The good news is that Frank BetaMax is being fed - confirmed by a neighbor who has been looking out for him for some time. The more interesting news is that Frank has not accepted the new terms at Nick's house. Nick's Mom explicitly told Frank he is feline non grata at their home, that his behavior (swatting at a wobbly dog) is unacceptable, and he is not welcome in these parts. Frank's response:
Frank Betamax has returned to put up his regal nose at the food offering. We're guessing he's receiving better fare elsewhere, though that doesn't explain his slim to skinny physique.
We have multiple Little Libraries in our neighborhood, and as has been posted before, some have wonderful decorations. This new one is quite the eye-popper and clearly the person responsible likes squirrels as much as I do (even though they are destructive little creatures, they do steal your heart with their cuteness). As an avid reader, and one who has had a career in encouraging reading, it's always good to see this type of community engagement.
I can't say enough good things about the veterinarian Nellie and Rascal have the privilege to visit. They receive excellent care from everyone associated with the practice. More importantly, however, is the proper and joyful greeting they get when they visit. Meet Dolly:
While Nellie and I have made a cat friend on our walks, it's a bit unusual for cats to warm up to people with dogs by their side. Yesterday was a bit different. A cat came up to Nick's Mom, K, meowing and running between her ankles. He not only allowed himself to be stroked, but insisted upon it. OK - right there - a bit odd. He looked thin, so K and I were worried and discussed how we could help him. Being dog folks, we had no ready cat food or treats at hand. We were a bit relieved to learn that other people in the neighborhood did put out food for the roaming cats, but no one could point to a guardian. No collar, so K immediately named him BetaMax. Sounded good to me.
Don't misunderstand, I love my trees. They provide shade in our hot summers, nesting areas, food for wild critters, and are just beautiful to have around. BUT, (and you knew that was coming), there can be too much of a good thing. Our Carob trees this year are going insane. We sweep faithfully every evening, only to wake up to what looks like the same mess. We could stand out with a broom 24/7, and not keep up with the deluge. Sometimes it's squirrels or parrots creating havoc by landing in the trees and trying to snack. Other times it's a hefty breeze. And other times it just seems like the tree is performing willful mischief. Whatever it is, it keeps us busy with the debris we've never had in this amount before. My worry is that the tree is sending off as many babies as possible because it is dying - slowly over a period of years, but not feeling well. On the flip side, the tree may just be feeling very chipper and fruitful. Let's hope for that. But behold our daily task. And this is just a preview of the usual mess:
Hidden behind at tall hedge is a charming storybook house. It's along a stretch of the street we rarely go because the sidewalk ends and there's a busy street to cross with zero pedestrian consideration. I suspect it was built in the 1920s because that's when the neighborhood started thriving, but I would love to know the history - not just what Zillow and the like have to offer. That round turret has a story to tell....
Waking up with a pounding heart and feeling like you're about to pass out if you try to stand is not the most peaceful way to start any day. But yup, that's what happened. Long suffering partner tried to convince me to call 911 but of course I was just gonna ride it out. Then he did convince me to call Nick's Mom and dear friend K, who is very good at convincing (bullying) stubborn old ladies to do what's good for them. So, off in the ambulance I go. It was a little scary that we bypassed three other gurneys waiting in the entrance to be ensconced in a room ASAP. Next came all the wires and drips and other things to make your day very interesting in a scary sort of way. K showed up while long suffering partner stayed home to deal with our dogs. To keep my mind off any impending doom, K provided great companionship and kept the conversation riveting while constantly monitoring all the monitoring going on. It was the perfect setup. Then, it got even more perfect. K spotted a therapy dog in the hallway and went out to see if she would be allowed in the emergency room. The answer was a heartwarming yes, and in walked Maisie. Maisie is a 13 year old Goldendoodle who can bring anyone's blood pressure down just with a glance. She's beautiful, calm, and so cuddly. She came right up to the bed, put her head next to me, and allowed pets and scratches. Maggie, her handler (and Mom) was just as delightful without the petting and scratches of course. The good news is, that after Maisie's magic, I am safely home. Meet Maisie for yourself and see her healing power energy.
So to sum up: the three rays of sunshine were long suffering partner, Nick's Mom K, and Maisie the wonder dog.
Yesterday's post featured Toots being all cute and fancy. Today, she has competition. This adorable Samoyed puppy (still waiting to inform his folks of his name), has come to enchant the neighborhood. My vote for his name is Cloud (because yes, petting him is like petting a cloud), or, if they want to create intrigue, the Japanese word for cloud, Kumo. No matter what his name ultimately turns out to be, he will always be Sweetie.
There's nothing better than a day at the spa. Or at least a bath, a good clip and brush out, and then putting on the fancy bow. Life's good when you're a pampered pup. Toots LilMaMa is the size of a tiny bunny, and oh so cute. That's not a puppy beside her.... Just sayin'.
As a seriously lazy person, I felt so welcomed, I very nearly just walked up and knocked on the door. But better sense prevailed.
A close neighbor (M) had to go to help out with her mother-in-law's recovery from knee surgery. Though caregiving is definitely a chore, she knows how to make things fun and apparently the two of them are having a great time together. But enough about people. M sent pictures of the real bonus of the visit - getting to know Javelinas. For those who don't know, they are prevalent in the Southwest USA and the babies are called Reds for their reddish coat. Not particularly inventive in my opinion, but nobody asked me. Anyway, this mom and her kids are adorable. And YES! I AM SO ENVIOUS she got to play with them.
It's kind of amazing the different approaches people take to their front yards. Some are meticulous gardeners who actually not only know what they're doing, but have curated their areas to perfection. Others seem to ignore their yards completely. On one block in particular, there is the divide between having what looks like a barren wasteland, to having color and joy. While I deplore the number of people who have lawns in an area where water is scarce, having dirt and weeds isn't great either.
The other side has native blossoms...good for bees and adds color without too much work (except for pesky weeds that are hard to eradicate).
One of the many things I love about the surrounding neighborhood is the variety of little surprises encountered on walks. One such example are these two beautiful dogs taking their job of guarding the house seriously. Nearly hidden behind a tall hedge, if you're not paying attention (i.e. being very nosy), you would miss the elegant path to the front door where the dogs are stationed.
Before you get all judgy and point out that using plates as garden bed borders is not considered artistic anymore, allow me to explain. I like FREE. As in, I found these thick plastic sturdy plates being given away free curbside. There were the ovals and the rounds. The rounds have been awesome as plant pot saucers and other garden needs. The ovals were just sitting there...and sitting there in the box waiting to be noticed and loved. Well, they are finally out of prison and being useful because the other freebies ran out. The roof tiles lovingly collected from curbside dumps didn't quite make it to create the border needed for the new plantings of fire sticks against the fence. The original wooden boxes that I built eons ago had finally rotted and the area needed an overhaul. Fine, as long as it cost NOTHING. Introducing, in all it's glory, the new plantings and the border (necessary for water maintenance):
People in our neighborhood have suddenly been encouraged to spruce up their properties. Landscapes are becoming more drought tolerant and fire resistant, and some homes have decided to add an artistic flair. As we all know, tiles are a particular decorative device I love. This home has added a touch that wins two thumbs up.
Yesterday, strolling down a street we hadn't walked in years, and coming upon the art from the house that certainly perked up a rather drab stretch (posted yesterday), we also came across a building that could have been as mundane as it gets, but managed to defy banal. The wall is covered in tile that is basically composed of tiny pebbles. Frankly, I'm in awe and it has given me some ideas for when the back wall of my house FINALLY gets done (don't hold your breath). Don't know quite how this was done, but it's a winner.
Nellie and I decided to walk down a street we usually avoid. Okay, Nellie wasn't too keen as it is very loud with too much traffic, but we went anyway. Admittedly, it's been a few years and my, how things have changed. New condos being built where small businesses and single family homes once stood. But hiding among the big builds and some sad old buildings are a couple of interesting places. One is a house with absolutely stunning art in the yard and driveway.
The first thing that enchanted us was this magnificent bull.
The front door is amazing:
If you follow the stream, there is an enormous statue of leaping fish, again with a wonderful glass gem base.
Nellie and I decided to go down a street we haven't been to in a couple of years. We certainly were not expecting anything new or fanciful. We couldn't have been more wrong. Apparently the word is out that neighbors are trying to one up each other with whimsical decorations. Case in point is this pebble retaining wall with what ceramic faces (in agony?) thrown in. Needless to say, an interesting idea. As always, to get a larger view, click on the picture.
A bit farther down the street is one of my favorite creatures - a bear. Have no idea what the Mardi Gras beads are for and why they are properly around her neck, but love the notion of feeding the bears.
Planting succulents in an arid climate makes so much sense and they provide some surprises with their infrequent, but spectacular blossoms. Case in point:
