THE LAST GIRL STANDING

After many years of being owned by cats, we have decided that when our last one crosses the Rainbow Bridge, that will be all.

Here is our last one.

The lovable Muggles, in black and white.

She has always favored SWMBO but she's taken to my pettings in recent days.

And without Blackwell to chase her, she's venturing out into the house more often, instead of just holing up on or under Judy's bed.

It's coming a bit late in her life.

She's 15 years old now.

But, after going through a health scare a couple of years ago she now seems healthier than ever.

And she talks more, DEMANDING that I pet her whenever I come near.

She has a loud raspy voice these days.

But she's still as soft and lovable as ever.

THE MURALIZED FENCE (continued)

I know, I know.

You're just keeping your silence because you know how important that is to the artist.

F.Y.I., SWMBO, aka Judy.

When she began it was just to daub some paint on a decaying board fence in our backyard and make it a bit more pleasant to sit out there with a cocktail in the cool (ha!) of the evening.

But then it grew.

And grew.

And grew.

Therefore, here are the latest photos just taken.

There are more and more trees and, lo and behold, a bobwire (barbed wire) fence!

More trees, a more defined lake, brush, a ridgeline . . .

And what's that down in the far corner?

Is it . . . a . . . tree?

Why indeed it is.

You might say she just has an abundance of green paint.

But she's a Hoosier girl.

She loves trees.

But it's not done yet.

There's more to come.

Stay tuned.

NEW (to me) MUSIC

I am indebted to the Food Editor of the New York Times, Sam Sifton, for introducing me to these wonderful musicians.

JUPITER AND OKWESS

Click the link and enjoy.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

So, Gentle Readers, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped below 4 percent, official news twister Rudy Goofy-ani will be crowing on cable news, football is back, and heat, fires and flooding are filling the news.

What's there to be happy about?

Oh, yeah, the Friday Funnies!

Okay, had enough?

Now my weekly benediction, please enjoy your blessed weekend, don't be bashful but bamboozle your friends and neighbors with bombastic, bewitching blowouts and always . . . always . . . remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THE BAKERY

The other day the BRD, after admiring the Cherry Clafoutis I made and blogged about recently, said she was going to get a big bunch of blueberries and trade some to me for the recipe.

I had mentioned in my blog that the recipe came from renowned pastry chef David Lebovitz and was readily available on the web.

But what the heck.

Free blueberries?

I quickly printed off a copy of the recipe and made the swap with her.

Here is her BLUEBERRY clafoutis.

We still had a handful or two of cherries left and SWMBO convinced me to make another one of the French desserts with them and some of the blueberries.

So here's mine.

Oh and a couple of loaves of English Muffin Bread that I whipped up after the clafoutis was done.

I'm finding great joy in baking as long as the recipes are easy and both of these fit that bill.

THE "GARDEN"

My blogging friend, Steve in London, has returned from his and Dave's week-long vacation in Cambodia and Vietnam and wrote today about the work he had to do in their amazing back yard.

He said he even had to mow the grass and stake up some of the plants and other tasks.

Which got me to thinking that I should write a short blog post about OUR garden, which has been doing quite well in our monsoon season.

It's not much when compared with Steve's verdant backyard.

Ours is just a few pots of herbs on our back patio.

But it's been supplying a good amount of basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, and mint.

I've never grown fresh herbs before and I'm learning about all I've missed.

I use some basil, some oregano and some parsley both in and on our Friday Night Pizzas and they give them an extra special kick.

Last night Judy made an Italian casserole out of some leftover pasta and red sauce that I had cooked up last week and she threw a handful of herbs into the middle of it, along with some mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.

It was wonderful!

By the way, do you know how to finish off a meal like that?

It may sound strange but it's a taste treat.

Just dunk your remaining slices of garlic toast in your glass of red wine before consuming them.

But back to the "garden".

Our cherry tomato plant is getting leggy but producing a lot of fruit.

And last night, Judy dug up the trumpet vine she had planted that wasn't doing well in the ground and replanted it in a pot next to the tomato plant.

She said that after getting a trim of dead leaves and being staked up and watered it was looking better.

I said maybe it was pining away out of loneliness and just needed a close neighbor.

Only time will tell.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

For those who care, yesterday's Cherry Clafoutis was scrumptious.

In fact, SWMBO just told me it is "drop dead wonderful".

High praise from a masterful home cook.

But we are not gathered here, Gentle Readers, to praise your (not so) humble choir director.

We are here to spread cheer throughout the land, and in fact, the world.

It is, you see, time for The Friday Funnies!

Okay, if you are now chuckling, chortling or perhaps guffawing, my work for the day is nearly over.

Except to wish you a warmhearted wish for a weekend complete with wondrous whimsicalities and weightless woolgatherings.

And watch out for the whippersnappers.

Oh yes, and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

I said HERE, KITTY-KITTY . . .

(oh, never mind)

HEY! I'M BAKIN' HERE!

Actually, Dustin Hoffman's Ratso never said that in Midnight Cowboy.

But I thought it seemed right for this blog post.

Today we're going to France, thanks to the former Chez Panisse pastry chef and now resident of Paris, David Lebovitz.

If you look over to the right, you can find a link to his blog.

But today is cherry season when there is an abundance of the wonderful fruit and the prices are low.

So what do we do with "just a bowl of cherries"?

We make a cherry clafoutis, that's what we do.

The classic French dessert can really puff up just before it comes out of the oven.

But once out on a cooling rack, it begins to sink rapidly, like a souffle.

There are a ton of recipes for this beauty on the World Wide Web.

Some say to pit the cherries, some say not to pit the cherries.

Lebovitz said to pit them but I was feeling lazy so they went in with the pits remaining.

Just have to remember they're in there when we're devouring this thing.

You can sprinkle the top with some powdered (confectioner's) sugar before you dive in, if you like.

As Lebovitz says, "..it's made to be a rustic, casual dessert, so feel free to personalize it."

Enjoy!

THE GUEST BLOGGER PONTIFICATES!

I don't know if you pay any attention to the amazingly clever titles I put on these posts but if you read this one you'd see that we have a guest blogger.

She is, in fact, SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed), the slightly amused wife of yours truly.

So, Judy, take it away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

While cleaning the grill for our last BBQ meal our wire-brush grill cleaner bit the dust.

I commented, "We need a new grill brush before next time.  I want to choose it."

So Bruce went to Walmart for some items today.

He came home with a monster tool that weighs about 2 pounds, has loops and teeth on one side and wire brush bristles on the other.

It looks like a weapon of war.

As I was examining and hefting this "tool", I noticed the pièce de résistance.

Protruding from the handle is A BEER BOTTLE OPENER!

Also known in some circles as a CHURCH KEY!

This tool was manufactured in China, of course.

It WAS from Walmart.

Do you realize that if the big tariffs take place against China, we may not be able to afford essential tools like this?

SPINNING OUT OF THE PAST

I was surprised to receive an email from my nephew Larry, of Minot, North Dakota today.

He said he had just finished restoring a bicycle that belonged to my cousin Cherie.

He had retrieved it from a loft in a shed that had to be torn down after a flood a few years ago.

Cherie said she believed the bike dated back to around 1949.  

When she (who just celebrated another birthday) and I were 9 years old!

The bicycle had a police bicycle license on it that was dated 1956.

Larry said everything on he bike was original except for the tires and that it now rode as good as new.

However, that was when bikes were bikes and he said at 52-plus pounds it was really only good for riding downhill!

And here's the real treat for me - a photo of Cherie and her bike along with my only sibling, my brother Wayne, who will turn 85 in less than a week!

Something about those Norsky North Dakotans seems to keep them young at any age.

CLOUD ON FIRE

It's only lit by the setting sun but it looks like a painting.

BAKING, MORE BAKING, GRILLING, FINE EATING

I began the day, after watching the final round of the British Open golf tournament aka "The Open", by baking a couple of loaves of English Muffin Bread.

Later in the day, SWMBO demonstrated her skill by making a Plum and Cherry Crumble.

And then, just to show off even more, she grilled chicken and corn on the cob this evening.

Dinner was incredible and we were so stuffed we have not yet sampled the fruit crumble dessert.

We have decided we may have that for breakfast tomorrow.

She said, "We're old now.  We can do that."

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Against all odds, and the latest Tweets, it is time once again to have a little fun and test those age wrinkles smile lines in our faces.

What better time than right now (time may differ depending on when you read this) for some advice about drinking, right?

Or dieting.

Or relaxation in public.

Or budgeting.

Well, I could go on and on but maybe I'll just take this advice on that.

Now one last bit of advice from the Catalyst: go out there and have a grand, gracious, grandiloquent, non-grating weekend full of ginning and grinning.

And don't forget to laugh!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh)