![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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.
Hotter today. We walked after 7 pm, joining a host of people in the park, many with their dogs. The sunset was just starting, in glowing orange; as we came home, startling a hefty tabby that had been dining on the porch, bars of deep pink were spreading across the western sky.
Streaky clouds and pretty pink sunsets. And it's been cool enough by early evening to take a walk with the heat-sensitive housemate. Of course it will probably jump up to 95 the day the stonecutting crew finally go away.
A few years ago, I posted about the swanky office building that had replaced the downtown post office and a reasonably priced apartment building with shops on its ground floor. With a living wall in the lobby and living walls on the columns out front, and a dark glass facade with sculptural protruding windows. Seven storeys of speculative posh. It stood empty until this year; I passed by today and there was finally a name on the front. Apparently it's been leased by an AI software company. I hope they enjoy the plants.
The dog wore a T-shirt for a little while, and is now in a striped onesie. She preferred the T-shirt, but the vet prefers the onesie. At least she's rid of the cone.
We had an eventful day with the dog: had to take her in for a medical procedure, and now she has the cone of shame, poor thing.
That required getting up crazy early. In the grey of morning, there was Mama Violet, sleeping in loaf position at the side of the driveway, where her favourite bush used to be. When we got back from dropping off the dog, she was hunched in the leaf-sprinkled bare earth beside the house—perfectly camouflaged except for her white bib.
In the evening, with the back screen door closed because the dog can only go out on leash, I went out to the garage and saw Monty sitting like a ghost on the garden path. Immediately joined by Prudence. So naturally I fed them.
That required getting up crazy early. In the grey of morning, there was Mama Violet, sleeping in loaf position at the side of the driveway, where her favourite bush used to be. When we got back from dropping off the dog, she was hunched in the leaf-sprinkled bare earth beside the house—perfectly camouflaged except for her white bib.
In the evening, with the back screen door closed because the dog can only go out on leash, I went out to the garage and saw Monty sitting like a ghost on the garden path. Immediately joined by Prudence. So naturally I fed them.
The nasturtiums in the side yard had of course already dropped seeds prolifically. A few are starting to grow. I started clearing away the dead bits today; touchy work, in addition to the newly sprouted plants there are a couple of still alive under a tangle of dead stalks.
It was surprisingly mild today, so I hacked about in the garden. The overgrown tree in back has been pruned back and all its lower branches removed, so I was able to get at the branches that were still hanging there from two vines that came over from the garden behind us and wove their way through. Both were pretty but long ago removed at the source. I'm thinking about getting a trumpet vine to go up that privacy fence.
One of the amaryllises in the front garden has suddenly extruded a flower stalk. Everybody else's are pretty much finished, but ours are more shaded than they like.
I took out the dog for her usual opportunity to walk—as usual, she decided not to go past the front meadow. As we passed on the other side of the car, going out and returning, Mama Violet was lying at the top of the porch steps, watching.
I took out the dog for her usual opportunity to walk—as usual, she decided not to go past the front meadow. As we passed on the other side of the car, going out and returning, Mama Violet was lying at the top of the porch steps, watching.
Yup, 77º on a forecast high of 72 when I looked, and it felt hotter than that. And now they've revised tomorrow's forecast high down to 71º! Useless lot.
Saw all three cats today. Monty was there at breakfast time, sitting guarding the porch, shining in the early sun. Then he came by while I was watering in the evening, and deigned to eat some food even though I was going to and fro. Prudence was in the back garden and botched it, kept running towards where I needed to go with the watering can and then with the hose. Hope she found the food in the driveway. Mama Violet was hovering over an empty food dish on the porch in mid-afternoon, and hissed at me. I suppose it's possible the filet mignon couple are off somewhere for a long weekend. Luckily I have plenty of catfood ... and the dog now sleeps most of the day.
Saw all three cats today. Monty was there at breakfast time, sitting guarding the porch, shining in the early sun. Then he came by while I was watering in the evening, and deigned to eat some food even though I was going to and fro. Prudence was in the back garden and botched it, kept running towards where I needed to go with the watering can and then with the hose. Hope she found the food in the driveway. Mama Violet was hovering over an empty food dish on the porch in mid-afternoon, and hissed at me. I suppose it's possible the filet mignon couple are off somewhere for a long weekend. Luckily I have plenty of catfood ... and the dog now sleeps most of the day.
We have a string of 72º highs forecast ... by the National Weather Service. I'll believe it when I see it. I doubt I'll need long sleeves.
Meanwhile Prudence is acting as if she lives here, not over the fence, and Monty isn't showing himself. But I did see Mama Violet; she was waiting for her breakfast.
Meanwhile Prudence is acting as if she lives here, not over the fence, and Monty isn't showing himself. But I did see Mama Violet; she was waiting for her breakfast.
The poor dog had her annual vet appointment. She got her toenails clipped and also got an X-ray. She's terrified of vets and it was a trial, but we managed to prevent her from leaving claw marks on the examining room wall, and she didn't notice the cat in the soft-sided carrier as we left. It was a pity, but on the way to the car she took me on the longest walkies in a couple of months. Maybe she likes the heat of the day? Not going to indulge that taste tho. And a Waymo-rival's test autonomous vehicle turned onto our street rather fast as she was leading me across it. Luckily it had a driver/minder, whom I fixed with a stiff stare, and who did stop.
The rest of the Bay Area was supposed to be cooler today, while we remained hot. Probably quite common, it's just the Chronicle now has forecasts most days that don't just cover SF, so I'm aware of how we compare.
I haven't seen Monty in a few days, but I ran into the filet mignon lady and she said she had. Despite having a nice home over there, Prudence has been coming by; I fed her again today. I'm hoping Monty sneaks out and also eats some.
I haven't seen Monty in a few days, but I ran into the filet mignon lady and she said she had. Despite having a nice home over there, Prudence has been coming by; I fed her again today. I'm hoping Monty sneaks out and also eats some.
The heat came today. Luckily the wind came up in the evening and blew it away. The poor dog wants to go out there and hang out, but when she gets out there on leash, it's dark and scary. I foresee being woken early.
A book I'd asked for on interlibrary loan was on its way to me, until suddenly it wasn't. No e-mail from the library saying "We've cancelled your request", just computers talking to each other; when I checked, the holding library had checked it out locally. So I ordered it again and let's see if this time I got a library that will actually deliver. Annoying, but it's not a very good book so I can wait.
A book I'd asked for on interlibrary loan was on its way to me, until suddenly it wasn't. No e-mail from the library saying "We've cancelled your request", just computers talking to each other; when I checked, the holding library had checked it out locally. So I ordered it again and let's see if this time I got a library that will actually deliver. Annoying, but it's not a very good book so I can wait.
The promised weekend heatwave failed to materialise, at least here, so I was a bit underdressed in a sleeveless top and culottes rather than my more usual T-shirt and ankle-length trousers. All the better to do a bit more garden neatening. And the lack of oven-like heat meant the dog got to go out free of the leash a couple more times than she would have.
.
