This, That and The Nemesis

I have learned an important lesson on my writing journey: it is much easier to find time to write when it is cold outside and all you want to do is stay in the house. When Spring Fever hits and you long to be outside, thoughts of writing fly out of your head.

That is where I find myself. We have been working out in our yard almost nonstop for the last few weeks. The winter brought us substantial freeze damage this year so we spent a lot of time cutting away dead foliage from sego palms and yuccas. Everyone says they will come back, but I'm not too sure. These were giant plants, in the ground for years. They have weathered every winter we've been in this house without a blink. Now this year they not merely dead, I fear they are most sincerely dead. But we shall see.

Our large tropical plants that were in pots did well in the greenhouse because we installed a heater this year. (Previously a light bulb had provided all the heat we needed.) But the small plants at the back of the greenhouse didn't fare as well; most of them were lost. The good thing about that is we got to replace them, so that meant shopping at the area nurseries for beautiful new plants, one of my favorite things. 

Here is a sample of some of the plants and trees that are in bloom in the back yard right now:

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

Lollipop variety of Gerbera Daisy

Yellow Gerbera Daisy

Italian Dogwood Bush

Teacup Rose

Wisteria

Climbing Yellow Rose

There are many more, but these examples are enough to show you why I just want to be outside with them all the time. My book lies as neglected as this blog, but I am resolved to do better. We have already had a 95° day and I am sure as soon as those are common, I will be back in the house, devoted to writing and air conditioning.


On another note, my beautiful friend Judy just celebrated two milestones. On February 2, she marked the one year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant for leukemia. Those of you who know anything about this procedure know that it is a grueling process and survivors are very lucky. Not only did Judy survive, she just celebrated her 70th birthday and is thriving. 

Judy and me at her 70th birthday party

Finally, The Nemesis has finally emerged. All winter long, Ruffles and Lucy were on "Squirrel Watch," waiting for the new babies to make their appearance. Last week they did:

Mama (or Daddy) watching over baby

Baby's first closeup

Squirrel Watch continues, waiting for the babies to come all the way out to play on the tree. This is when they sometimes fall off and the dogs can bark furiously and try to catch them. Fortunately, they never have caught one; I don't know what I'd do if they did. Hope you all are enjoying the Spring as much as I am. Thanks for stopping by.

Squirrel Watch - Doggie Reality TV

I am a dog person, always have been, always will be. These days my children are two miniature schnauzers, Ruffles and Miss Lucy Brown. Ruffles is a rescue, from a home where the owner committed suicide. It was so sad and I was thrilled to be able to get this dog. She is, as you can imagine, extremely devoted to me. Miss Lucy Brown came from an outdoor market in our little town where I volunteer for the charity sponsor. Dogs or any other animals are not supposed to be sold at the market. The manager got a report that a booth was selling schnauzer puppies and sends me, of all people, to deal with them. I told them it was against the rules, they promised never to do it again, but they had one puppy left. I solved the problem by buying her myself. So now Lucy is notorious around town as the "illegal market dog."

These dogs have filled our lives with joy and love. My husband and I laugh at them every day and never lack for live entertainment.


There is a large oak tree just outside the sun porch, my favorite room in the house. The tree has a large knothole where, every winter, a family of squirrels moves in and lives until spring. The knothole is at eye level for the dogs when they sit on their favorite  toy trunk and look out the window, and it is only about four feet away from them. It is Doggie Reality TV and they are glued to the “set.” They bark and quiver as the squirrels move in and out, bringing in leaves, etc. for their nest.

 Most of the time they are still and transfixed, exactly like this photo. Squirrel Watch, "I know they are in there and if I wait here, still and patient, I know I will catch them."












I keep trying to get a photo of one of the squirrels poking its head out the hole but I haven't been successful. I've seen one of the little critters sleeping with his head poked out into the sun, while the dogs sit and stare, never moving.


Periodically all hell breaks loose and the dogs rush madly to the door to get out and run through their “intruder alert” drill where they follow the squirrels from the ground as they move from treetop to treetop, all over the yard. This happens, on the average, about eight times a day. It is hilarious because each time they are sure it will be the time they catch one.

By the end of the day they are exhausted. As soon as it is too dark to see, they climb into bed, ready to recharge so they can tune in tomorrow for another episode of Squirrel Watch - Doggie Reality TV.