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We got up early and headed to the Vet because it was time for Grace’s checkup, nail trim, and a precautionary de-fleaing\u2014just in case she’d picked up any tiny freeloaders during her two-week “outdoor retreat.”<\/p>\n
Getting her into the carrier was less of a task and more of a full-contact Olympic event.\u00a0 Grace had approximately 14 legs, no bones, and the strength of a panicked raccoon.\u00a0 It took both of us, several strategic maneuvers, and possibly a small violation of the Geneva Convention.<\/p>\n
After surviving that adventure, we came home.\u00a0 We headed to the garden to plant our seven new tomato plants.\u00a0 I dug the holes, added fertilizer, and planted them with the confidence of a man who knows someone else will handle the aftermath.\u00a0 Mary followed behind,\u00a0 cleaning up after me\u2014which, judging by the dirt trail, scattered tools, and general crime scene appearance, was not a small assignment.<\/p>\n
My gardening uniform that day consisted mostly of loose-fitting skin \u2014 I was apparently in training for World Naked Gardening Day and had taken the \u201cuniform optional\u201d policy very seriously.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, with the strategic assistance of a tomato plant, the whole scene remained technically \u201cG-rated.\u201d Think National Geographic, but with more mulch.<\/p>\n
Naturally, this was the exact moment our neighbor \u2014 who had been home for the first time in six months \u2014 decided to look over the fence and ask about watering his orange trees. I immediately dove behind a much larger tomato bush like a startled garden gnome with legal concerns.<\/p>\n
Mary was laughing so hard she could barely hold the camera steady. Out of nine photos, only one wasn\u2019t blurry \u2014 and even that one may need to be sealed in a government archive.<\/p>\n
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Thank you, Mr. Tomato!<\/p><\/div>\n
At 11:00, we were off to the Elks for the weekly “Girls’ Night Out” activity.\u00a0 Great fun with the gang!\u00a0 As the afternoon progressed, Mary assisted Sandee so Sandee would see, speak, or hear any evil!!<\/p>\n
The “three wise monkeys” \u2014 see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil \u2014 are a famous symbol of moral conduct and self-discipline.<\/p>\n
They are usually shown as:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mizaru \u2014 covering his eyes: see no evil
\n\u2022 Kikazaru \u2014 covering his ears: hear no evil
\n\u2022 Iwazaru \u2014 covering his mouth: speak no evil<\/p>\n
The most famous version comes from Japan, especially a 17th-century carving at the\u00a0T?sh?-g\u00a0 \u00a0Shrine in Nikk?<\/span>, <\/span>dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu.\u00a0 The monkeys are part of a larger set of carvings meant to teach life lessons.<\/p>\n The phrase is often linked to a Japanese proverb.<\/p>\n “Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru”?\u00a0 Do not see evil, do not hear evil, do not speak evil.”<\/p>\n Not to be outdone, Mary and Sandee recreated the image “one no at timeme”!<\/p>\n See no evil!<\/p><\/div>\n Hear no evil!<\/p><\/div>\n Speak no evil!<\/p><\/div>\n We headed home, and I took a two-hour nap, which was not so much “resting” as it was my body filing an official shutdown notice.<\/span><\/p>\n After I rejoined the living, we watched a little TV and then headed for the pool.\u00a0 The water is still 92 degrees, even after we lowered it to 90\u2014apparently the warm weather took that as a personal challenge. At this point, the pool is less of a ” refreshing swim” and more of a “giant outdoor bbathtub “<\/span><\/p>\n After getting out, we watched the rest of PanAm 108 and then went to bed.\u00a0 Gracie was roaming around the house and headed upstairs when we came down the hallway.\u00a0 Finally, I got a face-on photo!<\/p>\n During the night, I saw our hallway, family room, and living\/TV room lights go on and off, which means Grace is on the prowl!\u00a0 Nothing like a four-legged burglar alarm!\u00a0 Who needs a random lighting timer when Grace is on duty?<\/p>\n “I am mad!!\u00a0 You took me to the Vet this morning!!!”<\/p><\/div>\n At 11:00 pm, we were sound asleep!<\/p>\n We got up early and headed to the Vet because it was time for Grace’s checkup, nail trim, and a precautionary de-fleaing\u2014just in case she’d picked up any tiny freeloaders during her two-week “outdoor retreat.” Getting her into the carrier … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/wp-content\/dailydiary\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-06-009.jpg\")
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