Labor Day Poolside
These clippings cannot die!
When we first moved here to Vallejo our friend Manny who lives on Mare Island and who used to live in Glen Cove, gave Shando some clippings that we planted in our front yard. Most memorably Manny said, “No matter what you do, these CANNOT die.”
That was very helpful in my decision to start getting serious about gardening. We replaced the small patch of grass that I was not very thrilled to have to mow with this area where we planted a young palm tree surrounded by succulents with mulch.
I’ve since killed LOTS of things in our gardens, but these have survived, just like Manny said. Indeed, THIS year they have grown with leaps and bounds, and look how beautiful they’ve bloomed this week!
Safest Kind of Snake
While prickly, no venom or biting involved here.
Through a circuitous, tortuous, and even serpentine route, I was gifted a certain serpentine cactus of a type unique to my eyes. I think it fits in with my cactus area nicely. Thanks to James, Jason, Greg, and Steve for thinking of my garden and me!
Kayaking with Snoopy and Polar
I enjoy kayaking in Lake Chabot here in Vallejo every time, but I think the dogs are kind of bored. They probably equate being on the kayak to being in the car. They see it as a mode of transportation and are eager to arrive when we get back to docking. Sometimes they just lay down in the kayak and aren’t interested in looking at the water much. They certainly don’t seem to sense the GIRAFFES that we see each time as they eat in their Six Flags park enclosures that are visible from the lake.
Napa River Sunset Dinner
This evening was exceptionally lovely having dinner by the Napa River and watching the sunset afterward beneath the white eucalyptus trees. Thanks for suggesting the RIPARIAN location, Noel & Mark! You have made our move to Vallejo so much more valuable with your amazing friendships, Covid notwithstanding. It doesn’t hurt that Mark is a big Streisand fan like me!
Even in the reflection of the window, you can see the Mare Island Causeway, which is so cool.
Their dogs are Dewey & Mia (the pomeranian).
Montara September 2023
After the picnic in San Francisco, we decided to go down to one of our favorite dog-friendly beaches, Montara. Amazingly we found great parking in both SF and at the beach (with a little patience). It was the first time we’ve taken Snoopy and Polar to the Coast and I was particularly proud of how well Snoopy minded, since he had been quite a runner when we first got him and before he was neutered.
Furassic Park 2023
Despite the “carmagedon” on I-80 with the Labor Day Weekend shutdowns, we ventured into San Francisco to attend the Bears of San Francisco “Furassic Park” picnic in Dolores Park. In this first picture, look at the SIDE-EYE Snoopy is giving someone. So shady!
Very senior Chihuahuas
Timber (Pomchi) and Bert
August 2023 Dogs
Pictures including veterinarian Sonia Amador and John with their dogs who I ran into in Benicia.
Garden Update…with new toy Remote Spinner
I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this repurposed metal art globe I bought at the Benicia Peddler’s Fair recently. I tried putting a plant in it, but I didn’t like having the bottom of the pot showing all that much. I’ll probably end up putting some spherical decoration in it, but I like it empty as well.
With a different vendor at that same event, I bought this Vallejo sign which is comprised of repurposed license plates. It includes Ohio (where my husband is from) and Massachusetts (where he also lived). At the end of this video, you will see that I put an optical illusion item at the end of the globe, but I decided that one will warrant its own remote-controlled spinner, which I’m ordering. I think the visual is more dramatic with the Vallejo sign, even though I might ultimately move it to another part of the garden.
In our garden, I like having kinetic activities to go with nature. We have bird feeders, de facto bird baths, our pack of little dogs wandering around the various tiers, swings (gravity egg chairs), and many comfortable places to nap. Most importantly toward this end, we have four water features that turn on with our smart home at sunrise and turn off at sunset daily, when our solar lights kick in. Some creative, festive lighting also turns on indoors and outdoors at sunset (as it changes throughout the year). Many of those are controlled by smart plugs, so when we say “good night” they do not remain on until sunrise.
From all points of the backyard, including in the hot tub, one smart device or another will pick up commands to change the music or turn something or other on or off.
This new movement of the globe and other forthcoming decor will add a new element of motion for those to rest in what I hope is a pastoral sanctuary when they visit our home and garden.
Let me know what you think!