Ramblings of a Homebody: 2026

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

“I can't even order a Wendy's chicken sandwich without getting mugged by a local cryptid.” 🚨🐈‍⬛

So far, either Cowboy doesn't realize we've brought Gator inside, or he's choosing to ignore it.
He acted as if he didn't want the kitten around, all snorts and grouching, but when I said I'd call the rescue to come get him, he quickly puffed up and told me to leave that cat alone.
Badger thinks Cowboy is secretly hoping to get another buddy like Skunk was to him.
He just can't admit it because that would destroy his cat-hating persona.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Remember when sleeping 8 hours was normal? Neither do I. Happy 3 AM

My old bladder woke me up at 4:30 a.m.
The thing just can't hold until a decent hour these days.
On my way back to the bedroom, I must have jostled Badger.

"Oh, you need the desk? Cute. I need a nap." 🐈 🖱️

Badger and Cowboy headed to town for Badger's weekly appointment.

I had Heron for company for a little while after they left, but he eventually headed to his girlfriend's house, leaving me alone until they got back.

Hope Never Quits

For the first time in days, we all slept through the night.

Fingers crossed, I think the antibiotic kicked in, and Badger is on the mend.

She says she'd bet anything she's been dealing with this for over a month.

Please storm heaven with prayers for my warrior cousin

It was another rough night, and I'm hoping the antibiotics kick in soon.

Badger was complaining that I wouldn't wake up despite being poked multiple times.

I did wake up at least three times, but the less sleep I get, the harder it is to wake up and stay awake.

Surviving on caffeine and sheer willpower.

I'm surviving on maybe three hours of sleep, and that's a little questionable.
We had a very rough night, and as soon as Cowboy walked in the door at 4:00 a.m., we were back on the road heading to the Emergency Room in Morristown.

I’m not just tired, I’m bone tired. Send coffee or a nap

Another town day done and over with.

We didn't have much luck thrifting, but we did find a small plastic carrier for taking Gator to the veterinarian.
The soft carriers we usually use just didn't work out well for him.

Weather report: Too wet for humans, perfect for ducks

We had a good storm come through tonight.
That thunder shook the house, and the lightning was wicked.

Once it passed, we went out to check on Gator.
He made it through.

Making HERstory

It's way too late for me to still be awake given how my sleep has been going, but it's election night.

I did my duty and went to vote this morning.
We were there an hour after the polls opened, and the crowds were crazy long.
But it went fast enough.

I wasn't shopping for a kitten,but one showed up in my yard and decided this was home

We have someone's pet.
That's the only conclusion I can come up with.
The veterinarian agreed that he's too healthy and too friendly to have been a stray.

Officially losing track of whether I’m an hour ahead, an hour behind, or just completely lost

Cowboy is getting old, and so am I.
I assumed he'd set all the clocks back before going to bed.
I woke up, checked the time projected on the ceiling, and thought it was 6:30 a.m.
I got up and went to play on the computer.

Going to bed early tonight—I’m a Halloweenie! 👻🎃

I'm going to get today's post out of the way.
I don’t expect to have anything especially exciting to write about later.
It's already after 4 p.m., and the day's practically gone.

Friday, October 30, 2026

Twenty-four Halloween Eves stretch out behind me like a road paved with golden memories

I don't think personal-diary-style blogs are all that popular.
Maybe when I first started blogging, but they're dinosaurs now.
I’ve never quite fit in, always lagging a little behind whatever’s in style.

Bro stood up on two feet just to get trash-talked by a bird

I can't figure out what day it is.
Isn't that terrible?
Heron walked in to get ready for work, and I asked him why he was working on a Saturday.

Following the trail of falling leaves straight to the library doors

Cowboy is going to the doctor tomorrow, so we had planned on grocery shopping today.
Any other Wednesday, his check would have cleared the bank bright and early that morning.
Today they waited until after 1 p.m. to deposit it.
Let's just say Cowboy wasn't all that happy about waking up early, expecting to go to town and not going.

October fog drifts quiet across the sleeping fields

Do you ever see or hear something and think, "I need to put that in the blog," but the day gets away from you and by the time you sit down to write, you've forgotten?
Yeah.
That's usually me.

Spirits, Shadows, and October Nights

Let’s wrap up this final week of October.
I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
October always carries a hint of melancholy.
Still, I’m in no rush for it to be over.

As Halloween’s dark week descends, October’s dying light gives way to winter’s endless night

Our last Sunday in October.
Wow! The year is really picking up speed and flying on by.
We're into Halloween week.

Navigating our different seasons together 🍂❄️

We had an unexpected surprise this morning.

Peacock, Gealach, and Turtle popped up on our doorstep.

They stayed a good while, although we didn't do anything, just sat around.

Peacock knows his parents are a bit on the weird side.

No routine, no anchor. Everything changed, and I’m just floating now

I'm not going to be ashamed to say I've spent all day curled up in bed under a blanket reading a book.
I finished it too.

Butter, sugar, magic

Our new masks got here just in time for town day.
Badger had to order them from Nova Scotia because we couldn't find any masks with five or more layers in the US.
These are very well made, a different design from what we've been wearing, but very comfortable.
It's cute too, mine's a sugar skull cat.

Goodbye summer heat, hello seasonal slump

Most days, I can waste an hour or two fiddling with my Blogger header, the image, the font, yep, the name.
One more name change, and then maybe my ADHD brain can go find something else to fiddle with besides the blog.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

3 AM terror: pitch black, crushing weight, loud purrs

Today's Tuesday.
Sometimes you just have to remind yourself what day it is.
We've all been thinking it was Wednesday.
I really don't know why.

Espresso, bad code, and another blog rebrand

We're done with the dentist until February.
Today's appointment went smoothly.
I do wish we could stick with just one dental hygienist.
Some of those ladies are a bit rougher than others.

Books, bargains, and a bookstore cat—literally the perfect afternoon

Cowboy grew up heating with a wood stove.
Since we've been married, we've always had kerosene heaters or electric heat.

Still, every fall comes the inevitable announcement: “It's time to light the fire,” followed by him clicking on the heat.

Today was the day.
I wanted to hold out until November, but he got cold.

Officially entering my "frozen burrito wrapped in three blankets" era

Fall finally crept its way into Tennessee.
It was in the 40s when I went out to feed my little stray.
I came scurrying back inside, shivering, to wrap myself up in my fuzzy blanket.

Thursday: ☀️🥵 | Friday: 🎃🥶 | The seasonal whiplash is next level

Well, we went from breaking records with the temperatures yesterday to being back in a more typical October weather pattern today.
It was pretty warm up until noon or so, then the winds picked up and the temperatures dropped.
Right now, it's about 10 p.m., and it's downright nippy outside.
The meteorologist said that, as of 5:30 p.m., we were 15 degrees cooler than yesterday at the same time.

Mother Nature Forgot What Month It Is

We've been having a bit of a warm October.
Today we broke a 145-year-old record for high temperature.
Oh my gosh, if you didn't look at the calendar, you'd have thought it was August out there.

Loading Thursday... error: please insert Wednesday

Heron was in my kitchen most of the day, making soup.
It smells like heaven.
He freezes it for later meals, using my kitchen and freezer since he doesn't have a working kitchen of his own.

Menopause, Night Shifts & Micro Naps

I don't think I have to write every single day that Cowboy mostly sleeps and then eventually goes to work.
That should be a given.

The life of a third-shift worker is hard on him and the whole family.

10 out of 10 doctors agree: my dog’s backend should be classified as a chemical weapon

Today was Duffy's yearly appointment with the veterinarian.

We walk into the exam room, and the veterinary technician looks at Duffy, then at us, and goes, “Oh, this isn't a kitty cat. I'm used to cats.”

I think she may have been disappointed.
Every time we go in, it's with a different cat, and here we come in with a frankenmutt.

Strictly a bed potato today

Cowboy went to morning and evening church services.
He rarely misses.

Survived a 13-hour shift. Please send food, blanket, and zero social interaction

I was up before 6:30 a.m. today.
That makes for a very long day.

I took the risk of running into a raccoon because it was still rather dark when I went outside to feed my little stray.
I also walked down and made sure the RV cats were safe.
I worry about the door blowing open and them getting out.

I’ll Write About Air Before I Break the Streak

It's Friday.
Another weekend is on us.

We've done our usual sitting around the house watching TV.

“The morning air whispers that autumn is finally here”

Each morning when I go out to feed Imp, it’s a bit cooler than the day before.
Today I was comfortable in a long-sleeved shirt instead of my usual T-shirt until dinnertime.
This is the time of year when a little space heater feels good in the morning, but you still need that air conditioner in the evening.

The blues came for me today

We went to town today, but we could have waited until tomorrow, like we usually do.
I checked the website to see if Cowboy had jury duty, and he didn't.
Not Thursday or Friday.
But you have to wait until after 6 p.m. to know for sure.

"Are you still watching?" Yes, Netflix, it's only Tuesday.

Badger and I really need to come up with a more workable routine.

With Cowboy sleeping in the living room all day, though, we're very limited in where we can go in this house.

If I knew for sure Raven wouldn't move back in, and if Heron moved his extra things to his girlfriend's house, we could turn the spare bedroom into a little den.

Words cannot espresso how glad I am this opened ☕ 🫘

Badger has put up our singing Jack Skellington on the porch.
There's no way of avoiding him, and he's motion-activated.
We had a delivery late last night.
I mean, later than I thought deliveries would be made.

Just a completely normal, slightly chaotic Sunday at home

It's Sunday, so Cowboy went to morning and evening church services while Badger and I stayed home.

Badger gave the house a cleaning while Cowboy was at morning service, and put dinner in the crock-pot.

I was on the computer all morning.
Badger flat out refuses to let me do anything.
I don't do it right, she says.
Never mind I've been doing it all my life, which isn't an exaggeration.

Rainy days are for crossing off chores and catching up on blogging

I woke up to rain on the carport roof.
I love hearing rain pattering down.

It was 6:30 a.m., rather early, but I didn't see any need to keep lying in bed.
I went to the living room to start my day.

I took the scenic route... mostly by accident

Today was a hair-raising adventure.

I found out neither Cowboy nor Badger does very well when things go wrong.

Heron headed to his girlfriend's house until sometime next week.
That's an important thing to remember for later.

Pumpkin spice and everything nice, it's October!

Hello October, and here come those dark, cold, gloomy months.

This was the first town day of a new month.

September Ended, Bringing Autumn’s Darker, Chillier Days

How are we already in the last three months of the year?
Here we are in October, and in two shakes of a lamb’s tail we'll be in January.
This year has flown by.

Same hours, same view, same old routine

I want to write every day to stay in the habit of writing.
But the truth is, some days it's a stretch to find anything to write about.

Whether we meant to or not, the days have a certain routine that we rarely deviate from.
We're creatures of habit.

The neighbors just watched me curse, swat the air, and sprint away from my own carport. 10/10 performance.

Poor Cowboy woke up early.
For once, I was deep asleep and didn't even know he'd gotten up.

My inner alarm clock woke me soon after he got up, and I went into the living room.
Cowboy was still in the shower.

Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones

Today was town day.
Not much to say about that.
Thursday has been town day since 1990, unless something major comes up and we have to go another day.

Night Shift Worker Sleeping: Make Noise at Your Own Risk

I blame Cowboy for my hiding in the bedroom all day today.

Badger and I were up early.
She made breakfast, and we watched a little TV.
Cowboy surprised us by waking up early.

"Bittersweet is the first day of fall, a gentle goodbye to summer's warmth and a cozy hello to golden afternoons."

I made a brief attempt to poke myself out of the blue funk today.
I got up at 6:30 and cleaned the kitchen.
I don't think anyone had touched it since Saturday.

Yeah, gross.
Life happens.
So do blue funks.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

When Life Delivers a Gut Punch

I'm going to switch things up and skip the usual post.

My cousin received some devastating news, and she's been on my mind all day.

Dinosaurs, coffee, gems, and retail therapy. Celebrating another year of her

We pulled out of the driveway at 10:30 a.m. and didn't get back home until 3:35 p.m.
That’s a very long day.

Tourist traffic wasn't terrible this weekend.
I guess most of the tourists with kids have gone back to their home states now that school has started.
Actually, crowds weren't a problem anywhere today.

"Patriot Day: Remembering the Lives Lost, Honoring the Heroes of 9/11"

♥♥♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥¸ ¸.•¨•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨

“All the noise in my brain. I clamp it to the page so it will be still.” — Barbara Kingsolver

Blogs aren't being updated in my reading list.
I have to go to the blogs I read to see if they're posting.
When I comment, I have to switch to Firefox because Edge insists on using my Google name instead of my Blogger name.
The comment box is distorted and very hard to use.
It seems to me that Blogger is making it harder to blog.

Nobody tells you how quiet and perfect 5 AM really is

I was up and in the living room at 5:30 this morning.
That's too early even for me.

Carl Cat likes to hide at night, figuring we can't find him and he won't have to go to the laundry room.
Then he'll sneak out and try to snuggle all night.
I could tolerate that, but then he starts scratching at your head and chewing on your hair.
That's weird.

Labor Day brings a bittersweet goodbye to summer days

Labor Day has come and gone.
We'll be heading into those cold, dark, depressing days soon.

I don't think I've seen anything but the house since Saturday.
I get tired of sitting around, so I go outside and walk around the yard a time or two.

Sunday, September 06, 2026

Woke up like this... still sleepy

Cowboy went to morning service.
I'd barely turned around twice before he was back home.
He muttered something sarcastic under his breath when I asked if he was home and went to bed.
Actual bed, not his recliner.

And yes, that was a dumb question, but seeing him walk back in after I'd watched him pull out of the driveway freaked me out a little.

Brain on strike, please try again later

It was a rough night, and I mean rough.
Right now we're trying to decide if this is one of her migraines or maybe a virus.
Cowboy said it might be something she ate.
With food recalls left and right, that's a possibility.

Headache: my brain's way of saying "nope."

We've made it to Wednesday.
I woke up at 7 a.m. and, like I usually do, I opened the front door to see if my little stray was waiting outside.
She was waiting for me on the porch.
She’s braver about staying near me, but still not close enough to grab.

It wasn’t one big crisis, just a hundred small slips

Hello September.
I’m not even going to try to write today.
It was one of those days, absolutely nothing happened.

The sun shines differently in August. A little softer. A little slower. Like it knows what’s coming

Another month gone.
End of August hits, and here come the Facebook memes about the brrr months starting.
September brings fall, and I’m not ready for it.
I'm not ready for the cold and the dark and sad days that are sure to follow.

Don't dream it, be it. Tim Curry

“You make your choices, you make your sacrifices, and I never looked back. I knew early on that I was going to walk that road until God told me to stop.” Dolly Parton

♥♥♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥¸ ¸.•¨•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨

If I don't write through the empty days, I won't be here for the full ones

OK, let's see if we can get something written.
To be truthful, I'm really not in the mood to write today, but if I start skipping days, I get lazy and stop entirely.

Related by DNA, Strangers by Choice

We can make this short and sweet.
Well, maybe not sweet.

Like almost every Thursday, it was town day.
We got our shopping done, and stopped at McDonald’s to grab lunch to bring home.
They had a new caramel apple pie frappe and latte I wanted to try.

♥♥♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨•.¸¸♥¸ ¸.•¨•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•¨

Nature's light show in full effect! ⚡️⛈️

I’m just sitting here wondering where all the hours went.
The day went faster than I thought it would.

Cowboy didn't wake up until noon.
He ate his breakfast, then went right back to sleep.
He slept until nearly 4 p.m., went out to take care of his chickens, then gave his work truck a good cleaning.

Giving myself permission to just be

This was just a very quiet, low‑key, stay‑at‑home kind of day.
After yesterday, I guess we needed it.

Fought a Bug. The Bug Won.

I woke up really early this morning.
My inner spidey sense was telling me I was alone in bed.
Sure enough, Cowboy hadn't come home from work yet.

Every vote counts!

Another Thursday has come and gone.
The days are getting a little easier for me.

Until We Meet Again At The Rainbow Bridge

quiet summer moments

We enjoyed a quiet morning with Heron.
He finished “Yellowstone” and moved on to one of the prequels.
By afternoon, he’d finished it too.

“You are unique. There is only one you. And that is you there, right here, for better or worse. Except that there is no better, and there is no worse. It’s just you.” ― Sam Neill,

Just a quiet Friday at home

Badger felt bad all day, so today was a stay-in kind of day, which means y'all get a short post.

Cowboy’s been telling me his regular phone hasn’t been working for a while.
I went to put his phone card on today, and Badger about had a cow.
The battery was bulging out the back, which is apparently a bad thing.

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be

"Stars, Stripes, and Freedom—Happy July 4!"

Why We Celebrate the Fourth

We celebrate the Fourth, but do we remember why?
Beyond the crimson bursts that light the sky.
Beyond the waving flags of red, white, and blue,
Lives a promise from long ago that still rings true.

Long ago, brave voices rose to say
That a free people should chart their own way.
They risked life and fortune, refusing to bend
To the rule of a distant king.

They stood behind a simple belief:
That liberty was worth the cost.

On July Fourth, that vision came to life.
Through decades of struggle, of light and of dark,
The nation stumbled, endured, and grew,
And freedom carried on from one generation to the next.

That is why the banners fly.
Why families gather beneath the summer sky.
Why children wave sparklers into the night,
And fireworks cut through the dark with light.

We mark far more than a date on the page.
More than a parade or a holiday.

We honor the courage that set freedom in motion,
And the determination to keep freedom alive.

For liberty is never a guarantee.
It is something to cherish,
Something to protect,
Something to pass on to the next generation.

And that is why we celebrate the Fourth.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

the name of father was another name for love

Summer Solstice

Thursday, June 11, 2026

I am 90% caffeine, 10% spite

Town day went the way town days usually do, except a bit more rushed.
We had all the time in the world, or at least until 2 p.m., but Cowboy zipped us through the store like a nest of wasps was on his rear end.

“Things look ordinary until they’re not.”

We went to town.
Cowboy had to pick something up from Lowe's, and then we got Badger’s medication.

We came home, and eventually, Cowboy headed to work, and Badger headed outside.
She's using old pizza pans and scrap wood to make me little birdie buffets to sit on the ground.

Sundays are for slowing down and staying in

Heron headed to his girlfriend's house.
He remembered to turn the air conditioner on for his cats today.
When I checked on them, the three catio cats were enjoying the catio while the tortie was nowhere to be found, which probably meant she was under the bed.

Golden feathers in a sea of white—May catching light on soft wings

Badger and I are usually awake by 8 a.m., and time seems to crawl until Cowboy gets up around 11.
After he leaves for work, it's just the opposite.
You'll be sitting there watching TV, look up, and suddenly two hours have disappeared.
Time has gone into hyperdrive.