Etc.

It's always kind of a shock when I realize that summer is here. The weather is more dependable, everything needs watering, and the weeds and plants are in their growing mode. Even though it stays light so much later it really doesn't seem like I get that much more done. Although I probably do.

This morning was spent out shopping for a replacement for our dear departed espresso machine. We bought the orange Francis Francis machine within several months of moving here - so it served us well for more than six years. We replaced it with a Breville Die Cast - a gorgeous super heavy stainless steel fifteen bar beauty. I hardly know what all that means but I already love it. I usually drink Americanos, so the crema is very important to me, and the first two drinks came out perfectly done. We even bought a burr grinder...and both of these together cost less that the Francis Francis did six years ago.

I finished another couple of books lately:


Hitching Rides with Buddha by Will Ferguson (#36) was a real treat. The book was an often hilarious, always thoughtful travel journal of his journey following the cherry blossom front as it moves from southern Japan to the most northernmost point in the country. He is an incredibly likeable and intelligent person - and he made Japan seem even more intriguing to me than I thought possible.


Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan (#37) is by the host of one of my favorite TV shows, The Dog Whisperer. Since we have three dogs and are always trying to figure out how to stay one step ahead of them - this book was very helpful. The main thing he teaches is that a dog wants "rules, boundaries and limitations" and his first answer to a dog that is out of "balance" is to take it for a long walk and get it very tired. We don't have problems with our dogs, but I would like to take them for more walks. But with Angus sick and Henry just a puppy - and of course the fact that I only have two arms, that might just have to wait.