Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Winning, Whining, and Winery


The sun is hiding behind the rain clouds today, so the pretty golden coreopsis is here to help brighten the day.  Something happened last week that really put a smile on my face and brightened my day.  In fact, when I think about it now I still grin from ear to ear. 
 
Most of you probably read Susan Branch's blog and I know some of you, like me, have one of her calendars on your wall and perhaps one of her books on your bookshelf.  Well, Susan has been writing a new book titled The Fairy Tale Girl and last month on her blog she mentioned having a giveaway.  Her giveaway was going to be an autographed copy of her new book and she was going to give one to 10 lucky winners.  Guess whose name was one of the 10 drawn?  MINE!!!  I was so excited to see my name on her blog!!  If you want to see it, just go here.  I was doubly excited because I have entered numerous giveaways, but have never won anything so this was amazing!!  Now I will be anxiously awaiting my new book and it sounds like it will be a very good one.  I love Susan's blog and if you haven't read it, you are missing out!  Her calendars are works of art and her books are a delight, too.

 

Here are 2 of the sweet, simple things in life I've been enjoying.  Watching them play is more entertaining than anything on tv could ever be!  Yes, they have been a lot of work, no doubt about it...and still are a lot of work.  One of them is using the litter box but not the other.  Rainie is a bit behind Rambo...she is not eating solid food yet and hasn't figured out the litter box.  Life will be a lot easier when she catches up and I know it's only a matter of time before she does.  She is also my passive furbaby and Rambo the Rambunctious is very agressive.  He is a hoot to watch prancing around and doing his little side jumping.  Rainie is often content just to lay in my arms and curl up and purr.  When they start whining crying for their bottles and I begin fixing them, they will run and climb up the recliner where I usually feed them to wait for me like in the above photo.
 
  Daughter helping feed R&R in the kitchen.
It will be a sad day when they are old enough to be adopted, but I have enough kitties already and so I hope to find them a good home.  I will put on my brave face and be happy in knowing that their sweet little selves were saved from dying while out in the elements or starving after their mother disappeared. 
 

A trip to the winery on the Missouri river was on the agenda last weekend.  Our son was in with his girlfriend and my cousin, his wife and daughter, who lives in San Diego and was in visiting, met us there.   Our daughter fixed some food to take and everyone had a wonderful time visiting.  This photo of the river from the deck at the winery is from a few years ago.  I was so annoyed with myself for forgetting to put a fresh battery in my camera, so I wasn't able to take photos.  


I've decided to take the advice from some of you who suggested that I just blog when I can and not worry about commenting when I don't have the time.  I just can't stop blogging  and although the day will surely come when I will give it up, I just can't yet.  I'd miss y'all too much!  Hope to catch up on everyone soon.  Have a nice week!

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl 

37 comments:

  1. Cheryl,
    Congratulations on winning Susan Branches book. I just won a giveaway of Kris' of Junk Chic Cottage..It's Nana Diana's new book. I am so excited too. By the time I saw Susan was having a drawing she had over 3000 comments...I did not even try. LOL. I do love to read Susan's blog and see all her adorable drawings. Love those cute kittens. Blessings to all at your house. xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  2. How fun to have won the SB book! Enjoy! These kittens are the cutest. Bless you for caring for them. When they are so tiny, their heads look "heavy" don't they? Adorable! Happy to see you post. Have a good evening.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats on winning the SB book! I don't follow her blog, but I've always loved her art on calendars, cards, cookbooks, etc. My goodness, your kittens are SO adorable! I have never fed a kitten a bottle...what a cool experience. I have watched a kitten being born (Clementine, my female cat, appeared on our doorstep a few summers ago - she was pregnant and only had 2 kittens...one was stillborn and the other we kept) and that was very cool. Glad you had fun at the winery!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Big congrats on such an awesome win!!!! I've not visited her blog in the past, but I will do so now. I can for sure see how watching two adorable kitties is more interesting than TV. Just a side note..... I think you are getting attached! Your home may end up being the adoptive home! Lol.... Great river view!!! So glad you are gonna continue blogging!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congrats! I too enjoy Susan Branch . . . her blog and her books. She is so talented!! I don't blog nearly as often as I used too . . . and its hard to even find time to comment on other blogs. But I still enjoy it :)! Blessings from Missouri!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. those sweet baby faces! you are a great 'foster' mom. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations on winning Susan's book. That is awesome!! I know from reading her blog that the odds of winning are almost like winning the lottery. Ha! She is such a super talented gal. That book is going to be a real treasure.
    Those kittens are as cute as they can be. So kind of you to care for them so lovingly.
    I'm so glad you have decided to continue on with your blog. Always enjoy my visits here.

    ReplyDelete
  8. How super exciting to win her giveaway. I am such a fan of her's, too.
    Love those little kitties...so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yay for your win! That is exciting! Now you'll have to review it for us one day. The kittens are adorable. Does your daughter have kitties? They'd make wonderful grandkitties. Oh good...I am glad that you have come to a decision about blogging. As long as you enjoy it, keep writing...

    ReplyDelete
  10. so wonderful for you to win an autographed copy of Susan Branch's new book. Very exciting, indeed.. enjoy. those sweet little furballs look adorable. your tlc is paying off bigtime. glad you found a happy balance so you can blog. love visiting here.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations on the win.It is exciting to win one of these give-aways.Have a wonderful rest of the week.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great win! Congratulations!
    Oh, those kittens. Those little faces melt my heart, as I know they do yours. Smart little furbabies too, waiting for you at their feeding spot! :)
    I am glad that you will keep on blogging...on your own terms, which is how it should be!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just showed my 14yo the kitty photos and she is in love! (I knew she would be.)

      Delete
  13. Hi Cheryl....
    Great pics...don't stop blogging....but do visit me! Hahaha!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful yellow flowers and I am so glad that you won Susan's book. HOW EXCITING is that!! I wish my life were a bit different right now- I would adopt both those babies and drive there to get them. They are so cute I just want to snuggle them both! Just darling!!!!
    Glad you will continue blogging, Cheryl. Yep- you just do what you can---when you can! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  15. I so behind on blogging, so I feel your pain!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, lucky lady! Beautiful pics, especially those darling little ones.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The pictures are so lovely! We had a cattery once and it was always hard to give the kittens away. Those two kittens are adorable. I think it is so wonderful that you saved them. I am so happy you are not giving up blogging. Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are a lucky Lady, I bet the book will be a good read!
    Your trip to the winery sure sounds like a fun day all around, Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  19. Those kittens are just too cute! Sometimes with kittens you have to put them in the litter box and take their front paws and scratch the litter for them...lots of time that is the secret...give it a whirl! Good to hear you are not giving up blogging:)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Regarding 7-UPs.....

    Here's the way I do it....I eat a 7-UP biscuit with my 7-UP Float.....heh heh heh...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Cheryl, Your kittens are so cute. I have been trying to catch up with some of my friends. I blog as time allows. I still enjoy seeing what my friends have been doing. I am tired of the rain which we had some more again today. We are under a flash flood warning tonight. I am like you and pray for those who the floods waters have caused problems in their lives. Glad you got to celebrate your daughters birthday. Have a wonderful day. Hugs and Prayers from Your NW Missouri Friend Shirley

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nothing cuter than a couple of kittens!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congrats on your win, Cheryl, and like you I have hardly won anything...maybe one day! Glad that Rambo and Rainie are doing well and once both are using the litter box and eating solids, you will be able to relax a bit and sleep more too😀 glad too that you will still be posting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congrats to you, love Susan Branch!!!!! What sweet little kitty faces, adorable. Blessings Francine.

    ReplyDelete
  25. So cute drinking from the bottle, pretty little kitties.
    betsy

    ReplyDelete
  26. congrats on winning that book. she has some really pretty pics on there, i popped over for a look see. to funny you wrote feeding R & R and that stands for rest and relaxation and that is what they do for you. so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your babies are growing! What a good mommy you have been to them :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. They are getting so big, but still are so young aren't they. I'm so glad that you did rescue them, there is a purring heart of a momma cat somewhere out there thankful that you did.

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  29. those are two of the sweetest kittens I've ever seen! you have a good heart. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congratulations on winning the book! Love the picture of the river. And you will know I am crazy when I say I am half envious of your little darlings....I do not need and will not get any more. But I can never stop loving them I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow, Cheryl! You won a book! I too am a follower of Susan and absolutely love her designs. I have most of her cookbooks as well as her book about her travels to England. Congratulations! So very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Congratulations Cheryl, I do love Susan's blog! the kitties are adorable, and yes, it will be hard to say goodbye, or will it be "hello" smile~ So glad you decided to stay in blogland!
    Have a great day,
    hugs, and blessings,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Cheryl~

    Congratulations! I love winning fun gifts, especially from my sweet blogging friends. Like you, I rarely win anything, so it's always exciting when I do! Susan Branch is amazing.

    what adorable little friends you have! they really do tug at your heart-strings, and I know that you will be so blessed for taking care of and loving these cute babies.

    Sounds like you had a fun day with your family - nothing like a little family time to brighten your day! I always love to see your pictures of the river, it's so beautiful!

    I'm so happy that you decided to keep blogging! I look so forward to reading your blog, and would really miss you if you left us!

    Have a wonderful week-end sweet friend!

    Hugs,
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  34. Aww, those sweet little faces! You are a wonderful person for saving these kitties.
    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your little kitties are adorable! I'm so glad you rescued them and they will be going to good homes later on. I'm like you with blogging lately and getting behind as life is rather busy this time of year. Take care and enjoy the summer. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Well congratulation!! What a fun give away to win!
    Such sweet little kittens there... I am glad that you are able to foster them.
    Love your pictures... so pretty. My coreopsis are just starting to bloom..... just one blossom in fact.
    Time..... we all have to worry about it, and sometimes our time just is filled with so much. I can understand you having to think about the time that blogging takes up.
    For now, I am happy that you are still posting :)

    Smiles :)
    ~K.

    ReplyDelete