5 Reasons I Want to Live on a Lavender Farm

I recently posted "Patty Vela wants to live on a lavender farm when she grows up." This idea is not far fetched. Let me explain why.

1) I was told at Shades of Green, "Lavender loves nuclear sun!" I live in San Antonio, Texas. Need I say more?

2) My lavender is not only growing, it is THRIVING. I feel that people should capitalize on their successes and share them with others. Apparently I am an expert at growing lavender, a "natural," if you will. Thus, it is my duty to provide (in abundance) for others, right?

3) If I stand among a lavender field, close my eyes, breathe deeply, throw some Juliette Greco on the record player and sip on wine....I am in the South of France (God's land!).

4) Lots and lots and lots of lavender infused baked goods!

5) C'est si bon! It would be "so good!"

Mary Gertrude (The Wayward Kitten)

Around the school I work at one can ALWAYS find a stray animal. For the last 10 years I have seen more cats and dogs in need of a good home than I care to count. Of course the faculty is squarely divided between "animal lovers" and "non-animal lovers." The "animal lovers" scramble on their off periods to purchase cat food, dog food, flea spray, blankets, etc.; while the "non-animal lovers" cooly place a phone call to the pound! (Ouch, heart...break!)

Wednesday morning a NUMBER of people's hearts were stolen by this little....one presumably left behind by her mama.....

Meet Mary Gertrude...or at least that is the name I gave her for the day. A tiny, tiny, tiny calico kitty found scared and shivering in the school parking lot. Mrs. Camp took her in and quickly worked to save this little kitty from a tragic end.
When I picked up the kitty princess she was very, very, very cold. I took her into my office and held her tight for most of the morning in an effort to warm her up.
While she did NOT enjoy being "un-swaddled"...I did manage to take a picture of her playing "cat and mouse!" Get it? Cat and mouse? This gives you an idea of just how little she was.
Look at the precious kitty face. In the morning Mary Gertrude could not stand up without shaking; let alone take a step.
After several bottle feedings, lots of sleep and a "Dawn" bath; Mary Gertrude was not only standing and climbing, she was meowing (loudly) and biting Julie.

She was so hungry she bit the entire top of the bottle off with her teeth! At the end of the day Mary Gertrude was ready for a nap. My lunch box was insulated so I swaddled her and placed her in the lunch box. She found a good home with a gentleman that substitutes at our school. He was going to take her home to his wife. Thursday....Mary Gertrude's brother showed up. Kitty nursing...Round II!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Today I celebrate my new plants......

I pray that they will thrive and survive in my yard. I also pray that others can enjoy their beauty. This is the year I will be successful and start growing some of my own food. (For now...it is just basil, rosemary, lavender, spearmint and sage.)

Have a wonderful evening, friends. It is a lovely evening out.

Kitschy, Kitschy, Kitsch!

While I did not get to Round Top this spring (sniff-sniff) I DID manage to visit Uncommon Objects on South Congress in Austin! I could spend hours snaking in and out of the coordinated vignettes marveling at all of the eye candy. The challenge is to sift through all the items and focus on one or two ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVES that are begging me to take them home with me. I found this piece of marvelous kitsch within the first 30 seconds of my visit. I walked around for about 30 minutes before returning to "Hula Hula" Lady and claiming her as my own. My first thought was to find a place for her in the nude bathroom; however upon further reflection she does not work in there. I haven't landed on a permanent spot for her. Right now she is holding up Mastering The Art of French Cooking. I hope Julia would be proud!

Goodnight friends! Best wishes to all my friends who are involved with TAKS testing tomorrow.

Her Name was Lola...

Right now I am lovin' the soap opera love drama that is taking place outside my bedroom window on a nightly basis. Lola has a suitor. We named him "Boy Kitty." He is black with a deep brown undercoat and orange harvest moon eyes. I have seen him trolling about the neighborhood. He reminds me a lot of my Tessie and there have been several times I have seen him in the street and my heart drops thinking, "Tessie escaped!" Then I realize it is "Boy Kitty."

"Boy Kitty" has found a way to visit one of the windows in my bedroom. I have not quite mapped out his route to the upstairs window; but he manages to visit his Lola love with a good amount of frequency. Lola waits for him at the window sill every night and has started to bring her "Spongeball Squarepants" to the window sill...I suppose it is a love offering or enticement of some sort.

Given the extraordinary spring weather we have been having I have had the pleasure of sleeping with the windows open. "Boy Kitty" only visits between midnight and 3am. A kitty booty call, I suppose. He peeks his little head in the window and waits for Lola.
Lola gets so excited and sits quietly staring at "Boy Kitty." Tessie and Gracie do not take so kindly to his visits. They have both initiated "cat fights" with "Boy Kitty" through the screen AND burglar bars. Imagine three cats "trying" to fight through layers and layers of barriers. The hissing and screaming is frightening...most especially when the hissing and screaming wakes you up out of dead sleep.
"Boy Kitty" doesn't linger long after Gracie and Tessie put their histrionics on full display. However, during one of his most recent visits he ended up spraying right around the window. Terrific! Fantastic! What a way to show his love!

I know this is going to sound crazy, but after he leaves Lola looks sad. When she is waiting for him she looks sad. I (almost) get the sense she misses him and waits longingly for his visits. Now if I could just get him to visit during regular human hours....

Goodnight friends and Happy Easter. I have some Easter eggs I need to hide before Ella Bella wakes up tomorrow morning.

Happy Birthday, Blog

Today is the one year anniversary of my blog! Happy Birthday, dear sweet blog! If I were less tired I would go on and on and on and on about all the wonderful, magical healing that took place as a result of the mission of this blog. However, I am beat! Absolutely beat and I intend to wake up rather early tomorrow morning. I look forward to a wonderful weekend at Casa Bearden. I am off to bed, friends!