Life…
I am only being honest when I say that this has been a rough week. I felt stressed for most of it and I am supposed to be using all of my techniques to avoid stress. Plus it takes me a long time to recover from stressful situations. I have not mastered meditation…I mostly put myself in a chair and think, read, write or hold a kitty. My writing consists of mostly making lists and that’s not even that relaxing. My beloved sister in law…the one who beats both me and Den hourly at Word Chums…has a brother going through really critical cancer care this summer. Last summer…her husband…my baby brother…went through critical cancer care…both radiation and chemo therapy. And the summer before that she was supportive during my cancer and surgery. We had a stressful conversation with another much loved family member whom we don’t know how to help. And everything is compounded by the fact that none of us are in the same state or even in states that are close by. So we have gone from being reasonably close and seeing each other at least twice a year when my mom and dad were alive to not really making much of an effort to see each other at all. And that’s just my side of the family! Den’s family is in Colorado and LA and I don’t know when we will get there. Den and I were always the most flexible ones…we traveled to family. We lived the farthest away…but it was the easiest for us to travel. But we can’t travel for a while. I just am not ready. And the more I think about it the more frightened I get.
Sigh!
Kitties…
Lucy seems better…her eyes stopped quivering and her back legs are stable again…the vet said in older kitties…this can happen and they can snap right back. Hopefully we are in the snap back. She uses her litter box, she drinks, she eats, she complains. She is Lucy!
Roxie had a yearly check up yesterday that became an all day affair. She is allergic to her rabies shot so she has to be pretreated and then she stays with the vet until they are sure she won’t go into shock…I love this time of year when I get to worry about everyone. So she sat with Bea The Vet for 4 hours until we could get her. Then she came home and slept and wouldn’t move. In the middle of the night I woke up to her crying in this soft little voice…it was so sad. She slept on my pillow all night. The vet said she might hurt…the way you sometimes hurt after a flu shot. She cried solefully again during the night but this morning she seems to hurt less and have more energy. My littlest kitty only weighs 6.8 pounds so the shots are so hard on her body. And because it’s the law in PA and we do get squirrels in our house…she has to have them! My poor baby! This is the way they comfort each other! Paws tucked…eyes closed…slightly touching.
Books…
I finished these this week…and I think the funny cozy mysteries saved me from gloom and doom!
Now I am reading and loving this one…
Cooking!
We have had all kinds of foods this week! Fish tacos, quesadillas, steak salad with a homemade balsamic dressing that was amazing. One night we even had Fish Sticks and halushki! Halushki is a noodle and sautéed cabbage dish that my grandmother used to make…it is always a welcome comfort dish to my stressed soul. We have had so many local fruits and veggies that I can’t buy even a potato at the grocery store without feeling guilty! Yum! We shouldn’t have done it but Den bought a homemade cherry crumble pie…it’s so good!
Plus I am going to make this Cauliflower Cheesy Chicken Casserole for tomorrow…from Delicious Links and the Tomato Toast with Goat Cheese is from the View From Great Island…not that you need a recipe for it but hers looks so pretty! And the Breakfast Burrito Casserole from The Kitchn. The Cherry Pie is from our own Northbrook Orchards.
Den wants to go out to dinner tonight. I want to stay in. It’s hot and humid and it’s going to stay that way for a while!
Have a lovely week end! I am trying!
Hugs…
Patty
Books, Thoughts and Adventures 
Oh, you have definitely had a lot of stress, and so have the poor kitties. I like that you find comfort in your books and the food, which is gorgeous….and looks delicious.
Enjoy your books and food…and have a nice and comforting weekend!
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Thank you. I am trying.
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I am so sorry about all you are going through with your relatives, your kitties, and your continued recovery. Sending prayers for brighter days ahead for all! As usual, your recipes look wonderful!
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Thank you, Liz. You have really helped me this year!
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Oh my gosh! That chicken casserole looks divine! Eat a bite for me😋
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I will! I will send you the recipe and tell you how I goofed!
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Glad to hear Lucy is feeling better. Roxie will really be lost without her when she is gone as I know you and Den will be also.
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That’s for sure. Today Lucy is acting as though her event didn’t even happen…one day at a time…right?
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That’s a lot of things going on health wise in your family. I know when parents depart it does mean often seeing less of each other. I think it may be happening to us. Also I identify with some of that don’t know how to help one member. But… that said most of us live nearby. Not those huge distances you have in the US.
Poor Roxie, I was wondering why she had to have the rabies shot but then as you say squirrels – which we don’t have.
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Yes…it seems as though the older we get the more stressful our lives become. Poor Roxie…she is still quiet!
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At least Lucy is doing better today. I just picked up Tin Man from the library… the first few pages haven’t grabbed me, but I’m going to give it a little longer.
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I was that way, too, but it gets a little better. It’s a difficult book to describe.
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It does sound like a stressful week but I’m glad your girls are both doing better.
I’m so glad you’re loving Miriam’s book – no one deserves success as much as she does.
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I didn’t realize that you knew her.
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Do you go for a walk when you have stress? Or are you staying close to home and kitties this week? It just seems a walk has helped my stress this year (even though its hard to push myself out the door). My dad passed away in Feb. and my mom has memory issues as well as recently developed physical problems. My sisters and I are alternating care for her but this week she’s moved into a skilled care facility until her appointment at Mayo on the 20th. She’s not happy with any of us but it was our only option. Stress. Sending out good thoughts to your relatives going through illness or caring for the ones. I get it and completely sympathize. Sending you and Den warm hugs. I hope Lucy continues to be well and Roxie recovers from the nasty shot.
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Thank you, Mary! I do know all about the parental stress…seeing my parents age was awful. They didn’t deal with it well at all. I have to learn to deal with stress better than I do. I tend to freeze as opposed to moving and walking.
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Your Roxie weighs more than my pup! My pup had a fly in the house last night. She is terrified ever since the bee incident in the fireplace. We have a whole procedure for entering the house in the summer to minimize the risk of flies but one got in. She shakes and get sicks. It takes hours to calm her down. She was so exhausted when she went to bed.
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Oh no…poor baby! I didn’t realize she was so tiny!
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I’m sorry it’s been stressful for you with you worrying about family and your cats. I say w/the family sitch you do the best you can. While you can’t be there physically, calling or maybe even Facetiming would be a good substitute.
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It is…you are right!
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