Yuletide flair

If you walk around any given neighborhood, you'll see packed yards with inflatable Santas on sleighs, cute penguins, angels, bright lights, wreaths, and other miscellaneous Christmas themed decorations. They are all fun to look at and I appreciate the work that went into creating such Christmas chaos -- especially since I didn't do any of the labor. While long-suffering partner loves to put up his tree and decorates the inside so nicely for the holiday, I take a more minimalist (that is to say very lazy) approach that is actually courtesy of a dear neighbor who provides me with the perfect ornaments. And in case you can't tell, she's a dog lover too.

The approach to the front door:

Getting closer:

Now you see it:

And don't forget the charmer over the mail slot which is left up year round because who doesn't want to get puppy kisses:

And that, my friends, is how Bah Humbuggers do Christmas.

Decluttering in the back yard is paying off

On August 31, I posted about the major issue around our large Chinese Elm and admitted to doing exactly what I have chastised others for doing. Well, after the great clean-up, that area is beginning to thrive the way it should. The lily-like plants have started their ritual of putting up tremendous leaves which will eventually send up the blossoms on long stalks as the leaves die back. In the meantime, they are guarding Don Quixote to make sure he tilts at no more windmills:

And the rest of the crew is celebrating the space they now have to breathe around the base of the tree:

The merriment has begun

I've mentioned before that I'm more of a Bah Humbug! sort of a person, but even I can be enchanted by some of the more untraditional holiday decorations. Being a dog person, this house stood out. Yup. Puppies.

If only the Critter Café was a business

I should start charging the guests to the Critter Café. Business is booming and yet, though the squirrels have become very bold in demanding their walnuts, the crows and ravens are coming is large groups, and the Banded Pigeons have formed a formidable gang, not one has paid their bill or left a tip. Of course, the joy of seeing these beautiful animals enjoying themselves is really all the payment one can expect. With their native habitats destroyed and food supplies low, this is the least one can do.

The second the door opens, this little guy shows up. He's even been known to come straight in to demand walnuts. Of course, there is no point in resisting.

For some reason my ravens and crows have been camera shy the last two days, so I only managed to catch a few going for the peanuts. The Banded Pigeons, on the other hand, had no problem chowing down without a thought to posing for the camera. 

Sorry for the bad quality. Had to take the photos from the kitchen window. Click on the photos to enlarge.

A Thanksgiving blessing

Quincy lives in Northern California, which is unfortunate (not for him - he's very happy where he is) for me, because he is the sweetest little guy and it would be so lovely to have him around. Alas, my brother is unwilling (understandably) to move closer to us just so I can have the opportunity to cuddle with such an adorable boy. Quincy enjoys his long walks on the beach and being the pampered young man he is. Just recently he had to go through a dental procedure, which his Mom and Dad have said makes him peppier and more alert than ever. To prove it, they sent these:

That's exactly the kind of pep and vigor I have on Thanksgiving, so yay Quincy.

A genius business plan approved by our doggy friend Nick

Though I am happily retired, it has been suggested that it might be time for a side hustle. After letting Nick's Mom know I was painting over some letter openers (that I want to just give away) which had my name and business info from 35 years ago, she mentioned a few ideas for businesses to add to them to advertise. Mind you, I value her for her brains, dry wit and wicked sense of humor. Decorative Asbestos Tile - hard nope. Bespoke Athletic Ascots - tempting, but nope. Conversion Therapy for Straight People - interesting, but again nope. And last but not least - Gourmet Seaweed Twinkies and Coffee - that has possibilities, but nope. Then inspired by her suggestions, we discovered that Nick was totally on board with one of my ideas. His Mom jumped in to help with a comprehensive business plan. Not to brag, but it is genius.

At this point, I naively thought we had sorted it all out - meaning it wouldn't happen of course - but she came up with a terrific marketing plan. After all, if no one knows you're in business, it won't go very far. 

Now there are two downsides to all this. The first is that I can hardly keep my own yard in check, much less anyone else's garden. The other, far more important issue is that as upper management, Nick would be required to actually work for a living instead of simply bossing his Mom around. That would prove difficult. 

And the winner is....

Our weekly trip to the dog park meant I was mobbed by every dog there (mostly Shepherds, Huskies, and one giant Great Dane). I'm beginning to think they even know what the car looks like because they gang up immediately at the gate for their treats. Some will even try to take the treat pouch off my belt -- but don't worry -- they are gentle about it and do understand the word NO. What was notable about today's adventure was Baron's interest in slobbering all over the sweet Huskies. And here's the thing -- they not only didn't mind, they went back for more. Given that Baron is the size of a small pony, you might think that would be a deterrent, but he is nothing if not a big slobbery gentleman. So everybody was a winner today.

This is Baron:

These are his slobber mates:

And this is what his slobber mates look like when not being accosted:

 

A Sushi roll - nope - not that kind

There is an adorable dog on our street who is sweet but still very shy in spite of best efforts to win her over. Her name is Sushi, and her little cinnamon roll tail helps with that illusion. Here she is in all her sweet glory. First, those big eyes:

Next, a glimpse of her curlicue tail.

And finally, her wonderful upright, but still floppy, ears.

The very definition of adorable.

Taking over (as one should)

Bailey apparently has decided to takeover the guest room in her home. The way we know it is definitely her room now is the presence of her favorite toy, on the bed, with her.... Yes, dogs rule.

Lemonade stand with a ghoulish twist

Just to prove that I'm not all cranky and no sense of humor, when I came across this Halloween display, I couldn't help but laugh. It is a clever play on an American staple of a kid's lemonade stand. And so perfectly put together. Well done.

If you can't read the sign:

Across the street from that display was one that channeled an entirely different vibe and also provided a laugh. The expressions on the pumpkins holding the demonic cats -- priceless:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Two perfect supervisors

Let's face it. Most supervisors hide away in their offices and pretend to do stuff...reports, planning projects, or, really now, mindlessly scrolling on their phones. Not this crew. Rascal is hyperalert to anything his Dad is doing. Dishes, he's watching. Cooking, he's watching. Cutting dog cookies, he's right there to make sure they're perfectly to his specifications. If Dad sits down for a minute, he demands attention (as is his due) in the form of scratches and rubs. He is relentless and his stare is a bit daunting. 

Nellie, on the other hand, is willing to give Dad some space by observing from the couch. She's even willing to give him his orders and then back off to allow him to proceed at his own pace. As long as he performs to her satisfaction, his annual evaluation will be terrific. 

Fortunately for Mom (me), they pretty much don't care because they know they have me cowed into submission on all tasks that are beneficial to them. Sigh.

The house supervisors in action:

Speaking of cherubs -- losing dear friends

I wasn't going to mention our two dear friends who have left us because this year has already been one of heartbreak. After passing by their houses daily on our walks, and Nellie still pulling to go see if they are behind the fence, I feel they need to have a send off.

Baloo was taken so unexpectedly (though we knew of his health condition), that the shock has still not worn off. That sweet boy always made our walks a joy. He even had a special bark just for us. He is sorely missed.

Our other loss was Angel. Yes, for a Labrador, she was very old, but given the love and devotion she got from all who met her, we still couldn't believe she left us. 

I don't know if there is a doggie heaven, but these two definitely belong there. 💕

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.