Prince Albert free again...

Today we adopted a cat from Vashon Island Pet Protectors. He is likely a Maine Coon. He has six toes on each front paw and carries the bi-level coat. He has an extremely pleasent disposition. Jodi, our Aussie Terrier was not too well behaved, perhaps because Bruce usually tells her to chase after cats, but we are attempting to introduce them slowly. I think they might be the best of pals soon. He is adapting to the house pretty well, first checking out where the rats have been coming in from the outside, then assuming space under the couch in the living room.

He was picked up as a stray although his house manners and immediate friendly manner suggest he could be just a wayward kitty. He's welcome to stay here until then or indefinately as situations deem. He is neutered with a good disposition and seemingly healthy constitution; about four years old.

St. Valentine's color is Green this year...

I've not had the inclination to post many pictures as it is just easier to link to my Photobucket. Bruce and I have both been working in the back yard, so these images are our Valentine to you. It is exciting to see bulbs I planted last year return in larger numbers and with such vigor. I gathered a bunch of seed from pods last fall, so there will be a return of other plants as well.

Bruce also helped me place an order with Spring Hill Nursery which I suspect will arrive in about a month. Although I don't have the space right now, I have many new beds in mind and with some planning I will have the new plants placed to maximize the impact of thier blooms. I intend to keep posting images of flowers growing here, so as long as I can replace our camera which is aging rapidly there should be lots of photos.

My Photobucket

Which witch?

Bruce and I have been having a mini Anjelica Huston fest. Last month we watched two the Addams Family movies and two days ago we watched The Witches which is a favorite movie on several counts besides her. Its based on a Roald Dahl book, and in his way of foreshadowing the climax of the movie he takes a simple notion, like a hotel setting out traps for rodents, and blows it all out of proportion with the rest of the story.

By the time you are ready for the witches to be vanquished everything follows in a logical fashion, the witches get a taste of their own poison and become mice. There even seems to be an embedded moral message, which seems anti-ethical to Dahl's vision but I suspect was there all along (I just can't remember if it is in the book), as a maid who's been dallying with her boss also succumbs to the potion. Grand hilarity ensues and I like the fact that the Grandma seems identical to the witches, save for her extreme prejudice against them. Extreme prejudice seems the only thing I can find objectionable at all about Dahl's writing for children.

If that is not all, Jane Horricks, known as "Bubble" in Absolutely Fabulous and the star of Little Voice, plays the head witch's assistant who eventually quits out of protest for being excluded, therefore becoming a good witch and bringing the ending around full circle. A decently executed movie by the Henson Studio which I can recommend to any cynical adult...and I can too attest that all freshly cleaned children do smell like dog-do.