Pomodoro Birthday

There today I ate very fashionably late. There was yet another gathering with dear friends from near and far. Pasta, vino, good conversation, and much to celebrate.

Meeting at St. V de P

Tuesday was another busy day which included a stimulating meeting while sitting on plastic crates

In the middle of a food bank, a lovely birthday dinner with Judy, and a funeral vigil. Yes, I ate fashionably late again.

Happy Birthday Mary Kay!

L

This has been a big birthday night. On Monday post work the keeper and MKD  celebrated their birthdays at Piatti. Yes, she did eat the whole pizza. No surprise there.

Home on the Deck

After the picnic was over, the keeper came home to me and we both sat out on the not yet finished deck.  She read and listened to beautiful music and I listened to the birds and the bugs.

The Picnic

There was time for bingo, hot dogs, ice cream bars, Popsicles, and conversation.

The bouncy toy attracted some brave older people.

A perfect afternoon!

Feast of St. James

This was a big weekend at the Cathedral--the Feast of Saint James. This year they brought back James the Greatest. He seems to be able to clap now and scratch his cheek.

October in July

Gloomy. I stayed indoors. ML did not come. It has been too wet and rainy to use power tools. So we wait for the rains to leave us. The back yard tonight felt almost haunted, while hundreds of crows held a conclave or some kind of rock concert a few yards down, and  sirens swooped through the gray wet roads to the south.  It felt like a fall day at the beach is what the keeper told me. She also told me it was a strange day at the office because they had to move into lock down because of a very sad shooting at the nearby bank. I think tonight we will have pizza.  I saw the box. Maybe tomorrow will be more like summer.

The Deck continues to grow

Good news!! I spent part of the day outside supervising ML and her  exacting skill on our deck. 

She is like a zen monk who listens to Country - Western music while she nails. So different than what we listen to on KING FM inside the house.  I heard ML say she will be back tomorrow. More outdoors for moi!

Back in Business

I was able to spend a great deal of time outside because our friend ML showed up--even today in the mist. She built steps  and a tricky trap door to the cellar. Little by little we are making some progress. Unlike the keeper ML talks to me when she is working.

Dinner at a Favorite Spot

Dear Readers, I was not fed until very late this eve. I was left in the hot house without the fans on. Yes, I had food in my bowl, leftovers from breakfast. I had several bowls of water and a water fountain.I was in no danger. However, I felt a bit abandoned. Where did she go this time? 

Well, it seems she went to dinner with her good friends C and L with another friend and while hanging out on the deck overlooking the lake with some breeze, good drinks and appetizers, they plotted out their Mexico trip. As much as such a trip can be plotted out.They continued to plot over dinner, dessert, and finally after Bellevue stopped glowing in the pink dusk, they realized they still were working people and needed to wrap it up.  They selected  tour leader, assistant tour leader, Mother Superior, and designated tourist.. 

I think this means that there will be a house and pet sitter coming. 

Sigh. 

Camino to Oso

She told me this morning that she was going up to Oso with workmates to visit the incredible pastor who has been such a unifying figure in the community after the big mudslide. I asked her why she only brought back photos of very well schooled horses being schooled in a very well appointed arena.

She said that it is where she had lunch. This ranch became a center for the community post mudslide. 

And besides it would have been rude to shoot photos on such sacred sad ground which is still being examined quadrant by quadrant for human remains and for one member of the community.

She said the stories were heart stoppingly profound.  

Twilight

We had a lovely surprise tonight. The sky was shot with luminescence!

Cat on a Hot Unfinished Deck!

I accompanied the keeper as she sat on the deck this afternoon and tried to read all the reading which a long time ago she had assigned her students. They need to talk about it on Wednesday, so she thought it would be good to be prepared. She also realized she didn't like one of the readings she had assigned. Meanwhile I tried to get comfortable, but it was hot everywhere. Then I went and rolled in the dirt and sand and jumped up on her lap and shook dirt allover everything. she was not amused, since she was wearing sunscreen and it all just stuck to her.

Market Visitors

Post walk she drove down to the LFP Farmers' Market for the usual berries and sunflowers. But this was the day that the llamas and alpacas paid a visit. They had just been sheared. she also learned that the little llamas spit.

Repose

Morning praise was held on the dock at the north end of the lake.

Liturgy of the Word on the bench over the lake.

And she noticed interesting foliage growing along the path.

Morning Camino

  

This morning we both got up pretty early and the keeper went out for a long walk before it got too hot.

I rested outside in the shade.  She returned to report that most it mostly herself and some beautiful flowers out. even Mt. Rainier hid herself in haze. 

Waxing Gibbous Moon

She came home in time to watch the rising waxing gibbous Super Moon with me, though.

And I got a hint that she might be thinking of bringing me a new kitten soon.

That is, "soon" as in cat years "soon."

Dinner with Homies at Her Second Home

I had hoped we would spend another contemplative night at home together. But I should have known when she prepared my dinner at 4:15 and said she was going to the Cathedral. I should have growled,  "I hope it's too hot for church and you come back to me!" But I only whimpered instead.

Well, she came home much later smelling not only of a hot cathedral, but of grass fed beef and the home of those whippets and their keepers. They seemed to have had a very enjoyable time.

Waiting for the Moon

I could tell that it was going to be a beautiful eve.

The clouds were all pink. FB had some postings about the Super Moon. There was a wee breeze. I was so happy that the keeper  wanted to veg out on the deck after her very intense week teaching and working to make sure I can have the best cat food. I was able to patrol the backyard,and wait for the keeper to bring out my basket for our evening on the unfinished deck.She was going to read but she talked to her friend from Boston til the phone died. It was a while. It appears that said friend will be coming out for a visit at the endof the month, Lots of excitement about that. But before coming here the friend is heading to Brazil for a meeting right after the World Cup finishes, and her husband is going to Ireland. So we wish them both very safe journeys.

Eve of the Super Moon

One she got home the keeper planted herself on our quite unfinished deck with a clear drink with ice and a lime in it and a big bowl of popcorn. She kindly brought out my basket, and eventually, her dinner, and we watched the moon rise slowly over the lake.Tomorrow is the super moon and we will be ready!

Boats Rule!

This is the excuse the keeper gives for why she is getting home late to feed me my dinner.

By the way, could someone tell her that I don't like the chicken cat food in the tan can? For someone who is good with languages she doesn't understand one yowl of my disdain for that stuff.

Bella Bella!

Una luna bella esta noche, nez pas?

On the Catwalk

It was a sultry afternoon. The keeper came home after visiting the Cathedral, the Seattle U vegetable garden, the LFP Farmers' Market, and the Car wash where the attendant cleaned inside as well as outside. Finally, she came back and we both went out to the deck where we could sit---she in the Fuma chair, and I in my basket. She listened to Bach and corrected student papers. I listened to the birds and the wind ruffling the apple tree.

I also explored the new side deck which has nice boards just my size.

Which Firework is More Gorgeous?

The quiet one?

The Hawthorne Hills show?

The Lake Union  show?
We think you can guess which one the keeper liked best!