Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Museum has closed....



I guess there was a reason after all for the sad look on Rory's face... We had to take him back to his breeder. He had issues that we could not deal with and cute as he was and a precious little soul, he was not the doggie for us. The breeder will find a new home for him that will be better for him. He will make a dandy earth dog or maybe even agility. He has all the natural talent and more that makes a good Earth Dog and he LOVES to be outdoors. And his energy abounds. He is a tracker and a digger (aren't they all) and he likes small, dark places. All he needs are some basic commands and he'll be ready to go ratting.

Next spring we'll begin a search for an adult dog that wants to live with us.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

New Curator of the Museum of Precious Cairnish Antiquities

Rory Dubh MacDaye (his new full name) has been named to the position of Curator of the Museum of Precious Cairnish Antiquities. He began his career in this field on August 21, 2009. He has grown in his knowledge as first his eyes opened, then as he was able to totter about and later he began to appreciate The Antiquities themselves.

After moving to the location of his first commission, his first duty was to file his most favored Cairnish Antiquity... a limp two week old leaf from a cabbage plant when Mommy (Beth Ann) pulled it unceremoniously from the garden. He cared for it diligently, filing it in one drawer, then removing it and refiling it in another until he was sure we were not watching. Security is primary at the Museum of Precious Antiquities.

This shows three file drawers that The Curator uses: Logs around flower bed, beside AC in leaves, and under hose trolley in leaves (loose papers).


His first filing location was the soft soil file cabinet under log borders around a flower bed.


Oh No! They were watching!! Gotta move it!


Next he decided he liked the style of the filing cabinet next to the Air Conditioner, again in a pile of leaves, errr lose unfiled papers.


Finally, still uneasy about security, he made two more moves, under the hose trolley and under the boat tarp.



Another night when he was making his rounds, Rory Dubh (pronounced Doo, in Scottish Gaelic fashion, any consonant followed by an "h" is silent) remembered which drawer he had filed one precious item. He uncovered it and carefully placed it in another drawer and covered it. He turned around and saw me watching so he quickly uncovered it and moved it two feet away and refiled it after checking to be sure I was not watching this time. I have learned to be furtive.

Finally yesterday, Rory (while he was "out back" with Daddy David) hopped up into my only unfenced raised veggie bed, dug a shallow hole, filed a treasure, carefully covered it again, and hopped out. He noticed that David had made note of this activity so he took it out again and refiled it elsewhere in an unmarked cabinet. Notice where Sir Rory had been overzealous in his filing...the one broken garlic and the one bent one.... broken and bent but I suspect they will survive. :-)
BTW, the Curator, being a bit obsessive, is always careful to replace both the dirt and then the leaves in the new file drawer.


Today I fenced that same veggie bed which had been filled with next year's garlic crop.


And so goes the story of Sir Rory Dubh MacDaye, the new Curator-in-Chief of the Museum of Precious Cairnish Antiquities as he proceeds with his duties.

The board of directors of M.P.C.A. is pleased with the success of the new curator.


Report filed by Beth Ann Daye

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, Nov. 2009

When I saw that it was Garden Blogger's Bloom Day for November today, I went out to see what, if anything was still blooming. Here is what I found.

The last (maybe) rose of summer, a little worse for wear.


And on another rose bush...


There is still a Blackeyed susan open and one partially open.


The alyssum is as happy as it was in summer....


Echinacea is still trying....


I know this plant but can't think of the name of it. Help!....


There's a couple blooms on the white yarrow.


My pink gaura is still blooming fully. It's a wonder.


Not a bloom but it's pretty and seen only in autumn. Sedum 'John Creech'


And last of all, the requisite photo of Rory, three mos. old, this time masquerading as a cougar cub.


Hope you enjoyed your trip through my garden for November Bloom Day. Thank you, Carol from May Dreams Gardens for hosting this.