Hypothetical "Most Awesome Day" Becomes Reality

If someone had asked, "What would be your ideal Saturday?" I'd answer, "Well, Asker, I'd want to go on a short hike with my dogger, bake cookies, spend an hour or two reading, socialize a bit, and find free money."

Well stomp your foot, it totally happened.

Harper Dog and I trotted around Carkeek Park, my favorite King County location. It cancels out so much urban crappiness. Plus, we met a well-behaved dachshund named Moe.

I baked thumbprint cookies for our neighbor because he always takes out our garbage on Wednesday mornings when we've forgotten. I saved a couple for Hamb, because that is one of the perks of being engaged to me. Cookies.

I flopped on the couch and read The Bishop's Man. Solid characters, interesting story.

Tonight, Hambo and I are heading to the neighbors for dinner, cards, and dog frolics. (Their pupper Coal is a black lab mix. He makes sounds like Chewbacca.)

And the free money? Yep, that happened too. The federal government decided that I overpaid them, so they're giving me a pile of cash back. I love tax refunds almost as much as I love taxes. Truth. "Taxes are a down payment on the common good." The common good is wonderful! Give me a hug, common good! And feel free to toss me a couple dollars!

It's too bad you weren't here, reader pal. Today was a winner.

In case you missed it, here is an adorable picture of Harper and Drew's feet.

Sugar water and songs

Anna's Hummingbirds are obsessed with my sugar water. It's nothing special - 1 part sug, 4 parts water - but they freaking adore it. They won't leave my feeder, not even when Abe is lurking nearby. (Do they know Abe is useless?) If birds used Yelp, my backyard would have 40+ reviews averaging 5 stars.

It's fortunate they love my sugar water, too, because the hummingbirds' presence (and then a little research of my own) confirmed that I am not a nutter. See, sometimes at work, I hear a "chippy ch-ch tsschhh pch". I could tell immediately it was a bird, but then I started connecting with the hummingbirds perched in the trees. "But hummingbirds don't make noises like that!" I thought. "They're just supposed to float around and look dainty!"

Nope. They make noises. They "chippy ch-ch tssschhhh pch" the crap out of my backyard. Also, they're sassy. I even watched two hummingbirds fight. It was like West Side Story.

What else can I tempt to my deck so that I can smile at nature? What would it take to get a baby elephant? I will think about this for all of 2011, minus yesterday.