Ozy update

Our cat Ozy was diagnosed with diabetes in early July.  I posted a little about it here. We are still struggling to get his blood glucose under control.  The diabetes has caused neuropathy, which means nerve damage and his legs are pretty unsteady these days.  He walks a few steps and then needs to rest.

We used to struggle to keep him off the counters and now he can't jump on them.  I prefer the struggle.

Farmers Market Bounty

Portland has wonderful farmers markets.  Here is our recent bounty... tomatoes, melons, and nectarines.  Next time we are taking two bags.

Porch Time

We are enjoying a fair amount of time on our porch this summer.  It's such a great place to hang out.

My side

John's side

Everyday dishes

They make me smile.

Wildfire season

It's wildfire season in the West, including Oregon.  There are lots of photos out there but I thought this one was hauntingly beautiful.  Imagine what it looks like at night... it must be so scary.

I grew up on a farm in Eastern Montana and I remember some fires lighting up the sky at night even though they were quite far away.  You could see smoke from both fires in the daytime and at night a huge piece of the sky was red from the larger further away fire and in the other direction, you could see the yellow flames of the fire...I remember being afraid, especially of that ominous red sky.

Credit: Candice and Dallas Smith 

Beautiful photos of the Mckenzie River

This photo is from pdxgene, who hangs out at Portland Hikers.  He takes excellent photos and these are of a place near and dear to my heart.  And, yes, it really IS that beautiful.  Check out his trip report on Portland Hikers for more photos.

pdxgene photo

Still in love with my cosmos diablo

I know, I already posted some photos of Cosmos Diablo.

I am just in love with the color and how the petals look magical.  I wish my camera could take a photo like this.  Cosmos Diablo deserves a better photographer and a better camera.

Eagle Creek Hike

We took a quick hike yesterday.  This was John's first hike since he hurt his knee a few months ago and he was fine.  It was unusually humid yesterday and it made hiking less enjoyable.  Still, it was great to be out.

Fire in the sky

I suppose this sky was caused by the wildfires....

My quilt is coming along

I haven't had a lot of time to work on it but it's coming along.   I like working on it and I like how it is looking.   I almost always get company when I work on it.

Clerodendrum Tree

The Clerodendrum  trees are in bloom now.  We have one right outside our dining room porch and it sends a heavenly scent into the house.  The first summer we lived here I followed that scent until I figured out what it was and then I got one.   That's it on the right.

That's it through the kitchen window

Cats and the door to summer

The cats spend a lot of time looking out the screen doors, especially at the back yard.  They watch the birds and squirrels who hang around the bird feeder and the bird bath/fountain.  I originally started feeding the birds for the entertainment of the cats and it has worked really well.  They are indoor cats and I wanted them to have some entertainment.  The back yard is our bird sanctuary and is fenced but not cat proof.  Occasionally we have to drive a neighborhood cat out.  Just yesterday John squirted Wallace with water to make him leave.

Harpo and the door to summer

Ozy watching a squirrel

Pippin watches the birds, too.  He especially likes the hummingbirds and climbs all the way up the screen to the feeder level.  Doesn't he have a pretty belly?

Cats in three sizes.  Ozy is about three times the size of Pippin, who, fully grown,  is a tiny thing at just 5 lb 6 oz.

Morning light

It's been overcast most mornings for a week or more but today the sun was out and this is the back yard in the morning light.

And this is cosmos Diablo which I am so in love with.

Neighborhood walk

We still walk a lot in the neighborhood but this time I had my camera.

Dahlia Mystic Illusion in Pat and Mary's garden.  I liked it so much I went over to Portland Nursery and got one.  I feel lucky to live so near such a great garden center, one that STILL has great plants in August.

Sunnyside grade school sunflowers

The rudbeckia nitida Herstonne that inspired me to want some...

The park utility building with roses that bloom and bloom.

Back Yard Before And After

From the back door today

From the back door when we moved in

The back yard

Our teeny tiny backyard is 27 feet wide by 18 feet deep.  That's teeny tiny.  But big enough to look lush and  to have a nice space to sit and enjoy it.....and a great view from the back door.