Cat Lady life has been expanding with new adventures lately. My book has brought about some rewarding speaking engagements. My passion for music lead to a friendship that blossomed into romance and a once-a-month radio show co-hosting gig! Every second Sunday of the month from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, I share music and banter over the airwaves with DJ John Ford on KXFM’s radio show, AM Radio (AM for Americana Music). Tune your dial to 104.7 if you’re local, listen online or tell Alexa to play KXFM 104.7.

On November 20^th, we celebrated Samantha Jo’s fifth birthday, which translates to 36 human years. She was born into the Alpha Generation, yet the identifier is based on the Greek alphabet, not domineering and assertive characteristics. Nevertheless—she’s still Queen Sassy Pants.

And while commercialism has pushed Christmas upon us in November, I’m living in the moment and embracing autumn and the Thanksgiving holiday season. I adore my orange twinkle lights in the yard and festive fall décor in the cottage, and Samantha fits right in with the orange accents.

Although, last week I had to put my inner Grinch aside for The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats. It’s that time of year again for The Sawdust Festival’s Winter Fantasy. Blue Bell, among several nonprofits, was selected to decorate a Christmas tree in Santa’s Village at The Winter Fantasy. I was on the Christmas tree decorating committee with Blue Bell staff, Jenna and Leesa, and volunteer Terri.

In preparation for the Winter Fantasy opening last Friday, we strategically hung our very own handcrafted ornaments, carefully curating our “Santa Claws” themed Christmas tree.

Our committee attended the tree lighting ceremony along with spouses, and with me, John, my new beau. As John and I took in the bustling scene and marveled at the adorable Blue Bell tree, a boy about five years old took an ornament off the tree and began stuffing it into the tiny stocking hung behind it. The ornament was a round clear disc with a photo of a Blue Bell cat displayed from inside, and holiday embellishments on the exterior, including a name tag for the kitty. His mother stood by and watched as her kid vandalized our ornament—that is, until I stepped in. 

I took the ornament out of his hand and firmly told him that we worked hard on decorating the tree and making the ornaments, and they were not to be touched. His mother looked at me, speechless, then quickly ushered her kid away from the tree. After the tree lighting ceremony, while still gathered around our Christmas tree, I told the group about the little ornament vandal. Within moments of our collective expression of irritation, a middle-aged woman approached the tree and attempted to rearrange the kitty reindeers pulling Santa Claws’s sleigh.

I marched over to her and lectured about how hard we worked on getting the placement just right and (once again) the ornaments are not to be touched! Despite dealing with ill-mannered festivalgoers, it was a glorious evening. Blue Bell even won the Cutest Tree Award.

We were about to call it a night when teenage boys came tearing through the grounds and grabbed one of the presents under our tree and started to run off with it. John and I told him to put the present back. The kid looked at me and snidely said that his name was on it. “PUT. THE PRESENT. BACK!” I yelled.

He begrudgingly obeyed then ran off.

And that’s when I was awarded the title, Tree Police.You got that right. Nobody messes with the Blue Bell tree!