We're back

We're back from Princeton where my Mom's surgery was done.  To make a long story short, the surgeon found a problem created by the original surgery and corrected it.  We are hoping that this will work but it is too soon to tell yet.  If it doesn't, she has one more surgery to go.  She's sore and recovering slowly.  I'm busy running between her house to care for her and checking the three dogs at home:

Yeh that brown bed was Greta's (she's looking at the camera) and we ended up taking that one back for a smaller version since my living room looked like Poodlepalooza.  Greta is adapting nicely and we have decided we don't want to give her back to my mother.......EVER.  She is a sweetie and the three of them are having a great time...except when the ball falls in the watering can:

 

"Are ya going to stand there or help me?"

I'll post some Christmas through the years photos later today.  Have a wonderful day, ya'all!

3 Poodles and a Nana

Lately I had been wondering if I should change the name of the blog.  But we are going to be returning to 3 poodles here.  This is Greta:

She is my mother's remaining poodle and Teddy's sister.  My mother got both dogs at the same time thinking they were cute.  Then she learned how hard it is to train two puppies at a time and sent him to our house.  Our dogs play together frequently and Greta and Seamus are the best of friends.  Teddy sometimes plays with them but usually, he spends his time barking when he is outside...

Greta and Seamus in foreground.  Teddy barking behind...

  I've been bringing Greta here to get acclimated as she is going to be moving in shortly.  My mother's surgery is on Thursday and I anticipate that Greta will be staying here for some time...

 I'll be sporatic with posting for a while as we get things situated here and with my mother.  I have so much to catch up on and will get to everything as  I can.  I'm sorry if I've been late with things.....it's just a busy time.

June Musings

I'm doing a lot of work these days; my mother's next surgery is a week from now and I'm trying to get things done so that when I am at home, I can breathe.  It's also June and that time when the weeds get thick, the first flush of flowers need deadheading, and tall plants have to be staked. 

"In searching for my mother's garden, I found my own."  ---Alice Walker

I think of this quote often these days.  When I work in the garden, I think of Nana Betty.  Only last year, I would visit her a few times a week.  An avid gardener, she loved the flowers I brought her and really loved my "garden reports".  She'd advise me on what to do with the plants that were struggling.  She'd talk about all the flowerbeds she created and the magic of her father's gardens. 

She loved hostas and always used it as her bordering plant;  what she didn't like were the purple flowers of the plant.   It seemed like a mission to her to pluck the long stalks of the dreaded flower. 

She loved this little purple flower and called them "paintbrushes", an appropriate plant for a painter. 

 I have two variations of feverfew in my garden and she adored both kinds.  I introduced this flower to her and she loved both or either in her bouquets.

Soon the hydrangeas will be in full bloom and they will also bring back memories.  I know I'm so lucky to have these special triggers to keep my favorite people alive in my life.

I want to comment on your blog but......

We've been experiencing some technical problems here.  Apparently I'm not the only person who can't seem to post comments on blogs without the technical error message--I've gotten an email or two from friends who say they are having the same problem.  Not sure what to do about it but I just want to let my blog friends know I am thinking of them and saying prayers to our western friends who are contending with the threats of fire....(that means you wonky girl).
Hugs, Mickie

my widdle Chick-a-Dee Crafters......

I have some special crafters in my life:  Helena my granddaughter, Katie next door and Natalie, Katie's longtime friend.  This week I've been thinking about crafts we can do with kids in October for a craft fair.  I'd like the kids to make presents for their parents for a minimal fee which we would donate to a worthy group.  It's a two-fer present--one for the community and the other for the kids.  So Katie and Natalie graciously agreed to do some samples for me.  This was originally going to be a wallhanging but they decided to do pillows. 

I also wanted to see how well the fabric markers work.  I'm delighted with the results!  This was Katie's:

Katie's chick...her mother says the chick is like Katie's logo. :)

 And here is Natalie's!!!

Mouse and Rabbit by Natalie..aren't her flying birds wonderful too?

I did have photographs of the girls holding their projects but when I tried to rotate the photographs of them, the photos disappeared forever (another technical malfunction here).  I just love the drawings kids do and am especially enamored with Katie's chick so I have decided to nickname my girls the Chick-A-Dee Crafters.  I'm hoping to get more examples done sometime this summer (mother's health permitting) and really do this in October. 

Thunky and Pitcher

This is Teddy, he can't play with a regular ball.

He prefers the black ball that the George kids lost in our yard one day......about three years ago.  Teddy loved the ball so much, they said he should keep it.  It is the only ball he really likes.  It doesn't really get airborne very easily anymore, travels only about 4 to 5 feet when I hurl it.  Also,  it lands with a thunk....which is why we call it Thunky Ball.

It's the only ball Ted will fetch.  So George Kids..he may bark like crazy at you but I think he must love you deep down inside because you provided him with his beloved Thunky Ball. 

Seamus on the other hand is quite different.  He is the only dog we know of that throws the ball back to people.  He even aims at different people.  Sometimes when he is playing with the George Kids, he throws the ball to Katie, then to Sam, then to Natalie, then back to Katie, etc.  I think he makes conscious decisions.  Look out...

....here comes the ball.  Sometimes Seamus throws the ball three feet away from me.  He does this on purpose.  I think he likes to see me fetch too.   Or perhaps he is annoyed because of some of my wild throws.....Anyway, he is the Cy Young of dogs.

What's growing in the garden

We are expecting a heat wave to roll in so I'm glad to have gotten some garden pics before it's too hot to be out:

Roses

Black Elderberry bush (tree?) has flowered.

Teddy

Sundrops

Various spiderworts but this one is my fav:

A potted plant I picked up that I love!!!

Seamus and his sidekick, the red rubber ball.

Yesterday's Haul...

Yesterday's haul from assorted yard sales and flea markets.  I spent about $13.00.  I'm not sure why-but I never met a bridge tablecloth that I didn't like.   I don't play bridge and am so obtuse that I just found out recently that my mother's card club didn't play bridge either--they played pinochle.  There's something about these little home made tablecloths that I find irresistible...and I don't even like gnomes or mushrooms (after seeing too many of those and owls in the 1960s and 70s).

My favorite of the day.

I loved this (still brand new) old polka dotted linen place mat set with napkins--the label swore "fast color".  It came with all four placemats and napkins still pinned together as it had been when it was sold.  It reminded me of my Nana Betty.  She had a brown suit of this color in the late 50s early 60s and wore a polka dotted blouse with it.  Funny how I can remember all her clothing...you can tell my brother and I spent so much time with her growing up.

The End of an Era

Molly:  1995-2011

It's the end of an era for us.  Darling Molly passed today into a more peaceful place.  She was the dog that everyone expected to pass first (having been diagnosed with Crohn's disease about 5 years ago).  Paddie's dearest friend, she outlived Paddie and all of Paddie's contemporaries.  Up into a month or two ago, she was still going up and down the steps and asked me for a walk only two weeks ago.  She had a good life and I know that my brother Jim will miss her terribly as we all will.

Molly was one smart dog.   Bilingual, she had learned commands in both English and German (because my son took German in high school).  She and Paddie developed various games and was known to be able to hunt for a toy specifically-- be it duck, ball, lamb, cat, etc.  When Paddie broke her front leg, she adapted a game for them to play.  Instead of both chasing the ball, Molly would get it, drop it onto an ottoman where Paddie could reach it and allow Paddie to be the official "retriever."  The two dogs adored each other. 

Molly liked rabbits and was known to protect the nest the bunnies made in her backyard.  She was a true poodle in every sense of the word and our lives were all made better by having her in our family. 

I know she is playing with Paddie now and they are finally together again.  Thank you Molly for the love and joy you brought to all of us.