Lucky Loves Apples -- Norwegian Elkhound

Lucky likes to chase apples as much... or more... than chasing a ball. Maybe he likes the taste!

I've decided that he is a Norwegian Elkhound. Here's a photo.... what do you think? The indoor photo is a different dog but is a representative photo of a Norwegian Elkhound. Looks a lot like Lucky

I think he's pretty smart, but the breed standard is supposed to be just average. I've seen him catch sight of a ball or toy in the small dog section over at Silver Springs park and then realize he has to run down to the water, swim around the end of the fence and then come back out if he wants that toy.

Obviously he can't read (I think!) but he knows that space is for the small dogs and he's not allowed in it.

End of the Season for the Garden

This past weekend we pulled the tomato, squash and pumpkin plants out of the garden in preparation for winter.

The hostas and yellow/orange black eyed susan's have faded. I pulled seedlings from the Black Eyed Susans (the little short ones) and I need to pot up some of my daisy bunches for my sister for Friday.

Because I managed to reformat the SD camera storage card by using it in both a Nikon and a Canon, I am having trouble opening it in the computer. Yikes. Time to troubleshoot that problem.

Tree Down on the Hudson Green near the Gazebo

Of course the city workers had it all cleared up in about 2 hours after I took this picture. They really do a great job keeping Hudson Ohio's green looking great.

Storm Damage - not too bad

I just keep thinking about the folks in Houston and Galveston. Here's our little bit of storm damages... and it wasn't even really classified as a storm!

Bird House Gourds

Pumpkin

This little pumpkin came from the seeds of a "100 pound" pumpkin. We'll see how much it grows before halloween -- only 2 months to grow!

Vegetable Garden 9-1 compared to 7-2-08

Hot and dry this September 1st.

Green and Lush this past July 2nd.

Hummingbird on the Deck: Lunchtime in Hudson Ohio

Hummingbird

It's hard to sneak up on a hummingbird! Yesterday was so hot, they were much braver so they could get some nectar. Either that or they're getting used to us! They were battling it out -- not good at sharing with each other!

Deer at Dawn

I put my hand over the flash, but this little guy was startled anyway!

Tall Tomato Plants

The plants are really peaking now. It's amazing how many green tomatoes we still have.

More Susans

Black Eyed Susans

The little tiny dainty black eyed susans have rounded petals and the cut ones stay in the vase much longer.

I don't particularly like how hugely tall they are (5 or 6 feet!) because they block out the big black eyed susans that have longer petals.
The big black eyed susans remind me of daisys but the little ones, although similar color, look like a totally different flower.

When you look at them closely, there are lots of difference. The little ones are about 2 to 3 weeks after the big ones.

Many of the big ones are starting to fade, but the little guys are just starting.

Nice for continuous color!

Hummingbird at the feeder

We have several hummingbirds that visit and you can tell who is who by the color of their throat. It's always fun to catch a glimpse of them before they take off thru the backyard.

I didn't expect them to land on the feeder to drink... for some reason I thought that they would just hover like they do above the flowers.

Red Sky in Morning...

Sailors take warning. It's supposed to be a beautiful day today!!

Taken just 20 minutes later.

Flowers from the Family Reunion Garden

Pretty Petunias

Deer in the Backyard

Two Bucks with horns were eating apples right off the tree this morning at 6 am. They hear everything! Every time I tried to move around to get a better shot from the house, they'd stop and stare. Then they slowly wandered over to another tree. Then meandered back around the pond and slowly into the woods. Not even really flicking their tails... just mosied along. Probably two brothers, since they looked to be the same size and age.

Old Apple Tree

Can't believe that the top is still green and producing apples!

The Vegetable Garden

I got mixed up over squash and zucchini... The first vegetables are definitely zucchini.

Black Eyed Susans - First Day July 15

Self Watering Container

We read about this kind of self watering container but it didn't work out as well as we wanted.

Blossoms of Squash and Peppers

The Vegetable Garden of Delight!

Mountains of Pumpkins, Butternut Squash,
Acorn Squash and Summer Squash.

Bee on a Butternut Squash flower.
The Birdhouse Gourds have grown up and overtop of the trellis. I can't believe what a difference great compost can make to a garden!
A peek at the green house door in the background with green beans, cucumbers and asperagus ferns in the foreground -- click on image to see the big photo!

Baby Pine Cones forming on a Spruce

A couple of years ago we planted a whole bunch of pine trees. * I say we in the royal sense... actually I didn't even touch the shovel!!

But the result is several rows of pines that are taller than me. At first when I saw this, I thought it was a weird deformity -- probably because I never saw it up so close before. But I think it's the baby pine cones just beginning to form on one of the spruce trees.

Crazy Weather, Beautiful Results

A long time friend of mine hosted her son's graduation party in the middle of one of those wild summer storms last weekend in Hudson. Just an hour or so later, what a spectacular site! Note the DOUBLE rainbow. A message from God no doubt!

Poppys from my Sister Linda

Clematis in Full Bloom

Swarm Season in Hudson Ohio

Can you spot the swarm? Just a little right and above the half way point. Right at the Y of the tree.
Last year all we heard about was the bees and how they are mysteriously disappearing. This year we've had more than 5 swarms! A good sign. That means the hives are strong enough to want to split.

First Day of the Clematis on the Deck

Wow what a beauty! And look at all the buds! Expect to see some beautiful things this June and July from this one!

Rhododendron in full bloom

Just love the full colors and expansiveness of the rhododendron in bloom. Remind me to get more of these!! I've been missing the lilacs now that they are gone, but the iris and rhodies are looking GREAT!

Hosta Garden Growing Strong!

I just love how full the hosta garden is now. I moved the verigated hostas back a little bit and they have filled in so nicely. I read somewhere you're supposed to have 3 of each planting to make a nice pattern for the eye. I think I have 4 of the verigated but 3 of the elephant ears. The ferns are growing and expanding nicely too.

Lucky & Jean with Apple Blossoms

Apple tree & chicken coop
Originally uploaded by cmcbrown

The apple blossoms are in bloom today. The air smells sweet and the dogs were even behaving today! Oh I love spring!