Wildflowers

Thank you to all of you who sent messages of condolence for Jerry yesterday. We will miss him.

Spike was a model dog at coffee this morning. He laid quietly at our feet the entire time and didn't have to go in the car. I think he was watching Shelby who always gives him treats. Our groomer broke his arm and still can't work so I've been following Spike around the house with the scissors giving him a trim-on-the-run. He really doesn't mind it but gets tired of it and walks away when he still has one ear two inches longer than the other! BUt he looks tidier and cuter!

He scored again when were on our power walk on the Brush Creek Trail, a good one for a power walk because it's paved and fairly level. However, he does tend to attract attention and one woman had treats in her pocket! Stopping to chat with other people doesn't do much for our timing, but it is a good social connection! I couldn't decide between the California Poppies, and the wild fennel, so I posted both of them looking pretty in the sun amongst the grasses, weeds and ivy. 

We are having neighbors from both sides of us for dinner tonight. Our regular get-together with one couple sort of morphed into dinner when the other couple said they could join us. It's hard to have drinks and hors d'oeuvres and get people to leave in time to make dinner. Often we just make do with the hors d'oeuvres, but cheese and salami aren't part of the new diet so, inspired, I said I would make a salad. I was thinking of one of my favorites with farro and asparagus, but then I remembered that the secret ingredient is prosciutto, so I'm making a Salade Niçoise.

My one thought about the 'American Pope' was in response to several of you who said they hoped Trump didn't ruin things for him. I think it's possible that he was chosen because of Trump. It has apparently been customary NOT to chose a Pope from this country because it has historically been a big and powerful country. Yet in a mere few months, Trump has weakened it immeasurably, and sent a Vice President to Rome to insult he Catholic church. 

Pope Leo XIV took his name because it expresses his connection with Francis, particularly his views on the environment and immigration. His many years as a missionary in Peru and his experience as an administrator at the Vatican make him seem like a competent man who will continue in Francis' footsteps and perhaps bring some sanity to the American political landscape.