Monday, March 10, 2008

Who's in the Garden?



Typically, I spend some time in the garden each and every day. Sometimes you can find me there after dark. With the time change upon us though, that should not be much of a problem. Mr. Fix-it is usually in the garden too. His place in the garden is near his garage or in his garage. Occasionally Mr. Fix-it does help me out-when I ask very, very nicely and he can fit it in his schedule. Mainly, it is my big dog BJ who is ALWAYS with me in the garden, no matter where I am, he is never far.

I couldn't resist snapping his picture on a long day working in the garden. He was 'helping' me install the split rail fencing in its new location along the roadside border of our property. I was actually trying to get some pictures of new foliage and plants coming to life.

Each time I would bend down, there was BJ, ball in mouth. His eyes are partially closed because he was looking for attention and didn't know what he was doing wrong, though he knew he was in my way! So, to all you gardeners out there (or non-gardeners reading this blog), I ask you-who's in your garden with you?

in the garden....with a big, friendly, golden dog.

56 comments:

  1. Tina,

    BJ is a good looking companion.

    No-one...no dog and we have an indoor cat (who stands at the door meowing until I come inside). This is why I blog, so I can have buddies like you to talk about garden stuff.

    Have a nice day Tina,

    Gail

    ps I wanted to email you the other day but can't find your address...and the form on your contact page assumed I knew the email address, hmm. technology!

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  2. Aw shucks --that was too cute --BJ wanted to play and Tina wanted to garden:) I'm sure he won considering how cute he was closing his eyes at you:) Looks nice this morning but I'm sure it will rain later. I have to assess my prospective flowers after all that heavy snow --the tulips in front are still looking great. The back I'm not so sure --the daffodils up by the farm still look great --we walked up there yesterday. Have to stop pecking on here hubby is trying to sleep --late shift last night.

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  3. Looks like a friendly companion! The one who follows me in the garden would be my 2 year old daughter Grace. She's has a great time outside!

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  4. Tina I don't think BJ looks as big as he actually is in the pic. As for the ball....he will wear anyone out with a ball. He would chase it to the moon and back and ALWAYS has a ball. If their are no takers on throwing it he will throw it himself right from his mouth and then run after it just as if someone had thrown it to him. Funny to watch.

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  5. Most usually it is just me, myself and I in the flower gardens!!

    Our dog is so old she just wants to lounge and sleep!

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  6. Ah, BJ and his slobbery ball! The Saint knows all about that ball as he threw it a hundred time’s one nice afternoon back in the fall.... LOL

    I have so much company in the garden. Many birds, butterflies, bees, lizards, frogs, pesky squirrels and the list go on and on! I especially enjoy the songs the birds sing for me...

    I was looking out the window at the garden as the computer was booting up and saw a dang squirrel digging in one of the planters I have put seed in! He dug a huge hole and was gone in no time at all so not worth me running down the stairs and out the front and into the garden to chase him off because he was already gone by then.... arggggggg...

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  7. hey guys. very wet in the garden today. the fence installers came, but couldn't set the posts. another day. i told them as long as it was done right and to last-they can take their time!

    gail, my email is ramseytina5@gmail.com. i think if you click on someone's name on the comments when it is blue, it will take you to their profile and if they say to list their email, you can get it that way. email me anytime! the indoor cat missing you is almost as good as an outdoor one with you!

    anonymous, bj did not win out. cute as he is, he can be irritating-gotta throw the ball ALL the time. but it is little to ask from me for all he does each day.

    dave, grace is a lovely name for a girl. you need to start her early and it is great when kids can get some garden and outdoor time. i am sure she loves her time with dad-and the bonus is she will sleep well from all the outside activity.

    mom, bj is huge and the picture doesn't really show. all 110 pounds. he really loves that ball. it is a great motivator. anything i want him to do-i just use the ball as a reward.

    nina, just you and the gardens? that is nice too. you can enjoy the flora and fauna in peace with no pesky dog wanting you to throw a ball. your girl must get lots of rest if she won't follow you.

    skeeter, birds, bees and butterflies are good in the garden. no squirrels though. i got an awesome picture of a fox squirrel this weekend. i will put it up here soon. so big. are yours big? from eating your nice seeds and bulbs i bet?! lol

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  8. Yes, bj is to cute, had to wean our dog from being pesky with the ball (softball) his joints started paying for it by evening time, still sticks with me though.
    I lost my one neighbor last night, the vacant trailer next door? The unfinished 2 story garage is still standing but the roof to the mobile has collaped. We were the bearer of bad news, lucky he left his number with us, not that anyone can get in there because of the high bank.
    Bet the price will deflate now.

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  9. you lost your neighbor to a cave in?!!! omg. that is awful! hopefully he is ok? since no one can get in there? oh dear.

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  10. A handsome garden companion Tina. We all need one like that. At least he will listen.

    Dawn with Peaches how awful about your neighbor. Do hope he is alright.

    I too like the birds, bees & butterflies as companions when I garden. Squirrels kinda hide when I go out. I really like to sit in my swing & watch the little hummer. They are so cute.

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  11. Yes, he is alright, he's living in NH, no one to shovel off the roof. Looks awful 1/2 gone and the wall bowing out. NO ONE is getting in there unless they have a bobcat.

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  12. hi lola! you are on here early today. my bj is handsome and does listen so well! birds, bees and butterflies are good too. at least they disturb your gardening-though sometimes we gardeners disturb them!:)

    dawn with peaches, i sure am glad the home was empty! i thought someone was inside. yes, i would think they would sell the land very cheaply now. you and jack of all trades should buy it and double your property. zack or nikki could live there one day.

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  13. That is the promo my neighbor gives me.

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  14. That is horrible about your neighbor loosing their home! Snow can sure get heavy.

    I checked the planters with all the seeds in them and each and every one had been dug into by the squirrels! They are always on my poop list but I dont have it in my heart to kill them...

    No Tina, the squirrels we have are fairly small. The winters are mild therefore they have no reason to be large in size. Our deer are smaller then the ones in TN also. All we have in the yard is the gray squirrels but we have seen some darker squirrels with the fox type ears at the lake. They are much larger then our gray ones...

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  15. dawn with peaches-why don't you buy it? overpriced? people do tend to do that.

    hey skeeter, have you ever seen an orange or black squirel? my son saw a black one in chicago. and these ones i saw this weekend are literally orange on the front where normal squirrels are white. too cool. i need to upload the pic. have you tried mesh on your planters? hot pepper? your neighbors dogs? a fake owl? goodness, too much work to let the critters undo it all.

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  16. I was going to suggest some kind of wire mesh to keep the squirrels out. I tried the pepper--it just came up. Maybe even take an old CD & tying it to something close. It moving & being shinny may help. I did that with old DVD that Young'un messed up while he was burning something on them. It seemed to help.

    I forgot to ask Tina. Where did you find the red chairs that is in background of cj? Used to be able to find them everywhere but now they are getting scarce. Not to mention the $$$$.

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  17. It was really nice today. I'd like to say we did yardwork but we didn't --hehehe. The kids played ball and jumped on the trampoline --went for a walk too. I hope it is this nice again tomorrow. I could get used to it:) Hi Nina, Jean, Tina, Lola, Dawn with peaches, Gail, Dave and Skeeter. Skeeter I can loan you a few boys for the weekend to help out with the squirrel problem --:0) It can be so annoying watching them dig up bulbs and plants:( I think Lola had a good idea with the shiny CD hanging to scare them --or maybe an old pie tin that would make noise. And, they have this awesome stuff you can put down made with cayenne pepper that might work too --it's to keep neighbors dogs that love to tear up your front yard out --but it won't hurt them just annoy because it's pepper. I can't remember the name but I bought some at Home Depot and Walmart has a version too --something like dog-be gone. Like I mentioned it won't hurt them but the bad smell keeps them away. It might work for the squirrels too??

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  18. You can trap and drive far, far, away. You'd be trapping forever.....

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  19. lola-good question on the chairs. i love the old stuff. i was out walking in a neighborhood one day and spotted them in a front yard with a for sale sign on them. i asked mr. fix it to see how much they wanted. could not believe they wanted like $20 for each one! i said no thank you. too much money. mr. fix-it then left. the guy found where mr. fix it worked and said he would come down on the price. he finally settled for $17 for both. still he got a deal and i feel i did too. you can't find these chairs anymore! only in antique stores. these are so comfortable though so you know if you do find them and it is not too much money-buy them. i love them. do you not have any lola? i bet at some yard sales you might find some.

    hey anonymous! report card day on friday. should say-dooms day for the jimster! hope i see your boys names in the paper again-bet i will. good tip from both you and lola for skeeter and the squirrels. it was a nice day today-maybe better tomorrow.

    dawn with peaches, folks trap the critters all the time then dump them at parks. i think they find they way back sometimes. we tried to trap for the chipmunks. all we caught were birds! cardinals, wrens, finches. whenever jimmy wanted to see one up close he would put the cage by the bird feeder with some sunflower seeds and within a few minutes there was another bird. we learned this when we trapped a bird last year while trying to get the chipmunk. we were in maine at the time. not a good thing. now we just have the cat and haven't seen anymore chipmunks-though she doesn't do any good for the squirrels.

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  20. Dawn I forgot and now I can't remember what post it was on so will just say it here. What happened to your Sunday School Days? Lent is from Ash Wednesday to Easter...40 days.

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  21. mom, we forget after so many years-not to be named on here. old age sets in i guess.

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  22. LOL --you get them girls Jean --hehehe I'm glad my mama doesn't do the computer scene, hehehehe:0) The boys are up late tonight --had a scout meeting. I am not looking forward to the report cards --one of my boys has taken more of an interest in a cute little girl --not to name which one -let's just say he is 11 --yes my outdoors boy :0) I think it will be nice again tomorrow Tina --great day to be outside today. I can never get enough done inside and outside sure needs my attention. I tell myself I am pacing myself --hahaha just a little slower getting to the outside stuff. I still need to order my mulch and get the white paint for the deck fencing. It will happen just can't say how long it will take. My kiddos take priority and they know it --heheh we have a meeting tomorrow night about courses for next year. Tina --did you realize this is the last marking period for this school year? It went by so fast --I look forward to the summer break --no homework to check, no studying to do --no last minute projects. It will be a nice break to just swim and run --oh yes and garden too:) What was I thinking --I hope to get some beans and peas in the garden and hope the bunny doesn't sit in broad daylight and eat them in front of me --he did last year. Jacob couldn't even scare that guy off --he was a plump little fella --and he ate those peas down to nubs, lol.

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  23. Anonymous I bet if your Mamma did the coumpter scene she would be very proud of you on here!!!!
    You are so sweet and witty. I so look forward to reading your comments.

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  24. Tina, I don't know how you resisted BJ... he's too cute with those eyes half-closed! (And I know that look all too well. "C'mon, don't you see the ball? Youwannaplaywiththeball... I know youwannaplaywiththeball. C'mon, mom!" At least, that would be what my Coco would be thinking. lol.

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  25. Good Morning Tina --and thanks Jean for your kind comments:) It looks and feels great out this morning. I've got to get the girl model out to school --catch you later:)

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  26. Mom, I said I was probaly wrong and I was! Thinking it was no meat eating from fri to sunday, although I don't have a clue where I got that from.

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  27. anonymous, you are funny and your mom is proud of you. i did realize the school year is almost over! only about 2 months and i am happy!

    mom, anonymous is quite the lady. you'd love her. i did check on that post a few down and it is the most comments on any of my 191 posts. i hope i get to 200 prior to the switch over. that will be a feat!

    blackswamp girl-hi there! so glad you commented. i was beginning to have a complex because not many garden bloggers comment on here-though i am not sure why. i have commented on others and always read as many blogs as i can each day though i don't always comment. i do tend to ramble and talk a bit. i have visited your blog and i can see coco is as sweet a garden companion as my little bj. you readers and commenters alike go check out blackswamp girl's blog at: http://blackswampgirl.blogspot.com/make sure you let her know you stopped by! i will not disclose where she is gardening-but it is not where i thought by the screen name! thanks for stopping by and do come often! it is nice to know you are here-helps me with that little complex!

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  28. I am not Catholic but I knew what Lent was... LOL....

    I have a funny to share on Lent...
    My Great Aunt had a sip (or two) of boozed each day for her entire 84 years of life. One day while visiting with my parents, my mom asked if she was ready for a sip of bourbon. She said no, that she had given it up for Lent. Then she proceeded to say she would have a little Vodka though.... Was too funny....

    Squirrels would eat the wire mesh and chase the CD like a teeter ball! They are just pain in the butts... I will not trap them and relocate them for fear of them having babies in a tree that rely on them. I am such an animal lover! When we moved into the woods, we knew critters such as Squirrels, Rabbit and Deer would be an issue with gardens so we just do the best we can. I use the spray but it is so expensive and with all the rain, it washes away. Will try the egg concoction as soon as I make some up....

    I would like to go away from the house while a hunter took care of my problem. What I dont know, dont hurt me right....

    I have seen white squirrels and black squirrels and fox squirrels with a reddish face but not orange. They may change colors with the seasons or age like the deer…

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  29. No I don't have any chairs like those red ones. Sure wish I did--Will just have to keep my eyes open. You really got a deal on yours.

    Skeeter, go to your local barber shop & ask if you can have all the hair that has been cut. I think they will be glad to give it to you. Take it & spread it around. Animals don't like human smell. It should help a little. Other wise grow some hot pepper & make your own spray. It's a lot cheaper that way.

    I too have seen black & white squirrels. Very pretty.

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  30. Well Skeeter I am not a drinker at all but that sure made me laugh.
    Very funny!

    We talked about the human hair before and as Lola just said it is susposed to work and I have read that barbers are glad to get rid of the hair.

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  31. skeeter-sounds about right! not a bourbon drinker-give me the vodka!

    try the hair as lola and mom suggest-good luck. i am thinking take a trip and let a few hunters come on in too.

    lola-yes, keep an eye out. i was thrilled to get mine. they last forever and i think kind of timeless. i need to repaint mine. another project.

    hey mom! skeeter is funny isn't she? everyone on here is!

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  32. Does your chairs have any connections in the base frame- the tubing. Could you give me the measurements? Like width of seat, hight of seat & how far from front to back of seat.

    Skeeter, have you tried putting the bourbon/vodka in dishes for the squirrels? lol lol Maybe that would help.

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  33. OH, too funny. I'm thinking drunk squirrels hic-cupping all over the place!

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  34. Whoops, anonymous was me again! Laughing too hard.

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  35. Would make for a good home movie. How about it Skeeter? Drunk Squirrels Take Over Ga.

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  36. OMG You guys are so darn funny!!!! Might just do the job.
    They sure will be happy squirrels.

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  37. Lola we posted at the same time again. Oh this blog is something else!

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  38. I agree. I get my laughs for the day on here. I love it.

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  39. skeeter would never consider feeding the squirrels alcohol! something about cruelty to animals?!

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  40. Oh Skeeter -I can still loan you a few boys??? They are licensed in TN but could probably get a GA license:0) I know that at least one of them is a really good shot --now the girl --she'd be making you wince --she uses a bow:)
    Hi Tina -busy day today --grandma came over to visit and I had a meeting at school --we have to pick the courses for next year. Another wild day tomorrow --meeting at school and piano after school. I guess I better get to bed goodnight y'all. We did visit the flowers today --had to share that beautiful sight with mama.

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  41. anonymous, send me a pic of the daffys. are they standing up?

    glad grandma came for a visit ALL the way from hoptown. ttyl

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  42. We know she wouldn't do that, I remembered AFV where the squirrels ate fermentted berries and couldn't stay standing, it was cute and funny. No harm came to them, it wore off like it does on humans. It made me laugh to tears, then and now.

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  43. Drunk squirrels, yall are too much. LOL... we had an automatic bird feeder once. When a squirrel got on the base of the feeder, it would spin them around in circles. Now that was funny! It would not hurt them but would just fling them off. One guy held on so long that when he finally let go and fell to the ground, he was wobbling as if drunk from the ride!
    The raccoons learned to hold the base until it ran the batteries down then they would raid the feeders! Arggg. That thing was an expensive purchase to trash once the batteries would no longer charge... Animals won that battle! Now we have the long stove pipe things on the feeder poles and we win...

    Squirrels are pest but they are so cute to watch… Just wish they would stop using my flowers, plants and pots as their playground equipment!

    Anonyomus, send those kids down, Like I said, as long as I dont see anything, I will be none the wiser... LOL

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  44. Ops, forgot to mention the chairs. Those are like the ones we had when I was a kid! I remember one summer my dad sat in one and it slowly closed on him as it had rusted through! It was so funny to watch his rearend slink to the ground in slow motion. I will never forget that sight. We kids laughed until we cried!

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  45. holy smokes! got another record on comments again!

    lola, the chairs are 19.25" wide and 19" inches long on the seat bottom. the frame is not part of the seats-it is attached with screws.

    dawn with peaches-love afv!

    skeeter-anonymous's kids would SURELY eliminate your squirrel problem. jimmy could too...thinking of that!

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  46. Don't think the squirrels would touch the alcohol as they won't touch the bird seed with pepper in it. They probably have eaten worse. Can't see hurting an animal for no reason.
    I've always said if you can't take care of an animal right you don't need to have one. Same for children.

    Thanks for the measurements , Tina. That will help.

    Too funny about your dad. It would be amusing to watch knowing he wouldn't be hurt.

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  47. I think his ego was pretty bruised as he was thinner in those active days...

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  48. skeeter, i hope your dad doesn't sit on anymore rusted chairs. and i did not know they would rust out like this..gotta watch out!

    don't know about a prize skeeter. talking is maybe enough? i just can't believe the amount of comments. it doesn't seem like it to me when i get on here. i only notice it when i come to the blog from blogger and view the comment amount when i click to comment. it doesn't show it to me on blgger because i only view drafts and not all 200 posts. anyhow, keep talking...loving all my commenters and the conversation.

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  49. Just wanted to make 50 here! LOL...

    The chairs were many many many years old and had sat outside in all types of weather. I reckon the rust finally got to them... I have seen new ones made to look like those but they are pricey....

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  50. surely this must be a record?!!!!! for my blog anyhow! skeeter what shall you get for being lucky number 50? a tonsilectomy maybe? lol if anyone has any suggestions-let me know!

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  51. I say a cruise is in order. Other half needs to step in here. Never will happen again. 50 in it's self is a feat. Been there, done that. Will never forget--surprised & shocked. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

    Crushed flavored ice is good too. Anything that will go down easy.

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  52. Hey just to set things straight here I made number 50th comment. I am NOT 50.. Well, not yet anyway. LOL... I will have 5 more years to go after March 26... I dont really care how old I get, I just wish all the strange pains would not come with age. I sure cant seem to stay in the yard as much as I use to... Age, just a number though.... Hey, I will still take that cruise! Does Trace get to come too Tina???

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  53. i don't know about a cruise...sure wish i could take one first-before i give my great commenters one! if i could book you one skeeter, i would try to find out if trace was performing on the ship. ya never know! you are no where near 50-lots more years to go!

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  54. Sorry I misunderstood about the #. You got a loooong ways to go yet. You are a baby yet.
    Step dau just got back from a cruise. They had a ball. Lots of R & B music. Went horse back riding at one of the ports. They planned it for a yr. She said it was worth it. Vacation of a life time.

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  55. lola, skeeter and i are the same age-nearly 45 and holding! but we will hopefully all reach those older years too. though, one can never be sure...

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