Week in Review - December 4 - 10, 2023

The week ended with rain, which we really, really needed. Especially if I want to start working on the brick walkway around the front of the house. However, damp + chilly weather = hands that don't work too well and ache. 

So I suck down some ibuprofen and continue on, bent fingers and all.

But it was a fairly productive week, despite my next door neighbor and her dog moving out. She sold her house and moved into an apartment, something she has been wanting to do for almost 3 years now. She is a bit older than myself and has more steps from the sidewalk to her walkway and the up into her house. And having had hip surgery in the past it was too much for her. Plus she hated having to rely on her daughter to come mow the yard. She just hated yard work period.

I watched her move out over the course of a few days. Then on Friday, the house closed and the new owner appeared. For better or worse, it is an investment property and they will be renting it out. He did say they are careful about their renters and it being a one bedroom house, it will have to be for 1 or 2 people. So we will see.

There was a positive movement on my writing. Granted it was all on posts for my website and the herb society website, but at almost 4000 words over 3 days, I'm happy. Plus it checked off some to-do's off the list. 

Got some of the kitchen rearranging sorted out and received a new microwave from a friend of Foxy's after Lady K and a cup of Mac-n-Cheese made my old microwave a bit dicey to use. 

The 'big' thing this week however was the herb society's Christmas Tea at The Barn in the Village on Saturday. I dragged a very reluctant Foxy along with me. It was a really nice tea and the proceeds go to support the upkeep of a historical village in Mint Hill (part of Charlotte). One of the herb society members has been an active volunteer there and helps with the tea each year. All the food is made by the volunteers and is delicious. Needless to say, we did not go home hungry.

This coming week however is a bit troublesome and sad. 

Unfortunately, Ruby does not like the fact Foxy is here. We knew when Lady K visits she barks and barks at her and does not go near her. And for a day or two when she stays with me, we cope. However, in the almost 2 months Foxy has been here, Ruby has been super clingy and barks and growls at her. To the point Ruby will stand at the bottom of the stairs and look up and growl and bark. 

No amount of treats, attempts at petting her, and a bark collar have changed Ruby's opinion of another person in the house. The troubling part, beyond the constant growling and barking and having a 'Ruby Shadow', is she did bite at Foxy one time when she was trying to get her to come inside. 

With Foxy here now and Lady K coming every other weekend, I can't chance one of them accidentally cornering Ruby and getting bitten. So Ruby is being turned back into the animal shelter. 

Also, since Lady K's cat was removed from her dad's house (don't get me started there), there are now 5 cats in a very small house. So Nox and Reggie are being re-homed. They are both beautiful cats and still young, so finding them a new home isn't much of an issue.

So by the end of the week there will be 2 people (3 every other weekend), 1 dog and 3 cats in the house. It was a hard decision to make, but one that had to be made.

Sigh...

So more coffee and on with the week.