Booming Banter

Does it freak you out when you click on something on Facebook and then next thing you know you are bombarded with more of the same?

Take for example this garden sign.

Ma made a preview of us and then boom she has a gazillion options of things to make with our pictures on.

All that’s fine and dandy and a bit of fun.

Ma though get more than anyones fair share of ads about wrinkle creams and facelifts and she never googles those things herself. Perhaps her penchant for selfies with me might explain that but……….

……… when you open the Belfast Telegraph of a morning and up pops something about belly fat it makes you wonder does that little camera see more of us than we think.

Clever people please explain.

Blessing #1402-Aunty Algorithm

We feel like we dodged a bullet with the heat here.

We got wet over the past days while it sizzled up to 110F in other parts of the country. The rain left us refreshed and all our plants well watered.

Those poor people in Europe they really must be feeling uncomfortable. Can’t imagine London at 102F!!!!

It was so beautiful yesterday evening we were able to sit outside on the patio and watch the world go by.

The colors are so vibrant when the sun hits them after the rain. It’s like breathing in a brilliant technicolor.

We are always happy on the patio just Ma and Megs and Me.

I jump up on the little footstool and play King of All I Survey

Meg moves around a bit more but generally gives my head some peace.

They say Lavender has a calming effect maybe that’s the trick. Aunt Denise made a smart move when she got us that plant this spring.

Regardless it was bliss! So I cracked and gave her a kiss for being a good little princess.

Blessing#1401-Sleeping Beauties.

We were lucky to get a very quick trot in yesterday morning between downpours otherwise we’d have exploded.

Mother thought that the imposition of indoor activities was heaven sent as the golf was on and her fav Rory McIlroy was at the top of the leader board.

Jaws was sent to rest when they went to Church and remained confined as we all sat glued to the box on their return. She’d have caused too much distraction.

Dad took my spot on the chair and was glued to the TV too.

It was nail biting.

Unfortunately poor Rory was pipped at the post or whatever the term is in golf.

Ma was sad. She even had a little water run down her cheek.

Meanwhile the rain continued. That didn’t deter Ma and me from going to an indoor rummage sale that one of her pals was organizing.

While I sat in the car with the rain pelting in through the windows she’d left open lest I suffocate she went digging for teapots while the car and myself got a free wash.

She needs more of them at work these days when she gets busy and people also like to buy them when they come so it’s her bread and butter. She found six of different shapes and sizes so was all chuffed.

We returned through flooding to find Auntie Laura from round the corner had also braved the storm and measured the progress of the inundation.

We are sure another record is being set. Shame it wasn’t at Saint Andrew’s might have given our Rory an advantage!

Blessing#1400-Waterworks

We are so back to normal here it’s just great.

I feel so invigorated by the cool air I’m back to my surveillance work and am ready to jump into action at a moments notice to save Dad from the monster.

Sometimes when Ma is out he calls on me to control her and I happily oblige. I scold her and get her in a head lock.

He’s been real busy making his mint chutney. It’s hot stuff and loaded with garlic so Mum and he smell funky. There is enough chilies in it to spice up their lives for months to come.

They might need a little today as it’s soggy here but in the UK it is steamy.

We’re wondering what our friends and families are doing. Probably heading off to the beach for a swim to cool down.

It’s so hot that a heat advisory has been issued for the first time ever for the next few days.

Bet they’d love to have our AC.

Maybe they’ll just put on their Hawaii shirts and have a pint.

Do you like ours? We didn’t buy them just played with the app. Sometimes just pretending your on the beach is all you need.

Close you eyes and imagine that cool air coming out of the floor is drifting in from the ocean.

Blessing#1399-Aloha Central

Precious Public Pits here with a little philosophy of my own.

I just couldn’t sit back and let that twerp get away with all that ranting about the universe and not put my stamp on things.

I too have thoughts each morning. Initially they may center on something scrumptious but then I move on to making people happy.

I’m known for being a good time gal.

Like a bit of a party and plenty of drinks with ice cubes.

A little roar though the woods doesn’t go a miss either.

See. I’m smart. Nothing grey or grumpy about me. Don’t need to get out into space when the good old earth has all you need.

Just like that other Princess I am famously fun and fabulous

Blessing#1398-Country Wise

By now you know I am a wise and wonderful Wheaten Cross.

Such a thinker, I have no doubt Rodin would have cast me in bronze rather than that naked dude had I been around at his time.

I reflect daily on the nature of life and have been driven to deeper contemplation over the past week as images of the universe emerged from the Webb telescope.

How far is far? Why are we here? Are we alone? Does it really matter? Should I be nicer to Nala?

These are but a few of the question I zoom in upon each morning.

Until that is Ma gives me a push and saws we have to make scones as she’s had another busy week.

That’s when it hits me. We are but molecules in a recipe.

If that scone was the universe I might be the sugar and make things sweet, I might be a raisin and really stand out, I might be just the good old flour itself that is the backbone holding everything together or I might be the baking powder that causes the action and expansion.

That’s when I get up and go because regardless and hopefully with enjoyment someone is going to gobble that little universe up and turn it into tiny bits to feed other universes deep within.

Blessing #1397-Galaxies

Oh such a joyous thing it is to feel a little cold. Makes snuggling with your loved ones so much sweeter.

It even makes tackling terrorist trouble free.

Our new AC has been purring like a tiger since mid afternoon yesterday and we have been restored to a comfortable 72F.

We no longer need to dream of sailing in the breeze.

All that is needed is to stick your butt over the biggest vent and roll around a bit.

It will take a few days we are told to pull all the accumulated humidity out of the environment so soon we might smell a little sweeter too. It is still a tad musty at the moment!

That’s a detail though I just want to get up close and personal again with my peeps.

I don’t even mind if they leave me home alone!

Blessing#1396-Cool Comfort

Today we get our new air conditioner installed. please pray all goes to plan.

To say I am glad is an understatement

Humans can sleep with just a sheet over them but try snoozing in this heat wearing a fur coat.

Even napping has become difficult as a certain person has been allowed to participate. She ate Mums duvet cover yesterday so was removed from the chamber.

We have both been a tad worn out of an evening. So we have something refreshing then I lick her to sleep.

Meanwhile poor Dad has been super charged and very busy making mint chutney.

In the big storm last week our mint minefield blew up and fell over so it had to be harvested.

The whole house smells spicy. We are overrun with mint, coriander, garlic, ginger, onions and tons of chilies the ingredients in his magic brew.

We’ll eat it when the AC is switched to maximum otherwise we might pass out.

Isn’t it funny that chilies are hot!

Blessing#1395-Cooling Trends

Yesterday Ma got super excited about some Facebook group she’s part of called Old Banbridge.

She kept ohing and ahing and jumping up and down like a crazy woman all evening.

It all started with this picture.

It was the old rectory for the Church of Ireland. A magnificent building she’d never seen but to which she has a strong connection.

See this old mansion also had a little gate lodge where Moms Grandpa and Granny Barr lived along with her Daddy.

So she posted this fact and then all these comments started coming in.

One man called Matt who now lives in Africa must be a historian because within the space of a few hours he researched ancestry records and came up with a whole slew of information on Grandpa Barr. Here’s his first comment!

We got details of medals from World War 1

It was like a personalized version of that TV show “Who Do You Think You Are”

Now we’re on a roll we’re going to get even more info. Dads cousins Bobby and Sammy are now in the picture.

Guess I’ll just have to be patient while the paper hunt continues!!!!!

Blessing#1394-Detectives

In this very hot weather one needs to remain cool and refreshed. Even someone as refined as myself can become hot under the collar.

Jaws can drink a full bowl of water in thirty seconds. She splashes it all over the floor with her massive tongue which get Dad all steaming and grumpy.

Ma often gives her ice cubes to slow her down somewhat as what goes in must come out and you know it’s Ma who has the bathroom break duties around the ranch.

Yesterday though, as it was Sunday and a sacred day of rest we enjoyed a special treat.

We ate our water in a sweet and colorful format.

Man I love that stuff. It makes me go all smilie.

I just kick back with joy.

The beast eats the whole thing.

So uncouth.

Doesn’t leave a morsel.

You should hear the crunching of the rinds.

No need for a recycling unit in our sink.

Just pop it in the PIT!

Cleans up all my leftovers in a flash!

Blessing#1393-Hydration