Today we had a birthday barbecue, with family coming over for great food, good company and Wii Rock Band. Here are pictures of some of the attendees:

Gus spent much of the night under Zach’s chair.

Zoe, the friendly doggie cop, herded us all where she wanted us to go.

Sadie and Murphy are best buddies.

Panda is not very sociable – although she is the alpha dog – and spent most of her night like this.

The dogs did bring their parents. And the parents did get to eat at the tables. We had salmon mousse and crackers, smoked brisket & chicken, enough potato salad to cause a 21st century Irish potato famine, calabacitas (grilled squash, corn, onions & peppers), fresh-picked green salad and cake. Lots of cake. See the next post for more on that!

It’s not so bad turning forty-mumble mumble. We still feel young! Sort of.

I post this with little comment of my own, but I am interested in our dear reader’s thoughts about this story of a dying doggie, a panicked owner, and an unsympathetic cop.

The cop’s gotta stop the guy to figure out why he’s driving that way, but where does it go from there? YOU BE THE JUDGE! {cue People’s Court theme}.

Inspired by Subtropical Gal, I present a new approach to Friday catblogging.

We did not let Panda play with Marmalade for too long, Marmalade is not exactly an alpha cat and we didn’t want any damage.

Yes, she’s always this happy to have her picture taken.

Panda loves perching around our pond, keeping a lookout for tadpoles and fish. (Our goldfish didn’t make it through the winter but she still watches.)

Zach built the pond for us as his 9th grade horticulture class project. He got an A from his teachers and from his extended family.

Today, for your gardening edification, we have a new species of ground cover, the Creeping Panda. Lysimachia Pandularis is a low growing, shade tolerant plant with luxurious foliage. It tends to meow bark at intruding squirrels and postal carriers.

Also, we have the Murphy Red Astilbe, a hybrid variant of astilbe chinensis and the more common dogweed.

Oops, this temperamental and neurotic hybrid did not excel at obedience training, and must have been out back watering the exotic maples when they were teaching the “stay” command.

I found him:

It took ten minutes and several tries to get a picture without my hand or toes in the shot – he’s that clingy. Silly cat dog.

Happy Friday!