Life with the Two Crazy Dogs

I know fall is around the corner when the boys are itching like they have fleas on them.  They don’t, ok?  I know so coz I check them all the time and they have Frontline Plus flea and tick application every month.

The temperature has dropped quite a bit which I like very much.  No more sweating like a pig.  The leaves on the trees are changing colors: green, light green, yellow, orange to red.  Really pretty.  But I doubt the leaves will stay for long with the gail force winds we have lately.

Remember this tree?  It only looks pretty in spring.  The flowers will dropped like crazy in June and the crab apple will pop out.

Lovely flowers, ain’t it?  The flowers are just too beautiful.  I always stare out the door or window at the tree when its blooming.  Pretty pink flowers.  Too bad it wouldn’t stay.

Since fall is here, look what’s on the ground?  A crap load of crab apple!!!  It’s really irritating walking out on the yard with these little iddy beady fruit on the ground/grass; You will step on them and *squish*.  All stuck to the shoes.  You cannot eat them coz they are not edible.  The boys will eat them, no problems from eating them but how much can they eat, right?  The squirrels wouldn’t eat them.  The squirrels actually go for the oak tree acorns.  As for now, these crab apple will be on the ground till DB does his yard work this weekend. 

They look like cherries, don’t they? I wish they were.

The storm rolled in this afternoon around 1 p.m.  I didn’t even noticed it not til my coworkers were crowding the windows at work looking at the sky that turned day to midnight.  Then the thunder said hello to us and followed by its friend, the lightning.  Then the one that got me running to the window was the sound of “tik tak”, “tik tak” against the windows.  First thing that came to my head were hail.  Dang, not when my car is sitting outside.  I could not see anything outside.  It was too dark, the street lights were on, too, but still could not see much.  The much needed rain was a help for the yard.

After the storm passed, DB called me informing me about the maple tree standing tall next to our front side of the house, providing great shade for the bedroom and bathroom.  This tree need to go.  It will not live half naked.  The tree and stump removal guys were here and gave us some estimates.  DB will pick one of them and will have them remove the tree plus debris probably tomorrow.  Goodbye Mr Maple, the tree removal guy said your roots are already choking you.  We were actually hoping for the scrawny looking tree at the very front to go first, but that fella is staying strong.  So which tree will go next year? Last year was the Ash tree.  Hope not anymore, if not the yard will be bare and there will be no shade for the house.  We will be really cooking in the house then.

It’s summer, not officially yet, but I am already not into the weather.  The temps have been so far warm in the shade and in the sun, it’s hot.  Honestly, it has been quite okay so far with temps in the 50’s F in the mornings and on some nights we get free air-conditioning.  With the warm/hot weather these days, the plants are popping up in my garden.  The perennials (hostas, dahlias, lilies, roses) came right back up.  I got rid of all the annuals last fall. 

The rabbits were out in full force.  I went to Bachman’s a tad too late to get the rabbit scram granules.  Those buggers had already gotten to some of the lilies’ leaves.  Since I put the granules down around the plants, it has been good.  It kept those cotton tail rabbits out of the plants.  However, the boys are loving the smell of the granules.  They kept going to the garden to sniff the plants and not sure what else they did out there til I had to yell at them to “Get outta there!!!”

I had to go to Pahl’s Market for flower supports.  When i was at Pahls, I so wanted to get as many annuals as I want but the pocket is telling me not to.  Look at all the flowers in their green house, all ready to get rid of them.

The next thing I so want for my front yard or patio is a water fountain thing surround it with a bunch of plants.  I like the froggie water fountain which is $200. 


Anyways, the flower supports are for the Dahlia plants since the boys have been laying on them and the plants are now lying flat on the ground instead of erect!  The dahlias are blooming good though, I cut the blooms and placed them in a vase.  What do you think?  Might bring this vase of flowers for SD tomorrow.

Happy Memorial day to all whatever that’s left of the day.  It was a three-day weekend for me and it sure didn’t seem like three days.  The days went by so fast.  Yesterday, Sunday, several tornados hit the Midwest.  There was one fatal touched down in Hugo, MN, which is about 55 miles north of where I am.  A child died in that tornado.  Saw the pictures in the news, it is horrifying to see the pictures let alone if you are there to experience it. 

When the storm hit Hugo we (DB, SD BF and I) were getting ready for our dinner of ribs and corn on the cob.  We had the TV in the dining room on to NASCAR Coca Cola 600 (Channel 9) and the TV in the executive office to another local channel where we can watch the weather alert.  Yesterday was the first 80 degree temperature for the year.   We had a thunderstorm the night before, the morning was cool and muggy and when the sun came out, it was just utterly disgusting.  I hate humidity.  No wonder we had bad weather for that day - warm front colliding with the cold front.  Over at our end, all we had was wind and clouds which soon disappeared to clear skies and cool right down around 6 p.m.  

The crabapple tree flowering.  They were really pretty but after yesterdays strong winds, they are all gone. 

Yeah, SD’s baby is still not ready yet.  I sure feel bad for her being so uncomfortable and miserable.  Today is the actual due date.  Tomorrow is the appointment with her doc.  Hopefully he will induce her this week.  My BIL became a grandpa on yesterday.  Her daughter gave birth to a baby boy name Hunter.  I think he was 7 pounds some thing.  Can’t remember the details.  All of us are now waiting SD to pop! 

Today, I was all rested, took the boys out for their walk and baked some granola bars.  Thanks, Gertrude for the recipe.  DB said it’s better than the ones by Nature Valley or Kashi.  Mhmm, I can see this is gonna be an every or every other week thing with different kinds of fruits, nuts and grains.  Then I made a chiffon cake.  What a disaster that was, but still had to keep it in the container.  Can’t waste food, right?  The cake tast good but it hardly rise!!! 

It’s a holiday so there are sales in every store and departmental store you go to.  I have one thing in mind to get since Friday.  It is the new flip flops call FitFlop.  In actual fact, Barb from Little Chumsy’s blog wrote a review on this new wonder flip flops where it supposely stimulate your muscles when you are wearing it.  My boss bought a pair which she loves it.  She said it gives her a better posture when wearing the fitflops.  It also suppose to tone your calfs and thighs muscles and your glutes, too, I think.  In addition, those who have problems with their joints, heels will benefit from this sandals. 

So, I went to Macy’s yesterday afternoon, which is around my neighborhood to get a pair, but na -da.  I have to go to Southdale in Edina.  I went this afternoon, found them but too bad ithey are a little big for my extremely skinny feet.  The length and arch works good but where the strap is way too loose.  In other words, it did not fit snugly.  Very disappointed.  When I tried it on, walked around them I noticed I have better posture, my right heel was not hurting and my knees were pain free. 

Since I couldn’t get what I wanted, I should have left the store, right?  But no, dear me had to walk the shoe section and looked at other shoes on display showing 50%, 60% and if I use the Macy’s card, I will get another 30% off.  Good deal, huh?  Yes it was.  I found a pair of Clark’s instead.  It was 50% off and since I don’t have a Macy’s card, I paid $41+ for the pair of shoes.  I didn’t want to apply for the Macy’s card now but will later when my credit score is more stable.

Here is my Clark’s sandals I bought today. I think it’s the same as my mom’s? Not sure but I’m sure my sis can confirm that and I will be hearing a load from her. She is the queen of “Chaat” this and that.  Another reason why I didn’t take any picture of the disaster chiffon cake!

At least this pair of sandals does not hurt my right heel.

My company has this fitness challenge which started today.  I registered as a team to compete with 184 other teams within the company.  How this works is you score 1 point for every 10 minutes of physical activity you do.  Sex included, I wonder?? :)  Anyways, I am glad I signed up coz I’m slacking in the exercise department.  Yesterday was the hardest I have ever worked out for a long, long time. 

I brushed the boys 20 minutes each because of them shedding their winter coat.  They must be several inches shorter now!!  There were fur all over the yard!  Great stuff for the birds to build their nests.  Next, I bathe them and cleaned their ears.  So far so good.  Thought I would vacuum the house upstairs and downstairs.  That did it!!  After doing the stairs to the basement, I was walking like this “?”.  My back was about to break to half.   A back breaker, alright.  I didn’t wanna do much after cooking for the week.   Sat on my butt and placed orders on Photobucket.  Online shopping to stimulate the economy!

So far, today, I have complete a 15 minute walk: walked the floors in the building and took 25 minutes to walk the walking path during lunch.  We are getting really crappy weather lately.  It has been raining very frequent, seems like every other day.  I don’t mind the cool weather but the darn rain can go away for a while.  When it rains, no walks for us.  Spring storms, you gotta love it.

The first sign of spring for me is when the birds starts chirping in the morning, all day long.  Then the warmer temps breeze right in to melt the darn snow.  Whatever’s left of the snow is good to clean the boys’ up after their walk.  They will be super dirty from the slush on the roads and sidewalks. 

The snow on our front yard is gone.  We can see grass!!  The last I saw the grass was in November before I left for my trip to M’sia.  Trees and plants are budding, too.  So that means allergy season is around the corner.   Ranger is already getting the tinge of spring pollen - itching and chewing on his paws.   With the warmer temps, Ranger can lay on the grass basking in the sun all day long.  But then when it comes to his walks in the sun, he will drag his butt and pant.  Coops is the same - hyper as ever and just go and go like me. 

April showers is what I  don’t really like.  Rain and rain to mush up the already soaking wet ground although still half frozen.  Rain will clean the streets up.  Rain will leave puddles of water on the backyard and a wonderful place for Ranger to soak in the MUD when he gets too warm!!!  Just suh-weet, a mud bath! 

Besides the rain we have been getting the whole day yesterday, we were worried about Ranger, too.  He is just not himself.  He is lethargic, not wanting to go for his walks and if he does go, he will be strolling slower than DB’s walks, no interest in anything except food, and if he doesn’t want to go outside, he will lay in our bedroom the whole day till it’s time to eat.   I should bring along some little treats to tease him - that will get him going.  That boy is already 8, 56 in human age.  Still young according to many folks I talked to and able to hold his businesses for up to 14 hours or more.  So, what’s up with this fella?  I told DB to get him to the vet for his annual physical and shots which are due.  DB said he has a feeling Ranger will not be with us for too long.  NOOOOOOOOO!!!  I’m in denial, I guess.  He will leave us some day, it’s a matter of when.  For now, I think it is the pollen that is irritating him.  I hope that’s what it is that is making him so miserable.   Spring depression?  Doggie depression?  Whatever depression it is, we cannot afford a doggie shrink, I can tell you that! 

Good Friday on March 21st.  I thought I could call in because we will be snowed it.  Dang, no such luck.  It snowed over night but not that bad.  About an inch or two.  But then once I got to work at 6 a.m., it snowed harder, flakes were bigger.  They were those wet snow that will stick to everything.  Sure enough my colleague Ms E called me at 7:20 a.m. telling me she will be leaving home later coz there were at least 5 inches of snow on her drive way and the route she has to take to work is just gonna suck around that time. 

DB sent me some pictures around 10ish with these disgusting pictures. 

The day before we could see grass, the smoker and bench were clear of snow, not even any ice on them.  The snow didn’t let up at all.  The boys love it.  Here is a picture of them in the woods, didn’t give a hood about me behind them.  All they wanted was run but no can do bcoz of their leashes.

The snow finally let up this afternoon and left us with this big pile of white crap on our patio.

It melted a little with the sun trying to creep out.  Looks like this little mountain will stay put for awhile since the patio does not get too much sun this time of the year.

It started with rain yesterday which turned to snow and more snow this morning.  Those wet kind of snow where it sticks to everything.  It made commute to work really shitty.  It took me 25 minutes to  get to work.  Freeways were ploughed but still the falling snow was not fun for morning commuters.  There were a few spun outs which served them right.  But the thing with these kind of snow fall, they are really pretty - fresh white snow on the trees and every thing it touches.