I'll Call It Like I See It

by sheila morris

For any who want more, complete list of all posts by month since 2011

  • Uncertainty: the dog, the cat, the bird


    Spike’s on full alert this morning at front door

    Cassidy Carport Cat returns Spike’s gaze

    while Cardinal ignores them both to hop happily in the front yard

  • Ella’s first soccer match

    Ella’s first soccer match


    four-year-old Ella with her coach (Daddy Drew)

    two-year-old sister Molly on the move behind them

    kids that play together…don’t hate each other when they’re four

    some confusion about where to kick ball

    on final play Ella went down the field and scored

    (luckily for her team!)

    ********************

    Special thanks to another grandmother Lolly for these great photos which captured the joy and innocence of young children. Ella’s Nana and Naynay were far too entertained by the team’s goalie who stood behind the goal to avoid balls being kicked toward him. Focus on the game, grands.

    Unfortunately, Coach Drew will not be available for the next few weeks. He’s having a medical procedure related to an injury he suffered playing league basketball several weeks ago. No genetic testing necessary for Ella’s competitive spirit, and fingers crossed for Daddy Drew.

    By the way, the Republican Primary in South Carolina coincided with Ella’s first soccer match. The results after the polls closed later that evening heavily favored an ex-president who was on the ballot again – thank goodness for the soccer match in the morning which gave me hope for a future generation that focused on the things where, as Maya Angelou said, human beings are more alike than unalike.

  • meet Cassidy Carport Cat

    meet Cassidy Carport Cat


    Yes, I have named the cat that adopted our carport as his home. Pretty and I have searched for a loving home for this little fellow for more than a year, but it turns out he found his own home with us. Sigh. I have resisted the pleas of our family, friends, even followers in cyberspace to name him because I felt that would make him less likely to find an indoor home. This week, though, I talked with Pretty, and she agreed Cassidy is a fine name. I added Carport Cat in honor of our beloved Carport Kitty who was our first feline love.

    Carport Kitty stole our hearts and then…

    and then broke them when we lost her in October, 2022

    No more stray cats in the carport, I declared through my tears to Pretty who nodded. But the best-laid plans of mice, men and me go where? go oft astray? oh no, they go to the strays.

    *****************

    Slava Ukraini. Remember the children.

  • scenes from my hood this week

    scenes from my hood this week


    Remember Cat? He loves snooping in the car when he finds an open door – he still needs that good home with someone who will let him live inside, sit in their lap with pets and purrs aplenty. He has had all his shots, the worrisome knot removed and has been pronounced fit as a fiddle. Won’t you please give him the home he deserves?

    Someone went to the groomer this week – Carl looking good. 100% deaf, sundowner issues every afternoon, still loathes Spike, legs tremble from old age, but the little guy has spunk in spades. He could win an old dog sprinting contest, tail wagging contest in any age group. Plus, have you ever seen a cuter face?

    On a morning walk this week, I passed a tree with premature blooms that will surely freeze next week. Every year when we have warmer weeks in February, the blooming trees are deceived by the warmth, happily burst forth in colorful blossoms, and then frost bites them you know where.

    Valentine’s Day brought sweet wishes from Dawne and Darlene in the upstate – and a good laugh from our friend Rob –

    Speaking of the ex-president, the bad news kept pouring in.

    (MSNBC)

    That’s all, folks. Enjoy an extra day off tomorrow in the US for President’s Day holiday!

    ********************

    Slava Ukraini. For the children.

  • Molly’s Big Birthday Weekend

    Molly’s Big Birthday Weekend


    Her family and friends celebrated Molly’s January 26th. second birthday with vigor, an occasion she seemed content to embrace while managing to control her focus. The festivities began Friday afternoon after school on the playground when her Nana (Pretty) and Naynay (me) came to pick her up – her great Aunt Darlene and Dawne had driven down from the upstate to get the weekend started. They took great pictures!

    Molly going full speed ahead with Ella close beside her

    Molly all smiles when Ella is near

    Ella and her best buddy Thomas made it to the top,

    sharing a moment

    Molly takes a playground break –

    turning two years old wears me out

    Birthday dinner at Mexican restaurant – where else?

    left hand? right hand? both work fine to eat Mexican food by myself

    Ella and Naynay study chips, salsa and queso – they’re wasting time

    The Party

    Ella and Molly tackle the Bounce House in the back yard

    I think my school friends found my toy box

    oh well, they make me say sharing is caring…but she has my doll

    my teacher Miss Stefanie came to my party – she brought her son Cole

    my mom Caroline and dad Drew love me to the moon and back

    Mama and her friends worked so hard for my birthday party –

    I had the best time

    my Nana and Naynay love me, too –

    they let me do whatever I want to do

    BIRTHDAY CAKE!

    Happy Birthday to me!

    ******************

    Molly was oblivious to another birthday gift she received when a woman named E. Jean Carroll received an $83.3 million dollar settlement on Molly’s birthday against a former president of the United States for his years of bullying her in public. Carroll’s stand was a ray of hope that will help Molly and all little girls have the courage to be brave when they are confronted with behavior designed to make them feel lesser than. Thank you for that gift, Ms. Carroll.