this and that - just some chat

I have met some wonderful people through blogging, and one of those

persons is Penny from At Home in English Valley. We met last Friday morning

 for breakfast and sat and  talked for 3-1/2 hours! We never did make it across

 the street to Goodwill for thrifting like we had planned. Penny gifted me with

 some lovely Christmas goodies (including a crocheted washcloth that is the

 softest washcloth I have ever used) and in true Penny-fashion, wrapped them 

so beautifully  that I didn't even want to open the package at first. The Noel ornament

 on the package? She made  that. Non-crafty me sticks presents in a typical

 store-bought gift bag and calls it a day.

Another friend of mine had some girlfriends over to her house on Saturday

night. We ate too much, laughed a lot, drank some wine, and played

cards for several hours. I was hesitant to go at first - felt I just wanted to

stay home in my pajamas and do the usual: watch a little TV with Brian,

read some blogs, write an email or two, and catch up on some novel reading.

Turns out I was glad I went. Sometimes I just need a little kick in the hiney.

Naughty Monkey figured out how to jump to the top of the china cabinet!

He was bound and determined to try and get Freddy - the African Dwarf

frog that lives in the glass bowl. My aunt gave Freddy to Tim as a birthday

gift many years ago. We have lost track of time and don't remember exactly

how old Freddy is, but he's (we don't really know if it's a "he") at least 12

years old. For the past few years, every time one of Tim's friends would come

 over and see the fish bowl on Tim's dresser, they'd say, "You still have that frog?" 

Freddy simply lives in a bowl of water with seashells at the bottom.

We feed him a pinch of Goldfish food every two days. I had no idea where

to put Freddy after Monkey's little escapade. I tried a shelf on the ladder

bookcase in the living room...Monkey scaled the shelves. Now Freddy is

on top of the almost-8 feet tall bookcase in the downstairs family room. There

is no other piece of furniture close to this bookcase that Monkey can use as

a launching pad, so I think Freddy will be safe once again. Besides, the top

of this bookcase is so close to the ceiling, that Monkey couldn't even fit at the

top of the bookcase even if he could jump up there.

Tim was just home for 24 hours. He wanted to come for a quick visit to

see us and some friends. He was sitting on the counter last night and I

asked if I could take his picture and he made this goofy face. I love my

boy. I can't believe he'll be 23 years old on Thursday. We watched some

Christmas cartoons last night and talked while he chowed on some good

home cooking. Then he was off to visit with some friends. He slept in

late today, got up and made himself some eggs and bacon, and then was

off again. I always feel a little heartbroken all over again when he leaves,

but a gentle and relaxing yoga class tonight was just what I needed. Tim

will be back again on Sunday and will be staying through Christmas and

hopefully, a little beyond. His classes don't start again until January 13, but

he's hoping to pick up some more work hours in the meantime.

Happy Tuesday-almost-Wednesday. Sleep well and sweet dreams.