When this old world starts getting you down,

raccoon districters

go up on the roof.....

Well, up on the deck, a second floor elevation that was originally nothing more than a rug-shaking porch. Years ago we built a semi-privatizing wood slat railing around it. Oh, this is not a state of the art, whuzappnin' NOW, 2008 sort of wrap around affair.

This is a 1914-vintage raccoon district - near the whistle-blowing RR tracks - manifestation. A rug-shaking, tin-floored porch we can sit on.

By standing up, we can look down on all the raccoon comings and goings, call to them, toss treats to them, and avoid rabies.

Yes, we are in the process of scraping off a lot of peeling paint up on that "roof."

But we take heart in the knowledge that fashion photographers like to pose their opulent subjects before shaggy backgrounds, as a means of great contrast. Peeling paint and silk go well together. Armed with that, we deign to encourage the cotton-clothed resident minx-vixen to turn around and smile for the lowly 2 pixel camera.

The gourds, outfitted with that C-clamped trellis (see: http://raccoonnews.blogspot.com/2008/07/lets-hear-it-for-c-sections.html) are growing well, as well they should in the duly-watered, daylong sun on their deck. The ground-level gardens are shaded now, due to the now large and ever-tallening trees planted on the east curbing by the city.

In an understandable development, a small gnome is riding a frog under the canopy of broad gourd leaves.

and a merry sort he seems, even the frog looks happy....................