Through The Mud Clearly

My cat came in the house this morning with a new plaything. It was a giant sewer roach which; immediately upon entering the house; Marmalade let it go! She then began telling me all about her treasure. Meanwhile, the roach is scurrying about the kitchen looking for a secure place to hide. Marms soon realizes she lost her toy and frantically begins meowing (in her really, really loud voice) and searching all around. As far as I know, the critter is still on the loose! I will be carrying a big stick and opening all the cupboards when I get home tonight. Why, oh why doesn’t Marmalade catch birds like normal cats?!

It is the end of September and the temperature is STILL over 100*. My garden doesn't like this. I would take pictures and show you just how dire the situation is, but I think I will spare you the pain and agony of extremely wilted squash, a dead pumpkin (I already pulled it up and tossed it) and beets that a bird or birds had for lunch today!! The tomatoes however, are doing great. I am not to sad about all of this because I am getting ready to go camping!!!!!! Leaving on Sunday and I am looking forward to making pineapple upside down cake in my dutch oven and other goodies. I am excited about campfire coffee and smelling like that campfire for a few days! I am taking the entire week off work too!!! I will be taking plenty of pictures of my trip and will replant the garden when I return!

Yesterday one of my coworkers found a rusty-orange and white kitty wandering around in the parking lot. He was probably dumped there. One of the supervisors, knowing that I am a cat person, brought him to my office. She asked me to watch him and she would try to find kitty a home by the end of the day; she would take him to the pound after work if a home wasn't found. Of course I said I would watch him until then; but I also made it known that I couldn't take him home. This was about 1pm. After checking out every inch of my office; kitty jumped up on my desk and laid down on my keyboard! A few moments later he had maneuvered his way to my neck and somehow stretched out and went to sleep...purring contentedly. After his nap he inspected the office again, sat in my spare chair, took a bath and another nap. Upon awakening kitty jumped in my lap and onto my shoulder where he perched like a bird! This type of activity went on all afternoon. At 4:45 the supervisor came in and said she had found kitty a home and they would pick him up at 5pm. I was glad to hear it because I don't think I could have let her take him to the pound and I might have had to bring him home with me. I would have named him Rusty!

A few days ago Mari posted a meme (what is a meme?) which contained five words that another blogger chose for her to write about. Mari asked if anyone wanted her to send them five words. I said yes, so here goes:

1. CAT

Well, I've got one! Let me tell you...she is a character. You probably already know this from the several posts I have written about her. I adopted her from the Humane Society about three years ago. Within the first week she almost died from a severe respiratory infection. But, after several Vet visits and medications she pulled through. She has definitely added much to my life. Everybody knows that cats rule and dogs drool! Hey, I like dogs too!


2. DIRT

An interesting word choice Mari. I never actually thought about dirt much until I started gardening. I have found out that not all dirt is created equal! My grandmother had a garden. She had the best dirt ever! Rich, black soil that yielded all kinds of fruits and vegetables. I don't think it started out that way though. Hard work, compost, time and good topsoil helped. I like to garden barefoot except of course when I am using the shovel.



3. FAITH


Just this morning a coworker gave me a container of "double superfine mustard powder". This of course reminded me of the scripture:

The Parable of the
Mustard Seed Jesus told them another parable: . . . (Matt. 13:31-32)
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

and, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you"Matthew 17:20

I don't know what I am going to do with a can of mustard powder. I think I will keep it in sight to remind me that faith sometimes is small like a mustard seed but can grow into something amazing.

4. ZUCCHINI
What can I say about this vegetable? It grows well. It also make great bread, is delicious sauteed in butter and garlic! Also, it is excellent stuffed with a ground beef and rice mixture and baked. It is great on the grill. Anyone hungry yet?

5. JOY
This word is the reason it took me sooooo long to write this post. Let me explain. I have joy "down in my heart" (part of a song) and I am joyous. But, that joy doesn't often manifest itself on the outside (in my opinion). I remember a long time ago when I was going through an extremely difficult time, my friend told me to be "joyous". My response was "I am joyous; you just can't tell it". (exact words) This made us both go into uncontrollable laughter (and healing) and has been a running joke between us for 30 years! I recently reconnected with her on Facebook and being joyous was one of our first topics of conversation!

So there you have it. My five.

.... The Bumbling Genius. Mr. Genius, if you and Fieldlily ever want to see your beloved shovel again, you must obey the following instructions:

1. DO NOT contact the authorities.

2. On Saturday morning make coffee and send a text message (to you know who) when finished.

3. When shovel arrives; provide a cup of coffee (or 2), creamer and one (1) maple long john acquired from your neighborhood QT to the deliverer of said shovel.

4. Failure to meet these demands could result in.....

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I have been trying to figure out why my carrots aren't growing.....this could be the reason! Marmalade is inside the chicken wire and laying on them! I guess she doesn't like carrots.

Tomatoes, pumpkin, and assorted squash

I was going to play !!FARKLE!! for about 15 minutes or so and then go out to my garden. But Kathy said NO!! Go out and enjoy your garden! So I did. Aren't feet weird?!

This is the true story of Mrs. Chicken. It was a hot, hot summer day in Arizona. Mrs. Chicken was kicked out of her coop....the victim of new decor.

Mrs. Chicken didn't know what to do or where to go. Finally she decided to put on her hat and....cross the road. She found herself in a very nice back yard. There was however, a large cat that seemed very interested in her. Mrs. Chicken was concerned because her mother had always told her that cats and birds were a bad mix.

No worries though. The cat was not interested in Mrs. Chicken.




The owners of the house saw Mrs. Chicken on the back porch and came out to greet her.

Mrs. Chicken told her sad, sad story. The animals listened with great interest and much clucking. It was decided she could stay as long as she wanted. And so the story of Mrs. Chicken ends on a happy note. There will be eggs for breakfast!

The lawn people were here the other day. They mowed, trimmed bushes and repaired the (almost impossible to open) back gate. Now it will be much easier to take the trash out! Marmalade and I went outside after they left. She was hanging out by the newly repaired gate when, suddenly she disappeared. I went over and observed a small space between the gate and the wall. Amazingly, she had managed to get through it! Just as I was about to panic; she came sauntering through the small space and into the yard. I quickly blocked the space. A few minutes later I noticed she was loitering by another area of the fence. Then; you guessed it; she departed through a hole in the fence! I ran (as quickly as one can run with a bad right knee and bone spurs in the left foot) to get my keys and opened the side gate. She was just lying in the dirt next to the hole in the fence. I told her to get back in her yard NOW!!! She reluctantly got up and walked through the gate with me. I then placed a board in front of the hole.
Apparently the yard guys removed all of my “escape prevention systems” and neglected to put them back when they finished working. Anyway, the next morning, knowing the backyard was one again escape proof, I let Marms out. A few minutes later I went out also. She was lying in the garden and I was sitting in a chair pondering why my carrots have not yet started growing. After a short time I noticed two things simultaneously. Marmalade was nowhere to be seen and the board over the hole was flat on the ground!! It probably had blown over in the windstorm the night before. Again I ran for my keys and out the gate. This time I couldn't see her anywhere. I looked everywhere-up/down the street, front yard, neighbor’s yard, checked backyard again…no Marmalade. I went out the gate again. I was just about to call my boss when I saw her. I think she knew she was in big trouble because she immediately ran through the hole and into the backyard. I then put large cement block in front of the hole. There will be no more escapes!!