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".

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Hey, you over there, with your head in the freezer section of your refrigerator!

That only helps for a little while, y'know.

Okay, okay, it's hot.

But if you lived in Arizona, like I do, you'd know that's normal.

It's July, for cryin' out loud.

What did you expect?

Oh, all right, I know you've had a tough week so let me start off this Friday's festivities with something to cool you down.

All right, all right, you know when you see those Trekkies that it's all over for another week.

Now try not to tantalize with thoughtlessness or tempetuousness, put aside your tenaciousness about tatterdemalions, attempt instead to be truehearted and transcendent.

In other words, take it from Taylor and have yourselves a traditionally terrific weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . now where did she go . . . )

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH OF JULY

 

So here it is again.

The day we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation.

Of course quite a few of our ancestors had been coming here for over a hundred years.

And, across the pond (as the Atlantic Ocean is whimsically called), they have a different view on the day.

Nevertheless, we shall celebrate with parades, flag waving, grilling and consuming vast amounts of alcohol, and then the fireworks.

Some folks got an early start on that.

Prescott, for example, had their big fireworks show last weekend.

And I heard 5 or six explosions and saw flashes in the sky here last night.

Those, of course, are illegal and, like someone who set some off just before the Prescott show and nearby, they started a brush fire.

It's dry out there, folks.

Leave it to the professionals.

But anyway here's one more tip of the hat (and the glass?) to our 247th birthday.

THE HEAT IS ON

 Here in the United States of America the July 4th weekend is in full swing.

Even with the temperature soaring.

Depending on whose website you check, our temperature is supposed to peak today at anywhere from 95 to 102 and it's supposed to reach 113 in not-too-far-away Phoenix.

For those of you in the rest of the world on the Celsius scale that's 35 to 45 degrees.

Maybe I should just think in Celsius.

It seems much cooler.

Anyway if you're anywhere where the mercury is rising beyond comfort take the advice of the experts.

And to keep my mind off the heat I've been writing poems.

Here's one of them.

Roses is red,

Violets is purple.

My darlin's sweet,

Just like maple syrup'l.

Hmmm, maybe that's why my Canadian friends sent me south.

If you're here in the U S of A, stay cool, hydrated, safe and sane as we celebrate our nation's independence.

In the rest of the world, just ignore we rowdies and do whatever you like.

TO OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBORS

 Happy Canada Day!

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Well, gosh, how are you all doing?

I hope your week has been better than mine.

Except in the food department.

I can't complain about the food department.

The mercury is set to climb into the high 90's for a few days.

Just in time for the Fourth of July celebrations.

Kinda makes one wish he lived in England.

But you don't want to hear all that so let's get on with the business of the day.

And those are the jokes, folks.

Have yourselves a wonderful weekend and ALWAYS remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(. . . oh, oh . . .)

AN IDLE THOUGHT

4:20 p.m. today

 Prescott Valley, Arizona - 89 degrees F.

Phoenix, Arizona - 104 degrees F.