Just your average $800 kitten warmer

Our new kitten Riley has been under the weather recently. He has had sporadic fevers that take the spark right out of him and make him want to do nothing but sleep.

Jeff was working from home Wednesday using a laptop provided by his company. While Jeff was taking a lunch break, Riley determined his laptop to be the perfect place to catch a few zzzz's and warm up his feverish little body.

Jeff and I couldn't resist snapping a couple of photos. Check them out:

"Ooh, this is the best napping spot ever!"

"Why are you bothering me when I am trying to nap?"

When I dare to dream, it looks like this

It's no secret I have one of the blackest thumbs around. I have said many times that the only things I can get to grow are children, but that's only because they remind me to feed and water them.

Even though I am death personified, complete with black cloak and sickle, when it comes to horticulture, I truly love plants and flowers and would give my eye teeth to have a beautiful Southern garden filled to overflowing with native species.

I wish for the day we either win the lottery or Jeff gets a massive raise so that I can hire me a nice landscaper who will not only make my dream garden a reality, but who will also return on a regular schedule to prune, weed, feed and otherwise tend it so that I don't have to even touch the pretty flowers and plants. After all, the tiniest touch from me would likely send them into a death spiral plus I don't like getting all hot and sweaty so I'll let the professionals do their job while I watch from afar preferably under the air conditioning.

If we do ever get to the point to where Jeff gives me the go-ahead to hire the aforementioned landscaper, I intend to give he or she the following photos so they will know exactly what I want from them.

This is so pretty. I haven't the faintest idea what any of these plants are named, but I love them and want them in some dirt at my house.

Gorgeous! I love the purple hydrangeas, pink lilies and pink and red impatiens. I also intend to tell my (imaginary (for now)) landscaper to install a fountain somewhere on our property. I don't necessarily want elephants, but I'll take them over peeing cherubs or a fake water pump.

Elephant ears are a must in my garden. The take me back to my childhood where such a plant held court in my grandparents' front yard. Also, I love how sleek they look after a nice rain shower.

I love irises. We actually have some that have thrived and have the loveliest crimson blooms. I don't touch them for fear they will wither and die, but Jeff seems to be fairly adept at tending them, Our landscaper will have to plant many more of these beauties.

Black-eyed Susans are a favorite flower of mine. I adore how their bright yellow petals stand out around their deep black center. I also love that they are heat and drought tolerant both of which can wreak havoc on an Alabama garden.

I want lots of ferns in my garden. They are so simple, yet so beautiful. A few years ago Jeff bought me two ferns for Mother's Day. It should surprise no one that they met an untimely death caused from me hanging them in the blistering sun simply because I thought they looked pretty on my porch and was unaware they didn't love constant light and heat.

There must be a crape myrtle in my landscape. I can't believe I've lived in this house seven and a half years and still don't have one. How can I tell anyone I am a true Southerner when I don't have one of these fabulous trees in my yard?

If I had to have just one flower in my yard it would be the daffodil. I have always lurrrrrved these flowers, which are like little bits of sunshine that you can cut and bring in the house. However, my momma, God rest her soul, was passionate about these lovelies so, therefore, I am reminded of her each time I gaze upon one.

Red geraniums were also a favorite of momma's. She always planted a bunch in a pot on her front porch. I want lots of these too.

Marigolds also factored heavily in momma's flower beds. Some folks would argue these bright flowers are nothing more than stinky weeds, but I love them because my momma loved them and hope to have lots of them at my house some day.

Mums are fantastic flowers for Southern gardens. They come in a rainbow of colors, don't need a lot of petting, tend to be quite tolerant of temperature fluctuations and come back year after year. I intend to direct my landscaper to install lots of these throughout our yard.

I cannot look upon an old maid without thinking of my grandparents' home where these hardy flowers lined one side of the driveway and took up a whole row in the garden. As a child, I caught many, many butterflies just by hanging around these flowers. It's imperative I have some of these in my dream garden.

Purple has been my favorite color since I was three and could articulate my color preferences. I cannot imagine having a garden and not having some of these lovely purple crocus in it. After all, the color is divine and these beauties poke their heads up from the cold ground to announce the coming of spring either of which, to me, is reason enough to include them in the plans.

I couldn't tell you the real name of these flowers, but I have always known them as ballerina flowers because when held upright by the stem and twirled they resemble a delicate ballerina performing en pointe. A slew of these flowers grew by the side of the road across the street from where I grew up. I used to pick bunches of them each time I passed either on my way to or from my best friend's house. I'd love to have some at my home for me to enjoy with my girls.

Space must be found in my yard for a Rose of Sharon bush. I have always wanted one of these especially since they remind me so much of my momma, my aunt and my grandparents all of whom had one in their respective yards.

Cannas are another flower that takes me back to my childhood and comforts me just by their presence. I want these in every available color.

I cannot say I will ever see this dream come to fruition; but I am proud to know, should we ever hit the jackpot or see Jeff suddenly be awarded a substantial pay raise, that I have a plan in place.

My girl is not afraid to stand out in a crowd

Don't you just love Amelia's hair-do! She announced last night after spotting a similar one on TV that she wanted to wear her hair like this today. I just love that she's willing to go against the crowd and do her own thing.

She expressed some concern that other students might give her a hard time about her hairstyle, but I assured her that if they do it's only because they wish they were courageous like her so they could wear their hair this way. 

I also promised her she'd get lots of good attention from the grown-ups at school. I know this to be true because the adults at her school love to make a big to-do about the kids who march to the beat of their own drummer. The promise of positive attention made Amelia over-the-moon happy because she thrives on attention (thus the willingness to sport such a special hair-do). It's like a feel-good drug for her. 

I expect she'll want to wear this particular style more in the future, and it's possible her confidence may just rub off on some of the other kids at school and result in a fad started by my little trendsetter. Of course, as is often the case with fashion-forward folks, once everyone starts copying her she'll likely have no interest in continuing to wear her hair in this way.

Goodbye buddy

Our precious 7-year-old cat Mojo died this afternoon from complications associated with a urethral obstruction. Jeff, Amelia and I are all taking his death pretty hard. Lola doesn't really grasp that he's gone, but she understands we're sad. Mojo was a loving, protective, mellow and sometimes ornery cat, and he'll be sorely missed. For me, I know it's going to take a while to get used to his absence. 

I see a library card in her future

 I "caught" Lola looking at a book the other day when she didn't know I was watching her. She looks so sweet sitting there reading like a big girl!

Lola has been fired up about books recently. The fact her daddy has begun reading to her every night while I read to Amelia has certainly stoked this fire. Additionally, I, along with Jeff, when he could make it, took the girls to the local library for the summer reading program. Both girls loved the program and were excited to check out books each time we went. 

Now that Amelia is back in school, she gets to go with her class to the library once a week. Since Lola is showing so much interest in books, I intend to take her to the public library every couple of weeks. I want to make sure to do my part to increase her love of reading.

It thrills me to know my girls love books, and I have told them that books are the one item I will never refuse to buy for them. However, if they love reading as much as Jeff and I do, we may very well go broke indulging them in their desire for books.

Brand new first grader

Amelia started first grade today. She was looking forward to kicking off the school year and was excited about her new teacher, who we met Friday when we dropped off her supplies and toured her classroom. 

She was fired up about taking her lunch to school today. I made a big deal about letting her help me pick out what to pack. Ever my little carb addict, Amelia chose to take buttered spaghetti noodles, peanut butter crackers, strawberry fruit bites and mandarin oranges. I stuck a frozen Go-Gurt in her lunchbox to ensure she took in some protein with the hopes it will prevent her from suffering a carb-crash during P.E. 

Amelia is especially proud of her new backpack. We didn't even make it in the door of the school before she was showing it off to teachers and friends. 

Daddy worked from home today in order to be able to be with Amelia for her first day of class. He said he intends to be with her and her sister on their first days of school as long as they'll let him. 

I was able to get in a photo with Amelia, which is quite a rarity as I am usually behind the camera; but this morning Jeff was on top of things because he remembered to get a picture of me and my best gal together. 

While the rest of us were making a big deal about Amelia's first day of school, Lola, ever the free spirit, was off doing her own thing. I'd hoped to get a picture of her and Amelia together, but Lola refused so instead I let Amelia snap this photo of her hanging out on the porch. 

I know Amelia returning to school is going to be an adjustment for Lola as well. She loves being with her "Sissy" and will likely feel a little lost without her for a the first few days. In fact, when we were leaving school this morning, Lola said, "Where's Sissy?" Jeff and I told her Amelia had to stay at school, but that didn't seem to appease her. She may spend a good amount of time today looking for Amelia, and I imagine she will be thrilled when it's time to go pick her up. 

When Jeff and I left Amelia at school she was coloring quietly at her desk while her teacher worked to deal with the typical first-day issues. Even though tears were being shed in the classroom, Amelia was dry-eyed. I know she'll be fine and am looking forward to picking her up this afternoon so I can hear all about her day as a brand new first grader.

Photo verification of her love for shoes

Lola has become so enamored with shoes lately - a trait she gets from me because, if I had the closet space in which to store it, I would have quite the collection of footwear. 

Most days when I get her dressed she requests I put a pair of shoes on her. She cares not that we may not even leave the house or that she will likely discard this pair for another one quite quickly. All that matters is that she get to wear shoes.

This little missy, who will likely soon be asking for a subscription to Vogue if she continues to show such interest in fashion, isn't picky as to whether her shoes fit well because she loves trying to wear shoes belonging to each member of the family. 

 Here she is modeling my New Balance tennis shoes while showing off the inflatable beach ball she snagged after a program at the local public library. 

Later that same day she ditched my shoes in order to slip on a pair of hand-me-down rainboots that are two sizes too big. 

She refused to look at the camera because she was too interested in the air conditioner return on the ceiling. 

Those rainboots, which were also a favorite for Amelia when she was younger, are a staple in Lola's wardrobe. she feels comfortable wearing them for day or night as evidenced by this shot of her sporting them with a nightgown. 

Grandmaw was quite impressed with this ensemble. She felt the boots complimented the nightgown so well that they could have passed for a matched set. 

In recent weeks Lola has developed a deep and abiding love for Amelia's pair of Twinkle Toes high-top sneakers by Skechers that light up when you walk in them. Anytime Amelia leaves these shoes where Lola can get ahold of them, Lola makes a beeline for them, slips them on her feet and has a ball stomping around to make them light up. 

Sadly, Amelia also lovvvvves these shoes so it's unlikely they will hold up well enough to be passed on to Lola. Looks as though I may have to break down and buy her her own pair; although, I am hesitant because I worry she won't love them if she doesn't have to covet them.