Petunias

It was a quick foray outside today to look for something blooming.There is a nursery in town that always carries a lot of  petunias in unusual color combinations. I like how their velvety surface shows in the picture. Evidence of my mental distraction is the fact that I completely forgot about the hibiscus right outside our bedroom door which is blooming madly and beautifully. It's not quite as hot today but still hot enough. 

There is a fire burning in Calistoga (the Pickett Fire) right over the hill from us in the same place where all the fires that have affected us have started. They seem to have a handle on it and although it is still growing some of the growth is being attributed to backfires and other fire control measures.  It is now 7% contained. There was quite a cloud of smoke over the hills last night but it seems to have changed with the wind because we haven't seen much smoke at all today. 

We went to Cafe Frida today where there were only four of us. Bob is probably picking up Gail who went home to England for a family wedding and Tobi and Dan are also elsewhere. Maggie, our Tuesday morning Zoom Pilates teacher was able to join us and Spike got his puppaccino from Mamadou. The minute he hears Mamadou's voice he comes to attention and waits quietly for him to bring it. Mamadou tiptoed past us several times but I'm pretty sure Spike knew it was him. He did behave himself though. 

We had a walk through Juilliard Park next door which was enough for John. The medication that took me three tries to get yesterday doesn't seem to be helping much, but we rigged up a way to attach an ice pack to his shoulder by wrapping an ACE bandage all around his body. I'm not sure what I've done with the rest of the day. Dana came by with her arm in a sling and picked up some carrots, tomatoes and zucchinis. Our bumper crop continues, especially the tomatoes. I plan to make some more tomato sauce but haven't gotten around to it yet. I finished one quilt block and redid another one. When I had to take it apart and put it back together again three times I decided it was time to stop.

Spike is sitting next to me hoping that I will throw his prickle ball for him. 
He's been relatively patient about it today, and I think maybe it has cooled off enough for us to go outside for wine/Kong time....