The most surprising thing is that the sourgrass by my front door, which retained at least a few green stems and purple flowers throughout the summer, but was mostly dead a few days ago, has suddenly sprouted new growth. The sourgrass usually doesn't come back to life until we've had a couple of really good rainstorms. It's blooming early, while the other plants all seem to be running a bit late.
Portia is currently being rewarded with lap time. She was a very good girl while a spent half an hour on the back porch with Alger and Farah. She watched us though the window part of the time, but didn't yowl or hiss. She doesn't really like the yard cats, and often lets them know quite loudly, she but was so tolerant today that she deserves a reward. I just hope she isn't plotting some awful revenge as she purrs on my lap.