Naughty cat

A Portrait of Willow, 28 September 2026

Willow has now annexed the undershelf of the coffee table

Willow investigates my tea

Dad's not here! Who shall feed me?!

Willow wishes you all a happy autumn 2026

Willow focusing

Willow is all curled up snug and warm in her doughnut

Willow, 18 September 2026

Why yes I will sit in the filing cabinet

Cross

Willow looking cross as I do a crossword puzzle.

Gimlet eyes

A drink

Pushers

Upside down

Willow Likes Her Tunnel

She especially likes to jump on top of it.

Willow on a late summer morning

Sunday morning coming down

As expected, I awoke on Sunday before anyone else so I set about lighting a fire and getting a percolator primed and ready. It was another gorgeous morning. I felt thankful that the mosquitos hadn't put in much of an appearance and that the rain had held off. We were truly lucky on those counts.

My friends slowly awakened and joined me by the fire. Ere long we witnessed the percolating of a second fully armed and operational coffee pot. Tents were taken down between cups of coffee and a copious servings of bacon that were fried using a schwenker that one of my friends had inherited from a family member. The griddle has a raised rim and so it can hold a goodly amount of liquid fat.

The newest amongst us had brought their hound and he was tired from all the attention he had received the past couple days.

After breaking my fast I took one last stroll down the road to the boat landing to bid the Black River farewell until next year.

I wasn't ready to leave. If only we could have had a couple more days - of fellowship & laughter, of the peace & calm of the forest. The weekend had been restorative for me. On the drive home I felt stronger, more resilient to the slings and arrows of my outrageous ex-wife. I felt like I belonged, like I was part of a web of friendships.

Though I must admit that I was looking forward to getting home first to Willow and then my ladyfriend.

I wish we would do this more often.

Disconcerting

Scenes from a birthday

Yesterday was Willow's second birthday and so I invited a small group of friends over to celebrate. That meant she got extra play time which saw her leaping and grabbing and scurrying around with abandon. She just loves her tube and wand toys.

I bought her a can of special Asian fusion tuna chow which she, of course, didn't eat. Oh well. Instead she got extra Churu which she licked right up before going back to playtime.

For the humans I grilled some kabobs but we started with apple cheddar scones that I baked (gotta use up those apples) and some rye pretzel thins & garlic cheddar schmear. I'd been looking for the rye variety for a few weeks but had no luck until a few days ago when I spied them at the Willy Street Coop. For dessert I made a blackberry clafoutis.

That photo of the clafoutis looks like it was made by the Scarlett Johansson alien lady from Under the Skin with that impenetrable black background.

Both tasted good but the scones weren't as thick as I'd hoped. I am unsure if the baking powder didn't do its job for some reason or if I simply rolled the dough out too thinly. Probably the latter.

Look at my sweetpea! Such a princess enjoying all of the attention and posing for the camera.

Here she is when her uncle left.

Willow enjoyed all the extra play and attention while I appreciated being able to celebrate her birthday with friends. I think for Piper's last 2 or 3 birthdays it was just me and her so it was wonderful to be able to make the occasion a communal affair.