Homeward Bound...

 

If you said, "Simon and Garfunkel, 1966, from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Thyme," you get 15 bonus points.  If you said, "A Disney movie from 1993, based on the 1963 movie and 1961 novel The Incredible Journey, featuring 2 dogs and a cat," you get an additional 15 bonus points. 

If you asked, "Steph and Dan are finally coming home?" you are right on, but no bonus points.  We heard from them this morning: they are on the plane leaving London; 11 hours to Phoenix.  Yep, a long, non-stop flight.  No doubt they will be exhausted.  Further no doubt that the people and kitties in our households will be anxious to have them home.

This is the longest time off and travel that they have had in a very long time.  A celebration of their 25th anniversary.  Joan and I have been taking care of their kitties and making sure they have had some regular human interaction.  I do the feeding, Joan has been handling litter duties... it's a lot when you have 5 kitties to care for compared to the 2 that you are used to.  We have been glad to help so Steph and Dan could have a good time in Portugal, without concerns of what is happening at home.

I let Steph know this morning that all the kitties are doing fine, but anxious to see their Mom and Dad.  From the regular updates we have been getting from Steph, it sounds like they have had a lot of fun.

 I have been letting Steph know that we took the kitties camping, out for group walks, and taking the scooters to get ice cream.  She's pretty sure I'm kidding.  Probably.

 

Some Assembly Required...

 

Yeah, I'm kidding - a bunch of assembly required.  And, we were totally good with that.

Are you writing about furniture?  Music, scoots and motorcycles, cats and more cats, RVing, boating, fun (?) summer jobs... and, you're writing about furniture?  Not just regular ol' furniture, but patio furniture?

Well, yeah.  Because like all of that stuff, it's something Joan and I do together.  Getting new patio furniture was Joan's idea, but I was onboard right away - the stuff we bought when we first moved into this house was nice, but the sun and heat really took a toll on it.  Joan made covers for the arms and back of the chairs and the couch to try to get it to last a bit longer.  But, it wasn't going to make it.

We shopped around for furniture, but couldn't find exactly what we wanted.  Together, we decided that it needed to be that HDPE stuff.  But, with comfortable cushions.  She found exactly what we were looking for on-line... for less than half of what we expected to pay... but, we had to put it together ourselves.

For full disclosure, Joan got us a chair (HDPE) to match our tall table and chairs, and two Adirondack chairs for Steph and Dan (also HDPE) that she put together on her own at times while I was making music with the guys.  I'm here to participate this time.

  That's what the first chair looked like; but with the cushions from the old plastic wicker, which are nicer than what this new furniture came with.  Probably.  Those new cushions were vacuum sealed and flat as a pancake - the instructions say to let it "air up" for at least 24 hours.  So, we'll see.

Here's what the old furniture looked like...

 We worked on that first chair together, then Joan took one while I took another...

 Before taking on assembling the couch, we took a break for lunch.  Joan surprised me with requesting...

 Yep, a bit of nostalgia: Whataburger.  We talked a bit about our time in Texas.  I have stronger feelings for it than she does.

Then, back to work...

 

 And, the final result... 

 I think it looks good, it is comfortable, and there is no doubt it will hold up better than the old stuff.

And, we're coming in to the cooler season, so we'll get to spend more time out there.

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One more "project" to get done today: we bought some solar lights a couple months ago, to hang under the pergola.  It has been too hot to mess with that.  Until now.  Joan did the ladder work, I was ground support.  We knocked that anticipated hour-long job out in just over 3 hours.  A lot of measuring and maneuvering to get 42' of lights to look symmetric on a 12x24' pergola...

 Tomorrow is "bulk trash" day in our community, so we got all the old patio furniture and some other stuff out to the curb.  The patio is looking good.

 

Two Sleeps...

 

Not to be confused with Ten Sleep, which is a small community in Wyoming.

This morning, while feeding and giving meds to Steph and Dan's kitties, I told them, "Your Mom and Dad will be home in two sleeps."  They were excited.  Tango said, "I can't wait to jump into their arms."  Tasha said, "I'll probably ignore them to show how much I missed them."  Alfie said, "I'll probably poop by the front door - they like that."  In the words of my friend, Earl: "Cats are weird."

Late yesterday afternoon, the new patio furniture arrived.  Not like what we've bought from American Furniture Warehouse, where it shows up assembled - Joan ordered this from Amazon...

 Three heavy boxes.  HDPE sofa, two chairs, and a coffee table.  Some assembly required... and by "some," I mean every bit of it.  This will replace the patio furniture we bought 3 years ago that has disintegrated in the sun and heat.  That stuff will go out Monday in our community bulk trash pick up.  That's why we went with the HDPE stuff.  American Furniture Warehouse didn't have this in a low patio set, so Joan looked around.

We have a tall outdoor table and chairs made from the HDPE stuff, and it has held up well in the brutal sun here.  So, we have some work ahead of us.  The HDPE is also known as Polywood - the composite material does not rot, crack, splinter, peel, or rust.  Just the thing for here in the desert.

While taking Murphy outside this morning, I got a notice that my Meta Smart Glasses need an update.  Easy enough: press a button in the app on my phone and the rest happens without any further input.  Both pair were due...

 Besides being "smart," they are both good sunglasses.  The pair I have on in the photo above are Oakleys.  The other pair have transition lenses, which go from clear to tinted in the sunlight.  

 

Brazilian...

 

Tell me you didn't wax... um... anything, Jim.

OK, I didn't wax anything.  Nor did I shave... um... anything.  Joan is the one that brought up Brazilian.  "So, how do you feel about Brazilian?"  I will not confirm nor deny anyone else in the family waxing or shaving... um... anything.

She was talking about a Brazilian steakhouse.  As in: they keep bringing different kinds of meats to your table... until you explode or develop the meat sweats.  They bring freshly grilled meat on a skewer to your table and carve you off a piece.  You have what looks like a drink coaster that is red on one side and green on the other side.  As long as you leave that the green side up, they will continue coming to your table to see if you'd like to try... beef (lots of beef), lamb, pork, and chicken.  There is also a large buffet setting where you help yourself to salads, fruit, sides (like potatoes, rice, Brazilian Stroganoff, lobster bisque, and probably some other stuff I missed.

This was a birthday celebration meal.  Yes, someone in our family is having a birthday today, but this Brazilian meat extravaganza was yesterday, because we need to be around the house today.  Our first time at this steakhouse, Gelato Brazilian Steakhouse, in Chandler...

 

 The meal was great, the atmosphere nice, and the service excellent.  I can't say we wanted for anything.  An expensive lunch, and well-worth it.  Our reservation was 1:00 pm and we were there for about an hour and 15 minutes.  To top off the meal, we ordered deserts.  Also tasty.  And no need for supper.

Of course, they are open for supper, but being little old people (not because of anyone's birthday), we tend to do our main meal of the day for lunch.

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Way to bury the lead, Jim.  Yes, today is my Honey's birthday.  The grandkitties sang her Happy Birthday, after they had breakfast, of course.  We both say that we don't want any fuss on our birthdays, but it is nice to have a little fuss.

So Many Kitties...

 

You have seen me write: "Two; seems like a lot more."  While kitty-sitting the 3 grandcats, it is: "5 - who can keep track??"

We're all doing fine.  I send Steph a kitty update every morning, after their 3 get breakfast.  With Steph and Dan in Portugal, they are 8 hours behind us for the time zones.  So, no evening update.

Here are the photos from this morning's update...

That is Tasha above.  Alfie below, patiently awaiting his morning meds...

 Where's Tango?  I'm getting there.  He was shy this morning, so I didn't get a photo of him during the feeding/meds process.  He was visiting last night with our "open door policy" while Steph and Dan are gone...

 He and Stella are getting along fine...

 Alfie was checking out one of the towers at our place...

 He said, "I think this used to be mine."  He is right - it was a hand me down when Steph got a new tower.  Joan refurbished this one, and Murphy and Stella both use it.

I sent all those photos to Steph, along with this PS: "Some discussion about going out in the van this weekend.  Tasha wants to stay at a resort with a pool; apparently she ordered a new swimsuit from Amazon.  Alfie and Tango want to go hiking.  Our two want to just chill, since they have spent a lot of time entertaining the neighbor-cousins.  I told them “We’ll see.”  Nothing firm as of right now."

Yes, that is bullshit.  I just like to keep Steph entertained.  She also sends me a daily update, letting us know what they are doing.  Sounds like they are having a good time on their vacation.  She did respond to my latest update with: "2 humans, 5 cats in a van…what could go wrong?! 🫣"

We are at the halfway point in this kitty sitting.  Seems like it has been longer than that. 

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Here's Steph's latest update:

"We are now at our second location. The train ride was fun; felt very European! We are settled in at the resort and it is stunningly beautiful on the ocean! The first hotel was city swanky and this new one is resort swanky. We went to a restaurant on the beach and I ate the one item that wasn’t fish…chicken Caesar salad. Dan had fish and polenta cooked in fish juice! On top were more shelled and legged items from the ocean. I am certain you are making the same face I did when the server described it!! 🤣
Tomorrow at this time we should be back from our half day tour up the coast and I’ll have more fun fish stories to share. 
Love you all!!"

 

 

Check this out...

 

 It was 55º when I got up this morning.  After wrangling and feeding 5 cats, then getting morning pills for the humans laid out, it had gone up 3º by the time I got Murphy outside.  Sunny and near calm - it was glorious.  The high today is supposed to be 78º - such a welcome change after months of heat.

This is not meant to be just a weather report - getting outside when the temps are above 100º is downright unpleasant.  Potentially dangerous.  This change is refreshing.  Murph was enjoying it - he could lay in the sun instead of looking for shade.

Rehearsal today for 3 of the 4 Hip Replacements.  Podge is off gallivanting somewhere; won't be back until the day before our next gig.  We'll work on harmonies and song order today.  We're at Ron's house today, so it is an easy walk to lunch options.

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So, how is it going with all the kitties?  Thanks for asking.  On the bright side, they all get along.  The boys go back and forth between the two homes, the girls each stay in their respective house.  Last night, I mentioned to Joan that Tasha has a matte in her fur, on her back.  Tasha let Joan brush her; those two have a special connection.  Steph says the she gets bit when she tries to brush Tasha.  The grande dame (she is the biggest of all 5 cats) felt silky when Joan was done with her.  If we are feeling brave, we may try for brushing her belly tonight. 

Can You Tell?

 

Can you tell when your furry family member isn't happy?

I know what you're thinking: "You adore your cats.  You dote on them.  They get good food, great toys, and lots of human interaction."  All true.  We give them a good life and they pretty much get what they want.

Cats like routine.  And, this morning, the routine was off: Dad went next door and fed the neighbor cats first; and then, Murphy didn't get to go outside after he had breakfast.  No, I wasn't being derelict in my duties... I have been tasked with feeding our grandcats while Steph and Dan are vacationing in Portugal, and it was raining out.

Murphy's routine was off...

 Murph couldn't go outside because of the rain.  When the rain did stop, it was blustery out.  South Mountain was shrouded in the clouds...

After things dried up, somewhat, I did take the furry boy outside.  A wind gust hit him - big flinch...

 We walked to the neighbor's yard - Murph had to look in the patio door to see what his cousin-cats were doing...

 Nothing.  The neighbor cats were doing nothing.  That dark blob on the other side of the glass is Alfie, and he was sound asleep.  He likes to lay in the sun that generally comes in that glass door in the morning.  No sun.

Murph and I continued our walk - the pavers on the north side of the house weren't completely dry, yet...

 He is not dainty - water/wet doesn't bother him.  We walked back around to our patio.  Little Stella always waits for us by the patio door...

 She has no desire to be outside; she lived it as a kitten and likes the security and comfort of her house.  In the meantime, Murphy was happy to be outside...

 He is a happy boy, but that face doesn't look much different from his not-happy face.  ;-)

 Back inside, the next part of their routine, after going outside: Churu treats!  They are both happy.  Yeah, I can tell.

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While Steph and Dan are gone, we are giving the grandcats access to our place, if they want to come visit...

 That's Stella in the foreground, Alfie and Tango in the back.  Yes, Alfie is in Stella's "travel condo" (it has a section that folds out); she is OK with sharing.

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Murphy got some more outdoor time just before sunset...

 That was the sky looking to the west.  The clouds are breaking to the west; still solid to the east.  The overnight low is supposed to be 55º.  Now I believe fall is here.