Sunday, October 19, 2025

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie made this boxed structure and the foam pieces  represented pieces of cheese. You can't see the little clay mouse Mattie made, but basically the mouse was sitting by his side. Mattie made an elaborate home for this clay mouse, including a staircase of popsicle sticks! I am so grateful Mattie loved to create and build! These fine motor skills were blessings and we turned to them as great diversions throughout Mattie's cancer journey. Mattie may not have been able to walk, run, and stand independently, but he could sit and create without a problem. He was extremely prolific and so many of his wonderful pieces are part of his legacy. 

Quote of the day: The only real treasure is in your head. Memories are better than diamonds and nobody can steal them from you. ~ Rodman Philbrick

This adorable inflatable pumpkin was given to us when we moved into our home in 2021. I have placed this pumpkin in our front yard for four years now. Today I looked out the window, and the pumpkin was deflated! I figured that the chord may have gotten disconnected. NO! Instead, the motor inside the inflatable died! So today I had to say good-bye to Mr. Pumpkin. Since this was a gift from my former mother-in-law, and I send her a photo of it every October, I decided to try to replace this inflatable today! I loved the size and shape of this pumpkin and unfortunately I couldn't find an exact replacement, but the new one comes in on Tuesday. We shall see what I think, but the new one has a retractable black cat that pops out of the top. A tribute to Miss Indie!

Speaking of Miss Indie, today she truly tested my patience. She pooped on the basement area rug twice. Within two hours of each other. Two days ago, I had enough! So I broke down and did exactly what the vet suggested.... I bought a second litter box. I am going to test the vet's theory that some cats as they age want two boxes. Though I did not want to clean out two boxes each day, it will be better than on the floor. This of course is assuming I can get her to use the second box. In my life, I have had 8 cats! Indie is the first cat to ever do this, so I have no experience with such a problem. 

Every Sunday, I take my parents out to brunch. We have gotten to know Cheryl, our server, very well over the last four years. Yesterday, Cheryl's son got married. I was invited to the wedding, but declined to go. I can't imagine doing anything social, much less going to a wedding. I am the last person a married couple wants to be around. Any case, Cheryl shared wedding photos with us today and brought me one of the table centerpieces, a piece of wedding cake, and a box of cookies from the wedding. These are silk flowers and I am honored to have this centerpiece, which I will serve as my Fall centerpiece for many years to come. As many of you know..... I am all about the sunflower!