Ok...... I know it's winter, but getting up to -10 is getting a little old here. Bob woke me up late this morning. Really late. He let me sleep til 8:00. Can you believe that? With Meg and Robby down at the State One Act Competition school starts a little later than normal for us. Rob is usually up by 6:30 and out the door by 7:15 for chorus and Meg is up before him, but spends time in her room reading. She loves to read. This is something I haven't had time to do in several months.
I read short things, but she is reading novels for her Advanced Lit class and I am jealous. I love to read. I love the English language. I love seeing words on a page that envoke emotion, thought, and amusement. What do you think? What do you love to read? Do you have an all time favorite book? I don't think I could pick just one. I LOVE Toltsoy, Joyce, Elliott, Hawthorne, Cather, and even a bit of Hemingway. I think I love these authors becuase the deal with the condition of the human spirit. I didn't realize that connection until just now. We could discuss the various aspects of each author, but that would take months, so I will not bore you with that.

Subject change:
The kittens are such a crack up. They are so intelligent and fun. Patch answers the phone when it rings and the kids have to run to beat him to it before he knocks the receiver off the hook. He also comes to the kitchen and stretches up the front of the dishwasher and paws at it when he is thirsty. He meows at the doors when he is wanting us to open certain rooms up for him to investigate. He is just too fun to watch. One never knows what he will do next.

Pepper is more predictable. Pepper is our petite lady kitten. She is more refined and doesn't have all the time or laid back personality that Patch has. She has taken to loving popcorn and tries to steal carrots that are destined for the rabbit. She actually eats carrots! Anabelle told Mrs. Weisenstein, the boys' piano teacher, that cats eat carrots so they can see in the dark. I didn't have the heart to tell her that cats normally don't eat carrots and we just have a vegetarian cat.

And there's the queen cat, who will never be dethroned, Snuggles. We can't omit the happenings in Snuggle's life; now can we? With the weather being so cold Bob has been bringing Barney inside at night and he sleeps in the basement. Last night he brought him in and the three felines were lined up in the mudroom. Patch sniffed Barney and walked away, Pepper freaked, passed gas and ran to hide behind the upright piano, and Snuggles just sat there, unmoved. Barney had to walk around her. It was so funny to watch. After Bob took Barney into the basement Snuggles followed them down. She stayed down there for about an hour and then came back upstairs. Barney followed her up and she just casually sauntered up. Their personalities were so evident in this little encounter and we had a good laugh, except when Pepper gassed us.

So that is what is happening in my little corner of the world where even the antics of kittens can bless us a little bit.

Love you!
Mary