Fall Shadows

Cohen and I walked in the yard for a little bit today.   It is still very warm, 81 F,  with the sky  bright and clear.   Cyrus was with us,  and,  of course,  Murphy followed close behind.  Murphy has to wear a muzzle whenever he is up stairs or outside with any of the other animals.  He has bitten Zachery, and Lost and Found.  Both  Zac and Lost were left with large puncher wounds which had to be treated with antibiotics!  Zachery, being the mean old man he is, brought the bite on himself,  but,  poor Lost was just going to be executed for fun.   Murphy has decided his favorite sport is running the cats and he has shown he will kill any he catches. 

There is  something in the air whispering of Fall.  Even in today's heat the sun shown brighter because the summer haze has lifted,  and the afternoon shadows seem to be lengthing.  I look forward to the clear cooler weather.

Sitting and Knitting

I sat outside with Cyrus for a short while this afternoon.  It was warm but there was enough of a breeze to make it almost pleasant.  I enjoy sitting with Cyrus and doing my knitting outside.  I am not a real  knitter,  but I am trying to learn.  Right now I am working on a pattern 
for a purse I hope to be able to complete.  I will post more on this project soon.  

Cyrus seems to like watching me as much as I like watching him.

You can see the last of the vegetable garden in the background behind the bench.   It put out more than any of us expected and really delicious stuff too.

Irene is nearing our coast and this is producing some wind gusts and causing the clouds to race across the sky.    

 

Vincent, Toni and the children have been in Chesapeake, VA this past week visiting Marian.  They arrivedf home around noon today.  Marian followed them in her car and will head back home after the storm.  Clarence had to stay in Chesapeake because of his work.  I hope all will be safe for him there.  ( Let's keep all of those in harms way in our prayers ). 
As soon as the children got in they ran into their room, pulled out every toy they have and started playing dress up.  Cohen put on Sophia's witch costume.  I can't wait to hear what he'll say about these pictures when he is a teen-ager!

Carolina Blue Sky

As you can see we had some beautiful weather today.  I was able to go out and sit on the porch for a while.  It sure was nice to be outside and breath at the same time ! 

 

Jim and Margaret did some mowing.  Jim even looked like he was having fun !   Here he waves when he sees me with the camera.

Margaret has added two more pups to the family.  An Italian Greyhound she named Banjo and a Chihuahua named Rikki.  As you can see Banjo is a lively puppy.   Rikki is older and much more relaxed.

 

Here Margaret grooms Rikki with a Furminator.   Let me tell you, those things are great for grooming dogs and cats, and the animals love 'em.

 

A Hutch and Some Golden Slippers

This hutch was a find from Craig's List.  I have the wonderful intention of chalk painting and distressing it.  Until then I will use it as is to store my scrapbook supplies.  I know that's like hanging old curtains in a new house and believing you will get new ones to hang soon.  It never gets done.  The old drapes seem to loiter like boring company.   They don't call attention to themselves and therefore are allowed to remain, but all the while they detract from the fun.     

Sophia and I had a lovely time decorating a new pair of flip flops.  I bought the shoes and some 'silk' flowers from the Dollar Tree.  After I removed the flowers from their string we glued some  onto the strap of each flip flop.  Sophia was as happy as if I had given her Golden Slippers.  She posed in front of this  mirror for a picture.   She has worn the flops every chance she gets, and though she has to wear a more substantial shoe to school,  she has taken them to show her friends.  

Sophia made this card for me the day I came home form the hospital.  She picked all of the card's elements from Aunt Anna's paper stash. Anna said she labored long and hard over the proper placement of the diamonds on the front and picked the flying saucer stamp from the huge array of stamps she has.
                                            This is my golden slipper.

Christmas is coming and I am the only one getting fat!

It's time, past time really, for me to start working on Christmas presents. Every year I have ' good ' intentions when it comes to making presents and giving everyone on my list a special hand made gift. Then, Christmas sneaks up on me and I've several unfinished scarves, and many signed,  unstamped Christmas cards languishing about my room.  I keep them from year to year as I know I would feel guilty if I threw them away.   I' ve come to the conclusion that I like guilt.....See?  I ' ve started wallowing in it early this year.   I ' ve new guilt heaped on top of the residual  guilt from 2010.  It all bubbled to the surface  the other day when I heard there are " only 211 shopping days until Christmas. "   We all better get crackin' !

Tessa asked me to see if I could get a picture of Lost & Found sleeping in one of the  bird baths.  I tried to sneak up on him but he woke as I raised the camera for the shot. He is very relaxed.  I am sure he felt he had the perfect spot for bird watching...or is that bird waiting? 

These are the last of Sophia's flowers .  When we planted the seeds I told her we would have to wait to see the plants grow and when they got tall they would bloom.  She sprinkeled the seeds out,  did a quick rake over and stood looking at me.  I said ,  "We can go in now. "  Her response was to say, "  Not yet.  I' m waiting for the flowers to grow. "

I found this dead katydid in the yard.  Aside from the 2 missing legs it's a pretty good specimen......  I love hearing them at night.  Their call reminds me of the comfort of a real feather bed I slept in when I spent the night with my grandmother .

A NEW DO.....

Cohen's daddy gave him a whole new look. What ' ja think ?

              We're of of the opinion he looks as handsome as ever.  Murphy said he likes the look too.

I am home for the night.  It will be nice to sleep in my own bed again,  although, I must say I slept better than ever at Anna's.  Foo Kitty is here by my side and Emma in her bed right beside mine. I spent extra time with Cyrus so he woundn't feel left out. They all seem pleased to have me back. It won't be for long though as I will be back at Anna's tomorrow to sit with Funion so he will not be alone while Anna is in KS for a few days.

Is he not beautiful !

If notTHAT then WHAT ?

You may have read in one of my first posts, and mentioned occasionally thereafter, that I am not the healthiest of specimens.  I  am bedridden most of the time with several pesky identifiable and, several unidentifiable ailments.  At any rate, I was in the hospital over night;   having entered via the ER.  Since my symptoms were those of previous heart 'problems'  I was kept

for observation and tests.  All  came back with negative results, which is good....and 'bad'', i.e., though they can find nothing wrong there is still the question.  If not THAT then WHAT?  

I am with my daughter now but will be back to Foo, Cyrus and Emma soon!

I must acknowledge and thank Vincent and Anna for their LOVE and CARE here and Marian and Mauro in absentcia .  Believe me, I cannot sing the praises of my children enough.  My word!  I cannot forget to mention Toni and all she does!  She is the calm waters of our otherwise stormy sea. And, it goes without saying what Margaret and Jim have done and provided for me and all of the family.  Thank you Sister.