Lady in hat

I posted a shot of a cycad the other day, but it was level with the earth. Arriving at the veterinary school today, we found this one, leaves and flower (if that’s what it is) perched on the end of a long trunk. HH thought it looked like a lady in a hat, leaning to peer over the wall.
It took 5 ½ hours today to reach the hills, with umpteen stops on the way. From dropping off flowers and books in Ipanema for a post-op friend, to three different ports of call in the North Zone and on to the veterinary college in Teresópolis (aka ‘the hills’) with a poorly puss. She survived the hours in the car remarkably well, was duly treated and my mind was set at rest. More stops to buy medicine, a take-out chicken for lunch, and to consult with a mechanic about our useless golf cart. We finally got home, to Kayla’s vociferous delight (cat not impressed) and ate our lunch around teatime.

Kayla had an exciting walk, when she met with two slightly smaller dogs, black and black and white, with strange, almost white eyes. She went wild with delight and tore up and down the road, playing with them. They were torn between a desire to join in and alarm at her size and speed – alarm won with the black one, who rushed to hide behind HH’s legs at one point. I suspect they are yet more abandoned dogs and just wish we could take them in, but we have too much of a problem with the caretaker’s dog. She and Kayla are sworn enemies and nearly killed each other (and me) the other day It was all we could do to get them apart.