A Really Bad Game

One of Sammy' s favorite games used to be pushing a tennis ball under "the bridge" and digging it out. Those were the days.......

Here is the back of the bridge, and as you can see, it is accessible from both sides and it doesn't require outside help to get the ball out. In other words, Sammy can play this game by himself.


Last week, the yard men, not aware of the importance of this placement, moved "the bridge" to a more logical spot in the yard. Naturally, Sammy had to look for a new place to hide his ball. Now, the most exciting place to push a tennis ball is underneath the shed:

Unfortunately, this game requires outside assistance to retrieve the ball --

It turns out this wasn't the right ball, so we had to go digging some more:


Here we go -- right ball!

Rejects from under the shed:

Once we had the right ball, here comes Sammy to return it to its hidey-hole under the shed (Notice Alice by the fence -- Alice does not partake of this bad game):

No, no, no, must redirect. We move from the side yard to the back yard to throw the ball -- Sammy action shots!



And yes those are wood chips in the yard! Sammy's ball games have been a bit hard on the grass, so we spread mulch to deal with the mud problem. Now it looks like a dog park, which it pretty much is.
We moved "the bridge" back to its rightful place, but Sam still thinks hiding his balls under the shed is a superior game. We don't!

Happy Valentines Day!

This poem was written by Alexander Pope, a famous 18th century poet. Some of the people I study ran in the same circles as Pope, tho he was a bit older than most of my people. I love his depiction of the country squire's manners towards a lady! The poem is copied from Mark Girouard's Country House Companion.

To A Young Lady, On Her Leaving The Town After the Coronation (1714)

She went to plain work, and to purling brooks,
Old fashion'd halls, dull aunts, and croaking rooks:
She went from opera, park, assembly, play,
To morning walks, and prayers three times a day;
To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,
To muse, and spill her solitary tea,
Or o'er cold coffee trifle with a spoon,
Count the slow clock, and dine exact at noon;
Divert her eyes with pictures in the fire,
Hum half a tune, tell stories to the squire;
Up to her godly garret after seven,
There starve and pray, for that's the way to heaven.
Some squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack,
Whose game is whisk, whose treat a toast in sack;
Who visits with a gun, presents you birds,
Then gives a smacking buss, no words;
Or with his hounds comes hallooing from the stable,
Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table;
Whose laughs are hearty, though his jests are coarse,
And loves you best of all things --but his horse.

Notes: "Buss" means "kiss." Eating dinner at noon was unfashionable. "Bohea" refers to black tea from China.

Alice Wants You To Know; A Message to All Our Blog Friends

(Today's Post has been turned over to Alice, who insisted that I transcribe and relate her message to all our Blog Friends -- LB)

I have had it with things around here and I'm tired of my Mom's excuses for not blogging. You might think she has been busy, and I guess she has, but she has been doing such boring things such as house work, driving BB around -- carpool and so forth -- and she has been on this new and horrid organizing kick. She has spent all sorts of time filing and shredding papers! When she could be doing something fun with me and Sammy! When she does have a free moment, guess what she does? She reads! How boring can you get????

Well, I have put my paw down; I say Mom simply must keep up with our blog friends because it is something she enjoys and misses doing. She has been making noises lately about posting, but nothing has happened. So I have decided to catch everyone up.

We had a fun Christmas with our Nana and Daddy Bill here to visit. Here I am with BB on Christmas Day --


Mom sent out Happy New Year's cards featuring BB and Whiskey River. I'm such a nice girl that I get to go to the barn sometimes -- I know how to act around horses. Here is a picture from the series Mom took:


Sammy is still a dorky oaf:


We had snow recently -- one of the best snow storms we have ever had! Puffy, fluffy, light snow! Sammy acted totally silly, naturally. Here he is playing with his stupid frozen tennis ball. He likes to push it under a little dome of bricks we call the bridge, then dig it out.


Here I am, totally cute --


In Kitty News, GK mostly snoozes -- no news there -- and Tiger snoozes and conducts daily alley patrols. Someone has to keep the the local rabbits, possums, and squirrels on their toes! Sammy and I assist with Squirrel Patrol. Here are GK and Tiger loafing around:

After my stern talk with Mom, I think she will be posting more frequently.

Love, Alice

We are back!

I'm so happy to be blogging again! I've really missed it! So many things have been going on I just haven't had time! I've been very busy with my horse Whiskey River. I've been training for rodeos! But now that Whiskey and I are pretty well trained, I now have time to blog! I can't remember the last time that I blogged! Before I had my horse school work got in the way! But this year, the teachers don't give out as much homework. Thank goodness! Homework is sooooo hard! But not this year! So not only will I be posting on the Rose Jugglers, but will continue my blog the sniffy tails! So woofs, purrs, and neighs from Sammy, Alice, Gold Kitty, Tiger, and Whiskey River!

Local Color: Thanksgiving at Pea Ridge Farm

Our part of the country is not really known for spectacular fall colors, but I think Thanksgiving is one of the prettiest times at Pea Ridge Farm.

Nana's turkey wreath (she made me one, too):

The big gum tree next to the barn has turned a lovely yellow:

The crape myrtles turn vivid oranges and reds:



Potted tomatoes against a crape myrtle background; the amaryllis on the plant stand will bloom in February or March:


From another angle:

Overlooking George's Pond:

Birds like the bright red pyracantha berries:


Some of the camellias are just starting to bloom :


The bees are still at work on the rosemary:

Alice takes some time to reflect on Thanksgiving at Nana's fish pond; or, she might just be really full of turkey!

Meanwhile, BB works off her turkey dinner on the swing in side yard:

It's been dry here this fall, so there are not many mushrooms in the woods, but we did locate this cluster just behind the house. We cannot identify it exactly and Nana calls it "the Brain," so we are just going with that:

(Maybe it really is an alien brain or something... Dennis the Vizsla might better come check this thing out!!)

We hope everyone has had the happiest of Thanksgivings!

Saturday's Loot: Estate Sale-ing with Alice and Sammy

When I was growing up in upstate NY, my mom had an antique business so I spent a lot of time with her scouring flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, and attending antique shows. I always enjoyed doing these things, even as a child. I still love them! I hit an estate sale this morning, which I found out about only by chance. Would you believe that as I was walking in, Jocebeane drove up?! (She likes estate sales too).

Although Sammy and Alice do not attend the sales with me, (dogs not usually being allowed at such events -- discrimination, we say), they generally like to look over my purchases and give their considered opinion.

Here, Alice gives a figurative "thumbs up" to a small Victorian side chair:

She also liked this drawing that I think dates from the mid-nineteenth century. It was hard to get a good picture because the glass reflects light. The frame appears to be the original.


Sammy, however, was skeptical of the value of my purchases:


Everyone was enthusiastic about the vintage 1950s-era horse bookends that I bought for Baby Bean:

I thought these would look really cute on BB's desk in her room - BB agreed!

Have a happy rest-of-the-weekend!

Wild, Wild West Wednesday: Rose Jugglers Cowgirl Hall of Fame

While we were in Wyoming this summer, BB discovered her inner Rodeo Cowgirl:

Of course, BB has a fine pedigree in this area: Rodeo Queens are something of a family tradition.
Nana, for example, showed early promise as a Star Cowgirl. Can you believe my grandmother wouldn't buy her cowboy boots? My mom wanted them soooo much, and my grandmother denied her, likely just to be contrary. Well, you can be sure she has some now. Several pair, in fact!

Here's a picture of cousin Becky (of Becky's Barnyard) dressed for the Rodeo in her Rodeo Queen ensemble. I think her mother made this outfit. Just another stunning example of the shine and glamour of the family Cowgirls!