The Year 2018 in Review

By Gentle Mouse, chronicler of family mischief.

Well, dear friends, the end of the year has arrived and it has been a great one. Oh, yes, there have been ups and downs but those downs were minimal: a mini-flood from melting snow that invaded our hardwood floors by way of the balcony/kitchen wall and Grammy catching flu and other viruses... but the delightful ups of those were a proper sealing of the wall along the balcony floor once spring arrived and Grammy getting better.  And while she regained health we got more Grammy time.  Also, she was home a little more this year than in past years and that always meant more cuddles, more snuggles, more 'boys, stop picking on the girls', and more time in Grammy's lap for morning coffee or sitting on the arm of the chair getting pets while she knitted various things. 

It was a year to remember fondly.   So, let's go look at a few posts from this wonderful year 2018. ​

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As you all must remember our Facebook page features adventures, poetry by Rondo, Thursday's Cat Joke of the Week and as the year progressed we added in Wacky Wednesday posts and Friends and Family Fridays.  We also had an occasional Somnolent Saturday.  

Here we will share a few highlights from our year starting January 1st when the boys headed to the Virgin Islands for a Beach Party.  You can view the party on our friends' page at Many Claws in St Croix. 

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We mentioned Grammy took sick in late February and was ill with Influenza and at least one other virus through March and another in November. Sweetie and I went into nursing mode each time and nursed the old girl back to health with chicken noodle soup, honey/lemon tea, purrs and cuddles. And while she slept we got into mischief with the boys.

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With Spring also came Rondo and his poetry in all its beauty, mischief and cheekiness. Here is a sampling of his poetry more of which you can see by accessing the blog category Poetry by Rondo and reading the blogs. 

As Winter Fades. 
As winter fades and eases into spring
It makes me dance and want to sing.
For joyous am I as winter warms
To see the end of nasty storms.

It brings back birds to flit and fly 
Past glass and sill where I do spy 
Them soar on air that oft will swirl
In gusty attempts to make them hurl
To ground. Clever are these birds who soar.
They know their stuff and ask for more.
For it is a joy to be so free
Above the shrubs, above the tree.

They land on branches when sailing’s done
To preen their feathers and fluff their down
To set selves up for another day
And keep the chill of night away.
And as they do, they songs impart
That cheer me up and warm my heart.

As night comes down to hide their nest
I set in to do what I do best.
Find spot to nap and dream my dreams
Of birds aswirl over rippling streams.
And when dawn wakes to early morn
On sill I’ll be to watch the swarm
Leave nests and twigs to swirl and sway.
As on they soar to greet new day
​They sing their songs to Him on high
As past my pane on wing they fly.
And toward the heavens these hymns are sung
​To praise the creator, God and Son.

​Then as the heat of summer arrived in June Grammy was out and about undeterred by it. With her gone we were always planning mischief... as you can see by the following two posts...​

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We have been posting weekly Jokes since 2017 but introduced Wacky Wednesdays and Friends and Family Fridays around mid-year.  Here we'll post only a Joke reminiscent of our repertoire.  For the others you may visit our page and check out past posts.




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Then suddenly December was upon us once more... with more mischief, lots of love for you, our dear friends and Christmas wishes for all. Again, all of these can be seen on our Facebook page.

Now we would like to wish you all the best for the coming year.  May 2019 be wonderful for all of you.