Cold and windy

The wind is really blowing as it has almost constantly since we arrived 3 months ago.  Cold, too.

The cats that my mother started feeding for companionship have grown to about 6 except on cold mornings when I serve a hot breakfast! LOL

We have a lovely place for them in the old garage with old furniture loaded with old blankets and plenty of places to snuggle down and stay warm.  The also are fed inside and have water there too.  So good for the animals.  There are lots of interesting birds, robins are already here, some black birds, field larks, some big fat doves, and small wrens.  The resident squirrel is busy with the nuts from the pecan trees that surround my mother's house.  She had trapped a lot of squirrels and took them to the creek with a bag of nuts a few years ago.  But she hasn't noticed this squirrel and I haven't pointed out his presence.  With the neighborhood dogs and children we have quite a lot of see out of the windows.  (Hope to add some when spring arrives, windows that is! LOL)

There is a juvenile facility about a block from the house.  Some are there for very serious crimes but so far there are few problems for the town except providing plenty of jobs.  The facility is well cared for and attractive enough to not be an eyesore.  The tumble down houses are the problem.  Of course, the facility causes lots of traffic all day and all night as the shifts change at different times.  But I personally like the noise, more like urban sounds.

Hello, everyone.  Hope all are doing well.  Jack is having more problems with stiff and painful muscles but that goes with the disease.  Hope a new doctor can find some relief for him.

Take care all.

New life---new state---new challanges

This is a cultural challenge!

I cook three meals daily.  Can count the number of times eating out on one hand in three months! LOL

Everyone has a good appetite and are easily pleased.

Our room (really a one room life at this time) is beginning to take on a lived in look with pictures and furniture that functions with our life style.  Book cases and file cabinets and finally my computer on a new computer desk.

My days start early and often I can't sleep till after midnight.  This has to change! LOL

I do lots of cleaning and mother and I are systematically going through things--sort of!  We do a drawer or a box or sometimes a closet and it is slow but it is difficult for my mother to give up some things and everything she has kept is important.

We have fought the war of the cobwebs and won most of the battles.  This is a big house and you would think that this could have been done in a week or so but three months later I am still wondering when I will get to that bedroom or that bath. 

A big hold up was  income tax and selling the house and the paper work has been really stressful for me.  We drive about 20 miles to fax things.  I have a fax machine but it isn't always reliable.

This is an interesting little town.  This county in Oklahoma is designated a depressed area.  And if I understand correctly the state is attempting to reward those who move in with 5 years of exempt state tax. Now that would be a reward.  There are lots of empty houses and many in a tumble down condition.   We have had fires close by and the entire state is in a fire danger area.  The rain over the weekend was not near enough to help but was lovely to see.  It is cold today and the wind is blowing as it has everyday since we got here!  E-gad this is awful!

This town is 10 miles from anyother place to buy gas or bread, so our little country store is loved by all.  The mail comes in about 8 every morning and you meet your neighbors at the postoffice.  And take your key for the box or go back home and get it! LOL

My mother is 87, has seeing and hearing problems but manages quite well.  She was frail and doing down when we arrived.  This really frightened me but she is eating good and seems to be doing so much better with people around and places to go.  We often run to town (10 miles away), just to get something so she can get out of the house.

Jack isn't getting out near enough and I hope the warming up of the season will make it possible for him to get out of this one room with only two windows.  He feels like he is in a cell and I understand that completely.

We have had to apply for insurance.  There are no hmo's here so you take independent insurance to suppliment the medicare.  This will be interesting to see how this works out. 

Three months-----maybe it won't be so long before I update again......<smiles>