Avocado Sightings....

We had an avocado tree when I was a child. In those days, getting an avocado east of... oh... Nevada, let's say, was nigh on to impossible. We had so many that they often sat on the ground, unused. This was before the popularity of Guacamole, or even serving avocados in any other way than nekkid... (a little salt, a little pepper... maybe a little dressing??).

We had relatives from 'back east' on year, and they were astounded by the availability of this yummy fruit that they wanted to take a bunch home with them. If I remember correctly, they were traveling by train, as this was in the late 40's- early 50's. I think they many have taken some home with them, but had a long way to go...

If this was my Aunt, then shipping could be done by the Coast Guard. While they were here, they purchased a china service that was going to be shipped home for them.

My Mom (or Dad) had a great idea... they packed very green avocados around the chinaware and filled the box with them.

Great idea..

Lousy execution..

You see..

The shipment was delayed...

The avocados ripened...

and softened...

and what arrived was a box full of Guacamole covered China bits and pieces...


The good news is, when I was in Hawaii, I learned a bunch of nifty ways to serve avocados (which are huge and very round in Hawaii)...

I know.. I know.. this has nothing to do with the story, but it has everything to do with ME!

(and yes, it is all about me (grin)).

Saga of the Avocado Tree...

This is my avocado tree (taken at night in the rain)

This is a short story on a long wait...

I've been in this house for 24 years. eep! Sounds strange to say that... kind of takes away from my free spirit don't tie me down roving hippie image, doesn't it...

Anyways... I started planting trees, and somewhere around.. oh... 15 years or so (give or take a few), my sister gave me an avocado tree. It was GUARANTEED to bear avocados.

This month I got my first avocado! The gardener guy was sprucing up the tree and I was telling him about the no avocado saga and he said..

You've got one...

MY FIRST!

(hmm... reminds me of a conversation with my Doctor once.. but that's another story (snicker)).


I don't know why it took so long. I did go out and beat it with a bat last year (I was told it might help) but always figured it was too windy on this hill for the avocados to stick.

I finally picked it today, worrying that the wind, cold and hard rain might knock it off the tree and one of the night animals might eat it... plus, it's large enough.

Look..

My first avocado!







Now to find the other two I saw that day...

They're hiding..

General Malaise...

He's a bitch of a general, that's for sure!

I was going to talk about the unholiday feelings that have dogged me since.. oh... October or so. You know, the "this little piggy cried ennui all the day long" kind of thing? Having taken an unofficial poll or two, I found I was not alone, that many people had many of the same feelings...

But then Baby Kitty walked out the front door...

Talk about a pick me up!

She came back, even all by herself (with a little help from me), but it was a warning... SOME IDIOT must not have closed the screen door properly... Oh.. wait... I live alone...

hmm.....

Anyways, the good news is that, when I looked and saw that the door was open, Big Kitty was just sitting there, looking out, but not leaving.

And Baby Kitty ain't getting another chance again!

But today was exciting for a while (grin).

Neatnick...

It's a good thing SOMEBODY is neat around here..

I think it's Baby Kitty. I walked in 'their room' and saw this little line of toys...

I had nothing to do with it...

it's jussst a little creepy.

no..

really...

AND, Big Kitty growls... like a dog...

I've never had a cat that growled before. I've had ones that had those low cries for strangers and bird calls and mating calls..

but never one who growled...

it's kinda cool...





Oh...

and on another note.. a TV News Reporter stopped at my house tonight, looking for an address in the neighboring beach town (a common occurrence). When I asked him, like a nosy child, what the occasion, he hesitated and said, "they only send me on the sad ones"...

I knew immediately that it was about the mother and daughter who died in the ocean this week...

but I thought

What a sad job description...

And So It Begins....

Now this title could mean a lot of things, especially this time of year, but for now it still has to do with kitties..



Shades of Calamity! I found this on the bed the other day.... I think it's baby kitty who is marking her place on the bed, or whatever reason she may have that needs a mousie...

sound familiar?

The kitties are just too much, and have brought great joy to my life, which was sorely in need... so they are getting more exposure RIGHT NOW...



They have both gained weight and bulked up a little (a LITTLE?? Big Kitty is downright heavy) but they still both fit on the ottoman... sort of. They groom each other whenever they can, but it usually ends in rolling around on the floor.




Baby Kitty (and I'm thinking of naming them Lucy and Ethel, but calling them whatever comes to mind (sweet pea, sweetie, big kitty, baby kitty.. etc. )) anyways, Baby Kitty is the burrower, burying herself in anything she can find. Big kitty is more wary. I think Big Kitty's life was hard before me. She cries in her sleep, and cries to find us when she wakes up... and lately, I've been hearing this muffled crying as she comes down the hall with the VERY realistic mouse she got for Christmas...




She is very proud of herself!






I got a couple of those little donut beds for them and they love them, but really don't fit (rofl!) .. here is a picture of each..














and one more picture of the squirrel show... notice how bold and mean the squirrel has become, realizing that no matter how many times Baby Kitty tries to pounce on it, she can't!











and, at last, the sunset picture from Daniel Sofer that I promised..










isn't it pretty??






Oh yeah.. and I will try to blog regularly ..

no..

really!

To Tide You Over..

I'm going to post... TOMORROW, if I get my Shtuff together...

until then,

two more sunsets from Daniel Sofer

Ok... blogger won't load images now..

so here's an old one!