Monsoon (or lack thereof)

The days start clear with sunny and humid mornings. As the day progresses, the clouds build up and the heat soars. Then a rumble and a flash and some wind might appear. Then if you are lucky, two drops fall from the sky and the clouds flow away again to leave clear skies for morning. We have had two good rains this season. One left us with one inch of rain and one brought two inches. We have had a few other small rains too. Other parts of the city have gotten more and to the south and west, they have had quite a good rainy season.
Our 'garden' is prospering and the rain helps. All the aloes have babies and a couple of the agaves do too. The Lantanas around the corner are growing big and flowering. The other two had a problem and are slowly recovering. Hopefully this winter we receive lots of rain again so our plants will be firmly established and we will not need to water as much next summer. Although Wayne likes the exercise he gets from hand watering all the plants.
Our cats are looking forward to the cooler days when they will be able to go outside on the patio again.

Cats

My two cats are settling into life with me, but they are not really getting along still. They fight (although it might be just really aggressive play) at intervals. In general they have staked out their territories, and will sometimes each claim one spot at different times during the day so the other cat doesn't have exclusive rights to it! Rowen is carmel colored underneath with leopard spots on her belly with a striped brown on her back. Her fur is short and shiny, but each hair has all different bands on color on it; very interesting to look at when I find them everywhere. Ro-Ro is extremely affectionate and especially loves her belly rubbed. Bandita is long haired with a fluffy tail that she uses so expressively. She is dark with patches of white and brown at unexpected places. When you pet her, her fur feels like mist against your hand and she is so lightweight that she barely makes a dent when she sits on the couch. She loves to play and I have some yarn tied to a stick that is her favorite toy.

I am enjoying getting to know them and have loved having them to come home to after a stressful day at work!

Dozer the Dog

Dozer is doing well. only one accident so far in the house. he is trying to work his way up the chain in the family by intimidating Noelle and William. we are walking every day and playing several times. short spurts because of the heat.

I want Noelle to be able to walk him so we are working on that skill. she needs to be able to control him so he cannot pull her off her feet.

Now the wedding

my big son gets married in about 3 weeks. we are getting some things ready, the other boys need to be measured for shirts and vests with jeans and boots to be bought, our dresses are bought so the girls just need to decide on what to do with our hair. the dog is doing well and we are working on getting back into a school schedule.

Dozer the dog

we are getting a dog! he is a silver lab we are adopting from a friend who needs to simplify. we are excited. he is 6 months old and has had a good start on training (potty, sitting, etc) so we will just need to continue the training in Texas.