet at dinner time.

Avery and I headed out before 11 and went to see Lyle Lyle Crocodile (which was more entertaining than I expected) and then headed to Chuck E Cheese for a pumpkin shaped pizza (which was better tasting than I expected).  We did a play pass and spent some time there before buzzing through a couple of stores and heading home. That alone ate most of our day.  I had wanted to go get more apples and to carve Avery's pumpkin, but the good news is there are two days left to our weekend -- that is, if I can rest up.  I'm pooped!

Just a post to quickly note that treadwear guarantees are bullshit.  How can my 60000 mile tires, which I got on my car around 30k and am now at 55k possibly only be worth $20 a piece back.  That is ONLY if I go through the dealership... and don't do their current deal, which is cheaper than full price w/ the treadwear money back.  I can order the tires myself for about $120 cheaper.

Plus, I had to drop the car off this morning so they could check it out etc.  What a scam.

My sister came in from out of state for just over a week.  Another sister was here for the Pumpkin Festival and the third sister was here for 2 nights while the first sister visited.  It was good to visit, but I feel very out of touch w/ work.  I know, it's good for me, but I struggle.

The Halloween parade was nice.  The weather has been amazing.  We enjoyed what we say of the Pumpkin Festival, but I felt rushed through there.  This past week also involved a walk around Peters Twp Lake, a trip to Simmons Farm for a hayride, playtime, and a few more pumpkins, and probably the most tiring thing -- Avery sleeping in my bed.  I love getting to cuddle with her, but I don't sleep as deeply for one reason or another, so I am tired.

I got a little done this weekend -- mostly outside clean up -- but at least I crossed a few things off of the to do list.

This weekend is the Hickory Apple Festival... it's also been raining like crazy, so I bowed out.  Instead, after dance we went to the local orchard and bought from their storefront.  Since we got home I have been working on apple sauce (regular, cinnamon, and strawberry) and an easy apple crumble.  I still have a bag of honeycrisps for eating and an extra bag of golden delicious -- which are particularly delish.

Hopefully next weekend will be nice - I really do not want the Houston Pumpkin Festival rained out -- especially the Halloween parade.  Have I mentioned I love this area and all the activities around here?