The Adventures of Cato, Tara and Jasmine

SUCH a proper beautiful English garden (as I imagine one!)  Do Grandad and Grandma take care of it?

Thank you too muchily for the red poppies.......but now I must have purple ones!

We have arrived at our Oregon beach cottage.....the planting area looks like a Crayola box of 56 colors .  Needs work but looks healthy and well-watered.  Thank you for the rain Mother Nature.

Grandad gardens, Grandma dead heads.

my father has been retired for 20 yrs now, and he decided that his major project as a gentleman of leisure was to sort the garden so that it would be easier to maintain as he got older.

so it is densely planted with perennials that take care of themselves, and smother most weeds.  And he improved the soil throughout.  He sieved every square foot to a depth of 18 inches, added humus to the sandy soil, choosing plants suited to sandy soil... It was a huge project.  

The bare earth area is where there was a silver birch until recently.  He has now (aged 85) improved that area of soil and dug out the stump.  Will be planting the area soon.

he was an engineer.  And his project management and determined execution exhaust me! 

I'm jealous.......*I* want to be a gentlelady gardener. Wear a big sun hat, have flowered gloves and deadhead.  Alas, my husband has NO interest in gardening and wishes I didn't either.  I do it all unless it involves something I just can't lift and carry.  So I am out slogging away, sweat dripping off my nose, dirty face and fingernails and a perpetual aching back.  On the other hand, I do it the way I want it and appreciate that others enjoy it even if he doesn't,and have gotten to the point of hiring work done when the work is too much for me.

YOUR  ALL HOME   YAY,!!!

I've missed you all so bad but I'm so happy you got to spend time with grandad and grandma. Their garden is magnificent...I thought they had it professionally done especially to upkeep. I was astonished at the storey of how he sieved every square inch and even shared your story with my hubby who was equally impressed! He certainly has the green thumb in your family.

I bet Tara and Cato Was happy to be home and see dad  And equally missed them tremendously.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for my picture of the roses....It made me feel real special to be included ❤️

Well guys it looks and sounds like you had a lovely time at Grandads and Grandmas house, for your mini holiday...

Woooooow such a beautiful garden, the plants are lovely, 

I love how he has designed his garden, not the usual straight borders around the edge, it's very nice indeed.

I'm so jealous that it is sandy soil, ours is clay, sticky when wet and rock solid when dry... 

 

Wow what a gorgeous garden!  I have never seen anything like that except in picture books and certainly never known anyone so talented as to design and make one- Wow you're dad isn't a gentleman gardener of leisure he's a Master gardener! I'm gonna have to study that and figure out how to smother out all my weeds! Love all the pictures, gorgeous flowers!

Cato what's a jackdaw? Missy wants to know if those critters are over here too? She's jealous and wants to sniff one too! Soo glad grandma found a stool for you, sounds like you had a great time! Tara I Knew grandma would love your sprouts, I know she thought your pink was the Best too! Grandpa sounds like lots of fun, sounds like you had a great time too! Super glad you're back and thanks so much for sharing the great pictures!

Cato:

Jackdaws are like the nasty black pigeons, but smaller and less nasty.

There were herds of them visiting Grandad's garden every morning.  But we chased them off!

 

Mum:

This link may make a bit more sense!

http://www.ww.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/j/jackdaw/index.aspx

 

Tara:

Someone at the vets yesterday said I had Groovy Hair!  That is special hair, isn't it?  Groovy is better than boring and silly, isn't it?

We had to go to vets yesterday cos of Cato being a slug and a wimp.  Mum said she wanted him checked over and new worming stuff too (yuck!)

So we went and they prickled Cato for blood and he didn't squeak.  I would have squeaked.  They would have had to give me a treat then, wouldn't they?  Mrs Vet said I was obviously a Little Princess.  Haha!  And I am.  So she must be a good vet.  Even though she wasted time on Cato's wimpiness.  She listened to his heart, and looked in his ears and teeth and everything, and then we both got weighed.  Cato is a fat wimp, wot we knew already!  And I am a fit muscly karate ninja with cute hair.  We knew that too Aunties, didn't we?

Mrs Vet is going to ring Mum when the lab results come in, but I could tell that she just thinks Cato is lazy, and Mum is a fusspot.

Ooh thanks Cato and Cato's mom! Mom showed me the pic, and we have something similar but it has gold not silver on his head, a cowbird I think they call it.. It Is nasty! Oh Wow Tara, groovy hair, that's the Best!! Sorry you and Cato had to be weighed yesterday, I think today moms gonna weigh me.. I'm probably closer to Cato, guess I gotta practice your ninja moves Tara! Hope Cato feels better and his tests are ok. Missy

Sure hope his labs come back with good news.....Good boy for not making a fuss

Hope all is ok 

I am sure he'll be fine, but thanks for the concern

i just wonder if his thyroid may be a bit low, so it is more elimination testing than any serious concern.  Not sure the vet thinks it is justified! Lol