Wordless Wednesday - Feeling Froggy

Feeling froggy lately.

Wordless Wednesday- Birth of Seedlings

First shoots peeking out.

Marching in

"March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb."

I think aside from October and November, March is one of my favorite months. It is a month of hope and new beginnings; it is a month that stands on the border of winter and spring.

It is a very green month in my mind as well - I start thinking about my garden, since now is about the time my Uncle will be starting seeds, and will be heading out to his greenhouse to start our plants. I am excited to see every year what he will grow. I told him I want to photograph the whole process this year, from seed to finish, and I should be starting this pretty soon. I bought some seed as well, to have him start for me; I chose Detroit Dark Red Beets and Spinach. I hope I can fit everything in my garden! Last year we expanded the garden site, and Billy built a fence, which did not keep Penny out by the way, and I don't think Billy would like it if I asked to expand the garden even further this year. I am hoping for the usual suspects in a backyard garden, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, red peppers, green peppers, banana peppers, cucumbers - my mouth is watering just thinking of all these fresh vegetables straight from my own garden. I always want to plant pumpkins, but they are such space hogs! I might try to sneak some in behind the garage though..

However, the best things I receive in my little uncle-grown garden kit are the sunflowers. Not practical, unless you are a bird or squirrel, but I love these giant yellow flowers of happiness. Last year mine were trampled as seedlings by a certain English Setter, so I have to figure out where to plant them this year to keep them safe. I also ordered a Blue Girl hybrid tea rose bush that I am going to plant in the front yard - I love the coloring in this picture! Every year I add to our perennials, but I like to do that by wandering around my favorite nursery and farm market, Kurtzhals' Farms, and picking out whatever calls to me that day. I currently have peonies and roses, many types of lavender (which I am addicted to planting for some reason), and Billy picked out lamb's ear a few years ago, which every year comes back bigger. The birds love it too, stealing soft and silky leaves for their nests, and in the fall after it has gone to seed, they eat it.

I have to totally redo the herb garden this year - I always plant it next to the house, and I love when Penny rolls in the herbs, because she comes back in smelling like thyme, rosemary, oregano. I probably shouldn't like it, since this is why I have to replant and fix the bed, but who can resist a sun warmed dog smelling like herbs? I am going to be smart this year, and plant extra in pots.

What about you? Do any of you garden? What do you like to plant? I am always looking for new additions!

Wordless Wednesday- Spring is coming

Spring is on its way, slowly unfurling.

Kitten Season..

Spring and summer are always busy for those involved with animal rescue, and this summer has not been any diffferent. First it is kitten season, everywhere you turn there is someone there with a litter of kittens they found in a yard, a garage, or under their deck. This year is even more difficult, with the economy in Michigan being what it is. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and giving up their pets to rescues and shelters, and in some cases, just letting them loose or leaving them behind. So we volunteers are busy giving shots and medicating sick animals, taking pictures for petfinder, taking animals to events, hoping that an animal will not just find a home, but a good home that will love them, and take care of them. We also clean cages, socialize feral cats, and walk dogs. But all this work is worth it for that feeling you get when you leave the pound and all the animals are fed, their kennels are clean, and they are snuggled in content and happy, or when you leave an event knowing that a cat or a dog has found their perfect match.

Sometimes you lose your heart, and alot of times your heart breaks. Sometimes you take them home. I found my dog in the pound, an underweight English Setter, who was starved for love as well as food, a stinky faced girl who would look out at me from the bars every day with her big brown eyes, and get mad at me when I would put her back in the kennel after her walk. One day as I sat in the field across from the pound where I was walking her, she crawled into my lap, all 30 pounds and long legs of her, and I knew she was mine, and I had to keep her. Luckily for me, my husband is an animal lover, and fellow animal rescuer, and fell in love with her as well.

Penny has been a challenge, but one we are happy to undertake. We got her out of the pound a week after our much loved 15 year old American Eskimo Chevis passed away from lung cancer, and named her Penny. I believe that Chevis sent her to us to care for and love, she is our "Penny from heaven," as corny as that is. In the 5 weeks we have had her, she has escaped from our yard, gotten terrible diarrhea as we learned that she has a sensitive stomach, and then eaten christmas garland and had to have emergency surgery to remove the wires. This makes us sound like terrible owners, but really, truly we are not. She is a silly, sweet girl, who just has a nose for mischief. We are quickly learning her personality, as she begins to trust us. (she is also gaining her healthy weight)

The day Penny ran out of our yard, we had had her about a week. My mom and stepdad came over and opened the gate to our backyard, where Billy and I and Penny were gardening. Well, Billy and I were gardening, and Penny was patrolling for rabbits and squirrels. As soon as they opened the gate and came in, Penny ran up to them to say hi, and then noticed, hey she could get out of the yard and really investigate! She took off at the fastest run I have ever seen, and Billy and I lost sight of her within 40 seconds. I was panicking, scared to death the worst was going to happen to her, and I ran off behind her, Billy and my stepdad not far behind me. My mom was the smart one of the group, and ran for her car. She saved the day, and the dog, by spotting Penny in a parking lot. Not thinking about anything other than, I have to get her! my mother jumped from her moving car. Good thing mom was only going like 3 mph. As soon as mom called to Penny, Penny jumped in the car like nothing ever happened.

We are now taking Penny to dog training, where we hope she will learn some better habits. We also need to learn how to communicate with her too, so we have high hopes for this class. So far so good!