Don't squeeze

Which would you rather eat?  

This? 

Or this?

You think I'm joking. One more time...

STOP SQUEEZING THE AVOCADOS!

I want to use this disgruntled cat for EVERYTHING. He is Stripes, the Cat Tiger.

Unsupported

I am having so much trouble with the blogger app on my phone. It is apparently unsupported. I can upload pictures but it crashes every time I type text. I am experimenting with emailing the text, then adding the pictures using the app.

It makes me feel like this.

Sent from my iPhone

The Wrong Beds

Those leopard beds are supposed to be Homer's but the other cats disregard his wishes. Maybe I should just get more leopard beds so everyone can have two. Or three. We never had cat beds before and were completely surprised by their popularity.

Ahhh, finally the right cat is in the right bed and all is right with the world.

Sometimes I Need to Stop Momming

Once a mom...it's hard to let go of that, even when they are grown up.

Frank asked me for my meatball recipe. I offered a bit too much help and unsolicited advice. He politely stopped listening to me and made a lovely dinner.

Thank you, Frank!

Purple Rain, and a Beautiful Lesson

My favorite time of year is when the wisteria blooms. I know I post about this every year but it's my happy time. This year, I was a little late taking the pictures. A small rain caused what last year I called wisteria snow. This year I am calling it purple rain for princely reasons.

There are still many blooms showing off their beauty.

One morning last week, as I was on the phone with someone, I saw a small white pickup truck pull up in front of the house. A woman got out and approached the house. This is most unusual. I finished up the call and answered the door with some trepidation.

Not to worry! She lives in the neighborhood and loves driving by our house. She thinks it's so cute and charming. And she loves my wisteria! She had bought a flowering vine but it hadn't flowered yet. She thought it was wisteria. What did the wisteria leaves look like? Well, mine didn't have leaves yet. So maybe she has something else? I politely suggested she ask at a nursery, since I am no plant expert. But oh I was happy that she took the time to stop by. 

It was a beautiful lesson. This experience, plus the compliments I have received on the caterpillar and butterfly windows, really lifted my spirits and pulled me out of the doldrums, so much that I began blogging again. 

If you love and appreciate something or someone, let the person know. I've been working on reciprocating that this week. There was a customer with a gorgeous purple (I KNOW!) knit purse. It turns out her mother made it! And I had a lovely chat about British TV series with a founder of the Betsy-Tacy Society.

Poached, Both The Egg and the Idea

Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.

I finally learned how to poach an egg.

I'm letting a co-worker take credit for giving me the tip. He saw it on a YouTube video. I didn't tell him that I had already read about it in the Food Lab cookbook. Let him think he taught me something. I intimidate him enough with my crossword puzzle skills.

Anyway, you crack the egg into a sieve and drain off the runny part of the white, then drop it into simmering water. Voila!

Hmmm. That looks a bit skimpy. I think I need another egg.

Better!

That was one of the best breakfasts I've made in a long time.

I sent the coworker a picture and he responded:

We talk about food a lot.

Narwhals

I run across the cutest things at the bookstore. 

I think narwhals deserve some added attention.

And this beautiful art print from annibetts' etsy shop.

This made me want to doodle.

Remember when I doodled?

Late addition, from Joy of Socks .com

Fallingwater

I saw this 3-D recreation of Fallingwater, which reminded me of our visit there in 2014. Which reminded me that I had not shared anything of that trip, let alone last year's road trip. And now we are planning another road trip this fall. I am a terrible travel correspondent.

Oh well, I'm just going to enjoy this. I hope you do too.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Window

When I worked at the school, one of my personal delights was helping the kids with art projects. I miss that. I'm in a wistful mood lately, missing a lot of things. Happily, new things do appear: book store windows!

Our manager had the brilliant idea of doing a Very Hungry Caterpillar window, since the publisher had declared March to be Hungry Caterpillar Month and the store had somehow gotten a double order of books.

Here was opportunity! Bear in mind I am no Eric Carle. I am using my tried and true newspaper technique. (christmas) (valentine) (halloween) (valentine window)

Caterpillar begins to take shape. We can never get a good photo of the window in the day time so there you see my reflection and a nice view of the bike shop across the street.

I went back at night for the final photo. The general consensus is that Caterpillar is adorable. 

We decided to metamorphose him. 

But don't worry. Caterpillar miraculously survived the metamorphosis and got a new life, pointing the way to the restroom! The top of the book case got a good cleaning, so it's a win/win all around.

Well, that was fun!

Weekly Drive

I really miss the daily drive, taking Ernest to school. He was so excited when he got his driver's license because he thought he was imposing on me when I drove him somewhere. It wasn't an imposition; I loved it. We had some great adventures.

I enjoy heading in a new direction on the way to visit the lovely M-I-L once a week.

A few weeks ago we drove from the ocean...

to the forest...

No, not really the forest. Just a driveway through a vineyard. We were on the hunt for the Cuban food truck! Success! The most delicious Cuban sandwich and yuca fries.

Last weekend was not so exciting. Just an expedition to Costco and a hot dog.

Deja Vu

I saw this photo on line (source unknown) and thought it looked a bit familiar. 

I did a bit of digging and came up with this, which I painted in my teens. 

Pretty close. 

A Strange Reflection

Ernest had a snowy day this week. 

Something about his eyes behind his snow goggles freaked me out. 

It looked like his right eye was swollen shut, like Rocky Balboa.

I stewed about this for 24 hours, and finally worked up the nerve to ask

Thank goodness. I bet he was laughing at me!

5 minutes in the life of a cat

First he's a mighty hunter on patrol.

Then he's scared by a little noise.

And rushes to get in.

Stress eating.

Lately

Bloggy silence here. Blogging is not what it used to be. Other social media has replaced the blogging cameraderie. Still, I know I have a few friends that check here to see what's up. I'm just not sure where I want to go. The blog has had a good 10 years.

On one hand, most of what I post is drivel.

On the other hand, it's a little more creative than posting the drivel on facebook.

I might make it private, invitation only. It unnerves me to see 400 views of my drivel.

I am undecided. Until then I will carry on.