NIght gown

Yesterday morning, while in the bathroom, I noticed movement down by their side door. He was standing at the door, with the door open, looking out, and assessing the impact of the rain we've been having for awhile. And he was still in his pajamas, which were none other than a night gown. Although, I guess it's called nightshirt for the men. Like the one we see Scrooge wear in Dicken's famous novel. You don't see that too often these days.

More flowers

I don't know if I've mentioned before but one of the great things abour my Yellow House neighbors is their wonderful flower garderns. In the front, along the side and in the back - all fully developed and full of diverse and wonderful flowers and lush green. Even on the side deck and the front porch, in the window boxes, vines crawling along the side railing - everywhere. And it keeps expanding. Of course as the season changes, new blooms emerge. But while sitting on the toilet and enjoying the greenery, I realized that even more has been added and just then out she comes to inspect the latest additions. A few annuals down by the driveway and I think a few more pots on the deck. She definately enjoys the plants which I would have never guessed if I had just met her - she doesn't seem the type.

Late Night

I had a late night Wednesday. It wasn't until after 10 pm and I was heading home via public transportation. As I was getting off the bus, I noticed in the review mirror that another person was exiting too, and I think it was the boyfriend. If it had been earlier and I wasn't so tired and the song on the mp3 wasn't so good, I might have turned around and struck up a conversation. He's actually the only one of the characters I've talked with, months ago while waiting for a really early bus one morning. Instead I just walked home briskly and he walked behind a few paces.

Morning

On my way to the bus this morning, when I walked by their house, I noticed she was out on the front porch looking at how the flowers were doing. She was in a bathrobe I think, the kind that zip up and have an interesting print. She was somewhat screened by the bushes and plants so I pretended not to notice her. I was going to say "hi" but felt a little like it was an invasion of privacy.

Sewing

Last night I noticed that someone was at the kitchen table sewing. I think sewing a button on. It took me awhile to figure out who it was until he stood up - it was the husband. So he can sew, at least a little bit.

Just before going to bed, I heard piano playing. It was a somewhat simple tune that was a little hesitant. At first I thought it was my downstairs neighbors playing - they moved the baby grand into the basement. But than I realized it was the tv as there was spoken voice and dialogue and that it was coming from next door. I couldn't figure out what show they were watching, but am going to guess/pretend it was some PBS doc. You have to love summertime when the boundaries of separation crumble as people open their windows to deal with the heat and we kreep into each other's spaces.

Rufus

Last night I happened to see the husband and wife at the kitchen table. Not eating, just sitting there - I don't really see their heads from my angle, but think there is a tv just out of sight that they were watching while talkng. The funny thing was Rufus, he was sitting there, with his head perched on the edge of the table, all dog like. Almost like he wanted food and was giving the old dog eyes - except I didn't see food. He's a cute dog. Ok, she's a cute dog.

This morning when I walked past their house, I noticed dozens of green beer bottles. The paper bags that held them the night before had disengrated with the rain and they were exposed over the tiny lawn between the street and the sidewalk. Except it wasn't beer - just tons of old fashioned ginger ale bottles.

Who is He?

So Tuesday night, I notice that the daughter and boyfriend come over with their little pug - Goblin. Such a strange dog for them. She is in her usual flowing black layers with her messenger bag that has rubber spikes sticking out the front. And the boyfriend has gone all retro and has his hair greased ala Fonzie style, or maybe I'm thinking more like Danny Zuko from Grease - you get the idea, well at least the era. A moment before, I noticed the son had come home and before heading up to the studio apartment, was petting the cat who was laying belly up on the driveway (she runs away anytime I try to come near her - she spends time over in our garden a bit). The daughter seemed in good spirits and the boyfriend was jolly. I noticed the son had come down and was talking with the boyfriend. So that at least takes care of the doubt that I had that maybe they were one and the same person - they look a bit similar - same height and style of dress. Although the son is more quiet and timid. I think they ended up having dinner together but I got the impression the son wasn't part of the festivities. He really does look like the daughter, so I do think he's the son, at least the brother, but why wasn't he eating with them. Does he not eat? I've never seen him partake in any of the meals, inside or outside. He had weird body language with the boyfriend too. A bit uncomfortable. Maybe he did something earlier in life that hurt the family and now is slowly returning to the family fold. The only person I've seen him comfortable and at ease around was the cat - which I guess doesn't count since she isn't a person.

I've been spotted... I think

Yesterday, I was walking back in the evening and the wife was out on the sidewalk, sweeping up some of the clippings from pruning the bushes. She glanced up as I was approaching, but not being uber social with strangers, she went back to sweeping. I was thinking of saying hello as I passed, but felt a little odd, carrying a duffle bag with a cat in it (we were returning from the vet). That, or I'm just shy and chickened out. I walked a few more feet to my sidewalk and turned down. I think that's when she realized I was the neighbor (do keep in mind that I think I see alot more of them, then they of me). But than later that evening, after cooking dinner, I was sitting down in the back room to watch tv and eat. I was right near the window. I looked out the window just as she coming out the back door and noticed her glance up at me briefly. I've been spotted. It was such a brief moment, I'm not sure if it occurred. And I wasn't watching her - I was watching the tv - so I think she felt like she was invading my privacy more than I hers. She than went on to talk with her son for awhile in the back - she must have intercepted him while he was heading into the back apartment. Strange body language - a bit formal. So I'm not sure it's the son anymore. Or maybe it is her son, but only by marriage. I don't know. He does look alot like the daughter.