Trees and Plants

Starting week #5 of 2008

We had a bit of a foggy morning last week. I am usually groggy and blurry eyed when I wake up, but this scene really threw me!

We grew a sunflower. I think it was a gift from the birds. I do.

Foggy weather and sunflowers don’t stop Leissl from getting the job done, though. She’s one of Fort Doberdale’s, if not the world’s, best destuffers.

Today was ear cleaning day at Fort Doberdale. Everyone got an ear wash of 2/3 water, 1/3 vinegar, and plenty of wash cloths to wipe out the Doberdirt. Of course, the most important part of the whole ritual are the dog treats.

In this case, animal crackers. Yum!

Luigi’s favorite! (OK, anything food is Luigi’s favorite.)

Of course, after a good ear cleaning and cookies, what could be better than some coffee grounds? I put some old grounds that are flavored and sweet smelling on top of the Verawood roots for fertilizer. Nothing sweet smelling gets past the schnauzola on Luigi and his little sidekick, Raven.

The Buddha Dog gave me the wisdom to soak down the grounds, which stopped all interest in them immediately. That Buddha Dog is a wise ol’ sage.

When the sun went down, Lilian stopped in her tracks as part of the Fort Doberdale Squirrel Posse, and took note of an alien among us. (Even more important is maintaining possession of the coveted blue Cuz ball.)

What we find are the answers to a couple of questions. Who is gnawing holes in the neighbor’s papayas? Where have all the rats gone?

Eeegads!

Regis isn’t feeling too well tonight. He must have gotten too rowdy today as his well-worn bones and paws were tired of holding him up by day’s end. He got his dinner served to him on his princely cushion and he was quite appreciative of that. He dined well, and decided to call it an early night and has been napping since.

Baby, the DoberDiva, has something on her mind. We will have to wait to find out what that is.

Have a great week!

Helen

Baby, Birds, Leissl, Life, Lilian, Luigi, Raven, Regis, Trees and Plants

27

Jan

2008

Gardening

Helen

Friday night, I read a newsletter on how you can spend several hours doing something that has nothing to do with a goal, but in the long run, will give you more time to do your goal if it simplifies your life. So yesterday, I went out in the back yard to do that and ended up out there until sunset.

With the water rationing and time it takes me to water a double-digit number of potted plants, which do protect the plant from being sprayed by dog pee or bulldozed by the Posse, I put a good dozen plants in the ground. Plants that were in pots of 20-gallon size or thereabouts. And others, I said Grace and parted with them. Other smaller ones went around the big ones in the ground. I’m still not done with it all, but this has left me with one-third less pots to water. Yeehaw!

There was a fine lizard hanging onto the blossom of my ginger plant once it was stable into Mother Earth.

Across the yard, where I placed a bird cage for a loose cockatiel, another lizard sunned on the perch.

Baby (QM & Diva of Fort Doberdale), of course, was the most striking sunbather of the day, and everyday, as she lay atop a mound of leftover soil from my digging efforts.

Raven was up to new tricks today.

Try as Ollie might, he doesn’t have the vocal prowess that Raven has and she was unimpressed.

Then the ultimate insult…Ignorsville.

As hard as Ollie tried, he could not compete with Little Big Pants’ spry maneuvers.

“I win! ”

After we sorted through the day, we lingered under the gorgeous darkening sky where the sun was setting and the moon circled us.

And Luigi played peek-a-boo.

Baby, Ollie, Raven, Sky, Trees and Plants

13

Jan

2008

A Saturday with Raven and Other Surprises

Helen

I had noticed a suspicious vine growing in the middle of the no-dog zone weeks ago. (No-dog zone, ain’t that a laugh?) Today, a bulging cylindrical thingie caught my eye.

Upon closer inspection, there were multiple bulging cylindrical thingies of varying sizes attached to the suspicious vine.

I picked the one that most resembled a pickling cucumber, and called it that.

Meanwhile, Pippin wants what Raven’s having.

Speaking of Raven…

She’s made a hole in the fence that keeps dogs out of the no-dog zone!

She continues to foil Luigi’s genius moves.

Hey!

And claims his toys whenever she has an opening. She’s the Queen of Finding Openings.

Oliver tried to intercede on Luigi’s behalf to retrieve the ball.

Though Oliver’s effort was unsuccessful, Luigi appreciated the effort.

Luigi must try again. It’s like Groundhog Day around here.

Raven’s definitely in tune with another part of the Universe. Just look at the orb in this picture right over her ear. Must be the reason she can’t listen so well.

There are certain times I have a primo picture right in front of me, and all I have to do is snap. Then Raven comes along.

Look at the papaya tree next door.

Closer. It’s so top heavy!

Mine would have been so fruitful had Raven not rammed it over months ago. How do I keep my hands from going around her neck everyday, I do not know.

Annie has that stressed-out look on her face.

I wonder why. Must be the holidays.

Ginger’s got a grip on her ball. No way Raven or anyone else is getting her stuff!

No freaking way!

Doberkids, Raven, Spiritual, Trees and Plants

December 1st in Fort Doberdale

Helen

Here we are ending the first day of the last month of 2007. Wow. It was a busy day at Fort Doberdale.

Today Ollie turned 7 years old. Happy birthday, Oliver!

Here’s a lovely hibiscus flower that bloomed just for Ollie’s birthday.

In other news, someone changed our daily incoming mail routine. Normally, the mail pops out of our front door like toast, onto our floor, and sits there until I pick it up. But today’s mail moved from inside the house to the back yard, where the rubberband had been removed, and the mail had been scattered. And as Ginger walked up to the pile, I noticed a small band hanging from her mouth.

Ginger was hesitant to share her find with me. Opting, instead, for the infamous “let me see if I can swallow the thing before I get to my mom” move.

She couldn’t swallow it that fast, so we had a bit of a tug-o-war, which is rather unlike Ginger, who is usually more cooperative. Perhaps she has “stepping out of her comfort zone” goals, too!

A Mockingbird watched the goings-on…

…until I won and had the rubber band in my possession. Then he flew the coop, and Ginger confessed to what was obvious.

She has promised me that was the last of her maildog endeavors. Not that I distrust the girl, but next time that mail comes popping through the door and I’m not home, I’m not sure if she can hold true to her promise. So I have to remember to put an ex-pen around the door when I leave. Staying one-step ahead of the FDSP is one of my daily challenges.

Meanwhile, one weekend, back in July or August, I had intended on teaching Luna to sit on command. That didn’t pan out. Luna is one of the most observant Doberdoggies I have met. She watches everything, as if she is planning on doing it next. My first attempt at teaching her to sit wasn’t as successful as today’s. Today, I took her out amongst the crowd with clicker and treats, and did exactly the same thing with her as I had on that summer evening in a private lesson, but instead of being wary of the whole adventure, today, Luna did magnificently well vying for the click-and-treat with all her buddies. Anyone who knew how to sit, did so, and in no time, Luna was sitting along with the crowd, getting her own clicks-and-treats.

Luigi was particularly eager to help out. He is fond of Luna Kahuna, and moreso of treats.

Leissl was another big-time teacher today. She can sit and lie down push-up style.

Raven also had a milestone today. She learned the beginnings of “down” on command. Unlike Luna, Raven has to do her learning without distraction. She did very well in the bedroom with the down command. She was a brainiac. But amongst the crowd, where the picture taking took place, there were too many other things to do. Like shove her toys at me. But, she is slowly piecing things together, and that’s all I ask.

Finally, Baby and I spent alone time to figure out if she is going to compete anytime soon to get her Companion Dog title. We are still figuring that out, but the best part of working, for any Doberdog, is the playing afterwards. And Baby is no exception. She loves her Frisbee, and that’s how we ended the sunshine portion of our December 1st in Fort Doberdale.

Baby, Birds, Ginger, Leissl, Luigi, Luna, Ollie, Trees and Plants

01

Dec

2007

Tying up loose ends

Helen

I found Lilian’s bowl this morning. I had needed a bowl to put the old breakfast dog kibble into so I could pour the new bag in. Habit solved the mystery!

Weeks ago, Raven knocked over my papaya tree. The roots were separated from the trunk, but I replanted it anyway, hoping it would revive.

Today my hopes were dashed. When I saw the trunk had tilted, that gave me the clue. The fat lady sang.

Wrapping it up, this evening when I arrived home, I let Raven out and she turned and blocked the door so my Doberdame couldn’t exit. I told Raven to back off, but did she? Noooo. So I threw my empty soda can at her feet. What did she do? Grabbed it, ran with it, squashed it, and when I came back out, spat it at me feet.