There's nothing better than a day at the spa. Or at least a bath, a good clip and brush out, and then putting on the fancy bow. Life's good when you're a pampered pup. Toots LilMaMa is the size of a tiny bunny, and oh so cute. That's not a puppy beside her.... Just sayin'.
As a seriously lazy person, I felt so welcomed, I very nearly just walked up and knocked on the door. But better sense prevailed.
A close neighbor (M) had to go to help out with her mother-in-law's recovery from knee surgery. Though caregiving is definitely a chore, she knows how to make things fun and apparently the two of them are having a great time together. But enough about people. M sent pictures of the real bonus of the visit - getting to know Javelinas. For those who don't know, they are prevalent in the Southwest USA and the babies are called Reds for their reddish coat. Not particularly inventive in my opinion, but nobody asked me. Anyway, this mom and her kids are adorable. And YES! I AM SO ENVIOUS she got to play with them.
It's kind of amazing the different approaches people take to their front yards. Some are meticulous gardeners who actually not only know what they're doing, but have curated their areas to perfection. Others seem to ignore their yards completely. On one block in particular, there is the divide between having what looks like a barren wasteland, to having color and joy. While I deplore the number of people who have lawns in an area where water is scarce, having dirt and weeds isn't great either.
The other side has native blossoms...good for bees and adds color without too much work (except for pesky weeds that are hard to eradicate).
One of the many things I love about the surrounding neighborhood is the variety of little surprises encountered on walks. One such example are these two beautiful dogs taking their job of guarding the house seriously. Nearly hidden behind a tall hedge, if you're not paying attention (i.e. being very nosy), you would miss the elegant path to the front door where the dogs are stationed.
Before you get all judgy and point out that using plates as garden bed borders is not considered artistic anymore, allow me to explain. I like FREE. As in, I found these thick plastic sturdy plates being given away free curbside. There were the ovals and the rounds. The rounds have been awesome as plant pot saucers and other garden needs. The ovals were just sitting there...and sitting there in the box waiting to be noticed and loved. Well, they are finally out of prison and being useful because the other freebies ran out. The roof tiles lovingly collected from curbside dumps didn't quite make it to create the border needed for the new plantings of fire sticks against the fence. The original wooden boxes that I built eons ago had finally rotted and the area needed an overhaul. Fine, as long as it cost NOTHING. Introducing, in all it's glory, the new plantings and the border (necessary for water maintenance):
People in our neighborhood have suddenly been encouraged to spruce up their properties. Landscapes are becoming more drought tolerant and fire resistant, and some homes have decided to add an artistic flair. As we all know, tiles are a particular decorative device I love. This home has added a touch that wins two thumbs up.
Yesterday, strolling down a street we hadn't walked in years, and coming upon the art from the house that certainly perked up a rather drab stretch (posted yesterday), we also came across a building that could have been as mundane as it gets, but managed to defy banal. The wall is covered in tile that is basically composed of tiny pebbles. Frankly, I'm in awe and it has given me some ideas for when the back wall of my house FINALLY gets done (don't hold your breath). Don't know quite how this was done, but it's a winner.
