Feeling Bad For Bratfink And Sheldon....

It seems like it was just a few days ago that Bratfink and Sheldon had to make the decision to send one of their cats *over the rainbow bridge*.  But Smiggy was terribly ill and it was a wise, but sad, decision.  I've been there and I know how emotionally devastating it is.  But on the 18th they had to send their youngest cat, Loki, to join Smiggy.  It didn't seem like Loki was all that ill but I have no idea what the vet finally said was wrong with her.  She seemed to just have a cough, I believe.  But they had Loki from the time she was a tiny kitten and she had a lot of personality.  My heart just bleeds for the sadness they have experienced.  

Today was a very calm and peaceful day here at the Bratfarm.  The one tomato plant of the Beast's that had been planted at the same time the really productive on was has no taken off and is almost twice the size of the original one.  It's amazing what a little rain can do instead of the water from the hose.  It's full of blossoms and small tomatoes now, too.  I may even end up with some tomatoes to can from the five tomato plants he has.  Three are in the garden boxes we put up a couple years ago.

We were pulling weeds in the back box that the Beast hadn't hit yet and guess what I discovered?  Asparagus!  We thought we had pulled them all but I guess they spread, too.  This is only year one for them so I just cut them way down and they will be ready next year.  I pulled out a squash plant that looked awful and discovered there were a bunch of ants in a ball around the roots.  No wonder it looked so sick.  That was really another *leftover* from last year.  We didn't plant any squash this year.  I also found a jalapeno pepper plant and I left it since it had a few peppers on it.  Little ones but they will grow.  LOL.  I use jalapenos in some of my cooking sauces and my homemade salsa.  If we get enough tomatoes, that's how I plan on using them (and canning them, too).  I'm going to make the salsa like I should have done the last time.  I wanted to give some to others who might not have like it as spicy hot as *I* do but everyone that I gave it to was a bit disappointed.  They expected it to be hot.  That'll learn me....LOL.  

We still have a lot of weeds to pull since it was hot out and it takes it's toll on us old folks.  I checked my strawberries and have to pick some tomorrow.  They will be ready.

The Beast put Lady out in the yard and she didn't want to come in when Baron did so the Beast let her stay out there.  However, when the Beast got home from the store, she was in the garage, which means she found another way to get out of the yard.  He thought he had repaired all the loose boards but now he has to go around and inspect the fence again.    It's obvious that he hasn't found them all but clever Lady sure has.  She doesn't realize that we are trying to keep her safe.  She thinks it's a kind of game.

We are getting a lot of overcast weather that also hot and sticky feeling.  But at least there's no rain.  If it's raining at night, I haven't heard it.  There's been some thunder in the distance so someone is getting rain.  I hope it's not at the campground while the kids are there.  Rain puts a damper on things if both the kids are trapped in the camper.

It seems like this month has just flown by.  My birthday is next month (like I need to be a year older!) but at least it's at the end of the month (26th).  The Beast still hasn't taken the dogs to the vets but he hasn't felt well enough to manage both dogs.  I offered to go with him to help but he said it wasn't necessary.  Sure!  I ask too many questions of the vet, as he well knows.  He feels he asks enough and doesn't want to piss her off.  They are trained to handle people who ask a lot of questions.  And they feel like a well informed *parent* of an animal will actually be less of a problem.  But he doesn't believe me.  Oh well.  Let him learn.  I am sure the vet warns him of some of the downsides of treatments.  Baron's surgery could actually kill him.  You never know what anesthesia will do to an animal but they usually use as much care and caution as they would on a human.  But you cross your fingers nonetheless.

Time to post this.  Love you all.  Hope you had a good day and a better one tomorrow.  ***Hugs***