If I see you in the Garden...

 ... I will abandon my post at the birdbath...

 ...smile...

...and run up to you for attention.

The Cat Days of Summer

Nothing like a cool drink on a hot summer day.  Thomas digs in.

A Morning Visitor

 The other morning I pulled the curtains back, surprised to be greeted by none other than Thomas perched on top of the porch.  Usually he's fearful of heights and wants help back to ground level, but not this day.

 He was content to hang on with his tail, listen to the birds and take in the elements.

 Eventually I retreated to make tea and breakfast, leaving my favorite visitor to greet the day in his own way.

A Visit From Thomas

Thomas, the cat who lives across the street and visits us frequently, has been stopping by in the evenings for a little exercise. I keep a shoelace draped over the back fence for just such occasions.

Thomas likes our heavy gardening, too. With so much bare soil he can roll in the dirt and run through the dried lawn all he wants. Above, he thought attacking a calla was more fun than the string...

I got his attention though and pretty soon he was in hot pursuit.

He'll play "I'm not watching you" then, with a leap, he's up and on the hunt, chasing as fast as he can move. Even though we've played countless times, his speed and agility never cease to amaze me!

A Favorite Neighbor

This isn't my cat, but he hangs around the house enough to have his own bowl, brush and favorite hiding places in the yard. We've named him Thomas, though across the street at his real home he has another name. As the weather warms up he's around more and more, lurking in ferns and waiting for birds at the bird bath. If he comes over and isn't seen right away he likes to stand on the arms of the patio furniture and meow until he's noticed and let in for a bowl of whipped cream.

Be sure to visit Mary over at Little Red House for more mosaics!

P.S. There's still time to enter our giveaway over at JustSomethingImade.blogspot.com.
Enter for a chance to win a pair of handmade journals.

Spring Cleaning

Our run of sunshine for the last few days has everyone in chipper spirits, including these two sparrows. We happened to be in the yard photographing something else but turned our attention to the bird bath when we heard quite a commotion of happy chirping and splashing.

Usually these little guys have a sixth sense and make a hasty retreat before the camera is even totally pointed in their direction. Today though it was all about the bath.

Sunshine in the Garden

Typical of later winter in Southern California, we've had a run of chilly breezes and sunshine for the last several days.  Perfect weather for tending flower beds and pulling a few weeds.  A few shots of the less-weedy areas: