Fluffy Flowers

red blooms

I figure y'all didn't get enough beautiful blooms yesterday so I thought I'd throw out the roses blooming in my side yard.

Oh, but first a quick shot of kitty cat Mr. Slashables who didn't want to pose much for the camera.

Once again I can not take credit for these beauties as they were already here when I moved in and I haven't given them the anything to eat or drink. I did place the trellis behind them to decorate their space, does that count?

Oh, and here is Mr. Slashables hiding from me in the tall grass in the neighbor's yard. Master of disguise that one!

These red roses are even more beautiful in person and they smell nice too. They're a delight to see in the side yard after rounding the corner of the house.

what's blooming?

Lucky the Cowdog and Slashables cross each other's path in the front yard. There are some roses blooming just out of range of this photograph to the far right, behind the crepe myrtle tree.

We had lots of rain this week and the roses are opening up.

Stunning aren't they? I can't take credit for these beauties as they were already here when I moved in.

But they certainly are beautiful!

I'm not entirely sure Slash cares either way though!

Spay Day

Ginger, Spayed, 1997

Lucky, neutered 1999

Piglet, Spayed, 2005

Slash, Neutered, ? appx. 2001

All the four legged creatures in the Fluffy Flowers household are spayed or neutered. We're celebrating Spay Day with the Humane Society.

Bartram Forest

Took a quick trip out to Bartram Forest in Milledgeville this weekend.

The doggies enjoyed it a lot.

I loved the forest.

The dogs loved running around.

And the beautiful blue skies were really that blue.

Last year I wrote about the labyrinth out at the forest. Oodles more pictures of this trip over here.

Macon off leash Dog Park 5th anniversary

Hard to believe this is the 5th anniversary of Macon's off leash dog park.

It seems like just yesterday that I was attending committee meetings to get the park established.

Now there is a steady flow of both two legged and four legged users.

And this weekend there was a doggy costume contest to celebrate.

Along with oodles of spooky decorations.

All these doggies were cute as cake!

And even the ones who didn't care about the contest had fun.

Piglet at the vet's office

Happy Halloween y'all!

I'm afraid that this spooky cat got a bit of a trick for Halloween.

Poor Piglet was forced to go to the vet's office for her annual check up.

She wasn't much pleased about it.

Especially when she saw what was coming.

But this sweet kitty is not much of a complainer so she held perfectly still throughout the ordeal. Sweet Piggles kitty! Hope y'all have a fun Halloween.

how to recover old camp stools

We have here a couple of not too pretty, old camp stools. I think its time they received a makeover.

Of course I'm going to do this the super lazy and easy way just like when I recovered Slash's chair. So first I pried off the ratty old covers with a screwdriver. A butter knife would work just as well.

Hey, speaking of Slash, this sweet kitty wants to help out.

Ah, much better with those horrid covers removed.

Now it's time to shine up that dried out wood!

I use a bit of Pledge extra moisturizing. Ok, I use A LOT of it actually.

While I let the wood dry I ran inside to cut out the fabric. Hum, might need to iron it too.

I used the old ratty cover as a pattern and just sort of cut around it. Then it was off to the the sewing machine to sew up the edges. Sorry, I forgot to get photos of me wrestling with the sewing machine beastie. Ya know, I was rushing along with this project, trying to get it done before dark and forgot to photograph the next step too: stapling the covers on. It's just as well that I didn't photograph it because in addition to the ginormous heavy duty staple gun it also required a hammer and a lot of the time I was sweating and grumbling and wondering why I took this project on in the first place. Yeah. Anyway, I did finally get them finished.

Ta da! Here they are all revamped in their new fluffy flowers fabulousness.

Aren't they awesome? Totally groovy even?

I adore them! And I'm delighted that they turned out so well.

They're perfect for an outdoor tea party to for a camp out. Best for children though, they probably wouldn't hold the weight of an adult. If you love them and want them to spiff up your cottage they are for sale over in my shop.

Slash in the garden

I've been a little remiss in pointing out my constant garden companion.

Slash aka Slashables the kitty cat is always out in the yard with me.

If I'm there, then he's there too.

I love having him around!

Gives me someone to talk to when I'm muttering about some garden chore I'm dealing with.

And it's always fun to glance up every so often to see what he's up to.

And he's mighty cute too!

zen Ginger

Ginger was hanging out with me the other day.

It was a warm and lovely day.

I think she really enjoyed herself.

Woofstock 2009

This past weekend the dogs had an extra special treat and got to sit in on the fun and music at Woofstock (not to be confused with Plushstock!).

Lucky usually can't hear very well but we sat close enough to the band that he could actually hear. That made him want to sing! It was so darn cute.

This animal fundraiser event was sponsored by FURever Friends Humane Society.

Even Ginger had a good time and she's not usually  one for just hanging around. She either likes to be on the go down a trail or at home on the comfy couch.

They both got to meet lots of new doggy friends and Lucky got plenty of scratches behind the ears.

No time for a dip in the pond though. Maybe next time!

gardening books

Been reading heaps of gardening books lately. I've mentioned a couple of them to y'all already. But I thought I'd show you just how pretty they look all piled up on the garden bench.

That would be Slashables's bench.

He was hanging out with me during the photo op. In fact, Slash usually hangs out with me when ever I'm out in the garden.

And he's really good company too!

goats

Stopped by to see the cute goats at Dauset Trails this weekend.

They're a friendly bunch for sure.

I wondered what the world must look like through their eyes.

Tough to tell!

But I know they love tasty things.

And it must be annoying as all get out that this fabulous muscadine grape arbor is right outside their fence but not within munching distance!

And those grapes are looking mighty succulent.

Poor things can only imagine how tasty they must be!

on the porch with cats and flowers

I stepped out on the veranda this fine, humid southern evening to snap a picture of these fabulous bluish purple hydrangeas that have been blooming so prolifically outside my front door.

While I was snapping away for the best shot, I spied a four legged creature off in the distance.

A very elusive four legged creature indeed.

It's nearly impossible to snatch a picture of Piglet (a.k.a. Faux Dog) because she's constantly on the move. Her other nickname is the Wriggler. This cat rarely holds still. So I did my very best to capture her on film (actually, digital) while she was unaware.

As I was scootching around to the other side of the porch I was momentarily detracted by the beauty of this just blooming gerbera daisy.

Had to take a closer look inside.

Perhaps just a little closer inside this pretty.

And finally on to our quarry! Ah, this baby cat looks super tired, doesn't she? Probably she's had a hard day of bug chasing and is ready to settle down for a nice long nap.

Observing all this stealthy behavior of mine is Slash (a.k.a. Slaskables a.k.a. Mr. Pink Nose). I do believe he thinks my shenanigans are rather silly.

But he's always quick with the turn of his head to make sure that distant sound is no threat.

Nothing to worry your pretty little head about my dear.

"And why is that thing in my face again, lady?"

But I do believe I hear that sound off the porch, out in the distance somewhere too, Slash.

Ah! It's the sweet little ol' neighbor kitty. Hi kitty whose name I don't know! Glad you're enjoying this fine summer evening too :)

a river, some ducks, and old time Florida fun

I recently had a chance to go back home for a visit. Home being Florida where I grew up in a beautiful, natural world.

 
Much of that world is gone now, having been taken over by housing developments. But if you look hard enough you can still find a bit of nature still trying to survive.

This funny family of ducks is one example of that survival.

They were pretty adorable with their family devotion.

They even waited for the family slow poke to catch up.

I'd never seen this type of duck before. Mighty cute mohawk he's got there.

And cute little duck feet too!

It was nice to hang out with them for a few minutes, although I think they were expecting something that I didn't have to give them.

Ah, now here's the real Florida.

doggies in the Georgia grand canyon

Bet ya didn't know we had a grand canyon in Georgia.

Well, it's more like a white and red clay valley created from water erosion.

But it still looks groovy and the doggies love it. Ginger sort of blends right in, doesn't she?

And here comes Lucky the cowdog, top speed, over the hill.

Looks like he's on Rat Patrol!

But never fear, there are always lush greenery and wildflowers nearby.

More Macon Secret Garden Tour

There are still oodles of awesome pictures I need to post from the recent garden tour I took.

I love that this home owner shared her garden design lay out with us.

Shade loving oak leaf hydrangea.

Squeezing in a bit of garden in a small city lot.

Shredded paper mulch.

Sweet tweet house.

Chickens in the middle of the city!

A front walkway lined with strawberry plants and a delightful herb garden out front.

 Some neighbors with a pretty front garden.

Even nearby Washington park was a delight.

The perfect spot for a picnic.

Oh so much more from this garden tour to come!

on the trail and Hatch Market

The Fluffy Flowers creatures and I will be at Hatch Market this weekend. So if you're in or around south Atlanta or the Griffin area drop by and check out all the fantastic crafty stuff that's will be available. And remember, Sunday is Mother's Day so how about bringing out mom for a great girl's day out.

Last weekend the doggies enjoyed their walkies at the Indian Mounds.

Lots of pretty things to see there.

I know one little girl dog who really enjoyed the delightful breezes and the scenic overlook.

fluffy flowers esque creatures in metal

A couple of weeks ago I was at a garden show and spotted some mighty cute fluffy flowers type creatures. But instead of being made from fabric and stuffing they were created from spare bits of metal.

Kathy Walton makes here cute creatures out of scraps just laying around the junk yard. It was all I could do to resist this adorable temperature snail.

And this tire rim spider with rebar legs is so adorable!

But the creature that crawled into my bag and wanted desperately to come home with me was this cute rain gauge spider. Made from a wire refridgerator rack, I simply could not resist his winning personality. And as you can see he looks right at home in the garden.

The awesome and fabulous Kathy doesn't have an online shop. She doesn't even have a website. But you're in luck if you're in Atlanta because a handful of garden centers sell her awesome steel art.

a walk by the river

We took a long, lovely walk out by the river this weekend...

...where a certain someone couldn't resist a dip!

I think perhaps Lucky was practicing for his Olympic swim.

He look's kind of tuckered out, doesn't he?

Ginger's not much of a water dog so she just takes a quick dip to cool off.

Sometimes we have to drag that cowdog away from the water.

But I'm also on the hunt down for wildflowers today...

...so we'll have to venture away from the water to find them...

...but I think it'll be worth it...

...and Lucky will enjoy that walk too!

new garden bench inspected by Slash the kitty cat

I bought a new garden bench today.

Slashables had been propping himself up on a stack of concrete edging pavers I'd left sitting for a year.

Well, y'all know that I got hit with the gardening bug pretty hard recently so I went and took his perch away by installing those blocks around a flower bed.

Slash was not pleased!

So I was determined to find him a bench on which to sit.

But it seems this kitty had other ideas about how he'll use it.

That's ok Slash. Under or over makes no difference to me. Just so long as you enjoy your new bench!