It's February, cold and snowy

I know it's been a while since my last entry. I was preoccupied with the Praxis III dog and pony show. For those viewers who wait with baited breath for the latest garden pics, I say relax. I know John McCains' already used the phrase with greater impact, but for crying out load, It's February. What's to look at except snow?

Well, I'll tell you what. The latest addition to our lawn ornamentation collection was obtained at the rescent Yard and Garden show at the IX Center. It's some kind of flower. I can't hardly tell you real flowers' names let alone one made of steel. But it does look pretty cool.

My first attempt at video

I took this with my new Fuji F50se. I know I sound like I still smoke 4 packs a day. But come on, it's been almost 10 years. I should probably hold the camera away from my face and not talk so loud. Well, if any of you viewers could give me some pointers, I'll be most thankful.

I keep looking at the back yard

It's Jan.7 and it's 63 out. There's not a snowball to be found. We have the windows and screen doors open. We should be happy not having to shovel a load of snow, everybody except maybe Al Gore. Al Gore and me. I look at the back yard and see a mess. I mean Katie's getting married in this back yard in 174 days and all I see is mud. Well, mud and lots of water. Mr. rabbitt is speechless. so no help there. I seek solace in the pictures from the back yard from early July 2007. Now that is the back yard that could make garden walks.

And there's still no sight of the sun. It should show up around April.

Breakfast at the Grobles'

Blow this picture up to see the ducks.

We may have found evidence that Santa Claus exists. Christmas morning we discovered tracks all over the back yard. Having stepped foot on the roof, I can attest that walking around is easier in the back yard. It's that or maybe we got a herd of deer living in the neighborhood and they know that the Grobles are a good feed. If there are deer, the drunk drivers who hunt them down with their vehicles can't be far away. I'll need to stay vigilant.

Happy New Year

This is Fred's take me to your leader eyes.

This is another reason why dogs will never take over the world. We used a ladder to keep the boys out of the main hall while we were painting it. Worked pretty good. Somebody should have tried it on Dick Cheney.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family.

Well, we did have snow.

So far, so good. The lights still work and nobody's been electrocuted.

Mr. Bunny says: help get me outta here!

What does a gardener do in December?

He rakes the snow off the front yard, that's what. Or at least a small part of it.
As usual, the birch and plum trees didn't lose their leaves until the first snow. When Pat and I started to put up lights on Saturday, I noticed that most of the snow had melted right where we were going to put up Christmas decorations. What a great idea, why not get a head start on spring and rack the leaves first. After all, leaves are the mortal enemy of turf grass and doggy suprises are no fun either. We'll talk more about enemies later. I didn't go over board on the raking. The big part of the front yard still kept it's snow. Besides, there is always the possibility that Pat will call the garden or Christmas police on me.

This year we decided to concentrate our light fixtures near the house. Light fixtures is the correct term isn't it? Or should I be calling Mr. Penguin just that, Mr. Penguin? We brought the boys out with us. Bob likes the cold and snow, Fred, not so much. While the boys are cute to look at, they are next to worthless in helping us. They don't have thumbs and the deer with the movable head scares the snot out of them. They aren't so fond of Mr. Penquin or Mr. Snowman either.

Three years ago when we strung lights around our Charlie Brown tree, we were the only people in the neighborhood that did anything in the back yard. Now both our neighbors have stuff in their back yards, and the little tree isn't so little any more. Next year I'll have to use a ladder.

While we were plugging all the lights in, I had a revelation. We all have run into friends, aquaintances, and relatives who think the PRC (chicoms to those who wish) seek world hegemeny. Some think it will happen by military domination. Some think they will buy us out by buying our debt. I know the answer and I got the pictures to prove it. The answer is Christmas light connections. All those Peoples Liberation Army factories making Christmas lights for us. Someday, and it may be sooner then you think, tens of thousands of middle age men and women are going to go outside, plug the lights in and cause a nation wide meltdown of the electric grid. You wait and see.

Man, I can't wait for the next garden show to keep my mind off such things.