Vivid

Vinca vine growing in a wood retaining wall

The strong colors of spring. I love the contrast, and it always makes me get the camera out. It would be wonderful if the Siberian Iris lasted all season, but they are on the last of the blooms now. The deep purple is stunning. No other word for it.

We have hit a dry patch already, and that worries me. I have been watering the flower beds and new trees, hoping this is a temporary glitch. If it is a forecast for the entire season, I fear I will lose a lot of plants this year.

Enjoy yourselves.
Linda

Little Ones

Bella, my oldest great-granddaughter now has attitude

Gianna, the youngest great-granddaughter always has a smile

Jake wants to know when they all are leaving

I had company this weekend. Terra and Jeremy brought the babies down. Oh, boy. First of all, little ones are faster than their great-grandmothers. I felt like I was leaping through the air trying to catch either them or keep the dogs away. Gracie was very good, just wanting to give the girls kisses. Lots of kisses. I think at one point she cleaned out Gianna's ear. But Jake....poor Jake. I have had my suspicions since I adopted Jake that he was abused by a small child. Jake is just not a dog for little kids. You can't come up to Jake face on, he perceives it as a threat. The approach must be from the side, and I learned this one night months ago when he snapped at me. He didn't connect, it was just one of those warnings, as if he was chewing the air around his head. So I kept him at my side the entire weekend, or out in the yard. He was good, growling only once. A growl is a warning, and I took it seriously. We explained to Bella that you can't walk up to any dog and stick your fingers in his/her face. I am blessed with a granddaughter who believes in teaching her children, not ignoring their behavior. Jeremy and Terra are totally together on this point, and are doing a wonderful job of being parents. And it shows. Bella, who is only 20 months old, speaks in sentences and understands. She also likes to push boundaries, as any toddler will. But when all of the adults use "that voice", she knows it's time to change the direction and the subject.

It was a great weekend. I am exhausted, still. But this was the best Mother's Day present I could have had. Love you, babies!
Linda

The Weekend

Me and my oldest granddaughter, Terra

Terra and her oldest daughter, Bella

So there are two parts to this story. I was invited to the south suburbs of Chicago over the weekend to attend an open house. My step-daughter has just opened a new salon in Crete, IL and this was to be a gala type of event. Terra, my granddaughter, was acting as a hostess for her mom. This was on Sunday.

It is inconvenient and sometimes downright impossible to take the dogs with me on these trips to see family. Terra's house is tiny, and there is barely room for me to stay there. But being the sweetest kid she always insists that I do spend the night, and she makes me feel very welcome. That means Gracie and Jake, spoiled dogs supreme, get to spend a weekend in the country at the pet sitters. They love the pet sitter. Her name is Sherry and she has a huge fenced in yard with trees. Doggy heaven. We made arrangements to meet in the next town over to transfer the dogs from my car to her car. When Sherry pulled up in the Kroger parking lot, rolled down the car window and spoke, Gracie went into wiggle butt ballistic mode. So excited. Jake started barking. They were besides themselves.

Sherry opens the back door to her vehicle, and in hop my babies. Not a backward glance, no "drive safe, mom", nothing. All they can see is Sherry. And that means they will soon see Sherry's yard. Sherry has squirrels in her trees. I tried to pet them good-bye. They weren't having it. The message was clear: bye mom, leave now. The sooner we are on the road, the faster we can chase squirrels.

In the second picture above, you see Terra and Bella. Bella is 20 months old. Her word of the month (this will probably extend for another year) is NO! And if she really wants to get her point across, it is NO WAY! This comes complete with a hand on her hip. We have entered the terrible two's a bit early. She pushes her mom to the limit, just to see what will happen. But great-grandma? One "Bella, no, do not touch that", and she is in tears. Great-grandma does not put up with being pushed, and I think it's hardwired into a child's DNA to know who they can shove, and who they can't.

Having two great grandchildren at age 64 is a delight. The delightful part is I get to come home at the end of the visit. I love them with all my heart, but help me, Rhonda they are a lot of work.

Have a great day.
Linda

Really?

I am of an age when friends confide that they are battling cancer, chronic pain, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and various other diseases and ailments. This is all part of growing old. Not a whole lot we can do about it, except to eat healthier, exercise, and try to maintain a positive attitude. I myself have been giving in to a slight bout of depression due to sciatic pain. Today I woke up with a different slant on the subject: I'm alive, there are things I want to do yet, and the pain can just go to hell.

So. With the wisdom of advancing years, I can stand back and look at the drama that surrounds me and say, REALLY? Is this necessary, to tie yourself into knots over relationship situations that are a) none of your business, and b)a direct result of immaturity and way too much reality television?

I have been told that I, personally, need to intervene in a current drama to set things right. Hmmmm. No, I don't think so. My experience has been that the individual involved has to come to right decisions for their life on their own terms, or none of it will be accepted. Will I sit down and listen? Absolutely. Will I dole out useless platitudes? No. Will I take over the role of protective parent, from parents that are obviously too self absorbed to be parents? No. We are all adults. This is the real world, not some fantasy created for cheap amusement. Here are the options. Pick a resolution. Live your own life.

"I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom...Let It Be."
Paul McCartney wrote those words many years ago. Wise man, that Sir Paul. Enjoy your day.
Linda

We're Bored!

I have had problems with my back all week. Let me back-up a bit: I have ALWAYS had problems with my back due to scoliosis, which was a birth defect. I'm missing the second lumbar vertebra, so my back curves like the old "S" curve on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Back to this week. I think the change in weather, particularly the humidity, has caused my arthritis to flare. Combine this with a touch of sciatica, and there you have it.

Consequently, we didn't go for a walk yesterday. I had to get the lawn mowed before the next wave of storms comes in, so I made the executive decision to mow instead of walking. My babies are not happy. My babies are spoiled. I knew the back would not withstand both the yard work and the walk. Besides, it got damn hot yesterday. They (the babies) would not have been happy on a walk.

However, they were not happy with me anyway, because they did get a bath. This is a major undertaking with two dogs. No matter how you do it, the dog that is second knows that the first dog had a bath. No disguising this fact. So catching the second dog after the first dog is running around wet, glad it's over, and secretly making na-na, boo-boo noises is not an easy task. But I did it, they are both soft and clean, and smell wonderful.

In the third photo above, Jake has his blue bunny safely next to him for a nap. My friend, Cathy, gave each dog a bunny after Easter. Gracie's is pink, Jake's is blue. The pink bunny was missing one third of it's stuffing and both eyes within 3 hours. Gracie loves to destroy stuffed toys. Jake's bunny is still whole. If Gracie takes possession of it, all I have to do is tell Jake that she has his baby. He takes it back. This fascinates us, because years ago Cathy had a male and a female dog. Andy, the male, loved his stuffed toys and kept them whole. Abby, the female, tore hers apart and tried to do the same with Andy's toys. The exact same behavior as Gracie and Jake.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: dogs are better than HBO. Have a good one.
Linda

Sick

Jake

 

Sometimes you do things for the dogs, thinking it is a treat. And then that incident turns around and bites you in the ass. Today is one of those days.

The dogs and I walked yesterday morning, early, before the heat came in. Central Indiana hit 89 degrees yesterday by 4p.m. After the walk, I took them to the dog park for about 30 minutes. They were tired and content....until about 6p.m. last night, when the second burst of energy kicked in. I wasn't feeling my best, so instead of taking them for another walk I put them in the car for a ride. To Dairy Queen. Yeah. I took two small containers with us in the car, and ordered a waffle cone. The girl at the window saw the guys in the back, and threw in 2 dog treats. So they each had a dog treat with about 3 tablespoons of Dairy Queen.

Maybe it was due to being the first Dairy Queen of the season. Maybe due to the sudden high heat. But I had indigestion big time last night, and this morning Jake is sick. He won't eat, except for grass, and won't play. I see a vet visit in our very near future. I absolutely hate it when one of the dogs is sick, because you are second guessing what is wrong. And it worries me constantly until they are better.

Sometimes it's hell being a mom.
Linda

I Don't Understand...

This is Washington Township Park, in Avon, IN. The dogs love walking the rough trails there because mom, being a good mom, lets them go into the creek to cool off their paws. Spoiled brats. We walked at this park 4 times in the past week. See how dense the woods are? Not once did I get bit by any insects.

Yesterday I worked in the flower beds, once again pulling the grass that wants to grow right in the perennials. I have two, count them, two welts on my face from mosquito bites. So here is the question of the day: how can I walk in the woods without incident, and get swarmed in my own yard?

That third photograph? Have no idea how Jake got his leash under Gracie's belly. Enjoy yourselves.
Linda