No green rose thumb here! — My mother grew the best roses. She had a row of standards and tea roses in all different colors. They bloomed all summer long. On the other hand, I have tried to grow them for 40 years and nada! Black spot! Thrips! Powdery mildew! Mine always looked like crap. Then came Knockout Roses. I bought several bushes a few years back. I lightly trimmed them because I wanted big bushes with tons of roses and finally I have them. It’s early in the season but I’m hoping this is a good year for them. (Those are my roses in the header!)
Behind the eight ball – “The more you do the behinder you get.” That’s an old saying of my Mom’s. It sure felt like it this week. Sometimes it was hard to find time to write or read posts. There is no blog police to prod you but I like to keep up. If you get behind you end up skipping (or skimming) things.
What’s to hurt?
Crocks don’t rock – If you read my post from earlier this week, you know that we had a lot of outdoor work to do. Last year I picked up a pair of Croc sandals for dirty work. I don’t normally wear Crocs because they don’t fit. I have narrow feet and all the Croc models have feet as wide as Texas. They are easy to clean so I thought I’d give them a try for yard work. I got a different style than the traditional Croc and ended up with blisters. I’m going back to my old beat up sneakers.
Candy store – We visited a garden center that is an hour away. They have a great selection of flowers and plants and carry everything you need for a pond. For me, this is like a candy store is for kids. I am almost uncontrollable with excitement! The fresh flowers are all in bloom just waiting for a home. I picked up a couple of things to perk up the yard and a thing or two for the pond. It’s also the best free therapy there is. It is even better than (gulp!) chocolate or margaritas.
Get outta here Cupcake! Can’t you see I’m nappin’? Later gator. Oh yeah I want tuna for supper too. The big can! Not those little ones.
Swan song – Every summer I think it may be the last summer for my old cat. He is cranky, can’t see well, is easily startled and some days is stuck to me like glue. He will lie on the warm bricks in the sun and nap for hours. I remember the days when a bird or chipmunk wasn’t safe around him. Those days are long gone. Other than being a little nuts, he doesn’t have unmanageable health issues although he is a lot more work. I only hope that someone oversees my old age as diligently and there is a nice sun spot for me to nap.
How was your week?
Views and Mews by Coffee Kat 
I will tell you that I have a green thumb, have the same excitement as you do in a garden center and even travel more than 50 miles to go to a few–the therapy is magnified at a couple of these places–and really, most people think I can grow anything. And my roses have looked just dreadful for the last few years! This past weekend I almost tore them all out. If they don’t improve, I’m not going to hang in there with them. I fed them this weekend and mulched and watered really well, and we’ll have to see. It’s not the drought! That doesn’t help, but other people around me have gorgeous roses! And bless your kitty…such a sweetie for however long. ox
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Roses can be tough. My mother lived in the same area and hers were gorgeous. I blame my misfortune on the climate (the same climate she had).
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Those knockout roses are stellar plants. Somehow they grow best if neglected – my kind of plant. The guys that do our neighborhood common flowerbeds managed to talk the picky HOA board into allowing some to be planted. They don’t die and have to be replaced – whack them off and they just bloom more. Perfect plants. Yours look beautiful. A garden center with fishponds and fountains is so hard to leave. Really is a relaxing place.
I held off crocs for years scoffing, but got a “off road” pair with tread/special soles – they fit more narrow and I’ve waiting for a second pair after wearing out the first one. The bumper toe works really good especially at night when I am prone to kicking things. These duet colored ones sell out fast (last pair was turquoise and yellow). The people I order from in Boulder are really nice about telling you real availability and colors they are expecting. Their sandals, though, feel weird to me nd I stay with the classic shape with the thick off road type soles – great for beaches.
Glad Jake has an uncontested sunny spot and safe harbor. And tuna. They all deserve that. Soft pet and Respectful paw wave from RC Cat.
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A Croc convert! Wow! Jake sends purrs right back at RC Cat (but no tuna! He’s keeping that for himself.)
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Just an update. My new Crocs arrived. AAARRGGHHH! Huge. Exactly the same size and style, but total different fit. Already tossed them back. The lady said the ones made in Vietnam always run huge – and different colors of the same style may be made in different countries. (and neither of the hamburger styles eve go on sale or are available with coupons/discounts…if you’ve got a winner, no reason to make it easy)
Sigh. Back to my worn out Tevas for the yard
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Sounds like my experiences with Crocs!
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They look gorgeous, what a knockout, Kate. I know how you feel, this weekend we had our youngest granddaughter and only grandson up with us. We did plenty and had a blast, and this left little time to write. So this morning I am trying to catch up on reading the blogs I usually follow, and speed reading is not one of my strong suits. I find my older shoes always work best, they are always more comfortable. I love the garden centers. When I walk through them I have dreams of how my yard will look when I plant everything I’ll buy. Then when I’m done planting I wonder why the dream never quite matches the vision I had. Maybe, I was having someone else’s vision? :O)
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Or maybe your vision needs glasses?
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So that’s the problem. From now on, I’ll wear my rose colored glasses when I head out to the garden center. ;o)
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That’ll work!
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Looked at my Reader last night and noticed you had Crocs but I was too tired to form sentences last night so I waited till this morning. BUT your Crocs picture got me all motivated to go to the Crocs site and guess what I found… http://www.crocs.com/crocs-crocband-hamburger-clog/15055,default,pd.html?cid=903&cgid=women-footwear-clogs#start=12 DYING!!! I love them but like you Crocs just don’t work for me but I might have to get them! At least they are less expensive than the last thing you motivated me to purchase… 😀
I am glad your old kitty has you!
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OMG! That’s a hoot! I notice all the small sizes are gone.
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I didn’t check sizes… must go look!
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My size isn’t there… whew.
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🙂
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It’s hard when the catkids get old. I still miss Henry and Dolly. But then Teddy and Jack young and fiesty. I would say something about yiur roses but headers don’t show on my Nook. Sounds like they are beauties.
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Didn’t realize that about e-readers. Yes aging pets, sigh. Not only is Jake elderly but Mollie and Hazel are up there at 9 and 10. Morgan (at 3) brings life to this old fogey household.
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I can see some headers but not everyone’s. Don’t know why that is. 9 and 10 doesn’t seem too old. Henry lived to be 16 and Dolly 19. It’s possible Teddy and Jack will outlive me. Maybe I should make mention of them in my will.
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They really aren’t old to me but they are older than Jake was when diagnosed with diabetes. They have become less active. Both sleep all day and most of the night (just like cats do). On the other hand Morgan needs very little sleep and all of it is at night. She’s the first daytime cat I’ve had. Maybe it’s because I’m retired and the house is active all day.
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Kate what a precious shot of a gorgeous old cat, i hope in my retirement I get the good life like him.
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I could adopt you. Do you like Fancy Feast tuna?
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I was surprised when I didn’t see a cat on your banner, Kate, but your roses are beautiful…and glad to see your cat at the end of your post. I really never liked roses much but planted knockout roses around my deck last year. They’re blooming like crazy, makes me happy. My gardening shoes are always an old pair of running shoes. That must be some garden store if it’s better than chocolate!
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Mostly it’s better than chocolate but there are days when nothing comes close to a good mocha latte.
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Your roses are beautiful, Kate! Looks like your thumb is pretty green. I can’t wear Crocs either, so I stick with the old tennis shoes too.
I had a great week with lots of writing. 🙂
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Good to hear about the writing!
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You get the best comments. Love reading them. You truly resonate Kate, just like Erma.
Pink tea roses happen to be my favorite blossom. Nothing is so perfect than the shape of that little orb. Love the picture.
Hate crocks, they too fall off my feet, and I think it’s okay when our blog reading gets lost in the shuffle. Then it becomes new again.
But the most important thing I’d like to say is…I sure hope that old cat of yours has many more summers.
Susannah
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Awww…Jake appreciates that! Started the Jean Kerr book. Wow! She was great. She was the first Erma or maybe Erma was the second Jean.
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Aren’t some of the expressions funny, like Bendix for washer machine? They’re the only tip-off that dates her. Other than that she could be on our couch laughing, eating dip. She was Erma’s muse, I just read that recently.
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There is a “50s feel” to her phrases but since I was around, I get it. Makes me a little nostalgic. Relationships haven’t changed at all. Loved her reason for becoming a writer (wanted to sleep until noon). Every sentence is full of humor. Every. single. sentence!
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Just yesterday I was thinking that I’ll need to get a new pair of sandals soon. I was a Birkenstock Boy for years when I lived in the dry, never rainy San Joaquin Valley — perfect for keeping those cork heels from being ruined. Then I switched to Teva’s when we moved to rainy Oregon, and now I’m ready for something new. You have continued my pondering with this post! Beautiful roses, btw.
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Teva’s are good and I like Clarks. My husband doesn’t wear them often but he has a pair of Doc Martin’s. Good luck on your search and thanks (roses)!
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I like your comment, “he doesn’t have unmanageable health issues although he is a lot more work.” That describes Blackie exactly. I think I will memorize it so when people look at me like I am crazy when I mention what we have to give Blackie to keep him going, I can say something that makes sense.
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I always characterize it as having a nursing home for cats in the house. He’s really a sweetheart with just a little attitude.
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Love your roses. And I love that there is a warm place in the sun for the old kitty.
Our house has some old tea roses, and we added some new ones. The best smelling rose is an Oklahoma. Not much to look at, and it doesn’t last long, but the scent is incomparable. Intrigue is a lovely purple and also smells great. But the best combination is the Veteran’s Honor, a long lasting and large red rose that is very fragrant.
I like pretty roses, but my favorites are the ones with a strong scent. Roses grow beautifully here in SoCal, but this year we have to cut back on water and the blooms won’t be as impressive.
Crocks are for dog washing, surgeons, and the beach. For gardening, I love the combination tennis shoe/ clog! Easy to slip off when you go in the house.
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I love a good smelling rose. I tried raising some David Austin heirloom roses but no luck. We get too humid in the summer and end up with black spot and all that other fungus. I like easy slip ons for out door work too. That’s why I was hoping the crocs would work.
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The roses are beautiful. I, myself, have a black thumb — I can kill anything. I leave the gardening to others, although I am ruthless at weeding!
Poor old kitty. He has earned his rest in the sun. It’s sad to see them get old.
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Aging pets are the worst. Hurts your heart! I can grow most anything but roses. I blame it on our climate.
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Your roses are stunning. Re your cat: we’ve been saying our old cat only has a couple months left for a few years now. I thought going from a healthy (not fat) 13 pounds to 8.5 meant something, but apparently not to the vet. She said her cat was 4.5 before he died. I hope your roses keep you happy for a long time.
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I hope my roses bloom all summer! As for Jake, we have made THAT appointment twice and both times he perked up. He is still 14 lbs. (not fat), it’s mostly his senses that are going and he’s getting forgetful. He’s been diabetic for 8 years and doing fine on that front.
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The diabetic cat at the shelter has gone into foster care until he can be adopted by a veterinarian. Yay! It’s quite hard with an old cat. Mac gives me a lot of stress and requires attention all day long. I just hate leaving him with a pet sitter.
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I can’t leave Jake with a pet sitter. He won’t come out for injections. He must be boarded and I hate to do that. He’s not a cage kind of cat. He’s large so I always get the larger bottom row. We used to have a cat boarding place that had 5′ x 10′ runs but they converted completely to dogs. I’d hang some catnip stems on the fencing and he would be good.
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Oh, it would be cool if they had a place with large areas like that for cat boarding. My cats won’t be boarded as Mac (the old guy) has a bad heart and gets too upset and Pear (the old girl) throws hissy fits at being confined and away from home, so I had to make that change years ago. Another reason why the vet and I are trying to avoid insulin as I have to be gone a lot. Sigh. Catnip stems on the fencing sounds like a fun time could be had by Mr. Jake ;).
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Yes, he always made friends with the cat next door.
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Your roses are gorgeous! I, too, hate crocs. My feet are narrow and slide around (and sweat) in them -ugh. I keep a pair of old slip on sandals for the pool work. Speaking of pool, 2 morons opened it per the pool co contract but only after I had filled it did I notice they did not properly connect everything. Yep, now a massive leak. And the business is closed today, of course! GAH.
Your old cat has it made – in a sun spot 🙂
MJ
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Yay! Another person who doesn’t think crocs are the best thing ever! Sorry about your pool. In our area, today would definitely be a pool day. Highs around 88 and humid. (Ohhh! I hear a margarita in my future!)
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Gorgeous roses! You did it! And I love the “old cat” story. His is also a success story of a life well lived. 🙂
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He’s too crankety to die.
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Your Roses are Knockouts!!!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Fabulous roses! My grandfather had some lovely ones, but when he died, his widow’s son (no relation other than marriage) ripped them all out. I never forgave him, or her, for letting him do it.
My father gave me a standard rose bush he’d grown from a cutting. It was planted in the front garden of our new house when I was a newly wed (ex since 1981). Some swine came along when we were out and cut the whole head off. It was in full bloom with some 20 flowers, but they left us nothing we could cultivate back. I’ve never had roses in any garden since.
Now veg, that’s another matter!
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My mother’s roses were gorgeous and she raised some from slips too. Some had exotic names or were named after someone. I remember Tropicana (coral) and a Kennedy rose. I had a Lincoln tea which was perfect red. She had the perfect spot for them in our climate here. I can’t imagine someone cutting down the whole bush. After my Mom died, the new owner’s ripped hers out too. She had a long row of them.
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It makes me mad to destroy such beauty.
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Some people don’t want the work. My mother never made it look like work.
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