Memoirs of My Geisha & My Wolf

Took a long time to sit down and do this post, now a year and a half later. I waited to find a red girl chow rescue puppy for almost two years with no luck. Then I saw Geisha, problem was she was in California. Bob flew to Sacramento and brought her home on the plane in a carrier under the seat. My little California girl!
 

She was with the now defunct Sierra Foothills Chow Rescue, but I still have contact with her foster mom Kathi Duran who, like me, still helps rescue chows. 

Sweetest little chow girl in the chow world!

Panda hated Geisha when we first brought her home, but they became inseparable.

When she was young, she loved water. I would catch her wading in a marshy area we had and she acquired the name "Swamp Geisha".  I still have her football to remember her by.

She loved hanging with her lizards on the breezeway or letting the birds groom her back and take her fur for nests.

The seniors: Geisha, Bamboo II and Panda.

                                                      Grinch Feet!!

Bad hair day!!

She lost three of her friends within months of each other, she was the only chow left out of seven at age 12. I drove to Miami to adopt a little blue boy we named Kody Kakes. He was two years old and a terror. He would do zoomies and roll Geisha. She became afraid of him, so two weeks later Bob drove him back to his rescue in Miami. At least I got to visit friends and go to the beach, but I didn't have a chow friend for her and she was depressed. Then I saw Timber on Facebook and I knew he was the one!! 

We always wanted a malamute, what could be more perfect than a chowamute? Both very stubborn breeds and he was! Ten years old and such a great boy! He was wonderful and Geisha instantly loved him.

Like they say in the Army . . . nuts to butts.

Definitely a snow dog. First good snow and plunged his head right into a drift!  Never too cold for a chowamute!

He loved his land and to roam. He felt free. Malamutes like huskies love to travel and he did as much as he could the first year with us. He could have been older than 10, there was no way to know. His owner passed and he ended up on the streets of Charlotte.

Both Geisha and Timber were "fluffers" so there were always blankets around and I would constantly be "defluffing" so they could refluff. It was a constant job!

I love big paws!

He loved his stuffies. His favorite was a rabbit that I still have.

Timber watching Geisha at his food bowl, he was not thrilled, but was polite.

Only had you four years, but I really loved you!

Geisha passed May 2nd at 14 1/2 years old from cancer on the knee and ten days later on May 12th Timber passed at 14 years old with a cancerous mass in his mouth. It was a bad month. The house was never so quiet. I had major traveling plans, got my passport, but there was a 10 month old chow in Asheville that needed a home and another in Kentucky that I said I would foster, so the Canada trip is on hold for now.  One day I hope to see all my dogs again, especially Geisha and Timber, they were special!

Mud Creek

I look forward to the Mud Creek sale every May. Get up at 5:30 am, have my coffee ready and get up to Hendersonville and stand in line for over an hour waiting to get in.

I know right where the linens table is and head straight for that passing by all the garden/yard items, which I wish I could stop and look at. Once done at the linens table, I take it all to the car and head back in to look for lighting fixtures and art.

They were calling for rain, but it didn't happen. I was hoping thinking it would keep a lot of people from getting up and coming. It's like a swarm of locusts, in an hour the place is pretty much wiped out. 

 The finds this year to sell in my Etsy shop. There was only one item I wanted to keep, that's the ivory knitted bed sized afghan, but everything else will be listed.

Found two Irish linen tablecloths to be embroidered. I have never found any that weren't already embroidered.

This milkglass chandelier was only $2!!!!

Lots of good vintage damask. The turquoise is so beautiful and has napkins to go with. The pink napkins were a rare find, very beautiful.

Lots of tablecloths, embroidered and crochet. I was disappointed I didn't find bags of small embroidered pieces which I usually find something really special in them. 

A very odd finial shaped lampshade.

Southern Belle items are always a great find.

Lots of afghans, the ivory one is the keeper.

Foxglove needlepoint pillow.

This ironstone pitcher I've already sold on Etsy.  Now I have to wait a whole year until the next sale!!

Day Trippin'

Ever since Bob retired in March we have been taking little day trips, seems all involved flowers or plants. He's a good sport.

 Laurens, South Carolina - the yearly trip to Roses Unlimited to get my special rose food and pick up a rose or two and to see the chow on the premises. This year we had lunch at a small cafe Crepes and More. Was really nice to have some crepes that I didn't have to make.

I had spinach with goat cheese and fig jam on top. Bob had a breakfast crepe. They were huge and delicious.

A stop at Vernons II, a huge nursery where you can find any plant you can think of. I asked about crossvine and they had one, but it wasn't looking too good.

The local courthouse that they have been renovating for the past couple of years. We still can't get inside. I would have loved to work in this courthouse!

Pretty historic buildings and statues.

Roses Unlimited. I bought the Mills Rose food and a climbing rose, Joseph's Coat. I'm running out of places with enough sun to buy anymore roses, unless some trees come down.

This red Eden would be next on the list, another climber. I have the pink Eden on front of the farmhouse. I love this rose!

 

Another week we went to Spartanburg to check out a new coffee shop, The Pharmacy in a historic Masonic building. Great coffee, had a sandwich since it was lunchtime. We first went to a local native plant sale in Tryon.

Walked the gardens of this historic church next to the coffee shop.

Native plant sale in Tryon. Bought a big Ostrich Fern.

Churches in Tryon across from the plant sale.

Lots of lavender.

One day we finally got to Inman, SC to the Peony Fields. It's nice to be able to go any day of the week with no schedule.  I love retirement!

Acres upon acres of huge peonies to admire.

There is a pretty little gift shop, all peony items and you can also buy a bouquet here.

Brought my bouquet home and placed it in an antique pitcher on the mantle. 

Went to see Hail Mary, something for Bob (but I'll see anything with Ryan Gosling in it) and he will be going to Atlanta to stay with a friend and see a Braves game. They have been trying to see a game with our friend's son Dylan Cease in it, but he just went to the Toronto Bluejays. Maybe one day he'll be a Brave! He will get to spend a few days down there and go to the game and all the bookstores he used to frequent. The falls will be opening this summer after two years of cleanup from Helene. One day we'll go out to Lake Lure, see how the Flowering Bridge is coming along and the marina. Time for some mountain day trips!