July!

Man, this year has been flying past.  I guess I say that every year, but they seem to go by faster and faster.  We're half way through 2014!  Amazing.

For me, 2014 has been a good year so far.  I almost hate to say that so I won't jinx myself.  But I've been healthy.  My folks have been relatively healthy, for their ages. My family keeps growing, with a new set of grand-twins.   My house hasn't needed any more repairs since they finished in January.  My cat-kids are holding their own at 16 and 18 years old.  My job is going well and keeping me busy.  I guess I have a lot to be grateful for.   

I'm pretty much over the jet lag from Istanbul.  I'm finally waking up to the alarm rather than between 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning.  And the airline found my luggage and delivered it to me three days after I got back, so not too bad.  I had taken most of the clothes that fit me now, so I was really happy to get those back.  

Friday was Fourth of July holiday so I went to east Texas and visited with my folks and my sisters and their husbands.  It was really nice to see them all.   So often lately I've felt like I just need to stay completely away from my sisters, who always seem to be mad at me about something.  Being around them I feel like I'm walking on eggshells, afraid to say the wrong thing, or say something they'll take wrong.  It's sometimes really tempting to just keep a distance.  Still.  I love all my family.  I'm happier when things are going well between us, and things felt better last Friday.  Better than they've been anyway.   Maybe I've learned just to keep my mouth shut.   It really doesn't pay to say what you think.  


Hmmmm.  This post didn't start out introspective.  Not sure where that came from.

Anyway, the pictures in this post are the cat-girls and also my little pine tree, which is still growing gang busters.   I also stuck a picture in of where I jury-rigged a broken branch with a garbage bag twist tie.  The branch was broken at that fork, almost all the way through, and I didn't think I could do anything that would help it.  but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try.  And that branch seems to still be growing fine, so maybe the twist tie saved it.    

That's all for today.