Whipping Wind and Freezing Temps

Good evening! Today has been so cold, but at least it was above freezing. (It's 14 degrees right now.) Tomorrow won't be so lucky, it's going to have a wind chill of -3! I think the weather forgot this is Georgia, it's not supposed to be that cold here. I will take it and not complain though because it just gives me more of a reason to cuddle with my husband on the couch while we watch Netflix on our Google Chrome Cast. It's been a pretty good day off of work, and tomorrow I only work 4 hours. Yeah, sometimes part-time totally sucks, but on a day where the high is 31, I'll take 4 hours! 

With the weather being so cold, my heart hurts for all the animals stuck out in these freezing temps. Shelters and churches and schools open their doors for the homeless or those without heat during nights this cold, but the poor helpless animals don't have that. They're left to freeze, with no one to help them. I know I've been guilty of this in the past before I understood that if it's too cold for me, it's too cold for them. The wild/feral animals have a better knack at knowing how to keep warm than the animals who are lost, are tied up, or have owners who let them live outside. 

We have an outdoor cat named Kirby, he's really sick, and nearing the end of his life. He lives outside, but we bring him inside the house regularly and give him extra food during nights like this. If we had a litter box, he would be inside with us, but as it stands, we don't, so we have a huge, fluffy comforter on our glider on our porch that he wraps himself in. He lets us know when he wants to come in, and if we're not asleep yet, he comes in and stays with us for a long while. 

My heart just goes out to all animals, but especially those who don't have anyone looking out for their best interest, the ones tied up without even a doghouse to hide from the wind in. My parents have an outside dog, she's a pit bull, she stays tied up, but she can go 30 feet in any direction. Then she has a dog house with a heating light and bedding that keeps her body heat in it. As far as outside dogs go, she has it made. I can't imagine living outdoors in the freezing cold, with your body constantly shivering to try to keep you warm. It seems unbearable. The animals who are lost or abandoned don't stand much of a chance at surviving outdoors when the weather gets bad. 

If you see a stray and you know the weather is bad or about to get bad, then call the animal control or take them in yourself. I know taking one in is a lot to ask, but at least they won't get put to sleep, at
least you're giving them a fighting chance. You don't have to take them in permanently, post them on the Internet "Found dog/cat on such and such road." Someone will either claim them or want to take them in themselves. I know this is common sense, but sometimes a nice little reminder is necessary, especially during bad weather. 

So many animals don't have someone speaking up for them, so just consider me their spokesperson or guardian angel.

XoXo,

Tia

These are 3'of my 9 animals. The other 6 are 5 fish and a hamster. :-)

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What do you work for?

Good evening! It's almost midnight and I'm just starting today's blog. I had to be at work early this morning, but I got off early, too, so I felt it was a nice trade. When I got home around 1:30 I cleaned a little bit then ate lunch and read. Once Chris finished work for the day we had to clean out our flower beds out front. There was so many fallen leaves, and we didn't want them to kill our plants. Today was the only day we could do it this week because we're getting an arctic blast overnight that's going to last until this weekend. While Chris collected pine straw from the land I raked off all of the old pine straw and leaves, and let me tell you, when leaves and pine straw are wet, they're a lot heavier than you anticipate. I suspect I'll be feeling the yard work tomorrow, luckily for me, I'm off (tomorrow). I'll probably work in the house all day, there's always work to be done.

Today's blog is more or less focused on independent adults, whether that's single, married, widowed, or divorced. We as adults have to work to pay bills, put food on the table, keep your children in clothes, etc... Well, what do you spend your left over money on? Accessories? Shoes? Purses? Shells? Lures? Line? Going out to eat? All of these things are fine, but for some there's one thing that doesn't get the attention it deserves...the house. (Please note I said some and not all or majority.) Why do you buy a $100,000+ house and not take care of it? Why let mildew build on the siding? It washes off. Why let the paint chip all over, when you can paint it? Why let briars take over your yard where your dog lives and children play? In one afternoon you could clear up the briars. Why let junk pile up all around your house and let it ruin your yard, and make your entire house seem nasty? Your house could be impeccable, but if you leave junk everywhere, it will hide your house's beauty.

I feel if you're going to be paying on your house for the next 30 years of your life, then you should keep it looking good. My husband always says, "you work for what's at home." That includes taking care of the house. Don't let animal feces pile up and not clean it up. That's gross for one, but also, it will ruin your floors. Take pride in what is yours. Keep the grass cut, the garbage taken off, the walkway/driveway clear of leaves and pine straw. Be proud for what you have. You could live in an itty bitty house or apartment, but as long as it is taken care of, you won't even be able to tell. Give your house personality, make it your own, but don't let it waste down to crap because you'd rather spend your money on something other than taking care of your house. A lot of taking care of your house doesn't even involve money, just time and sweat. Quite unfortunately people are becoming lazier and lazier (thank you generation of technology) to where they'd rather watch the latest reality show then keep up their house. 

I honestly don't get some people's way of thinking. I'm not trying to bash anyone or put anyone down, I'm just trying to understand. 

XoXo,
Tia

Mayhem and Maniacs...It must be a Monday

Good evening! Boy, was I glad to see 5 o'clock roll around today, I don't know if it was the full moon or what, but the bank was crazy today! When I got home Chris said he would cook dinner, so I settled in on the couch with my kindle. What a relaxing way to end the work day. Chris cooked chicken and dumplings with the most amazing homemade biscuits! Now we're watching Criminal Minds for one hour so we can fast forward through all the commercials on the season premier of The Bachelor! Yay!

Lately, I've been thinking about my grandpa. He passed away this past November 21, so we had to go through Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. It wasn't easy. My grandpa was my first ever best friend. We spoke our own language. Growing up I wanted to do everything Grandpa did. He took me on "dates" when I was little. We would go to Baskin Robbins and share a banana split, then we would go to the Dollar Tree next door and he would give me $1 to spend. We would walk up and down every aisle, and I would look at everything. I think he taught me at an early age the value of a dollar. I still take careful consideration before I spend any money. 

My grandparent's took us on vacations to the beach twice, and one year I spent all summer with my grandparents at a lake house. That was probably one of my favorite summer's growing up. Their friend's were there too, and there was so many kids close to my age there. That summer we stayed up late, woke up early, went fishing, swimming; we went on boat rides, walked on lake islands. By the end of the summer my pale, porcelain skin was a nice bronze color. But, what made that summer the best one was that I was with my grandparents. They made my summer amazing!

My grandfather was 90 when he passed away, he had 90 wonderful years on this earth. He taught me about hard work and to stand up for what I believe. He taught me that blood doesn't make you family because family is who is there for you when you need them. He was always there for me. He loved me unconditionally and he always reminded me of that. He was my hero, and now I'm lucky because my hero is my guardian angel. Not everyone can say that. I was blessed to have grandpa in my life for 23 years. He began dating my grandmother in 1991 and they married in 1995. I was one when he entered my life. He made such an impact to me and my whole family. He was never afraid to tell anyone he spoke with exactly what he thought, he didn't care if it offended them or not. If he did offend you, he would say something like "I still love you though, but..." 

Earl Caldwell Maple was my best friend, my partner in crime, my grandpa. He lived in so many places and saw so many things with the military, so I can only imagine the surprises God has in store for Grandpa and all that he is seeing already. 

I love you, Grandpa, and until we see each other again, keep an eye on me!

XoXo,
Tia

Earl Caldwell Maple

May 02, 1924

-

November 21, 2014

P.S. I apologize if this entry isn't as composed and hard hitting as the 365 Days of Learning, Growing, and Being Thankful, but I wanted everyone to know my Grandpa.

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I am Tia, Hear me ROAR

Today is Sunday, and the sun is finally shining! Chris and I thought we were going to need a boat to get around town. It rained really hard for a long time, but now the sun is shining it's 60 degrees outside. The ground is drying up and the birds are flying high. It's a wonderful Georgia winter day, and it would be even better if the floors didn't need scrubbing, clothes didn't need washing, and dogs didn't need baths. However, I cooked a huge breakfast of corned beef and hash, homemade hash browns, scrambled eggs, and biscuits, and dinner is in the crock pot- or at least the roast is. We're having pork roast, pinto beans, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. I wanted to have a nice dinner before the work week begins. I'm learning that if I cook a lot over the weekends then I can almost make left overs last until the next weekend. Although, if I am off on weekday I will cook a good, hearty dinner. We'll eat good today.

I'm thankful for my culinary background, it taught me so much life experience. I am grateful that Chris helped pay for my dreams when my scholarship ran it's course. I am grateful I was able to go to college and follow my dreams, even if I am not using my college education as a career now. I know not everyone can go to college because of money or other reasons, and I was lucky enough to complete my education and not have any student loans lingering over my head. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I finished what I started, and that was what I intended to. I understand how blessed I am to have people in my life who love and support me and my dreams. I wish everyone in the world could experience the support that I do. It's all encompassing,

I used to feel all alone, even when I was in a sea of people. I didn't feel like I was good enough to have friends or to accept love from family and friends. I was in a dark place and I didn't think I would ever feel good enough for anyone. Little by little I began seeing that I was good enough, I was worthy of love and acceptance, and if someone didn't like me or accept me than screw them. I am a wonderful person, and if someone can't see it then they don't deserve to be in my life. I was taking my life by the reigns, I was going to be in control. I had finally found my voice, and I was going to let everyone know. I no longer feel inferior, or not good enough. Sure, I am still self-conscious, but I feel so much better about myself because I believe in myself. I had a true Katy Perry moment "You're gonna hear me ROAR." I wanted to share with everyone that I had finally found my self-worth. It is almost entirely because Chris has never ending love and faith in me. He believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. He showed me how to realize how much I was worth. He never once gave up on me, and I felt like I was a lost cause at first.

So, I guess this is me letting everyone know that I know I am worth something. I am worth love. I am a genuinely good person, sure this could sound as being arrogant, but I see it as finally embracing myself.

XoXo,
Tia

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