FOLIAGE

Part of Judy's Coleus Forest, trying to take over the patio.

(There are more in the house) 

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Vive la France!

Yes, it's France's National Day also known as Bastille Day!

So let's eat lots of snails!

Or you could celebrate another day today: It's National Nude Day!

A day when nudists around the world go au naturel.

But if you plan on celebrating it, probably better put off that trip to the store.

Here in Arizona the mercury is threatening to pass the 100 degree mark so let's begin, as we did last Friday, with something to cool you off.

You know what that means.

The fun is (mostly) over.

Now, non-alliteratively, I would like you to enjoy a remarkable weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . ooooohhh, I know that feeling . . . )

LAKE VISIT

With summer's scorching temperatures recently we had been pretty much confined to our home.

It is supposed to surpass the 100 degree mark this weekend.

So late yesterday afternoon I suggested we visit nearby Yavapai Lake and watch the ducks for awhile.

It's a small lake, more of a pond really, but catching it in the right light with the fountain going in the center can provide some nice views.

And gazing at that water, one can actually feel cooler.

The duck population has severely diminished as many may have migrated north seeking cooler weather.

But there were enough to amuse us.

These two swam back and forth constantly staying in close proximity to each other.

We watched and conjured up fantasies about their relationship.

First date, maybe?

Many people were walking and some even jogging on the path alongside the lake.

We, however, remained in the car with the air conditioning running.

With advancing age comes loss of energy and mobility but growing wisdom, I like to think.

We are fortunate to have this little lake only a few minutes away.

A LITTLE GARDENING

 We don't have a huge area for gardening where we live.

The yard around our duplex is covered in gravel and rocks.

And weeds with which we do battle.

But we have a nice covered patio which is home to our minimal gardening, most of it in pots.

As always, a mint plant is the star of the show and the leaves make our evening cocktails smell so nice.

Next to it is a basil plant that seems to be frowning a bit by comparison to its neighbor.

Hot tip: a few years ago we had a basil plant that we harvested, used to make pesto and froze in an ice cube tray.

Then we forgot it until recently when I uncovered it and it made a nice sauce for some pasta.

Our chives seem to be suffering from not enough watering, too much watering, the incessant heat or maybe just neglect.

But the green tops still make a nice topping for dishes from the Master Chef (not me) when snipped.

Now our tomato barrel has a couple of plants that Judy describes as "leggy".

Still we have harvested two beauties.

The first one was green when I accidentally dislodged it from its vine and Judy said she didn't think it would ripen.

But it did and was delicious.

We've only managed one of the small plum or cherry tomatoes but we shared it and it too was just like in that old John Denver song: "only two things money can't buy, that's true love and home grown tomatoes."

I'm not sure if the birds get to them or they just shrivel and die but if luck and your gardeners pay attention we might get a few more.

Meantime, the sun faces watch on with apparent bemusement.

READING LIST

I've been doing something recently that I used to do all the time before the Internet came along to occupy my days.

Actually reading books!

I devoured a couple recently that gave me a lot of pleasure and that I will recommend to you.

This was the first, a book Judy brought home from the library.

Now don't sneer, while Elvis plays a large part, it's really a history of the entertainment industry in Las Vegas.

It tells some of the stories about the mob's influence over the casinos back in the early days, spends quite a bit of time on the Rat Pack days of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, and details the days when you could see big name entertainers working the Vegas lounges.

(I once saw Della Reese do her show and all it cost me was the price of a drink.)

There are stories about the various entertainment bookers who ruled the roost.

And then Elvis came, after his movie career was drawing to a dismal close, and re-invented Las Vegas with his powerful show with two singing groups, a rhythm combo and a 40 piece orchestra backing him.

And yes, it continues on to the later period when he was bored with doing the same old shows in a greatly expanded jumpsuit to accomodate his ballooning weight, his drug abuse and his eventual death back home in Graceland.

It's a fascinating read.

Then on to an entirely different world with my second selection.

Oliver Darkshire began as an apprentice at Sotheran's, a London- based institution dating back to its founding in York in 1761 and then a move to London in 1815.

Selling rare books and prints in a dusty old bookstore might sound like a boor to you but Darkshire tells of his days there with wry humor (I suppose I should spell that humour) that sometimes borders on slapstick.

I loved it because my wife and I owned and ran a bookstore dealing in new and used books for seven years before we realized the truth in the old saying about how to make a million dollars in the book business: start with two million.

But I think you don't need to have been in the book business to enjoy Darkshire's tales of some of the weird customers and equally strange fellow employees in his story.

All you need is a sense of humor/humour.

HOW (not) TO PHOTOGRAPH A CAT

A little less than three months ago we (Judy) adopted a 7 year old cat after swearing that our last cat would be just that: our last cat.

But people who have lived with cats virtually all of our lives just ignore those bold statements.

So a small black cat came home with us.

Since then I've only blogged about her once, I think.

This morning I set out to change that and update you, my Gentle Readers, on her progress.

So first I had to photograph her.

My first attempt was an obvious failure.

The flash was on and the glare was awful.

So I sat down in my recliner, put her favorite pillow on my lap and called to her, "Here, Sweetie-Pie".

She immediately came running and jumped up on the pillow.

But she had her back to the camera.

I began maneuvering around, trying to get a shot of her looking lovingly into the lens.

You know how that goes.

Cats seemingly don't like to have their photograph taken.

In desperation I took a picture of part of her that is usually in motion but had gone strangely quiet.

Then I got the inspiration to focus on her head (turned away, of course) and touched her gently on one flank which usually draws her attention.

This time I got her frontally at last but with her ears cocked and her eyes glaring I decided this would be the last of my attempts.

We both repaired to the living room and I watched television for awhile.

Then a bit later I glanced over at her lying next to me on the couch and got the shot I'd been trying for.

May I present the beauty queen herself, Miss Sweetie-Pie.

A short time later, apparently exhausted by her photo session, she curled up for a nap.

A cat-nap.

GROWTH

Some of you old-timers may remember a "cowboy" born in New York City who came to Arizona to engage in ranching, drinking and politics.

With his mouthy expressions, he became a legend.

Sam Steiger was elected to the Arizona State Senate and later to Congress, where he served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He also served as Mayor of Prescott after losing several other elections.

And the controversial Steiger allegedly referred to Prescott Valley as "Jackass Flats".

But that was then and this is now.

I wonder what he'd think of it today.

Prescott Valley has passed Steiger's old stomping grounds of Prescott in population and it's growing by leaps and bounds.

A huge building project is underway just steps away from the Town Center.

This is only the parking garage.

When Legado, as the project is known, is completed next year there will be 329 new apartments, a 5,000 square foot rooftop restaurant open to the public and 8,000 square feet of commercial real estate available at ground level.

The design is called a Texas Wrap, where the housing and commercial spaces will surround the parking garage.

It's right across the street from the town's big event center and walking distance from shopping, medical offices, and entertainment.

Not bad for a place that still calls itself a "town" rather than the thriving city it has become.

Sam Steiger died back in 2012 but I wonder if the old curmudgeon would have changed his tune about "Jackass Flats".