Until we moved to Florida, I’ve never had trouble taking care of my house plants. We had geraniums on the veranda along with jade plants. They loved the climate and grew to magnificent sizes. I discoverer something on the jade plants that I had never seen in the states: they had tiny flowers blooming in the winter. I had an African violet in the house.
Plants were not the only thing that thrived in our home. Our cat, Fofinha, had been to the vet for an operation. After that she made herself at home, and grew. She made peace with Susie after she got into Susie’s food that I was warming on the stove once; she regretted it afterward.
Eventually, we had a pair of canaries courtesy of my friend who opened her own flower and bird shop. They were Caruso and Kate (short for Kate Smith). Caruso’s song was complex and always lifted my heart. When Kate laid eggs, we loved watching how he fed her so she could feed the chicks.
Bethy had grown up a lot that year she turned four years old and began to lose her baby looks. Being the big sister sobered her to a degree as well. She worried about Susie’s unpredictable moments. A lot. (And I think she still worries at times.) Christmas was a familiar friend by then.
Susie didn’t know what Christmas was, but she was ready to party. She clung to her habit of waking me several times a night, and I decided that our family size had reached its limit. Never again. Harry and I had also been growing along side of the girls; it is difficult not to when you have two young children whose needs often required to be dealt with before our own.
Right after Christmas, it was Susie’s first birthday. Of course she had a chocolate cake. She was a proper girl!
*laughs* I like the part that she still worries about her… Now…why did the cat regret getting in the food, I wonder?
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Because she got put out in the cold. Not especially gently.
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Ohhh…..I see. Well, it was a good lessons for her.
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I daresay she has a few good lessons for you.
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No! The professor is lesson-proof.
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You are? Dadblameit, how can I get that way?
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Well, just make lots of mistakes, and grow to liking it.
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Hurumphn
1
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(smh) Mom has killed every houseplant. 😦 The last was a jade plant that finally just went kaput after she repotted it. Mom is going to stick to animals! Woof!
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I’m not as good at it as I used to be, Maggie. I just don’t always think about the plants until they start drooping. Florida is awful for plants. I know that people do it, but I’ve been unsuccessful.
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Another post that brought smiles to my Heart. Loved this one, too, Suze. (((HUGS))) Amy
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Thank you. So long ago but it doesn’t seem to be.
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Another delightful entry in this series. I thought you were going to say the cat ate your plants (which ours did – climbed, ruined, pulled over, pulled down, etc.). However, I see it was even worse! Smiles and great post.
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That cat was a piece of work. But she was purty.
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In answer to Fofinha’s question, yes, she looks just like the kind of cat who would steal food from babies! Chocolate cake! I see she had the sense to store some on her face for later – I like to do that too… 😉
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Laughing lots!
You know all of the tricks, don’t you? 😀
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Years of practice… 😉
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Aww, those are such sweet memories! The bird story is just incredible. Do all Papa birds feed the Mama?
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The canaries do at any rate. It was thrilling for me to observe that.
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