Hackberry Trees, etc. #8

Sharon (you must have told Jazz and Daisy what to say),
love your poetic invite to Buddy.
Don't worry, he doesn't understand what I write.

In a couple of days, will have revised a bit more.
Unlike Buddy, Pebbie was always tiny, but she was certainly larger than life.
Would also add that she was very fond of her big brother.

Jazz is three years younger than Daisy, and is well over 8 inches longer and probably 3 pounds heavier, though neither of them are fat.

It is just so funny the things you write about Buddy. Poor baby...he doesn't know that he upsets you...or maybe he does.

He's probably just punishing you for something.

To be honest, Sharon, the only thing that really bothers both Carol and I,
about Budd, is his dirtiness (notably wiping food all around the area of his dish and being repeatedly sick on the carpet). Carol and I are convinced that the reason for both is that he eats too fast. We've taken the steps to accomodate other possible reasons.

He also repeatedly gets near your feet when you're in the kitchen (including after he's just been fed). He further has now decided to lie in the hallway, closish to the front door and the bottom of the stairs. The reason is he can then accompany anyone going to the kitchen. No mess, but I've got a bit sensitive to losing my balance and falling.

It's not all tribulation though. Buddy gravitates to us when we sit on a couch
to watch TV. He's very happy, lying there with a big smile on his face. He gives his quiet purr when he's stroked.

Not punishing us: Budd always was a messy cat, but Carol and I feel the problem is now exaggerated because he is getting senile. Oh well, at least he has character and one can always laugh!

Had better get to bed. Must use available daylight as days shorten.
Nite Sharon.

I think the important thing to remember is the Buddy loves you and Carol, and you love him. That's what you will always have with you, that and his smiling purr.

Cats are like that.

Take care, and have a good sunshiney day tomorrow.

I have a cat Chami. Named after champagne because of the color of her coat. She is a rag doll. I purchased her when I was the Branch Manager of Chase Manhattan Mortgage and one of our Loan Officers had her sold and the transaction fell through. Funny, that is the way I got our first Schnauzer. Maybe I am a soft touch. Anyway, the LO, a female came in with this tiny adorable pure white. blue eyed with a hint of blue in the highlights of her coat. I was delighted because I loved cats and just lost our 17 year old Calico. Well, a Rag Doll is suppose to follow you around like a dog, and does not want to go outside. Well we have the Rag Doll from H***. She only likes my DH and escapes out the doggy door to wander the neighborhood the majority of the day and night. I keep threatening I am going to get my own cat but so far I have just backed off. When I got this wonderful cat, my DH was retired so he is her buddy. Then we took care of our son's enormous dog that made it perfectly clear she was not coming downstairs except after dark when all the dog were sleeping on our bedroom floor. She is now 16, looks 10 and and watches me from a distance. God bless her and she will probably live to be 20. She has not been to the vet for at least the last 5 years. Maybe that i why she is so old, no vaccines....I am late, so have a great day

What a gorgeous cat Chami is, Sharon.....I love ragdolls! Neat story about how you got her too.
Cats are so funny...they do adopt one person, usually.

Remind me to tell you the story of my Daisy, who adopted my husband then nearly mourned herself to death when he passed away. It's too late tonight because my eyes are nearly closed, but if you remind me, I'll tell you another day.

Sleep well all....see you tomorrow.

I do love that Ragdoll!! But I really want to see her face.

hmmmm

funny as all get out
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1050546200531

Oh my goodness, GE....looks exactly like my Jazz and Daisy, but in reverse colors. How laugh out loud funny that is.

Thanks....hope you are well, and that we'll be hearing lots more from you pretty soon.
Been painting anymore yet??

Wintertime is my painting time, and I'm beginning to look forward to it.

Loved the cats
This is the newestpainting
Fall comes I just have to paint leaves

Beautiful, and me, too, about leaves. I especially love my bright red JM....which isn't there yet, but soon will be. Our leaves are just now starting to turn...won't be long, though.

We have nearly bare trees.
Wish I could hibernate until spring.
This is the drierest time of year.

Me too...I start feeling bluish gray when October hits. I think that's another reason to paint, we need color in our lives during winter.

Hi Sharon,
Dark damp day. Not very motivating. Been digging out ribbon grass from around gdn #2's little pond. I never planted it (Is in the formal garden). Wouldn't give ribbon grass to anyone and don't put it in the compost heap.
Also working on own garden, bulbs etc..
Hi Christi,
Missing you. Hope all well in your neck of the woods. Busy time of year.
Nice cat, skwinter. Glad to see she has a little friend (in cage).
Nice painting, GE. Leaves you don't have to rake up!

Raining here today so we went to an exotic grocery store and picked up a few things that aren't available in Kroger's. Not even half finished getting everything into the tool shed or the tiny little greenhouse. Going to MIL (75 miles) to mow her yard and work on her PC.

Listening to the rain makes me want a nap.

Christi

Worked in the dirt today, planted iris and asters, gifts from friends far and wide. Then I did the tough stuff, I cut back an old rambling rose that was eating my house from it's spot on the trellis. So I am scratched, filthy, and covered in things that fell from the sky. The rose was pelting me, I know, not happy to be treated so.

But it's done now, and within it's thorny canes I found a tiny birds nest. I don't know what kind, just that it is very very tiny and perfectly round. Tiny vines created it, so tiny birds lived in it. No mud, just dried grasses and tiny tiny vines. I wonder who built it, and where she is now...

The rose will return next year with a vengeance, I have had it for about 30 years, and before that it lived in my great grandmother's yard since near the time of my birth. It is an old rose, but has not faded with time.

So that's my day...and I am weary for it. It's soup time now...then the shower is calling me. Should shower first, I guess, but I am starving, as are the cats.

I hope your day has been good.

Hi Christi,
busy like us.
Exotic grocery store sounds interesting! Got relatives coming this weekend and Carol's thinking about recipes. She's currently looking at corn recipes.

You're good to that MIL!!!

Felt tired all day myself too. No reason, except the dark day.
Charlie.

Sharon,
You're due for a well earned rest (I hope).
Charlie

Good Morning, and ♪♫ Happy Birthday, Christi ♫♪.
I hope your day is beautiful.

Thought I was getting a cold yesterday, but no...today I think it is a sinus problem. Stuffy head and croaky throat. And it is dreary outside...so am I, very dreary.

This might be a stay in bed and cover up my head day.

I did get lots done yesterday...cleaned my studio from top to bottom, got all my vines cleaned from trellises, all my empty pots put away, deck cleaned. So it was not a wasted day. Today might be.

You all have a good day, if I pop out from under the covers today, I'll check back in.

Very happy birthday, Christi.
Hope there's something from the exotic grocery store to eat today.
Would have liked to take you, Mike and Sharon out for lunch.

Love Sharon's flower (peony?). Going to follow her example: salmon iris from last June. Growing season tailing off, but it will all be starting again, next year!!!

Been dark and overcaste almost all week, with intermittent light rain. Reminds me of weather in England. Usually so much brighter here. Mind you, don't have to tell you about bright sunshine.

Charlie

Thank you for the birthday wishes. We went to MIL yesterday and I got her PC all happy for her again. The day was rainy and dreary and afraid my attitude went with it.

Today is sunny and bright and that helps everything. "Cold front" blew in during the night and this morning it is 48 degrees. It will warm up again several times. Problem with our weather in the winter is the huge swings in temperature. We can be 30 one day and in a few days back in the high 70's. As a consequence, the plants never whether to go dormant or not. The daffodils are all mixed up as the result of so much rain, almost 25 inches in 6 weeks, and they are up. Not supposed to show until late March and now they will get burned by the first frost. Aahhhh, the problems of nature.

Mike just brought breakfast. Better eat it before it gets cold. He is cooking something lucious for tonight. Just us.

Christi

Warmer, drier and less windy, better gardening weather today.

Entering the local woodlot.

Seasonal pond.

Lots of fallen leaves.

Dieback in the swamp.

Oh..what are those gorgeous trees, Charlie?
Aspens?? No...but what are they?

Rolling hills.

Hi Sharon.

Don't know a lot about trees, but ground was covered with aspen leaves towards the swampy area. Elsewhere, were a lot of maples. Counted tree growth rings in a stump, in summer. Maple had been about 40 years old. Lots of younger maples. This was once a working woodlot. Now conserved.

It was a great pleasure to meet no mosquitoes!

Ok, explain a 'working woodlot'...does this mean wood has been taken for other uses from that particular forest? And now they are allowing it to rebuild itself?
Not sure I understand.

Don't know if it was a sugar bush. Looks like it was. Stands of maples. Assume it was logged over years ago (no old trees), as with the sugar bush I know on the Lake-of-Bays. Know the bush is then managed (taking out fallen trees, etc). Guess that gives access, when the sap's running, to the trees and the tap lines.

Did see an old excavated pit in one place, used I think, for cutting logs.

Whatever the case, the large majority of the maples in the woodlot are less than 30/40 years old.

Nothing is being taken from the lot now and, except for paths, there's, now at least, little human intervention.

It is very beautiful, Charlie, as nature should be. I am glad it is being given a rest.

Got to read bit more, Sharon.
Most useful statement I've just seen is that most woodlots in southern Ontario are secondary forest. Think the overall theme is that the woodland that remains today is not pristine (not natural climax communities), but has been influenced by past human activities. Seems very interesting.

Had better get to bed. Want to get a bit of gardening done before Carol's brother Terry and family come, tomorrow, for a very belated Thanksgiving lunch. Anyone who's brave enough will also be having pumpkin beer and pumpkin martinis!

That is about the most unappetizing sounding drink I have ever heard of, Charlie.
But enjoy!

Hi Sharon,
I think I may agree with you. Have tried the pumpkin beer. Not so great. Maybe a good cure for alcoholism! Mind you, I do drink green beer on St Patrick's Day.
As to the pumpkin martinis, which we are still going to go ahead with, I'll let you know. At least I don't anticipate fatalities. Terry is a lawyer, but he's also
a very decent character, so I don't expect serious repercusions.
Hi Christi,
Been thinking about Mike's luscious birthday meal, for you.
Charlie

Finally some fall color to show you...
Balloon flowers

Japanese Maple

Another JM, lacy leaves...can't remember its name

Old red maple in front yard, just turning...

Same tree, another view

And finally the bark on my river birch tree...
I love this textural look.