Happy Dad's Day to Mr. Tennis!

They've all changed a little bit since this was taken in 1992, but their love for each other has always remained strong to this day!  What a wonderful life you have given all of us, Mr. T.

Happy Father's Day!

Hope all the Dads, Dads-to-be, Spare Dads, Grandpas out there have a wonderful day with their families.   And to all those fathers that are no longer with us, our lives today are a testament to what you did for us and to what you showed us throughout your lifetimes.

Alert the Media! Darcy's First Time Outside!

Our favorite grandkitty, Miss Darcy, had her first outdoor adventure while she stayed with us this past week!

Our cats have mainly been inside cats, but we have always let them outside under supervision so they can explore their natural feline instincts.  Eventually they get old enough (and some of us think sensible enough) to go out for awhile in the mornings and evenings and not leave the backyard.

Of course, Darcy is not near that stage yet as she doesn't live here full time, but she enjoyed her first taste of the outdoors and the bostons after they have had tennis ball time.

Who wouldn't be slightly cautious when this face is sitting in the grass?

Nevertheless, Miss Darcy put a brave paw forward and explored.

I'll let her tell you how it a went down:

Do I dare go out to where that "post-tennis-ball" face lies?

Oh, yes I do!  I've seen it all here at Boston Manor and those dogs don't faze me at all!

Well.... maybe I took that a little too fast. That is one scary face! She's not like that on the inside!

I'll check out the patio and it's surroundings. 

I sure hope they won't have to use this electricity-maker during storm season this year.  I'm told it's very noisy and I am soooooo sensitive.

I'll just stretch out for a bit and relax.

As if I can with that flaming torch thing looming above me. What is with these people?

I will remain unflappable. Look I'm so relaxed I am even taking a leisurely bath...



It must be safe to venture out again, Sadie seems to be relaxing with the guy who feeds me bacon in the morning - have I got him trained!

I'll get out there quickly while THEY are busy with other things.

Holy Catnip! That Sadie sure moves fast! When can I have the yard to myself?? Never, according to Aunt Bumby.

Guess it's time to head in and reclaim my throne.

Aaaahhhhhh. Now, all is right with Princess Darcy's world. Meow!

Next time I will know what to expect!

Miss Darcy out!

More Blue for THE Wedding - this time "bud vases"

You never know what's going to happen while you are waiting to get a car repair done.  I was lucky that there was a Salvation Army right next door to amuse me for about an hour and look what I came away with to add to the wedding supplies:

Sweet little blue extract bottles (the larger one is a Lea & Perrins bottle) that can serve as bud vases!  The hue matches the obsession blue Ball jars perfectly and for the next few months I get to enjoy them on the sill of my kitchen window.

Have a wonderful week!



Orlando's No Slouch, We're More than The Mouse!

Mr. Tennis and I had the opportunity to visit our new city arena, The Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic, for what I would call a "fake" football game, but other's would call it "arena football".

It doesn't matter what we were watching because we were treated like royalty in a private suite with food and beverages, gratis (for us). Sometimes it pays to be in sales :)

After the "game" we visited the rooftop lounge and were so impressed with the views of our lovely city.

And the relaxed, breezy atmosphere.

By the way.  We will be back, because you don't have to be at an arena event to go up to the rooftop lounge at The Amway Center and there is no cover charge to admire the city lights.

We had fun and please excuse some of the photos because all we had were our cell phones.  Mr. T's takes much better pictures than mine does.

Look Who's Been Ruling The Boston Roost This Past Week!

Yep, Miss Darcy is back and your eyes are not playing tricks on you. She is indeed on top of our cable box.  Apparently this is where she has been sleeping at night - high above our heads looking down upon her subjects.

Next week I will show you some pictures of Darcy's first time outside with us.  Talk about your Scaredy-Cat!

Yay for Ollie!

Little Miss Ollie Faith came through her heart surgery very well.  Her mom and grandma posted updates throughout the day yesterday. The most important update was that Ollie went through the surgery very well and is recovering well under the care of the wonderful nurses at the hospital and the watchful eyes of Team Ollie.

Please stop by mom, Annie's blog today and wish her a Happy Birthday!  She received the best present ever and so appreciates everyone's thoughts and prayers.

Click here for Annie's blog!



Please Keep Miss Ollie Faith and Her Family in Your Thoughts and Prayers

Ollie is the daughter and granddaughter of two special blogging friends. On Thursday, June 9th she will undergo heart surgery at 7:30am. Surgery is expected to take 4 to 5 hours.  Her mom, dad, grandma and other family members will be anxiously waiting for Ollie to immerge from her sucessful surgery and can use all the special strength our thoughts and prayers can give them.  Miss Ollie"s talented doctors need them too and of course Ollie Faith herself needs us all to be thinking of her and praying for her.

Thank you friends.

Please link here to read her mom, Annie's blog for more information and updates:

The House That Jade Built

And here to read grandma Janie's blog, with updates as well:

Janie Fox Talks

The Singing Dog of Boston Manor!

Our dogs have many "talents", but by far the most amusing one is Sadie's singing while we prepare for a walk.  Sometimes she sounds human and even this video doesn't quite do it justice. 

 (Panda will be jealous that I'm not sharing footage of her "walking on my front paws only - while urinating" trick. Soon Panda, soon)



Hoping to link to Angela's Tuesday's Show and Tail later in the day...

What's Your Favorite Woody Allen Movie?

If you even have one. I'm not crazy for his movies, and I'm especially not crazy about his personal life, but he has made many that are pop culture, some would say art culture, icons.

My favorites would include:  

Annie Hall

La-di-da. The breezy Diane Keaton matched up with the neurotic, introspective Allen was such fun and was a snapshot of the times.

Hannah and Her Sisters

with two of my favorite actors, Michael Caine and Diane Wiest.

I've seen many more of his movies, but I find that I prefer when he himself does not appear in them.  They are less self-absorbed and, to me, more interesting.

I also very much liked Match Point.

In my opinion quite a departure from his usual film as this one had a lot of mystery, intrigue and beautiful filming technique. Or to sum it up as it says on the poster "A Marvelously Sexy Thriller".

Today I saw what I now think of as another favorite to add to my list.

Midnight in Paris

 Woody was not present as an actor, but his character and personality were there in the form of Owen Wilson's performance. The city of Paris is a beautiful character in itself and the story line is one that will delight any avid reader of the classics, those that study or appreciate art and those with knowledge of the music from the 1920s.

I know of one fellow blogger, who has just returned from a trip to France herself, who will find this movie to be a delight.  Have you seen it yet Laura?

See it for yourself and let me know what you think!

But, first tell me, do you have a favorite Woody Allen movie - maybe even one of his crazy/silly ones?

And then the rains came.....

We had such a dry month of May, but right on time, first day of our Tropical Storm/Hurricane Season, Mother Nature delivered.

It started out slow.

Some of us were scared.

And needed our Thundershirt.

Others didn't give a flip!

Then, it really started coming down in buckets.

My favorite shot:  it looks like I live in a hamster cage.

Really it is one of my family room windows.  I was trying to capture the sheets of rain coming off the flat roof.  This one is slightly better, but still looks like I'm a zoo animal. (okay, okay, yes, I know, some of you are saying I am a zoo animal because I live with a zoo - get over it!)

In the front it was pouring off the roof.

When my kids were small they used to put on their bathing suits and stand under those spouts. (When there was no lightning, of course)

Today there was lightning and thunder, hence the donning of Sadie's Thundershirt.  It makes her feel much better.  Bumby was concerned.

She came over an offered some comfort.

Guess who still didn't care.

Thank you for the rain! And for our Super Dopplers that give us advance warning.

We love the green it brings, but I couldn't help thinking about what those rumblings and winds would do to the fragile psyches of the recovering survivors of the terrible destruction the weather brought to our neighbors to the north. Weather can be beautiful, it can be harsh, it can be deadly.

Another note about a special fellow blogger (and Boston Terrier) Joe Stains , who was the one that directed us to the Thundershirt and demonstrated how it helped him during the storms he feared.  Joe, may you rest in peace and thank you for helping to bring some comfort to at least one other dog who shook, drooled and panted her way through every Florida storm until her Thundershirt arrived.  (Now she just shakes - much better)

Joe Stains
3/6/1999 - 5/31/2011