Today is my last day of vacation for the summer. At the beginning of summer I had so many vacation hours on the books that I decided to take every Friday off so I could enjoy a long weekend. Starting next week, after Labor Day, I go back to my regular schedule. School starts in a few weeks so I need to knuckle down an prepare for my new students.

The day got off to a good start - coffee on the patio, read the newspaper, did a few errands, and a bit of housework. It was a really hot/humid day so spent most of it relaxing and reading.

Around 3:30 we took off for the La Mesa Farmer's Market which is held 3:00 to 7:00pm every Friday. We are trying to buy local fruit and vegetables as much as possible and we really enjoy strolling around the market. Last week we bought some fabulous heirloom tomatoes and we wanted to get some more today. Here are some photos to show you a little of the local scene starting with Alex picking out his peaches for the week and a fiddler keeping us entertained while we shop.



The farmer's market has such a festive feel about it - many of the vendors offer samples of their foods such as tomatoes, olive oils, nuts, and cheeses. It's so much fun taking in all the sights and sounds and the colors of the fruit and vegetables are amazing.



This week we bought peaches, tomatoes, white corn, green beans, a red leaf butter lettuce, and some kind of green squash. This should last us for several days.

I came home from work on Tuesday and found my favorite trusty alarm clock laying on the floor, a victim of Boo's adventures exploring my bedside table. This was my Andy Warhol clock, battery operated with a second hand that would tick-tock away minute by minute. It had a gentle alarm that I never slept through but which didn't disturb Alex too much when I got up for work each morning.



Much to Alex's dismay I pulled out my very old (antique?) radio alarm clock that my parents bought me for my 18th birthday.



This clock has been half-way around the world with me and still keeps perfect time. It also has an obnoxiously loud alarm which caught us both by surprise this morning (I had forgotten what it sounded like). Alex, Boo, and I were fully awake with pounding hearts at 5:30am. I hope Boo has learnt her lesson and stays away from my bed-side table.

I was sitting on the patio early this morning having my cup of coffee and reading the newspaper when I heard some birds squawking out of control. When I tried to see what was going on I saw this hawk perched on the top of an electrical pole in our alley way.



The 2 little birds kept flying around the hawk and appeared to be dive-bombing it. They must have had a nest somewhere in the area and were trying to chase away the hawk.

Fred and Ginger are our backyard doves-in-residence. Soon after we moved in we hung up our bird feeder but didn't really do much with it. I would occasionally give the local wildlife some breadcrumbs but didn't get much appreciation from them. I started putting in bird feed but not on a regular basis until I noticed these doves kept coming back for more. I don't know if they are the same doves that have been around for 3-4 years but no matter because we now call all doves Fred and Ginger

We were sitting out back with our gin and tonics and these butterflies came into our yard and started flirting with each other. It was very relaxing watching them flit around

We celebrated the big 40 with Alex today. He had a couple of unusual presents that he had wanted for a while. He received the skull of the Piltdown man from his parents and a Fiji mermaid from me.


I try to be as tolerant as possible but these objects just don't fit in with my idea of a sophisticated, welcoming, living room. And yet, there they sit!

It was really hot today and Boo thought this spot would be cooler.

Alex has been bugged by a patch of bare soil

in our back yard. So he planned a carpet of green grass. He tilled, weeded, and sowed his seeds. He watered on a regular basis to germinate the seeds and they sprouted just as they were supposed to do



And after all his hard work he finished up with this luscious patch of greenery



It all died during a heat wave a few days after this last photo.

Better luck next time Alex.

Alex just received the cover that's going to be used for the release of his book in England.

Went shopping at Canyon Pottery with Janet and Klaus to buy pots for the front yard. There were so many choices that we couldn't make a decision at that time. Janet and Klaus bought us this sun to hang on the patio wall

It's around 7:45 am and I'm waiting for Alex to bring me coffee and the newspaper in bed - my weekly treat. While the coffee is brewing I thought I could tell you about Alex being still slightly drunk from our night out at the Strong Ale Festival held at Pizza Port in Carlsbad Village. We're not shy of a drink or two but rarely do we have so much that we end up drunk. But last night was an exception. We were out with friends at the festival and the place was packed with mostly college age kids. To get in we had to line up outside for about an hour - something I haven't done since, well, a long time ago. Our admission price included a glass and 8 tastings of beer with an alcohol content of no less that 8% and up to 14%. That beer was strong! I could barely manage to try 4 of them while Alex happily tasted 8 beers of his choice (mostly stouts which brought back fond memories of one of our earliest dates). We had a great time with Ann and Diana and friends and participated fully in the lively happenings of the night. Cheering when someone dropped a glass, booing when one of the beers ran out. So here we are the next morning and Alex is groaning his way around the kitchen and complaining of still feeling a little tipsy. It's nothing that a cup of coffee can't put right but I'm wondering if the coffee will ever be made.

Alex had a book signing up in Los Angeles today. We drove up early this morning and had a brunch before going to Dark Delicacies for the signing


We were a little early so sat outside for a while - notice the poster advertising his book?


While he was signing books for his fans I went shopping along Melrose Avenue.

These two pictures were taken from our roof on a very hot, hazy day. I wish we could get rid of the power lines

Boo no longer likes to drink out of her cat bowl. After trying to drink out of the glass on Alex's desk she now expects her own glass of water.



Here she is sneaking a drink out of my glass of water