A Few of My Favorite Things

Once my brother did a sermon on the 4th of July about the things he loves about America. that got me to thinking about what I would put on my list. I thought I would list some of my thoughts, and you can help by adding some of your own things by commenting. To Timothy I say sorry for the flagrant idea theft.


Things I Love About the USA! ( In no particular order!)

1. Mighty Mississippi River
2. King Cotton
3. Krystal Hamburgers
4. Pulled Pork Barbecue sandwiches
5. Broadway
6. Thin Man Movies
7. John Adams
8. Abigail Adams
9. Bill of Rights
10. NCAA Basketball March Madness
11. St. Clare Church (Portland Oregon)
12. Mt. Hood
13. Jonathan Apples
14. Michigan Blueberries
15. Fireworks on the 4th
16. John Phillip Sousa's marching music
17. That Barrack Obama was elected
18. Outdoor School in Oregon
19. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
20. Rogers and Hammerstein Musicals

I could go on and on. It may seem like I am more interested in eating than any thing else, but many of us are blessed to have enough to eat in this country. We even feed students free breakfasts and lunches, and a free public education is provided for all. I know fireworks originated in China, but I enjoy watching them . The fact that St. Clare is one of my favorite things speaks for the freedom of religion we enjoy in this country. With all the freedom we enjoy in this country we have many problems to iron out, but let's just take this day to reflect on all our many blessings!

Bubba Sleeps It Off

Bubba Liss Pie absolutley hates rain! The poor feline lives in the wrong place for that. Every winter he gets SAD, ( Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder)he refuses to go out. He sits and looks out the windows, and mutters. Yes, he can mutter! He occasionally will mutter things to the birds outside, and he mutters a "God Bless You!" to us when we sneeze. But , I digress.

Anyway, the Bubster adores hot weather. The hotter the better! The dog days of summer should be renamed the cat days of summer! When the weather reaches the nineties, which it rarely does, Bubba is in cat heaven! He goes outside, and refuses to come in even for water. He lounges around and sunbathes!

It's tricky to get him in at night, but necessary. I realize that some people leave their cats out all night, but we have coyotes that come out at night. They would make short work of Bubba.

It has been harder and harder to get him in at night. We usually shake our keys, and he comes running, as he does when he hears up get out of our car. He is so obedient that he will come in, but then he finds us a drag, and wants to go back out. He whines, and cries, and goes to stand by the door, and when that fails he runs all around the house at full speed. I find that kind of diverting, but the crying gets to me. So , last night I let him go back out as it wasn't dark yet. I told him , very sternly, to return at nightfall.

Well, midnight... no Bubba. One o'clock .... no Bubba. I got no sleep, I kept getting up and checking for Bubba. I think I disturbed Jim's sleep by doing this. Then... at three o'clock I decided I wouldn't get up again until the paper came. I actually fell asleep, but was awakened when the paper hit the door. I went and looked for Bubba and he was AWOL still!

I can't tell you how distressed I was! There has been a local cat that has gone missing, and they keep posting pictures of it! PACOG got up to get the paper at six, and there was the Bubster. We were so relieved, but still he is grounded let me tell you!

After keeping us up all night he spent the day napping. Jim speculates that he might have been at a Kitty Rave last night, and is sleeping it off! I think it was a Kitty Kegger. ( That's got a ring to it, doesn't it?)

Well, Jim and I are tired, but Bubba is now well rested.Check out the pics following!

Bubba Sleeps It Off

Bubba at ten am. Bubba at half past eleven. He has moved !

Bubba at 1PM. He's made it all around back to his original position.

Bubba Sleeps It Off

Bubba under the bed after ministered to.


Here is Bubba at 2:00 PM, when we came back from running errands. You might notice the bed is unmade. When I first got married I would come home from work to find the bed unmade. This would perturb me as we had a rule, which I instigated, that the last one out of the bed would make it. Jim explained that the bed was unmade, because Bubba had just gotten up. He hadn't had time to make it. (Actually, according to the rules, I guess that Bubba should have made it!)Anyway, three years later and I am reluctant to disturb the Bubster when he is sleeping. He looks so darn comfortable!You notice that he has made his way around to his original position. Now here is his picture at 3:00 PM, the flash woke him up. He cracked off some big yawns , which I couldn't capture.Since he was awakened he decided to get up and get a snack, and a cuddle with his dad. His dad found a sore place on his coat, and we ministered to him and put an antibiotic salve on there. The next pic is Bub at 3:20.....under the bed.

Stairway Garden

One of the reasons we love living in cool, rainy Oregon is the summer. Everyone comes out of their homes, looking a little pale, and takes advantage of the mild, sunny weather to enjoy the pleasure the mountains, lakes, and forests afford.

One other pleasure most Oregonians enjoy is gardening. Just because Jim and I live on the third floor of a three story condo unit there is no reason we shouldn't enjoy our God given right, as transplanted Oregonians, to plant!

Stairway Garden

Jim took a fancy to the hanging tomato planters. Take a look way up, up! he cleverly attached a swinging hinge where he can push it out to soak up more sunlight, and swing it in to water.

Stairway Garden

We have a private stairway with four landings. We have our vegetable containers planted amongst our flowers on the landings.