.png "Cat_Mom_Jen"){kind=avatar}
Good afternoon everyone!
I hope this post finds you all healthy, safe, and happy.
I am still smoke free. I apologize for my absence lately. I was going to type a blog post last weekend, but I was burned out, so I decided to take a break from social media. Commutes to and from work have been challenging, and those kind of trips drain my energy by the end of the week. I am looking forward to not having to deal with snow.
It seems like every time I post, we have another winter storm coming. According to this map, we are expecting four to six inches of snow. Tomorrow is Presidents' Day, and I am off work. Thankfully, my husband works here in town, so he does not have far to drive.
Edit: They just updated the snowfall amount....yikes.... 
Another edit: Here is the latest update...
A few days after I last posted, the temperatures here were going to be the coldest of the season. On February 2, I bought an extra wide outdoor heated cat house for my outside cat family from Chewy.com (see below). It arrived on February 4, which was perfect timing because my coworker and I ended up leaving work an hour early that day due to freezing rain and heavy snow. It took me an hour and a half to get home. My husband had the day off, so he was home when the heated cat house arrived. When I came home, I saw that he had set up the heated cat house on our porch. Small (Mommy Cat), the black kitten, and the black and white kitten were already enjoying their new home! White (Daddy Cat) stops by from time to time and stays in the heated house with his family. All four family members fit inside the heated house! I wanted to get an extra wide heated house so everyone could fit. At this time, Chewy.com is out of stock of these type of cat houses.
On February 6, I had my husband pick up a heated pet bowl so the water would stop freezing over (see below). I felt so bad that I had not thought of getting one before that day. I really need to stop doing the "could haves, should haves, would haves." I tend to do that a lot. All of the outside feline fur babies are safe and warm today.
On February 4, I had a dentist appointment early in the morning before work. I had four bitewing x-rays, an oral evaluation, an oral cancer screening, and my teeth cleaned. Everything looked good. I have no cavities. Starting tonight, I am going to start flossing once a day. I do not floss like I should. I will also admit that at times I fall asleep before brushing my teeth, so I need to break that habit, too.
This past week, I put in an extra day at work so I could have another three day weekend next weekend. Originally, I was going to work a few hours yesterday, but I saw that we were going to get a few inches of snow by the middle of the day, so I stayed after a few hours Friday evening. I came in an hour early all week last week so that I would not have to work so many hours Saturday, so I was able to leave work around 7:30 Friday evening. Yesterday I woke up a little after 7, and that is sleeping in for me!
Today is Valentine's Day. I am surrounded by all kinds of love. We need to be reminded that Valentine's Day is not only for couples, but for everyone. I saw this on Facebook and wanted to share it with you all.
I have missed you all.
Jen 
Pictured is Frank showing how much he loves his older brother, Holden. 2-14-21.
