Daily Photo

I was kind of having a mini-meltdown this morning. I didn’t sleep well at all last night (I’ve started getting into Audible audio books and, anyway, long story), and the neurons just weren’t firing, so after struggling for two hours to string two coherent sentences together, I said, “Screw this! I need a break.”

So I drove a mile down the street to the Indian Valley Open Space Preserve, where I go sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

It’s awful perty out there…

I was only there for 10 minutes, but dang if those 10 minutes didn’t really help. I recorded this little audio clip with my phone. This is how the preserve sounds…

I would love to be able to take Tabs there for walks, but people take their dogs there, too, and I wouldn’t want to risk an off-leash run-in.

It’s so funny… Tabs thinks he’s a tough little lion, but he so could not hang on the preserve at night. We have lots of coyotes here, bobcats, raccoons and possibly black bears and mountain lions.

He’d be like, “Hey, guys, how’s everyone doing?” And they’d be looking at him like a plump snack.

I bet the folks in that house up there have a REALLY nice view…

It sure was nice and sunny today. Tabs scanned the hills, the awnings and every nook and cranny on the deck this afternoon. He’s convinced, as strange as it sounds, that birds are moving in on his turf, and by moving in, I mean moving in!

I think he thinks that a family of birds is nesting in that hanging planter there down below — the one next to the bird feeder. He was obsessed with that planter all day long.

Luckily, he’s mostly a ground-dwelling cat, perhaps due to his girth, and doesn’t try to jump up on things. He’s content waiting down below like a shark for one of the birds to fly a little too low…

If you know what I mean.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood birds have other plans for my deck gardening this year. So far they’ve destroyed three pots filled with cat grass seedlings and two large planters filled with radishes that had just begun to sprout.

Hmm… Looks like the cat grass is going to be grown indoors this year, and radishes just may be out.

Happy 4th of April, whee! Let’s pop some fireworks!

Don’t these cool flowers look like a fireworks display? I spotted them at Anthropologie a little earlier today.

They’re real. Not plastic. I don’t know what they are, though…

Speaking of Anthropologie, am I the only person who makes a beeline for the sale section as soon as they walk into the store? I’m always hoping to find something cute there, but alas, no luck today in that department.

I did like this green peplum top, but it wasn’t on sale. I think I’m going to wait and see if it gets marked down.

LOL! I really am my mother’s daughter…

After one of the heaviest storms we’ve had in a while (seriously, there was loud thunder, lightning and powerful gusts of wind) we have sunshine today, and Tabs insisted that we not squander the opportunity.

He wanted salad for lunch, as he often does. He likes to supplement his diet with greens, and we see some of the best this time of year, when the grass is still fresh and not too dry or woody.

He was pretty stoked about the whole idea. Because of the rains we’ve been having, he hasn’t been outside like this in more than a week.

Do you aspire to be the craziest cat lady of them all? Take your cat lady-ness to the next level by reading foreign language cat magazines.

Ideally, your magazine of choice should be plump with pictures of cats and contain speech bubbles (which you may or may not understand).

Profiles pages dedicated to individual kitties in their respective workplaces are great, too.

Obviously, cute kitten pics are a must. 🙂 Extra bonus points for sad tabby kittens, as they are (arguably) the best.

Your magazine may also include step-by-step instructions on how to construct clothing for your cat.

Consider crafting this custom couture outfit for your precious kitty, since those “One Size Fits All” cat costumes at Petco are a total joke.

Last, but not least, if there are any cartoons of cats dressed as ninjas, be sure to point them out to your husband while you “read” your magazine at night. 🙂

P.S. Anyone out there understand Japanese?? I would sure love to know what the title of this magazine is, LOL!