![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
This season's most over-the-top house. Not near here, but in the Bay Area: in a wealthy enclave on the edge of Danville. You can park your seven cars in the ballroom to show them off under the chandeliers. The most conventional dining room is the wine storage room. The master bedroom not only has a spa bathroom attached, it has its own kitchen. It's a "Midcentury Modern", but the architecture is of the exploded type, endless bits sprawling all over the grounds. Including multiple apartments and a "pavilion" that seems intended to be used as a casino?? and has been staged as the headquarters of a cabal. The photos seem to present the sprawl as a good thing. And it's "Midcentury Modern" but the outgoing owners had the windows tinted. At least the interiors have a little colour, even if the entrance space does try to emulate a cave. (The selling agent calls this "a masterful homage to Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Fallingwater". Umm no. Definitely no.)
I remember every year, and I now realize that day is one of the reasons I tend to think of 1978 as normality. 25 years back from then would be before I was born.
There's been news coverage—including finally reporting on the toxic air and the number of firefighter deaths post 9/11 attributable to the conditions, which has apparently ticked past the huge number who died on the day.
There's really no place to look to get away from it. After the concierge guys finally leave, I'll hoist one in the backyard.
There's been news coverage—including finally reporting on the toxic air and the number of firefighter deaths post 9/11 attributable to the conditions, which has apparently ticked past the huge number who died on the day.
There's really no place to look to get away from it. After the concierge guys finally leave, I'll hoist one in the backyard.
The heat started to break in the late afternoon, but the dog still refused to go all the way down the driveway, a new low in walks. She ducked onto the grass under the tree, peed, and led me back. I had to agree, the walk I'd just taken myself was hot and tiring. We were delayed by a late-day trip to Costco, which was packed, and I've never seen so many stray grocery carts. I half expected to see them strung out along the freeway.
I took the recycling out after dark and almost trod on poor Monty as I was wafting around trying to get the light to turn on (the concierge guys changed a bulb and evidently knocked it out of alignment so I'm not tall enough to trigger the beam easily). I'd fed him earlier in the back garden so I went and got the platter I use and added new food.
It was moderately baking this afternoon. The dog did not understand why she was shut in.
It was moderately baking this afternoon. The dog did not understand why she was shut in.
Here comes the heatwave I thought we would have. It was hot enough today that the poor dog had to stay indoors from mid-afternoon, and tomorrow and Wednesday are forecast to be hotter.
Something has started extracting stuffing from the teddy bear on the porch. From one of his feet, poor thing.
Something has started extracting stuffing from the teddy bear on the porch. From one of his feet, poor thing.
Warmer today; the heat hit just as we were finishing up a walk. So the poor dog had to be confined inside for much of the afternoon. And of course I mowed the back meadow. Didn't croak.
I caught a single glimpse of Mama Violet in the same place under the car. Then after eating dinner I went out with some recycling and a bag that was likely to make the kitchen trash smell of fish, and almost stepped on Monty and Prudence both. They were lying in wait for me on either side of the side door, despite the lights blazing over at the filet mignon house. So they got fed.
I caught a single glimpse of Mama Violet in the same place under the car. Then after eating dinner I went out with some recycling and a bag that was likely to make the kitchen trash smell of fish, and almost stepped on Monty and Prudence both. They were lying in wait for me on either side of the side door, despite the lights blazing over at the filet mignon house. So they got fed.
Saw all three cats today. Mama Violet wasn't there when I put out breakfast—it was still a bit grey and chilly, the seasons are turning—but when I gave the dog her opportunity for walkies, Mama Violet was reclining under the front bumper of the car. The dog did spot her and was momentarily eager, but a hiss made her give up the idea. When we came back a minute later, the cat hadn't budged.
We had rain overnight! Enough that I didn't water the grass today, and instead put the vine in the ground and secured its main branches to twine suspended from the fence. Hopefully it will now commence growth.
When I came out of the side door with the dog for attempted walkies, Monty was in the driveway. Luckily he managed to hide and not be noticed by the dog. And was trusting enough to return later and partake of the food I took out.
When I came out of the side door with the dog for attempted walkies, Monty was in the driveway. Luckily he managed to hide and not be noticed by the dog. And was trusting enough to return later and partake of the food I took out.
Markedly warmer today, and with clouds half-heartedly threatening thunder. So of course we went shopping. Got a replacement back garden hose and driveway/front garden watering can, both yellow, to replace ones I'd worn out (the hose was starting to develop holes that sprayed jets of water over me and adjacent walls, and the watering can had sprung a leak at the bottom seam). And a trumpet vine, which is now sitting in its pot waiting to be stuck in the hole I need to enlarge. It's quite a big plant, strapped to a pole. Luckily it fit nicely in the car after the back seatback was put down, and just fit under the eaves as I carried it in through the side yard.
The dog got her stitches out and passed veterinary inspection to once again go naked. A happy outcome, but of course she was absolutely terrified.
A 1943 3-bedroom house, all moderned up inside, the back garden reduced to artificial turf and bare earth: $1,798,000. It used to be quite homey, on a block of homey houses (that was cul-de-saced by resident demand).
A 1943 3-bedroom house, all moderned up inside, the back garden reduced to artificial turf and bare earth: $1,798,000. It used to be quite homey, on a block of homey houses (that was cul-de-saced by resident demand).
A little convertible that was parked at the side of the street so long that weeds grew up around it—I can see it on Google Street View last October—finally went away a couple of days ago. Hopefully collected by its owner rather than impounded.
Saw all three cats today, individually. Both Prudence and Monty requested food and got it. Meanwhile the dog spent much of the day outside. I'm not sure whether the cats were elsewhere or going about their business a few feet from her.
Saw all three cats today, individually. Both Prudence and Monty requested food and got it. Meanwhile the dog spent much of the day outside. I'm not sure whether the cats were elsewhere or going about their business a few feet from her.
Prudence was hanging around in the driveway again, so after I fed the compost monster, I went back out and put down food for her. Then I hacked about on the edge of a slab in back and got some succulents into the ground that had been hacked off by workmen and that I'd had kicking around in water ever since. I turned around after putting in the last one and was suprised to see both Monty and Prudence watching me. I'd kind of expected Monty. So I brought the food dish around with a bit extra on it. Monty watched for a while from the end of the garden path as I fed the dog and started making my dinner with the back door open for the cool air; I presume making sure there was no threat to his little sister. Darkness fell outside as I carried on making pasta glop and washing up the day's dishes, and I realised Prudence was sitting one step down outside the door, staring at me. I could see the reflective strip on her collar. When the housemate woke from her nap I warned her not to step on the silly cat.
The other people are in this evening, judging by the lights over there.
The other people are in this evening, judging by the lights over there.
The filet mignon folks must be away for the weekend. Monty appeared in the back garden after several days when I only glimpsed him sleeping under his tree. He actually cleaned up the food I put out for him. Then after dark, Prudence was in the driveway asking for either attention or food. (Yes, she still has her collar on. I think she confuses the two houses.)
Meanwhile it was a pretty day, so the dog got to go in and out almost as much as she wanted.
Meanwhile it was a pretty day, so the dog got to go in and out almost as much as she wanted.
I blóted in the back garden shortly after the clouds finally parted in mid-afternoon and the temperature started to tick upward. While I was looking to the north, the lines of small fluffy white clouds thinned appreciably, and the breeze kicked up. The stonecutters seem to have finally finished, or at least finished using power tools.
The dog was complimented on her T-shirt :-) (Haverford College, a street find)
I tried to see the lunar eclipse, but we had clouds all day from an offshore storm, and the moon is still low in the sky and there are a lot of buildings and trees. Between the two, I couldn't spot it.
I tried to see the lunar eclipse, but we had clouds all day from an offshore storm, and the moon is still low in the sky and there are a lot of buildings and trees. Between the two, I couldn't spot it.
I let the dog spend a little of the afternoon in the back garden, off-leash, because I knew she wouldn't run around, and wearing her infantilising striped pyjamas, she couldn't easily rub leaf litter or grass seeds into herself. She duly spent most of the time lying around, but she did briefly bark her head off at the workmen on the other side of the fence. Serves them right.
.
