Party!

There was a small party here last night.  I ate early, I ate late, 

I begged for halibut under the table.
It was worth having to wear the stupid bow.

It was a great night for me, and I think for the others too.
I was the oldest on the deck, It was mentioned several times.
It came to a late conclusion with key lime pie around the fire table.

Why I Ate Late on Thursday

                              The reason she did not feed me till after 10 on Thursday night                        was because of a historical event, perhaps herstorical.

She and her friend J watched Hilary accept the nomination for President. 

From my feline perspective it was a much wiser and saner week of conventioneering.

DNC Night

Monday she watched the convention at a friend's house with adult drinks and I ate very late.

Last night she watched the convention at the gym and worked off the extra calories from Monday night. I ate late as well.

Tonight she stayed home and I ate at a decent hour and we watched the light box while  she cheered the POTUS, as she had the FLOTUS on Monday.

I found other things to amuse me after awhile.

I tried to sustain her attention by posing several different ways in my box with my toys, but she was too taken by the POTUS to give me much attention. I just need to become a media star and then she will appreciate me more.

Lunch at Leschi

The keeper lunched and worked with some colleagues and one of the most calming vistas ever. 

She used to spend a great deal of time here when she lived up the hill from the lake.

Matching!

Some couples go out of their way to dress for a fiesta!

Parish Picnic

The Suazo family had a great time at the picnic.

They were thrilled to introduce their children to Sr. Judy.

Jose and his dad worked at the bubbles

Rusmarie became butterfly-like, and Hector became defender of the universe.

Feast of Santiago

Today the cathedral celebrated its feast day. 

 St. James always shows up, bigger than life,  

and so did the Suazo family who were a bit taken with the Saint and his handlers.

SU Fleurish

Thursday was the keeper's last day of teaching for the Summer Quarter.

It seems she had more time to take notice of the abundance of flowers. And the echinacea in wild bloom. she liked them so much that this weekend she brought some home to our garden.

Practicing Hospitality

I entertained the keeper this afternoon. 

She decided that she would enjoy my                                     company all afternoon.We sat on the deck
together. She read and prepared her class while I supervised.   She also brought us some beautiful flowers                           from the LFP Farmers' Market.

Colorful Coffee Hour!

The ladies at coffee hour all seemed to have chosen summer colors this morning.

Bill Cunningham would have been impressed!

About That Moon

This week the keeper found a poem which she shared with a friend.

We share it here:

WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THAT MOON?
 
A wine bottle fell from a wagon and
broke open in a field.

That night one hundred beetles and all their cousins
Gathered
   
and did some serious binge drinking.

They even found some seed husks nearby
and began to play them like drums and whirl.
This made God very happy.

Then the "night candle" rose into the sky
and one drunk creature, laying down his instrument,
said to his friend ~ for no apparent
Reason,

"What should we do about that moon?"

Seems to Hafiz
Most everyone has laid aside the music

Tackling such profoundly useless
Questions.

 

~ Hafiz ~

 (The Gift -- versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)

 

 

Camino to the Kenmore Pier

Today the Camino took me to my perch on the deck in the sun and the keeper to Kenmore and the pier. Her favorite sight was of the ducks with the turtle who was sunning itself on a log while lots of people fished from the pier. The ducks seemed to accept the turtle's presence and showed some  hospitality.

Hungarian Tunes at the Farmers Market

I was given a heart breakfast and she left me for errands.

One of them took her to the Shoreline Farmers Market where she met Hungarian folk musicians, and a couple with a flavored olive oil and vinegar business which rivals her favorites in St. Helena, CA.

More Friday Camino

On tonight's walk the mountain was visible, but it took a while to find it.  Can you?

The moon was much easier to find.

Friday Camino

The walk to the lake tonight was a welcome way to process the week.

The flora did not disappoint.

The blackberries are early and their sweet fragrance fills the evening air.

They remind the keeper of her childhood and the blackberries that covered hills and fields.

We Weep, We Pray

There  has been violence yet again in Nice.

There is fear, there is numbness.

There is doubt.

Tonight the keeper went to the Cathedral as a source of solace, and was not disappointed. An unexpected visitor, a woman from Africa, began to to sing in her native language as the liturgy began.  It didn't matter that the assembly didn't understand her language, the song  carried human longing, anguish, and hope. She also sang a haunting response to the homily. She sang for her own anguish, sor sure, but she sang the souls of those gathered.

Gratia Plena

The keeper has been leaving quite early this week. 

Then when she comes home she goes to the computer, reads papers and gets 

ready for the next morning.

This is what she calls teaching. But I understand that yesterday she started a four quarter  with a brand new cohort and today she finished a 5 quarter class with the group she started last year.

So tomorrow it's only the new group. 

She says it has been gratia plena.

So This Is What Happens When We Use Plant Food!

We have been using some special organic stinky plant food. The geraniums are the size of salad plates and the nasturtiums who thrive without anything, will catch up with them soon. They may end up being all leaves and no flowers.

Transitions at Casey Commons

Tonight the keeper came home at a reasonable hour because she had dinner at 5 PM at SU.  Must have been a shock to her system!  

She met her new students, visited with her remaining students, and cheered on one from COhort One who received her certificate in Pastoral Leadership tonight.

One Pier, Two Views

This afternoon I sprawled on the deck and the keeper did her camino to 

the Lyon Creek Nature Preserve.  Sitting on the pier, to the left ,the lake was pewter and a little glum.  To the right, blue and summery.

I am hoping this has no political significance.

Bienvenidos!

Today was a big day.  

The keeper has been working with a Honduran family, political asylees, who had been separated from their children ( ages 3-18)  for 2 + years.  They are now all reunited safely and came to the Cathedral for Mass. They were warmly greeted by parishioners and those who had been praying for their reunification as a family.

They met Stacey, who invited them to come to Choir Camp. 

They were very happy to accept. 

Happy 44th, Carlos and Lupita!

Tonight I am eating late again.

She was out celebrating an anniversary of two wonderful people.

Their friend Felipe treated them all to dinner at one of their favorite places.

It seems just like yesterday. 

First Fucshias

As the keeper rushed out to our garage this morning she finally 

beheld what I have been trying to tell her about.

The new fuchsia starts are in bloom and starting to drip color from their baskets.

I am sure the hummingbirds are pleased.

Sheridan Heights Camino

She came home in time for a caminata tonight. 

 It seems Mass was a little shorter.

So she fed me and then headed through the neighborhood and finally 

climbed down a little trail to catch a view of the mountain.

Floral Fireworks

This morning was a big day.  We got up early. 

The keeper headed out on her Camino jaunt to Kenmore and back. 

She was proud--over 6 miles up and down hills in less than 2 hours.

The weather was very gray, but that didn't stop the flowers from shooting color far and wide.

There were way more flowers than people out.
Maybe they had flown to their cabins.