If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

I am spared weeding the front yard by a much needed portland rain. According to the Oregonian 79% of households now have some air conditioning in Portland due to the rising summer temperatures. We even have a window unit in the bedroom (only) for last summer it was inthe high  90's and sleep for me is impossible if I am that warm. so this cool weather and rain is great for the plants and animals and peoples.

 

 

we had friends over for dinner. I cooked lamb withprunes and almonds in my new red tagine. also had israeli couscous and Stuart made an amazing salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese. that could have been a meal in itself.  we all gazed at the pond and shared stories of groupie theatre stars we had finally managed to meet.

 

Tuesday they leave for a month in Italy. It's also the day Diane and her family leaves. both will be in rome and tuscany, roaming about. having espresso in the morning and an aperitif in the evenings. I will think of them in the uffizi standing in front of wondrous little gems of oil on canvas. you know like judith lopping off the head of holofernes. which reminds me....

 

the F*ing neighbor cats ( you  know--- the ones they never let inside because the cats have "issues" with their kid) .... I will have to either get ultrasonic or scent repellents because of course they are not content to stay on those horrible little porches so they take up daytime residence in my yard. shitting and stinking and harassing abi in her window.  my plan is going to capture them in have a heart trap placed covertly in my yard and then take them to the no kill shelter in sherwood. then they can be adopted by someone who will actually take care of them. let's just hope they don't have chips and get returned to the horror neighbors.

 

oh and the neighbors yard is now being invaded with poison ivy and dandelions- about which they are doing nothing. these people really should have stayed in a town home. they did let the little one outside yesterday. the boy was placed in the cab of the truck - alone - while dad cleaned the other car. Wow. what a treat. and we moved the large rocks back into the shoulder as the parking situation started up again. shit shit shit.oops merd merd merd.