Fall Yard Clean-Up

It is that time of year again. I haven't the slightest clue as to how it got here that fast! It's well into November now, and last week was the first chance I had to rake a bit and get my patio and deck ready for winter. Because the snow will come. 

The yard is in a strange transition. Since it has been such a warm fall, there are perennials beginning their new growth, and flowers blooming. Some of my plants look like they should in the spring time. The backyard needs a little T.L.C... okay, so it needs a lot of it. Since we have construction going on in the backyard, and half of the yard is torn up, I haven't been as vigilant back there as I normally would have been at this point in time.

All of the tree leaves in our yard have come down, and they all like to gather in and around the pond.

On Saturday, we found ourselves with a couple of hours of time, so I got the rake out and went to work gathering some of the leaves up.

I have to admit that I really don't mind raking. The weather is usually so nice and crisp and gorgeous, and you notice such a difference after the leaves are all raked. AND, the exercise doesn't hurt, either.

While I was raking, Bob was working over by our firepit, getting it ready for some trenches to be dug on Monday.

The fish have quieted down and are enjoying the cool weather. Koi "hibernate" over the winter, so we stop feeding them, and now that we've turned the pond pump off, we'll place a bubbler in the pond for some aeration. Other than that, they keep to themselves and slow way down.

Since we're getting rid of the pond, the fish are going to have to find another home. We've given a few of the fish away, but there is still a good group of them that need to move on. I hate to see them go, but it will be nice not to have the worry of the pond with my little grandson and other future grandbabies running around the yard.

And after our work day, my patio now looks like this...

It's not quite as inviting as it is during the summer, but at least everything is buttoned down and ready for the winter weather. We even turned the sprinkler water off for the year, emptied the hoses of water and coiled them up, and put the faucet insulators in place. 

I still have some gardening clean-up to do before winter sets in, but we've made a good dent in the fall project list. 

Samson

It is definitely the end of an era for us... our dog named Sam died on Saturday night. He was 13 years old, so had lived quite a long life for a Golden Retriever, but it was hard to see him go. He had had arthritis for a while, and was just a bit stiff, but always acted like a puppy once he got warmed up. On Saturday, when Bob and I went back to feed him, he wouldn't come out of his doghouse. Bob got him out and tried to stand him up, but his legs wouldn't work at all. He just sort of slumped over and didn't even want to lift his head. So sad to see the old man in such a state, but I am grateful it was so obvious it was his time to go. I didn't want to have to try to decide when the time was right... he helped make the decision easier for me.

Linds and Robbie with Sam and another pup

It is amazing how those pets of ours somehow work their way right into our hearts! I thought I was in control, but I had a really tough time. I couldn't even go inside of the vet with Bob. I just said my goodbye to Sam, scratched him on the head, and Bob took him in. Bob is such a sweetie, and totally understands me and my tenderness towards pets, and he just took me in his arms and let me be a big baby for as long as I needed to. Sam was a pretty great dog, actually. He was so sweet and happy and LOVED all of us!

Scout, Sam and Wilson

Sam was the offspring of our first dog, Nick, who was obviously a much darker Golden Retriever. He died when he was 14, so they both lived pretty good lives.

Robbie, Linds and Whitney with Nick

I think I don't want any more dogs... my heart breaks too much when its time to say goodbye to them. 

Samson
1999 - 2012

Goodbye old fella.

Spring yard work and Daylight Savings Time

It was a busy weekend, but wonderful to be able to be outside in the warm spring weather. Bob and I pruned the two Bartlett Pear trees in the front yard, and did a little bit of front yard clean up. After that, we decided to get the pond in the backyard up and running. It took some doing... cleaning up leaves out of the stream and pond, cleaning out the filters, and Bob getting the pump running.

Bob working on getting the stream and pond running
(notice the snow still on the ground!)

It may or may not be common knowledge that the koi fish basically hibernate for the winter. We don't feed them, or do anything with them all winter long. We keep a trough heater and a bubbler going, and that's all they need. Its always fun when it warms up and we can get the pond running again. I love hearing it and watching the fish actively swimming around again.

So, we have a couple things checked off our list of things to do: the pond is running, and the water is on. So much more to do to get ready for our wedding reception on June 15th, but we'll get it done.

Today I started painting our bedroom. I love the color. Its a light bluish green. Really soothing and pretty. I only finished one wall and part of the ceiling, but I needed to at least get that wall done so we could move the bed back and have our furniture back to normal for the night. Tomorrow I plan on getting to the rest of it. It will be a big push to get it all done, but I'll give it the old college try.

Yesterday was Daylight Savings Time. On Saturday night, as we climbed into bed, we laughed when we remembered we hadn't changed the time yet. I hopped out of bed and pushed the button that changes it automatically on our clock. The next thing I remember, Bob woke up to his cell phone ringing. It was David Hall (his 1st counselor) asking if Bob was going to be at the meeting that was supposed to have started 10 minutes earlier. Oh boy. He jumped up and showered and dressed in record time. He missed the bishopric meeting, but was there for everything else that was scheduled all day long. Can you believe I set the clock wrong? I have always snickered at people who don't set it right, or forget to set it at all, and it turns out I am one of THOSE people. I'm pretty sure that Bob will be in charge of setting the clocks when the time changes next. Ugh. The best part about the story is that Bob wasn't even the least bit mad or frustrated with me. He was a sweetheart and made sure I wasn't feeling badly about it.

Just to update about our cat hospice care: we borrowed the cone from Lindsay to tie around his neck. He kept it on for about a day and a half, and then he was done with it. I think I'm done, too. I will just watch him and make sure it doesn't get any worse, but I'm not even sure that the vet could come up with a way to keep him from scratching his ear.

Cat care for an 18-year-old cat

How do you get an 18-year-old cat to stop scratching his ear long enough to let it heal?  I have tried wrapping it and bandaging it. Both were complete failures. Today I came up with the genius idea of cutting a sock so that it fit snuggly over Scout's head without choking him.

He looks pretty happy about it, right?  Just look how nicely it fits. It should have worked so well, but I turned my back for literally 3 seconds, and he had scratched it right off with his hind leg. There the sock sat right next to him. The only thing I haven't tried yet is a little helmet, but I'm not sure where I would go about finding one.


Today I have made a goal to pick out the color I am going to repaint my bedroom in. I have tons of paint chip samples, and I have stared at them every day for weeks now. I usually don't have a problem picking out paint, but for some reason this has stumped me! I really need to zero in on a color today, though, so I can get painting the room. I think I'm pretty close!