ALL OUR WOE'S...

Still raining here.

 A little more than 

just spring showers.

  I feel rather foolish

 complaining about it 

when so many are going through 

such hard times in their areas 

but living in California

 tends to spoil a person's outlook 

on the way things ought to be. 

 It is so often a matter of "sameness" 

that goes on during the year here 

and when anything is out of the norm

 we tend to freak out! 

 I am not a person 

who is in favor of winter anyway,

 and when it tends to hang on 

for longer than normal, 

it seems to become a big problem.

  

OK, now,

 enough of my woes!

Here he is, showing his new "do", and his "whatever" pose

Kai 

went to the beauty shop last week.

  Since the groomer happens to be 

in his vet's office, 

we had her check out Kai's teeth.

 He was softly whining a lot

 over the week before and 

wouldn't eat one of his harder treats 

that he truly loves. 

 Before we left the office,

 he was scheduled for 

a day of dentistry!

They kept him all day 

and we picked him up 

just before closing time.  

He still wasn't fully awake 

so we had to carry him 

to the couch...

He had all of his front teeth, 

top and bottom, removed, 

only leaving a few in the very back.

 Because of the lack of front teeth 

it is hard for him to lap water and 

to keep his tongue in his mouth.

 He is slowly getting the hang of 

the water thing,

 but I guess there is no help for

 keeping the tongue where it belongs.

 He still is hopeful, though, 

that he will be able to eat

 his hard treats! 

But, his woe is: maybe not! 

It is amazing

 how a dog's determination 

is so strong.

He is feeling much better now 

and the stand off 

for the sun spots 

continues...

...and speaking of 

a dog's determination: 

the winner is! 

The little Birdie 

seems to have no woes.

Last week I showed the 

beautiful Cecil Brunner rose bush...

Here it is today,

 a symbol of

 all our woes.

In honor of the men and women 

who have fought for us. 

 We owe them so much and 

are so appreciative of 

their continued service to our country.

  Thank you all.

...Judy...

P.S.
 I started writing this post 
a few days ago,
 and in the meantime,
 we have had a couple of
 beautiful, sunny days...

...so wanted to give you
 a sneak preview of next week...
Oh, life is good!

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BIDING MY TIME...

Summer plans 

are taking a back seat here.

 We have had nothing but

 rain this past week and 

while that is just the pits 

when you are chomping at the bit

 for all things summer, 

don't take it lightly,

 as it might just be 

what was needed.

  Although gardening 

was put on hold, 

the rains might just have taken care 

of the pollen 

that is seen everywhere and

 washed it down the drain,

 literally!

My allergies 

seem to be lessening 

so am hoping that this will be 

an end to them. 

 Rain is forecast through the weekend,

 at least,

 so that gives me a

 few more days to get

 put back to rights.

In the meantime,

 we have been spending 

a lot of time on the couch.

 We have had this couch 

for about four years and,

 in my humble opinion,

 that is just a short amount of time

 for something 

that was over $1000 

to turn into such an eyesore and 

an uncomfortable piece of 

you know what!

In the pictures above,

 you see the couch 

as it set 

just after it was delivered to us.

  Very pretty and 

looking bright and comfortable.

 We bought it from R.C. Willey and

 since I have never purchased anything

 from them before, 

or do not know anyone who has,

 I have nothing to 

compare it to.

  It is so uncomfortable. 

 The cushions have sloped towards 

the back

 and have become very saggy. 

 It seems that 

it didn't take that long

 to become this way.  

It is hard to get up from

 a sitting position and

 our backs are so sore 

because of 

the lack of support.

I had seen this gadget 

in a funky little catalog years ago.

  In looking up the name, 

that I barely remembered 

on the web, 

I found it again.

  

It is from harrietcarter.com 

and it is called love seat or sofa savers.

  The cost was $27.47,

 with taxes and delivery, 

for the sofa size and 

it was delivered in a

 matter of a few days. 

 After laying it under the cushions,

 I could not believe 

what a difference it made.

After sitting on the sofa,

 without the insert,

 it would look like this 

when we got up 

just after a few minutes...

...and with the insert in place,

 we don't sit back as far and 

it is much easier 

to get up off the sofa and

 our backs are not as sore

 as they were after sitting for awhile.

  The cushions don't sag as much and 

it is definitely more comfortable.  

It's not perfect, 

but it is better.

 I am certainly 

not getting compensated for this, 

just wanted to let you know,

 that it is available and

 a short-term solution 

if you are having a

 similar problem..

As soon as the rains stop,

 we are having the carpets cleaned

 and the sofa as well. 

 Hopefully,

 now it will last a little while longer.

 By today's standards 

maybe $1000 is not a lot of money

 to pay for a piece of large furniture,

 I don't know, 

but I sure remember

 not paying anywhere near that much 

for a couch and 

having it last 

until you were tired of it,

 then you could afford to

 have it recovered because

 it was made so well.

Times have changed!

I hope the weather is

 clearing up where you are and

 everyone is able to

 get out in the garden.

 There is so much yet to do ,

 with one or two small surprises in store.

  It would be so nice 

to get it all done 

before it turns too hot to enjoy it or,

 at least, 

enjoy the doing of it.

...Judy...

This is our newest visitor to 

the Secret Garden. 

He is quite large 

in comparison to the other hummers, so 

that has earned him the title of

 "Big Gulp". 

 He returns again and again 

so will keep trying to 

get a better photo. 

 Have you ever seen 

such a 

red head?

I would like to thank Linda
 for featuring my post
 from last week at
 Dishing It & Digging It.
 Thank you so much, Linda,
 it is always such a surprise 
when this happens and
 I am so honored.

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THE PERILS OF MAY...

Last week 

I wrote about the joys of May

 of which there

 are many...

...beautiful spring weather,

 flowers blossoming and 

bright sunshine...

...and the celebration of Mother's Day.

 I had a very nice Mother's Day. 

 We went shopping for the garden and 

the Captain, Kai and Robin 

accompanied me on a trip to 

Home Depot

 where we tip-toed 

through the tulips, so to speak.

  It was a fun day and 

in a couple of weeks, 

we will go down to the kids 

for an extended celebration

 with Tami for her birthday, 

another joy of May.

We've spruced up 

the summer porch, 

getting ready for another 

season of 

hummingbird watching.

I was preparing

 to trim up the Secret Garden 

and then...

that's when peril #1

 set in.

In all of the years

 we lived in Santa Cruz, 

I never experienced 

any type of allergies. 

 About two years ago,

 I noticed I was really bothered 

by the scent of the lilacs.

  Much to my dismay, 

I had to stop bringing them 

into the Cottage and 

that took care of it..

but this year is a

 different story.

I think these 

might be the main culprits 

as they are both blooming 

in the garden now.

The bees love these two plants and 

as they are busying about,

 they knock the pollen and the blooms off 

and it looks like snow

 on the ground. 

 I have had to lock myself inside 

with a cold, wet rag over my face,

 in order to get any relief.

Remember how prolific 

the wisteria was

 last year?

This is what 

it looked like this year. 

 I kid you not. 

 Another brutality

 of the perils of May.

 But, just when I thought 

the perils might be 

overtaking the joys, 

this happened...

...I heard the most 

brilliant and sweet little song and

 there he was.

  Romeo and Juliet 

may be planning to return

 to the little Pink Cottage.

 I've seen one or the other 

enter and then fly out, 

to return in a couple of days. 

 This was kind of their schedule

 last year, 

so I am hoping that

 they will take up residence once again 

and raise another 

little family.

So,

 now that the hummers are returning,

 and the culprits of peril 

are diminishing somewhat, 

I'm hoping the joys of May

 will carry on 

into June.

...Judy...

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