July 26 2013

Time for another update, this one with more people news than most. Although our first news item is a people/dog combination, as our friends Daniel and Tim visited us a while ago with Ruby, our long-time Brittany pal and their newest family edition, Rosie the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. As you can see, all four are really cute (Brian too) - and Rosie is so attached to her daddy Tim that when he dared to go to the bathroom (and worse, closed the door!) she stood right outside and barked until she could see him again.

I'd forgotten how cute KCs are, and how convenient it is to have a dog you can pick up with one arm. It was, as always, lovely seeing them. They are among the good friends we have made through American Brittany Rescue, and Daniel was our very first "face" as he helped with our very first foster, Carmen, getting her halfway to us from the airport.

A few weeks later Brian and I went out to the Chicago suburbs to see Mom and also attend an 80th birthday party for my cousin Mickey, married to my cousin Micki (known forever in the family as Boy Mickey and Girl Mickey). It was a little strange for me staying at a hotel, but nice that it was only two short blocks from Mom, so no car necessary. Also nice to see cousins I really like, even after all these years, and see Mom having such a good time at the party.

As you can see, I'm among the few (two) women in the family that still doesn't wear makeup. It was a lovely party, and the best part was seeing Mom have such a good time, and seeing how very much she's loved by the family.

Pre-party, the birthday boy and Girl Micki came to Mom's apartment for a private visit, where I gave Boy Mickey the present I chose for him. It was a Dorothy Parker quote that I thought so appropriate: Guns aren't lawful, Nooses give, Gas smells awful, You might as well live. Parker fans applaud now!

I guess it shows how old the quote is in the very first line, as guns are now not only lawful but in Florida and Texas at least almost mandatory.










Mom was really glad to see Brian, too, as it's been four years since we made this trip together. The biggest difference was the height differential - as obvious here!

But Mom's spirit is still the same, still younger than I in so many ways. Always good to spend time with her and check in with my Gidwitz buddies.









And now for the garden round-up. The ground cover has taken over the upper terraces, covering some of the stairs and aiming for the driveway.

The hanging baskets and hydrangea are beautiful,

and the baby pumpkins from a short while ago have now taken over the former dog run completely, crawled through the chain link fence, and are making valient efforts to climb up the walls of the house, out over the walkway and down to the lower terracing. I couldn't get a photo because they are so BIG there's nowhere inside the fence to show them, and outside the fence is just fencing and tendrils. You'll have to take my word for it. And I will photograph the pumpkins assuming they arrive. The leaves are about three times the size of my hand - and I have large hands.

That's about it for now. As always, hoping all goes well with all of you, and sending love. LK