Classic Style

  M uch like climbing into a bed made up with freshly laundered and folded sheets -- The beds my maternal grandmother (a southern transplant) had waiting for us when we visited as children were unequaled. -- there is nothing quite like slipping on a pair of fresh (or in this case new) pajamas. The example above was given to me recently by the Grand Duchess and Young Master for Father's Day a week ago, but I delayed wearing them until this morning.  Soft, airy, and pleasing to the eye.  Perfect for Sunday morning coffee on a quiet, sunny summer's day. Petite Plume for those interested.  The name is unfortunate, and clearly geared toward the ladies' items sold by the company, but they also sell some very nice sleepwear for men.  As does Cordings . -- Heinz-Ulrich

  V arious old friends reappear for this calm first day of Summer 2026 (on this side of the equator).  You can just about make out the ear of Lord Onyx, out old neutered tomcat, who loves to sit for hours purring on the back of my desk chair with a paw or his head resting on my left shoulder.  I suppose this is a holdover from when he was a kitten, and it took him six weeks to warm up following adoption from the animal shelter. He spent most of that time petrified and looking fearful in my lap with his sister, who was the complete opposite.  Gunnlaug warmed up immediately and purred as soon as we met them for the first time at the shelter.  Well, we couldn't just adopt the one cat, could we? -- Heinz-Ulrich

  N ot my vintage seersucker suit, unfortunately, but a recently acquired pair of shorts.  Complete with rumpled, slightly furry and dandruffy short-sleeved polo shirt thanks to an hour long visit from our aging neutered tomcat Onyx, who, I am quite convinced, would spend all of his time in my lap if permitted.  Or held while he rests his head and one paw on my left shoulder and purrs. -- Heinz-Ulrich

  S ince finishing that BIG project at the very end of May -- a few days ahead of the June 1st deadline, thank you very much -- I've been full on into late spring-early summer mode, catching up with flower bed maintenance, planting of annuals, mowing, and the like.  All of that Suburban. . .  dad (lower case "d" intentional) stuff.   Just about done now remulching a large bed that goes across the rear of the house, but I managed to spread 16 bags of the stuff yesterday (Saturday) afternoon among other tasks.  Then, time for a shower and clean clothes ahead of dinner on the screened-in back porch where we spend much of our time from May through September each year.   The uncooperative seersucker shirt is usually not quite so billowy when tucked in, but there we are.  Proof positive, nonetheless, that an adult male can be casual and feel comfortable when at home during the warmer stretch of the year without looking like he has oozed from beneat...