Monday, August 26, 2019

Gift From Nature

This spring we moved our fence back and added sections in order to give the dogs more running space. Almost immediately vines started growing up the fence. That’s not unusual but what is unusual are the beautiful flowers the vines are producing. These are truly a gift because I never planted them. I hope they’re a perennial so they come back and spread next year.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Feed Me!

Reilly is the smallest dog and therefore gets smaller portions. He’s forever trying to convince us that he’s a mere second away from starvation!

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Fionn Tried Kundalini Yoga

This afternoon during our family Kundalini Yoga session Fionn decided to join us. During a chant for guidance he started “singing.” I wish I could have taped him but it all happened too quickly.

The question now is whether his yodeling is a reflection on our singing abilities. I kind of think it is. :)

Purple Cone Flower

21 years ago I decided that I wanted an herb garden. My Great Grandmother and Grandmother has kitchen gardens and I wanted one too.

One of the plants I planted from seed was Purple Cone Flower and guess what? It’s still around after all these years. Go Throw&Grow Method!!

Now that I’m retired I’ve decided to harvest the seeds from these plants and see if I can grow some more clusters of them.

Here’s some additional info on this herb.

Description

Echinacea purpurea is a North American species of flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is native to eastern North America and present to some extent in the wild in much of the eastern, southeastern and midwestern United States as well as in the Canadian Province of Ontario. Wikipedia

Monday, August 19, 2019

Day Lilly Bulbs & The Throw And Grow Method of Gardening

I subscribe to the “Throw & Grow” Method of gardening. It’s an incredibly easy method. You throw the seeds on tilled ground or if you’re really ambitious, plant bulbs or a purchased plant and let them know that survival is more or less up to them.

I love watching them adapt and grow and, truth be told, I’m not above giving them an assist or moving them if they’re really struggling.

This is not the fast track to a showcase garden. It’s more a lesson on the attributes of your gardening area and how amazingly resilient plants can be.

So....These day Lily’s were planted over 20 years ago. I got them on clearance. Day Lily’s tend to do well in our area, but these struggled. Yet - here they are 20+ years later and totally thriving.

My plan is to plant more Day Lily varieties and see how they do. I’ll also see if I can split these and move some bulbs to another area.

You can probably make out some Lupine foliage too. There’s a story behind them but that’s for another time.


Sunday, August 18, 2019

Nate & Fionna

This is our son Nate with Fionna. She has a very interesting personality. She’s quite “in charge” when it comes to the “boys.”

Yet, for some reason she can be tentative about human affection. This is changing as she gets older. She’s turning into quite the snuggle bunny. Yet a lap is the one thing she’ll defer to the “boys.”  So we keep track of her and make sure she gets her share of lap time.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Jess, The Pet Whisperer

My son Nate and his SO Jess are visiting.  The dogs and cat gravitate to her and she’s always so gentle with them. He’s pretty much out of the shot but Reilly was sitting in front of the chair waiting for his turn.

Friday, August 16, 2019

The Little Hibiscus That Could

This hibiscus plant was given to me by a former patient and I love it. It’s really old, 30 Plus years old. It summers outdoors and winters indoors but because our home is small I have to keep it pruned.

I honestly don’t know a ton about hibiscus plants or their blooming cycle but it seems to bloom more often in the winter months and early spring.
Yesterday it gifted me with a beautiful bloom so hopefully there will be more. This year it will winter by the French doors so it will have more space to spread out. I’m also planning on learning a bit more about what I can do to encourage it to bloom.


Friday, August 9, 2019

Training is going Well

We’re still working on the peeing on command thing and it’s going really well! We now get 4 pees within a minute or so on each trip out. Fionn is now on board but Hutch is a bit resistant. Reilly is still working the game by lifting his leg multiple times and expecting a treat for each lift. Obviously Fionna doesn’t lift her leg but she’s always been really good about getting down to business before playing chase with the boys.

There’s actually been a couple side benefits to this new game. All four dogs wait for me to take them down rather than rushing right down the porch steps. We’ve also gotten a lot of practice recall and “No” (which they take to mean stop what you’re doing) and in general just watching me for the cue of what I want them to do next.

Yesterday they all sat relatively quietly in the kitchen while the UPS guy noisily left a package on the gym porch. Usually Fionn goes kind of crazy.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Can a Dog Pee on Command?

This is Hutch doing just that. Many moons ago all 4 dogs were champs at this but we’ve gotten lax with making sure it happens so remedial training was necessary.

While we were at it we figured we’d also attempt to designate a specific place in the yard as the doggie latrine.

Less than 24 hours later everyone understands the game. Fionna got it right away but doesn’t like it one bit - does it but doesn’t like it.

Reilly was the first to truly get it and true to his nature he’s working the game. On a single trip out yesterday he lifted his leg in the open pen 5 times and of course got treated each time.

Hutch, who is pictured is a follower. Reilly had just squirted and Hutch followed his lead.  How about Fionn? Well he’s not as food driven and he doesn’t like this. He’s also protective and likes to leave his scent along the perimeter of the yard against the fence. It will be interesting to see how he takes to it. So far he goes in, lifts a leg, gets his treat and goes and squirts at the fence.

Interesting thing about this kind of training, it tires the dogs out and they’re actually more relaxed for it. Oh, and the pads are temporary. They’re for scent and to give the boys a target.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Enjoying a Fire

This is Hutch and Reilly enjoying the fire. They love their doggy lounge and the extra time spent outdoors.

Poor Hutch looks pudgy but he’s actually quite lean. It’s hard to believe that Hutch is 9 years old. He’s picked up a lot of white on his snout. Reilly is 7 but acts a lot younger.

The picture looks bright but was taken at dusk. Below is a short video of the fire once it was totally dark.











Sunday, August 4, 2019

Fionna the Bone Collector

Our dogs are given meaty bones to chew for their dental health and also because it’s a great way for them to chill out. We give each dog a bone and they go off to their favorite place to enjoy it and all is peaceful - until - Fionna pretty much finishes hers and decides that the other bones, being chewed by her brothers, are probably meatier. Off she goes merrily collecting one bone at a time until she’s got them all. The crazy thing is that the boys allow her to get away with it. Oh, they might grumble a bit but then they let her take their bones! The video below shows her with 3 bones. There’s a 4th and 5th bone behind her but out of the shot! She’s such an avid chewer and yet never once chewed anything other than a bone, even as a puppy.