Olly Olly Oxen Free!

This afternoon was a bright, sunny day.  Recent storms left the surrounding mountains dusted with snow and the air sparkly clean.  The travelers stuck on either side of those mountains because of road closures had a different opinion.  Before lunch, I fiddled with the espalier fruit trees, inspected the vegetable beds, and gave the pup his obedience lesson.  It’s not all work all the time in the garden.  Fun and games are encouraged.  Sometimes the most unexpected being will participate.  I stumbled upon a game of Hide and Seek.

 

 

This game has been re-named Hide and Go Away Biscuit Breath.

Garden Lessons

Welcome to the garden.  Today we (Me and Ajax) will be learning some basic lessons.  These lessons are essential to insure a well behaved dog.  An added bonus is that your pet will be a great photo subject.

 

Let’s start with something easy and work to the more advanced of the basic skills. 

 

SIT

 

 

STAY

 

DOWN

 

COME

 

After a rigorous afternoon of serious training, refreshments are in order.  Homegrown and fresh is best.  Thyme was the favorite refresher this afternoon.

 

If you need a suggestion for a quick Christmas gift, try donating to your local animal shelter.  Kern County has a service in Lebec that helps with feral cats.  Irresponsible pet owners are making this a huge problem in Bakersfield.  Cause 4 Cats, Inc. will gladly and gratefully accept your donations large and small.  Additionally, the US Post Office has some items they sell to raise awareness of Animal Rescue:  Adopt a Shelter Pet.  Please consider making a difference with your gift giving.

New to the Garden

 

Maybelline’s Garden is proud to announce the arrival of a new garden puppy.  Ajax has joined the garden kitties in the garden.  The kitties aren’t very happy with the decision to increase the herd; but they’ll adapt.  They always have.  Ajax is 9 weeks old, and has some very big paw prints to fill.  The garden pups that came before him were great and are sorely missed.

He’s gradually letting his curiosity lead him out into the garden for exploration.  With a full morning of stringing up the peas, raking leaves, and simply being a puppy, Ajax was ready to retire for the morning with his new buddy – Pink Cuddly Hippo. 

He’s a very dear addition to the garden.

Some members of the garden royalty are not amused.

Garden Beasties

Here’s what was in the garden on July 15, 2009.

I miss my friend everyday.  This photo is my computer wallpaper.

 

Thank goodness I have their company.

She’s always most tolerant of her human staff.  Most of the time.  She’s mostly the napping queen.  And why not?

 

And this is my puppy kitty that follows me around in the garden.  She’s pumpkin pie with whipped cream highlights.

What would we be without our pets?  Lost.

Woof Woof!

He had his eyes on something on the other side of the eggplant.  He needed to investigate.

He hurried past the marigolds and peach tree.  Something was driving him.

  Was it the garden hell cat lounging in the peppers after dinner?

That’s a big, “NO WAY, Jose.  Scram, pooch.”

He was annoyed at something.  He was annoyed that I couldn’t understand English Mastiff.  For Pete’s sake.  What does a dog need to do around here to be understood?

Drool bubbles were starting to fly with his aggravation.  What did he want?

Did he want some of the summer leftovers in the garden?  Nope.

 

 

 

 

 

Did he want a game of “pull the legs off the grasshopper” with the garden hell cat?  Again, no.

He wanted a dirt clod to enjoy on the lawn as an after dinner treat.

Delicious!