Was just going through some old pictures and man, what a difference a year makes:
Just looking at these and it brings back the knots in my stomach every time I went outside and looked at the yard. Much better this morning:
I’m also laughing at all my old pictures because THURSTON IS IN EVERY ONE OF THEM. He’s like Where’s Waldo. It’s because he is the orneriest of the animals- whatever is going on, he has to be RIGHT THERE IN ON THE ACTION. When I am on my hands and knees planting something, he will butt in, get in my way, to personally sniff whatever it is I am putting into the ground.
scuffletuffle
Yay for Thursten!
CaseyL
From “My Own Lunar Landscape” to “My Own Personal Oasis” in one year. I can just imagine lolling under the pergola, taking in the scents and sights.
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
It was better the old way. Also, the new website sucks. I hate it. I haven’t seen it yet, but I know I hate it. I want it to be just the way I want it to be, and to hell with everybody else! Why can’t I have everything just the way I want it? Not fair!
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
To be clear, I’m making fun of the people who always bitch and moan about any changes. I don’t doubt the new website will he just hunky dory. Also, the yard looks great. I wish my own yard looked that good,,,
Ruviana
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.): Lol, I was going to say, “Trump, is that you?”
Jim, Foolish Literalist
/comes running in from next room, desperate to say it first/
THE WILLOW IS TOO CLO…
/trips on rugand hits head on coffee table/
rikyrah
Looks so beautiful, Cole. :)
And, go Thurston :) :)
Luthe
Thurston likes to supervise, that’s all. He has to make sure you’re doing it right.
Luthe
In other news, I’ve applied for an apartment in Alexandria. Thanks to all of you who offered advice and congrats. Perhaps there should be a DC Area meet-up in the near future?
Steve in the ATL
@Luthe:
Have your parents bribe the tennis coach and you should get in no problem
danielx
A lot of hard work well done.
prostratedragon
I guess I should apologize for assuming that you deliberately posed Thurston there as a marker, since he looks so in his element.
An impressive amount of work, and a lovely result, especially factoring in the pergola.
Sab
The willow tree seems to be doing its job. Very rainy summer and no backyard pond this year.
Josie
Thurston is not ornery. He is involved.
Elizabelle
Thurston abides.
World of difference between those three photos, and Lily got healthy, too. Was a good year for you, on the non-political front.
ETA: Alas, should that be “among” those three photos? The grammar pedantry here …
laura
Thurston – project manager to the Blog Father. Your yard looks lush and abundant.
geg6
THURSTON!
Thurston is just making sure you’re doing it right, Cole.
His sister was on a tear this morning. Lovey often hides treats she doesn’t want at that exact moment but will come back to later or walks away after partially eating to check out some other excitement happening around the house. And Koda, as anyone who has ever had Labs knows, will eat anything and everything edible when given a fraction of an opportunity. So Lovey had gotten a treat after breakfast and outdoor pooping/peeing success and was working it over when John left for work. Of course, Lovey had to come and get her goodbye scritches. And of course, Koda promptly went over and ate what was left of the treat. Lovey was just FURIOUS. She barked and barked and barked her outraged at Koda bark and, when I wasn’t paying attention fast enough, came to where I was and, with every bit of outrage, exasperation and attitude she has in that little body, barked at me until I got her another treat. The look on her face has me laughing still.
Elizabelle
@geg6: And people (not smart ones) say dogs don’t have emotional lives.
geg6
@Elizabelle:
Anyone who says that has never spent enough time around dogs. Every dog we’ve ever had (but especially Lovey, for some reason we haven’t figured out) have had rich emotional lives and struggle mightily to communicate that to us stupid humans.
Fenix
Has Steve resurfaced?
I’m really stressed about that.
lurker dean
nice work!
@Sab: i was wondering about the flooding. i didn’t realize willows help with that.
Elizabelle
@Fenix: Was Steve missing? I think he just declined to do any of the pet tag etc. business.
Fenix
@Elizabelle: Thought John mentioned a couple days ago that Steve was of the grid. Maybe I misunderstood!
Miss Bianca
@Fenix: I think we would have heard by now if Steve was still MIA. How is your kitty doing?
Fenix
@Miss Bianca:
My little silver cheetah is doing wonderfully! She is a silly brat. I miss her so much right now – I’m traveling in Africa right now, on a trip planned way before I found her.
sherparick
@Josie: Correct. Just trying to help!
Flange
Well, now we know where the bodies are buried
J R in WV
I think Steve was just avoiding being photographed? Not really MIA, which would be a four-alarm fire situation!!!
Pete Mack
That looks like a great back yard. But the fruit tree needs heavy pruning this fall! So many suckers coming up.
Msb
What a lovely home you’re making, inside and out!
Sab
@lurker dean: Some say they do. Others say they don’t.
Had a willow in my yard on a riverbank when I was a kid. Very thirsty plants. But ours were on a riverbank.
Everyone says willows need to be 100 or 200 or 300 feet from your house, because they are thirsty and the house has pipes. And they have roots.
John’s willow is close to the house.But rainy this year. And his yard isn’t flooded. Next year we may hear about his pipes.
We just went to install rain barrels to our downspouts, which currwntly drain down a channel in the back yard. The water would be more useful saved for drought (city water is pricey these days) or to water the dry part of the yard instead of the swampy drain channel.