Monthly Archives: July 2009

Best Male Tabby in my World

With so much attention given to dogs these days I feel cats are not getting the attention they deserve. There are festivals for dogs and so much marketed with the dog owner in mind but what about the cats? Don’t get me wrong I love dogs. I have the world’s best dog living in my house. I also have three wonderful cats. They are so misunderstood. I think I may start a cat movement!

I don’t give enough photo attention to my oldest cat, Pita. For a long time it was just me and him. There were no other animals around. He is my “first born”. I found him wondering around the campus of O’More in Franklin while I was working on my Graphic Design degree. He was such a cute little stinker!! That was in 1993.

Pita is now 16. His favorite activity is sleeping and MEOWing at .. I am not sure. He shakes a bit and still thinks he is a badass. He is always hungry and there is nothing wrong with him. He loves to sit right beside me when food is involved and like a baby sleeps with me when he does not feel well. So here are some photos of my sweet Pita, which stands for Pain In the Ass. Love ya Buddy.

His favorite place in the sun, in the guest room.

Second favorite sleeping spot under the window where just outside is the drunken bird tree. He also likes to meditate here. OOOHHHHMMMMMM.

Pita at sixteen, battle scars and all. He is still very handsome and loves to hang out with people.

Cannin’ Tomatoes

One of the great benefits of the Old Hickory Community Garden is attending our classes on anything to do with what we produce from the garden. Our classes are open to anyone! Last week Jan Glover led us on a cannin’ ride with tomatoes. A few of us met in the kitchen at the Old Hickory Baptist Church with out tomatoes and open minds to capture the knowledge this woman has. She mentioned that she has put up over 5000 jars of goodies. She had not canned or gardened in several years. I think we may have inspired her to get back to it!

Canning tomatoes is pretty simple. Just remember to keep everything clean! Check out the UT Ag Extension website for directions and recipes.

Tools of the craft.

Not tomatoes, but usually at our get togethers we bring stuff from or made from the garden. Ashley made these yummy pickles!!

Checking the rim for nicks and blanching the tomatoes to remove the skins.

The stove. What a stove!!

Packing the tomatoes.

Before we packed the tomatoes we added a TSP of vinegar and before putting the seal on we add some salt.

We add the jars to the boiling pot.

Details from the stove.

More detail.

Jars are ready to be lifted from the pot.

A jar lifter will be your best friend.

Ta Da!! Jars of home grown tomatoes.

So yesterday I put up 12 half pints of tomatoes. It was a messy job and I will be very happy come the fall and winter when I want some fresh pasta sauce or fresh tomatoes for chilli. Next up! Pasta sauce and maybe salsa!

Worldwide Photo Walk, July 18th

These are some of my favorites from the Worldwide Photo Walk day last weekend. I attended the one in downtown Historic Franklin. There was another walk the same day, at night in downtown Nashville. I think next year I might try to get a walk here in Historic Old Hickory Village.

I love reflections. When I think of Franklin I think of southern gentlemen in bow ties. The second photo is the reflection from the restaurant, SOL.

St. Francis at the Iron Gate and the light post at 4th and Main.

Morning spotlight on 4th.

Stars on Main.

Table for Four

403 Main and the Roundabout.

The window at the Mellow Mushroom.

Top of Gray's Pharmacy. I liked the M and the pigeons.

Seed pod 1.

Seed pod 2.

Smoke at Puckett's.

The fountain at the children's garden.

Morning shadows on church doors.

The gates at O'More.

On antique row!

The old antique mall across from the old depot.

Main street

Train car

Train car detail and flakey shutters.

Back to the building with the bow tie at 4th and Main.

Kitty Boy

This is Scooter. He lives next door to me. I love how he and his buddy Henry have their own cat entrance. Scooter also likes to hang out at my neighbor Marie’s house because from what I understand she gives him McDonald’s hamburgers. Marie has also began calling him Kitty Boy.

Kitty Boy hanging out at the cat entrance.

Sunflowers in the Garden

July begins the blooming of the beautiful sunflowers. The Old Hickory Community Garden has a ton of sunflowers, some almost 10 feet tall that are just about to bloom. The bees are loving them. Also the zinnias continue to bloom. I discovered a beautiful purple zinnia in another plot. I want them. Also in addition to the beneficial dragonfly we are still plagued with the squash bug, the squash vine borer moth and the cucumber beetle. Tonight George and David from UT Ag Extension came out to talk to us about pest and disease in the garden. So much to learn with gardening!!

A beautiful delicate dragonfly.

The giant sunflower is a work of art.

Almost through opening up!

Opened up with a honey bee.

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Four o'clocks.

A zinnia in the same bed as the purple ones.

Trying something new.

My New Muse

June 30th of this year this little guy entered our lives here in the village. He was a stray following some walkers. He made his way into my neighbors yard. Jeannie and Eric totally fell in love with him. Who wouldn’t? Right now he is about 12 weeks old with teeth as sharp as a needle. The vet says he is a lab/daschund mix. You should feel the pads of his paws… they feel like leather. He is my new muse. Enjoy watching this puppy grow!

My new muse.

Zinnia: A Flower that makes Me Smile

This year I was finally able to grow zinnias from seed! My community garden plot, part of the Old Hickory Community Garden, has produced an abundance of this flower.

my favorite thing about the zinnia are the little yellow flowers in the center

And some more flowers of summer….

Anyone know the name of this flower? I really like the seed pod.

The black eyed susan.

The cone flower.

Mollie turns Three

My sweet neighbor Mollie

Blowing out the candle on her Hello Kitty cake.

turns three and has a party to celebrate complete with hamburgers, hotdogs, cake and yummy homemade ice cream.

Oliver, the birthday party greeter.

Mollie!!

Enjoying cake and her birthday stash!

funny, quirky, sweet pups

This is part 2 of the Ashley Mayfield post. Ashley and Aaron are parents to three pups: Belle, Faux and Mully. All these dogs have such distinct personalities! For instance, Belle is like a sweet, little old lady with a daintiness about her. Mr. Faux Pants …. I think he may have little man syndrome.. anyway he is quite the poser and very photogenic.. loves the camera! And then there is Mulligan. I remember when Mulligan chose Ashley and Aaron. They were at a garage sale and the people were trying to find a home for her (I think I am saying this in the nicest way) and I think Aaron may have fallen for her right then and there! She was this little ball of fur and now has grown up to be quite the athlete full of soooooo much energy and a huge smile! Here are some sweet photos of the family and the kids.