GladoWEiz!!

Subtitled: OMG! IT'S AUGUST 1ST AND IT'S 62 DEGREES!

The second coolest summer on record here. I am not complaining, except "How come we can't have it like this ALL the time?? Huh?" The gladioli are starting to bloom and the very dark ones are my faves. This is the same patch where the peas grew until the bunny ate everything! It's at this time of the year that I always have gardener's remorse: Why didn't I work harder and make a larger garden? My muscles tell one story in spring; my imagination tells another in August!
More faves from the garden: Madonna Lilies! Oh how I love their fragrance! As I said last year, you never know where these will show up in the garden. I'm always astonished, to be honest!

Bhu is having a nap under the antique oak rocker, so no photo-op there. "U getz away furrum me! Me iz nappin!"

Corless says I am smarter than Natalie Wood. Actually, the character she played in "Miracle on 34th Street" was a fair representation of me as a child (except I wasn't a snotty know-it-all, but I did sit on Santa's lap at Macy's . . . repeatedly). When I was a gifted child, I always missed my friends in the middle. Play is good for humans and that is the part of life I have neglected. Maybe "neglected" is the wrong term, because it hasn't been an entirely voluntary decision. I chose to be responsible for my family's well-being out of necessity. I chose to take care of myself instead of relying on others. I have always paid my bills and lived within or below my means. I have been "green" when green wasn't cool. I give, I tolerate, I testify, but I do not thrive. What will my future hold?

Bhu sez, "OMG, U R so neurotic! Ur future will be to makez me some more chicken liver pate. U iz good at that!" Well, thanks, Bhu! I'm glad you like it! xxoo Patty

It's July 18 and it's 68 degrees!

This is a photo of Natalie Wood on the French Riviera. It expresses how I feel today. I wonder how you will interpret that. It appeared on one of the blogs I regularly visit ("Pink of Perfection") and I just had to have it myself.

The fiscal year finally ended Thursday and now all I have to do is open and maintain the current fiscal year. I won't bore you with the details of my work. Er, maybe I should say I won't bore myself by recalling the details of my work.

Bhu will be back tomorrow. He has been very talkative lately and calls for rides in the Bhumobile on a daily basis. He is becoming very demanding. He has also started demonstrating his dislike for FF Tender Liver and Chicken Feast by upchucking every day. We finally gave him something else and he ate it and hasn't puked since. Bhu, why can't you just be more direct? "Wutchu talkin about? Me pukes when me no likes food U give. That's not direct enough for U?" Ummm, okay, I guess it is.

Well, whatever. Hope you're having a delightful July 18th! xxoo Patty

Glorious Fourth!

Yesterday I decided to celebrate my renewed ability to walk and tolerate the sun by going to both farmer's markets! The County farmer's market has one-third the vendors, but is very low key and not so crowded. Shoppers there tend to SHOP, as opposed to CHAT. The City farmer's market is very, very crowded and they have live music. The vendors are diverse, as are the items for sale. People wander and socialize, tripping over kids. There was an actual line, ten deep, to get to the corn guy. Seriously, I doubt his corn was locally grown. But, whatever.

Clockwise from top: burpless cucumber, 75 cents; Strawberry-Rhubarb pie, $5; beets & greens, $2; baby eggplants, $1.75; patty pan squash, $2; rainbow chard, $3; new potatoes, $1.75. We also bought a pound of ground beef (not pictured), $3.

Some of the veggies went into a scrumptious beef stir-fry last night. Unfortunately, my larger burner decided to quit, so had to cook on the smaller front burner. Am I going to have to buy a new stove? YIKES!

We hope you had a Fun & Floofy Fourth! xxoo Patty & Bhu

Bhu's New Bag!

Every night I come home from work and Bhu greets me at the door. He wants me to pick him up and hold him like a baby and give him belleh rubs. Who can resist? After he's had a Fancy Feast snack, we go into the bedroom and I put my bag on the bed and he promptly crawls into it. And there he stays for ten or fifteen minutes. He's so silly! "Me no silly! Me likes it in herez!"

Sorry for the lack of communication lately. Our fiscal year ended Tuesday and June has been a nightmare. However, highlights of the past six weeks have been (a) Bhu's lovely orange chair finally broke so he's been sleeping on the Hepper Wave and loving it; (b) Glory Girls visited and it was so good to see them; (c) my doctor discovered that hydrochlorothiazide has been causing all my horrible symptoms of the past ten years and I DO NOT have diabetes (but I do have gout); (d) now that I am not taking that simple little water pill anymore, I can walk again; (e) because I'm not taking the water pill, my blood pressure is 190 over 110; (f) all the greens I planted this spring have gone to seed for lack of attention, so I'm harvesting seed and going to replant this weekend; (g) the black bunny disappeared.

Hope you all have a Happy 4th! xxoo Patty & Bhu

awholelottacatsinboxes Day!

Box size or type doesn't matter! If me can getz butt in there, me goes in.

Yes, we iz back!

These are the daylily days and these are the daylillies I love the best: Tiger Lily! You know summer is here when these bloom and the lightning bugs suddenly appear, all asparkle in the night yard. Ninety-five percent humidity can't be far away!
Bhu and I have been very hard at work these days. Bhu is doing House Security, as you can see. Here he is pretending to be "sleepy," just to catch any intruder off guard. "Dis iz hard werk!" Yeah, right. At the University, people aren't forced to do things that are practical; all they have to do is come up with theories. Many of our processes are based on theories; most of them don't work. Because of this, our policies and processes change all the time, making it a largely unstable environment for managers. So, the past few weeks have been really frustrating and exhausting for me. "An' me, too,cuz U iz werkin's so much me hasta watch the howse longer!" Poppy, the Brave & Courageous, has been forced to pick up take-out food three nights in a row. This isn't something he really regrets. He likes take-out. I regret it because it's not that healthy, but it is very flavorful!
This week there have been a lot of opportunities for photo-capturing, but slacker that I am forgot to bring her camera. Seriously, I need to get a camera phone! We were happy this week to be able to see the visiting Corless and Ann: what a treat! Then, to close, I'd like to send big hearts & hugs to Roberto, say Happy Birthday to Sachie (who Bhu and I adore), and warn everyone about Jupiter in retrograde (don't make any decisions that affect your material world, including changing jobs, until October 13). OR, go ahead and do it and see what happens. Mucho, mucho xxoo! P

Happy Monday

This is my office. Thankfully, I do not have to be there today because it is a paid holiday -- the first since January! In any case, Memorial Day sort of ushers in the busiest time of the year for me because it is the end of the fiscal year. When I hired my assistant, I told her she couldn't take vacation in June or July or late August/early September. So, she's taking off next week. This will be my last day off until July 4.

Bhu spends more and more time in the window, watching the quivering leaves and cardinal babies training for flight. Today, however, he is running around the house, very vocal, jumping on furniture he normally doesn't think about. Me thinks there is a bug in the house!! For the life of me, I can't see it. "Me no tell U where it iz. U will just capture it and set it free outsidez!" Well, you got me there, Bhu. That's exactly what I'd do!

And, although this is a clumsy segue, speaking of rescue and freedom, this holiday was created so we would be able to appropriately honor the soldiers (male and female) who have served Country and sacrificed. xxoo Patty

Sbeenalongtime!

Can't even remember the last time I was here. Things have happened: several thousands of folks graduated with degrees from one or another of the various colleges and universities here, the streets and restaurants clogged with relatives of every ilk. Chuck the Gulch Radio Guy was again a welcomed guest. We are always sad that he doesn't stay longer!

Bowl of Beauty peony is blooming right now. This is one of the most gorgeous peonies and the blooms just don't last long enough.

Of course, there's always time for petting Bhu, who is having a wonderful spring so far! He hopes you're having a great spring, too! xxoo Patty & Bhu

Mai Mom iz the Best!

Thank you mom for all the fancee feest, pets, belley rubs, and bhumobile rides! Me luvs U! xxoo Bhu
Thanks, my little sweetie pie! Me luvs U 2! Reminds me I need to call my daughter and wish her a Happy Mother's Day, as she is one of the best moms I have ever known. She really does give everything to her kids. Plus, she's so smart and gorgeous! I always tell her she was switched at birth and I was the lucky one!
What are these goofy pictures? The east side of my house in March in all its horrible blandness. We had new windows installed and I decided to add shutters and window boxes. These window boxes are a quick-fix; a more permanent addition is planned. We are praying over these plants because I have never done the cocoa liner thing before. If you have advice or anecdotes, please share! xxoo Patty & Bhu

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner!

Going out to water my lovely seedlings and this is who I find munching on my kale! He seems to be a pet; I've never seen a black bunny in the critter community and he wasn't bothered at all by my presence. He seemed to be very trusting. As I got closer to him with the hose, he grabbed his kale and moved to the driveway and then smacked his lips and moved across the street to hide under a vintage BMW. I sent his photo to everyone in the 'hood, so hopefully his human will see it and come to rescue him! I'm so worried about him!! Please be safe, bunny! xxoo Patty

puter schmooter

We has been havin' 'puter problems this weekend, so mom hasn't been able to post. Also, she sez "I am so busy, Bhu, and so tired every night from work, I need to relax." Sure, me can unnerstanz this. Me workz hard every day doin' house security an' it makes me sleepy!

Okay, well, thanks for being so understanding Bhu. I will try to take some photos of you on the job this week so everyone can see you in action! I really like to watch movies to relax. It would be so helpful if efurryone could leave a comment and let me know what their fafurite movies are. xxoo Patty

SCHPRINGin!

Bhu, what're you doin' in the stroller?
"Go fur walk, K? Me see outsidez!"
Okay, let's see what's happenin' out there.
Look at the pink puddle!!
"Why itz pink?"
Crabapple blossoms. Pretty, huh?



"Ooooo, look! BOID!" Yes, she's a very funny bird. Looks like a robin on the bottom and a woodpecker on the top. She looks nice and snug!

WOW! Look, Bhu! Pea Sprouts!! YAY!! "Taste like fancee feest?" No, tastes BETTER!

"Me likes spring. Thanks fur ride, mom!" My pleasure, Bhu. xxoo Patty

Spring at Skypants B&B

Our glorious crabapple tree. Everyday I look for seedlings to pop up out of the ground and am disappointed. Maybe today!

Our carport bird nest is occupied again! Hope you are all having a happy spring! xxoo Patty

HOPPY EOSTER!

Mai gawjus gurlfurrends Maggy an' Zoey looks purrity KEWT all dressed up as eester eggs, doncha think?? xxoo Bhu

Grow! Grow! Grow Dammit!!

Ain't Bhu cute today? He is all twisty! It's another gloomy day, but yesterday was pretty nice so we planted potatoes, broccoli raab, lettuce, and bok choy. No sign of the seeds we planted last week. GROW DAMMIT, GROW!! It's been so cold, I'm not surprised. I have too much to plant and not enough prepared garden beds. Sabryin and I are on vacation this week and, YES WE ARE BOTH SICK so already we are behind on our list of fun things to do. Tomorrow Mr. Leeper is expected to install two new windows, shutters and window boxes, but it's supposed to rain, so we shall see. How's YOUR garden? xxoo Patty