The Tour – Part 2

The virtual tour continues… (See the The Tour – Part 1 if you missed the beginning.)

If you’ll remember you had just followed Clara through the arch of wisteria (and, crossing my fingers it will take, my clematis) and past the garage.

As you step out from behind the garage you’ll finally see our house.Cute as it is don’t get distracted and keep your wits about you. Clara’s favorite tree is just along the sidewalk and I’m sure by now she’s in position to show you her tricks.Many unsuspecting people (myself included) have gotten bonked in the head by the end of the branch as she jumps off the one she is crouched on and leaps to her right to grab the next branch! (Yes, the contusions on her face are from her tree climbing adventures how did you guess?!)

If you can manage to avoid any concussions you may get lucky and see one of the few redeeming factors of the plethora of hostas that surround the house.

The hummingbird moths love my hostas even if I do not.

I know now that you are finally standing in front of the door you really want to check out the inside but look at Trip-

The yard is narrow! See the gate leading out to the woods directly behind Trip?

He is waiting very patiently to meet you!

I’ll even promise to keep him from jumping on you if you promise to keep a secret. Please don’t let him know that a dog who climbs on top of cars and jumps on top of round bales would have no trouble leaping this cute little fence!

Speaking of dogs… what do you think about this spot?

You have now gone through to Trips side of the gate and are looking back at Clara’s favorite tree. It is the mostly leafless one right in the middle on the far side of the sidewalks.

The overhang on the back of the garage is set up as a potting bench and looks to be a perfect area to harden off plants coming out of the greenhouse. On the other hand, it would also make a perfect spot to turn into a dog kennel with a small covered outdoor run and access to the garage. It’s a big decision. If you’ve got any brilliant thoughts let me know!

You’ll have to talk and walk though. Past a few flower beds and across the very small lawn Jane is waiting to show you her new chair and the goldfish in the tiny pond behind her…

Well, as usual, I don’t have any idea what she said, but she sure had a lot to say!

Now that she’s busy throwing wood chips in the water lets go check out my shady vegetable garden.

You just chatted with Jane beyond the willow you see on the left side of this photo directly behind the house.

Yeah- I know- tomatoes don’t really ripen so great when they are in shade half the day. I’m thinking of planting grass seed and a much needed clothes line here next year and finding a new spot for the garden.

What do you think?

Clara’s bench is right under the large willow that can be seen in the garden picture.

Can I convince you to join Clara and I in the backyard for some planning and dreaming before we move on?

Don’t worry we won’t stay too long, there’s still lots to show you!

(Continued in The Tour – Part 3)

Digby

Sep6

~~This is my puppy.~~

This is not my puppy.This is my friends puppy Digby and he comes to visit us everyday while she is at work.

Theoretically this is to help my friend out by keeping the pup here while he is still too young to be in a crate all day. Once he is bigger he will no longer spend his days with us.

(Digby’s mom is a Saint Bernard and his Dad is a Great Dane/Doberman. At 10 weeks and 22 pounds bigger is the operative word here!)

Theoretically that’s the plan.

But really…

Really, we love him.

And we have no intention of letting this arrangement end!

Animal Update

Aug15

Moving to the new house has been an adjustment for everyone, animals included.

While the chickens walked out of their coop into the middle of the apple trees, took in the fallen apples and bugs and were convinced they had gone to chicken heaven, the other animals have been a bit more reserved in their feelings.

Louie (the under-appreciated dove) was the next to recover. Happy to be out in the living room and no longer stuck behind piles of boxes (you can see his cage in the background here) he’s happily cooing and taking in the activity around him.

Fiona had been spending her days hiding in the bed but some kitty drugs have worked wonders and now she’s out, about and nearly back to normal.

Trip spent the first day wondering why we got so mad when he ran under the gate in the backyard to explore his new home turf and then frustrated by the fact that he now has a normal large sized yard to run in instead of a five acre field.

Then he discovered chipmunks.

Now he’s practicing his digging and climbing skills. Since I routinely warn people about his holes and have recently found him on top of a round bale I figure it’s only a matter of time before he excavates the entire yard, climbs the willow tree or both.

Storm was a little longer settling in. Chipmunks weren’t doing it for her. She was busy doing her best attempt at becoming John’s shadow when she discovered the apple trees.

More specifically she discovered the apples.

Now, think of an apple, how it feels when you hold it in the palm of your hand. Smooth, roundish, firm. Some apples are shaped to fit the hand so perfectly that if you were to sample it and find it not to your liking you might just throw it off into the bushes and find a new one. Yes, what I’m saying is that apples are like balls and sometimes, without thinking about it, we throw them.

If the horror of this situation has not yet occurred to you go read my post on Storm’s Sticks. Substitute the word “ball” every time you see “stick,” realize that Jane is now old enough to throw apples and you will understand why Storm is a very happy dog… …and I am wondering what on earth we were thinking moving to a place with a small orchard!

Weirdos

Jun15

This is what my dogs likes to do when it rains: (He might be part goat.)

This is what my husband and our youngest like to do with crayons:(Don’t let his innocent face fool you, John took his out for the picture.)

This is what happens when you ask my oldest to smile for a picture:(This is also why photos of her have been scarce lately.)

This is what my ~~zombie~~ middle child looks like after she finds mascara on the floor:(Not smiling goes well with zombie eyes.)

This is Storm:

(That’s just her normal.)

Weirdos – you just gotta’ love em!

Oh No…

May12

-A lady in the parking lot of our local grocery store walks up to John and the girls.-

Lady -Excuse me sir, is that a Brittany in your front seat?

John – Why yes it is.

Lady – Oh I thought so, they are wonderful dogs!

John – Mam, clearly you don’t know anything about Brittany Spaniels. This is an ill mannered, uncouth, chicken killer.

Lady – Oh I know Brittany’s, I have one. How old is he?

John – Two years.

Lady – Oh no… (looks at girls)… and these are your three girls?

John – Yes mam.

Lady- You must drink.

This Moment – My Handsome Dog

May3

A Friday ritual . A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Still Here

Apr25

She’s still here.

I catch glimpses of her happily bounding through the field with the other dogs.

Her gawky, grass stained, adolescent face makes grin when I see the chew marks on the counter tops.

Out of the corner of my eye I see her flopping down on the bed with a giant sigh.

When I walk by the apple trees, she’s still overseeing the planting operation.

The sound of running paws on the porch finds me bracing myself for the crash against the door that doesn’t come.

She’s still here.

But now, as we make plans to move, I wonder, once we are gone, where will I see her then?

Written in response to Prompts for the Promptless Episode 10 – Saudade hosted by Rarasaur.

If like me you have no idea what Saudade means here is Rarasaur’s definition:

“Saudade is a Portuguese word that describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something/someone that one loves. Moreover, it often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing will never return.”

I’ve Been Looking Like This…

Feb25

For the last week I’ve mostly looked like this:

Well, less fur,shorter snout, but same general position.

Two varieties of antibiotics later and I am hoping that soon I’ll be back to my normal blogging self.

Until then I shall leave you with a bathroom conversation with Clara.

Clara:” MOOOM!!!!! MOOOMMMM!!! MOM!! MOM!! MOM!!”

Me (go into bathroom to find Clara on toilet): “Yes?”

Clara: “People don’t eat bugs – cause they yucky.”

Me: “Yes….”

Clara: “…..”

Me: “???”

This Moment – Snowy Kisses

Feb8

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Pig Pen

Jan31

Yesterday I tweeted a picture of my dirty, dirty, dog along with my wishes that the cold snap we are supposed to get hurry itself up and gets here already. I woke this morning to discover that last night’s rain had turned to snow and I hastened to let my, dirty, dirty, dog out of his kennel and sent him out into the snow with happy thoughts of frozen mud and the cleansing power of running through snow.

Sadly, the mud was not frozen…