We Love...wait for it...USA!

In honor of our nation's independence, Adam procured an $8 lighted frisbee, two glow-in-the-dark wrist guards, a cell phone, and a few friends. After much (some would say too much) practice, here is our tribute to this great country.

I will translate:

WE

(being all of us gathered here together to celebrate with pineapple vodka and other assorted beverage concoctions)

LOVE

(very good, that was an easy one)

(No, Adam...the S! the S! C'mon!)

(That's OK, Rob...A's are hard, keep trying...)

(No! Where's the A! Not I! There is no I in USA!)

(So close, Rob! You can do it! Jeremy, great job on the U. Keep it up!)

USA!

(Yes!)

Maarit Meets TJ

Baby Maarit popped in for a visit over the Fourth. Like all of our guests, she was treated to our finest accommodations.

Unfortunately, we had to upgrade her lodging from kennel to back bedroom after we saw the sad, puppy-dog eyes. Someone has been learning tricks from a certain TJ.

Maybe next time, we won't eat the car keys. That's just asking for trouble at the inn.

After her supervised release, Maarit told TJ about her adventures. TJ has been looking for an inside source on kennel escape.

Here, she shows TJ how to pick a lock.

Then, look away when someone is watching. They won't expect a thing.

Finally, you're free! Jump up and down for joy! Good luck, TJ!

See How My Garden Grows

Theodore and Pickles are always in the mood for some action around the house. What better way to entertain them than to open up a box of vegetables? Not quite as thrilling as a tuna can opening, but it will suffice.

Nicole's vision of gardening is not something to which I subscribe. I have chosen to let professionals handle the work and I will pay them handsomely for it. Here I am with my third box of veggies from Eener's Farm CSA. They are a family who lives in Boyceville, WI who have turned a hobby into a small business. Every Monday until October I can go to the local Co-Op and pick up a box with my name on it. They also include a little newsletter in every box with ideas on what to do with the contents and a sneak peak on coming weeks.

Note the box, me, my name, my location, and 1/2 written on the box. This is gardening my friends.
Mock surprise at its finest.
A small haul for now (It is early in the season), but the bonus eggs are a nice treat.
Based on the recently newsletter I can expect the following soon: more beets, baby kohlrabi, bigger turnips, and swiss chard (whatever that is).

Pickles Post!

Pickles has been a bit under the weather lately, but it's nothing that a little TLC, 10 rounds of antibiotics, and a $90 vet visit can't fix. So, to help her feel better faster, I agreed to her demands, and I let her eat her very favorite food: expensive ornamental grasses.

For five minutes today, she was in heaven. As a bonus, we kept the dog inside. (There's been a recent influx of chipmunks anyway, and we've already had one "incident" that I'd rather soon forget.) And for the record, those grasses are as fuzzy and delicious and curative as they look.

Amanda and Matt's Wedding

My cousin Amanda recently married her college sweetheart Matt, and we took a trip back to Aberdeen, South Dakota to celebrate.

Christopher and Amanda (also recently married, but not to be confused with the recently married Amanda) were still in walking-down-the-aisle practice mode, followed shortly by my folks (who are not recently married, but who have been to enough weddings to know how to work the aisle).

Tyler and Courtney arrived in style in Tyler's shiny new gangsta' car, complete with heavily tinted windows that I'm fairly certain are quite illegal in most states. Perfect for any "deals" that need to be "done".

Adam got the party started after he discovered a jug of Zinfandel that needed his attention.

Alex, my cousin Andrea's youngest kiddo, was so excited for the garter toss that he just barely kept his pants on.

Beautiful wedding, with a great family reunion tossed in. We'll be back next April for my cousin Jill's turn.

Thanks for all the garden fencing suggestions - except you, Jake. I don't think peeing around the perimeter is in our plans, but maybe as a last resort. We'll see...

We decided to go with the Liquid Fence. It looked fairly harmless in the store, and the price was right. However, the smell of it was so strong that I could barely breathe. I am certain that we will have no visitors - mailman included - until the next big rain. I stumbled around spraying the important stuff as fast as I could and rushed to get back inside the house. TJ had been awfully quiet this whole time. I turned around to bring him inside, and there he was, happy as could be, delicately licking the sweet taste of rotten eggs and garlic off the coneflowers.

Anatomy of a Yawn

TJ can sometimes get a little bored when he's helping us with the yard work.  At least he tries hard to hide his true feelings.

Success!