Random 5 for August 25, 2024 – Visitors, pumpkin spice, summer, cancer, normal

Gallery

Posted on by

This is Gracie and her mom Deb.

House guests! – Look who came to visit. One of my blogging buddies came by for a visit and brought her Gracie (the dog) with her. (You can visit her on The Blessing of Animal Companions blog.) My cats didn’t immediately run away but slowly they disappeared except for my Gracie who sat on top of the sofa and kept an eye (her only eye) on the pup the whole time. My Gracie must be a dog cat. She was rescued from a hoarding situation and there may have been dogs there too. She was a real trooper. Guest Gracie was a good pup and didn’t chase anyone. There is more story to the visit, but Gracie will tell you in her post on Friday.

Seriously? – I looked for my Starbucks icon on my cell phone this week to place an order. It was in an orange circle. They change the color depending on the season or their specials. I knew the orange signified the beginning of pumpkin spice nonsense. When I got to Starbucks there were at least 40 cars instead of the normal 10 to 15. What is it with people only drinking coffee at pumpkin time? I’m reposting Dave Barry’s quote because it’s never truer than at pumpkin spice time.

Gotta love Dave Barry

How did that happen? – This is the last week of summer. Labor Day weekend is coming up. Football season is starting and kids are back in school. This year I’m blaming it on the dang house renovation project, but it happens every year. We can’t wait for summer which lately has been coming in like a pizza oven. Then we hope for a nice fall. This year is no different. This is a pleasant time (except for those crazy pumpkin spice people!). I intend to enjoy every minute.

Everything isn’t roses – This week I got bad news about a dear friend. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She has a lot of treatment ahead of her and no matter what the stats say women are still dying of breast cancer. I hope she isn’t one of them.

Catching up — The last of the house inspectors departed on Tuesday and life returned to normal. I’ve done a lot of stuff that was piling up and I feel good about it. As I’m aging, I can’t multi-task like I used to. No multiple balls in the air or spinning plates. I like to focus on one thing at a time. I’m trying to come up with a “treat” for myself. Shopping isn’t as exciting as it once was and I don’t need shoes (I can’t believe I’m saying that). Maybe I’ll disregard my Fitbit reminders and read a book. It’s been a while.

So how was your week?

One last picture of Gracie with full tongue!

60 thoughts on “Random 5 for August 25, 2024 – Visitors, pumpkin spice, summer, cancer, normal”

  1. Pingback: The Gracie Chronicles: Adventuring forth – The Blessing of Animal Companions

  3. Gracie looks like a well-behaved cutie pie. I can’t wait to hear how nice a hostess your Gracie was to her guests. She must be amazing at entertaining. The coffee quote was so true. Everyone in my house knows not to speak to me until I’ve had my morning coffee. And then a repeat in the late afternoon. I don’t like pumpkin coffee but I love pumpkin bread!! Bring on fall!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Maybe you should treat yourself to a PSL! 😉
    I am a PSL fan for sure, but it must be really frustrating for you regulars. I do drink coffee the rest of the year, but mostly I drink it plain! Or if I’m getting coffee out, it’s usually from Caribou or Scooter’s (local-ish coffee chains). But just for a month or two, it’s Starbucks and PSL for me!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Totally in agreement with you over the pumpkin spice. Besides the fact that it’s overhyped and doesn’t belong in coffee (or any drink, if you ask me), it’s TOO SOON. Why orange already, people???? September should be viewed as a cooler summer – but not necessarily that much cooler. Yeah, school happens, but that does NOT mean pumpkins and Halloween yet. Geez.

    All the animals in this post are wonderful. But that’s ’cause they’re cats and dogs. They would never put pumpkin spice in their food.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. What a cute dog!

    You’ve mentioned this about pumpkin-spice time at Starbucks, but I still find it hard to believe that so many people would come specifically for that. I guess Autumn explained it: FOMO. It does sound good, but 390 calories!

    Summer’s coming to an end. Sob. But you’re right. The best response is to enjoy every minute that’s left of it.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Gracie is a cutie. I enjoy her blog and admire all her mom does for kittens and cats. I am sorry about your friend’s diagnosis. And I agree the summer flew by. It is my least favorite season because of the heat, but now I won’t get to see my great nieces as much.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Gracie’s mom has done a lot of rescue work. Both of her cats were foster failures of a sort. They both have health issues making them unadoptable so they stayed with her.

      Like

  13. I’ve been trying to make myself slow down and enjoy each day as it comes, instead of trying to bring on the future faster. Fall is my favorite season,
    Gracie is such a gorgeous puppy!!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. What a sweet puppy. That face. It’s no wonder even the cats are a little charmed.

    Sorry about your friend. You just yesterday said, how life can change on a dime.

    Summer is packing her bags. But honestly, she just got here. What’s her hurry? If you see her before I do, could you ask her? If only we could bribe her with a trip to Starbucks. See, that would do it for me. Give me a Venti anything, and I’d be all yours.

    Have a terrific week Kate, and don’t let that Gracie boss you around.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Gracie is very cute – it must be a “Gracie thing”. I was surprised to hear that it was PSL time at Starbucks. It made the news headlines on August 22nd on my all-nws station. Best of luck to your friend on her aggressive breast cancer journey – if there is any ray of hope, it is that in 2024 the chances for survival are better than years past. I have a few friends going through difficult health issues right now and I always say that I never take my good health for granted. I have always felt that way having seen what my mom went through as a result of running between two parked cars at age 11. Her life was never the same and she had over 40 surgeries in her lifetime, all as a result of that careless childhood action. Buy yourself a few good books by favorite authors for a treat. The book(s) plus peace from lack of contractors will put you in a perfect frame of mind.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. We had a wonderful time visiting yesterday, and your Gracie watching mine was so cute! I like my coffee to taste like coffee, so no pumpkin lattes here. Now pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins…that’s another matter entirely.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. You DO deserve a reward. Hmm . . . but what?

    I know! A Pumpkin Spice Latte!!! Everyone is talking about them ~ even the late night talk show hosts.

    Of course, they were laughing at how Pumpkin Spice Lattes show up earlier every year.

    Love that Dave Barry quote.

    I look forward to seeing Gracie’s visit through Gracie’s eye on Friday.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Alright…..don’t judge me…..but I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte or any kind of latte. There – I’ve said it! I did wonder why both of the Starbucks here had lines around the block though…..now I know. How wonderful you had a visit with Gracie and her Mom Deb. Both sweet ladies!! I am so sorry to hear about your friend getting the diagnosis we all dread…..I pray that she will have a successful course of treatment – that is happening more and more and I hope your friend is a beneficiary of the leaps in science. As for a treat for you? Walk in those woods by you and smell the Fall……take a blanket with you and sit in a sunny spot and just BREATHE.

    Hugs, Pam

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Brave Gracie! Very impressive. Somehow, pumpkin spice became the poster child of the FOMO marketing technique (Fear of Missing Out). I’m more of an apple person myself, which meant that I did the whole girl squeal yesterday when Andy brought home McIntosh apples from the Farmer’s Market.

    Liked by 3 people

  22. A brace of Gracies! Love it.
    Sorry to hear about your friend Kate and I hope her treatment is successful. I have my final five year watch mammogram next month. Cannot believe it was five years ago I became uniboobal. I am hoping they have a follow up service I can tap into.

    Liked by 3 people

Comments are closed.