Thursday, September 22, 2011

Mutual of Jill's Wild Kingdom.


Be very very quiet....
We are sneaking up on a rare and beautiful sight.

The almost extinct sleeping bulldog.  

These animals are very sensitive and elusive.



Here we see one of the most sensitive parts...
This animal can go from sleeping to sniffing out 
cookie with lightening speed.  

Truly amazing.


Oh...
settle down now...
don't move.
See the intensity in the eye.
We must be very quiet and still.



Back away!
Very very slowly.
At any moment she could snap.



Look!  
A successful tagging.
Now we can follow her in the wild and are able 
to identify her later.



We leave this beast to rest in her lair.

Boy!
That was a close call.
I almost had to call in Jim.



Oh Brother....
Getting really nuts around here.
I don't know what is wrong with these people.
Where is my ball?




Well....I guess it is this overcast weather.
Making us do funny things.



Smudge went to a party this past week.
One of our neighbors had a birthday.



She got to meet a new "friend"...
only...



Lola did not really like Smudge.
She burrowed into her owner's coat.  Silly wiener dog.
Better luck next time..



This is Terrie.
She made the cute bandana that Smudge is wearing.

It has dogs on it doing yoga. 
extremely cute.
Thanks Terrie!!!



Loved the fire.




For some reason....folks keep doing this to me.
I just don't get it.

They must be shy.



On to brighter things..
A beautiful Gladiola.



That color is gorgeous.



Beautiful!



My little Knock Out rose. 
I dedicate this to our friend Chuck who got skunked this past week.
He is the Oak Hill Iron dog.



This is Smudge's favorite toy.
The ears have turned into hair.



Smudge is growing at a record rate.
She loves to dine out.
Her favorite foods are venison and beef. 
With a side of raw bone. 



Dreary dreary dreary...I know we need this rain..but it is really cramping my concrete style.
You can see how the leaves are changing and "yes" that is ragweed in my flower bed.
Pumpkin plants taking over the yard.


More bright colors on the trees. 
Oh Fall....why must ye sneak up on us like that?



Oh no!!!
The wild beast has awakened from her slumber.....
RUN!!!!!



Ollie update.
Still lame in front.
Medicating and hoping for the best.  
His rear legs are improved and he is getting around better.
No swelling, and no heat in the front hoof. 
He walks as if it is possibly his shoulder or knee. 
I am beginning to think that he was injured while rough housing with his brother.
Ollie is a rogue type mule.
I guess he was not handled a lot when he was young and really could care less for people.
He is not easy to handle.  To catch him we have to put him in a stall and then work on him.
Of course we did not know this when we got him (another story).  I have tried every method known to man to make him like me.  I think he does like me...but only if I am on the other side of the fence.  This makes his lameness a real pain not only for him, but for us humans as well.  It also complicates things, because he can make his condition worse by fighting us.  Kind of a sticky situation. 




Saturday, September 17, 2011

Results of the Mad Rush.


Well...I have been a busy person this past week.




Finished my stump stool/table/whatever you want it to be...
See Zippy in the bark?
I rarely make something for myself and I really will like and use this stool. 
I also want to make some larger chairs for my fire pit area otherwise known as 
PumpkinFest.  




A very large Amanita mushroom.
Also known as a Death Cap.  
Very poisonous.  
So....do not touch or eat.




Check out the color on this little beauty!
Wow!!



This is a little road through the woods that I have been walking to 
visit my neighbor that has been injured.  
A nice little walk with all of the wonderful wild flowers that are blooming.



So many interesting mushrooms around lately. 

This one "cracked" me up a bit.  




I have been taking Zippy on some nice long walks and he is really 
enjoying this cooler weather we are having.



Love this Iron Weed.  
The locals also call it devils poker.
Such a beautiful color especially next to the bright yellow Ragweed.


Another shot on the way to my neighbor's house. 

That is LTM's place.



 The multi use stump stool.



This is a little (really large) planter that I have been working on.

Trying to polish my bark carving and wood texturing skills.




Another planter.  




Both planters together.

I really like the way these turned out.




Another fountain that I am working on.  
Still need to stain and seal this.

I like showing the different stages of things. 
A progression.

I was trying to show a little more "movement" with the positioning of the stumps 
and leaves.



Little miss Smudge is really growing this week!
She is starting to look more mature
and lady like.



I am now at a bit of a standstill with concrete...
we have a little cold front passing through.
Mid 40s here right now.  

Not sure that I am ready for it.



Even the girls are covered and shivering. 


A parting Smudge shot. 

Wish me luck folks...
Little Ollie the mini mule has been having some problems.
His stifle locked up and he could not move his rear leg properly.
He finally got it working again and now he is lame in his left front.  
Getting ready to go out and work on him.   Not quite sure what is going on.
He is not easy to work with as he is quite a renegade.  




Monday, September 12, 2011

My mad rush.


The weather here has been unbelievable this week.  

Perfect temperatures and (thanks to tropical storm Lee) crystal clear skies.  




I have been a bit behind on blog posts and comments due to what I like to call...
"my mad rush to winter".  

Just trying to make concrete, get my garden in order, and finish up all of the outdoor projects 
that are not so enjoyable in freezing temps, wind and snow.  

But....we all know that.... 
I do love snow.




Hello little newt. 
Love these bright guys. 



The humming birds have really been busy this week.




Tap...tap...
Hey....you are not giving me enough air time.

I am much cuter than that newt...I mean really...a newt!




Okay..Smudge being...
well...
her devilish self.



Bugging Gus to no end.



Well...
the rear end...

She has discovered the big fluffy tail.



Constantly attacking poor Gus.




A real terror. 




Gus...
you can't be so polite.
I know...you are a Labrador...and 
Labradors...are sweet and kind.



Thanks Gus...
You are the best baby sitter ever!




Help!!!



I just can't get enough of this super cute face.




Smudge has doubled in size this week!  
She and Zippy have been getting to know each other.
So far...
all is well and I am pleased with how calm Zippy is.




I said we would take it slow and I meant it.  

They have had nose to nose and nose to....well..
you know....contact.



Just look at that little bulldog stance!  Her ears have just gone back into 
what bulldog folks call rose ears. 

Ha!



Hello ragweed.  How I have been dreading your presence.
Even though you are extremely beautiful....you make me sneeze.




Smudge "helped" me dig potatoes this week.  




She had a most fabulous time.  




She looks like a little grub here.




Once she figured out the digging part...
She got along really well. 



Remember my worm story...

Just look at those yucky things!!!!!  

I clearly had to wear gloves and boots while digging the potatoes.  




My latest concrete creation.
A stump planter.



Fall is in the air folks!  
Hard to believe.
When did it happen?
Where did summer go??

In some ways it sped past and in others it was slow and hard.
Just a strange twisty road.
This summer has been a wild ride.
And unfortunately not on my horse...which I have ridden very little.
I hate that.
Things will change.



My goodness...
How can anything be this cute?

You bring a lot of joy to my heart.



So clear and beautiful.



Smudge after digging potatoes.
She passed out in the corn.  




My old band sweater.
Found it in one of my old boxes.
Wow...does that sweater bring back some memories.


Well...Opal is still growing but so slow...She is not a heavy weight, but she is beautiful.
I have to remember...
Beautiful things come in Small packages.



MASTERPIECE OF '79 - 1979-2011

Dear Lori, I am so sorry for your loss.
I will miss seeing Masterpiece on your beautiful blog.
Hugs to you and your family.