#Nationals Kiebert Ruiz is iffy: Health and play not good. So Tobani made a trade, As fans thought he should. He sent Ferrer to the M's, Got Ford back in return. Who'll be the starting catcher? In West Palm we will learn.

Yeah, I know the snow will kill the celosia, but it looks so pretty in the meantime.

Welcome to Whoopsie Wednesday, when you realize what Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday have done to your finances.

Put up the tree today.

To all the charities that have been nagging me about Giving Tuesday since Thanksgiving: (1)I am capable of finding Tuesday without help and (2) you’re off my donation list.

My friend has a guide dog. Clancy loves it when they visit--Clancy runs up and rubs his face on the dog, who is generally glad to have a cat friend to play with.

No matter your baseball team loyalty, the story of Vin Scully's farewell broadcast is worth the read. sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! (Don’t worry—there are two other types of cranberry sauce so everyone has their favorite). I am just pleased I got it out of the can!

This year’s North Georgia Candy Roaster squash is a little smaller, but here’s a previous year’s squash before and “ready to roast.”As you can see, one squash serves the whole table (and don’t forget to roast the seeds).

#caturday a four-pack of Lucy. Emphasis on "pack."

Here's to the memory of my great-uncles, Don and Van Carlson, who served with the Canadian troops in France in WWI. They both returned, although Van had a lap full of shrapnel. Van lived long enough for me to get to know him. He was a prankster and kids' party magician. #veteransday

Frost coming—tome to harvest some of my crayon radishes ! Time to make braised radishes with their greens.

Yes, #caturday was yesterday, but today is “look, they’re both playing with the ball tower” day. Clancy on the left and Lucy on the right.

Lucy says” You woke me up just to take my picture for Caturday ?”

Six years ago today, Howie Kendrick hit this ball off the foul pole in Houston (yes, there is still a yellow mark on it from the paint). Six months later, I'm in West Palm to celebrate--and boo the Astros (except Dusty, of course!).

Went out to water this morning. Found an eastern honeybee sleeping on a late zinnia flower. I know he was sleeping because he was still there when I came back with the phone.

Not what I was expecting on my green tea, but I’ll take it!

My Virginia wildflower mix is still blooming.

My flowers are liking this weather. See alt text for names.

FYI, if anyone is trying to make a COVID shot appointment on the Kaiser Permanente website, it may give you a "you are not eligible" message in error, as they just updated the website this morning. Just call the appointment line and sign up.

I picked tomatoes yesterday. This is this morning’s harvest (with two lemon cucumbers). Looks like time to make roasted tomato salsa!

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly on my celosia this morning (pineapple lily in the foreground).

A peaceful scene for #caturday : Clancy (left) and Lucy sharing the couch.

Lucy on the desk. Want to guess how much of this hit the floor when she got down?

Now here's something that doesn't happen too often in baseball--a catcher hits an inside-the-park grand slam! Just published from the SABR Game Stories: sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

I didn't write this SABR Game Story, but I'm glad someone did! Here's some serious baseball shenanigans! sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

A fledgling starling parked under my tomato plant for a couple of hours today.

Apparently it’s International Cat Day. Lucy and Clancy think everyday is International Cat Day.

First cucumbers! (Heirloom lemon cucumbers—taste just like the green ones).

I knew the finches were pulling the petals off the zinnias and eating the seeds, but tonight is the first time this year I've caught one in the act! I don't mind the birds eating the seeds and flowers--there are plenty to go around, and the cats love watching them (safely from inside, of course).

Happy Caturday from a catnip-drunk Lucy.

Very orange harvest this morning!

Best fireworks show I ever saw was Ft. Collins, CO, 1977(!). That city funded its fireworks by collecting donations from the crowd in the park viewing the fireworks. So the 1976 ones were fine--but they spent every dollar they collected in the very-well-attended '76 show on an all-out '77 display.

Tried growing a new flower this year: gazania. Recommended as full-sun and drought-tolerant. Figured perfect for my 16-hours-of-sun terrace. So far, so good!

Lucy and Clancy at the terrace door during a break in the weather: watching the garden and hoping for birds (no, they aren't allowed outside, but they can dream). From left to right, the plants: tomato, celosia, pineapple lily, lantana, with zinnia in the background.

Happy 4th birthday to Lucy, who's been lighting up our life for the last 3+ years. She was named by her foster mom after Lucille Ball: smart, feisty, talkative redhead who keeps us laughing. Perfect name! Here she is in a quiet moment. #pets #cats

Sat next to Justice Ginsberg at a performance of Volpone. She laughed at the lawyer jokes.

First tomato! (Little Sicily)

I didn't write this game story, but this one is not to be missed! I know it's minor leagues, but it's definitely Jayson Stark Weird Baseball level! sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Please sit on the artwork. #RenwickGallery

I don't just write about the Nationals! Here's a game-ending postseason-clinching triple play story from last year (complete with video link to the play itself), sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

In memory of my great uncle Donald Carlson who served with the Canadian forces in WWI. Was gassed and came home with a lap full of shrapnel. Lived into the 1960's, long enough for me to chat with him. Could fix anything--even in the nursing home he had a sign on his door "watches fixed here."

That was a good night at the ballpark—the Nationals won, and I found “my” Diet Coke.

Apparently it's World Bee Day. Here, have a bee servicing my cucumber plants!

Some recently-published baseball history for your Saturday. Did the reverse boycott work? Not really--the A's still left Oakland. Did it make a point? Absolutely. Did everyone have a good time? Yes. Did the A's win? Also yes! sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Posted without comment.

Nationals fans, do you remember where you were on May 11, 2016? I was at Clare & Don's in Falls Church, having a casual dinner sitting at the bar. By the time Max got to 17 K's, the owner sat down to watch the rest of the game with us. So yeah, I remember! sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

First radishes! (Crayon radishes)

It was 20 years ago today . . . Nationals' first home game--as written by me. sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...