Cherubs and frogs? Who knew?

This house has a thing for cherubs apparently. They line the fence and do create an atmosphere of joy, which is very nice to walk by. The lead cherub, however, is doing something a bit strange. He's riding a frog. Yes, a frog. Say what? I just wonder how the frog feels. Hmmm.

 

That is one stoned dude

Our buddy Nick had to go in for a teeth cleaning the other day, and while he usually does okay, this time he was more wobbly and apparently, according to his Mom, seeing dragons all night. He was constantly pacing and not looking so good. In fact, he looked like he had a VERY good time getting totally stoned.

Adorable as he is, this isn't good for him, so he was taken to the vet next day to make sure everything was okay (a good idea for an older dog). With the help of a couple of medications, the prognosis was good.

Whew! Looking a bit perkier, though it took him 48 hours to be back to his normal bossy self. He is one lucky pup to have such a devoted Mom to take care of him. 

And this is letting me know he's ready for his treats -- NOW. A win!

More garden cleanup -- the never-ending saga

Don't even try to speculate how things got so out of hand. Part of it is sheer ignorance, and part lack of desire to go out and create more aches and pains. But create we must. This is the next area that needed serious help. This plant started from a cutting someone gave me before I moved to this house. I was living in a small apartment at the time and the cutting simply lived in a jar for years. You read that correctly...years in a jar of water. From that cutting of a single stem, it grew to this. Add far too many spider plants strangling the leaves, and you have a big mess that doesn't do justice to the incredible blooms that normally come out this time of year and don't have a chance in the current condition.

Step one was to clear out everything down to the soil. Step two was planting the huge plants in a pot to a. keep them from spreading too much, and b. keep their leaves a bit more upright. Though after planting, a ring of wire or rope may be called for as they do like to droop. Next came the two chairs that will hold pots. Maybe. Jury is still out on that one.

Now, before you think that all that foliage was tossed, no, it wasn't. Healthy cuttings were placed in two vases for safekeeping until they too can be planted. It's simply a waiting game.

The revamp has begun in earnest

The post on August 31 showed the clean out at the base of the Chinese Elm that was overgrown with plants and pots too close to the base of the trunk, which can cause damage. Glad to say that area has already shown improvement. That project started a revamp of the entire backyard which suffered from overgrowth and wind damage. The new approach is an attempt to curate the area with more design appeal and less of the overgrown jungle look. 

This is the beginning of the clear out. Potted plants are completely hidden by overgrowth and spider plants have a tendency to spread like crazy (who knew?). 

After looking at the area, realizing the two trees also needed space, the idea was to raise planters to promote growth, but also to maintain boundaries. The hope is that in a couple of years, there will be a lush feel once again, but containment will be possible and easier to deal with. So -- section number one, complete. Given the amount of shade, ferns and spider plants really are the go-to items as that's all I can manage to keep thriving. We'll see.

Skeletons, snakes and spiders - and then there's this

I've never understood what's supposed to be scary about snakes (beautiful), spiders (useful and incredible artists), bats (absolutely essential for mosquito control), and the go-to skeletons (they can't hurt anybody with no muscles to propel them forward). The temporary graveyards simply remind us of the ultimate journey all earthly creatures take (except a kind of jellyfish and tardigrades to name two). Passing house after house with huge skeletons, spiders, snakes, and the occasional bats just makes me shrug. They are often very clever scenarios (with the odd ghost thrown in) and are fun to look at, but at this point rather trite to a cranky old fart who's seen too much of it. Imagine my surprise when one small display stunned me, and then made me laugh out loud. Have no clue what they are supposed to be, or whether they are intended to be frightening, but they are eye-catching. (Click on the photo to enlarge).

Birds of a feather -- but as art

Nellie and I decided to have a little adventure today and head out to uncharted territories. Well, we actually knew where we were going, but had never ventured as far as we set out to do today. Frankly, Nellie wasn't all that thrilled because she's not fond of strange dogs trash talking her from behind their fences, but she gamely allowed me to motor on past our comfort zone. We headed out with gusto to an arts and crafts fair that supports disadvantaged youth (okay as much gusto as one with a cane can muster). While we were expecting a rather large event, it turned out to be a more intimate affair. The nice thing was being able to chat with some lovely and interesting people. We passed on the neighborhood walk as our own walk home was going to take us past lunch/nap time.

The thing about walking new neighborhoods is that you always come across something interesting. In this case, a perfectly plain house had this wonderful surprise stained glass. If you weren't paying attention, you would walk right by without even noticing it, but as I am a very curious (okay, nosy) person, I have a tendency to look into yards more closely than is probably proper. Though the placement of the window doesn't showcase it to full effect or give it full justice, it's a nice addition to an otherwise ho-hum facade. Of course I'm curious how it came to be, but even I am not brazen enough to knock on the door and ask. 

Surprised myself by actually finishing a project in one afternoon

We were fortunate enough to have heavy, steady rain a couple of days ago. Along with the good part of not having to stand out with a hose, the soaking was enough to actually sink into the soil that masquerades as concrete around the place. There is one spot that has bothered me for some time, and seeing the rain, yet again, wash mud over the driveway, today was the day to finally tackle the problem. Naturally what should have taken no time at all took far too long for an old lady, but the result isn't too bad and it solves a couple of issues.

#1:  We just have dirt all the way through the backyard and that's what makes the driveway dirtier than it needs to be. BUT - as luck would have it, a gravel pathway won't work because we are constantly running dollies with heavy items over that pathway. Problem is, the dolly would catch on the broken concrete and make it glitchy to move. So, problem solved now. Just happened to have a door mat surplus to requirements, and it turned out it fit perfectly against the pavement. Tested it out with a heavy load and what was once a bumpy ride is now smooth and effortless. Well - except for the part where we still have to move heavy stuff back and forth all the time, but that's another issue.

#2: The area right next to the pavement leading to the stairs was a terrific way for the dogs to bring in mud and other debris (on top of everything else they bring in every minute). So, pebbles again to the rescue. Also, side bonus which was tested, it absorbs water and puts it into the ground instead of spreading mud everywhere. A mini swale if you will. So while it doesn't look like much, believe me, the change is worth it. Until I find out otherwise. 

Another dog rescue and I have thoughts

Alas, no pictures of the adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy who was scooped up on a dangerous street and rescued, but the story is yet another affirmation of good neighbors and kind-hearted people. And spoiler alert - it has a happy ending, though I have some thoughts about a couple of things.

Finishing up my morning walk with Nellie we happened upon a neighbor walking toward us with another man who clearly had a squirmy, furry creature in his ams. Turns out to be a puppy they caught heading up our street to a very dangerous intersection. Adorable, cuddly, and utterly sweet doesn't even begin to describe this little bundle. And true to form, since everyone in the surrounding area thinks I know every single dog, the question was asked: do you know this dog? The answer being a sad nope, we then started the discussion of what to do with this puppy who had no collar. First step, take her to a vet or the humane society to check for a microchip. The man holding the pup (and clearly falling in love with each passing moment) said that he was in the middle of his loop and couldn't do that. That's when it dawned he was a pool tech clearly on his cleaning route. As expected, the neighbor turned to me and I responded with the usual answer. Sure, leave her with me and I'll sort it out. That's when pool guy declared that he would take care of the pup and if he couldn't find her guardian, he would keep her. Mmmm. Great news she would have a safe haven, but.... And here's where I wasn't operating on all cylinders. Didn't ask his name or the name of his company. Doh!

Well it gets better. Not an hour later I get a call from another neighbor who had the dog's guardian on her doorstep (apparently lived right behind her and hoped the pup was in her yard). We ascertained the pup is chipped, but there was a catch. The chip had not been transferred from the breeder to the new guardian, and the breeder is in Missouri. The pup had been flown out recently with all the papers and so on, but the chip information wasn't current. OK. I told them I would ask at the house I knew had a pool if theirs was serviced this morning. Get the name, call, and all good, right? Of course it's NEVER that simple. Nope. No pool service that day. Arrgghh. What to do? Well, the obvious thing of course. I started calling every pool company in a 30 mile radius asking if they had someone who did pools on our street or nearby that morning. Frustratingly, that was going nowhere, when another call came in. The neighbor just happened to be out when a man walking his dog was going by and mentioned seeing the pup. He also saw a pool truck pull out of the driveway two doors down from her house. I ran (well, hobbled) over, we shook our heads in disbelief that that particular house had a pool, and walked over. Rang the bell and hoped for the best since this was the one house on the street we knew absolutely nothing about. We never saw anyone outside, only knew that an older lady lived there, and had no idea who she was. A man answered and we introduced ourselves and explained the situation. He gladly gave us the name and number of his pool guy and his own number as well. Things were starting to gel.

I called the pool guy and explained we knew where the pup lived and had the number. He said he had taken the her to the vet and she was chipped but he still had no information. Whew. It was so good to know he was following through on his promise and wasn't planning to just keep her. Good man. So I explained I was texting the guardian with his number and gave pool guy the guardian's number so they could sort it out from there. Happy ending.

Now for thoughts -- starting with my own idiocy. Yes, a picture of the pup and getting the pool man's name and number should have been the first item of business. A post on Paw Boost and Next Door would be another good thing to do. But my last thought is the guardian should have been more careful with such a young and small puppy. If you're letting her out in what you think is a secure yard, think again. A new pup needs supervision. Someone needs to be present, if for no other reason than we have coyotes in our area. Check the entire area for ANY teensy tiny escape hatch. Accidents can happen, but too often it's carelessness. I just hope for that darling pup's sake, this doesn't happen again.

Who would do this?

I have a small area on the side of the house next to the sidewalk that needed a bit of a lift plant wise. Using toilet tanks as planters (yes - they make great planters), I had one on a raised little stool to give height and fill in the space behind the two others. Even the huge wind storm we had at the beginning of the year couldn't budge them. Apparently, someone didn't like the look and decided to do this. 😡

A new solution for the spot will be forthcoming -- someday.

I know what you're thinking....

Yes, another longterm project in the making. Another area that seen from afar isn't that terrible, but when viewed up close, shows multiple issues. Yet another opportunity to procrastinate and ruminate without actually accomplishing any work. That certainly was the modus operandi for the front triangle in the yard which finally was not only completed, but finished to my satisfaction (and those of a few passersby). This area took off (without my permission) and is suffering from overgrowth. Time to clean up, clear out, and rethink. 

Not great, but not terrible, until you see what's really happening. The aloe vera is choking out the lime tree, which, since it was planted eons ago should be much bigger and thriving. Not to mention the collection of leaves that are doing too good a job of composting on top of things that need to breathe. So, stay tuned for changes.

Drunk dragon?

Apparently Halloween now starts in September and for the most part, it just adds to the fun. There's one particular house that stood out this year. There's a cute dragon on a roof and her wings flap up and down, which is captivating. What's more interesting, however, is that she apparently wasn't tied down on one side quite firmly enough, so she sways to the left (her right of course) as she guards her abode. My first thought -- is she drunk? I'm gonna say yes.

Peanuts! Get your peanuts here!

The Critter Café is thriving. We still have an abundance of squirrels, banded pigeons, an assortment of small birds including scrub jays, and our latest additions, ravens and crows. To accommodate the ravens, crows, and scrub jays, I started putting peanuts (unsalted of course) out for their first-class dining experience and they have certainly spread the word over the years that it's a good place to start the day. Before the Café became a bit of an upper-crust destination, the peanuts were originally just scattered on the ground. After a while, that didn't have the right vibe, so a simple plate on the ground held the peanuts for easy (and cleaner) access. The jays were the first to appreciate the new setup. With the fire came concerns about toxic soil, and though we have been lucky in not being too affected, I felt a more posh setting was in order. A friend had given me a little red wagon, which, alas, didn't have all the parts. Turns out, that was a good thing because it is now repurposed as the official peanut station. I even added a water bowl for the crows and ravens to dunk the shells in to soften them up to make it easier to eat. Now here's where it gets interesting (if you're still awake). Originally, I only filled the wagon portion with sand and the plate rested a bit below the rim. Apparently, the crows and ravens felt that might be a trap and were uncharacteristically skittish with the arrangement. Even after watching the squirrels and jays happily grab peanuts, they still didn't want to partake. Ok, says I, they just need a day or two to adjust. But then an idea. I added some gravel (makes it easier to clean too) to lift the plate and water bowl to the top. Success! All the critters dive in with gusto and all's right with the world once more.

If you're wondering whether rains will fill the wagon tray with water, no need to worry. There are holes in the bottom to drain water away. 

 

Household chores- the next pandemic?

I was complaining to a very wise and deeply knowledgeable friend about how my household chores seemed to multiply whenever I started on the list. A Google search only described chores bringing on aches, pains, and aggravation, but that was the worst of it. My friend texted back with scientific proof it is far more serious than that. 

Wise words! While escaping chores is not entirely possible, it's N95 masks and nitrile gloves from now on. After all, we've already been through one pandemic. We definitely don't need another to contend with.

Naughty child or gorgeous girl - you decide

Got a text today from a friend who lives up north saying she got a naughty child. I looked carefully at the photo provided for a clue to what that child may have done to deserve that sobriquet, and could find nothing. Zero. Zilch. Since my friend has always been genuinely smitten with her baby, I'll leave it to you to decide. And for the record, I'm on the side of just gorgeous. Seriously, look at that face of total innocence. And for the record, her name is Bailey, who's been a star on the blog a few times.

Art for the sake of peace and harmony

Talent comes in many forms and sometimes it's from something we do just to keep our brains firing at full speed or to bring harmony into our lives. Whatever the reason, hobbies are actually very good things and being artistic is a gift. A friend sent these examples of what she's been working on in craft groups online and in-person. Frankly, it's awe inspiring. She's been quilting, working on reverse appliqué, and embroidery. Below are examples of her latest endeavors. The quilt blocks can be arranged in any pattern one likes, so she's still working that out, but you get the idea.

Cuddle buddies

Sorry - just can't help it. Had to share, yet again, the cuteness overload that is Nick and Nellie cuddling. Well, not cuddling so much as staring at me and wondering why the treats are no longer forthcoming. 

 

Love my wild critters, but they can be pesky

The Critter Café outside the laundry room has been thriving with squirrels, big banded pigeons, ravens, crows, jays, a variety of dainty birds, and a wonderful assortment of lizards. All good. Lately, however, an unidentified critter has been wreaking a bit of havoc on the planters along the fence line. Mind you, those planters have been in my thoughts for a while, as they are slowly (finally) starting to rot away. The jade plants that were once thriving have totally given up. Fine. Just one more chore to do. (Sigh). Nothing like a nudge to get things moving. 

It started when an area was dug up and there was styrofoam scattered all over the place. If you're wondering why styrofoam is in a planter -- don't ask. You really don't want to know. Anyway, I walked out to feed my furry and feathered guests, only to come upon this sight:

Naturally cleanup is still in progress, and replacements are still being decided, but here's the next big project looming on the horizon as soon as the heat subsides a bit. Yup - ALL gotta come out. In ten years, we may actually see some progress. 

Oops! Doing what I have chastised people for doing - not a good look

I have repeatedly chastised people (silently) who volcano mulch their trees with either rocks or mulch. Surrounding the base of a tree doesn't allow it to breathe and invites rot and insect activity. So one day, as I'm looking at the overgrowth mess at the base of our giant Chinese Elm we love so much in the backyard, I realized with a shock, that I am GUILTY of a version of volcano mulching that didn't enter my pea brain. In my case, it's putting potted plants at the base of the tree, allowing debris to pile up. Allowing too many spider plants to take over and suffocate the base - not to mention just covering up any other decorative elements. So with the zest of a born again gardener, I have started the process of clearing out and sprucing up. Naturally this project was begun during the hottest weeks we've had to date because why not? Nothing like working up a good sweat, right?

This does have a certain charm, until you look closely and realize certain things are not thriving by being choked out.

As I pulled pots away from the base, the amount of leaf buildup was a bit unnerving. Poor tree was gasping. You can see the dark band at the base of the tree. Not good.

Another view of the overgrowth. The large blue pot held plants that had been knocked over in the wind/firestorm we had in January and were not thriving. In remaking the area, high winds, which now seem to be a given, are being taken into account.

Ferns seemed to be a good choice for the pot because it doesn't get too much sun. The ferns that were thriving in another area of the yard had been destroyed in the windstorm, so I salvaged what I could and hope they will fill in nicely in a year or two. All the spider plants are gone as well. While the wind isn't an issue for them, they just weren't thriving and were creating a debris catch-all.

This is as far as the rehab goes so far. Still thinking how to finish off this area without choking the tree and allowing other plants to thrive. A work in progress.

How does he do it?

Nellie's bestie Nick has many talents, with getting seriously sick during a heatwave being only one. We worry about the boy frequently. However, today he showed us not only his bright eyes, but a talent we weren't aware existed in reality. Apparently now dogs can take selfies. Here's proof.

Not only that, but they can text with the best of them. When I texted Nick's mom to make sure she was really home (and yes, I knew she was), he texted back this masterpiece:

That boy is talented on soooo many levels.

 

Sadness creates lifesaving happiness

We got the very sad news that Lenny and Jack, two of the sweetest little dogs, succumbed to their old age within one week of each other. The normal thing to do would be to grieve for months and then maybe look for another dog. Fortunately for 10 year old siblings Billy Bob and Penny Sue, M's sister and brother-in-law embraced the notion they should have a home as soon as possible and went to a shelter an hour away to adopt two charmers. The double names are the because the dogs lived in South Carolina (it's a Southern tradition) until their guardian died. We're told they are energetic and clingy, and they make two sad people laugh - which is a good thing. 

They may look as if they will create mayhem, but the next photo tells the true story that they have fit right in.

Perky is as perky does (whatever that means)

 Nellie's bestie Nick has been truly suffering in the heatwave we've been experiencing. Well, in all fairness, Nick thinks anything above 75 degrees is too hot. When he's having the vapors he won't eat, he refuses treats, and he looks like he's near collapse. Imagine our surprise on our last visit when he not only DEMANDED treats, but was zesty. It was so good to see his alert, whadda ya gonna do for me expression, it's impossible not to share his cuteness.

Welp - that's it for me today says Angel

Last night was National Night Out and we decided to crash a block party that was happening a couple of streets away. Baking my world famous brownies (in a three block area) and taking them seemed to be a clever way to blend in. We were also greeted by the many neighbors who knew us (and actually invited us). All in all, a jolly evening. HOWEVER - the duo we were expecting, and had assured us would be present, were missing. A quick text and -- disappointment followed. They weren't coming. The reason -- Miss Angel was too tuckered out to move. As follows:

 Yup - totally crashed. Sweet dreams. And excused.

Stunning simplicity

There is a house on our dog walks that has a nice yard and occasionally their overly exuberant dogs are out to loudly and repeatedly say hello. But this, surprisingly, isn't about dogs (for a change). They added a touch to their entry gate that is just so simple, and yet stunning. It reminds me of Japanese bonsai (though it isn't at all), and being in front of a Craftsman style house, which has Japanese origins, it makes perfect sense.

 

OK -- one last detail

On June 23, the post was about finishing the front triangle area of my yard, and the statement was that it was done and dusted -- until I thought of something else. Well, of course there had to be something else. The pebbles at the back end just felt...wrong. Ah ha. What they lacked was a nice border. Bottles wouldn't do as the slate was really a pathway to have access to the plantings and a tripping hazard isn't a good idea for an old geezer. Thought of plastic edging, but then a hard no to plastic. Didn't want to buy anything. Mmmm. And there it was. Large black pebbles that had previously made a lovely design in front of an artistic tree stump were now completely hidden by the foxtail agave that has grown so aggressively (and beautifully). Dug a few of those out and created a border that just makes the area look finished. Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

An Angel celebrating the Fourth of July

Angel is indeed just the right ambassador for celebrating Independence Day. Enough said.

Sleeping beauty

McSnoozy-Snorey, otherwise known as Nellie's good chum Nick, is of such a delicate constitution that he is unable to cope with any temperatures above 70º. Even that can be a bit of a struggle. On bad days he gets a very upset tummy that results in messy cleanups. On good days, he's able to nap quite soundly and STILL be cute as a button.