Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Jupiter visible tonight!! Time for Fall!! Kittens!!

It's those chilly morning's that I long for after the heat of summer. I love this time of year. There are many things that spark the start of fall for me. Whether it be the stars, the colours, or just a good latte....I can feel it in the air! Fall is starting its arrival.
Every year, the leaves on the trees in my yard are always the last ones to drop. However, something is happening this year that I did not expect. They have already started turning, and the leaves are dropping like crazy. This is very strange. We have lived in this house for 7 years, and have always had the unwanted privledge of cleaning up everyone else's leaves in November. They always blow down to our house, and since our trees are the last ones to go, we never rake them up till after Halloween. Looks like we will be doing some early clean up this year. I don't know what's going on. Call it global warming, call it mother nature....what ever it is....it is a bit out of sorts. Can this really be happening so early?

Fall really starts for me in an unconventional way. I am VERY partial to pumpkin. It does not matter how it is prepared. It could be pumpkin pie, pumpkin juice, pumpkin patte.....doesn't matter. I love it!!! Every year about this time, Starbucks (my weakness) brings in my favourite drink of all time. It is the famous Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is to die for!! I had been waiting almost a year to have a cup of this!

I work in a area where there is a Starbucks just down the street. The people who work at this specific Starbucks are simply wonderful. I am sad yet happy to say that they know me very well! I am there every morning. They know me by name, and by my car. I think it is hillarious....my hubby thinks I go there too much. Hmmmm.....I think he might be on to something....but I will never admit that to him! There are a few girls in the morning who are a joy to talk to. They even let me take their photograph the other day for the blog! Sweet gals...and they make one mean cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte!!!


There are many other things that make me think of Fall, but the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has to top the list!!

One of the other things that tops the list, is the beautiful stars that you can see this time of year. Last night we were honored with a visit from Jupiter. That's right....the planet Jupiter! It was literally following the moon last night, and what a sight to see. We had perfectly clear skies, and were able to watch the show. My camera failed me though, and I was not able to capture Jupiter on film. This was as close as I was able to get. Jupiter shines upper right of the Moon. Although they look close together, Jupiter is 1,750 times farther away, and is 40 times larger! Jupiter's arrival has been going on for the last few days, but last night and tonight looks like the best time to get out there and see it for yourself!! Just look to the right of the moon!



STAR WATCHING TONIGHT!!!!

Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 8:47 p.m. EDT.

Watch Jupiter's moon Europa slowly reappear from eclipse out of Jupiter's shadow around 11:20 p.m. EDT. It'll be barely east of the planet. (For a listing of all events among Jupiter's moons this month, visible worldwide!!!

Jupiter, Mars, and Venus will be visible tonight right after sunset if you have a telescope. Go here for more information on what you will be able to see over the next few days. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance

It really is an amazing September for star watching!! Get out there, and see what the sky holds for you! You will be able to see Jupiter again tonight with the naked eye, although a telescope will make the large red spot on Jupiter more visible.

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KITTEN UPDATES!!!

I have had a lot of requests about the 2 kittens that are being treated at our clinic right now. They are both doing well, and one of them has found a home with one of our technicians. His new name is Lincoln, but I call him Captain. I like to be different. You may remember that his legs were both broken. Sad to say, that they are still broken after several weeks of treatment, but one of the legs seems to be on the mend. Here he is in all his feline glory!!




The other kitten, which is now named Abby, is still without a home. She is just the sweetest thing ever!! Her wounds are also healing nicely, and in about 2 weeks she should be able to be without her bandages. She is in foster care at the local humane society, and makes the trip to our clinic 3 times a week for bandage changes, and a progress check. I would adopt her myself if I wasn't already at maximum capacity. Again, I have to be different, so I have dubbed her "Peg". She's a snuggler for sure, and I will get some ore photos of her this week to show you all.

7 comments:

-Sir Jack said...

Vixen!! My favorite too!! Pumpkin anything!! Starbucks is great...and the pumpkin shakes at Culvers' are awesome!!

Hey, I have the same leaf problem...all the neighbor's leaves end up in my yard! Why is that? Very weird that they are falling so soon!

The kittens are looking good!! The casts look like leg warmers!

I love star gazing!! I'll be watching the skies this week!! Thanks for the great blog Vix!!

shakenbsis said...

I am also very partial to the Pumpkin spice Latte!! mmmm... haven't been in for one yet!

Captain looks jsut like my Wee Wee! Adorable ;)

We have a tree (in the neighbors yard) that never drops a leaf until after the first snowfall! Then they head right over to our yard. Grrr.... How annoying!

M said...

I second Sir Jack's mention of Culver's pumpkin shakes-- their best offering all year! Einstein's Bagels used to have (maybe still do, I don't get there like I used to) pumpkin bagels in fall; when fresh, they don't need a shmear of anything, just eat 'em as is.

Love September stargazing-- less humidity blurring the stars, no bugs!

Our kitty Bootsy was tricked out just like Captain last March/April. Two broken legs from a car smack; she was a friendly feral but we adopted her after the accident. She's completely recovered now. We wish Captain Bootsy's luck... and luck to Abby too!

-Mary

~Minxie~ said...

I love the pumpkin spice too!!! Thanks for letting me know that its back!!!

I love you and miss you!!!

HUGS

Robbi said...

I just love that kitty!!!!

We were stargazing last night as well...
It was so cool...
Don't feel bad about your leaves coming down, ours are starting to...
I think it has alot to do with all the rain we had in June and then the drought...
So now everything is changing early...

Pumpkin Spice!!! Yummo!!!!

I also love candles that smell like that....

Anonymous said...

We don't really 'do' pumpkin over this side of The Pond, and we're certainly not ready for autumn! We hardly had any summer! My Tennesse friend has been counting the days to Halloween and I've been throwing cyber tomatoes at her...

Why isn't the kitten's leg healing? Do you know? Poor little sweetie.

Blaznfire911 said...

Hi jay!

Well I am not sure as to why it isn't healing. Just a bad problem I guess. it is on the mend though!

Thanks for stopping by....and get some pumpkins for goodness sake LOL!!