Landcaping Pondless Waterfall Now Finished

I have now landscaped both sides of the new pondless waterfall. I have finished replacing flagstone in the pathway.

I am having a landscaper come next week to spread decomposed granite between the flagstone pieces to form a solid path. I must leave that to professionals. As I have about ruined my back and hate to spend any more time on a heating pad.

I went with a brick edging with old bricks I already had in the yard. Because it matches the little brick garden just across the path.

I was trying for a more natural look around the pond, so I've planted grasses and such. My colors here will be mainly white and purple. Oh yes, I haven't planted my white tulip bulbs there yet. Of course I won't see that until spring.

In the left-hand bed, I began with Muhly Grass. It has a soft, flowing pink mist of a flower at the tips.

After trying much of the morning to comment on blogs, and Blogger not allowing me to, I decided to just go outside. I spent a couple of hours sitting on the pavilion with the pets, reading magazines. It is tranquil and the sound of water so utterly relaxing. (What's up with Blogger?)

If you live in my region and want to look into a pondless waterfall, I suggest you look up FNC Ponds and speak to Tanner. He worked magic in my yard in less than a day.

On another note, some of you commented that I might put Abi on medication to ease her anxiety. I should have mentioned that the vet has already tried that. It was the doggy equivalent of Prozac, basically. And for some strange reason, it made her worse.

I do leave on a sound machine that sounds like a waterfall day and night inside. So unfortunately that does not seem to soothe her when I go out.

After reading some of your comments this morning, I wrote a letter to the editor of our local newspaper. I related the story of the two dogs left in the hot car at the grocery store last weekend. And signed my name. If they run it, those people will not be happy with me. But I don't care. I'm not very happy with the way they treat their dogs either.

Gone To The Critters

Everyone knows how much I love my critters.

 

How very special they are to me.

But I'm having a problem and need some advice.

 

You see, Abi has such a bad case of separation anxiety that the vet last week proclaimed she has "stress-induced gastritis."

If I leave her for a small amount of time, she goes ballistic. Cries and yaps like she's being physically tortured. I feel guilty every time I go out the door.

 She even hates it when I'm on the phone. This is a newer symptom of her anxiety. She scrunches her little body up like she's afraid. She moans and whines.  

 

Her anxiety drives her to eat plants and then promptly throw them up. I feel terrible for her, that she feels such pain. I wish I could convey to her that I would never leave her willingly. That she is in my pocket forever. Yes, I realize that she has me wound around her little paw.

 

But please tell me, oh wise blogger pet moms, what am I to do? I try to be a good pet mom. I realize she is "special" and that she needs extra patience.

 

Clyde is so laid-back. Charlie Ross is easy to placate.

I tell myself that Abi came to me because I am at a time in my life that I can devote so much of my time to her. That I can tolerate her being sick a lot, spooning her anti-nausea medication, loving her unconditionally as any mother would. 

Last Saturday afternoon I was at the grocery store. A van next to me had two Schnauzers in the car. The windows were rolled down a couple of inches. But any fool with a brain knew it was too hot in that vehicle for them. I was livid. I went inside and told the manager, who did nothing.

About 45 minutes later, I get in my car and the woman is getting into her van. I overhear her say to the grocery store employee, "Oh, maybe I should have left the air on or something." 

I look over and say, "Yes, I was worried about those dogs." 

She ignores me. Then I sit and watch her drive to the front of the store. Her husband (presumably) and two kids have been sitting under an umbrella outside this entire time, I see. I am stymied. Why on earth didn't they take those two poor dogs and let them sit there with them instead of leaving them in the van? 

What has happened in this world to common sense? Our pets are not objects. They look to us to care for them. That woman was old enough to know better. Did she just not care? Not think? 

Aren't there laws about this kind of thing? Because I see it all the time. 

What do you do when you see this happening where you live?

 

A Mid-October Seasonal Sunday

The leaves are turning, colors fading. Time to bring out harvest hues.

I'm linking up to The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays.

Jars waiting to be filled with goodies from the kitchen. Preparing for the holidays.

Plants to be brought in. Sheltered for the winter months. The garden to be tucked in snugly.

Daisies making a comeback in the cooler months of fall.

And of course, mums a-blooming.

No matter the season, this scenario never changes. Charlie Ross keeping a close vigil on the lizards.

Have a wonderful fall Sunday.

Few More Bumps In The Road

Or perhaps more accurately, I should have titled this post: A Few More Bumps In The Sewer, Etc. 

Yep, within five days of the plumbers coming out last Friday night at 9 p.m., we had to call them back out Wednesday night at 8 p.m. I'm beginning to think outdoor toilets may have to come back in vogue at my house.

I had to also call the electricians back one more time this week. Thankfully, that was just a tripped whatever- they're-called that I wasn't here for them to explain to me the first time round last week. Because I had to leave to get my broken glasses fixed at the optical shop.

Monday is the day they have to come tear into my pond. It has been sitting with mucky water in it for a week. I can't pump it out because the back-wash on the filter trips the GFI on the new electrical fixtures they brought up to code last week. 

So after ten days of giving Charlie meds for Montezuma's Revenge for drinking in the pond, I woke up to dog diarrhea again this morning. And he was doing so well!

I figure while I was outside working all morning yesterday tugging annual steroidal sweet potato vines out of the garden, he must have sneaked another sip or two while my back was turned. Sigh.

 

On a lighter note, look at the lovely tablecloth Celia from Adventures Of The Striped Stockings sent me weeks ago. I'm just getting around to showing it off. And guess what? She sent two different tablecloths! I will show the other one off later. What a dear she is.

So after yet another week of household calamities, I'm wanting to just snooze in the chair with Abi. 

Yes, that is indeed where you are accustomed to seeing my couch. 

I have probably committed the most egregious of decorating errors. By sending my couch and red chair down the street to the consignment shop. 

And buying two recliners. I know recliners will never be in decorating vogue. Yes, I do know this.

I doubt there's one recliner in my vast collection of decorating books. Nary a one. 

But you know what? My poor back isn't getting any younger. Sometimes you have to commit a decorating faux pas, and just flat out own up to it and go on. 

 We are looking at the prospect of possibly having our lawn torn up for a new sewer system. Cha-ching. This thought makes me very tired. 

Decorating etiquette cannot dictate all of life, can it? 

And the chairs are so heavenly to sit in. I get a Somerset magazine to read, kick back in my recliner with the dogs, and see light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Even though I may be written up for a shameful violation in the blogging decorating community.

Adorning The Brown Sectional

We women often end up with "man caves," as we refer to them amongst ourselves. And they're usually brown. Very, very brown.

So what's a woman to do?

Although I don't spend any time in here watching football, I did do a little decorating.

My way to "liven up the brown" a bit was to add quilts. And throws and pillows. And an indoor/outdoor rug from Ballard Designs. I love their rugs.

That red pillow that is lying flat is Charlie Ross's spot. 

After chasing lizards all day out by the pond, he needs a nice, soft spot to snooze on next to Dad. 

How do you solve the dilemma of dressing up the man cave sectional?

There's Sunshine On My Shoulders

We have abundant sunshine, hot temperatures, and not much else going on around these parts.

Let's stroll through the gardens and see what's what, shall we?

For those of you who are new to this place, I call these the corner fairy gardens.

Clyde's favorite scratch tree. We couldn't figure out what was making the horrid marks on our crepe myrtle trees. Yep, it's Clyde sharpening his claws.

This is Miss Abi. She thinks she runs things, by the way. Simply a delusion.

Mister Charlie Ross. The essence of pure sweetness and honey.

The pavilion we had built this year. It's pretty hot to enjoy it right now. But when it's a bit cooler, it's the perfect place for company or a good book.

The view from the very back of the yard. Obviously it isn't a big yard. But pretty good sized for a garden home yard.

I loved this contrast. Of course potato vines look good with most anything. The perfect backdrop.

The ginormous waterfall recently built for our little pond. Ten thousand pounds of stone.

I had almost nothing blooming out here yesterday. But these two waterlilies today made up for it. I hope you enjoyed your tour of the yard.