La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
THURSDAY IS “ISABEL DAY” AT our place. She arrives to clean the house at 10:30 and we head to Mesón Salvador before she gets here. So, Thursdays, we breakfast, shower, sometimes shave (not today), and dress earlier than usual. I love it. I also love coming home to a clean house. Isabel gives the cats their treats (they follow her around until she does). I especially love not being whined at for an hour or more one day a week. After coffee, while Isabel is finishing up, I usually go for a walk. I did so today. Here are photos that begin with Tuesday’s early sky after our 30 seconds of rain (spit, really). After that it’s all about today. As you can see, there’s no rain in sight. As I think about it, I’m sure Isabel would prefer the day off on “her” day.
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EL JUEVES ES EL “DÍA de Isabel” en nuestra casa. Ella llega a limpiar la casa a las 10:30 y nos dirigimos al Mesón Salvador antes de que llegue. Entonces, los jueves desayunamos, nos duchamos, a veces nos afeitamos (hoy no), y nos vestimos más temprano de lo habitual. Me encanta. También me encanta volver a casa y tener una casa limpia. Isabel les da a los gatos sus aperitivos (la siguen hasta que lo hace). Especialmente me encanta que no me lloriqueen durante una hora o más un día a la semana. Después del café, mientras Isabel termina, suelo dar un paseo. Así lo hice hoy. Aquí hay fotos que comienzan con el cielo temprano del martes después de nuestros 30 segundos de lluvia (escupir, en serio). Después de eso, todo se trata de hoy. Como puede ver, no hay lluvia a la vista. Mientras lo pienso, estoy seguro de que Isabel preferiría el día libre en “su” día.
Mi desayuno: Avena Nocturna de Susan (haz clic aquí), Kellog’s Extra, y una nectarina dulce y fresca.
Camino a Mesón Salvador. Estoy absolutamente seguro de que él no es español.
Demasiados negocios nunca abrieron este verano (los dos de abajo a la derecha no lo hicieron). Va a seguir siendo un año difícil.
El césped de este hotel suele estar lleno de bañistas. El hotel no volvió a abrir después del cierre.
Heartbeat Bar de Musica no tiene pulso.
Las tres fotos anteriores son de Dudo en mi regazo en la cama anoche. Él estaba en el cielo (yo también).
Moose desestresándose esta tarde en la oficina de San Geraldo después de todo ese trabajo … hecho por Isabel.
Another post-lockdown fashionista! I imagine they are thrilled to be sharing their sartorial shortcomings with the world!
And the punums! Goddess I love those boys!
Bob:
I haven’t seen many looks like that this month. I wanted to personally thank that guy this morning. And, yes, those punks! Dudo has the most expressive face, like a cartoon cat.
My favorite picture today???? The one with the tree and yellow hibiscus in the forefront and the beach with straw umbrellas behind…Stunning picture and make me happy.
Now the million dollar question. Are you two the type to clean the joint before Iasbel show up???
Mistress Maddie:
Thank you for that, regarding the picture. I loved that one and often find my faves are not anyone else’s.
We don’t CLEAN before Isabel gets here (SG? Clean?) But we do tidy up, so it’s easier for her to clean and so she doesn’t put things away where we’ll never find them again. She would do everything if we let her. (She does windows! But that’s not a terrible job because you walk outside to all our windows.) I empty the trash and recycling, pick up all the stray crap around the house. SG is responsible for picking things up off the floor in his office. And, OK, i DO clean the kitchen counter and sink after breakfast. Probably could leave that a little less polished. My mother used to make us clean our rooms before the housekeeper came every week: “I don’t want her to think we’re uncouth.”
How did your two lovely little cats live through National Dog Day? Were they annoyed? Indeed it was also a dead tourist Season here this year. Many hotels and campgrounds did not open at all. Bus providing tours around the island simply had no clients. No cruise ships this year and possibly none in 2021. So one wonders what will become of all these businesses, am sure some will collapse. As for Isabel la Catolica I thought she had retired to Granada.
larrymuffin:
Dudo told me National Dog Day isn’t observed in Spain. I believed him.
This is Isabel La Madrina. She’s so much nicer… and a hell of a lot younger.
I told Nicky that and he said who listens to cats anyway. So there.
larrymuffin:
Dudo told me Nicky would say that.
I have been to Spain twice, both times to Catalonia. I always love seeing your pictures. That “plaid” guy…what nationaility do you think he is? American? British?
mcpersonalspace54:
Well, I hope I don’t offend anyone when I say I’m pretty certain Plaid Guy is British. We have very few Americans here in Fuengirola AND that is a really common British look around here. Oh man…
I figured he was myself…
Don’t think I’ve ever seen two cats who were more expressive than Dudo and Moose. Their eyes say it all.
Mary:
I agree with you about our expressive cats. Dudo, especially, has more facial expressions than I knew a cat was capable of. Moose has few. They seem to be limited to “love me,” “do you love me,” “I’m adorable,”’ “I need love,” “I love you.”
moose had to supervise isabel; that’s hard work! LOVE all the different boats in the sea.
anne marie:
Moose DOES greet her and follow her around but I think that only lasts until he gets his treat… which is usually about 2 hours in.
Nice break and change of routine for everyone.
‘They’ say……”A change is as good as a rest”.
Jim:
Isabel is a sweetheart. So I love visiting with her every week and we’re really grateful for what she does for us. Especially now, it gives us a reason to leave the house together in the morning. And that IS a nice change.
I wish Isabel could come to our house once a week! 🙂 That would be so nice, to come home to a sparkling clean house after a morning out. Sigh.
You live in paradise. I think that every single time I look at the pictures you share. I’m jealous!
Jennifer:
I appreciate where we live so much more when I see your reactions. Isabel is exceptional and a sweetheart, too. SO grateful she’s here again every week. Those few months of lockdown… the house went to hell in a hand basket!
Moose and Dudo are just TOO damn cute.
Debra:
Aren’t they, though?!? It’s a love fest!
The World needs more Isabel’s, cats, and places in the sun.
David:
Yes it does. And for Judy in Seattle who prefers rain and drizzle, more places in the fog, too!
OK… I simply MUST have the yellow swan-boat with the slide. I can just see myself majestically floating down the Potomac doing my best Cleopatra impersonation.
wickedhamster:
I can picture that, too. And of course Cleapotra is who I immediately think of when i see a swan boat.
I remember that wonderful feeling of coming home from work to a freshly cleaned house. Our cats always kept hidden on those days, not being as gregarious as Moose and Dudo.
Wilma:
The cats used to run and hide. But then Isabel was going to house-sit for the first time, so I had her give them their treats when she was here to clean. She stayed for 10 days the first time and there was no problem after that. And now she gives them their treats whenever she’s here. They still take off when she takes out the vacuum cleaner!