Memorial Day 2012

It's not about the barbecues ... It's not about the sales ... It's not about the 3-day weekend...

On Armed Forces Day, we honor those who have served or who are serving in our military.  On Veterans Day, we honor those who served or who are serving in combat.  And today, on Memorial Day, we honor our war dead.

Arlington National Cemetery
Photo courtesy of Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association

To read an excellent Memorial Day message, please click here.

Please join us in honoring those who gave the last full measure to our country with a moment of silence.

We thank God for these men and women, for these heroes.  May He bless their souls.

Dave and Zim - and our bipeds

Serene Scenery Sunday

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave, here with Serene Scenery Sunday.  As many of you know, Mom and Dad have been working really hard out in our gardens lately.  We thought we'd show you just a few of the things out there that made all of us feel really good.  Ready to take a look around?  Let's start out front!

Remember the rocks Zim helped Mom buy?  Mom used them to help finish off one of the retaining walls that curves around the house and into the front yard.  Here's Zim, checking Mom's work:

"Those jigsaw puzzles Mom does on her iPad are paying off!  Nice fit!"

He approved the layout and checked for sturdiness:

"This ought to do the trick!"

Mom and Dad are hoping it will help prevent our garden mulch from washing into Fluffy Black Cat's yard and washing down the hillside.

Guess what's blooming out back already?  The pink/purple Rose of Sharon!

Can you believe it?  It doesn't usually bloom until the end of June or in July!

A couple weeks ago, I showed you the Stella D'Oro Day Lilies in bloom.  (You can also see them down in the yard in the second pic here.)  This week, our Aunt Janet Day Lily has opened up!

We don't remember what variety it is, but our Aunt Janet sent Mom the seeds, so ...

Just across the brick path from that, Mom planted a new-to-our-garden plant!  Check it out:

It's called a Starburst Ice Plant.  Mom put three of them in.  They're supposed to like lots of sun and can tolerate a ton of wind.  Mom thinks they're perfect for our garden.  Behind it, just past the chunk-o-limestone, you can see one of the Echinacea plants.  We got that one from a fund-raiser for the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance last year; we also have a couple of the same Purple Coneflower variety from supporting a MaPaw Siberian Husky Rescue and Referral Service, Inc. fund-raiser!  We like having a special connection to our plants!  Speaking of special connections ...

Mom shopped a bunch of the local nurseries and is trying three more types of Echinacea for our garden - Tomato Soup/Prairie Stars, Flame Thrower, and ... I can't remember the last one, but it's hot pink! They aren't doing much yet, but we'll keep you posted on them.  I like the array of color, being the Guide Dog for the Color Blind that I am, but Zim ... Zim really likes the tag showing where the hot pink one was grown.  Check it out:

"Were they grown by my bestest friend, Huffs?"

Given that Zim's bestest friend, Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat's nickname is "Huffs", he's rather partial to them!

Speaking of friends, look at who helped Mom water the garden and wash the bat guano off the lower deck this week:

Pretty cute, isn't he?  He made Mom feel serene out there; she encouraged him to start eating more bugs.

Last, but not least, here's something that made me feel nice and serene:

Nothing beats playing with a SQUEAKY toy on a cool evening!

Have a serene Sunday, everyone!  And stay cool!!!

Luv,
Dave

On Patrol

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim!  It's a busy holiday weekend, so Dave and I will be stepping up our patrols, keeping the neighborhood safe and secure!

"Woo, Zim!  Check out the M's geraniums!  Very colorful!"

Of course, some of us might get a bit distracted here and there, but fear not!  We'll be out there patrolling, guarding the AO, protecting everyone!

...Until it gets too hot, then we'll be in the air-conditioned house.

"Ha roo roo roo!"

It's 0915 and it's almost 80℉  (that's 26.6 or so℃).  I think it's time for this patrol to head back to HQs!!!

Stay safe, stay cool!

Play bows,

Zim

Photo Finish Friday

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave.

"Whoa!"

 Just for the record ...

"Most impressive!"

... Zim and I had nothing to do with the big hole in the neighbors' yard.

Ha woo.

Luv,

Dave

Rock Star

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim!   Saturday, Mom and Dad slipped out of the house for a while without me or Dave -- without us!  How crazy is that?!?  But that's not the worst of it.  They came back smelling like ... like a friend of mine.  Do you remember in March when I got to go shopping at the rock place with Mom?  (Click here to be reminded of what an awesome trip it was!)  That's right!  They smelled like my Golden Retriever friend Sandy!  Both of them! I just couldn't believe they'd go out there without me.

I'm not going to pretend I didn't pout a bit which could well be why Mom and Dad were whispering about something on Tuesday, then Dad said, "... and you should take Zim with you."  What?  Even though I didn't know where we were heading, I jumped into the car, game for whatever lay ahead!

Mom said where we were going was a surprise - but that I'd probably figure out where we were going before too long.  Hmm...

"Where are we going, Mom?"

We went past the KSU stadium and the Vet School, and kept going and going and going.  There was only one place I could think of that's way out that way ... and ... and ... and ... I was right!!!

"Sandy!!!"
"Zim!!!"

We remembered each other right away and just had the best time walking all around the place together!  My friend Tara was there, too, and she remembered us even though we'd only met her one time!  What a nice biped!

Mom wanted to look for some Russian Sage and for some rocks.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah.  The Russian Sage is in there.  Now where did Sandy go?"

I mean - really.  Where were Mom's priorities?

Anyway, Sandy and Tara helped us pick out just the right boulders for Mom and Dad's project...

"I like those Tuscan Field Stones for what your people want to do, Zim!"
"You're the expert!"

...then it was time for us to head back home.

"I'll come back again soon, Sandy!"

Being the gentleman that I am, I am not going to comment on what we may or may not be doing in that photo.  Ahem.

Anyway, Mom was thrilled with the rocks we bought and with the Russian Sage plants.  As for me, what a great surprise, getting to go with her -- and to see my "rock star" friend, Sandy!  I sure hope Mom and Dad have another project that will entail going out there.  And soon!

Play bows,

Zim

Wordless Wednesday

Luv,
Dave

Nice Job!

Ha roo, pups and kit-cats!  It's me, Zim.  Wowzers, was yesterday a busy day!  As Dave told you, we scheduled a truck to dump a big pile of mulch in the driveway for Mom and Dad to spread in the garden.  Sure enough, the nice man showed up right on time, "first thing" in the morning.  (Not "first thing" as far as my schedule goes, but in biped work hours terms.)  Dave and I went out to inspect the mulch and to offer Mom and Dad a few words of encouragement.

"Wowzers, Dave!  That's a lot of mulch!"
"Does this mean Mom will be out here all day instead of with me?" 

Dave was obviously concerned about Mom doing too much hard work.  He thought maybe he could help out.

"I can dig it!"

Mom didn't want Dave to do too much, though, so ... what can I say? Rather than supervise, I thought I'd get a little more involved.

"OK... so if we take some of this and ..."

"... put it in here ... about 7.2 million times ..."

Sounded like a good idea!  So ... having shared that advice with Dad ...

"Alrighty then!  I'll be in the house if you need anything else!"

My advice worked so well, in fact, that when Mom came in to get lunch for me and Dave, Dad called the nursery place and asked them to send another truck full of mulch over.  That's right - another full load!  Dave and I had lunch, a short walk, then got right back to work - supervising from inside the air-conditioned house.  It was exhausting ... but when Mom came in a few hours later and announced that they were done, I owed it to her and Dad to go out and inspect.

"Oh... nice!  Nice and fluffy and cooling!"

It's important to praise and encourage your bipeds when they've done a good job.  Of course ... 

"Ha roo!"

...we all know they couldn't have done it without Dave and me!

Play bows,

Zim