My Pal Pyewacket

This is Pyewacket. He lives next door, but he likes to hang out over here. Last night I opened the curtain to go out back and he was snoozing on the patio table. He lazily looked at me for a few moments, then put his head down and went back to sleep. I closed the door to take this photo through the glass, so he wouldn't take off too soon.



Sometimes he likes to lay or sit in the bed of chives,as he did a few days ago.


I am allergic to cats, which is why I don't have one of my own. So when he comes over for a visit, especially if he comes in the house, I have to take a Benadryl. I usually go outside and sit on the porch with him, because a few times he has run in, and directly upstairs. Then I have a hard time coaxing him down and back OUTSIDE. I used to think it was a good idea to have him around, to keep the squirrels off the birdfeeder. Well, the squirrels seem to be running rampant, and the other day I saw one really huge one jump down from the fence and chase Pyewacket across the yard! This morning I looked out and saw 5 squirrels in the one oak tree. I don't mind one or two...but when they all jump on the roof and run across it together it sounds like they are in the attic. Must investigate this recent squirrel population explosion in the neighborhood.

Do Ducks Eat Pancakes?

Or should they? Here I am talking about BREAKFAST again! Yesterday the Hubster and I went out early in the morning to do some errands, and decided we should grab something to eat to give us strength. He has started going to Mimi's, which has really decadent, French, New Orleans style fare. It is a chain restaurant, which I am not usually fond of, but the few times I have been there it has been pretty tasty. One should only eat there in the a.m. if they decide to expend their entire caloric intake for the day! Which I certainly think I did. Lemon poppy seed pancakes were yummy. Hub had French toast. Of course this was all accompanied with the eggs, maple syrup and BACON! We have had our bacon and syrup limit for the month I think.

Hubby went to the car before I did because he had a phone call to make. When I came out front, this is what I saw. I watched him stroll slowly from the corner for awhile before I decided to get out the camera.


He's getting closer now, just waddling along.

Making eye contact, I'm getting nervous.


As I run and jump in the car, two men who had been watching this unfold, said, "Be careful, that duck attacked me the other day". So when I fall into the car, laughing like crazy, Hub finally looks up and asked what was so funny. About that time a few folks were gathering to come into the restaurant, but ducky was blocking the door by then. Two employees came out the side door, one holding a plate of food. She gently "led" the duck back down the sidewalk and around the corner. I guess this is an almost daily ritual at this place. One of the other bystanders said this is a Muscovy duck and a few of them live behind the restaurant.



We went on about our way, and laughed about the duck the rest of the day. We walked a lot through the Domain, so might have burned off half of the calories we consumed. One can only hope.

Sunday Evening... 95 degrees

Mother's Day Sunday. I cooked, we watched CBS Sunday Morning, went out to get a newspaper, called both our Mothers.
I made up this recipe for a savory bread pudding. It has bread, milk, and eggs, of course. I added some Italian herbs, and the best thing...lots of BACON. For an experiment, it turned out pretty well. It was a one dish meal, and very filling. Next time I will add some cheese, but only had cheddar on hand and that didn't appeal to me today. I'm thinking some Gruyere next time.


It got way too hot too early for me so I stayed in. With coffee, and a few chocolates and a big pile of books and magazines. Fine way to spend a Sunday afternoon as far as I'm concerned.




Hubby? He went golfing. The heat doesn't bother him. We did have a high of 97 today. Tonight a light salad and maybe a movie. A nice relaxing week-end. Oh, of course the hubby played golf yesterday as well and I went shopping with a friend for a few new art supplies. Now I just need to use some of those supplies this week.

My Engine is Stalled

Shuffling along in the rut the past few weeks. I guess I am starting the summer blues a little earlier this year. I usually get into a slump after coming home from the Pacific N.W. every year. This time it coincides with the issues of family AND the hotter temperatures. Ugh... We have already had temps in the 90's. This week we got a cool front though and it's been in the high 80's for a few days. I have been working on some spring cleaning, and getting rid of a lot of stuff, as well as trying to make my "cave" comfortable for spending the hot days inside and getting some artwork done. Consequently, when sorting and cleaning, it gets worse before it gets better. No matter how many times I fill the trashcan and the recycle bin, there seems to be more. Too much saving of everything that I think has those endless "possibilities". Oh I think I am also cranky because I haven't done a bit of artwork in several weeks.

Hubby had to basically drag me out of the house yesterday to go for a Cinco de Mayo lunch.

I really tried shuffling these photos so the ones of me wouldn't be so large...but Picasa wouldn't have it so I gave up. The top goofy photo of me with a pot above my head... On the front porch before we left, I was showing hubby a copper wok that I was going to use to plant some succulents in, and of course he had the camera ready. The food at this particular Mexican place is the best. The greens on my salad were really fresh, and they use an entire half of avocado. Hubby had Gorditas..I think. See the phone..working lunch seems to be the norm for him these days. For dessert we shared the huge empanada with Frangelica sauce. Then I came home and had a Siesta! I had saved half my salad so I COULD have dessert. I ate the rest for dinner.

Monday Morning Funny

Sometimes I watch Martha Stewart, sometimes I don't. This morning I turned on the telly to see what she had on her show. The crafty segments are usually pretty cool. Anyhow, I looked at the "guide" to see who/what was on. Tell me what is wrong with this photo.



I called hubby over to take a look and he cracked up too. So are we weird or would anyone have noticed this? Now this one is pretty glaring..but I catch stuff like this all the time. Once a proof-reader, always one I guess. GEEZ...don't ANYONE spell check this post!

I know Martha is not responsible for what it says in the "guide" section. But, knowing my pal Martha like I do(tee hee), I think she would be miffed about this..after she stopped laughing of course. I can't decide if I want to e-mail her about it, or send it to Letterman, or just continue to laugh about it all day. Some days I am so easily amused.

Chronicles of the Pacific Northwest

I have finally gotten my trip photos somewhat organized. I haven't been able to organize my thoughts in any way to make enough sense that I felt anyone would care to read about it. But I'll try...teehee I have a difficult time with Reader's Digest(condensed version) of any story. This was a two week trip, so a lot happened.

Flying over the Rockies. No matter how many times, it always takes my breathe away.






Silly Me, the first photo I snap when arriving anywhere is usually clouds! Clouds over my hometown. See the snow on the foothills?


The main reason for the trip was because my Dad had fallen again and broken another bone. This time it was in the hip he had to have replaced after a fall last year at this same time. By the time we got there, he was already moved from the hospital to the rehab center. He was receiving physical therapy, but he was in a lot of pain. Of course all the people at the rehab center remembered him from last year. He was the life of the party even when he is in pain! They had moved a daybed into his room so my Mom could stay there with him. On the second day there, we went in to visit, and I somehow tripped on the leg of the daybed...and took a tumble. OMG! Well, my sister had to take ME to the ER this time. They all know HER because of all the times she has been there with my parents. There are photos of me on the floor, with my head a mere inch from hitting the cabinet.. yes my family documents everything! All of a sudden, there were staff everywhere, a nurse saying "don't move", two strong men to lift me up off the floor, another person to take my "statement", another nurse to get me an ice bag. In the ER, my sister and my hubby could not stop laughing. Actually, I was in pain, but could not stop laughing either, along with feeling like a fool. Fortunately I escaped with nothing broken. Swollen and bruised however, from my left knee all the way down to my foot, and my right hip and shoulder. I kind of twisted somehow to try and prevent myself from falling on the left shoulder, the one I had just had surgery on. My back was pretty sore and I hobbled around for a few days. I still have a lump on my knee, and the blood from the bruising has run all the way down to my foot. Guess what my DAD had to say..."see, even young people fall"... LOL

Most of our days were spent running back and forth to the rehab center. All the Aunts, Uncles and cousins came to see Daddy there, so I got to see them...or as my Daddy says.."Sure glad you got to see me".

A Tiny Preview

Of my trek throughout the Pacific Northwest. Hubby and I were gone for two weeks, and returned last night, exhausted. At least I was able to sleep for 14 hours straight. All I have really gotten done today is unpack, and download my camera cards. When I get rested up I will post more photos and tell you about our trip. It was family emergency time again, but we were able to squeeze in a few hours of sightseeing along the way.