In memory of LC, the Lap Cat

Our dear LC (Lap Cat) has departed. She taught me a great lesson about "pets".
When she joined our family, we called her LC for LapCat because she wanted to sit on our laps as a kitten even tough we hardly knew each other. First day!

She chose us and no one else. She came to us. She was the most affectionate cat to us, but mean to everyone else, just about. Of course, she knew Kelly and Leah were part of the family. And she knew not to mess with Andre's kids...or else. She was a smart cat like that.

She was attached to Debbie and Debbie was her "mother". That's the lesson LC taught me. A "pet", an "animal" can join your family and become part of the "family". LC was part of our family. We love her. We miss her.

I was naive, thinking she has just a "pet", a "glorified animal" wanting to be petted. So, I pet her, I was nice to her, and "tolerated" her at times when she just wanted too much attention. But Debbie loved her. Like a mother.
I wish I knew how much she loved her. I would have been nicer to LC instead of just "nice". LC never mess with me because she knew I know "Cat's Judo". The one where you put the cat in a choke and she can't move nor breathe. Yeah, we played too!... and when she take out her claws, I take out my cat's judo moves. So, we liked and respected each other. No claws, no cat's judo. That was our deal.

Then she got sick. Bad genes. She could have lived a year or two longer. She fought for her life. And I noticed Debbie was already missing her. So I was nicer to her. The cat, not Debbie. I'm always nice to Debbie! Then I wished she never leaved us. Her last days, or months, were nicer. LC has been sick since January. Going outside, and experiencing TLC from both Debbie and I, made her stay longer. Or she would have been gone earlier. He passed away in our arms, with love. We'll miss her, and if there there is an afterlife for pets, we'll meet again. I've set the appointment, just in case. We love you, LapCat...and hasta lavista (till we meet again)...and I'll be nicer still, more for Debbie, because I love her for loving you.

Our vegetable garden

It's time to enjoy the vegetable garden now. Debbie has worked hard on this. We're reaping tomatoes and we've eaten cantaloupe. Delicious!
The squash didn't do too good this year. Everything else seems to be doing just fine. Once we figured out that a vegetable garden needs lots of water. The recent rains helped too.


Beside the vegetables, the peachtree is full of peaches and the figs have started getting ripe from the figtree. We're wondering about the peaches because they came quickly by the bunch and now they're growing and ripening very slowing. They're not quite sure what to do next. I've talked to them and explained the deal: you're supposed to grow nice and juicy, and we're supposed to eat you. We gave them fertilizer...so... what's the problem? They don't seem to like that deal.
A vegetable garden makes a backyard green and lush. It also attracts butterflies. With some extra bird feeders this year, we got to watch the pretty greenery, a nice variety of birds, and lots of butterflies.

Several birds have bred around the house. A wren was nice enough to make his nest in the birdhouse directly across from the patio. We enjoyed watching the whole process from nest building, incubating, hatching and feeding. It was cute to see these little bird beaks sticking out as the mother wren bring food back and forth. It almost seems like these birdies eat a lot!
Then, a few days ago, they were gone. They left the nest. But this morning, Debbie saw a little wren come to the patio and singing her heart out "I can fly now! I'm big now! Looky, looky, looky!". Or something like that.
We also saw baby Catbirds, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Towhees even some baby squirrels.

I think I'm going back to the patio and enjoy myself.

Quiet and Relaxing 4th of July

4 people on the 4th, relaxing and enjoying themselves.
That's how last week end was for us.
Are these T-shirts patriotic or what? It's the 4th of July after all.
It simply couldn't have been a better time weather wise. No rain, not too hot, with a perfect pool temperature.
So, guess what we did. Spent time in the pool, then played Rook, then ate, clean up, back in the pool, then Rook...
Everybody was happy the whole week end.

Yes, quiet, peaceful, and relaxing fun. We didn't even miss the fireworks. We did miss Duane. Don't be jealous if I didn't mention your name. It's just that Duane was bidding by text messaging while we were playing. That's how bad he wanted to play Rook that week end. lol

Some of these very impromptu get-togethers usually turn out to be the best. It was one of those. Perfect week-end.

Hiking

The Ocmulgee River runs through Macon and there is a trail near it. Many trails actually. We found a new trail and went for a good hiking trip today.





What a fun hiking trip it turned out to be? You stopped by the river a couple of times but walked and walked the rest of the times. We didn't know the trail was that long or we would have brought water. But, we survived.



Even tough it was hot, the hiking meandered through many areas with canopies of trees, giving us good umbrage.






We truly enjoyed ourselves because we realized this is a well-kept secret in Macon. We run into no one. People have not discovered this pretty trail yet. And! there were many areas to picnic. We're going back soon! and better equipped.






The river was very beautiful with fish jumping up left and right. We saw many birds including a Mississippi Kite. Debbie identified many trees and plants as well. Kelly was happy to share these precious moments. We enjoyed ourselves.

Visiting with James and Melba

Did you know Melba has a green thumb? Oh yeah.
Debbie and I saw her gardens recently and we were impressed.
Lush vegetables and flowers. Looking healthy too. I know that's not easy because we're trying to grow a garden too.



Besides the beautiful gardens of vegetables and flowers, we enjoyed sitting outside and watching all kinds of birds coming to the feeders. We saw a beautiful Goldfinch, several Bluebirds, Cardinals, Chickadees....

Did I mention we played Rook outside? Well, we did...at the music of the songbirds. So comforting, Melba "shot the moon". Did she make it? Ask in the com
ments and I'll tell you.

Louis dropped by for a few minutes with his precious Granddaughter.
We enjoyed ourselves. Thanks for having us over, James and Melba.

Memorial Day Week End at Connie's

This turned out to be one of the classic Price Family get-together.
Everybody was happy to see each other.

The intermittent rain did not allow for much swimming so we did the next best thing. Play Rook, drink, eat, play some more Rook, eat some ... and share a lot of stories.
We had a diverse group with the Price siblings with "Mama", the in-laws including Linda, a couple of grand kids, a dog, 5 cats. Did I forget anybody?
Impressive that everybody was in their best behavior.

Three couples were together the evening before everyone got there on Sunday. Connie and Duane, Carey and Martha, and Debbie and I.

We had some fun with some strange combination of "things that don't go together". As Duane pointed out, alcohol and politics don't go together. Does Carey get drunk or is he immune to all that beer?  Connie had fun with the bottle in front of her (in the picture). Then the decibel went up! Add in some politics with Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Clinton, Bush...Carey threw Al Gore in there too.
Are all these people brothers, politicians, friends, enemies, ..., who cares? Let me just play some Rook games, will you? No dice. People were sitting in front of the games but paying no attention. ...it's your bid...it's your turn...you got that one...everybody already bid, we're just waiting for you... no, you just got in for 105...so we're actually set..but it's OK...it's just a game (if you will just play it!!!) That's what Duane and I were saying all evening.
Connie was happy that evening. That bottle (the Malibu Coconut Rum or something like that) was only 21%. Trust me, she said it 5 times so I remember. I actually never understood but I didn't want to ask. Do I need to look that stupid, you know. I was at her house, but now I'm on my Blog so I'm asking. If I had 10 shots of that rum, does it make it 10 times 21%, or 10 times the 21% divided by volume of the bottle multiplied by the volume of the shot glass, or just 21% 10 times? The answer doesn't really matter. I saw the effect. You're so happy...you almost pass out. The next morning..., let's not talk about that. By the way, I had a couple of shots too. And it was good rum.

Compared to that evening, the next day of fun, food, and games was almost boring. You guys missed all the fun. Next time, just bring your tents.
See you next time.  Hasta la otra vez! (in Spanish)

King Snake in the trail!

Just came back from a quick walk at the Mound.  I don't like to go to the Mound in the middle of the day because most of the self respecting birds are taking their siesta.  But I couldn't resist when I was just around the corner in the Fort Hill area checking on a property.

Not too many birds today but, wow, the King Snake!  Long, pretty, unafraid. A man walked right beside him and I was impressed by how unafraid he was.  I found out later he didn't see the snake. I asked him. I had to wait till the snake got out of the path.  He looks like the snake I've touch once before.  I was just not in the mood today. He was facing me this time with his head up. Maybe he was giving his name and I didn't even realize. Shoot.

Have I said once before that no two birdwatching outings are ever the same? Guess what I saw this time? The Pileated Woodpecker at the lower end of a tree in the Loop area.  He then came down on the ground!!! A Pileated on the ground, then up the tree, low.  Never seen that before.  And that's not all.
A Mississippi Kite was flying over the water with a small snake in his bill.  The snake was still alive, wingling.  I forgot Mississippi Kites eat snakes too.  Maybe I didn't know until I just saw it.

On my way back, there was that King Snake again!!!  In the path, like if he owned it.  And he was not getting out of the way this time.  I had to do what "Larry" did earlier.  Walk right beside him.  At least I said Hi! and told him my name.  Till we meet again.  Better to be friends with these snakes.

I have more to write but I better go back to work!