Little Luna and Her Upside-Down World

Hey There!

Y’all, cats are weird.  Absolutely weird. Little Luna gets fixated on the craziest of things. She won’t play with a toy for months; then suddenly it appears. We’re fully convinced she has a toy storage spot she’s created, and when she’s ready to play with a certain toy, out it comes.

She attacks our legs when we walk in the hallway like a ninja, spends the entire night trying to walk our headboard like Anne of Green Gables and the ridgepole, insists on love and pets while we’re in the restroom, and spends an absurd amount of time upside down.

Little Luna likes to hang out on the back of my chair or the couch most nights, and far, far, too often we look over to see this:

Moonshine in a Teacup|Little Luna Upside Down

And there she stays, happy as a clam.

We don’t understand her, but we love her. The Fellow has even said that he hates to admit it, but he’s a cat person.

I really wonder at times what it’s like to be a cat. Like, how does the inner monologue of a cat read? I did a short scene as a dog in a theatre class in college, and I felt that it was pretty accurate. “Hi! I love you! Why are you mad at me? Why can’t I be on the couch? Squirrel!”  (Thankfully, no video evidence of that scene survives.)

But I feel like a cat’s monologue may just surprise us. Then again, maybe the musical, CATS, is dead on. I guess we’ll never know, and either way little Luna just keeps hanging out in her own little upside-down world, and I keep wondering.

Dreading Winter

Hey There!

Guys, I’m sick of rain. Sick and tired to death. Hobby Lobby already has their fall decorations up, and it truly is anxiety-inducing. Summer is going to be drawing to a close and with all of the rain we are getting – next to no sunshine. Fall is coming which always passes too quickly, and then we’re back to winter.

I don’t know if  I officially deal with seasonal depression, but the older I’ve gotten the more the concept of winter terrifies me. Thankfully, last year was mild, but winter has the potential to be so cold, bitter, and dark, and I’m just absolutely dreading it.

If I’m going to be somewhere where it’s rainy all the time, I’d rather it be Ireland or England – somewhere where gloomy can be construed as romantic!

We were chatting with some friends this past weekend who are gearing up for their next Ireland trip. They rent a tiny cottage in a town they adore and travel out when they want from that home base.

L’s Facebook feed the other day reflected her longing for  Ireland’s green hills and a warm fire in the cottage. With all the rain here lately, I could go for some of the same!

Moonshine in a Teacup|Cliffs of Moher

I can’t wait to live vicariously through her pictures and hear all of her stories over a cup of tea when they are back stateside.

I’m hopeful we’ll be able to travel some more in the next few years, maybe back to Ireland, or someplace new (maybe even sunny). But for now, I’m just going to sip some tea, with a fuzzy blanket, and avoid the fall section of Hobby Lobby until at least mid-September and dream of Ireland instead of dreading winter.Moonshine in a Teacup| Cliffs of Moher

What are your tricks for beating the winter blues?

A Bizarre Cure for Hiccups

Hey There!

Thanks so much for your comments and feedback on my Vintage Camper Remodel here, on Facebook, and in person! I really appreciate all of the thought you put into my little project!

I think after much conversation and deliberation I’m going to stick with keeping as much of Rosie Lee’s interior original as I can. We most likely won’t get back down to work on her until the middle of August, but I’m so excited to keep moving forward and share the journey with you!

We had a family reunion this past weekend, and the camper was a hot topic. My aunt and uncle have been RV camping for a while, and my cousin and her family just bought a camper. I’m seeing family camping trips in the future, and I can’t wait!

I love family reunions because it gives us a chance to get together and catch up with what everyone has been doing during the past year, and allows us to bond with family members we may not have visited much with when I was a kid living two states away.

After that fabulous weekend, I had to go back to work. It’s been a rough week already as we’re working short-staffed, and when  it rains, it pours. I decided to relax in the break room with a cup of coffee for a quick minute only to get the hiccups! One of the ladies at work showed me how to stop squeaking, so I just had to share this bizarre trick with you!

This is going to be tricky to describe in writing, so stick with me, ok?

First, you’ll need a glass of water, then bend over and instead of drinking the water from the normal side, drink from the opposite side of the glass. You’ll need to focus on making sure you don’t spill it on yourself!

If that’s incredibly confusing, you can watch a cute video demonstration (not by me) here.

I was super happy it worked because it’s really not fun to be squeaking super loudly in a very quiet office!

Let me know what your tried and true hiccup cures are!

Nail Polish and Street Performers

Hey There!

As you all know, Fridays are my Self-Care days, when I relax and paint my nails. Sometimes I buy a new nail polish, and no matter what the bottle says it never quite looks the same. As you may have seen on the MiaT Facebook or Instagram feed this week, I went for a rose gold metallic. I didn’t realize it was going to be quite so, well, metallic.

moonshine in a teacup nail polish metalic

I’m committed though, so it will last me the next few days until my next paint job.

Sometimes I forget that I have readers who haven’t gotten the chance to sit down with me for a cup of tea and really talk. One thing you should know about me (if my writing a blog didn’t make it clear) is that my communication style is storytelling. One thing sparks a memory and then another. The next thing you know we’re best friends, and you know half the weirdness that is my life.

Now that you know to expect random stories from me – back to the one at hand. All week this nail polish color has reminded me of when I went to Spain for a concert tour with my college choir. We went to several locations, and at each one of the larger cities we saw street performers!

Street Performer Moonshine In A Teacup

Each performer had their own different routine. The acts that fascinated me though were the metallic-painted people. They stood completely still like they were a statue or an art installment. If you were distracted, you could almost walk past them without noticing them. However, when you dropped a euro into their collection jar, they would jerk alive and chirp and whirr (that’s the best description I can give you of the sounds) as if they were a wind-up doll and go through their mechanical movements.

Street Performer Moonshine In A Teacup
Yup, that’s me with a pixie cut. I actually got that haircut while on this trip in Sevilla. The music group had quite a week of Barber of Seville jokes!

Usually, the act consisted of small movements, like a bow or series of head movements. My nail polish reminded of the the golden lady in the next picture. When she received a donation, she would spin her flower.

I remember reading this list that a teacher gave his students of rules for life. One of the rules was, “If a street performer makes you stop walking, you owe him a buck,” and I completely agree. Where did you see your favorite street performer and what was their act? Tell me in the comments below!

5 Things No One Tells You about Getting a Cat

Hey There!

I am excited to introduce you to the newest member of our little family – our kitten, Luna. Having a kitten is a huge adventure, so I am also going to share with you 5 things no one told us before we got a cat!

5 Things No One Tells You about Getting A Cat Moonshine In A Teacup

Back in January, we re-homed little Luna from a friend at work whose adult cat was not liking there being a new kitten in her space. After much stress and many attempts to reconcile the two, Luna came to live with us.

The Fellow was not convinced that he wanted a pet at first, but I’d been talking about wanting a cat for about a year, and he finally gave the go-ahead. We’ve had a few months to get to know one another now, and she has absolutely brightened our lives. (The Fellow still likes to act tough, but he’s attached.)

Little Luna Moonshine in a teacup

I researched a lot about being a cat owner before bringing Luna home. I read articles and kitten-proofed (ha!) her space. As promised earlier, here are 5 things I was so not prepared for:

1. Cats do the weirdest things.

There is no planning for it. Luna tries to eat our hair. Off of our heads. No one told us to expect that. Of all things, she plays fetch. She also sits in the bathtub and meows at the faucet until we turn it on so she can drink. Luna hates being wet but will sit on the edge of the tub while the shower is running. At least twice, while I was taking a bubble bath, she has decided that my knees were a safe island to jump to. That didn’t end well for either of us.

2. Cats have the biggest personalities.

Each cat has their own distinct personality and there’s no telling what weird quirks they will have once you get them home. Luna hates being more than 2 feet away from us at any given time. She will follow me back and forth throughout the house as I’m doing chores and loves all the pets ever. However, she decidedly does not enjoy being picked up. We’ve learned that she tolerates it as long as we let her stand on our arms and be carried to her destination – kind of like Cleopatra being carried on her litter. (Google tells me litter is the official word for “chase-lounge-chair-thing-on-poles.)

3. You can train a cat.

Well, to a certain degree anyway. We harness-trained Luna. We’re working on her fetch game, and we don’t let her on the table or counters. The Fellow and I are very serious about how we allow her to play with us. When we play, we don’t roughhouse, and if she bites or claws we encourage her to do so at a gentle level. If she bites too hard, we pull our hands back and whimper (which is about the most adorable thing to watch the Fellow do), and that’s the end of play time. You can actually see her realize she’s playing too hard and dial back the bites to little love nips.

4. They are great alarm clocks.

Remember my saying I was seriously struggling getting back to my early morning wake-up time? I am happy to say that I’m back to getting up between 5-5:30 a.m. Luna comes into the bedroom, hops up on the bed, walks up the entire length of my body to sit on my chest, and tries to eat my hair. Good morning!

Side Story: When I was in high school, my father was dead set on having a domesticated bobcat as a pet. My mother and I vetoed the idea. I remember saying, “I am not waking up to a 40-pound house cat sitting on my chest licking its lips.” After life with Luna, I am convinced we made the right call.

5. Once you have a cat, you can’t imagine your life without them.

In just four short months, Luna has become such a part of our lives. The first thing I do in the morning is give her snuggles. I can’t wait to get home to see her, and I have become used to having her company while I hang out around the house. She has the cutest, chirpy voice and the biggest personality. While I may never have the bathroom to myself again, that little ball of fur curled up on my toes purring away while I do my makeup is completely worth it.

5 things nobody tells you about having a cat moonshine in a teacup

Fall Feeling

Whew, kids! It’s been a hectic year. As the wedding gets closer and more and more things get finished, and I get more comfortable with my new position at work, I’m starting to feel human again.

I’m also fortunate to be having more time with the Fellow who is meal prepping for me, helping to organize the house, and taking care of needed projects (like installing gutter shields so that the basement can hopefully stop flooding).

It’s wonderful to not feel like I’m drowning every day. I want to go out and do things, and I’m excited about projects again!

Today the weather really felt like fall, and I got an old familiar itch for hot apple cider and a walk around Shepherdstown. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to make it up there just yet, but I always find time for at least one trip each fall.

If you’ve never hung out in Shepherdstown, there is this bizarre little coffee joint called Lost Dog.  It’s an alternative business full of crazy art pieces and random things the employees or patrons enjoy. It’s got a serious Coffee of Doom vibe going. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a drink made by the owner.

My drink of choice in fall is always a hot apple cider. Seriously, it’s the best you’ll ever have. They slice fresh lemon and lime into it and add a dash of grated nutmeg to top it off. I can’t wait to get my fix!

Family Reunion in WV:When it rains….

Hello all! Sorry for the delay in posts; it’s been a crazy 2 weeks.

Last weekend I went to a family reunion, and it was such a rainy day. On the way there, the radio beeped with a severe weather warning. I’ve heard a lot of those in my day, but this one actually said, “Move to an internal room. Do not drive in a wooded area. Be advised that untethered objects around you may become projectiles.” Well, I had just entered a national forest, so needless to say, I was a bit concerned, but I made it to the river lot and the reunion just fine.

It rained so hard that all of us were gathered under the pavilion and just watched the rain on the river. My father said they had arranged the rain, and it was not to stop until all the food was eaten, and we came pretty close to achieving it. I love picnic food!

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Guilty Pleasures

Good Morning! I’ve been sleeping in until 6 lately, and I need to get my schedule reset back to waking up at 5, but it’s sooo hard!

It doesn’t help that I work the closing shift at work three days in a row. It’s so hard to get up when you don’t have to be anywhere until 11.

I like my morning time though; it lets me be productive before I’m so tired from my day. It also lets me watch some terrible TV. I’m a sucker for sappy dramas or girly shows. I’m also a sucker for terrible music. I once drove the entire way to Ocean City listening only to Meat Loaf the entire way. I guess bad TV and music are my guilty pleasures. I wonder how many guilty pleasures you get before you just need to admit that you have bad taste . . . I should probably figure that out.

One of the hardest things for me is finding time to work out. I have some workout DVDs, but I kinda despise them, so I was so excited when I went back to the gym this week and got my phone (which is incredibly finicky) to connect to the Wi-Fi. Now I get my workout time and my terrible TV time. Win!

What about you? What’s your guilty pleasure?

Fuzzy Socks

Well, we finally got our winter snow one week before the first day of spring. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

We had a two-hour delay at work which was nice. I got up and made a crock-pot of vegetable beef stew and did some laundry.

It took a little longer than anticipated to get my car dug out. Just when I was finishing . . . the snow came down off the trees, and it needed to be dug out again! Persevered, got it out, and the old buggy made it to work.

After a low-staffed short day (with a full day’s work crammed in), I was so glad to get home to my fuzzy socks.The fellow picked me up this pair over the weekend and they are by far the fuzziest cozy-est most snuggly pair I have!

Fuzzy socks have been my favorite thing this winter. I have a few fuzzy blankets that I love to snuggle up in, but this year I’ve also been rocking the fuzzy socks. Nothing beats being all cozied up in a warm, fuzzy blanket, holding a hot cup of tea or coffee, and wearing some fuzzy socks.

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My Mother, the Mobster

Mama likes to keep to herself and doesn’t want any Internet presence. She stays off Facebook and just last year updated to a Gmail address from her old school Juno account. So I had to ask her permission to share this story with you.

Ever have one of those days when you’re just tongue-tied? You think one thing but say another, and it comes out twisted?

Well, recently my parents and I were up in PA to run some errands and visit with my grandmother. Daddy wanted to swing by this antique shop we had stopped at in December to see if they still had a wrought iron chandelier he had passed up. Their plan is to use it at my brother’s wedding and then again at mine before finally hanging it in their “outdoor living space.”

We stopped at the store, and the chandelier was still sitting out front, but the store looked like it had gone out of business.

After doing some Internet research, we found a number associated with the store and my mother called them. The call went straight to voicemail so she left a message: “Hello. We were in your store in December and saw a chandelier which we were interested in and saw today that it is still there. We live nearly two hours away and are in town for a short while today and would like to purchase it from you. Could you please give us a call on this number to discuss if you want to get rid of us?

Not – “if you want to get rid of it” but “get rid of us” – nothing mildly frightening or cryptic about that sentence. Daddy and I asked her if she realized what she had said, and she swore she said “it.” We laughed so hard about that, just imagining this antique dealer getting this bizarre threatening message about a chandelier.

Thankfully, she got the message’s  meaning, and they were able to arrange a meeting to get the chandelier on a different trip.

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