New Babies!

The Copeland Street family just got a little bigger this past weekend. We have added Ponyo and Picchu, two short-haired kittens.

It's been over a year since we had to say "goodbye" to Booger, the Queen B. I didn't really want a new cat after her. We had such a way of communicating and so many memories together. I didn't think a new cat would replace that, I just also felt more that I loved Boogs more than I loved cats in general. You know when you have that special relationship with a beloved pet that transcends them being an animal? They are family, they are your best friend, your witness to life's many changes.

A friend of mine a few weeks ago posted kitten pictures on Facebook and I casually said we should get one to Jovi. Well, here we are again. The litter box, the crazies, the little kitten bites and scratches, I had completely forgotten how much I truly just love cats. I love these little monsters.

Picchu and Ponyo

Important Public Health Announcement

I'm interrupting my normal blog for an important public service announcement:

I Stand Corrected

OK, so even without the beautiful, warm sunshine today, if some alien were dropped here right now they would know it is spring. How? The length of the days. Daylight before I wake up and sun setting just as I am going to bed. Fabulous.

Gleaning the Garden

OK, so it's that in between season when I'm waiting for the ground to dry enough to plant some veggies and it never seems to get there. If someone were dropped into the PacNW from space, they would have no idea what season it is right now. Sprinter still? So, I'm gleaning the garden. Little baby garlic bulbs - so many I might as well have some now. Chives are up and aplenty as is the parsley. There is chard again finally and in abundance so we can have greens. Best of all, the mint is back. For a few months we'll have tender, dark mint for tea. Nothing like fresh mint versus dry. So, this morning I made a nearly free breakfast frittata for the family and mint tea (with a bit of lemon balm) for the nephew and I. The eggs were a present from a friend. We also had a broccoli plant that we let overwinter which has sprouted a few tiny fresh growths. I cut those off and the stalks are tender enough to impart a broccoli flavor and some darker green and purple color without the bitterness of an older stalk. 

It's Spring, Today

If the weather's not convinced that it's May, the flowers and plants are. I'm super excited that all of the native plants I put in the rain garden last fall are actually back up now and growing strong! I am determined to get more natives this fall again as they are half price and require NO work throughout winter. If planted in the spring, they require watering to keep them going and they cost twice as much!

Here is a photo of the Soloman's Seal. I've also included a picture of the purple Hellebore a friend gave us from her yard (free!).