Look at those stargazers in the right background of this 15+ year old photo! Daughter with Socks, Wonderful Cat of the Past.

But about those stargazers. You can see three groups of them on the right. That shows how much the wildlife has changed in our backyard in 20 years. When the top photograph was taken we had no deer fencing in our back yard and we had big hostas and those lilies. We certainly saw deer from time to time and they were free to wander over the very ground Socks and Daughter are sitting on. But apparently they didn't. Because look at all those stargazers! 

And there she is once again, February 22, 2013, with Sean. Wedding coming up soon. [Clothes to find/buy!]

I bought some of the herbs that I plan to nurture into much bigger herbs to use as planter centerpieces for the June wedding.  Behnke's Nursery had a good selection of herbs, but not the full selection they'll have over the next weeks. I watched an employee with an old-fashioned clipboard and a printed list of different herbs and she was counting and checking them off. I love that stuff.

Fun jobs. Being paid by Stephen Colbert to think up silly anagrams like this one.

Reince  Priebus

Crisp Bee Urine

Powerful blog post.

I generally don't follow crime stories, especially those involviing rape, children, or abuse in any form.  But I read this blog post and thought it was worth passing along. I hope President Obama reads it too. I think he would probably change the way he speaks as a result.

Thanks

Must finish by Tuesday night. Doubtful.

I joined a book club recently. This is what we're discussing on Tuesday night. I'm on page 318 of 672, and the likelihood of me finishing by then is very small.  I'm sure I can find an online summary with plot spoilers to fill me in, but this is one of those book clubs -- I discovered after the fact -- that meets to have a great home-cooked meal sprinkled lightly, or not, with book talk. So I don't necessarily feel that I must know the outcome of the novel since I probably won't be the only one who doesn't finish it. And that means there might not be much discussion anyway.

I'm undecided about staying with this particular group. I'm very compatible with the small group of eight women -- we like the same kinds of books, we live close enough, and the group has been together for more than 20 years so they have staying power. Although I like to cook, I don't like to cook for foodies. And hostessing is not my strength. I just wanted to join a simple club that sat in someone's living room or in a local diner/coffee shop yakking about a specific book, and books in general, for an hour or so.

At the first meeting I attended, in February, we discussed State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Interesting novel with a lot of side issues worthy of discussion. We spent about 20 minutes actually talking about the book, and that's a generous estimate. Dinner -- which was delicious and discussed thoroughly -- was scallops and grapefruit risotto and sauteed chick-pea patties and fruit and coconut cake and other dishes I've forgotten. It was in the home of someone who lives in an older section of upper NW DC in a Sears house, 1920s vintage I think she said, with a kitchen overlooking the dining room. Perfect for someone cooking a 100-course meal from scratch while talking to eight guests who are milling about asking dozens of questions about the food and the cooking thereof. She handled it beautifully.

I think it will be my turn to host the dinner (sprinkled with book talk) in July or August, although I might ask to do it earlier just to get it out of the way. Then if I quit I will have paid my way, so to speak.

Well, maybe next time for Stephen. And thanks to the always funny SF Margo for the other photo.

Although I'm not a Catholic I spend time each week at the place below, the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Northeast DC. I'll be there tomorrow and expect to see lots of atta' boys among the brown-garbed brothers.

focaccio