Visit De Monsieur Henri

A most frustrated (that he can't get anywhere near any kitties) and worried (that his Sarah has left him forever) Henri is here with me waiting for Sarah's return. They spent the night here last night since Sarah had a show to judge in Laconia this morning. It was a somewhat fitful sleep we all had due to the reluctance of kitties to allow any contact with Henry...and yet....he is not a boy to give up easily and just doesn't understand my flavor of kitties. Here it is going on 10:30 and he hasn't even touched his breakfast. Sarah treated me to breakfast at the Tilton diner. We had perfect timing this morning - got in just before the race weekend crowd came pouring in. There was a long line at the door as we were leaving. Henry was oh so happy to see us as he waited patiently (we think, but we're not sure as we were sitting a strategically comfortable distance from earshot of any potentially mournful howling that may have ensued). There was a happy reunion with minimal complaint from Henry at the end of breakfast. He's bearing up bravely and doesn't know just how soon Sarah will be back (in about an hour). It's really amazing how far he's come in the past year - from a terribly insecure pup to the much calmer young blend of a young dog he is now. Love and attention is miraculous.
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The To-Do List

Wally dropped by on Saturday and we knocked a couple things off the list....or at least he did. I now have a functional (and tested) gas grill and we fixed a drill that was rusted up that I need to continue the arbor project. I know, I know....this has been a very protracted project aye?
I also just finished mowing the lawn and picking up the house from this weekend's mess making as there was football, tennis and chicken wings that were also on the list. I was great full to have someone to ask football questions to about the finer points and terminology. Still a very mixed bag given the outlook for the rest of the season. We also got in a bucket of golf balls at the nearby range. We were not allowed to play a round of nine since neither of us had collared shirts on....so we picked ourselves up and went on to the range. It was the first trip there this year for me so I guess I'm going to count that as checked off the list as well.
I'm feeling as though fall and winter are coming too fast - the days getting much shorter on both ends. I must try and remember that this vague sense of dread comes every year around this time and try and keep my chin up. It's good to have friends and kitties for that purpose. Tomorrow I'm stopping into Sarah's gallery for a visit, nachos and with any luck a boost in spirits. I sometimes wish it was as easy as finding a nice red gym bag to fall asleep on.....maybe it is?
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Sometimes It's Better That Way.....

I just noticed that Sarah had renamed her link to this site to: My Friend Louise and her mysterious thinking process. We've been discussing Truth and Beauty - a book by Ann Patchett that she's read and recently commented on through her blog . I haven't yet read the book but the subject of inner/outer beauty is intriguing to me and last time I visited with Sarah at the gallery I jumped right into the discussion. I'm not a linear thinker.... mostly I think of things in convoluted ways (at least from others' perspectives - really, I'm comfortable with it myself) because it's more amusing for me that way, and I hope it is for other people on occasion. Apparently it amuses Sarah from time to time. My thought process sometimes allows me to come to conclusions that don't always make immediate sense about the subject at hand, but sometimes answer different questions at different times. We are after all programmed to recognize patterns.....some call it serendipity, or intuition....I just think that we mark the things that make impressions on us for when we need them....to answer questions later on. I placed a few mental markers about the subject during our discussion the other day. It's refreshing to check life through a different set of filters sometimes. I'll let you know if I come to any interesting conclusions about Truth and Beauty - or something else altogether.

Back From Canada

Well, my brother Normand and I made it back from Canada about 5 this afternoon.
We got around to seeing a whole lot of people in a pretty short time. My mother's birthday was Friday and we had a lovely dinner of mussels in a wine and garlicky sauce with jullienned zucchini and some chanterelle mushrooms served over cappellini spaghetti. Normand also made a very technically constructed angel food cake that looked very much like a bee hive. Friends and neighbors came over to wish my mother a happy birtday and have cake and a glass of wine.
Saturday morning we headed to Quebec city for my cousin Sarah's wedding. The couple had a small civil ceremony and everyone met at a bring-your-own-wine restaurant that served very good food at a very reasonable price. It was great to see everyone....I met lots of new to the family children that I hadn't seen yet. Sarah herself is expecting in October and although tired and achy-backed she was positively glowing.
My mother stayed at my aunt Charlotte and uncle Christian's house. Normand and I stayed with my cousin Linda and Yvon's house. Linda and I stayed up yacking and emptying Molson Dry bottles until 4:30 this morning. It was a little rough waking at 8:30 this morning but we got underway and stopped over to say bye to my mother and aunt and uncle who were going to tour the city a little today as it's Quebec's 400th anniversary this year and there's a lot going on about the city to see.
Still - I'm glad to be home again with my cats who did seem to miss me and my feeding and petting abilities.
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'73BuickCentury

When Hannah was little she always got a little sad and upset when we got a new car. I think she worried about the old car (I always felt sad for yellow lollipops and always volunteered that I wanted them as we pulled away from the drive-thru teller at the bank). We had a '73 Buick Century that was bequeathed to Reta (Sarah's sister) who I lived with for a year during a bout with searching for independence. We made good use of the Buick for a couple of years.
This weekend Hannah has brought the new boyfriend over (a newer model) He seems nice enough and it's pleasant to have company for a change. But.....wouldn't you rather have a Buick?

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Spider Deluxe Weather Report

My friend Mary told me years ago that if the spiders hung out their sheets in the morning it won't rain that day. I seem to remember having seen these sheets out to dry yesterday morning too but we'll see if it holds true for today as well.
It's quiet this morning. Hannah and her friend are sleeping in the living room and I'm enjoying my coffee and the late summer garden. The sunflowers look like a group of gossiping school girls. Perhaps comparing themselves to the shorter plants' much less elegant blooms. Good thing they're far enough apart.
I have to go to the store and get the fixings for the Coq au Vin that Hannah requested. Then maybe we'll work on the arbor project. It would be a fine fine thing to have done on this vacation week.
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