A black cat, a shovel, a shallow plot, Bloody Sunday.

Aimer's new cat, Teddie Bear, scared the hello out of me Sunday morning. I went to get something out of the closet and saw eyes looking back at me. It was really dark in that corner, so dark I had to use a flash to take this picture.

The shelf is at eye level. I'm amazed Teddie was able to get up there without pulling all my stuff down. It sure doesn't stop him around the rest of the house. I'm constantly picking up something he has knocked to the floor and then started playing with. Usually it is pens or papers but he has also dumped a couple of our things off the coffee table (remotes for the digital receiver, regular TV, DVD, stereo receiver,VCR, and the cordless phone Amy never put in the charger - which unsurprisingly is usually dead).

By the way, looking at the picture, I can see where I put my gloves away last spring. I've been wondering where they went. Good, I thought I had lost them.

We got our first real frost Saturday night. It killed off almost all my flowers. The ones above survived because they were next to a fence of cucumber vines that must have blocked the chill. Most of my plants in containers survived too because they were close to the house.

I spent the afternoon digging up dahlia bulbs. I have them in the garden, behind the garage, and outside the house. After they die from frost, you need to dig them up (they are in clumps). I hauled them down to the basement where they can dry out and then be stored till spring. It took me most of the afternoon but in I at least feel that I accomplished something. An alternative would have been watching the Chicago Bears play Detroit. (I can't believe the Bears were in last year's Superbowl. And I can't believe in 8 games I've only picked them right 3 times.)

While I do all my chores outside, Cubbie just follows me around, hardly ever getting under my feet. We have a lot of dogs in the neighborhood so he is constantly marking spots or sniffing those spots marked by other dogs.

U2, Bloody Sunday. I just happen to like this song and it fit with this post's title.

English themed roadtrip.

This is a narrow little country road about two miles out of town. Notice the red triangle with a "Yield" on the railroad crossing sign (what other option do you have with a train?).

My neighbor told me a nearby roadside garden vendor was clearing out the last of their annuals. He gave me the impression they were free for the taking. I had a few holes to fill around the yard. Sounded great to me. After talking a bit more, I found out they were priced using the "Honor System".

What do you think about when you hear the word Honor? Obviously for neighbor Kenny, pay what you want, if anything.

I immediately thought of Honor Blackman. Cathy Gale from the British TV series, The Avengers. I love British TV.

Honor left to play Pussy Galore in the James Bond movie Goldfinger and was replaced by Diana Rigg as Emma Peel. It turned out to be a good career move for both of them. They are both still active.

This part of the road is about a mile from the farm I grew up on. I used to ride my bike on this road. Ahead on the left is a house where a young kid got his head blown off while playing with a shotgun. I was always scared to ride by the house. Haunted.

Below I took a 15 second video, panning the road and field. It's too windy, bad sound quality, but I like hearing the sound of my voice. Always experimenting; tip # 1 - don't do video on a windy day.

On the left side of the road was this straw field. It was really bright out and made for good colors. This made me think of that minor classic, Straw Dogs by Sam Peckinpah. Set in rural England, it starred a young Dustin Hoffman and a very cute Susan George. I liked it; it's worth a view.

This looking the other direction from the road. That is our old farm way back over the soybean field.

What did I buy when I got to the roadside stand? Begonias, of course (really, I needed some shade lovers). This time of year you can't keep anything looking decent in the direct sun. And I paid pretty much the correct price. I discounted a little bit because of their condition (they were not "spring pristeen").

Back at home. These cleome fool Clint and I just about every year. Starting out, they look like pot plants. I actually quit my illegal paper burning in the barrel behind the garage. Don't draw attention to yourself. Then they get a little bigger, grow thorns and I know they are flowers.

The leaves look like pot to me.

My illegal burn barrel. Have to take it easy anyway for the morning glory.

Backyard garden. All the sunflowers came back on their own.

In keeping with my occasional English references, a must see show for me is on PBS; Rose Mary and Thyme. (I case you are wondering Mike, Wednesdays.)

It is a British TV series - two women are gardeners who also solve crimes. It isn't Masterpiece Theater but it is an enjoyable little show.

My only complaint with the sunflowers is they bloom too early. Or don't bloom long enough.

Experimenting with no flash. The morning glories are starting to climb the garage.

Ending with two Lilys. Both are favorites. One is English. (Any excuse to get Lily in a post.)