Summer Rantings....

I'm starting to forget what I blogged about before. 

I'm forgetting when I peed last.  BOL

I need to blog every day so that I can remember.  Well.  Hopefully you have not seen my hydrangea's yet.  It's been a good year.  God is sending lots of rain and beauty surrounds us.

Rain has been messing' with my daily potty habits.  Just saying'  Not a fan.

The wildflowers are spotty but still, pretty if you can make your way through the weedy mess.

Also, in the weedy mess you will find bunny friends.  They are fun to chase.  

There is a lot of swimming going on.  Just enough sunshine.  And I am so very thankful for air conditioning and good books.  

I'd be thankful for a good belly rub about now....

Our summer Gilmore Girls binge will be coming to an end later today.  We've watched the entire 7 seasons and are now on the last episode of the 10-year later follow-up.  Very disappointing, by the way...  the 10-years later.  I enjoyed the innocence of the past Gilmore Girls seasons.  The seemingly 'caring' and 'emotional' aspect of the thing.  The newer ones are blah.  And they started the episodes off with Luke and Loralai cursing.  They never cursed before??  Why would they be cursing now?  It just seemed so out of character.

Out of character is you giving me a bath yesterday...  what the...  a bath in between grooming?  Have you lost your ever-lovin' mind woman???

That's old fashioned me, though.

Flowers and Cookie Crumbs

I am impressed with all of you who love flowers, plants and trees and are consistently "name-dropping" as you write about this one or that one...  like..  you really know what you're talking about! I learn from you.  But then, that knowledge generally dissolves somewhere inside my brain and I can be enlightened all over again when you write once again about the same. 

However.

I now know what a hydrangea is when I see one.  Mostly because over a half-a-dozen of the bushes are planted in front of my office.  Last year they were lush and gorgeous and just about everyone who came into my office commented on their beauty and asked what we had done to have had our bushes produce such a lovely display of flowers.  I proudly announced that we did nothing.  Just watched them grow.  

And so this year I expected more of the same.  But the flowers were few.  

The largest and oldest of the bushes produced one single flower.

The beauty and strength of that one flower amazes me.

It doesn't seem to care that it is alone.  But rather, it revels in the attention.  Each time I pass the business front, I focus on that one flower.  

Storms whip it fiercely to and fro, but it stands strong.  The sun beats down hard threatening a sure death, but it stands strong.  When I think it has lived just as long as it can possibly live, it still stands strong.  

But eventually it will die.  Leaving behind a legacy of beauty that had been beheld by many.

Stand strong, beautiful one.  Your life is what you make it.  Do not allow the disappointment of others    surrounding your world to weaken you. You are unique.  You are loved.  And when the bitter winds return and snow pelts against where you once lived, you will be remembered.  And you will be missed.

Gracie says:  

  Flowers mean nothing to me.  What good is it if all you can do is look at it?  I like human touch.  A hug.  A smile.  A game of tug-of-war. Cookie crumbs that make it to the floor. Now that's what I'm talking about!  

Not Impressed

While grocery shopping with her mama, Summer saw these pretty, colorful flowers and said "I have to get these for Grammy!"  

And so, she did.

I love that she thinks of me when she sees beautiful flowers.

The calendar may say fall is here.  But for me,  Summer is all year round.   Love this girl.

Gracie:  The Puppy Years

"So is this bath stuff something you
people do often?  Not impressed."

Sunday Here

RISSI!  LOOK OUT!!

Now that I have your attention...  here was my day:

Church...  

And then I bathed the dog.

A trip to Lowes to get wildflower seeds.

I love the warm, sunny feeling.... walking through....  checking out flowers and plants.

Meanwhile, at home the trees in front of our house have almost peaked.

How was  your day Gracie?

The dog got a bath.  How do you think my day was?

I Don't Know What They Are

I have a confession to make.  

I know nothing about plants, trees or flowers.  I can't identify many and I certainly don't know how to take care of them.  

All I know is that they are pretty.  

Does that make me shallow?

I hear you all talking shop out there about your plants and flowers and trees and I admire you so!

I know some...

I know a lilac bush when I see it and smell it.

It's my favorite.

I know sunflowers, roses, tulips and hydrangeas.  

I'm not sure what these are.  

We planted them a few years ago...  and they sure are pretty when they bloom.

  I love the different colors that the earth becomes this time of year.  Wildflowers are my 2nd favorite.  I love the variety.  

I even love the simple yellow dandelions.  Are they considered a weed?  If so...  I love the yellow weeds.

I hope everyone is enjoying Spring!  

Flowers and Spring and Dogs that look Cute

When we first met online in February of 2001, Gary and I got to know each other pretty well through the internet 

and phone conversations.

 One thing that he learned about me was that spring was my favorite time of year and that spring and flowers just kind of go together.

 We were back and forth a bit about whether they actually appear on the first day of spring...  I said of course they do!  (and yes, I do believe in Santa, the Tooth Fairy & fairy tales).

 Our love was new then, so he didn't argue with me.

 On March 20, 2001,  I received a box in the mail from Flowerland. It was filled with colorful, gorgeous flowers along with a note... 'Bobbi, you were right.  Flowers do arrive on the first day of spring'.  

I know.  Too sweet, huh?

We were at the grocery store the other day and I was eyeballing the most beautiful flower arrangement there...  and said a quick 'I love those!' in passing...

I guess my hubby does still pay attention to me...

 A few days later, here they are!

 Thank you Gary.  I love you.

Dear Diary,


Seriously, I don't know what all the fuss was about.  Mom is as goofy as can be.  'look at gracie!  look how cute! She looks like she's posing' then it's - grab the camera and see if I can't interrupt her sleep.  The woman needs to get a life! Gracie.

The Wildflowers and The Milk Bone

I love reading and commenting on my favorite blogs... but for some reason, only some show up on my blog list.  I have mine set to show the most recent updated blogs, but there are some of my favorites that are missing.  Does anybody know why that would be?  Would it have anything to do with the bloggers settings?  

Our wildflowers are really pretty this year.  I love the yellow.  These pictures do not do them justice...  they are gorgeous, and real eye candy along National Highway.  

Every morning Gracie and I stroll around the yard so she can smell and I can look.  

Then it's off to work I go...  and Gracie assumes position, watching the house.

Dear Diary,


Yesterday during our walk, a nice lady hurried out of her house and asked mom if I could have a treat.  Mom said yes!  Even though I'm on a diet mom still lets me have a little treat now and again.  The lady brought out a Milk Bone and I said thanks. Mom brought it home with us and I tried to find a good place to bury it.  But then:  'Gracie!  What are you doing in there???'  She walked into the living room and I froze for just a moment and gave her the 'what do you think I'm doing, I'm trying to hide this bone so you don't steal it' look.  She shooed me off of dad's chair and told me to eat the darn bone and quit trying to ruin the furniture.  So I did.  Gracie.

Give Me A Caption

Humans have been banned from my house while Gracie is recovering - so my kids didn't visit on Mother's Day.  Jackie offered to leave my flowers at the curb ~ LOL. 

  For those of you interested in knowing what Gracie got in her Three Dog Bakery goodie box:

Gosh.  She's so spoiled.

Every day we do a belly check.

I say, "Gracie... roll over and let me see your belly."

And she stops, drops and rolls.  "Looking good," I say... then I rub her belly.  

Sometimes she stays in that position for

 the longest time.

The bushes surrounding our house are 

budding vibrant shades of pink...

 And I'm wishing I had more time 

to savor their beauty.

But there's work to be done.  

Don't ask me what I planted below.  All I know is they looked pretty and they were perennials.  Last year I planted annuals.  They were beautiful, then gone.

I do not have a green thumb.  

So this should be interesting.

Below I planted some Lily of the Valley here in front of our adjoining 'guest apartment'.  Crossing fingers.

I love working in the dirt.  But I hate that cover thingy that goes over the dirt to keep the

 weeds from growing.  

I am in awe of you all out there... the ones of you who know the names of trees and flowers 

and birds and bushes.

I have a real hard time with that.  I know the basics... like  lilac (my favorite), daisy, sunflower, rose.  After that all I know is either they're pretty ~ or not.  

My mothers Day started off with a whiff of some pretty nasty dog poop that had been matted into Gracie's hind end fur.  So I was on the floor with scissors, soapy water, and my rubber gloves telling her if she moved, she'd be in big trouble.

Of course, she was humiliated and has been for the past month.  She needs bathed and groomed AND though I love her shaggy look, I'm appalled by her smell and dirty beard.

Okay guys, take a good look at those eyes.... then give me a caption.  

Hope you're all enjoying your Spring!