A lovely spring day!

Peonies in our yard.

Wednesday was a lovely spring day. Mommy took some photos in our yard showing off some glimpses of spring here in Iowa where we live.

Close-up of peonies in our yard.

Daddy's mini-vineyard continues to grow in our backyard.

Daddy has also been working on making raised beds for the garden area behind the garden shed in our backyard.
The posts around the garden area are for the fence Daddy plans to install. And, as you can see by the photo above, Daddy isn't done painting the backside of the fence by the garden shed.
I think it's going to be awesome looking when done.

The flowers in the window boxes Daddy made for the garden shed seem to be growing nicely.

While all the natural beauty and wonders were occurring outside, I was sound asleep in the family room recliner. When Mommy came in, she snuck up on me and snapped some photos while I was sleeping. See photos below ...

Me asleep in the family room recliner on top of one of my baby blankets. I was sound asleep so didn't even know Mommy was taking these photos of me.

Well, that's it for now ... Have a great day!!! Stop back and visit again soon!!! ~ Robert

It's Wednesday ...

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by ...

Daddy is currently at work, as you can see by the photo above.

And, while Mommy was working in her studio here at home, I was taking a nap on the sofa in her studio as you can see by the above photo.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Robert

Happy Tuesday!

Hi! Thanks for checking back to my blog ...

So, last night Daddy and Mommy watched the Antique Roadshow on the public television station.

During the show, Mommy drank some Coke and ....

... I took a nap on Mommy's lap throughout the entire broadcast of Antique Roadshow.

Meanwhile, Daddy slipped out into the kitchen to snatch a treat for himself from the Swedish Cookie jar that sits on one of the counter tops next to the antique coffee grinder.

Later Daddy, Mommy, and I headed toward the stairs so we could all go to bed. You can see our open stairway in the background on the left side of this photo. You can also see my kitty scratching post on the left side.

Above you can see what Daddy and Mommy have displayed at the top of the open stairway. Sorry the photo is a little blurry but it was shot as we were passing by on our way to bed. Although blurry and hard to make out in the above photo, the art hanging above the shelf is called "Homeward Journey" by artist Julie Kramer-Cole. In this dark scene, Julie Kramer Cole has placed the image of an Indian in full glory riding his horse into the heavens ... and all this, camouflaged in the bolts of lightning. The soft, clean colors of western artist Julie Kramer-Cole allow the drama and emotion of her images to shine through. I think that her Native American and camouflage artwork reveal unexpected slices of life. Below is a close-up of "Homeward Journey" ...

Mommy snapped the photos above and below, as I was getting all settled in the bed in my kitty nursery for the night.

In the background of the above photo you can see the antique Four Winds quilt that is more than 100 years old and hangs in my kitty nursery. I think it has pretty bright colors and is rather cool looking!

New antique sewing machine ...

Hi there! Thanks for checking out my Monday blog entry ...

So, after watching Mommy make a quick lunch in the kitchen including pork egg rolls and steamed rice, I decided to go upstairs and check out the antique sewing machine that's just been added to our home decor ...

On Sunday, Daddy and Mommy went to antique auction and came home with this really cool looking antique Singer sewing machine. Neither Daddy or Mommy sew, but they both thought it would add a great ambiance addition to our 1920s home. I agree!

Below are some more photos of the sewing machine ...

After checking out the latest addition to our home decor, I headed to one of the bathrooms to get a drink of water from the sink ...

Happy Weekend!

Hi! Thanks for checking back to my blog. It has been rainy and cooler this Saturday, so I have enjoyed relaxing in the shelter of my home and watching birds outside the window from my lamp table perch in the formal living room.

Mommy went to a luncheon at Our Savior's Lutheran Church this afternoon with Grandma. They were guests of one of my Grandma's friends. It's this annual luncheon thing put on by the ladies of the Lutheran Church here in Albert City.

Above is one of the centerpieces on a table at the luncheon Mommy and Grandma attended this afternoon. I think the lemons and limes are a nice touch.



When Mommy got home, she decided to bake a cake. She decided on baking a Strawberry Coconut Cake. (See recipe below.)

Strawberry Coconut Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Cake:
1 1/2 boxes of white cake mix
5 eggs
2 cups water
3/4 cup oil
1/2 box of strawberry jello (3 oz. box)
1/2 cup of chopped strawberries
Icing:
16 oz sour cream
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 box of strawberry jello (3 oz. box)
7 oz bag of sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup of chopped strawberries
1 (8 oz) carton of cool whip thawed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients for cake with an electric mixer. Pour into 3 (8 or 9 inch) round baking pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Place in preheated oven and bake for 22 minutes. Let cake cool completely before icing.

Mix all ingredients for the icing, excluding the cool whip. Place one layer of cake on a platter and cover the top with 1/3 of the coconut mixture. Add the second layer and cover that layer with another 1/3 of the mixture. Take the remaining 1/3 mixture and add the 8 oz carton of cool whip. Add the 3rd layer and cover the entire cake with your cool whip mixture. Garnish with strawberries.

Farewell to Socks ...

It just was brought to my attention, via word of meow, that former White House cat Socks lost his battle with cancer at the age of 19. He had been battling cancer of the jaw and his condition was rapidly worsening.

Following his tenure as the White House's official cat, in 2002 Socks went to live the remaining years of his life in southern Maryland with Betty Currie, who was President Bill Clinton's personal secretary. Socks made public appearances with Betty at animal welfare events and at events for military families.

In a statement to People.com, the Clintons said, "Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere. We're grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years."

I sincerely extend my condolences to Betty Currie and the Clintons for the loss of their beloved Socks. ~ Robert

Mourning David ...

Above actor David Carradine poses for a photo at his home in the Tarzana section of Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 10, 2004.

Mommy and I are sad today. Actor David Carridine has died tragically. David, who starred as the wandering monk in the long-running Kung Fu television series, passed away in Bangkok on June 3, 2009. Kung Fu was Mommy's favorite TV show when she was a little girl. She never missed an episode the entire time it was on the air. Now she owns the complete Kung Fu TV series DVD set that she watches on occasion if she feels the need to be inspired by a positive "blast from the past."

Thai police have told reporters that a hotel maid discovered Carradine's body in a wardrobe with rope around his neck and other parts of his body.

The actor became an iconic figure after playing Kwai Change Caine in the 1970s television series Kung Fu, and remained a well-known martial arts figure after writing several books and videos about the discipline.

After a long run of less high-profile parts, he was feted and found new fans after winning hte role of Bill in Quentin Tarantino's 2003 hit Kill Bill.

The son of the thespian, John Carradine, he was also called John but changed his name after following his father into showbusiness. Three of Carradine's brothers -- Bruce, Keith and Robert -- also went into acting.

The Spirit of the Bison

So, although I am cat, I do realize that Mommy's favorite animal remains the Bison. But, Mommy does stress that she also loves cats, which is good news for me since I am a cat. Above Mommy poses for a photo with her stuffed bison, Tatanka. In case you are unaware, Tatanka is the Native American word for Bison.

As you can see by the photos above and below, Mommy also has an extensive Bison figurine collection. They are proudly displayed on top of the piano in the formal living room.

Mommy also has some wooden bison displayed on the end table/magazine rack in the family room, as you can see above.

Mommy also has a stuffed bison that she has named Roam displayed in the far right corner on top of the entertainment center in the family room.

In addition, Robert Bateman's bison print "Chief" is displayed above the window in the stairway.

Flowers add a nice color splash!

Photo of me taken by Mommy this morning in my kitty nursery.

Hope you are having a good weekend. Yesterday it was nice and sunny, so Mommy felt it a shame to be inside. So, she went to an area garden nursery and picked up some petunia plants to add a splash of color to the front steps.

Colorful petunias line the steps of the front of the house.

Above are a couple close-up photos of the petunias on the front steps.

In the photos below, the smaller pots of petunia plants in the center of the patio between the two larger ivory pots that hold lavender, will eventually end up as the centerpiece of the white antique bistro table with two chairs that will be located on this patio if ever Mommy and Daddy decide to transfer it to the patio from the garage where it is currently being stored. (OK, I think it is safe to say that Mommy's editor within would officially rule that last sentence of mine a "major run-on sentence." Sorry about that!)

Plants on one of the side patios that is located outside the breezeway, shown in above photo and the one below.

The two rows of Four O'Clocks Mommy planted in front of the patio in the photo don't show in the photo above as they are still too small. As long as Mommy can keep them alive, once they grow, they will make a nice border for the patio and add an additional color splash.

Red geraniums in front of the attached garage.

Today it is more overcast and a little cooler this morning. When lying on Mommy's lap in front of the TV, I heard the weatherman say that it is suppose to be 91 today but since it seems so much cooler this morning, not sure that will even be feasible. Have to wait and see what happens ...

Enjoy your week ...

Robert

P.S.: I leave you with this beautiful video called "Musical Flowers."

In Remembrance ...

My maternal great, great grandfather (Mommy's great grandfather) fought in the Civil War and is buried in Albert City.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Below are some photos of the Memorial Service that was held in Albert City ...

Flags fly high in the cemetery.

A local Vietnam vet marches past ...

A row of local vets stand proud amidst the grave sites and large flying flags on Memorial Day.

Blast from Mommy's Past ...

So, back in the 1980s, 1990s, and until about 2001, one of Mommy's many correspondents was Sam Harris. (Note: At the height of her correspondence tenure, Mommy had 48 correspondents from throughout the world.) When she first started corresponding with Sam, he lived in Oklahoma, and was a virtual unknown. Then, came his debut on the old TV show "Star Search." As life got busy for both Mommy and Sam their time didn't allow for as much corresponding, so eventually they ceased communicating. (Sam's entertainment career was picking up steam and Mommy was busy with her writing career.) But, Mommy is glad that Sam is continuing his singing and his acting careers. She was also delighted with the news that Sam and his long-time partner, Danny, adopted a lovely baby boy named Cooper. Fatherhood seems to be treating Sam well these days ...

Mommy still has a number of Sam's letters that he wrote to her during their correspondence, as well as a couple of his albums he autographed for her. In one of the letters, Sam was on a flight from L.A. to his home in OK and trying to determine what song he should sing on "Star Search." In Mommy's reply letter to Sam, she recommended that he sing: "Over the Rainbow." Sam took Mommy up on her suggestion, sang the song, won "Star Search" as the top male vocalist, and the rest of his career is history. During their correspondence, Sam lived in places like Oklahoma, St. Louis, Nashville, and Los Angeles. He also was in some Broadway productions, which brought him to New York, from time to time.

So, in honor of blast from Mommy's past, check out the more recent below performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Mommy's old friend, Sam Harris ...