Mice and Cats and Plants, Oh My!

I like this thing where my posts are just a string of unrelated items. It takes the imaginary pressure off and means I wind up having more to say. And the pictures don’t really need to have much to do with the words:

– A good remedy for work-related frustration is home-demolition. I used a hammer to knock down most of the ceiling tiles in my basement today, and it was partly invigorating and partly gross. There was a looot of mouse poo up there, and three neatly pressed mouse suits. When I came upstairs (to have a hot shower), the cats were huddled together, their eyes wide. What on earth was I doing to their basement?
– Speaking of the cats, they don’t get much in the way of table scraps, but Beany likes to lick out the bowl after I’ve had yogurt or ice cream. She’s very patient, and she knows that when she hears the spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl, it’s nearly her turn. She waits politely until I put it in front of her. Booty seems to have picked up on her trick, but he’s less polite. Last time he heard the spoon, he started shouting ‘dibs’.
– I haven’t had a big garden update recently, but I continue to be amazed by the side yard. The fruit/veggies love it, and I put it down to loads of sunshine and mulch. You can see in that first link how the cantaloupe vines have taken up nearly the entire width of the yard, ignoring my need for a path. The black-eyed susans seem to be doing well, despite the cantaloupe’s enthusiasm. And look how big this Brandywine tomato plant is. I finally propped it up (a bit haphazardly, I admit), and I can’t believe it used to be a tiny, spindly thing. And, of course, the Striped Cavern remains ridiculously prolific. A cluster of six tomatoes! I’ve never seen that except on cherries. Amazing.

– We’re getting some much-needed rain right now. It’s funny how different this summer has been for different parts of the country. We’ve had a few hot weeks, but on the whole, it was very tolerable (although VERY dry), which is unusual. The season was late in really warming up, and if the extended forecast is anything to go by, it looks like we’re already starting to cool down again. I wore a sweatshirt in my (unairconditioned) house yesterday and slept with TWO quilts.
– I have two things to show you, if I can get my act together. I’ve printed up copies of my new gardening zine, and I made what’s possibly the most fabulous travel bag ever (that I’ve made). I’m very excited to take it to Duluth! So look for those things. . . soon. . . ish.