Culinary Satisfaction

As far as I can tell, it's generally believed among my friends and family that I can cook. Unfortunately, this is something I rarely feel is warranted. I can follow directions, but I screw up far too often for me to feel comfortable in believing that I'm a good cook. My mom, now? She is awesome.

But last night? Last night I was on. Rosemary-garlic pork loin with a milk-based sauce; the last of the year's summer squash, pan-fried in olive oil with salt and pepper; chard leaves pulled from the garden, wilted with more olive oil and salt and pepper; and buttermilk mashed potatoes flavored with more rosemary. For dessert there was applesauce that I'd canned earlier this year. And I actually managed to time things so that it all was ready at the same time.

Go me.

Kittehs!

So, the house....

I kind of suspected there might be kitties nesting up in the bougainvilla tree because I'd (1) been under it and looked up and saw and black-and-white kitty crossing its branches overhead, and (2) on a separate occasion seen a gray-and-white kitten (maybe 3-4 months old?) popping down out of the tree and scurrying away between the doubled back fence. This weekend, however, Wonderful Husband and I confirmed the one mama cat and another kitten. One of our neighbors seems to think the mama cat was left behind when the last residents moved out two years ago, when they couldn't find her on moving day, and has been at least partially living beneath the house, as there's a torn screen or two to the crawlspace. This is inclining me to dub her Mittens (go watch "Bolt" for the reference).

So, trap 'em, fix 'em, and feed 'em, I guess. Enough to keep them around, but hopefully not enough so that they'll take care of the mice which've already wreaked havoc on the bean plants I transplanted. And the bougainvilla is still coming out at some point, and the between-the-fences needs clearing out. Good luck to us.