Our foster dog, Sweetie, asleep with my youngest Jacob, and Maggie.
What a wild couple of months! We have finished our move into the Rattlesnake house. What an adventure that has been! Nothing really major, just random things that kept me on my toes. In addition to that, I have opened her up to foster dog named “Sweetie.” She’s a great dog. That saying is true that I can’t save them all, but fostering comes close. Fostering is a great way to figure out what kind of dog you want and what temperament is a good fit for your family. I’m happy to help anyone become a foster or permanent family. There are many dogs that would love to call you “woof” which translates to Mom/Dad.
Our first Thanksgiving at home was wonderful! It was held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Since we can be thankful everyday, I think it still counts. We had lots of family gathered around, and we had a great time.
This clock fell off the wall, but still worked. Rather than toss it, I made it art.
When I was a kid, the house we all went to for gatherings was the “cousin who lived in the country with the biggest house.” That torch has been passed to me. We have people who like to play horseshoes, musicians, and lots of kids in the family. I can accommodate all of that.
One of the appeals when I first saw Rattlesnake was just how big the inside was. Plus the surrounding yard and carport can hold A LOT of people! The original list of those invited was over 40. We had 14, and we had plenty of elbow room.
I even had an idea mapped out for bad/cold weather to hang up this industrial plastic I have as a wind break under the carport. It was a beautiful day, and that was not needed. I wanted Rattlesnake to be a place where we could all come together and have some food, talk, and enjoy time. It will pass anyway, so we may as well spend it joyful and with those we love.
Jacob needed a boost to hang the dogs’ and Patsy’s stockings over their dog house.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot…
Now, of course, my favorite time of year is in full swing! I started decorating before Thanksgiving. Christmas is very different to me now than it ever has been. It is more joyous, more about the things that really matter.
One thing that makes it more joyous is that rather than stress and rack my brain on what to get a grownup that they will like and use, I donate to a charity that is close to their heart. The grownups I buy for are those “annoying” people who already have everything and can’t figure out what they’d want someone to buy them. So for one, I sponsor a child in foster care, for others, I donate in their names. Then they get a card under the tree to let them know about it. Last year was my first year doing that, and it was very well received. I think they appreciated that way more than anything I could have bought for them. As I get older, I realize that I do not have to go broke and stay so stressed about what to buy that I resent the holidays to prove I love someone. That has been one of my greater realizations. I hope you all have found the same.
What Else Is New?
Sarge never moves while Jacob dresses him with crowns. Most of the time, Sarge dozes off.
As far as work goes, I continue on with my daily tasks. We have been put on hold with the church, and while we wait, the Travis 2 house is getting some much needed repairs done. My dogs broke two windows, and there are some things that were not done correctly over the years in maintenance. Our good friends David and Kim are on it though. It will get done and it will be wonderful!
There is another project in the works, but you will have to just hang on to find out from Sue Ann about that one! I think if you liked Rattlesnake and her journey, you’re going to love this one! This one is fortunately not just a shell, and was very loved. But that’s all I am going to say about that! Happy Holidays everyone, from all of us Hermits!