The Last Day

Wow!  Trying to keep up with the Holidays hasn't left much time to update my blogs! I'm so ashamed! And my very good friend, Miss Radish (of http://www.radishandrose.blogspot.com/ fame) keeps reminding me that she is sick and tired of continuously checking and rechecking both the Poor Deby and Leapin Lilly sites only to see the SAME OLD POST, day after day after day... So, I''m resolving to make a New Year's Resolution to create new posts on a very regular basis. In fact, I've been working out a top secret schedule of regular "feature posts" to be debuted very soon. More about that another time. For now, I would like to share this timely article from the New York Times. This being the Last Day of 2009, it seems appropriate:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/12/31/opinion/20091231_opart.html

Enjoy, and a Happy New Year full of health, happiness, love, joy, and lots of good words to everyone!

Click Click Click Click Camera Song

photo: Bishop Allen

click click click click on the link below to enjoy a toe-tappin' video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LpmrZbTu1o

It's a Dog Eat Dog World...

The cats have been giving me some grief about not having any "face time" on this blog. They said,

"It's all about the dogs, all the time. Leapin' Lilly this, and Leapin' Lilly that. We want our 15 minutes of fame and we want it Now!!"

Since I know how cats are and that I will have to sleep with one eye open for the rest of my life if they don't get their way, I'm going to give them what they want. (I mean, just look at those eyes. The intense stare. The slightly lowered and pulled back ear. The signs are all there: Danger! Danger! Danger!)

So now, I present the portion of this blog dedicated to our cats who remind me on a daily basis to , uh, enjoy the good things in life. Stuff like jumping up on the kitchen table, scratching on the furniture, climbing up the curtains, trying to "escape" to the outside (or to the garage to "hide" under the car), swatting the other cats (and dogs...and people), biting the other cats (and dogs... and people), and taking lots and lots and lots of naps. And, always, always keeping their people guessing.

First, a proper introduction:

FELIX

ROSIE

ZIGGY

I must point out that cats can be very hard to figure out.

Sometimes they want to go out...

Sometimes, they want to come in...

They might not always get along...

But they don't stay mad for very long...

and are quick to kiss and make up.

Cats are very independent and can find plenty of things to do on their own.

Like trying to figure out where water comes from...

Or where the most comfortable place in the house to take a nap is...

Or where to find the most tasty snack...

What can be better than taking a nap in front of a nice toasty warm fire in your favorite box?

Or sharing a meal with your very best buddies?

Or just hanging out together and doing nothing?

There is one universal truth that all cats believe in...

And they'll yell it from the top of their lungs:

"DOGS ARE IDIOTS!!!!"

Well, most of the time, but not always.

all photos by Deby Alm http://www.flickr.com/photos/debyc/

How Does Your Garden Grow?

My husband, Dave, has the greatest garden in the world. It's not the biggest, fanciest garden, but he tends to it with love and pride every single day. I swear this is the reason the veggies we harvest for our daily meals are the best I've ever eaten.

The garden is located in our front yard 'cause that's where the sun is. And, living in Seattle, you take advantage of whatever sun you can get. Plus, it's kind of cool working in the garden and having neighbors stop and comment about how great the garden looks. One of our neighbors said he really liked this "pretty bird." (I noted that english was not his first language, so "pretty bird" may have had a totally different meaning in his native tongue!! Maybe "dopey" is a better fit?!) In any event, my main contribution to this garden comes in the form of "garden art"...

One testament to what a great guy I married is this tomato plant. Dave doesn't like tomatoes, but I do. So, when I brought home this little tiny tomato plant start, all I had to do was point to where I wanted it planted and he started digging the hole. He planted it and he waters it. I go out to the "Tomato Store" and pick fresh tomatoes whenever I want and they're oh so tasty delicious!

I guess I have to 'fess up and admit that I also forced Dave to plant Dahlia tubers. He didn't exactly know what the heck they were, but, I pointed, he planted, and we have both marveled at how spectacular these flowers have become. We have both taken many bouquets to our offices to share with our coworkers over the past weeks. And the blooms keep coming...

More views of the produce garden...

Did I mention the best part of this personal urban garden effort is that we get to eat the results? And, hey, with the cost of groceries today, especially produce, it's not such a bad thing.

Here's a preview of tonight's dinner preparation... all home grown, of course!

It wouldn't be a complete meal without, what else?... "Nellie's Garden" Dry Rose' wine from Chateau Ste. Michelle winery...

Thanks, Dave! Bon appetite!

all photos by Deby Alm http://www.flickr.com/photos/debyc/

Remember the Alamo!

I just returned from a business trip to San Antonio, Texas where it was 103-degrees on each of the 5 days I was there. It's a good thing we had our very own "103-degree heat wave" here in Seattle shortly before I went on my trip as I think that helped to "prepare" me a little bit. At least everything was air-conditioned in San Antonio, which is not the case in Seattle. We tend to melt like butter when the temperatures get above 85-degrees up here.



I stayed at the Marriott Riverwalk hotel directly across the street from the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. This was most convenient since it meant I didn't have far to walk in the sweltering heat to get to the conference.





At the end of each day of training sessions, I did venture out and explore the city a bit, spending most of my time in and around the Riverwalk neighborhood. With a large variety of shops, cafes, and people, Riverwalk had a lot to offer a tourista like myself.







I had breakfast at Schilo's Deli one morning. I think these pictures speak for themselves. YUM!!



(Don't click on this photo if you're hungry! The pancakes look good enough to eat!)

One evening I felt pretty adventurous and took a bus to the Market Square. I found some very festive Mexican restaurants there complete with singing minstrels, mariachi bands, and bakeries featuring wonderful Mexican sweet breads.

















I could not have ended my trip to San Antonio without seeing the Alamo and the nearby Cathedral of San Fernando. I had to wait and wait to get these photos without tourists in them as they are both pretty popular attractions.

The cathedral is spectacular at night:





The Alamo is definately worth remembering:




And, as Pee Wee sadly discovered in his Big Adventure, there is no basement in the Alamo!

all photos by Deby Alm http://www.flickr.com/photos/debyc/