Tweet! Tweet!

I've been on Twitter for a few years and finally amassed over 1000 Tweets.  Don't think I use the system right, as I don't read anything except when  I sign on to Tweet.  My Facebook comments seem to end up on Twitter and my Tweets on Facebook, something I will try to fix. 

One of my big Twitter peeves is all the people who begin their descriptions with either the words "Mom" or "Dad."  I don't know these people, and I do not really care if they are a mom or dad, and the adjective "loving" is even more off-turning.  II have stopped following anyone who mentions the fact of parenthood.  Lots of us are parents, and this aspect of our lives does not inform the tweets that might interest me, tweets about writing, publishing, food, gardening, travel, Boston, or the things I find interesting.  If someone notes a recipe is "kid friendly," well, that may be of interest, but I don't care if these are your kids, grandkids, the neighborhood gang, or whomever.  End of rant.

Beautiful fall day in Boston. Maples are turning.  25 mile backup on the Mass Pike yesterday.  People heading to the Berkshires for the long Columbus Day weekend, or may to New York City.

Made a quick trip to Walmart before the crowds.  Beginning of the month is always crazy, because that's when the Social Security, Pension, etc. checks come in.  Our Walpole Walmart has a great new supermarket.  Cider and apples are dear this fall, and the stores have already raised the price of canned applesauce, although I suspect it's not necessarily made with this season's apples.  Always a big Gotcha!  The price of cider is out of sight.  Grrr.

Dogwood and Rulon, the two who mix it up early in the morning in the bedroom

Grumpy today because awakened by a cat fight in the bedroom very early.  Can't they  find another room?

We thought someone had stolen our "Garten Zwerg"  (garden dwarf) but Significant Other  had brought it in and forgotten that he did.  The dwarf is small, smiling a jolly smile and he grips a mug or beer.  Brought all the way from the Fatherland.

The deck begonias are blooming their hearts out.  Nasturtiums still good, as is verbena.  Picked the last two tomatoes yesterday.  Still lots of color in the gardens.  I've seen daisies blooming as well as asters.  My sedum is glorious.

The Pope's Butler got 18 months.  Too bad he wasn't assigned cat care.  See previous post.  I am off to do some garden chores and give the cat her insulin.  Schedule got a little disrupted yesterday.  Usually she comes and tells me.  Animals are amazing.

Grapeshot 

It's Cat Blog Day!

Thisbe in repose, after a thoroughly taxing adventure.

Friday is, of course, cat blog day. This morning Thisbe was most accommodating and chased some critter across the yard and ended a foot or so from the street, then freaked out, as in "where am I and how did I get here?" Her tail as big and round as a baseball bat. Definitely surprised by her catlike activity.

Notice the halo effect in the photo. Thisbe has a genuine white cross on her chest, earning her the nickname of "Sacred Kitty." She knows that the pope likes cats and if she weren't scared of strangers, she would like to meet the pope. Maybe if he hung out at the house for a very long time, and spoke softly and never ever clumped around or made noise, she would eventually come out and give him the once over. Annie would be here usualy sluttish self and jump in his lap. But then, Annie not sacred in the sense that Thisbe is.

This morning, when Thisbe realized she was in the yard alone, she saw me open the door and raced in. Gadzoosks, what a close call! Then the UPS man came, necessitating a visit to beneath the bed where everything is safe and known, including the dust bunnies.

The hummingbird appeared today. Haven't seen him/her since we returned from Chicago. Checking out the geraniums and the small blooms atop the big purple flowers, said to attract butterflies.

Tomatoes coming along apace. The lawn care people, we call them the "turtle crushers" because they have mown down big turtles, hell they would mow a cat if it were sitting in the yard, did a number on the neighbors zucchini which was marching across the grass as zucchini are wont to do in August.

My morning glories seem to be on the wane, but the geraniums and the red begonias are still crazy with blooms. Impatience still good. It's the time of year when extra grooming in the garden pays dividends. Hey, there's still at least another month of summerish weather, and a prudent gardener doesn't throw in the towel. I ate the heirloom beets which were delicious.

Baby sparrows chowing down at the feeder. I think the parents show them where it is and say, "go to it, kids." Bluejays, cardinals, titmice, doves, etc. join in the feast.

Tonight we're having a salad with bulgar wheat, shrimp, tomatoes, arugula, mint and feta. Sounds good, no? I keep telling you, an adventurous spirit is good. Go forth and eat strange stuff.

Grapeshot