Has it really been one whole week since I last blogged? It doesn’t seem that long. I guess I have some catching up to do. It’s going to be a long one, so please bear with me as I wade through the goings-on of the past week +.

We had a good Labor Day weekend and the weather was glorious. We didn’t do much of anything, just some yard work such as emptying the deck flower boxes of their past-their-prime petunias, one of the signs of a winding down of summer.

The petunias may have been done with in the flower boxes but they managed to seat themselves in various places, such as the potted palm that has been spending the summer outside

and also poolside.

The weather has taken a turn since my last post. Nights are cooler and every day we have less sunlight. The sun has a hard time getting above the trees for the better part of the day. The pool deck is covered with bits and pieces of acorns that continually drop from the big oak tree at the far corner, making loud thonks! whenever they hit. Fall is in the air.

Earl completely missed us and all we got was a bit of wind on Saturday. Since he passed by our weather has been just beautiful: blue skies and cool days. Perfect for throwing the windows wide open and letting the breeze blow through the house. I have to admit though that we needed to close up the house on Sunday night because it was too darned cold! 47 degrees F overnight!

The heat wave of last week did allow the pool to recover slightly in temperature (74 F) and we went for what we believe was the last swim on Friday night. With the past few nights dipping down into the 50’s and high 40’s, the temperature has tanked back down to 70 F again. I don’t think it’s going to recover this time.

We’ve had this visitor several times in the front yard. Eating acorns I’m thinking since it is always in the same spot: under the oak tree.

The only thing really left blooming in my yard is the overgrown morning glory vine that is threatening to take over the deck and Rick’s weather station. It got a late start this year.

Another sad thing on the winding down side of things is that we had to euthanize our old kitty, Vincent van “Goatee” last week. He was our little “Frenchman” kitty that came with us when we moved back from France. He was 18 1/2 years old and failing in health. It was hard to make the decision to let him go but when friend Carolyn visited and she sat down and talked to him, the end result was that she agreed it was time. Over the past year we’ve known that he probably had cancer from the results of his blood test and he had to live in an x-large doggie airline crate because of his lack of bathroom habits. He stopped taking care of his fur and it became matted, fell out and never regrew. We nursed him along but his quality of life confined to a crate was poor.

Over the past month or so he started looking very gaunt and was really nothing but skin and bones. With our three week vacation looming, we knew we could not leave him with a cat sitter coming in once a day, and feared that he would pass while we were gone. Here he is with eBay in better days, and getting a treat on Christmas three years ago. It’s hard to remember that he ever looked that good; he’d been failing for so long. Sleep well, sweet Vinnie.

And the gearing up, you ask? Well, I was gifted this gorgeous fig tree by a neighbor.

It came complete with instructions for its care.

And figs!!!!

Some of which we’ve already harvested and eaten!

And the biggest “gearing up” is of course for our westward trek to our cabin back in Colorado. Next week this time we’ll be somewhere in Indiana! Lists are being made. Piles of things to take are starting to accumulate in the spare bedroom.  Recipes are being poured over and rated (or not) as cabin meal candidates. The Suburban got washed and awaits its interior cleaning this weekend and the donning of its roof rack and storage pod. Soon, I tell the dogs. Soon you’ll be running free over the high prairie—and Bella—you’ll be swimming in the beaver pond. And your Dad and I will be sitting on the screened-in porch after dinner listening to the coyotes sing.

Very soon.

Thanks for slogging through this week with me!

The cats have been complaining that they hardly ever appear on my blog. I’ve decided to give them their day in the spotlight.

Sam has some unique and cute sleep habits.

His bunny paws pose.

He’s so big he just doesn’t fit sometimes and extra space is needed.

Two beds are always better than one.

Come to think of it, this dog bed is just the right size for me.

And, he’s been shopping at The Loft again.

The Pook (my inherited cat).

Pook gets curious.

Sharing. Sort of.

Of course sometimes the dogs are included in doing cute things. Like Hailey and eBay sharing a couch for naps.

Or eBay and Bella sharing the water bowls.

Ideas for blog entries radiate out from my mind like the spokes of a wheel. Which way to go? Which one to choose? I think about them all: Bella wants computer time; Pookie would like to be talked about; the Paul Revere curtains are all photographed and waiting for their moment; I finished my slippers; I started my rug (hooking); and probably more, but these are the ones foremost in my mind right now. I sit down to write and nothing comes out.

I hope that one of those will find their way into a slot so I can move forward. Soon.

Here is Alex in his reindeer finery. I know you all wanted to see all the dogs so dressed, but that was impossible. Every time we put them on Bella, she promptly removed them. Every time we put them on Hailey, Bella promptly removed them. sigh. That girl! The dogs and cats all had a great Christmas and had fun opening their presents. Rick made a wonderful video of them which you can watch here. Just so you know, Bella is the one that’s “naughty” while I dig some paper out of her mouth, and also the dog that runs off into the other room with presents two times. Alex is the main package opener, while Hailey is the hot dog eater. I hope you like it!

We enjoyed my sister and brother-in-law’s visit very much. Time flew by too quickly, and given that nearly one entire day was taken up with getting our hot water heater replaced (the electrician had to come too), it made it seem even shorter. We took them to the train on Saturday afternoon and they spent their remaining two days of vacation in NYC.

We didn’t have snow on Christmas day and it rained the next day, melting all the previous snow and leaving us with a green scene again. This morning we are having a few fitful flakes (try saying that ten times!) but it’s not going to amount to anything. Still, it’s pretty to watch and after all, it is my birthday today. Happy Birthday to me! This week is supposed to be bone-chillingly cold with some snow forecast for New Year’s Day. I’m not going to hold my breath ...

I hope your Christmas was merry and bright!

P.S. Don’t forget to watch the link to the video of the kids opening their presents!

even if i have to share once in a while ...

but i love my sam kitty anyway so i don’t really mind.

Here’s wishing you someone to sit on your lap and keep you warm this holiday season!