The owner of Rusty, Millie's dad, posted a photo of him on Facebook and, while she was at it, photos of Millie's sisters. One she kept and one that she babysits when the owner is away. I know about this second pup -- she went to a woman who had lost her doodle to old age and was looking for a young doodle. And they sold it to her, despite the fact that this dog lover was 89 years old. I was informed that "she's very spry!" That would well describe the dog as well. Rusty's pups are long legged gazelles. Millie, too, is very spry!
And I thought I was old getting a young pup! (I do have a designated person to care for her just in case.)
My attitude toward a lot of projects right now is "why not just do it!" You do not postpone things when you're 73.
This is why I'm pushing forward with planting the side yard at Steffi's. This is why I must have lifted one hundred acres of sod today. Okay, perhaps not quite that, but it was a hefty amount. This is why I dug holes for new plants. Roses mostly but not only.
It is the perfect day for it -- initially cool, so cool in fact that I decide to have breakfast inside.
Millie is puzzled. Why is there stuff on her chair?
Eventually she accepts her fate and tries to find joy playing on the couch. Not the same! It offers no view to the outside world.
(oh! you moved the tray to make room for me! much better!)
And when she rests, I work on the sod removal project.
Shortly after noon I have had it. I'll finish this stage of the expansion later. Time for lunch with Ed at Tati's.
Millie swallows her disappointment when we are told that they're out of whipped cream (for a pup cup). Ed shares a couple of pieces of chicken with her. She is placated.
So long as Ed is in my neighborhood, I ask his advice on a couple of trivial things at home: downspout extensions, furnace filters -- small stuff, but then, he likes to offer advice on small stuff (never on important stuff, holding on to the belief that important decisions are best left to the person affected by them). We spend a long time studying downspouts on the computer. This is such familiar to me intimacy! He and I will always enjoy studying tools and metals about which I know nothing, even as I have firm ideas as to what I want to do with them. Inevitably he will steer me to the cheapest option. Downspout for $19. Good enough! Dont buy the tin snips to cut it to size. Use mine. Shouldn't I have a pair? You'll never use them after this.
It's very helpful to have a guy with tin snips as your beloved almost-neighbor.
And in the afternoon? I dig holes in tough soil and construction junk. I needed that. Two friends now with serious health issues. Are you for the most part healthy? Thank your lucky stars. I do. A quiet thank you, every time I look up and catch that star.
with so much love...
