The Dreaded Phone Call!

The phone call came Saturday evening from my brother, my mom had a heart attack.  It was minor, though, so no need to worry or hop a plane, he would keep me posted.  Talked to my mom a couple of times, she sounded good.  So as a get well gift I decided to whip up a batch of her favorite soup, an old recipe from Magic Pan, Potage St. Germaine.

Got all of the supplies to ship it UPS, it would be there in two days for her return.  Then the dreaded phone call!  It was not minor, she was going in for open-heart surgery and there would be a long recovery period.  My wonderful brother is taking care of my dad this week, and I'm hopping in the Jeep and headed home for who knows how long to take care of my mom when she gets out of the hospital this weekend.  Jacqui just left for Boston today and I had told her Saturday I may be hitching a ride with her, but the timing was off.  Guess I'll be delivering the soup in person!  Until  I get back . . .

Eclipse Friday Night

Peak Leaves in Asheville

Did you know the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC have the longest fall leaf season in the country?  Better get up there soon!!

Road Trip to Nashville!

Off Jacqui and I go to visit Rich and Pat and the gang in Nashville, TN!

We met Rich and Pat through transporting dogs and an instant friendship was made.  Byson is getting a nice ear rub from Rich!

This is Chloe, a senior chow who had been in a Texas shelter since April.  I paid her adoption fee, found a wonderful foster named Diana in TX who took good care of her for months until transport was arranged, and Chloe arrived at Rich & Pat's last weekend, one of the reasons for our visit!

This is Mojo, a senior Rich and Pat adopted a few years ago.

Byson is on the left, a dog they are fostering for Jacqui and I, and Frisky is on the right, another we pulled from a Georgia shelter the day she was to be put to sleep.  Rich and Pat adopted Frisky, a senior whose owner had died and family put in the shelter.  She is one lucky girl!

Rich and Pat live on 20 acres surrounded by beautiful vistas!

The night we arrived we could see fireworks in a neighboring town from their front porch.  The town was 30 miles away.  They say on 4th of July, they see a whole skyline of fireworks in all the neighboring towns, so I think another road trip will be in order!

The next morning we all went for a long walk with the dogs.

Everyone who has come in contact with Chloe has loved her.  I wanted to kidnap her and keep her all for myself.  She was just groomed and looked like a little lamb.

This is our boy , Byson.  He's a handful, has to be walked on a leash or off to the cow pasture he goes.  He loves his new buddies and his fosters!



Julie is another friend we have through rescue who lives about 30 minutes from Pat and Rich, so off we went to visit Julie and all of her chows!

Amadeus is yet another chow we pulled from a Georgia shelter who is now living with Julie until adoption.  He is a feral chow, and Julie has done wonders with him.  Julie has three little girls, a job, a huge house and yet does all this rescue work.  She's amazing!

Another of Julie's fosters.

A whirlwind weekend, could have spent many more days with our TN friends just talking and enjoying all these chow-chows, but we had to get back home to our own.  Next time we have to take a photo of Pat (sorry Pat!).  Our boy Byson was worn out and we got a great shot of his black velvet paws.  We'll see you all again soon!

New Finds in the Garden This Year

Turk's Caps

Nodding Ladies' Tresses

Spiked Lobelia

Cryptomeria Cristata a tree that looks like it has cockscombs growing in it that we traveled six hours to buy for our new digs

HUNGRY HOWDI

This is Howdi, one of seven of Kim Petrunia's chows in Massachusetts.  Howdi just had major surgery, but this was Howdi in better times.  We're all praying for you Howdi! Thank you for sharing this video with me Kim, I have watched it so many times, cracks me up!  Is that Lance Armstrong in Howdi's mouth??

Goodbye Horse Farm!

Haven't been past the farm where I used to get my compost lately, maybe I didn't want to remember that I lost one of my Merrells there while I was sinking in the quicksand maure, but as we drove by I noticed silt screens and bulldozers.  Sadly, another horse farm lost to a subdivision.

Then I remembered the lanterns hanging by the gate that I always admired and wanted to ask for.  I had Bob drive down the old gravel road leading to the farm, and there they were to my surprise!  I would have thought someone would have wanted these, they are gorgeous.  They are big, too!  The glass is opalescent and hand blown and wrapped around the glass are copper holders.  Goodbye manure, hello beautiful lanterns!