The boys in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY48rrNhzBI
Our orange tree is full of oranges this year. We keep it outside to get lots of sun in the summer and bring it inside for the winter. It is displaced momentarily by a Christmas tree in December. The boys like to smell the tree, but are not interested in eating the tiny oranges. I hope to have it surrounded by blooming potted Amaryllis before too long.
It is a tradition in our family to celebrate George Washington's birthday every February 22nd. Remember the story of George chopping down his father's cherry tree and when being confronted saying "I cannot tell a lie...." Well, today scholars say the story is apocryphal, but it is a good excuse to have cherry pie anyway! Happy Birthday, "Father George," the father of our country.
Spring has not sprung yet, but we do have daffodils and camellias blooming in our yard! Some have managed to escape the killing frosts of the past few weeks. The boys are enjoying the cold weather as they play chase without having to stop for water breaks all the time. I am trying to teach Roy to play Frisbee. So far he hasn't gotten the hang of it, but I understand it takes time. We take breaks to fetch with his ball to give him positive experiences to counter his frustration with the Frisbee. He is QUITE capable of fetching a ball!
Ch Kylene Eden The Dragonslayer may be the "Best of Breed," but he can't hold a candle to my Andy or Roy!
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We celebrated early because I have another commitment tomorrow night. My "Valentine" got an edible valentine!
Everybody needs a place to lay their head at night and pups are no exception. We just bought Andy and Roy their own beds. They have been sleeping on the rug next to our bed each night, but I thought they needed a bed to call their own. At first, I put a bed on Phil's side and one on my side. This works some of the time, but for the most part they like to be together, hence, the beds on the same side. Mom has the pleasure of sliding to the foot of the bed to go to the bathroom at night because her side of the bed is blocked by furry bodies in their comfy beds.
This is a description of Laylage's "Sea Songs"
"Its like a cabaret in a dream where this person who is like a singer but not a singer
and this other person who plays the vibes and a huge drum and a cymbol
spin eerie songs out of birds and waves and women on rocks and angelic fish and old sea shanties
and somehow you know its an erotic dream even though no one takes *all* their clothes off
and its only all these images, watery and wierd, floating around."
Tonight my oldest daughter will be performing again her "Sea Songs" along with vibraphonist/tunesmith, Matt Moran accompanying her with his original music. I heard her in NYC last year and continue to be amazed at my daughter's stage presence, beauty, and talent. I wish everyone who reads my blog could see and appreciate what she is doing. She is an amazing creature, even if I am her Mom! If you want to learn more about what she is doing, click on the link at the bottom of my blog: Luminous Work. My only regret is that I live too far away to see her performances as often as I would like. The picture is blurry because it was taken during a performance without a flash.
As much of the nation, I was very moved by Barbaro's plight and courage as he fought to overcome his injuries. I, like many others, was very saddened that he had to be euthanized. Letting go of my beloved Abbey, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. She was our 4 year old St. Bernard with osteo-arthritis in all of her joints as well as the complication of epilepsy. Her Epilepsy did not appear until after Abbey's first TPLO surgery on her back hind leg. We went on and tried to help her mobility with a second TPLO surgery, but then her epilepsy got worse and the seizure medicines made her weak joints even weaker. After a harrowing week of several seizures a day and no mobility following each seizure, we made the very painful decision that it was time to let her go. I feel for the Barbaro's doctors and owners. I think Gretchen Jackson, a co-owner of Barbaro said it so well, "Grief is the price we all pay for love." I will never get over losing Abbey, but time does heal. Having Andy and Roy, though they could never take Abbey's place, help us remember the joy of loving Abbey.
It was a cool, crisp January morning today and just perfect for a brisk game of "Fetch." Andy, the non-athletic pup, played a short time and then wanted to chew on the ball in a nearby patch of liriope. Roy, on the other hand had to be made to quit fetching. He even jumped for the ball as we were walking back into the house. I decided I wanted a picture of him running back so obviously elated with his catch. Unfortunately, my camera does not have a fast enough speed to catch him without blurring the fast-moving Roy. I would take the picture and by the time the camera had registered the image, Roy would be back with the ball. After several attempts, I managed to get a somewhat blurry vision of Roy's joy.
After so much exertion, both pups were ready for a nap in Dad's lap. (picture below.....
