Paladin of the Vineyard

Grape leaves give the impression of a crown as they surround Paladin sitting among the grapevines of Effieland.

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Paladin of the lupines

Paladin seeks shade among lupines and brome next to the fence in Effieland. Away from the shade, the temperature is 84° F, and Paladin’s fur resembles the coat of a Siberian husky.

In the heat of Effieland

The Effieland thermometer faces the afternoon sun.

Paladin wisely took his nap in the shade of some tall grass.

Effie came into the air-conditioned house, instead.

The Heart and Mistress of Effieland

My name is Euphemia, Effie for short. My people have a garden named Effieland, and it is a place where I love to prowl, hunt, and nap, and eat a variety of delicious grasses. In summer and early fall, my Mom picks a few fresh catnip leaves for me every day from a flower pot of catnip my Dad planted. I also hunt bugs and run and jump a lot here, so I get lots of healthy exercise, in sunshine, rain, and snow.

My Mom is paranoid about foxtails, which are sharp little spears of brome growing in Effieland. She is afraid the foxtails will penetrate my skin and cause an abscess. This happened to a dog she had a long time ago, and the vet had to operate to remove the sharp little projectile. So she combs me every time I come indoors! But foxtails are very bad, so I let her comb me and I only leave a few teeth marks in her hands if I get playful or just bored.

I love Effieland because I am the Effielander, and Effieland is my dominion–but I do let my Mom and Dad pick grapes, berries, and tomatoes from the vines they planted. I just don’t understand why they don’t like to eat bugs! Bugs are so delicious!

Wonders of Effieland

Swenson Red grapes. . .

Peppers!

Amaranth is beautiful, and Effie loves nibbling it.

The sense of wonder in Effie’s lovely expressive face, is to me the most wondrous Effieland feature of all!

Picking grapes: Does Effie want to help?

Without help, and with no prompting, Effie mounted the step ladder and looked ready to pick some grapes. A sniff and a lick, unfortunately, seems to have provided less than sufficient motivation to continue.

Effie among Grapes

Special Guest Star Halvor basks in the welcome sunshine on the patio. . . .

Effie enjoys a bit of shade near a chair.

Effie checks out a blackberry branch. She probably doesn’t mind that the blackberries have all been picked. Behind her are ripening Flame grapes.

Happy girl in a pleasant garden!

Effie’s refuge–Where’s the shade? In the grapevines of Effieland

Once again, it is 110° F in Effieland, and Effie is there. I call her and call her, but she is hiding very effectually. Finally, she  gives me a mew cue. I still cannot see her. I call to her again. Her mew is closer–under a dense grape vine, inches from where I stand. She is fine; the vine provides plenty of shade. She still will not come in. The grape vine provides shade and a fun place to hide out from her worried Mum.

We would probably all like to hide under a grape vine once in a while; Effie can actually accomplish it.

 

As blueberries ripen

As our blueberries begin to ripen. . .

Effie evidently prefers the shade of grapevines. I honestly can’t blame her; Effieland is 106° F right now.

Effie in her garden of sunflower wonders

The first sunflower to bloom was bronze. . .

 

followed by yellow.

 

Effie seems to debate the virtues of it all; or, she could be tracking a bug.

 

Sweet clover grows above Effieland.

Effie devours a catnip leaf from my fingers.