Seven

There have been a number of things that have wandered into my life but this was the most unexpected! One snowy January day back in 2007 we looked out into the back yard and what did we see but a little black and white rabbit. Now this was not any wild rabbit but a dwarf breed of rabbit that obivously escaped from somewhere. Well of course we immediately went to the feed store and got rabbit food. Who in the world keeps rabbit food around if you don't have a rabbit! We put out the food and water and he came and ate and drank. He wouldn't let us get too close to him but he did eventually come as close as the patio. Jeff and Jason of course went right to the job of thinking of a name for the poor little guy. They came up with "Seven" I didn't even ask why I just knew that it would stick. So, the rabbit's name was "Seven" Every day we would look for him and worry if he didn't show up, but every day he came. Long after Winter we were visited by our cute little friend "Seven" for a few more months. We wanted to try and catch him to protect him but he seemed quite happy with his arrangement and went on with his life. One day he didn't come and the next day no sightings of "Seven" We never knew what happened to him but we were happy that he picked us to share a part of his life with him and I think we made at least that time for him easier.

Fall Is Just Around the Corner

Every morning at 6:00 am I am outside with the dogs and doing our morning chores. Each morning it is cooler and damper than the day before.....and the smell of the air is crisp. Fall is coming.....It is a catch 22 for me, I love the Summer, the sun, the heat that brings so many beautiful flowers to my garden but the Fall is so refreshing. The Garden begins to be a little unruly and things start to look very tired and need of a rest. Fall and Winter come and the garden prepares itself, with a lot of help from us, for the upcoming Spring. Spring makes all things new and so on it goes. I hope you enjoy these pictures from one Season to another!

In this picture you get a bonus shot of "the girls" but behind them the garden in the Winter

Spring! Brings Tulips, Daffodils and so many more! We planted almost 400 bulbs last Fall and will plant some more this year!

Azaelas and Rhodies beautiful Spring color
And one of my favorites...Lupin I could post a ton of Spring flower pictures....but onto Summer!
Roses!
Hydrangea
Love the Lily! I have them popping out all over but will plant more for next year!

Zinnias that I started from seed!

First time for Glads in the garden....beautiful colors!

I love little spots that are their very own little garden!

I could go on forever...I never seem to tire of looking at flowers but the garden is calling and there is work to be done!

Leaning Tree of Helsdonia

I have never liked this tree since the day it was planted. First, it was planted so that it leans to the right! Very annoying! It is a strange tree....in the Winter it is bare but yet in the Spring it is still bare. It doesn't really start to grow until June. It starts to get leaves but they look sickly and you don't know if it isn't getting enough water or too much. This tree has been a pain in my side for years. We have threatened to take it out and that is still an option. But this year this tree now that it is almost September is one of the most beautiful things in the garden. It has more flowers this year than ever before and it is so pretty I don't even really notice the leaning. Funny thing how you can appreciate even the most annoying things in the Garden....except maybe for weeds! I am really thinking that it does need to be moved but I think we will try to transplant it instead of giving up on it. Can you replant a tree straight after it has been crooked for so many years? I think it deserves a chance!

It is a Hibiscus Tree. I have learned it is a tree for the most patient of gardners. It looks so ugly for so long (minus even the leaning)and then when everything else is at its growing end this tree looks like this!

Chopping off the bottom with the camera avoids the look of leaning!


Beautiful flowers! I think we need to keep it! And the bees and hummingbirds love it!

Off to College

It is that time again.....It is a time filled with excitement, eagerness and of course on my part a little bit of sadness. It is the end of summer and Jason is back to college. The summer flew by this year but it is time for him to go back. The last couple of weeks have been torture for him because he is so excited to go back to school and he thought it would never get here. For me it is mixed emotions, I am excited for him to return to college and begin a new chapter in his life but as a Mom I wish he were a little boy again. I gave him all the Mom speeches about eating right, studying, being careful and of course to not drink too much beer! But of course what I really wish for him is fun, happiness, good fortune, health and to know that I love him. He packed his car the day before and just had some finishing touches the next morning. He got up early and was ready to start his roadtrip back to Spokane.

Wasn't sure there was room for two more tubes of toothpaste! Notice SGM the farming game is going to college. Do you think he will find anyone to play?

One side of the car!

The other side!

The passenger side full of staples!

Jeff always wants to go with Jason to college! He must have had really fun college years or he just wants to eat the cookies Vicki made for him!

I think the car is all packed, didn't forget anything and there is just enough room for Jason to sit and drive. He called me along the way and then when he arrived in Spokane. I hope he is all unpacked and getting settled. I miss him already but my heart is happy because I know he is. Jason has grown into a wonderful young man and I am very proud to have him as my son!

The Couch

Remember all the sayings..."The Changing of the Guard", "The Passing of the Torch" or even "The Handing of the Baton"? Well, I think in this house we may have "The Passing of the Couch" If you look in past posts of Amelia you will find her on "her" couch in the same position every time. She did allow some of her favorites to share her couch but never did they get to lay in her place. Now that she is gone others have laid on the couch but never in the position that she did.....until the other day!
She doesn't have it quite right yet, but she is working on it with no help from us! I am not sure I am ready to "pass the couch" to another but if I was it would be to "SIZZLE"

How many is too many?

For a week our house was filled with 10 dogs! Now for many of you just the thought of 10 dogs would be overwhelming. But for me it was just a matter of order. We had our now 6, consisting of 4 Dobermans, 1 Pointer and a Whippet. Darcie and Anthony added 3 Dobermans and 1 Pointer. Some of them knew each other and some of them didn't and then of course they all had to put up with Sizzle! There were some grumpy moments but all in all they had a good time!

There was a lot of running and playing and tongue hanging to the ground!

There was resting.

There was visiting your brother!

There was practicing.

There was going to the beach!

There was meeting the old and the new and being very patient!

And at the end of each day Sizzle was glad she was the baby!

Our New Surprise

Darcie and Anthony were here for a visit for a week and they blessed us with great news! Jeff and I are going to be grandparents. To say that we are out of this world with excitement would be an understatement! It was so wonderful to have them with us even if it was only for a week. It would be a dream come true if they lived closer! As soon as we find out if it is a boy or girl the shopping will begin! I love to shop....poor Jeff!

Darcie

The toast after the good news. The boys have Champagne....Darcie Sparkling Cider!

Boot Camp has come to Sizzle

Sizzle has been enrolled in Boot Camp.....or actually Boot Camp has come to Sizzle! I have had the priveledge for 27 years to have the most wonderful daughter. Unfortunately she lives now in St. Louis. She and her husband and their four dogs are here visiting for a week. Darcie has had many passions in her life, she was a wonderful swimmer and competitor, she was a great horsewoman, she has always been a responsible hard worker and a loving and loyal daughter. But I think her biggest passion growing up was dogs! From the time she was old enough to walk she would practice showing dogs, stacking them, moving them and teaching them anything she could get them to do. She became quite an accomplished handler and we were so lucky to have her show our dogs for years. She put Kirby into the Top 20 all by herself. Well now she has moved away and we have no one to show or train our dogs....which I think they are happy with. But now that she is here for a week she has been working with Sizzle. These pictures are just from the first day of Boot Camp!

Just getting to know one another!

Getting the idea of this leash thing!

Not bad for the first stack on the ground!

Every girl deserves a little rest and a treat after a hard days work!

I love them both!

Summer Guests and Summer Flowers

Guests are coming! Time for preparation, stress and more! We all have had guests and we all know it makes us just plain crazy.....most of the time the guests are family or good friends! What do they care if every last detail is not perfect. They probably don't, but you know that we do! So of course we make ourselves into crazy people and that is just the way it is. Most of the time by the time they get here we are exhausted. The house must be clean, the dogs must be clean, the laundry must be done, the guests rooms and bathroom must be in order, the refrigerator must be full and so on and so on. And don't even get me started on the yard and garden. Well I think that is all done and they start arriving today. To make my first guests so different than any others is that they are also bringing 4 dogs with them! When you already have 6 dogs of your own what is 4 more?......10! Our other guest arrives on Wednesday and No she is not bringing a dog at least I don't think she is! It will be a great time and as always too short but we will enjoy every minute. I began stressing a bit this morning so Sizzle and I do what I do best, we walked around the garden! Enjoy the pictures.

I think she was looking more for trouble to get into than admiring the flowers!

Beautiful pots of color!
A new color of Bees Balm and a new Dahlia!

Butterfly Bush! Lilies popping up everywhere!
For years I have planted different things around these lamp posts and have never really been happy with it this year I tried something new and I think I kind of like it. I may change it a little next year but keep the idea! Minus the little blue lobelia that came back from last year! Hardy little things, so I let them stay!

Transformation

As your children grow and move away, your house is left with empty rooms! Because of course when they go they need a bed, a dresser and any other stray pieces of furniture you might have laying around. Last year Jason moved into a house with 6 other guys......that enough was scary for me. But he left me with an empty room. It was empty for the whole year and I just didn't know what to do with it. But then with guests coming at the same time I knew I just needed another guest room. The time had come.....we needed fresh paint, new furniture, a mattress/boxspring and some home furnishings. I kept putting it off because I hate to paint! With Jason's help we had it painted in two hours and the mess cleaned up. I have to say the paint they have out today.....WOW! no smell or splattering it was so easy! I think I am going to re-do the other guest room after everyone leaves. It looks great and I am so happy with the way it turned out!This is how the room looked for a whole year, bare, white walls and very in need of some loving care!So the work began, Amanda cleaned all the baseboards, thank goodness and then I finished taking everything off the walls and taped.Painted....love the color!Furniture in, mattress delivered and we are almost done.Almost done.Jason was a good sport and helped me get it done in a day!Finished or at least for now!And then of course Sydney thought it had been done just for her!