After a little over a week of waiting by the mailbox, the annual report on the Parmalee Hill Silver Mallet International Invitational Championship Croquet match has arrived from my fellow feline correspondent, Vanilla, The White Queen Cat of Parmalee Hill Swamp. Here’s what she wrote:

Dear Cat on the Mountain:

When a pack of thirsty humans with big feet ran around my lawn whacking croquet balls, I knew it could only be the Fourth of July. I took a picture, in case you didn’t believe me. That’s Tom Johnson of Lexington Gardens surrendering the 2006 Parmalee Hill Silver Mallet International Invitational Championship Croquet Cup to Laurence Rosania of New York City and Sandy Hook, who won despite driving rain that drove most of the humans to the shelter of the bar and me under a guest’s car that leaked lots of nice oil on my coat. Tom is smiling for the camera, but up close I could see every one of his hackles stiff as porcupine quills. I predict Tom will practice all year and fight like the dickens to win it back in 2008. Between them you will recognize Sydney Eddison, champion emeritus, who retired the cup voluntarily last year after defending it so long she was planting daylilies in it. Sydney reported that Laurence’s focus was the key to his success. Tom smiled the way you and I smile when we say Good Morning to a squirrel.

Your faithful correspondent,

Vanilla, The White Queen Cat of Parmalee Hill Swamp

Who needs fireworks when you arm everyone with a croquet mallet and a competitive challenge. Thanks, Vanilla, and have a nice lazy summer.

Jayson Karp of Newtown reminds me that Saturday, July 28, is the 7th Annual Kayak For A Cause, his third year of participation in the event that this year benefits Hole in the Wall Gang, Cancer Care, Outward Bound, Save the Sound, and the Courage to Speak Foundation. Jayson is still seeking donations and the charities receive 100 percent of the donations, so don’t be shy about helping out. To donate, visit kayakforacause.com, select “donate” on the menu, then choose “support a specific paddler or volunteer.” Type in Jayson Karp and he will be credited with your donation. Checks made out to KFAC can also be mailed to 127 Hanover Road, Newtown CT 06470 in care of Jayson. Row, row, row your boat.

Fans of summer blockbusters may be happy to learn that Tom Mahoney is giving us plenty of opportunities to see Spider-Man 3 this coming week at Edmond Town Hall. Tom has scheduled evening shows for the latest installment about the Marvel Comic superhero during the July 13–19 movie week, and has also arranged for the town hall to offer daily matinee screenings of one of the first big summer films this year.

What do downsizing and a lost moose have in common? No, it’s not a trick question. The answer is: each has been a topic of the two books released to date by former Sandy Hook resident Michael Schott. Mr Schott wrote and published a nonfiction book last year called Medical Library Downsizing and now he is collaborating with Stratford resident and children’s book illustrator Lynn Sabol to produce a line of children’s picture books. Their first, Wally, The Mixed-Up Moose at Christmas, about a Vermont moose who doesn’t understand Christmas until he a visit from Santa and a grouchy elf, is now available through Lulu Publishing.

Still speaking of Vermont, belated 25th anniversary wishes to Kathy and Michael Ronan who spent Tuesday in Vermont on a one-day cruise organized by their daughter. It was a whirlwind of a visit. Kathy and Michael drove from Newtown to the Green Mountain State on Monday night, spent the day in Vermont, and drove back home the same evening.

The heat is getting to everyone (too bad we can’t all escape to Vermont where it’s usually cooler even in the middle of the summer). This week’s heat wave brought back the need to be careful with electricity use and water consumption, the constant whirring of fans and air conditioners, and drove many people to their limits. While we tried to grin and bear with others here at the office, we hear police were called in to mediate between two neighbors who were aggravating each other with their water sprinklers. Someone’s sprinkler was spraying too far into a neighboring lot and things escalated from there. Me, I’d be happy if someone else’s sprinkler hit a few of my flowers and grass, but when it’s this hot and humid outside it seems the smallest things can set people off. So remember to do your laundry or run your dishwasher at night, put on lots of sunscreen before you go outside, and be nice to your neighbor.

It’s time for my nap, which won’t be very long since the next thunderstorm always seems to be just 10 or 15 minutes away. But I’ll be back, so be sure to…

Read me again.