We had more snow today than we’ve seen in years.

It really was a staggering sight to see it snow constantly all day beginning at 9:30 am.  At first, it was like fairy dust coming down, drifting and fluttering gently to the ground.  Then it got heavier and thicker as the day went on.  Our eyes were glued to the scene outside the windows much of the day.  I ended up taking 118 pictures of the white stuff – a bit carried away I guess when I think about it.

It hasn’t snowed this much at one time since we lived in Alaska back in the 1970’s when it would snow for days.  This hasn’t stopped and I’m wondering what kind of wonderland will be outside the door when we get up in the morning.

For the most part, the day was quiet with no wind or noise at all.  A bird of prey came and stayed a long time looking for any rustle in the bushes, so he could snatch a meal.  A lone jackrabbit frolicked in the snow in the desert behind the house.  Later, a few birds showed up trying to get anything at all that wasn’t covered in snow.

I wish my camera took better night pics because after the streetlight came on, it cast a soft glow on the glistening snow and the streets in the neighborhood turned white as the flakes kept swirling to the ground.

Here are a few pics I managed to capture today.  Enjoy.  This will be around for a few days as the high tomorrow will be 26 with a low of 6 degrees.  We aren’t warming up above freezing until the middle of next week.  I’m glad I don’t have to leave the house for anything.

 Video pics by Sunni Morris

Music by Aine Minogue - my album

We lost a furry friend today

Comet 10-31-1998 to 12-4-2013 RIP

Today, 4 December, we had to make a hard decision to put one of our cats down.  In the end, it was really the only thing we could do and the right thing because she was struggling to breathe.

Comet had been sick since August, first with allergies, then a bronchial infection.  Finally, x-rays showed an enlarged heart so we had to give her heart pills and a water pill twice daily.  The last month or so she’s been very congested, so has been on children’s Benadryl periodically.  The sneezing got better, but we had to do something about the congestion.

Well things deteriorated with constant drainage out of her nose.  One side had become bloody and we had to wipe her nose a couple of dozen times a day and try to clean her up.  Poor little thing.  She hated that and didn’t want us touching her face.  She was getting thinner because she could no longer smell very well.

The funny thing is that she would still run up the stairs and sleep in the chair up here most of the day.  She started that about two weeks ago after not coming upstairs for two months.  That made us think she was getting better at first.  This afternoon she found a sunspot on the floor of the loft to lie in.  Cats hate the cold weather as much as I do.

If you’ll indulge me, I would like to share a little about her life.

We rescued her when she was about five-weeks-old.  We did many shows in the 1990’s and she was living under a porch with a bunch of feral cats at one we did for Christmas.  This show was outside.  There was frost on the ground as this was early December.  There were many babies under that porch and a lot of adult cats too.  The babies had to eat last because the big ones would push then away, so we did what we could and were able to rescue four kittens.  One we kept and the other three we gave to various vendors at the show.

We called her Comet from Corona and took her home with us on a Saturday.  She was so small she could fit in the palm of my hand and didn’t make a peep the whole forty-five minute drive to the house.  I cradled her to my chest and she slept and nestled in.  I think that was the first time she had actually been warm.

Of course, the next day it was back to the show, but my husband drove home to check on Comet in the middle of the day.  On Monday, we took her to our vet.  She weighed a little over a pound, so we figured she was born right around Halloween.  In those early days, she smelled just like baby powder and was very gray all over, even her eyes.  I’ve had a lot of cats in my life, but none that smelled like baby powder.

The boys, my other cats Wizard and Ceaser, took her in, cuddled, and protected her.  The three of them had a strong bond.  Comet missed them so much when they left us a few years ago.  I’m sure they are welcoming her with open arms tonight, saying, “and what took you so long?”

She took a special liking to Tootie when we rescued her and they played for four hours and then lay flat out on the floor exhausted.  It was as if they had known each other all their lives, but they’re two years apart and strangers before Tootie came in the door.

This cat has always loved water.  When she was a baby, she liked to play in it a lot, so I bought a new litter pan and would fill it with water so she could splash about and have fun.  I put it in the middle of the kitchen floor so I could easily mop the water up.  I have a picture of this somewhere, but it was in the days before I had a digital camera.

She liked water all her life and would constantly wash her feet and drink from the faucet if we let her.  We didn’t dare leave a glass sitting around that had any water in it because she wasn’t picky about where she washed up.  When we got the cat water fountain about seven years ago, she used that to wash her feet, so we had to change it often.  All the cats love that fountain.

Comet was a headstrong cat, especially after the boys died because she knew she was at the top of the pack then.  She made the other girls fall in line, particularly the tuxedo girls, Sukie and Koki.  We used to joke that she was upstairs strapping on her pistol.  Well her pistol is now retired and she’s having a long reunion and lots of fun lying in the sun, chasing butterflies, and cuddling with the boys.  I like to think so anyway.  It makes it easier not having her around.

I hope you’ll enjoy the video clip I’ve put together of her life.  I’m not good at making these yet, but I wanted to try to do one for her in remembrance.  I don’t have any baby pics because I didn’t have a digital camera in those days.  I do have some in a box somewhere that are 35mm.  Maybe someday I’ll find them and scan them to my files.  Meanwhile, I hope you’ll enjoy these.

Cherish your animals because we only have them for a short time.  Often they are more loving and loyal than humans are and are such great friends who love you no matter what.  I’ll miss her laying on my keyboard when I’m trying to type, even though it was annoying at the time.  The years fly by before we know it.

I Did It!!!

Somehow, I managed to finish NaNo two years in a row.  This undertaking definitely takes stamina, courage, and determination.  It’s not easy to make this happen, especially during the month of November when we have a holiday and perhaps family visiting.  There’s always lots of prep work when you’re entertaining guests, cooking, cleaning, and shopping, etc.  That extra added onto daily life events doesn’t leave a lot of room left over for creative endeavors.  Then, when you really think about it, is any month any better?  In today’s world, we have a lot going on in our lives all the time.

I received a note from NaNo that said over 300,000 people signed up this year.  Out of that amount, 41,940 writers made it to the end.  You reach the end by writing 50,000 or more words by November 30.

The thing about NaNo is that there is a whole community of support should you need it at any time during the process.  The writing community there gives you pep talks and if you’re stumbling over something, you can go to their blog and get the answers you seek.  They’ve got all the categories covered when it comes to helping you reach your goal.  There’s even tracking so you can see how far away you are from the finish line.

 Free Clipart

I don’t partake in any of these forums because I don’t want to use my writing time conversing with other writers if I don’t have a particular problem to discuss.  I sure don’t mind helping others out with their problems, but I usually try to use the little writing time I have strictly for writing.  It’s a different story once I reach my 50,000.

For those of you who would like to enter but shy away because you think its undoable, please think again next year.  I know they recommend that you write everyday, but this isn’t necessary as long as you can make all your writing time count.  I was thinking about my NaNo project even when I was doing other things.  I made notes for my WIP in my head, or on scraps of paper that I had in my pocket. 

There is one thing to stress and keep in mind.  When you right you need to be in create mode only – DO NOT, under any circumstances, edit as you go.  I always hit the keyboard running and would crank out between 3,000 and 5,000 words at a time.  Tell yourself you can do it because you can.  Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that you’re writing a first draft.  Believe me; you will need to fix many things later.  That’s okay.  The purpose is to write, letting creativity take over while avoiding distractions – not an easy thing to do.

I salute all of us who took on this creative endeavor.  Even if you didn’t finish, you’re still a winner because you tried, so you didn’t procrastinate and say “maybe next year”.  On top of that, you also started a novel and that has to feel good because at least you’re making it happen.  You’re writing.

Now we can all breathe again and say, “thank God that’s over,” but I hope all of you will finish what you started and not just put it away in a drawer.  Now’s the time to tie up loose ends, polish it, do rewrites, have it edited, and eventually published.

On another note, I’m still taking care of a sick cat and organizing things to move in the spring, depending on how fast the house sells.

Comet is now getting children’s Benadryl along with her heart and water pills.  We have a humidifier running day and night and hoping she gets over this soon.  So far, she’s been a little trooper about taking all this medicine, but she isn’t crazy about us cleaning up her nose all day long.

Comet

We did go out very early the day after Thanksgiving for the first time since we’ve lived here.  It was still dark outside with tons of stars twinkling away in the sky.  The thermometer on the patio said 34 degrees, but on the north side of the house, there was ice on the windshield we had to scrape off before we could even get in the car.  What was going through my mind?  We had to scrape ice every morning in Alaska.  Someday, I’ll write more about those years.

Alaska Sky in Winter

We covered the rest of the plants today because by Wednesday, we’ll be in the deep freeze for a while.  The last forecast is for fourteen degrees at night with low thirties for a daytime high.  Ugh!  Drag out the sweatpants, thermals and fleece.  I definitely won’t be a happy person to live with.  I swore when I left Alaska that I was done with that, but this time I really mean it.  This is fine for all you snow and ice lovers, but this is not me.  At least by February the worst of it will be over with for this year.  I’m counting the days.  As I'm writing this tonight for posting in the morning, it's started to snow.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is this week and I hope we all take a few moments out of our busy day to give thanks for all of our blessings.  We could start out with the roof over our heads and all this food before us that we have to eat today and enjoy with family and friends.

Don’t forget to say thanks for all of our furry friends who are faithful and love us unconditionally.  My baby, Koki, is a constant companion and lies on my lap keeping me warm if I’m on the computer, reading, or watching TV.  She always has the sense to know when she isn’t supposed to disturb me.  I would have never found and rescued her if I hadn’t moved here, so even though it’s not the best place to live, I’m thankful for that part of it.

 Koki in my lap

 Comet

Tootie

My other two cats are older and don’t come upstairs as often.  Although Comet has come up here the last couple of days, which tells me that she must be feeling better.  I’m glad all the meds are keeping her condition at bay.  Tootie usually stays downstairs unless she wants something from me, like her treats at night.  Bless the little rascal.

We are celebrating Thanksgiving by going out this year.  The bad thing about that is that there are no leftovers, but the good thing is I won’t have to spend all day cooking and then cleaning up everything in the kitchen.  This is especially nice when I have NaNo to consider.  We’ll be eating with Aussie friends who normally don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.  That should be fun.  We’re taking a pie to their house later for dessert.

From NaNo Website

On another note, my NaNo project is coming along.  I have 46,500 words now, so it looks like I may make it to my 50,000 barring any emergencies.

The grass is behind this chair and our visitor - this is it in spring

This is the same grass the middle of October

This is the same grass taken in late November

I’m also including some pics of some grass I’ve been watching change colors as the weeks have gone by.  I can see this in the back garden from the kitchen window.  My husband planted it in the spring.  Now I wonder if it will come back next year, or if it’s an annual plant.  I guess time will tell.

Pine Valley Mountain from our backyard

This is the mountain range in front of our house.  I don't know the name.

We’ve had our first snowfall in the mountains surrounding the house, but luckily only rain here.  Even though that lasted four days and it was dreary and cold, I’m still thankful the white stuff didn’t find us this early.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Nostalgia

This is me at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park - San Francisco

Yes, the water really is that color

For some reason I drug out some very old clothes “my hippie duds” and put them on today.  Looking at old stuff from my past must have inspired me.  As some of you know, I’m going through possessions getting ready to move.  I’m finding it hard to get rid of some things, but I knew I would.

It’s not so much about material possessions as the fact that I like to keep busy with some creative project.  I feel I’m stretching my mind when I create something, so much more so than sitting in front of the TV.  I’m always up for learning something new, or practicing what I have learned.  Hopefully, I’ll be this way for a long while yet, but it all takes up space because I can’t see getting rid of things that I may use at a later date, especially now since I’m living on a fixed income.

Part of my Sewing Room disaster

I’m still working in the sewing room and of course, now my mind is going all kinds of places instead of where it ought to be going, which is clearing out bits and pieces and thinking about my NaNo project.  I’ve been working on that in the evenings and have added about 16,000 words in the last three days.  I seem to have no problem in that area and am thankful for that.

The weather here is still cooperating and it’s not too cold yet, but we have cooler days coming by the end of the week.  The birds are using the “pool” again, so we have to refill that birdbath several times a day.  They have so much fun splashing all the water out.  I even saw some yesterday splashing around in the gutter across the street.

My birdbath in the backyard

My youngest cat, Koki, is into everything I drag out thinking it’s so much fun to grab stuff and run through the house with it.  One little cat can make a lot of noise.  She’s my shadow and follows me everywhere.  The other two stay downstairs and sleep a lot. 

Koki - Sunni's Photos

We’re still dosing Comet, the oldest one, with meds for her heart and she gets a water pill daily.  She’s never a happy camper about that and hides under the bed to get away from us.  I’m not sure how I’m going to handle this when the end of December gets here and my husband makes a trip to CA.  I’d like to go along, but I can’t have my neighbor trying to give this wild cat her meds twice a day.

Comet - Sunni's Photos

Other than that, there isn’t much going on in my life at present.

I have my hands full

Sewing Room disaster - Sunni's Photo's

Hello everybody.  I’ve got to be crazy to take on all this stuff.  I’ve spent the last four afternoons going through my sewing room.  First, I had to clean in there because somehow the red sand gets in the house, even with everything closed up tight.  That’s a good reason right there to move away from the desert.

Sewing Room Mess - Sunni's Photo's

I had everything really looking nice and orderly until I started dragging things out to go through them.  Now it looks like a hurricane hit the place.  I’m not kidding.  Of course, my cat, Koki, thinks this is the neatest thing that has happened in a while.  She loves diving through everything and getting into things as she sits nearby and watches me intently.  The next thing I know, she’s off with a piece of elastic or other trinket she’s snatched.  She runs though the house sounding like an elephant has taken up residence.

Koki playing in my mess - Sunni's Photo's

I really don’t know how I’m going to accomplish this task because the more I work on it the worse it seems to get in that room.  This is only one room in my two-story house too, so I’m not looking forward to the joys of moving.

Sewing Room disaster - Sunni's Photo's

My other passion besides writing is sewing so naturally over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of stuff.  I didn’t realize I have almost enough to open my own small store.  This is forty years worth of accumulation though.  The good news is I’m making slow progress “playing with my toys” and the windows are open up here in November.  Yeah!  The bad news is it’s supposed to be 28 by Sunday night.  Boo!

Sewing Room disaster - Sunni's Photo's

More good news is that Comet is slowly getting over her bronchitis.  Yes, these cats are my kids.  She is finally eating more and sleeping better, but she still has a stuffy nose.  I can hear it in her breathing.  We’ve been giving her pills twice a day.  That’s why I’m full of cat scratches.  Oh well, I’m used to that.

Comet snuggled in bed - Sunni's Photo's

In the evenings, I try to find the time to write on my NaNo WIP.  I’m not sure why I took that on, under the circumstances, except I always like a good challenge and work good under pressure.  So far, I have 15,380 words in, so not bad considering.  I’m a little behind but not too mach to catch up.

I’ve still found the time to watch the wildlife that visit daily.  Here are some photos of that.  We have a few lakes here so the cranes go back and forth.  We have various hawks coming by everyday looking for a meal in our backyard because we have many birds visiting the “pool” and eating the food we put out.

Visiting Hawk - Sunni's Photo's

 Crane on the bluff outback - Sunni's Photo's

This brings all of you up to date so far.  I’ll be posting once a week during the month of November.  I have to spend all my computer time working on my NaNo entry.

Until next time, stay happy.

You won’t believe what was lurking around my backyard today

Coyote on my Back Wall - Sunni's Photo's

Coyote on my Back Wall - Sunni's Photo's

I caught a glimpse of this creature as I was standing at the kitchen sink.  I rushed out with my camera.  He was meandering by on the other side of my wall where he quickly disappeared in all the sagebrush back there in the desert behind me.  As far as I could tell, he walked toward my neighbors.  Not far from her house, there is a grove of tamarisks growing.  They always signal a good water supply so many animals venture there during the day for a drink.  This is a vey invasive tree, but you have to get water in the desert where you can find it, so it’s a good thing there are some scattered around the natural habitat.

Tamarisk Tree - Wikipedia

About an hour later, I was working in the kitchen and this guy was back.  He jumped upon my wall to have a look around.  I grabbed the camera and got some good shots shooting through the glass.  I knew if I went outside on my patio, I would scare him off.

Coyote -- Sunni's Photo's

A few minutes later, a hawk arrived and perched in the tree in the backyard.  They stared at each other and then the coyote jumped down into the desert again and headed toward the tamarisks trees.

Desert Hawk - Sunni's Photo's

Desert Hawk - Sunni's Photo's

With all the coming and going, it’s been like watching National Geographical in my backyard today.  That was a nice break from my NaNo project.  I had better get back at it.  I just wanted to share some photos.

We can always hear the coyotes howling in the desert at night, but haven’t seen one do this before.  It makes me wonder if he’s been in the yard at night.

Desert Sunset - Sunni's Photo's