FRIDAY FOCUS

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Tickets bought. Since they are non-refundable tickets, I'm coming no matter what.

(Actually, I'm rather pleased with my plan and looking forward to the drive.)

Splitting headache.

Dh is cooking my dinner now. He hasn't had a much better day.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! Last night, I did not get a whole lot done, but I did get to art class after a month of absence! I am in the process of transferring my drawing to a piece of linen for painting/embroidering/beading. I worked in the LR on hidden clutter, end tables, and windows. I still need to pick up around the computer and the coffee table. Tonight, I am checking out a health expo (it's free). If that is boring, I can still get to my knit/crochet group. There is attic work and maid work to be done. I must close all the windows as we have a freeze warning tonight. I absolutely must charge my phone! Tomorrow, I need to go early to the cat clinic due to the balloon fiesta traffic (yuck).

Last I looked, there is a hurricane headed directly to my family in Mobile, AL.

BookSaver: You are absolutely right that trap/neuter/release is the way to get stable colonies. Many cities are going to this including Austin and Albuquerque. The way we show that cats are part of these colonies and have been spayed or neutered is to ear tip them. This is cutting a small piece of their ear, the right one I think. It also keeps them from being taken to the vet twice to get fixed. Very useful if you have a colony with 6 black cats!

Harriet: See message to BookSaver for how to indicate that cats are part of managed colonies without risking allergies to flea collars.

DeeClutter: My exFIL had a problem with 'white coat syndrome'. It was particularly bad for him because he was a pilot and would be grounded if he measured high. Every time he saw one of those automated blood pressure monitors you see at pharmacies, he would use it. Eventually, the one at the doctor's did not cause the same anxiety.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I forgot how labour intensive trip planning is.

Looks like 7 of the 8 nights will be in really unusual places.

Here's one http://blueswallowmotel.com/ I've booked on Route 66. Vintage hotel. Booked it and then wondered about internet access.

Here's the main one (for four nights) http://www.lafondasantafe.com/accommodation/

Hopefully we'll start out in a cabin in this area http://www.medicinepark.com/lodging.php

Our final night will be at the airport in Albuquerque. Not sure I should even bother to get something unusual there, but I'll look.

[OKay]

Kathryn - so many choice and decisions to make! Glad your trip planning is starting to come together

FNG went well. We had 15 VDFriends gathered around our dining room table. I had prepared 4 platters of snacks (freshly baked cookies & beef taquitos) and thought I had baked too many. However, there was only one snack left.

DH just left to start MPB PM chores. LO is up later than normal. Tomorrow is another busy day so I need to get him into bath then bed.

Sweet Dreams

[Nancy]

I lost one of the Rhode Island red hens today found her tjis afternoon under the roses with an aparent broken neck. Sigh
That made me sad. Now we have 15 hens here. The ones that I was thinking about culling are still okay.

Finished the book I was reading, it was excellent Happy happy happy by duck dynasty's phil robertson a christian slant was reather preachy in the 2nd half of the book not a problem for me.

[Harriet]

(Kathryn) how frustrating, but glad it has worked out. Hope the headache is long gone in the morning.

((Nancy)) Boy, do I ever know how you feel - hate losing a hen. HRH is reading Si's book right now - a gift from dd33.

I have visited my colorist. Finished Evening Daily Card while waiting to be dry enough to put up in a scrunchie.

Looooove gift wrapping!
The gift for the baby shower is ge-orgeous. Made my own box by cutting down a robe-size gift box to get the right size. I had a beautiful (purchased) baby-congrats card of a fabric, cut-out, pink-gingham elephant with stitchery, and it occurred to me I really wanted it to decorate the package at the shower. So I abandoned the portrait paper and found a pink polka dot ribbon to go with the blue polka dot paper. After using half the ribbon around the package in two directions, I used a bow-pin and made up a 2-ribbon-stacked bow of the polka dot pink and a plain white. That way I used up every square inch of the ribbon! So the card was the perfect accent.

I told HRH he'd better come look because the single prettiest baby shower gift EVER was on his dining table, lol. He came and affirmed that it was. He knows how to keep those cornbread breakfasts coming!

Harmony, is there a grower in your state who ships? I had good luck with tomato plants shipped here this past summer. I realize none anywhere near as north as Park Seed in SC, for instance, are still shipping, but thought one near you might still be.