Chickens

We're on vacation in North Carolina and visited my mom who recently bought some chickens and turkeys.

Cue gratuitous chicken photos...















For the full effect of this trip, you should check out Locksley's Blog.

Also:

Guess what?

I will have you, Spring.

I admit it - I take things and run with it. So when it finally got a bit warmer this week, and a nice misty rain shower came for a visit this weekend, I took it to mean that Spring was upon us and that I needed to get things rolling, PRONTO.

So, a visit to our local Behnke's. I can remember going to this gardening store ever since I was a kid (pronounced it "Binky's") and it's one of those memories I have of my parents together, and us, as a happy family. We'd come home with plants - even one for me, that I would promptly and mournfully kill - and make our yard into a secret garden of colors and textures.


I don't live in a house. I live in an apartment, with a balcony. I'm afraid I haven't gotten much better with plants with age. But, I was heartened to find a website or two addressing the challenges of growing anything on an apartment balcony with its shade, shifting light, and suspect cover. So I got a couple flowers (pansys, mache ranunculus), herbs (peppermint, lavender, rosemary, oregano) and pet grass (for Locksley). My fingers are crossed for them. They really are.

Because I, my dear friends, can kill the most un-killable plants. That's right: cacti. Fortunately for me - and for the cacti - Sam is very *good* at keeping cacti alive. We have about a thousand of them. And now that the threat of frost is gone they get re-potted and moved out onto the balcony as well. I'm already missing their green (although spikey) company in the kitchen. Re-potting, if you're unfamiliar, involves moving plants that have out grown their current pots and placing them in bigger ones. Cacti have pretty crazy roots - either because they are HUGE, because they are ridiculously tiny, or because they are ridiculously networked. It's a messy and adventuresome process. Locksley helped :)

Pooch Plunge 2009

Every year the City of Greenbelt allows the dogs of the community to take a swim in the pool before they shut it down for the season. This was the first year Locksley got to participate.

Happiest Dog in the World

Nature. And also, Nature

One of my favorite things about living where I do is the amount of nature that happens randomly and all around.

Some selections just from this week:

Some Scenes from Nature

In preparation for our camping expedition we went for a hike in Greenbelt National Park. Some highlights, below.

Locksley: the outdoorsman

I had this brilliant idea that I should go camping with Locksley. So I bought the stuff - sleeping bag, backpack, tent... you know, the basics. I wasn't actually sure how Locksley was going to take to it, but I'm pleased to report he seems VERY enthusiastic about it all.

This evening I decided to pitch the tent inside (this is what happens when I'm left unsupervised in the apartment) since I heard this is good idea for getting your dog acclimated. "Acclimated" perhaps isn't the word to use for Locksley. As soon as the tent was up, he jumped right in and was thrilled by the whole thing. I'm pretty sure he thought the tent was his own personal dog house.

Infact, when I took the tent down he looked rather dejected. Actually. I think he's giving me the silent treatment.

Camping soon, dog. Promise!