Mr. Fluffles is much better this morning, eating with gusto and walking around almost normally. He is a tough fellow.

I learned only this week that “Cape Cod” is an adjective as well as a noun. Property can be “very Cape Cod”. I am quite pleased and flattered that one of our friends referred to our house that way.

Tomatoes remind me of my grandmother. Her garden would put anyone else’s to shame. Having home-grown tomatoes on a window sill is an essential part of summer, along with clam shacks, outdoor concerts, hammocks and going to the beach at sunset.

I love it when we get to spend time with the grands and their friends. We took them to Sea Mist today and fed them this evening. Nothing fancy: James grilled hotdogs, I cooked burgers, everyone had enough to eat. I’m very proud that they have developed the social skills to make pleasant dinner conversation with their friends.

Mr. Fluffles has a limp. It started late yesterday afternoon, long after our cookout.

I’d removed a big clump of litter from one of his paws in the morning and am afraid I might have hurt his leg or foot in the process.

He’s been resting and we’re planning to let him be for a day or so. If he’s not better after the weekend, we’ll take him to the vet. He’s about due for a checkup anyway.

PAN Action Cookout 8/24/2012

Had a lot of fun with our friends today and good eats besides. We’d worked hard on yard and house cleanup. Our friends brought fruit salad, green salad, watermelon, wine, hot dogs, hummus and boca burgers. We picked up beer, soda, water, chicken kebabs and sweet sausage.

From The Sap Also Rises, http://www.flavourcountryfeedlot.com

We signed up this morning to volunteer for another concert at Payomet. This has been a source of real delight for us this summer. We’ve seen John Mayall, Buckwheat Zydeco and next month, Leon Russell and in October, Shemekia Copeland.

Yesterday we had a terrific visit with Ron’s cousin Cheryl, her family and friends at her bro-in-law’s house on Martha’s Vineyard. Pure pleasure to spend a few hours with such delightful, hospitable people.

I put in 8 tiny hardy mums and 3 Coreopsis as well as a partial layer of compost. Hoping for a little more rain.

This is looking like the Mad Hatter’s garden. Over 40 plants and all different types. It evolved in part because not all of the plants survived from last year. I let some spread, like the astilbe and the forget-me-nots.

I hope it looks okay when everything grows in, like this gorgeous English country garden by Sally Dunn. Right now, it’s fairly indescribable. The kids might call it “random” and they’d be right.

Saw a rabbit in the back yard today.

Joe Fitzgerald of the Boston Herald nails it perfectly with this column.