Life Is Good

Just ask Ivy !

OH MY - - - The warmth from the sunshine this morning is a little bit of heaven !

I think I have got Mom trained in the essentials of being a good Mom .  Not perfect, but she is getting there !  I heard (through my connections) that she bought me something new that will help me to maintain my girlish feline figure.  I have lost one pound since I came to my furever home.  That means that I am at my preferred weight.  And, that's good.  Being an indoor cat for the most part can make it difficult to not overeat. Hunting for prey (natural instinct) can burn a lot of calories.  I don't want to be a FAT CAT !  I want to be beautiful and healthy !

Mom doesn't know it,  but I know that she would get me anything that I want.  And, especially if I need it .  I am not SPOILED yet, but that is my goal !  Do you know the difference between want and need ?

It is time to get back to my nap on the window sill.  =^.^=

Have a Happy Day.

Mary

My Kind Of Morning News

Bovine on the Run and for days.  Do you think she can outsmart the humans?

They called out the dogs !

The Highway Patrol was called out !

I'll let you know if they catch her !

And, this large flock of geese are out for a walk in the Shopping Center near my doctor's office which is the building in the distance.  Even the little goslings were included in the outing.  This is up the hill at about 2000 feet elevation higher than where I live. What a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

But wait !  I really am not POLLYANNA who lives in the "Queen of The Sierras".

This past Sunday evening about eight miles from where I live in a more rural area an Armed Robbery took place at a previously registered legal commercial medical marijuana cultivation site. Apparently, the owners lost their registration due to some non-compliance issues and made arrangements for a large marijuana illegal drug transaction with confirmed gang members from far out of the area and state.  As the drug deal was going wrong, the six victims were reportedly bound, beaten and tortured with a Taser and lives threatened.  The suspects were six men of varied ethnicity and they robbed the site of  marijuana, expensive personal property, cash and vehicles prior to leaving the area and traveling south.  A lot more activity and violence took place before four of the suspects were caught and arrested.  

Ever since the county had a very extensive wildfire a few years ago many (way too many) marijuana farms have been propagated and more new ones keep coming.  The legal issues have been tremendous.  And, with California legalizing marijuana for recreational use - - - IT IS NUTS !  Signs of the times !

Now, how about  a little photography of garden flowers, more Daylilies.  OK.

   





Now, this one looks similar to one that opened yesterday.  But, with a closer view you can see it is very different and stunning.

Opened yesterday.  
Similar but Different.

Until, we meet again.  Take Special Care.

Mary

Pedicure

Not me, but Ivy !  No bright nail polish, but nicely trimmed nails/claws .

(google image)

 As hard as I tried I have not been able to clip her nails.  Maybe, one or two at a time.  That was all before she would resist.  A few had gotten so long that I began to call them her dangerous weapons !

 (google image)

Not good .  She was starting  to get them caught in the carpet and she may have caused some trauma to one of her dew claws.  So off to the Vet office to get some help.  Yes, she hissed at the beginning and it took two attendants but it was done quickly.  Ivy and I returned home feeling very happy and relieved, especially me !

I am so thrilled that Ivy is getting even more comfortable and very loving.  She is very "tuned in to me" and always pays attention to where I am.  She talks to me and likes to sit by me or nudge me to pet her or roll around on her back and stretch .  A definite sign that she trusts me !  I am so happy that I have her.  She is a special needs cat but I think she has done more for me than I have done for her !  It's a Win - Win Situation.

And, here are the daily flower photos. It is like the daily excitement when I watched for a new Iris to open each day.

It has been a busy day and I was able to get a lot done.  Even, fertilized with Miracle Grow early this morning before it got to hot.  I am hoping to get the car washed tomorrow.  It is so dirty with all the dusty pollen and leaves that I am almost embarrassed to drive it anywhere !

That's it for today.

I hope you are enjoying your week.

Mary

Very Hot - Over 100 Degrees

The last two days have been quite uncomfortable outside but the Tomato plants seem to love it.  All four new plants have set yellow flowers and seem to be getting larger "before my eyes".  The only activity that I have been able to do outside is to water which takes about one and a half hours at least once a day .

Today, it was a tad bit cooler .  And, I had the routine errands to tend to .  I did not get out of the house as early as I had hoped.  I seem to be short on energy lately.  So, I treated myself to a stop at Starbucks for a Caramel Macchiato Iced Coffee and sat in a window seat and watched the world go by for awhile .  One item that was especially important for me to buy today was Probiotics.  For some reason I stopped taking them about four months ago after taking them for about five years following a brief episode  of colitis.  Hopefully, the probiotics will help my tummy feel better .  No date for the prescribed CAT scan yet .  I guess it is time to make a phone call and push it along !

Just a couple more Daylilies started to bloom .  Can't post a blog without  a couple photos of flowers.

It looks like each of my Daylilies are going to bloom this year.  I have a lot of different colors of Daylilies however even though the plants are very healthy they are not big and full.  I am hoping to provide more healthy soil with hopes of the plants getting larger.

Tomorrow I am meeting with the Cemetery contractor to start the process of completing the gravesite. I am especially looking forward to discussing my idea for the headstone . I really like the heart .

Have a Wonderful Day.

Mary

There Always Is Something Around The Corner

Sometimes Good , sometimes Bad !  Sometimes Don't Know Yet . For about three months I have been having some insidious symptoms associated with my abdomen.  My retired registered nurse brain said "maybe, abdominal hernia".  But, I could not ascertain any bulge in my abdomen.  The time had come for me to schedule an appointment with the doctor.  The earliest  appointment was July 30 !  But the next day I received a call that there was a cancellation and I could come in the next day .  The doctor first thought an ultrasound would be needed.  But, he called the Radiologist and it was determined that a CAT scan would be best. So, now I am in waiting mode for a call with the CAT scan appointment date.

On to something more interesting. OK?  The tomato plants are growing with gusto.  Even, starting to set yellow flowers.  Hopefully, they will be pollinated !

The plants have tripled in size since I planted them six days ago .

The Miniature Gardenia is loaded with buds and starting to open.  The fragrance is so nice .

The Star Jasmine that covers about twenty feet of the nearby fence is also producing a lot of  lovely fragrance .  At the bottom of the photo the White Hydrangea is showing it's awakening .

The Strawberry Barrel is lush !

Another stunning Daylily.

Proof of lots of hard work .

Now isn't this the cutest "decked out" Triumph sports car ?  When I stopped to get gasoline there were several sports cars, possibly going on a group outing .   That picnic basket is the PIECE DE RESISTANCE !

Pray for Our Country!

Mary

Neighborhood Visitors

Our area has been having more visitors of the wildlife kind more frequently than anytime in the past.

It was just last week when I was talking to a neighbor who lives on the next street over and she mentioned that a couple bears had been in their yard the night prior.

And, recently on two different occasions, I have noticed the trash barrel in my next door neighbors yard has been turned over and lots of what appears to be white paper spilled out nearby . The home is a vacation home and they are frequently here since their main residence is only about two hours away.  They are the neighbors that live on the other side and are very meticulous about their home and garden maintenance. So, I really doubt that there are any food scraps in the barrels. But, the bears are really hungry and they probably smell food from the barrels.

The fact that my property is fully fenced seems to help keep the bears as well as the deer out.  The prize (trash) with the least resistance is probably the more desirable target area.

The forest lands further up the hill have been severely clear cut and that causes the bears to migrate down to forge for food.

The Rose Of Sharon is starting to bloom.

The Rebecca At The Well fountain sounds nice and cooling !

I hope your week is Going Well.

Mary

A Study In Contrast

A couple days ago I showed you the lovely property of my neighbors directly across the street from the front of my house.  Today I will show you a contrasting view of the property behind my house.  My house sits on a corner lot.  My White Garden is along the property line at the back of my house.

This is the area where most of my gardening efforts take place.  Now let me show you what is behind this garden at the property line. Yes, yes, a big white propane tank that is very bright when the sun shines on it.  This year I did something to distract seeing so vividly the utilitarian object that sits across from my garden.  I did not keep a photo of it from inside my garden prior to my remedy.

However, this will show how bright, large and close to the property line that it sits.

This is what I did. And, it was so easy and not expensive !  I am very happy with the improvement !

 It is only when you look straight on that you may notice the tank.

The property line.

 The area between our houses.

 The neighbors house.

This is further along the fence on the neighbors side.

The Jasmine does a nice job in providing some camouflage.

You can see the Clematis that is cascading over the fence and will be carpeted in white flowers in a month or so.  I never thought in my wildest thoughts that I would ever buy something like this faux covering.  But, it certainly has added to the serenity of my garden.

Now you might ask "what is the neighbor like?".  She is a great neighbor.  She inherited the house from her parents. The house is one of three homes that she owns and she visits one weekend a month.  It has always been a vacation home as long as I have lived here.  It is quite interesting that there are three houses in a row all owned by single women.  I am the only full time resident of the three houses and I have lived here the longest.  And, I am very happy and grateful to live my life in this little corner of the world.

I hope your weekend will be a Wonderful Time.

Mary

A Little Late To The Party

But, I am so happy that I was able to plant some tomatoes and basil before it would be to late.  Actually, this may be better than earlier because the sun will be hotter and longer each day.  I don't think there is anything close to 6 hours a day of which is usually recommended.  But, I am optimistic.  In some years past I have been able to grow really nice tomatoes.

There are four different tomato plants and two Sweet Basil.

• Cherokee Purple - Heirloom
• Bonnie Original - Our Favorite Tomato
• Phoenix - Heat Tolerant Hybrid Tomato
• Early Girl - 50 days Hybrid Tomato 

I think this is the first time I have bought Bonnie Plants.  I was at Walmart (which is a rare event) when I spotted these plants that looked surprisingly healthy compared to most of the  plants on a very hot day.

They are growing fast, like one to two inches a day.

I have not made pesto in a couple years.  I sure hope I can preserve some basil this year.

This beauty jumped into my shopping cart yesterday when I was in the local Ace Hardware Nursery.

I quickly placed it in the veggie planter at home to be safe from falling over because it is top heavy.  Not sure where they will settle.  Amazingly, there are four different plants in the one pot. I love, love, love Sunflowers.  They remind me of cool lemon sherbet.

And, now just a couple newly opened flower photos.  Can you see all the rock throughout the property.  I am surprised that I can get anything to grow.  I wish I had more top soil of some sort.  I try to use planter mix with any new plants.  Unfortunately, I am not very good at regular fertilizing. In fact I haven't fertilized even once this year.  Always too much to do like watering at least 1 1/2 hours each day. And, longer on the hot days.  Ninety degrees is forecast for today !

While I was out in the garden taking some of these photos I almost jumped out of my skin again when this little creature was laying in the sun where my next step was about to be placed on the ground.  Just out in the open, not in a hiding place!  About 12 inches long.  Look how he blends with the ground surface.

From a beauty standpoint.  He (or she) has got it all.  The last time I saw him he was at the base of a plant and his colors were like an iridescent green in his stripping. Quite stunning.  Wonders of Nature!

I am working on my computer/blog trying to repair and refine some issues.  Please notify me if you come across anything of concern that would be of help to me. 

Sweet Ivy is doing Super.  She is becoming quite a love bug - but on her terms !

Wishing you a Grand Day.

Mary