Block Party

I am really not good with mail. I do not get it everyday, so it sorta accumulates in the box. When I do stop to get it, I usually throw it in the car and only dig around for it when it is time to pay bills. But a few weeks ago when I got the mail, I actually flipped through it. Among the bills, catalogs, and weekly newspaper, I was surprised to find a notice for the annual block party.

The block party is always at the other end of the street 3 blocks from my house. I do not know anyone down there and for years was not invited. Wait, that sounds harsh. Overlooked might be better. In 8 years, I have only been down there once. Image my surprise to be included. Should I go? I scrutinized the flyer and its list of things to bring. I could bring a salad or "specialty dish". I noticed that they were also looking for burgers, soda, ice. I could cop out and bring 4 bags of ice. But I have a wonderful Thai cold noodle salad that is light, sparkling with a touch of heat. Buuuut, maybe not. Maybe something more normal like baked beans. I hedged. Did nothing. Then it rained and the party was rescheduled and I forgot.

Last night I came home from the birding festival to find the street filled with cars. Perplexed, I squeezed past. It took me a few blocks to realize that I had missed the block party again. Fiddlesticks! Oh well, there will always be next year. If I am invited.

Summer drink

The quintessential summer drink, a gin and tonic is very refreshing in the dog days. But even though there is always a bottle of Boodles in my freezer at all times, I never have one in the winter or colder months. Do you?

Wordless Wednesday

Miss Winkie and her bean

I came home one day last week to discover desiccated and mostly shredded bits of a yellow wax bean on the floor. Huh. Obviously one of the cats had had a field day. I gathered up the bits and tossed them into to trash. Then on the weekend, sipping coffee and lounging in the comfy chairs in the kitchen; I saw Winkie make a lightening leap onto the counter, grab a yellow wax bean from the bowl, jump down and dash off with it, like a thief in the night (except it was broad daylight). Rather than yell at her for being on the counter, I chuckled at her desperation to get the bean. Amused that she chose the yellow wax as opposed to the basic green Kentucky Wonder; I followed her into the foyer. There she was throwing it high in the air, pouncing on it, batting it around til it scuttled past the stairs and onto the hardwood of the dining room. She would stop to occasionally to give me a guilty smile. In the end she ate it. Or most of it. She spits out the actual beans, preferring the pod.

The green beans in the garden are almost done, I haven’t pulled the plants yet; I’m keeping them to grow play things for my cat.

The other cats? Peshaw. They think she is a nut. Why play with a stupid bean when there are catnip bags in the bowl in the family room?

Skywatch

Sitting on deck on a warm summer evening, I looked up as the wind filled the sails and thought so...this is 3 sheets to the wind. Love looking up at the sky? Go check out other skies from around the world at Skywatch.

Great Spangled Fritillary

I love saying that. Great Spangled Fritillary. The whitish looking spots on this butterfly are really shiny silver spangles in the sun. Great Spangled Fritillary. Try saying it out loud. It is one of the first butterflies I learned after Monarch and Swallowtail. I found this one nectaring on the Rocket in my yard (I'm tellin' you this Ligularia is a butterfly magnet). I also love that their larval foodplant is violets. There is something very endearing about a caterpillar that prefers violets to all other food. What butterflies do you have in your yard?

Wordless Wednesday