Having a Christmas titty tatty tea party, as my Aunt Margaret used to call them, with some Alexander City friends tomorrow. Been cleaning and making pies and treats so I didn’t even notice the sky or the sunset today. Didn’t mean for those things to pass me by but just got busy and missed them. Ran to town and completely forgot I had a pecan pie in the oven but I came back quickly from the grocery store and heard the oven buzzer when I opened the front door. Hope it didn’t cook too long, looks fine. A big dollop of whipping cream will fix anything and I’ve got two bowls for tomorrow. Glad Stew didn’t realize I’d left a pie in the oven, when I ran to town, or I’d probably get the “Let’s go back to Shady Oaks,” speech.

Just out of curiosity, I put some crusts from my party sandwiches on the table on my back deck, to see if I could see the raccoon who keeps stealing the bird feeders and dragging them off. I got some clove and cinnamon oil today to spray the feeders which will keep him away a while. Anyway, when I looked outside on the table there sat three raccoons. Looks like a family of mother and daddy and child. I didn’t scare them off and they enjoyed my pimento cheese sandwich crusts. They had a dusk tea party. Guess I’m going to have to get some traps.

Penelope is staying at vet brother’s vet clinic for the weekend. My dearest friend who’s spending the weekend is bringing her little Charlie Brown. He’s a handsome little fella and the ball fetching king. Never seen a dog that loved to fetch so much. It’s hard to turn down the ball when he puts in your lap and gives the pitiful please puppy dog face. Penelope always occupies my friend’s lap and Charlie can’t understand why his mama is letting Penelope steal his lap space. He’ll be king of the hill this weekend. Just not up to refereeing two pups this weekend. It’s been a stressful week. Looking forward to some down time with my friends.

I love this friendship quote by Ralph Waldow Emerson. “One of the blessings of old friends is that you can afford to be stupid with them.” I love the song about old friends that Kenny Rogers sings with Dolly Parton. The first three stanzas are my favorite — “What will I do when you’re gone? Who’s gonna tell me the truth? Who’s gonna finish the stories I start the way you always do? When somebody knocks at the door, someone new walks in, I will smile and shake their hands. But you can’t make old friends. You can’t make old friends. Can’t make old friends. It was me and you, since way back when, but you can’t make old friends.” My dearest friend and I have been close friends for 42 years and boy do we have a good time together. We laugh ourselves silly.

I just love quotes. Don’t know why or how I started collecting them. I wonder if there is a name for someone who collects them. Quote lovers, quote enthusiasts and quodophile, my favorite. I watch for them when I read and listen for them when people are talking. Friends will send me one. Sometimes I find a good quote on Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

Lots of quotes inspire me. Here’s another quote I love by Doe Zantamata. “If every morning, you can find a reason to say, “Yes, it’s going to be a beautiful day.” And every day, you find a reason to say, “Yes, it is a beautiful day.” And every night, you find a reason to say, “Yes, it was a beautiful day.” Then one day, you’ll look back and easily say, “Yes…it was a beautiful life.”

I have a beautiful life and I appreciate it and give thanks everyday for my health and my family and friends. I can say yes, it was a beautiful day and yes, I have a beautiful life.

“Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends,” — H. Jackson Brown