Rosie

We've had a sunny, warm weekend in the coastal plain of NC. Big, billowy cumulous clouds form and drift away and the cicada songs rise and fall in crescendo to their ancient mating call. Our garden is in transition. We're still eating eggplant and okra but we've planted cool weather plants: broccoli, rabini, lettuce and this year, parsnips. Soon we'll plant garlic and harvest sweet potatoes. The kittens are becoming independent of their mother now and come for pettings. Rosie, pictured here, is the most affectionate.

Kitten update: They are happy, healthy bongies. From bottom left clockwise they are Rosie, Bella and Rambo. Life is bliss if you are a kitten at our house; no worries.
This granddaddy of a writing spider has held our gate hostage for more than two weeks. If we open the gate his contribution to the great works of American literature will be lost for all time. Old timers say if the spider writes your name, you're dead. It is a sure thing that writing spiders signal the coming of Fall.

Is there anything more Southern than okra? Sauteed with onions and sweet peppers with a dash of soy sauce there is no better summer supper. Absolutely divine! And I grew it myself! All it takes is water and heat, which we have had in abundance, to be an okra farmer.

Sleeping Beauties

Here they are sleeping. Cute, right?

Odds n Ends

This odd house has a partner in Atlanta. They are both made of concrete block. I love them! They are placed on small lots in a funky, transitional neighborhood. You don't have to go far in America to see something unusual. That's one of the wonderful, amazing things about livin' in the USA.

Just a few days later and the kittens are doing the walkabout. They don't go far but they are definitely ready to explore. Still they sleep and eat most of the time and cry for each other when separated. They have exaggerated whiskers that make them look adorable. I'm having fun with them.

Kittens

Three little kittens under the rosemary bush under the kitchen window! Mama was inside chillin' in the air conditioning. I thought there were only two-wishful thinking I suppose. They are all black with white on their faces and they have blue eyes. Their eyes opened sometime between this morning and this afternoon. I gave them their first pet of a gentle rub on the head. Oh, and check it out, one of them hissed at me. Brave, huh? More later.

New York City!

There is nothing like a trip to Gotham to relieve small town boredom. It's sensory immersion therapy. Do not skip the subway for live entertainment and thrills. I love the subway. I also like riding in cabs watching the endless march of humanity and buildings. I just love it! I'm also ready to come home to green grass, birds chirping and friendly neighbors. Also, my little town does not smell like urine. New York City has toilet issues. Really, ya'll...

Harvest season

Ta da.The garlic harvest is in. 100% home-grown, organic garlic! Too easy. I recommend it for all those timid types afraid of failure. Garlic just does it's thing without being attended to. And then there's Swiss Chard. The other no brainer for novice gardeners. Spinach is not a summer veggie down under but Swiss Chard is a star. Sauteed with garlic or as a salad it is very nice.