Anything to keep me from looking at the Rake. Major Avoidance Behavior today. Took a long nap, played with the puppy, read the paper, including the car section, listlessly went through the TBR pile, wondering why on earth I don't have any Romantic Suspense. I'm in the mood and I couldn't find one. How did that happen? The sheep now have their summer dos and look much smaller and kind of wimpy. Caught up on email. Still on Carolyn, the Decaf version.

I went to this awesome nursery in Sebastopol Vintage Gardens apparently world-famous among rose afficionados. My sister had a $40 gift certificate but they're not open on the days she has off from work. My assignment: to buy fragrant roses. Roses that have no scent are the tragedy of modern horticulture, so I was brave and off I went (yes, I got lost). It was nerve wracking, as my garden-ineptitude is well known among friends and family. I told the lady what I wanted and she pointed and said, go outside and start sniffing. Even the garden-impaired can do that, right? I found 4 very fragrant roses. Cost me $10.00. California Carnivores is on the other side of Vintage Gardens, so I took a look around. Oh, my goodness! Some of those plants are scary. And incredibly beautiful. I want some, but I was too chicken to buy anything. I'm afraid I'd kill them. But I think I'll go back with my son. Wow. Cool.