Melting Snow & Cocooning Inside
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Little by little, the snow that fell over the last weekend is melting. The sunshine has been bright and glowing atop the mounds of snow, while it thaws and rushes down the street to the west.
Still, there’s a lot of snow hanging on because of the low temperatures.
I haven’t been out in more than a week, and have been completely satisfied with my writing, reading, and watching the kitties cavort and play.
Simon and Daisy can be licking one another one minute, and the next, they are tussling, and off they go on a chase. The next thing I know, they’re curled up together, sleeping in a chair.
I never tire of watching them.
They bound from surface to surface, up atop the fireplace mantel, then onto the back of the couch. It’s like watching acrobats so attuned to the furniture surfaces that they can perform high-level feats requiring amazing balance and coordination.
Simon has a toy he’s suddenly taken a liking to. It looks like a squirrel flattened into submission. It’s become a toy of intense interest for all the cats. Sometimes I see Ivy walking around with it in her mouth.
Daisy is playing with the squirrel in a cardboard box I haven’t broken down and taken out to the recycling container yet.
Isn’t it funny how these toys can become obsessions for a time, then are relegated to the red plastic toy bin for months?
Sometimes I walk into the darkness of the kitchen at night and up to the counter, and there will be Daisy on the counter near the sink. She will meow at me, a long drawl of a meow, and I will pet her.
Daisy loves heights. So far, Simon hasn’t been doing this yet.
Raising Hare & Such a Perfect Family:
I just finished reading and reviewing Raising Hare, a beautiful true story about a leveret found by Chloe Dalton at her countryside home.
She tells of what she learns from the hare she raises, and how it changed her life. You can find my book review here.
Now I’m reading Such a Perfect Family, by Nalini Singh.
What the Book is About:
A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, most respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh.
A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.
For forty-three days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world, until his new life turns to ash. His wealthy in-laws’ house goes up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.
Tavish thought he’d left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind. But it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women, all of whom he’d professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s truly innocent.
***
As of now, I haven’t figured out if the main character is a villain or a reformed scoundrel. Or possibly he is both.
The story is mixed with the details detectives write in their reports about Tavish during their investigation.
My Chair/Office:
This is my chair and my office all in one. I sit here and write to you, review books, watch the cats play, and drink my one cup of coffee a day. It has a heat function, which feels lovely on my back.
I have little tables on either side where I keep my water bottle for occasional sips. On one side, I store the laptop when not in use. It’s a wonderful setup.
I’m near the north window, where I see the stark tree branches out of the corner of my eye. They’re leafless, set against a grayish-blue sky.
It’s where I gaze at the light streaming through the westward window in the afternoon. The light illuminates the lamp and gently highlights the base’s curves.
It’s a pleasant thing to behold, at a time when being stuck inside means paying attention to things I might normally look past.
A Movie I Watched:
I watched a 2026 Netflix movie called The Rip with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Those two have been friends and business partners for years, having grown up together in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The film was inspired by a true story. They play police officers in the narcotics unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
This group of police officers finds their trust in one another broken during a raid on a hidden cash operation. The team members begin to suspect one another of trying to steal the large sum of cash. But which one or ones is it?
If you like action thrillers, you will enjoy this movie.
There’s still a little bit of leftover ice in the front yard & some on the patio. It should be all gone by tomorrow.
I finally got out Thursday to visit the grocery store so I could walk a little bit to stretch my legs. Drove carefully as the side streets weren’t clear yet. The parking lot was clear so I didn’t have to worry about slipping and falling. I will have to get the car washed next week when it is warmer.
Your reading/working space is lovely. Your house looks so calm and peaceful. I still love the color of the house, the blue makes a nice backdrop for your flowers.
Do your cats have claws? Sadie Mae is the first cat I’ve had with claws. The others were all declawed before I adopted them. She is still skittish and won’t let me hold her yet so I haven’t been able to trim them. She doesn’t like the scratching toys either. But she sure likes to chase balls. She’s monitoring the front yard from the windows even though they are cold to touch. She will come out to sit on me for about 5 minutes then runs back to the windows.
Stay warm
Today is my first day to drive.
Delivery of Theo of Golden has been delayed by ice and snow but I just received notice it will be here today. YEA! (I really wanted to read it while shut in.)
Perfect Family will be on my list soon.
I did enjoy the Rip. It kept me guessing.
Thank you for the suggestion.
I appreciated your Jan 26 post.
Your chair looks so comfortable. The heat feature would be heavenly!
As another commenter said, I really enjoy seeing your photographs in your posts.
Hello Brenda. You are such an eloquent writer. Can you please post about the women and young girls that have been murdered and raped by illegals? Your opinion would matter! While I don’t your understand position, I believe you should give respect to those actually killed by illegals. Why give so much support for those who got in the way of federal officers, these women were just living their lives. And I understand these women dont fit into the narrative, but they need to be heard! What if this was one of your daughters? Why can’t we give them the respect they deserve. I’m truly dumbfounded because I believe you are a compassionate person.
Does Ivy ever get to play with Simon or Daisy?
I’m sure she gets some enjoyment from watching them, as you do.
Good Afternoon Brenda,
I am sitting down with a mug of Hot chocolate w/marshmallows and a slice of pumpkin bread made this morning. I live in the Pacific Northwest and we have been spared from any serious ice/snow issues. In fact, we have tied a record of no measurable rain for two weeks. I enjoy your blog and love all your artwork, pictures etc. I will ask my friends who trade books back and forth about “Such a Perfect Family.”
I happened to spy a picture of a red barn with snow above and clicked on it. Another great read… at the end you asked your readers what routines do you have for each season, do you switch out pillows/ decor. Also, if Hot chocolate w/marshmallows make an appearance. It was written in 2022. I love being able to go back and read your posts from years back. I can go down the proverbial rabbit hole with much enjoyment! By the way, I took a few pictures with my cell phone of your garden at your apartment that you lived at for ten years(?) I wonder how it fared after you left and moved to the other apt. where you met Steve and others. That garden was phenomenal and I learned much from your creativity. Just reflecting and enjoying what you have shared with all us.
Have a beautiful evening with your kitties and stay cozy…
I haven’t been out too much this past week either. It’s been way too cold. We’ve had wind chills below zero all week. Yesterday, Brian was off work so we did go out to lunch at a diner that has delicious homemade soup. Today, all I did was venture out to feed the birds and get the mail. I’ve been perfectly content to stay home and clean, floof my decor, cook, read, write, and do yoga.
My library does have that book, Raising Hare, so it’s on my TBR list. I’m going to be starting Theo of Golden tonight.
Love the saying at the beginning of your blog!
My sentiments exactly!
Your sweet kitties always bring such a big smile to my face. You couldn’t ask for better company to be snowed in with! Stay warm and safe!
I wholeheartedly agree!
Loving the blog changes, Brenda! It’s a pleasure to visit again.
All the AI ‘art’ was off putting. Your photos bring much more authenticity and joy. Thank you for your voice and sharing your values.
That was not AI art. It was graphics I purchased from Etsy.
I thoroughly enjoyed your post this morning! Stay safe and indoors. Cocooning right now is a very good idea. Enjoy your day.
You too, Darlene.
I am glad you are snug and content in your home. Prayers for all who help us with plowing, and getting the electricity back on and those who need these services. Come on spring thaw! Take care all!
The other day, I was thinking about all the workers who must go out and plow snow and get the electricity going again in freezing weather. What a hard job they have!
Brenda, I love your stories about the kitties. I bet watching them lowers your BP 20 points!
Unfortunately our weather here in Northern TN hasn’t improved yet. It hasn’t been above freezing in over a week now. We having freezing fog this morning. The trees are still heavy with ice. We can’t even clean our sidewalks because it’s at least 4″ of ice. Hard as a rock. We are expecting another polar front tomorrow with a chance of snow. Lots of people are still without power. I haven’t seen anything like this here since I was a child. I’m trying to find Spring!
Glad to hear your weather is getting better there! Stay warm and cozy with those kitties!
Think I’ll check out that movie you reviewed. Thanks.
I am too afraid to attempt to go out on the porch, much less the porch steps. I don’t know how much ice is underneath.
Stay cozy…I’m in Colorado, where the weather is holding its own, thank goodness. I used to live in the east and the midwest and the storms that are happening there are downright scary. Poor people without power. I can’t imagine.
Cozy and warm with power on is my continued hope right now!