Summer...really

It has certainly felt like summer for weeks now, but the weatherman tells me today is the real deal. He even emphasized it by giving the soil temperatures- 90 degrees at 2 inches below bare sod, and 80 degrees at 12 inches below. No wonder my poor flowers are suffering!!

I worked in the yard early this morning. With vacation, community duties and such, I have to wonder if my neighbor has assumed that I’ve given up gardening. My flower beds are wild and terrible. Reminds me of the year I broke my leg, or the year I had back surgery, or the year…never mind. No excuses this year! There are lots of flowers, but there are also baby trees, Johnson grass, and vines. I’ll be trimming and mowing and watering for the next six weeks.

I’m not much of a bird watcher, but I got a pleasant surprise yesterday. I looked out my bathroom window and there was a painted bunting eating grass seeds. I haven’t seen one in years. Guess this is my lucky year because I saw two red-headed woodpeckers at Ft. Washita last week, and two quails on Nails Crossing Road yesterday. For those of you saying “so what?” I have two tidbits of information. The red-headed woodpecker is not that common red-bellied one you see all the time, and with the fires, hunters, homes, and cars around here it is getting more and more difficult to spot a quail. (Found some photos at USGS) 

I guess I should report on the dog saga. Sadie is fine and we are adjusting to each other. One sad note: the vet doesn’t think she is blind, but she seems to have very poor vision. Even my neighbor commented on it. She has trouble finding us unless we speak, she can’t play fetch, and she runs into things. Either she has poor vision or she is REALLY clumsy. That probably means we are stuck with her. At least she is becoming a gardening dog, whether she likes it or not. It drives her crazy when I work in the yard because she wants to lie down next to me. Well, I work in one spot for about ten minutes and then move, which compels her to move. If I turn on the water or go to the porch to get another tool she follows me. I guess we are both getting some exercise.

On the other side of the road where the “evil dogs” are, there is a new development. They have killed their owner’s pig…a pig weighing over 200lbs. I have cautioned my other neighbor and we are both carrying our hoes with us when we are outside. My neighbor has also sworn that he is going to get rid of the two most aggressive dogs this week. We’ll see.

We had a nice weekend with Robert. Went to the movies, a tour of downtown Ft. Worth, and some malls and shops. He is moving to Arizona next week. Now all of my children will live far away!

Off to the genealogy library to do some more research. later…

Comments

[Barngoddess]

good reading here.I stumbled onto your blog and found myself reading, and reading some more. I hope the 'evil' dogs are soon removed from your neighborhood. I have no mercy for people who keep animals like this.