Interesting days…
Strange couple of days. I don’t even know what order to tell the little anecdotes in…
I was grooming a VERY old poodle yesterday: a favourite client of mine, Pepsi. Just as I was finishing the job, a very large diesel vehicle came lumbering up the driveway: it was a Mercedes Benz travelling unit/ industrial type motor home, with European licence plates. I wish I had taken a picture.
A pleasant looking man got out and introduced himself as “Willy”, and said that he already knew who I was, from the local Info Centre. He was travelling with his girlfriend and teenaged daughter. They had found a CAT in the “bush” off the highway near here, which was clearly starving. Willy said that because it “meowed” to them, they knew that it had been a pet which was “put out” (abandoned). They wanted to take the cat to the vet to get its shots and documentation, so that the young daughter could take it back to Germany!
They were asking me, if the cat was too debilitated to travel, would I take it here. I believed that Willy meant I could nurse it back to health and they would pay me to put it on a plane for Germany (hey! they were already willing to transport the cat…). Or, perhaps, I thought, Willy would continue on his North and Central American TOUR, and return in person for this special animal.
When I told hubby about this whole exchange, I told him that indeed it was a REALLY nice cat; but when he asked what made the little creature so special, all I could say was that, “It purred when I petted it!”.
At any rate, I got the poodle finished and sent home, and then went into town for groceries and “coffee time”. When I returned, Willy and family had been back, and had dropped off the cat. They said that there was no time for the cat to get its vaccinations and paperwork done for transport… so I was to nurse it back to health and find it a suitable home (or keep it myself). Gary had put it into a kennel with a soft bed, so the cat was quite comfortable. I added food and water and some stroking. Although I refuse to take in strays as a rule, I could not have turned away this friendly, emaciated animal.
By morning, the thin black cat was looking a little perkier, but I couldn’t tell if it had eaten any of the dry food, so I went to town to buy canned food and other treats for him (a young tom). While I was away, Willy came BACK with his women, saying that his daughter had CRIED the whole night long and hadn’t slept a wink: Willy was going to take the cat even though the daughter had to return to Germany. So, DAD is going to travel with the cat until such time as it’s well enough and documented enough to send overseas!
Now THAT was a long story about something fairly trivial, but these are the things that make each day different and often very special.
Picked up my new stove from Sears. I loaded it ALL BY MYSELF onto my truck, because, well… that’s too long a story. There WAS no one else to help. Gary was here when I got home, so at least there were the two of us to unload the appliance. Upon tearing the cardboard from it, we could see that one corner was dented, and since the packaging HADN’T been damaged we believe that the damned thing was dented before leaving the warehouse! The best part of this story was that today the Sears office agreed to take $126 dollars (15%) off the price of the stove, and also to investigate, as this was the THIRD appliance in 2 weeks to arrive damaged.
AND THEN… Gary went to make pancakes this morning, and discovered that the two left burners would ONLY heat on “HIGH” ! So, I made a another phonecall to Sears, and they are now going to send a technician around to fix the stove. At least Sears wants to make things right and keep their customers!
Two weeks ago, we got a new microwave from Sears, and had to send IT back because it didn’t work, but that’s a dim memory now because the replacement works like a dream.
We had an electrician doing some upgrading in the house today. He was quick and efficient and has a little more to do on another day, but he wants to trade his labour for… dog boarding and horse shoeing!! Dang, it’s great to be living in a small community.
Tomorrow I’m going to TRY to sort out the chaff from my unsuccessful yard sale last weekend. I have great things for the thrift shops and the “swap shed” at the transfer station. I convinced myself to put all those things in the garage sale, and although so many items didn’t sell, I am loathe to put it back in the house or shop. I’d rather give it away than throw it away.
FRIDAY, I will offer my fall bulbs from a table outside the Beanery in town. It will be my last attempt at flogging what I thought would be so popular. Gary said, “You watch, now… next year you might decide not to order any bulbs, and dozens of people will be asking for them. Doesn’t mean you have to offer them, though.” My friend Rhonda who gave her consent for this bulb sale outside the restaurant, suggested I do only “pre-ordered and prepaid” sales, next year. I will keep my fingers crossed for Friday: please wish me luck!
I think I’m all “talked” out. Nothing too profound has been going on, but I find these days quite interesting. Soon I MUST get the leftover perennials planted, and of course the bulbs that don’t sell, but I’m not feeling as overworked as I had been. Compared to last fall, when our father fell ill and suffered and died, it is a GOOD autumn.
Count your blessings every day. Thanks for visiting. ~Ann
