Seven Quick Takes # 20

One

 

This has been a difficult week for me.  I developed a bone infection and have felt miserable most of the week.  Intensive antibiotic therapy and more rest than usual seems to have nipped it in the bud.  This morning I finally feel like myself, sort of anyway.  My "Blog Every Day in May" challenge is far behind right now.  I think I'll just pick up and continue on, not try to catch up.  I have quite enough catching up to do in laundry and house cleaning.  Oh well...

 

Two

 

A cousin's wife has taken Mom to the beach this week to spend some time with my sister.  We have her cat, Boots.  Boots has never been away from Mom in the three years that she's had him.  His first night at our house was rough.  He cried and wandered.  Boudreaux followed him trilling low in his throat and purring.  About daybreak they decided to sleep.  Since then, they've done well. Yesterday Boots followed me to Mom's house to check on things.  When he realized she wasn't there, he ran back to our house and waited at the front door for me to return. 

 

We were awakened by two very distraught cats this morning. It seems there was a female in heat moaning outside our window. Boots was at the foot of our bed and Boudreaux as close to me as possible. Both had huge eyes and were NOT leaving the bed until someone did something to help the poor kitty who was obviously in pain. The two boys have been neutered and have NO idea what's going on, but they don't like it. Boo tried to explain the "facts of life" to the cats. Now, that was a priceless moment...I caught the end of his discussion, "Don't look at me like that! I'm not making this up, you know!"

 

Three

 

I've become pretty adept at smoothies and milkshakes this week.  I haven't really felt like cooking.  Since Mom was gone, I cheated and just made simple things.  This morning I made a spinach,, tomato and cheese omlette with a fruit salad.  I was impressed with myself.  Boo wasn't.  He lobbied for a strawberry smoothie...which he will get for lunch along with a grilled cheese sandwich.  It's amazing how many different combinations of healthy smoothies I managed to create this week.  The only one Boo disliked was orange, peach, carrot and wheat grass.  He tried to feed it to two very finicky cats who refused to even sniff it. 

 

Four

 

Elizabeth celebrated her twenty-third birthday last Sunday.  (You remember her.  You prayed for her last fall when she was having chemo.)  Sunday was the first time I'd spoken to Elizabeth since we moved back.  As usual, she was positive and upbeat...and busy helping others at her birthday reception after church.  She is a joy and an inspiration.

 

Last night Elizabeth's sister posted,

 

"I always knew my sister was born to kick ass! She's been kickin' mine since she was born. Little did I know she wasn't made that tough to handle me but to kick cancer's ass not once but TWICE. Liz starts the second round of her fight next week.

I tell you once thing, whether its showing me tough love, opening her heart fully to strangers or sadly now battling cancer again...she kicks ass at it!"

 

Please add Elizabeth and her family to your prayers once again.

 

Caroline, Elizabeth and their Mom at Elizabeth's birthday reception last Sunday.

Five

 

I had planned to wash clothes and hang them on the clothes line today.  (Does anyone else hang out clothes or am I the only one anymore?)  I think maybe I was a little optimistic.  It's just after 10 am here and I'm exhausted.  Still, there's nothing more satisfying than the smell of clothes dried outside...except for the smell of baking bread.  If I hang my clothes on the line, will you gather them in later?

 

Six

 

I've been reading light things this week.  I've read a book by Erma Bombeck aloud to Boo and parts of one by Dick van Dyke.  Boo wanted something deeper.  I couldn't handle deep discussions this week.  In fact, I haven't had many discussions at all.  Mostly, I've slept or just vegetated.  Boo watched something on TV last night that he wanted to discuss.  Not me, I curled up and closed my eyes. 

 

This morning Boo had a solution.  As soon as Mom comes back from her trip, the two of them can listen to an Audible book and discuss it.  I wish that would work, but they have very different tastes in books.  Right now, Mom's enjoying old Harlequin romances from the 50's and early 60's.  Not exactly Boo's cup of tea.  This week end, I simply must take the time to listen to a book with Boo and discuss it.

 

Seven

 

There was a quote on Facebook that has stuck with me all week.  "A true leader isn't one who achieves victory at any cost, but one who keeps the group together until victory is attained."  That is the kind of leader I want to be...the kind who can instill such love and commitment in a group that they work together to achieve a common goal.  Once you've accomplished your goal, you still have your relationship with your group...a double victory!

 

That's it for thinking!  Now, out to the clothes line!  Have a great week end!

 

Join Jen at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.