Arm Chair Psychology

FELIX: Bebe, stare at the black line. You are feeling very sleepy. Ticktock gray squirrels, ticktock tennis balls, ticktock red birds, ticktock kitty-cat.

BEBE: Does he really think I'm going to fall for the black line trick again?
:: zzzzzzzz:: squirrels, balls, birds, warm furry cat ::zzzzzzzzz::

FELIX: You are very sleepy. Ticktock kitty-cat, ticktock purring cat, ticktock snuggle cat.

BEBE: ::zzzzzzz:: purr purr.

FELIX: ::zzzzzzz:: Gotcha, dog breath!

Sun Catcher

origami rose
unfolding white buttercups
holding springtime sun

Another Couch, Another Conversation

Bebe: Hey, blanket hog! Do you have to take up so much room? I'm squished into this corner as tight as I can get!

Felix: Not my problem.

Bebe: You know this is my couch. You don't even come close to matching it. Look how well I blend in! You can hardly see me.

Felix: In your dreams.

Bebe: Fine. Be that way. Just keep your hairy butt away from mine.

Conversation on a Couch

Felix: Bebe! You're in my spot.
Bebe: Tough! I'm comfy and I'm not moving. Go find a sunny spot some place else.
Felix: Fine, then don't blame me when you have to shake a ton of cat hair off your coat.
Bebe: Yuck.
Felix: Look at the dent you're putting in the cushion.
Bebe: What is it you're really trying to say?
Felix: You're fat, not fluffy.
Bebe: Scat, cat!
Felix: ::purr::
Bebe: ::grrr::

Spring Weekend

Finally, Florida's winter has broken. Saturday and Sunday were stellar spring days and we took advantage of Mother Nature's grace.

Saturday took us to the northern tip of Clearwater to an estate sale where we purchased a sweet little credenza and a stool needle pointed by some one's grandmother. We ate grouper sandwiches at Frenchy's Original Cafe and shopped around. The day was cool, breezy and Florida's sun, set in a pool of blue, gave us some much needed vitamin D.

Sunday we walked up the road to Sweetwater Organic Community Farm (Sweetwater Organic Community Farm | An urban, organic farm providing healthy food, educational programs and community-building opportunities since 1995) for some hot-out-of-the-brick-oven pizza, but the pizza guy wasn't there, so we picked up some sweet potatoes for me to plant next weekend when it will be time to plant our Spring veggie garden.

Bebe enjoyed herself too. She had a great little walk and was able to sniff and play with some vegan doggies.

Later, we went to the Buddha Center where the Jade Buddha of Universal Peace was on display at a huge festival.

"The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world. The Jade Buddha is 2.7 metres high and sits on an alabaster throne of 1.4 high. The Jade Buddha itself weighs around 4 tons and has been valued at $5 million. Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world. The Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodh Gaya (India) is the model for the Great Jade Buddha. This Buddha was chosen because it is universally recognized by all Buddhists.

The purpose of exhibiting the Jade Buddha around the world is for everyone, irrespective of their religion, to take a moment to reflect upon peace; peace for the world; peace in their relationships; peace for their families and friends; peace at work; peace in their mind."

We were two of but a handful of non-Asian attendees and mostly everything was written in characters we didn't understand. When Jayne asked one of the Asian-looking vendors what something meant, the gal said.."I don't know, I'm not Chinese."

Welcome Spring! Welcome peace!

Winter Roses Rise

march winter persists

winds bend the thorny thin stems

roses' heads held high

February Remembers

Not one
February,
but two Februaries.
First one, then another passes;

parents.

Some months
go unnoticed

until February's
heavy heart sinks soft behind mine;

pounding.

Valentine Robin

robins polka-dot

wintery ice cold blue skies

one breast rests alone

Frozen Lemonade

Not one

bitter, bitting

Florida frost - but three deep

freezing nights took lemon after

lemon

Produce Shopping Before the Frost (in my own backyard)

Lemons,

'maters green-red,

dill, parsley, sage, peppers

plucked before plunging temperatures

bite hard.

Little Monkey Business

Jillian with the sock monkey my sister Lynn made for her.

Yellow -

not banana,

butter, or Crayola.

Sunflower yellow, bursting bright

with seeds.

Sunflower Rising

Sunshine starburst peeks

between green broccoli leaves;

rising and shining.

Fall Fruits of Labor

Finally, the first lemons fell from the tree today! The green beans are so bountiful, I've spent the past two days picking them by the fist-fulls. Yesterday, I flash-froze three 1- gallon bags and there are still more to pick.

This year, I'm drying most of the herbs and so far have jars and jars of rosemary, basil, lemon basil, parsley and sage.
Next up is broccoli, peppers, red-leaf lettuce and tomatoes. I just love this time of year!

Holly Goes Over Rainbow's Bridge

Uncle Jim's sweet Boxer, Holly, will forever be in our hearts and at our heels. Her nightly nudging, with her graying muzzle will always awaken Uncle on time when the alarm clock isn't enough. To know Holly was to know her playful eyes while begging and bending sideways for treats; a memory that will always make us smile.

Her spirit will always be waiting at the door for Uncle to come home, while wiggling her stubby little tail. Even in her absence, Uncle's forehead will always be a little damp from Holly "giving Daddy kisses". And, her chair will never really be empty of her big Boxer body curling up like a cat. In our dreams, she is still splashing and running circles in the Gulf of Mexico, just on the other side of Rainbow's Bridge. Holly was rescued by Uncle via Florida Boxer Rescue in 2002. She showed her gratitude everyday by being the most delightful, loyal and constant companion a human could wish for until cancer took her life. She is at peace now and we miss her terribly.

Vacationing a la Left Coast

Our end of summer vacation took us from the left coast of Florida to the left coast of the United States where beautiful northern California was its stellar self . Our hosts, Cathy and Feather, helped us eat our way through the grape-dappled countryside, and guided us through the steep hills and colorful culture that only San Francisco has to offer.

Every morning, our Santa Rosa alarm clocks rang with the sounds of gaggles of geese flapping across foggy morning skies. At dusk, the living room picture-window brought us the novel view of deer nibbling their dinner across neighborhood lawns.




Getting used to the time change was a breeze, especially when our first dinner (midnight EST) was at Skates on the Bay, in Berkeley. I have never had a more divine tomato soup, and would have gladly licked the bowl had there not been tables full of other diners to witness my gastronomical gluttony. Cathy and Feather treated us to delectable delights found only in California from crab sandwiches to Thai to tapas and the most incredible macaroni and cheese I have ever had. Even New York Style pizza tasted better in California!

We spent one day driving from Santa Rosa to Calistoga, through Oakville, Yountville and Napa Valley, and Sonoma. On the way to Calistoga, we stopped at the Petrified Forest and walked the mile loop in awe of trees 10-feet in diameter.
Most people might drink their way around the Napa Valley, but we noshed our way through with stops for coffee, lunch and treats from Dean and DeLuca. The drive through wine country was scenically stunning with mountains divided by rows upon rows of glistening vineyards.
















We met a dear old friend of Jayne's in San Francisco, and with Feather as our tour guide, we hit the hilly streets. Who better than a native San Franciscan could guide us through the best San Fran has to offer. We ate lunch at an Italian restaurant where I'm sure, my father's spirit was in the kitchen cooking! We walked China Town, ate hot (and flat) fortune cookies and drank espresso in a side-walk cafe. Visiting the fantastic Palace of Fine Arts was one of the day's highlights.

Golden Gate Bridge in morning fog.

Chinese Fortune Cookie baker, and Chinese Laundry.
















We spent our last day touring the Pacific by driving through sleepy little sea-side towns. We stopped to scavenge for sea glass and take in the salty, chilly air of the Pacific. Even though we've been home for a week, it's still taking a while to finally adjust to Florida time. I feel like I'm getting up way too early (to the sounds of cardinals, not geese), and dinnertime cravings start to kick in about 9:00 pm for California food. Until next year, I'll be California dreamin'.

Last week, our friend Terry, spotted this Flordia Bob Cat and snapped a great picture. Terry had first seen the Bob Cat scurry through his front yard, and later found him lazing in the shade just outside of his pool cage. Talk about an exotic guest!

Lemon Abstract Art

Inside
lime-green lemon
sprouts star burst shooting stars -
eggplant tears dollop a citrus
canvas