Summer & Midge

Summer is here! Finally. It is hotter than hell. Needed a new fan. Love my new wind machine, but where is Midge, she has disappeared. Did the wind machine blow her away? Nope. She is in the box the fan came in out in the shed where it must be 100 degrees! She doesn't look pissy because it is hot . . . she is pissy because I finally found her and woke her up.

Midge really approves of my cleaning out some of the catnip and lemon balm that has taken over my perennial bed. There was no room for her in there before.

Mom has the air on! Bernie did not like air conditioning. Or maybe he didn't like paying for air conditioning?

I have to take the cats to the vet for shots this a.m. I won't see them again for the rest of the weekend!

Be careful of this heat!

Kay :)

Happy (Early) Birthday John!

I drove Mom and Joe to Streator today, and we had lunch to celebrate John's 49th birthday coming up on the 13th.  49!! Wow.

The Birthday Boy and Hera! I was tickled to see that the sick kitten had put on a little weight, had some spring in her step, and bright eyes! She rolled onto her back for a tummy rub when Mom greeted her too!  She seemed more active and, overall, much improved since I last saw her. Her sister, the ever elusive Isis, hid for most of the visit. I did get my hands on her a couple times though. In trying to tempt Hera's appetite there have been some dietary changes for the kitties. Instead of their grain free low carb diet, all dry food, there is an array of canned foods, treats, different varieties of dry food, all sorts of goodies. Isis sees John paying a lot of attention to Hera, trying to get her to eat, and praising her when she does eat and Isis is no dummy! She is very happy to show John she can eat! LOL  The formerly tiny cat has a little tiny tummy on her! LOL  In fact John referred to the girls today as "Hera and Porky" lolol. 

Hera. You can see her battle scars there, her hair is growing back.

The best birthday carrot cake ever! I made it of course. I'm good at many things. Dieting is NOT one of them.

Joe, John and Mom in John's kitchen, Hera in the background. Isis is in the basement, hiding.

In other happenings I got my cataract taken care of Tuesday. I'm glad that's over. It wasn't as bad as a colonoscopy. But let's face it. Anything that requires you to go to a hospital and take off your underwear is NOT good. Well . . . except for that colostomy reversal . . . that was good! lol And I got some huge, dark glasses to wear around. And I'm an expert at eyedrops now too!

This is how Midge looks at me when I wear my cataract goggles. John called me Ray today. Sigh.

My lantana. It's right by my old codger rocking chair on the patio.

My view from the patio, while sawdust wafts down from the action of the carpenter bees. I know I should do something about them, but they are really interesting. And great pollinators! I think I need to get out  more, if I think carpenter bees are entertaining . . .

This crazy cherry tomato plant is 6 feet tall!

None of my first zucchini seeds came, so I threw in a bunch more. Now I have 2 zucchini plants coming up in a space that is way to small. We'll see what they can do. I do love me some zucchini!

Finn and I are going to start working on our waistlines. Well, as soon as the carrot cake is gone. Our new saying is . . . "If thy waist offends thee . . . WORK IT OFF!"  My kitties are going to the vet for shots Saturday and I'm pretty sure Dr. Dave will have something to say about Finn's weight. LOL

We missed Bernie on the ride today. We went through Verona (he would tell Robert stories and talk about how wonderful Bev was and tell about good times he had at their home); then we went through Ransom (they used to have a good baseball team there!), and then he would tell us that Joe and Josie used to shop in Streator but Dad's folks didn't go there much. He would have loved the long train and God only knows how many times he would have exclaimed, "Look at how big that field is! You can't see the end of it!" lol And he would always say that Streator was too far, he was going to stay home next time. But on the way home he would always 'fess up that he had a really good time! Memories that make me smile and a little sad at same time.  It was a good trip today.

Mom's hand is all better, unless she overdoes it. Hopefully no more falls!

Kay :)

Summer

Awwww. Finn loves Mom. And he has a foot fetish. Mom is wearing her marathon shirt! LOL It's from a rummage sale. She giggles a lot when she wears it.

Zinnias galore!

June Sunday

Feline hepatic lipidosis is trying to take Hera! John is really good with her. If she eats, her liver might heal itself. She is terribly skinny. She has lost 4 1/2 pounds! She was at the vet again on Friday and got an antibiotic, anti-inflammatories, fluids, and anti-nausea meds. They seem to be helping. John will not subject her to a feeding tube, since there is no guarantee of good result and she has already been through a lot.  Isis (on right), fka the "little sister" is gaining weight!

John is tempting Hera's appetite with all sorts of goodies. She nibbled several times yesterday and drank water, which is good.   We are hoping for the best and are expecting the best. Hera and John are working hard on recovery. Her little sis, Isis, has stopped hissing and striking at her and will get close to her now, and licked her a few times this weekend, which made me happy. Hera is still bathing and is interested in what is going on around her. And she still loves to read (nap) on her person, John, in the basement.

We get so attached to our kitties. That is NOT my Midge, eating whipped cream on the kitchen table.

My first tomato! Ok Its a cherry tomato. It was spectacular. Nothing else even close yet.

John made chia seed cherry jelly. Wow! Delicious!

Over and out.

Finn Gets Busted

Finn with his bag. I got a bumper crop of cat nip. It is taking over.

 We will be missing Dad this Father's Day.

Seems like yesterday. Aww Aunt Shirley and Aunt Jean in this reunion pic too.

Now for the patients . . .

Mom's hand is improving. Swelling is down. Black and blue is up! She is able to use it though. It reminds her if she overdoes.

We are celebrating the news of a good pooh from Hera, poor girl. Good that she is eating. Still waiting on test results (from Texas A & M University or some such place!) but she is hanging in. Two year old indoor cat, you never think of disaster befalling. Go figure. It saddens and worries me that her lil sis, Isis, won't have anything to do with her. After all the time spent nursing on Hera and sniffing crack, gosh that is gratitude! Hopefully that will change.

Hmmm. Between the crack comment and Finn's bag, this blog is going to end up on some list somewhere .  .  . relax people! Sniffing crack has a whole different meaning when you are talking about cats! That is catnip in that bag, I swear!


John is coming today for my belated birthday lunch.  Tex Mex at Chilis sounds good!

Have a good weekend. Happy Father's Day. Smile at some good memories or make some new ones!

Butterflies love lantana too.

 

Kay :)

Sick Kitten

John's kitty, poor Hera is very sick. She is up at the emergency vet clinic in Aurora for an ultrasound on her liver. That is Hera on the left. She has lost 4 pounds, poor kitten. We are waiting and seeing. And hoping. Stinks.

Aunt Shirley

We lost Aunt Shirley. She was 88. Look at her there with Uncle Jim. What a couple! She wore her little body out, living and loving and caring for her family. And she had fun doing it too! She and Uncle were married for 67 years! Uncle Jim and Peggy had a beautiful celebration of life for her this week. I enjoyed looking at all the photos at the visitation, Aunt Shirley was beautiful. She and Uncle Jim were a striking couple . . . from their courtship until forever. From the photo Aunt Joan, Dad, Aunt Jean, the whole front row, and now Aunt Shirley are gone. The reunion will not be the same. Ever. My heart aches with Uncle Jim and Peggy. They will have to get used to a "new normal" now too. Mom told us some fun stories of Uncle Jim and Aunt Shirley and Peggy coming to the farm to visit when we were very young, brought back some fun memories of family and the old farmhouse where I grew up.

I read this the day before Aunt Shirley's service. I think it is lovely . . .

By: Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ.


In other happenings . . .

Mom took a spill leaving Aunt Shirley's service. Her hand is all black and blue and swollen, but it is getting better. She was lighting a ciggy!  They are bound to get her one way or another I guess! She has a nice strawberry on her knee too. I told her to just STOP WALKING and light the damn thing from now on. As usual my helpful tips piss people off.  Good thing Mom is damn sturdy for 77! But she best be more careful.

Happy Birthday to me yesterday! 53. Wow. And oh yeah . . . I have a cataract! What the hell. I'm getting it taken care of in early July. It is annoying as hell! Mom is getting hers done later this year too. Gosh I'm old. And I sure did get a lot of sunshine when I played softball. And went out on Mar and Geo's boat. And lots of other times too. ARGHHHH.

Garden is coming along.

Weeds and peppers. The peppers are coming slow.

Tomatoes and onions and lilies and weeds.

Midge's zinnia bed. She is totally ignoring it this year! Maybe because there is a bumper crop of cat nip next to it and she is in there all the time.

I had a pang last week when I left work. The front lawn of courthouse was set up for the first concert of the summer. Dad loved those concerts. Even taking a ride isn't so much fun anymore. Missing my little sidekick.

Peace.

Kay :)