Random 5 for March 26, 2023 – Donations, spring, sickness, health system, cat rescue

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Furniture – Habitat for Humanity picked up our furniture donation this week. They were in great condition but in downsizing there was no room in the new house. I was surprised at how sad it was for me. All three pieces were bought around 1990. They were all recovered once and were still wonderful. No wear marks or cat damage or butt indentations. Very comfortable. We are getting new furniture which fits our room better but I was surprised at how sentimental I got as they went out the door. Hope someone treats them well.

The crabapple from our last house.

Blooms are a comin’ – The tree haze season is here. It starts with the early bloomers, like cherries and redbuds pushing out blossoms. The maples have a reddish haze and some of the other trees are heavy with bud. It’s such a wonderful time. It’s a time of promise and hope. I love it.

Still getting hit – Covid is still around. For the second time in three months my Mahjongg game is canceled because a player needs to isolate for five days. They were around someone who came down with it. I was hoping it would move to a winter illness, like the regular flu, but that hasn’t happened. So far the beloved husband and I have been lucky (gotta go knock on wood!).

Managing the health system – With a few health issues going on, I’ve learned how to navigate better. Most offices, including emergency walk-in centers have a website where you can make an appointment. No more time spent listening to phone menus (and always picking the wrong number or forgetting if I need to press #). Just go to the website. It will also tell you the busy times and the wait you will have. This progress I like. I’ve spent too much time sitting around in offices waiting which I will never get back.

If I was younger – Our area is active for cat rescues. There are several with one specializing in neo-natal kittens. It’s an amazing operation with incubators. It also will take in nursing moms with their kittens. They have a foster network. If I were younger, I would do this. As it is, my hands are full with four over-indulged felines who view themselves as my overlords. Gotta love cats.

So how was your week?

55 thoughts on “Random 5 for March 26, 2023 – Donations, spring, sickness, health system, cat rescue”

  3. I love this time of year when everything begins to bloom again! And I did not know that about urgent care places and their website, so thank you. I now follow the place in your area that does neonates…wish I lived closer. I would volunteer for sure.

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  4. The neonatal kitten rescue sounds fascinating. I really admire those who make a commitment to such high intensity animal rescue. And I am so glad you shared about Habitat’s donation centers. One of my favorite things to do is to look at the offerings on-line. Such wonderful things can be bought for a bargain. I don’t need anything, but I get so tempted. Someone will love your chairs!

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    • I have to check to see if H4H posts their offerings on-line. I didn’t see that when I went on the website to set up a pick-up. I admire people who dedicate themselves to such a high intensity rescue. Kittens must be feed every few hours. They have round the clock volunteers.

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  5. It’s funny how we form such fondness for various pieces of furniture. When I first moved to the city one of the attorneys in the office gifted me a pair of chairs that I absolutely adored (and still do) despite their no longer being my ‘style’ these days. But they are so well made and beautifully re-upholstered I just can’t bear the thought of parting with them.

    Sadly I think there will be the breakthrough COVID cases indefinitely. Here’s hoping it’ll be a good long time before you hear of another case in your group. 🤞🏼

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  7. Think I’ve finally caught up Kate. For some reason, your posts haven’t been coming into my reader. My reader has not been very friendly lately, but the issue of not being able to like through it seems to have been sorted……… I think!
    Had to laugh about the dress up nice post…….. I live in joggers and use my jeans for ‘nice’ if I’m going somewhere where I have to be smart. Glad to say they still fit, even though I’ve put on a few pounds which I’m working on losing……….. again (sigh).
    Hope your back is better. I can sympathise.

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  8. That sadness makes sense to me. Saying goodbye to loved furniture is hard to do. Case in point, the wooden couch that sits in our front window is totally unpractical and definitely uncomfortable. But it’s the first piece of furniture that we bought in Beijjing and I truly cannot part with it…at least not yet!

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  9. I completely understand feeling emotional over saying goodbye to furniture that meant ‘home’ for you. I also understand about the fostering. I would love to foster dogs. I did foster two when I was younger and I lived in Florida. Now, with aging, chronic pain, and one dog that is hyperactive, it’s not feasible for us either. But, it sounds like the cat rescue is doing a good job by you.

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    • Yes they are. The neonatal rescue is very active. It’s amazing how much support they have gotten. They also partner with rescues who help them to adopt out their rescues. Their kittens are very people oriented. The moms are also socialized before adopting out. Very cool!

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    • We have a new one that just opened near us but I haven’t been in there yet. They are fussy about the furniture they accept. They had a refrigerator on the truck from a pick up before us so they have appliances too.

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  11. I still have my sofa set – couch, loveseat and chair – I bought when I first graduated in 1980. It was a dark brown suede like material and I loved it the moment I saw it. It was elegant and classic, yet comfortable and didn’t show dirt. Eventually the springs went on the couch although the rest is still in good shape. It’s in the basement now, but I still get comments like if you ever want to get rid of that couch let me know.

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    • The on-line appointments are new here and mostly it’s with the big health network systems (who own a lot of the doctor practices). It’s very convenient and if it works, a lot less hassle than trying to get a person on the phone.

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  13. I follow The Squirrel Refuge on Facebook – they are a rescue operation for squirrels and they show the neonatal care they do – those babies look like miniature fetal pigs, hairless, huge eyes that are closed but they nurture them until they can be released. They have a lot of the baby squirrels arrive there after hurricanes and tornadoes as the nests is torn out of the tree landing the babies on the ground and separating them from their mom.

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  14. I’ve never thought about being sentimental about furniture. But now that I think of it, much of my furniture has a story behind it. We designed some pieces years ago when my husband was alive and had it made. Maybe I would feel sentimental to see it go.

    Yes, COVID is still around. My daughter just got it for the first time. They had a two week trip to Spain and France booked for spring break and had to cancel. She’s not too sick, but she can’t smell or taste anything.

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    • The loveseat went with a sofa I gave away a few years back. When I bought them, they were covered with a beautiful fabric of cabbage roses. I loved it but it was linen and it faded so I had them recovered and I loved that fabric too. Hope your daughter recovers fast.

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  15. Spring is a beautiful season but it does mean pollen is everywhere. I was happy it rained today to wash some of it away. It has been nice to breathe and not sneeze and cough.
    I don’t think I could foster kittens and cats, or dogs. Too easy to get attached to them.

    away.

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  17. Can also identify with the “furniture is still good and someone can use it, but a bit sad to let it go” feeling – I have a sleeper couch bought long ago from the Storehouse (which no longer exists) I was ready to let go, but Husband not so…and he demonstrated how comfy it is to lounge on…the dogs and RC cat must have bribed him. Oh, for it to be gone and have that space available
    Paw waves to the lucky meow crowd there

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    • My mom had a davenport (do they still call them that?). Flat mattress with pillow to put against the wall and a trundle came out at the bottom. The thing was so old, the mattress had no support. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. Mostly I only buy what I love and it’s hard to part with.

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  18. Great that Habitat Humanity took your furniture. Makes sense, people need to furnish those habitats. I get sentimental about letting stuff go too. You are certainly doing your bit to keep cats off the streets with the pride you have. Buy kudos to those that help or take in mothers with kittens or newborns that need hand feeding. I would do a lot of things if I were younger! Have a good week – may spring keep blooming for you.

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  19. Yay for Habitat for Humanity and redbuds and neonatal rescue kittens and using a website instead of a phone. Boo about the return of Covid which I don’t think ever really left, but we all put our guards down wanting it to be over.

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  20. I enjoyed reading about the nostalgia with which you watched your beloved furniture move out. You see, I have never done that and don’t expect to. Our furniture was always kept until it fell apart or until it looked like the dump wouldn’t accept it. You are amazing that you kept it looking good.

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  21. Glad Habitat will be able to re-home your furniture.

    After Hurricane Sandy (2012), we donated most of the furniture in my parents house (which we were prepping for sale) to the Red Cross for victims of the disaster who had lost everything. It made it easier to “let go.”

    Enjoy the Spring as it pops out all over!

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    • Spring in Florida starts a lot earlier! I always feel better when I think someone can use it. I had to rehome a rug a while back. One woman wanted to put it in her garage (with her car — it wasn’t a den or anything). From a practical standpoint it would have sucked up water and been a huge sponge but somehow, it didn’t seem to deserve that fate so I said no.

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  22. My peach tree is blooming and so is my freesia. Fall is still my favorite, but spring has its own magic. I’ve had to give up furniture that didn’t fit in my tiny house and it is wrenching. Especially when it’s good, solid stuff.

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  23. I love this time of year when everything begins to bloom again! And I did not know that about urgent care places and their website, so thank you. I now follow the place in your area that does neonates…wish I lived closer. I would volunteer for sure.

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  25. Yes cats are our overlords…….and we don’t mind a bit. Honestly I thought when I was a lot younger that I would enjoy fostering cats but it really does take a lot of energy and the ability to not get TOOOO emotionally attached but that would be my downfall. It has to be rewarding work for those who can do it though – without fosters so many animals would not have a good start OR would never know that humans can be incredibly kind. Your old furniture will make some family so very happy to have found beautiful furniture in such good shape!!

    Pam

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    • I probably wrote this story before but maybe 10 years ago, I found a young cat (well under a year, maybe around 6 months) in my back yard. He came into my house and we put him in isolation. He was so friendly. After being cleared by the vet, he joined my crew and everyone got along right from the start. I had put out feelers for adoption when I found him and within 3 days a wonderful family came to adopt him. I really regretted that. After just 3 days my heart was broken so I would be a major foster fail! I admire people who can do that.

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