Spring thoughts in early November

Morning Glory

November 1, 2010

A dog named Boo

Boo Doggie has gone to play with old Jackie and Ripple on the Rainbow Bridge.  We are still trying to get used to the quiet.  She was with us for thirteen and a half years. 

Greeting and Guarding were her "things".  When we were gone to work all day, gone for a week on vacation, or when the kids were gone for six months at a time, she greeted us with little yelps of happiness, running in circles and jumping up a bit to tell us how overjoyed she was that we were back home with her when we returned.   Often after work when I'd arrive home she would be in the back yard.  She would run in circles (fast) in the yard, then end up in "her" corner and start digging.  Sometimes when we would go upstairs and she was on the bed, she'd greet us by running around in circles on the bed and barking.  If you can imagine, these were all with a smile on her face. 

Strangers or infrequent visitors were greeted with barks and growls that sometimes scared them... as it was designed to do.  But, once they got into the house they were like family.  She'd follow them from room to room perhaps keeping an eye on them?   If a person was scared of her, she knew it and it made her uncomfortable. More barking would ensue. 

She was always in the same rooms with us, sleeping, guarding, always listening.  She wasn't a big cuddler. We used to say when she'd lay 2 feet from us that she was cuddling.  Like many doggies, she loved to have her back rubbed and scratched.  She listened to Dan's theories and helped him through illnesses.  They were best buddies.

Last of all, she loved people food.  Yummy.  She didn't understand when Dan told her not all dogs get Jarlsberg cheese for snacks......   And she loved her treats.  Thanks to Martha, for the last year of Boo's life she got Pupperoni or Beggin Strips every day.  

 We miss her........

Hosta

This one is in our backyard under the Viburnum

Hosta:  The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host.^[2] The Japanese name Giboshi is also used in English to a small extent. The rejected generic name Funkia, also used as a common name, can be found in some older literature.  (from wikipedia)

They grow so well in Ohio and especially in our backyard where there's lots of shade.  With the gracious help of friends, we got new hostas for our front "parking" area.   We also have some in the backyard and along both sides of the house, West and North.  (On the North is the Shade Garden which will have it's own post).
 

The PARKING AREA PROJECT

The "Before" picture: just dirt










 

Wonderful Friends Donating and Planting Hostas!

Some hostas in

Not the best picture, but you see the hostas ringing the trees and also the ivy is planted now too.

Gardens

This year is the year of the "house".  We have a few projects planned.  Today I'll blog about gardening.  We got creative with our yard and planted a "green fence".  Some people call it a "living fence".  For us, it is a beautiful row of evergreen trees between us and our neighbors.  There is also a chain link fence, but we don't see that so much anymore. 

We also rearranged some bushes, lining the patio framing it nicely.  Today I transplanted some lilies from a total weed patch on the alley to our new lily patch out by the street.  I hope they survive and that cars don't run over them.

All seem to be doing well.

BEFORE

AFTER

Renewal

Spring is here! Spring is here!  Spring is here!

All the spring flowers are poking their heads up looking for the sun.  The temps are rising; it's been raining.  I'm reading blogs about spring.

It's the time of renewal, renewed enthusiasm for life and love...........

Go Hawkeyes!

The University of Iowa 

beat

Georgia Tech

Orange Bowl

January 5, 2010!  

Go Hawkeyes!!!!

Ring in the New Year: Year of Healing

Here are some photos from our Christmas celebration. Only one person couldn't make it -- she needed her R&R after a 3 week trip home and also carrying a baby inside.

So, we had a lovely time. We got a Charlie Brown tree and had a few presents. Books were notable (those present and not). Funny gifts and ones that had been lost and found were highlights. Musical gifts, gifts for others than the recipient, and gifts to make good food were all in abundance.

So were parties with old friends and new ones. Games to be played and noshes and drinks to be had . Even Boo, the doggie got her special Christmas treats.

It was special this year and perfect.

I love my family.