12/18 LOOSE LIPS: Christmas in Seattle...

[Michelle and Mannie (GA)]

A moment to remember my boy... 8 months today since he crossed to the Bridge. Mannie, Merry Christmas to you. It is that time of year when I truly miss you. It is so odd not to have you camped out under the Christmas tree. Or watch you prowl the house endlessly when you knew those new Christmas nanners had arrived. Santa Claws always remembered, you always hunted them down. Nicholas has been talking alot about you of late. Rest assured - he too will never forget you. You be good up at the Bridge, and take care of the new arrivals. Make their holiday as joyous as you always made ours.



Good Morning LL!! (YUM! Elsa outdid herself this morning: PRIMO!), and Happy WACKY Wednesday!
LL! It's is I, Elsa, Lil Bit, kitteh barista!, president and CEO of Coffee Cat! Life is GOOD! GUESS WHAT! Today is WACKY WEDNESDAY!!! Just like every Wednesday Lola and Bug SWEAR that it won't be wacky pizzas, just wacky Wednesday. Whatever that means.... The whack-a-thon marathons continue. Excellent pizzas to the best whacker! The kitties seems to be a little slow today.... too much funs I guess at the full moon party last night. They are singing Christmas Carols while they work. That is so cool. so. well. anyways. Coffee time! For today, I proudly offer Elsa's special 10 hour energy coffee, and triple shot Breve's made from Sun-Dried Sumatra Rasuna beans. For my mocha fans: a VENTI Quad Cimmamum and Frango Mint infused white mocha/mocha blend with Frango chocolate chips melted within, topped with a cimmamum whip garnished with cimmamum sprinkles, white chocolate curls and frango mocha drizzle. ....SWEET! OH! No worries, a dollop of mint and vanilla and cimmamum swirl ice cream, on top of a dollop of fudge, topped with mint chips and chocolate drizzle.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....... mega good! TJ's dunking cookies and Cronuts always on the menu. AND !!! We got cimmamum Eggnog! Good stuff!!

I hope everyone had a great Tuesday. I really enjoyed mine - DR went really well, and I spent time in Seattle just enjoying all their Holiday decor. Here's what I wrote last night about the day: "Hi everyone! I hope your day has been a good one. Mine has been great! It is cooling here... down to 39 and a total fog in today - even in Seattle. We never did clear. BRRRRR! Down into the low 30's tonight. I survived the eye DR dude... seems my eyesight is improving: My eye health is good, but there are prelim indications of pending cataracts, a sign of aging :roll: , no action required for at least 10/15 years, per the Dr dude. woot!, and good to go . I ordered new glasses, yay. That will be so nice. If it were just reading I'd buy dime-store readers, but need the distance stuff too.... They will be here in a couple of weeks. AND (!!) the best part was my BP check: 99/63. yaHOO! The appt went do fast that I had time to kill, so went and did the tour of Christmas in Seattle. That really was nice, and alot more has been done since I looked a few weeks ago. It would be very pretty to go at night, when all is lit up. I had a great time, just looking at it all. Macy's train is still in that corner window. that was nice to see. That rain has been in that window ever since I can remember. The trees in Freeway Park were lit to simulate a snowfall: creative, and fun to watch. it was still dark out when I went past that, easier to see the snowflakes fall pattern. Nordstrom (my former employer) looked wonderful - really like what they did in the store - lots of decorated trees, and a display that went from the top floor all the way down to the bottom floor, through that open center escalator well of theirs. NICE! anyways... good time, good lunch with Barb, home by 2. LOL: logged about 6 miles in the city today, between that trek to the medical bldgs, and all those stores and shop centers. It was just a great day. "

Normalcy in MusketeerVille! I love LOLA... well I Love all my kitties, but I swear Lola keeps me on my toes. She was a good girl yesterday, has left the plants alone, left the papers and the magazines and the boxes alone, but it was one mad dash from one place to another. She did well with the tree - only one trip up it that I could tell, sometime during the night. When I got up two of her fav ornaments were on the floor. BUT (!!!) the tree is still standing. Elsa and Bug are spending some time under the tree too. it is great to see them there. Elsa has rarely done that in the past, not too sure why she is now, but no complaints! Bug has taken a nap or two there. So far Lola has left the presents alone. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a relief that is, and now I can finish with the wrapping. It was a quiet day in MusketeerVille yesterday. What good kitties! Does that still qualify for Normalcy in MusketeerVille?

Have a great day everyone. I am back on Nicholas and William duty today. Nicholas and I will swim while the other grandparents watch William for a few hours for me. We are due for a semi-sunny afternoon, cold, but maybe sunny. I hope they are right, and maybe we can go to a park in the afternoon, if it is warm enough. I will try and visit condos when I can. I am in crunch time in regards to finishing WIlliam's Christmas stocking. The sock is knotted and done, but the over-stitching pattern is taking alot longer that I had hoped... so! Time to get serious and get this done, so forgive me if my visits are short, or not at all. :? ;-)

KITTIES! Remember: think BLUE, think GREEN!! cat_pet_icon

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Love the pictures. I have never been to Seattle but it has always been on my bucket list. I need to check that off soon. Looks like a successful day all the way around. The tribute to Mannie almost made me cry. I remember how he could smell new nanners and searched everywhere for them and how he like to sit under the tree. Maybe Elsa remembers that to. Have a great day with the boys!

 

[Michelle and Mannie (GA)]

Morning Melissa THX on the pics - it really was pretty,and so in the spirit of the holidays there. It was nice to see so many places all decked out. and yes, it was! All accomplished, and fun too. THX on Mannie - it is all so vivid this Christmas, we really miss all that he added to the season. I so remember him and those nanner hunts, he knew they were in the house, ans should be his, sooner than later! :lol: I thought the same thing yesterday on Elsa, as she played with the nanners. Her way of remembering. She will play with them, but not like it has been since the tee went up. THX on today - a fun one awaits!

 

[Kim & Twice]

What a beautiful moment with Mannie. Brought tears to my eyes and made me think of my two recent GA's. God bless them!
I couldn't open the Christmas in Seattle pics from work, so will look at them when I get home tonight. So excited to see them You know I love Seattle and Vancouver, and Christmas was one of my favorite times to go to those cities!
Good news about the doc stuff! Healthy bean you are
Christmas is a time for being with family and friends, so to me it totally makes sense that Elsa is hanging with Bug in Mannie;s spot
Enjoy your swim and day today

 

[Cleo & Jane (GA)]

Hi Michelle, We all have a "special" furbaby, and Mannie was yours. Not that we love the other's less, but there is just a special connection.

I love the Seattle pictures!! Makes me also want to visit there, and makes me miss the colder weather for Christmas. A warm Christmas is hard to get used to, if most of your life was spent in a colder state~

Have a wonderful day!!

 

[Barb & Checkers (GA)]

Yikes Michelle! I haven't seen that BP, since I was a teenager :lol: Good for you! :thumbup

You are ignoring us today? Well, harumph....how dare you have a life? haha_smiley

Awww Michelle, I'm sure Mannie is having a wonderful Christmas at The Bridge, with all his friends, old and new.

Barb

 

[Ann & Maggie11 (GA)]

Hi Michelle, I'm so glad I came to visit, finding sweet Mannie under the tree, Big heart tugs here remembering so many happy memories of him at Christmas time. Love that Nicholas remembers him fondly.
Beautiful pics of Seattle and Nordstrom's Christmas decorations. I think Lola must be semi resting to get ready for more tree climbing later. :lol:
Enjoy your time with Nicholas and William today and fingers crossed for nice weather for a trip to the park.
Elsa, excellent coffee as always, thanks so much, Auntie Ann
Hugs and scritches from Katie and me.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I remember Mannie searching for his nanners at Christmas. That's great Nicholas is talking about Mannie. He will never be forgotten.

That's sweet Elsa and Bug are spending time under the tree now. I hope you have a good day with the boys.

 

[Ann & Tess GA]

Mannie and his nanner! What a great pic! Mannie is forever a part of LL, his nanners too! ;-)

Love those lights on the trees in the park! Just enough, not too much! I miss going into Chicago when I was little, all the windows at on State Street! We'd have lunch there by the three story tree in the atrium!!!

 

[Mocha'sMom]

It's always nice to have a break from crazy antics, but I think you are right, could it REALLY be called normalcy? :roll: ;-)

 

[Michelle and Mannie (GA)]

Hi everyone! I hope your day has been a good one. We did well today, off to the pool, for more water fun. Nicholas was a little on the tired side today, so our time there was a little on the subdued side, but still very nice. Despite the fatigue the energizer fish managed still insisted he go swim, to make a go of it. the last hour was great, but confined to the one area. We spent that hour under the water, counting the number of times he could go down on his own, and touch the bottom. wow on it all. it was nice he ended up having alot of fun. Funny, we get home and he napped for 3.5 hours... had to wake him up to go an meet his dad. Back at it FR night unless those snows show up.

Thanks everyone for the visits today - and forgive me for not answering each individually. I simply have to get to work and finish that Christmas Sock for William! :shock: :shock: :roll: The Bear on it is almost done, need the trees next the snowflakes, and the meter is running.... sorry!, and I have read each one. so... abbreviated version:
Cheryl - oh yes on those breaks..,and that thing called normalcy. ;-)
Ann - thx on the pics,and Mannie. I can only imagine how pretty Chicago must have been at Christmas!
Carla - Thanks you! I so agree on Nicholas, he will always remember.
Ann - THX on Mannie. I miss him. and right you were on Lola: 12 climbs, several knock downs, and two presents chewed. :lol: HI TO KATIE!
Barb - LOL on the BP - cool huh! and nope! never ever ignore you guys. :lol: :lol: you are too funny! I miss your posts here. THX too on Mannie
Jane - he was just that - special. THX on the Seattle on pics - it was a nice time, seeing all the decor.
Kim - THX on Mannie. I hope you like the Seattle pics, I wish the lighting had photo'd better, but the jist is there. I think so too on Elsa and Bug:THX!

OK.... off now to finish that Christmas sticking! it will not do for William not to have a sock to hang on the mantle for Santa. ;-)

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Good Evening, Michelle,
I love that picture of Mannie under the Xmas tree with his nanner. Yes, I think we miss them most at Christmas time.

The pictures of Seattle's Xmas decorations are beautiful. You had quite a "city hike"--6 miles of Christmas! So happy that your eyes are healthy and even getting better (my prescription gets weaker and weaker each year, too; my opthamologist calls it the "2nd sight"). With all the exercise you get, I'm not surprised that your bp is excellent!

Glad that you and Nicholas had a good swim session today. Now, get to work on William's stocking!! No rest for the weary!!

Hugs to you, scritches to the kitties. Rusty says that they were a great help with the full-moon party.

Ella & Rusty

 

[Michelle and Mannie (GA)]

Morning Ella - THX on the Mannie pic - me too! I agree, we all seem to miss these furkids at holiday time. THX too on the Seattle pics - I enjoyed that day. It was alot of walking, but really worth the effort. Kinda cool on our "improving vision" huh! Works for me! I so know on that stocking.... almost done! maybe ne or two more evenings and Voila! Finished product! Looking good!