Cats /// photo day

We have two barn cats who hate each other. They always have, and they always will. 

However when they are not fighting tooth and nail, they are very cute. And photogenic. So photogenic. 

They both pose for me, or at least, hold a position long enough for me to capture the shot, and they are both pretty cats. We have no idea what breed mix they are, but Ginger is the calico shorthair, and Coal is the black and white with fluffy hair (it frizzes when it's humid out XD)

Ginger is almost thirteen years old. We've had her longer than we've lived in our country house. She is *my* cat, but mostly hangs out with Nana and Grandfather, since they frequently let her inside. I named her after Ginger from the movie, Black Beauty, and she did have a similar temperament to her namesake for about the first six or seven years of her life. She would only like me. But then Nana was determined to negotiate a friendship with her, and spent probably about two years winning her over.

Coal is much younger. We got him I think the Christmas of 2013, either that or 2014. He came with his sister, who disappeared, but we discovered that she adopted our neighbor who owns the horses, and is enjoying her indoor cat life immensely. We had trouble finding a name for him. We started out calling him "Jigsaw" because of the puzzle-like splotch on his nose, but we discovered that we liked the name "Coal" (as in a lump of coal in a stocking) much better. The majority of the time, he likes to keep to himself (there are some times where we won't even see him for a couple of days), but sometimes it's almost like he takes a pill to be sweet. He doesn't like being picked up and held, but he will rub and rub and rub on you and let you pet him forever. His personality is like his coat pattern; it is a contrast of night and day.

I know. I got the phone shadow. But is this face not the cutest?

*Be Prepared plays in the background*

Surveying her domain.

Wait, was that a mouse?

Glamorous and I know it.

Stretch.

Oh come on, I just woke up!

It's too early for this.

*I Just Can't Wait To Be King plays in the background*

Surveying his kingdom.

*perfect tail curl*

Smile!

Hey, can you look at the camera?

Yes, this is my majestic profile.

The rooster wanted his photo taken.

Hold still for goodness sake.

Bloopers:
(because, everyone has a weird face in a picture at least once in their lives)

Derp

Derp 2.0

Sounds like fingernails on a blackboard.

Invisible fishbowl.

I have something in my teeth.

Hang on a sec, gotta take this call.

Favorite photo of Ginger?

Favorite photo of Coal?

Favorite photo overall?

I won't ask which cat is your favorite, because haha, there is no way I could decide either!

The Liebster Award

A few days ago Marrok, at Marrok Macintyre tagged me for the Liebster Award, or rather, the Lightsaber Award (which was a much cooler name, we agreed). Believe it or not, I do like answering questions, but when I get tagged I usually tend to put off posting it. So this is why I am writing it up in advance and scheduling it so I don't forget about it.

In fact, by the time y'all are reading this my family and I will be on the road to Colorado for a ski trip! That is, if this scheduling thingamajigger doesn't glitch on me. 

And of course there are rules to tags: Answer the 11 questions, share 11 facts about yourself, and tag 11 people.

1. If You were to be transported into a fantasy world would you rather be the hero or the villain, and what kind of hero/villain would you be?

Ooh! A friend and I actually talked about hero/villain superpowers a week or two ago! Initially, I said that I wanted my power to be communication with animals (I mean, come on how cool would that be? To be able to understand what they are saying?), but then he said that he wanted his power to be the ability to inject someone with any medical substance just by touch, which is also super cool!

But being a villain though. I decided that if I were a villain, I'd want atom/cell manipulation. I could speed or slow the growth of living things. I could change the weather. I could completely change something into something else to suit my villainous plot. I could make the earth swallow anyone chasing me. 

I think though in the story I'd only go selfishly terrorizing the city for a little while before a child befriends me and show me that not everything is horrible, and then I'd only use the power to help people out and/or prank people (think loosely along the lines of Megamind).

2. If you could bring anything from your imagination into reality what would it be and why?

All right, so I kind of have a dull imagination in terms of thinking up creative imaginary friends/beings. I don't really have anything drastically unique up in there. But, I've always wanted a pet wolf. Or to have wings and just fly off whenever and wherever I wanted.

3. What are three things you share in common with your MC?

I'm not really writing anything at the moment, but in past projects, I always try to give at least one character my snark, someone always likes to read, and I like to make note of character eye colors.

4. What would you name "Thagomizer"?

That, good sir, is a laptop name right there.

5. What is your favorite genre to write in and why?

I've really only ever written in the fantasy genre, but I do have an idea for a dystopian if I ever want to go that route.

6. If you could live anywhere where would it be?

Some place with winter. I love Texas, and I will always be a Texas girl, but I also like snow. Do you see the problem?

7. Describe your personality, or the way you are feeling right now, in a gif.

*digs through the monstrosity of disorganization that is my gif folder*

 

8. Why have you chosen to write?

*points to the above gif*

9. Where does the inspiration for your writing come from?

My head? Pictures from Pinterest? Other books? You'll never know, it may even be all three.

10. When you finish writing, how do you plan to publish and why?

I haven't gotten that far yet, to be honest.

11. What song is your jam right now?

The entire soundtrack from The Greatest Showman. 

And now the eleven facts:

1. I am the tallest girl in my family.

2. I was also the smallest when I was born, popping out three weeks early and just over five and a half pounds.

3. I like candles. 

4. I've never gone upside down on a roller coaster, but I have almost fallen out of my seat on one before.

5. I can't read in the car, after a while I'll start to feel sick.

6. I like singing while I'm out taking care of my birds.

7. I used to be afraid of our stove.

8. I would much rather be behind the camera than in front of it.

9. If a movie makes me cry, than it must've really been a sad movie, either that or it was just a super pretty movie.

10. I love staying outside as it gets darker every minute in the evening. I like watching the stars come out and listening to the night sounds.

11. Aside from chocolate, caramel is my favorite kind of candy.

I tag:

Everyone who likes snow!

And because I'm curious as to how y'all will answer these, here are the same questions Marrok asked:

If You where to be transported into a fantasy world would you rather be the hero or the villain. And what kind of hero/villain would you be?
If you could bring anything from your imagination into reality what would it by and why?
What are three things you share in common with your MC?
What would you name "Thagomizer"?
What is your favorite genre to write in and why?
If you could live anywhere where would it be?
Described your personality, or the way you are feeling right now, in a gif.
Why have you chosen to write?
Where does the inspiration for your writing come from?
When you finish writing, how do you plan to publish and why?
What song is your jam right now?

Well, that's that!

Hope y'all are off to a fabulous 2018!

December Recap

This month was a lot slower compared to November, even with Christmas.

Ava had her birthday the other day, but unfortunately was battling a fever, so instead of doing much of anything, most of us crashed in the living room and watched all the Cars movies. She and I both ended up taking cat naps in the middle of the second movie.

A few days ago we woke up to the start of a three day freeze. We've mostly just had freezing rain, but I think I saw a few snowflakes in there. No way we're are getting out of the drive way though. The first third is fine, the middle part is somewhat ok, and the last part is completely sheeted in ice. I tried walking on it. I couldn't do it without slipping. The weather said it felt like 8 degrees out, but it was 22.

But anyway, that's the intro.

Stuff That Happened:

1. I accidentally left my car windows open, so I had to run out in the pouring rain to shut them after dark.

2. I was driving Gabe to his gym practice one afternoon and the car decided to stall in the middle of a bridge on a busy highway. We made it to the shoulder, but only just. That was fun. So y'all know, bridges shake. A LOT.

3. A friend and I had a fantastic conversation about hero and villain super powers.

4. Lydia put in her two weeks notice at the coffee shop she was working at. She'll be taking classes full time next semester, and we'll be going to the same college but different campuses, so neither of us can save on gas by going together.

5. When we were getting the Christmas tree, Dad had to go back in for something, so Christian and I got to tie the tree to the top of the car. Christian had helped Dad tie it on before, so I naturally assumed that he knew what he was doing. Apparently neither of us did it very well. We got about two minutes down the highway before Christian noticed that it was close to rolling down the side of the car.

6. Christian got his wisdom teeth out. He was the first one of us to act super loopy while on the medication. I was too sleepy to do anything too crazy when I got mine out, and Lydia didn't get to come home until she was fully coherent. So we got to have fun with him. When he walked in he dabbed and said "I have arrived!" and was trying to swagger in with Dad supporting him from behind. Mom: "Yeah, he's still a little out of it." Christian: "I am perfectly in it! Give me a math problem. Go get my drone, I'll fly it."

So since there isn't very much we could do with him in that state, we put in a movie for him. I pulled out a few choices, and happened to throw in The Curse of the Black Pearl, which is the only potc movie we own now. Christian: *holds it up* "is this the first one?" Me: *hesitates for a second* *deadpan expression* "no, it's the fifth." Christian: *sits bolt upright* "WAHT?!" *I explode into gales of laughter*

And the best part was; by the time the movie ended, he didn't remember that exchange at all, so I got to tell it to him again!

7. Taking family photos with Dad's side of the family on Christmas Eve. Our Uncle is the one running back and forth from the camera to the rest of us to pose for the picture. *after one particular photo* Uncle: "Alright guys. THIS is the camera. We need everyone looking over HERE." *gestures around the vicinity of the camera* "And I'm not talking to the children this time, I'm talking to the adults." *cue everyone busting out laughing*

8. *after arriving back home from taking Gabe to the gym one morning* Mom: "Well, I would ask if you and Gabe had a nice conversation in the car, but I know both of you." Me: "Yeah, we didn't talk at all."

9. Christian: "Ok, so Oklahoma is The Sooner State, what is Texas?" Me: *not batting an eye* "The Later State." Christian: "..." 😑👏 "Ok, but really. What is it?" Me: "...The Lone Star State. Dude, it's on our flag." Christian: "Oh. Duh."

10. Coal took the sweet and cuddly pill. That cat never ceases to confuzzle us with his attitude.

11. My phone charger died so I got a new one for Christmas.

12. Proud big sister moment. Gabe: "I finished The Hobbit today!" Me: "Oh! Did you like it?" Gabe: "YES! And I want to read the next one too!" Me: "Great, I'll put it in your room for you!" So yes, he is enjoying The Fellowship of The Ring now.

13. Trying to push my glasses up only to realize that I wasn't wearing them. It's been a little over two years, and I can't imagine trying to go about my day without them, especially driving.

14. I discovered several book and candle Instagram profiles, so now I'm hooked and attempting to come up with similar content.

16. Christian is well in to training for his new job at In-N-Out.

15. We went and saw The Greatest Showman! I... Have no words to describe how fantastic of a movie it is!

16. I went with a friend from church to see The Last Jedi. I love it so much! I went all in black, and even when the lady sitting next to me accidentally dumped her popcorn in my lap, I had a great time! Then Christian wanted to go see it with one of his friends, so I happily volunteered to drive him and see it a second time (he didn't get to go with me the first time because he had work things). I have so many feelings about it.

17. Us kids had never seen Bye Bye Birdie, so we watched that as a family one evening. Wow, those songs are catchy.

18. Of course we watched White Christmas on Christmas Eve, because tradition.

19. We were going to have people over on New Year's Eve after Church, but the roads were all icy, so our Church didn't even meet. We had a nice quiet evening at home.

Barnyard:

1. I got two more birds, a barred rock and a brown leghorn! I'm so excited to see what happens when I incubate their eggs once they start laying and when it gets warmer!

Need to come up with some names

2. Instead of starting to lay when it was nice out in September/October, my birds decided to wait until it was wet and miserable outside. Two of the four girl ducks are laying, and a few of the hens have finally started. Still have a few freeloading slackers in there, but I'm sure they'll start up in the next few weeks.

Flamingo impressions

3. I put the heat lamp out for them to trick them into thinking that it is lighter, longer outside. So far, I've had good results. The only downside is that the rooster's body clock has gone haywire in the crowing department.

4. Also this:

Music:

Not very much to report there:

Just the soundtracks to the movies from this month, in terms of new things.

I also have a Christmas playlist that I added to since Christmas of 2016:

And the songs I listened to the most in 2017:

Posts of December:

Feathers /// photo day

lessons from the barn

It's Christmas, but it doesn't feel like it.

How was your month?

What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Does your family have any Christmas traditions?