Lieutenant sentry Petunia Kleinbub, official duty roster...

I reported to my post at 0700 today. No birds chirping, no activity noted. Will investigate further.

Oh Milo! Come on already! 

Sentry Petunia, reporting for duty !

I really like the sound of that!  So, anyway, when I got back to business ( after a brief and well- deserved nap), I noticed Milo acting very suspicious! Upon further investigation, I discovered what he was so fascinated with- a chipmunk named- what else- Chippy! 

I'm a natural at this job- don't you agree?

Camp Ranger extraordinaire!

Never fear

Grandma dear

Eagle eye Camper Petunia is here!

No birds, bugs or rabbit

Will get in the habit

No squirrel in the meadow 

Will dare near the window

When Tunia the Boonia is near !!!

( I tell you- looks, wit, a poet's soul...am I the whole package or what ???)

The steambath continues at CampOhio

But Milo says it's never too hot for some lovin' !!!

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad

On this day

That you were wed

Some thoughts are floating 

In my head

How opportune

that you should meet

and share a love of art and eat

And most of all

tho no surprise

Who can, of course, resist these eyes?

The love of ME- true adoration

Let's celebrate our own cat-nation!

I'll have the tuna

Petunia Kleinbub, poet in residence

Heat wave in Ohio- 5 straight days over 90 degrees!

I don't know about the dog- days of summer, but these cats are muy caliente!

What were they thinking???

CampOhio had a potluck for Grandpa's family here yesterday- 42 people, lots of them teenagers who apparently love felines. I did my best to be cool, calm and collected- but when supper was delayed by 2 HOURS my patience was wearing thin. I admit, Dad, that I hissed a bit with so much adoration but there was no biting involved. Grandma finally fed us after the last people left ( something about Boo being too shy to come downstairs and she didn't want me eating her food too- sheesh!) and I could finally relax after such a taxing day. And what better place then atop the Big Guy's unmentionables! Ahhhhh... Payback is bliss!

Ladies and gentlemen...

Kindly turn your attention to the tiny, delicate fluff of furry tail at the bottom of the tree. Introducing Trixie, the next generation of Squirrel acrobatic performers!!!

(Well, ok, that's her stage name. Her real name is Bernadette- her mother calls her Bootsie, but I mostly call her Baby Girl)

Grandma...this game is getting boring...

Wait! I spy from the corner of my eye... Trickster Squirrel has brought a friend with him. What's that, Mr. Squirrel? You'd like to introduce me to your lovely wife, Winona Squirrel! Delighted to meet you! And you say you have another trick up your sleeve?

I spy from the corner of my eye...

a new bird staring back at me! He's quite a singer and, since I couldn't get a good look at him, we pulled his info up on the computer. He's a rose- breasted grosbeak who comes to Ohio in the spring but spends his winters in Central and South America.  Grandma says "smart bird"; Grandpa says " bet he golfs".

I spy from the corner of my eye...

Oh hellooo... Come closer so we can talk. Very nice to meet you, Miss Romaine Rabbit. What a lovely, leafy name for a lettuce lover! 

I spy from the corner of my eye...

One...no two...no three...make that four birds dining at the same time!

I spy from the corner of my eye...

Grandma's idea of fixing the birdfeeder when a perch broke- an old wooden knitting needle and a hair tie. Interesting!

Such a skeptic!

Yes Dad, Grandma showed me the cartoon. I can't believe your year abroad has made you so cynical! I bet it's because you've been away from sweet- natured ME !

I spy from the corner of my eye...

this cutie- pie!  (Oh no--I'm starting to sound like Grandma...)

Ok- let me try this...I spy from the corner of my eye...

Trickster Squirrel! Stay out of the birdseed, you rascal!  Don't you see there's a guard cat here watching you?  Call Camper Alex- emergency!!!

Grandma is full of good ideas...

Now she's "suggesting" that, instead of daydreaming while I'm window- watching, I could play I Spy from the Corner of my Eye. What is with this lady, Mom??? Ok, ok, I know what you'll say...and I'll try ( pretty good rhyming, right?)

Birdwatching

Keeping an eye on our feathered friends seems like a good hot-weather activity. Did you know some birds eat half their body weight in food every day? I mean, sounds delish but then I'd really have issues sitting on this skinny ledge!