The "frosty stuff"

I think so Willow, that is in the Anchorage area isn't it? My Mother in law is going to Anchorage in March....
I haven't been to Anchorage since about a month or two after the earthquake in the 60's....it has changed a lot from those days...

If you have any photos scanned into your computer from the Tricia, I'd love to see them.

See if I can not duplicate a picture that I already put here. I was just outside a moment ago and the temp. seems about 20 deg. colder than it was before. Suppose I could actually check, but naw.....Think that today was my only frost free day for a bit again.

more heather. this is a different variety though!!

I don't have any right now, Mom and dad had a few old 8mm movie reels, and a few polaroids...I will have to see if she still has any of them....and if she knows where they are....

When I came home from the grocery store at seven thirty it was 33......beyond that I can tell you it is still COLD outside!!

Yeah. The earthquake was scary - I remember watching a road in our neighborhood sort of ripple - and we were 350 miles north of Anchorage!! Cool that you're writing stuff down.

Shelly - glad that you weren't there for the illnesses. I didn't understand that part of your story. I do hope it doesn't turn out to be anything serious. And it is a good sign that they're feeling better with medication. I was at a dinner party a couple of years ago and the hostess was worried about her dog, a spaniel, who hadn't been himself for the day. I suggested that she head to the veterinary ER in the middle of the party because everyone would understand (it was informal) and because she didn't want to be sitting in the ER at 2:00 a.m. wishing she'd gone earlier.

It really is luck of the draw when you're guessing about this stuff - but it's a good thing she went when she did. It turns out the dog had emergency surgery right away and had ingested six pairs of panties and had gotten wrapped around his bowels. For as bad as it was - he didn't really even show dramatic symptoms. It's so hard to diagnose furbabies . . .

I love Heather......unfortunately, so does the dog......and every dog that comes up the street....it seems to be The Choice Place to Go....grrrr!

Wow, having the 8mm. is pretty cool if you have the set up to play. Even better than pics, just not for us :-p That's ok. We'll get by. lol However. If you do get ahold of the polaroids sometime, it would be very interesting to see them! I'll check the outdoor thermometer....32.5 deg. out. a regular heat wave around here for this time of night!

ohhhhh... yuk. That's too bad. I wonder what in the world is sooo appealing about it? I've heard that cayenne pepper spread a couple of feet outwards of the plant will help keep the neighbor dogs out of there. However, also not friendly towards your dog. :-/ Maybe katie has an idea for that! I think she's our resident dog expert!

I wasn't going to post another, but because you like them I will.

What are the odds that you would have found that article? That's amazing. Drinking really was a big problem when I was up there - for both people of color and whites.

It's cold here tonight - about 30. Hope it warms up some tomorrow!!

Check out this cute picture on weather.com:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/photo/read/weather/3DE2318E-20B9-4C3C-AA1B-FF8B5832DFEF?from=hp_dwp

Do you know of a rememedy for keeping Tricias neighbors dog out of her calluna?

Dogs peeing is a mystery - basically the heather is in a strategic spot, the right height and has been peed on before, I would think.

I have lots of dog experience and get lots of training daily at home - I have five of the critters . . .

It really is all about territory - but if dogs have easy access to a spot (either because it's at the edge of the bed or a higher plant), they're more likely to make their mark there as opposed to another spot that takes more time and work to get to.

That I remembered! you have cats too! Would cayenne work in this scenario? My uncle brings his dogs when he visits and they know no boundaries. After they broke my favorite Japanese Maple off midway up the trunk and took off several branches of a dogwood. I started putting cayenne pepper around those trees before they came. Works wonders!!! They go past the trees once smell, and go away from them. Usually with a few sneezes.

That photo of the squirrel is sooo adorable! A great picture! thanks for the link Katie. I never noticed that weather.com had a photo section and I go there all the time.

This message was edited Jan 23, 2009 10:48 PM

Someone gave me a bag of Wasabi peas (crunchy dried peas with a coating of dried wasabi). I just ate a handful. I'm thinking that bag would work realy well spread out around her heathers! Cleared up my sinuses within seconds!l

I think pepper or hot sauce would work if they're sniffing - other strong perfumey smells might also work to keep them away. Oftentimes, it seems, that they are moving quickly by, depositing a little marker at each good stopping point.

Way too many cats, too. My house seems to be somewhat of a sanctuary these days. But a great place to observe animal social interactions . . . and that's one of my favorite topics, so, aside from the cleaning tasks, it's a wonderful place to be.

This is from a friend who lives up in the hills over Duvall. She posted this on her Facebook page last month.

Love the Squirrel!!

One more bit on Alaska and drinking.......Hugo (the crazy white guy) and his wife used to play cards with mom and dad......Dad had taken a movie segment out our picture window of Hugo carrying a log down the path in the snow to be cut for firewood. When showing them some of the home movies this part came on... without saying anything dad flipped the projector setting causing Hugo to "walk backwards" on the screen....Eya gave him a horrified look, hit him on the arm and asked "Hugo what wrong with you! You Been drinking!" She should have known better, when they would go down town and he started drinking she would usually get a black eye or worse out of the deal. We had melmac dinnerware and a formica table......when the hot water was poured for tea some spilled down the edge of the cup and it began to move, untouched, across the table...Eya was convinced we had a ghost in our house!!

Well I think I am going to call it an evening, don't know why but I am really tired today.....talk to you all later.

Thanks, will have to try the pepper.............my mother in law said she had the same problem with Dogs and Heather 40 years ago in Tacoma........just something about it they like!!

What an interesting memory. The stories you and your parents must have. Your entitled to not be a night owl if you don't want to Tricia. Have a good one.

Katie... your friends' pic is great. Thanks for sharing it with us. She should join DG! Definitely an interesting ice form. It's great that your animals have your sactuary! If you think about it.... would they really still be around right now if you hadn't have taken them in? Such a nice thing to do if you have the area to do it.

Spread the pepper generously and freely! So long as you don't dump the whole container on the plant, a dusting of it on the plant wont hurt it either..... if that's what it takes to get the smell closer to their nose!

Great pictures everyone! Nice to hear from other folks too!

Busy day today, just got settled down. Cold again, but the sun was out a few minutes. Looks like we're in for freezing temps by the first of the week, I'm having garden withdrawals and I don't see any help in sight!!

Wonderful stories about Alaska, a bit remote for me, but I know it's beautiful. What a place for a child to grow up! My Dad had 8mm that he had put on VHS tapes, now I'm thinking about putting them on a DVD. He built cars and loved car racing, so there are lots of car pics and the regular "home movie" types. And he talked over the movie so it's neat to hear.

Cupboards got finished today, after I get done putting things back in order, I'll post a picture. I got linoleum to line some of the cupboards, need to cut that and line the others with shelf paper, then put everything back....yikes!!

sounds like you're moving right along Sally. It'll likely be done be the end of the weekend for you!

Sorry to say, it won't be. I have to go help our friend at the nursing home tomorrow and I'm working at the Orchid Show at Oakway on Sunday. And there's a neighbor who can't get her email, that asked for help. See where my time goes! Wish I could send DH to take care of it, but it doesn't work that way.

Well, hopefully soon then. At least you'll never be able to say that you lead a boring life!

That's for sure!!!!

Ok, one more before I go to bed.

THAT was worth waiting for! Stunning.

i am jealous of the hoar frost! nice pic shelly and you are truely a night owl.

Love that one Shelly !!!

Nice pics everyone!
Shelly, are Tigg & Mozz litter mates or are they related at all? Good looking Labs.
Susan

Thanks folks. I'm glad that you waited Laurie :-p

Susan, yep, they are definitely litter mates.

good frosty stuff.

Trisha - what a story. It was a different time then, wasn't it? Much simpler and yet much more complex.

Sally - you are a saint. It doesn't sound like you have much time to yourself, but it must feel good to help all those people who wouldn't otherwise have anywhere to go. And yes, the cats probably wouldn't be here - that's one reason I took them - because the system is already overloaded with unwanteds. And now I love each and every one of them!! But then, I'm a pushover, really.

Shelly - great pictures, as always. You have a talent.

I have mentioned DG to my friend - to several gardener friends, as a matter of fact. Most of them are too Type-A to sit at the computer for long, though. They are go, go, go on their various projects. I'll keep at them.

Just like my boys. They were 6 months in this pic.

We've had 5 puppy mill raids here in the last week or so. There are 500 dogs that the shelters have taken in from those raids. So many are pregnant tht the shelters are estimating they'll have 1500 more puppies. You know these people have a market somewhere and that they represent themselves as responsible breeders. I just don't get how that happens. How can there be that many people who will buy a dog without knowing anything about where he came from?

It saddens me to see these poor pups - many of the older ones have been breeding forever and now are suffering from untreated diseases like luxated patellas or glaucoma - painful illnesses suffered by many small breeds. They probably are suffering from nutritional problems as a result of multiple litters sucking the resources out of their little bodies.

I get so angry that we live in a country with so much and yet we can't stop this suffering. Signing up to volunteer to help out. Trying to remember that there are many good people out there working to find these kennels and close them. And if I'm frustrated and angry, I can't imagine how they must feel.

After these people are convicted, I would hope that they could sell their facilities and houses to pay for the care of the animals. But they'll probably get a slap on the wrist and move on to do this somewhere else . . .

LOL Katie...not a saint, the halo is more than tilted!! The Orchids are for me, DH is indulgent as far as they go, it does take some time to take care of them. I thought about getting a greenhouse once, decided it was to costly to maintain and primarily it would add too much work! I'm limited to what I grow in the house. I could fit a whole lot in a greenhouse. hahaha I belong to the Society here in Eugene, do their newsletter once a month, so I'm on the board because of that. It's a small group, good bunch of people. Several are judges for orchid show and quite a few travel out of the country on orchid adventures. It's fun hobby to indulge in. I also do needlework and make greeting cards. Lately, I must admit I haven't had a whole lot of time, too much work on the house. But that will end soon. I hope!

I've wanted to volunteer for animals, just don't have time. Looking after too many right here at home, two legged and four. With that many animals, I know your help will be appreciated.

I peeked at that pic last night rc. Too tired to tell you it was so good it gave me the chills.

Susan, your boys are so cute! As usual! They definitely act like litter mates. They have such sleek coats!

Katie, I agree with you completely about the mills and the situations that lead to this scenario. It's so crazy that people intentionally bring all these animals into the world and they don't care a thing about them. The ones that care about them, are the ones driving themselves nuts trying to deal with the consequences.

Sally, tilted halo or not.... it's definitely a halo. Going through life with a straight halo... now that would be way to boring! lol. I'm glad that you liked the pic! Sorry to give you the chills! I had no idea that would be one that folks liked so well. If I thought that was the case, i would've taken more like it. Unfortunately it takes a some pretty bright light to get that clear of a shot, and I just don't get that much bright light this time of year. But, when the frost comes back.... I know that it will since it always follows the snow. Then I'll hope for bright light and see if I can get some more like it. The bright light will definitely be the limiting factor!!

I like the prickly frost. When I was trying to take pictures the other day, there either wasn't the right light or it was coming from the wrong direction. I'm sure my neighbors laughed if they saw the positions I was in to take pictures.

haha... but they were good pics even if you were contorted. The light seemed fine to me. For close ups, at least with my camera, it has to be bright light in order to be a crisp shot. Let the neighbors laugh! I'm usually laughing at myself when I'm contorting to get some of those odd angles.

Yeah, but a lot of my stuff was on the bank and here I am slippy slidey bent over sideways and backwards. Not a pretty site!! I just couldn't get where the frost would sparkle clear, of course some it was I didn't have much frost in to deal with.

Here are a few frosty sedum shots.