Only poodles could pull this off!

Most of you are probably used to seeing Gryphon in pictures only and those pictures have shown a typical poodle doo. He had just been groomed for the summer in what is called a puppy cut or kennel cut. This style is still pretty typical of poodle cuts with a pompadour on top, furry feet and a pom pom tail. We were cutting firewood recently and I had some down time while Peter was cutting up a log. I usually knit or something. I was holding my scissors, looked at Gryphon and decided he didn't need the pom pom. Then I felt the feet needed trimming. When I decided I wanted to see what he would look like without the pompadour of course the ear thing had to go too. Peter turned around, looked at the pile of fur, then at Gryphon. This did not even resemble his dog. He was shocked a little at first but this look has grown on us. I'm sure it's alot cooler for him! It also left a nice pile of extremely soft nest building material for the birds. This is him up in the woods right after his new doo. Not as creative as these groomers but good enough for us.

Sparkles

We had a great Independence Day. This year Dawn and Ned came over to celebrate with us for a few days. The highlight was, of course, after dark. Ned put on a fantastic pyrotechnic display which kept us all entertained with many oohs and aahs .
Then came the time for our own individual talents to shine. We each took turns and armed only with sparklers we strut our stuff. Mine was the grand finale. It will be left to your own imagination, for it was not documented. But it included my bicycle and all of the remaining sparklers, of which there were enough to create their own weather.
The words awesome, hilarious and Cirque du Soleil were used to describe my performance.
With the help of an inhaler I barely survived it.
I wish you could have seen it!

It's what's for dinner?

Today is our 18th anniversary. We're just staying home (our favorite spot) but I want to make dinner out of the garden tonight. Maybe chicken cacciatore with something strawberry for dessert. MMMmmmm.

Collective Consciousness

There is a theory that I have been considering. Where does the mind reside? We think it is in our head because that is where our eyes and ears are. Maybe we are biased due to these perceptions. What if the mind is located somewhere beyond our body? And what if our memories are stored there with the memories of others. That would explain a lot of things. Why I feel that I have been in a train station in Egypt.....floated down a river in France.....gazed at a blue sky in Holland...visions of cities I have never been to. I don't think I have been reincarnated. It would also explain how some children can understand a foreign language they have never been exposed to. Hmmmmm.....

Cat Tales

Alright, first the disclaimer: I love my cats but I'm probably going to piss somebody off with this one. Assuming anyone reads this.

I don't think that cats, on average, are very bright. Around our house we use the word 'gifted'.

Our male tabby siamese, Spanky, holds the title, 'Supreme Gifted' ever since he jumped onto the wood stove while it was burning. I don't trust his smarts enough to make it home safely on any given night and pray daily for his safe return. We also have a Russian Blue named Lilly. Her favorite nap spot in the Ozarks was the middle of the road in front of our house. She just took over the title this morning. She's extremely persistant when there is something she wants. She was nagging me in the kitchen to let her out while I was trying to get ready for work. I knew what she wanted but figured I would be on my way out the door in 5 minutes. She could wait.

Into the kitchen walks Gryphon, our standard poodle. Lilly immedialtely ran to him complaining about my lack of action and led him to the door expecting to be let out by a dog...but then of course he followed her?

Aurora Monsteralis

Last night we stayed long at a friend's to share dinner on his birthday. I didn't come home to start watering until 9:30. I was finished at 11:00 but was kept company by the Northern Lights. (Haven't seen any of those since the ceasing of the sunspot activity) I didn't want to go in right away in case I should miss something spectacular. And then it occurred to me.....some creature from the marsh had been waiting for this opportunity; with my eyes directed heavenward it would attack me silently from behind and shred my body to pieces in an instant.

I hoped it would be that quick and continued to gaze on.

Will have to check tonight and see if we get a repeat performance.

Blessings

"Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not but reckon up the chief of the blessings you possess, and thankfully remember how you would crave them if they were not yours "

Marcus Aurelius
170 A.D.