Guard dog!

Princess Shelby is sitting outside today.

I think part of it is because she is a little put out by my seizure of all of her blankets for washing...she has many scattered about the house in hopes of maintaining carpet integrity.

The other thing keeping her outside???
A personal mission!

Bear with me...some of these images are taken through our screen door so as not to disturb the action.

Shelby hears the squirrels from in the house as they rattle the bird feeder. She then whines and spins in circles, anxious to be let out, then goes with purpose to her guard position of choice.

On a side note... if we are all standing outside and there are no squirrels about, yet you shake the bird feeder making the distinct noise it creates...she will automatically run off, ready to catch the squirrels at their regular departure areas.
Talk about funny!!!

She decided to take a break from the sun and watch from the shadows.

She was ever vigilant and poised for action as this squirrel made its slow descent from the fence to the yard, and across the green expanse arriving beneath the feeder.


The squirrel crept closer and closer and Shelby got more and more intense.

Vibrating with anticipation.


I do believe the squirrel is about to make a leap for it!

Shelby is still quivering with disbelief as she anticipates what the squirrel will do.
She thinks herself invisible there in the shadows.




And they are off!!!
That squirrel twitched its tail one too many times and Shelby coiled up to dart after it.
It felt her change in demeanor and took off quickly to the fence.

The squirrel quickly scaled the fence and took off down the "running boards" which flip flop exposure of the rodent between yards as it dashes.
She ran with that squirrel all the way down to the back corner of the yard then proudly pranced back!

There is no doubt that she considers herself quite the huntress and is very happy at her most recent conquest!!
I think that there is another grin, don't you?

Once the area was clear, she resumed her proud, bold position in the sunshine.


Good Dog!!!

Sh'rooms and Charles

Uhhhhhboy!!!!
They are multiplying exponentially.




Look who was still hanging about this morning at 7:15!

Just look at him showing off those adorable toes!!!
Frog toes!
Aaahhhhhhh, love 'em!

I will hug him and squeeze him and love him and pet him, and I will call him George, Charles.
I want to call him Charles!

Did you notice? Huh, huh did ya did ya???
I googled how to cross out and did it all by myself!!!

I also finally found the post from last year about the frog. It was here.
But I am also gonna grab that picture and put it here.

And say another HUGE thank you to my husband who believes in me and supports my creative whimsy!!!


I had to go back out and see him again at 8:30 after walking with the Shelbster!

Yup, still cute!
Have an awesome Monday.
Me...I will be doing laundry!!!

Oh, I almost forgot.
Charles has chosen quite a lovely environment don't you agree?
It is a new hanging basket plant that my dear husband splurged on!
The flower is called Angels Earring.
I think that name is silly beyond words, but...it is gorgeous!

Frogs and Fungus!

I grabbed my camera first thing this morning...

Okay, that is not entirely true.
You know what I did first right.
You should know me well enough by now, that I really don't have to tell you what I did first, first thing this morning.
Though...there are new readers who have jumped on for the ride...so it isn't really fair to them to assume anything.

Somebody...please tell the new folks what I do first, first thing in the morning!!!

I need to google how to write a sentence and then cross it out...I like the look of that, but don't know how to do it.

Whoa....distracted as usual.
So, anyway...this little threesome was awaiting me this morning.


I have to say...be careful what you ask for.
I mean I was bemoaning the fact that I missed the previous fungus and was so elated to find more.

These 3 hooded guys were a welcome treat, but this stuff.....

....eeeeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!
Do you see that disgusting sea anemone-like fungus there.
Ugh!!! Even grosser in person, trust me!!!
My dear husband got to be the hero and clear it all out from beneath the peppers and some of the tomatoes!

After returning home from church I changed clothes and slipped into the kitchen to begin my lunch prep.
My husband had gone outside to enjoy his hard work in the back yard, but returned quickly.
He grinned at me and said "You need to grab your camera and come outside with me right now!!!"
Let me tell you when he says jump I say how high!!!
Ahhhhhh ha ha ha.
Well, I do strive to be a submissive wife, but that isn't exactly what I mean.
I know that if he sees something that he thinks I will really love then it must be something fantastic!!!
I deftly sprinted over to my camera bag, gracefully drawing the camera from its depths.
You know because I am all about sprinting and grace!

He hustled me outside anxious to share the treasure of his discovery.

Tara...turn away!!

It was a lovely green frog!!!

Do you remember this same type of frog from so long ago?
I do!
It was the object that assured me that my photography needs had gone beyond the ability of my camera.

Now my camera has gone beyond the ability of me...but I am catching up.


This fantastic fellow was clinging (in what looked to be a very prayerful position) to one of the plastic connectors holding up a hanging basket.



I personally really enjoy frogs!!

Their cute buggy eyes and constant grimacing grin.


This one has the shimmering gold eyes with touches of that same gold in unexpected places on the rest of his body.
Oh and the stripe!!!

I can't get over that stripe that starts at the top of his grimace and works its way down his whole body!!!
And the knobby knees and the amphibian flesh all textured and lovely!!
Yes, give me a frog any day!!

Just don't expect me to touch it or anything.
I am more of a look with your eyes and not with your hands gal.

Here's to a great week!!!

Saturday is Soccer Day

Look closely... this one can be funny!





I will warn you now that this is gonna be a very busy week for me.
I have a deadline to meet with a drawing...so I might be kind of scarce!
Might!

Just letting you know!
Ya know...just in case.

Fun (baby) Friday!

I am so tired. I have a ton to share with you...but it must wait until tomorrow...maybe even Sunday!
I will give ya a short and sweet garden update though!

Look what was waiting for me today!!

This is no beauty like the one I missed yesterday but...you get the idea.


I almost wish some of these guys had waited a bit to let loose.
It is all gonna be over so quickly!



I just can't get over what gorgeous blooms plants make before giving their fruit.

So delicate and lovely!


I must admit the squash is getting boring week after week, but changes are happening!

We will continue to be patient waiting for their blooms!


Ahhhhh, the tomatoes!!!



I took another trip out to the Ranch, where my last group of horse pictures were taken.
I had no idea the treat I would have!!!

And I don't mean this....

Ahhhhhh ha ha ha ha!!!!
What a beast!



NO, what I found was this....

Two ponies had been born within the last day!!!

It was AMAZING to be there to see them all new and fresh and new and gangly and new and....well it was a bit overwhelming and now I am tired.
Too tired to tell ya about it right and proper anyway.

I also got to see some of this...

...but that is a whole 'nother chapter as well.

Let me get some sleep in me, and I will share more with ya!!!

Color Thursday!

I saw a fantastic little mushroom this morning while I was watering, that I hoped would make it until I got home today.
Alas it had been plucked from the ground and was a shriveled mess, so a fence is what you get today.
The interpreted color...gray.

More "deep" thoughts

Today will be an official musings and ponderings day!!

My dog has lost a pound!
As in, she is fat and needs to drop about 6 of them, and one is gone!!
I am proud of her.
I on the other hand, have not lost a pound, but I didn't need to, so we are all good.
The extra walking to attain this goal for her is beneficial to me as well.

My husband was gone, but now he is not.
I like that!

It is Wednesday and my last load of laundry is finally in the washer.
Now, if I could just get everything put away!
I will, I promise!

I don't know that we can have a musings day without an "I love coffee" comment, so....
I ♥ coffee!!!
A lot!!
When you start sending fan mail, if you could include coffee...well that would be just awesome!!

Did you know that Angel fish can make their striped markings lighten and darken dependent upon their aggression and/or fear factor?
No, it is true!
I saw it happen myself last night at a friends house.
I was more entranced by it than my children, I do believe.

I accidentally typed nom, instead of No a second ago.
I think nom is now a word.
When you think something is yummy and want to make eating it sounds, you say nom nom nom nom nom.
You have to say it fast and low.
Go ahead, try it...you know you want to.
My oldest son has this particular sound perfected, along with the sound of machine gun fire.


These flowers are all along the sides of the road.
Some of them are white some are a lovely soft pink.

They seems to scoop the sun right inside them to hold it gently.

They also hold bugs!!!
Look at this gorgeous green fellow who was mucking up the pollen inside this bloom.


It seems that every morning of late...the sun has been hidden beneath a dredge of low clouds.
Today it was out and about, creating sparkle on so many things.
I HAD to take my camera along on my morning walk to capture something in the sunshine.

Shelby is not a good photographers assistant!!!

Though if you are going for bokeh blur...she is your girl!!



Banana peels do not belong in pants pockets, no matter what the occasion!
Right Melissa!?!

That load of clothes is now in the dryer!!
Progress.

We had house guests almost 4 weeks ago.
They left a note on my chalkboard.
I can't bear to erase it! :)

I wonder if David loved Abigail initially or just felt like he had a responsibility toward her after her husband died.

I just remembered that I have 2 more bags of Cadbury dark chocolate eggs!!!
I hid them behind my coffee cups!

Hmmmm, suddenly I have a strong urge to go rearrange my coffee cups...you know...organize them by color or height, because organization is one of my strong suits.

Nom nom nom nom nom, coffee cups are organized!

Tip of the day: it is much easier to open a wraskely plastic package with sissors than prying it apart with your fingers.
(you're welcome!)

40 is a good age!

I would love to sit here longer pondering and musing, but I really need to get some chores done instead.

Go forth and love your life!!
And eat chocolate!
And put your laundry away, even if it is Wednesday.
And use lots and lots of exclamation points!!!