We did this in January

We did this in January and burned it today.  Not all that we knocked down but a large pile of it!  It was a beautiful day today.  The fire burned beautifully and the hot dogs we roasted were yummy.  Hooray for wooded property!

my new hero

This is a picture of Spanky.  He is a fabulous dog.  I personally own a small, black, fluffy ankle biter named Dexter.  This is actually Meredith's dog whom I have bonded with since she left for Wheaton.  Dex and I have been out for walks and no less than three times Spanks has gotten between us and aggressive dogs.  The only one I was really worried about was the last.  A large black lab mix charged out of his electronic fence and proceeded to place his large jaws around Dexter's small neck, when I tried to intervene, (I must say I have experience with dogs and am comfortable dealing with them) this dog went berserk.  I really thought I would not get out without injury and I wasn't sure I could get Dexter out at all...then along came Spanky.   He charged in between Dexter and monster dog, totally wowed monster dog with his sheer huge ugliness, and escorted Dexter and I away from M.D.  This bulldog kept himself between us and this dog all the way home!   Needless to say he was well rewarded with hot dogs and hugs.  He now comes to visit most mornings, sometimes shoving open our back door and coming on into the bedroom to say Hi!   He is always welcome and will always be my hero!

Comment to Hilary

I was reading your blog with interest.  The comment on Russian novels caught me.  No longer a mind which is only academic - rather one which has gone with  sorrowful heart through death with friend, grief over people who hurt our dear loves, distress over sickness and debility in one formerly strong and vigorous ... ( For me even simple t.v. car chase scenes  can be hard to take --knowing Lori who was broadsided by a careless driver, years in recovery and still in pain.)  The life of Christ teaches that on this earth the bad guy often wins and destruction has its way.  Grief, the pain which cannot make it right.  The wrong which cannot be escaped.  Christ wept, we weep. Not overcome with evil but overcoming evil with good.   Sometimes working through the things which are actually happening is all we can do.  When we read or watch t.v., a diversion from the sadness is what our emotions need, not an emersion in another set of characters and the pain of their lives.  So enjoy your respites and when the mind is ready, it will approach those novels with an expanded and hard won comprehension, my dear, lovely niece.

P.S.  I really was sick Saturday night!  When I got home my temp. was 101 !

Pearce and his grammy GG

Pearce perceived his grammy G's heart and is here expounding on world peace.  She of course is delighted and amazed, as were we all.

For Best Results

Go down three blogs to begin.  Work backwards.  

His grandmother tries to do the same...

And fails.

Proof

I know that many of you may be astounded at the intellectual prowess of this tiny one.  Here you may see with your own eyes him explaining the meaning of the universe to his Aunt Susan.