June in Review

…and so, June is coming to an end. We’ve been waiting for our Summer to begin. The weather has been pleasant enough to keep up with a few outdoor chores. We’ve had spattering rain and days with the sun hidden behind gray clouds. It’s warm(ish), but nothing over the top like June should be. At least we’ve had a few almost hot days. In case I sound like I’m complaining about the weather, I’m not. It could be a whole lot worse and at least the dogs are comfortable being indoors or out.

Lady May and Cash choose to lay in the gazebo while I putter in my gardens.

Some of my outdoor pastime activities needed to be done under cover so my carport has really come in handy. My visitors can lay on a carpet beside me and snooze while I work.

After I completed the Memory Garden, and I still had the paints out, I decided to have a little fun and do a ‘Paint Your Paws’ day. I have various types of paint, so I brought out my Tempera. 

 Thank you again Aunty Paula! 

I wish I would have thought early on to set up my camera as I worked with my silly buddies. I will tell you, I laughed so hard at a few, and I devoted hours to getting just one paw print with others. I laughed and praised and went through a gazillion old towels.  I didn’t even think to take photos of the finished projects until I had almost completed everyone.  

Miss Khione gave me a run for my money but in the end I won! 
Sir Henry and Miss Suzy Q were so compliant I could have done a dozen prints.

What fun I had, and I know in the end the dogs all enjoyed all the GI goodies they were given to go through it. If your darling hasn’t been to visit yet, fear not, my paints are still available, and I have every intention of continuing this little project. It certainly gave me a giggle as I went through each and every one.
I was in paint mode and the visiting dogs are all so well behaved, I decided to refinish my rusty old bird bath. I wish now I would have taken photos of the before but alas you only get the after. As I said to one friend, "An artist I am NOT, but fortunately the birds really wont care." It’s far more pleasing to my eye when I view it out my kitchen window now. I’m satisfied. 

I had limited amounts of Tremclad left.
I had to choose a scene based on my available colours.
Good thing I like berry scenes

The flower beds are slow to bloom this year. The plants seem to be saying, “We refuse to grow until you provide us with more than a spattering of sun between rain showers. At least they are alive and not perishing in the heat like they have in past years. The poppies dont seem to mind the cooler temps and are abundant!

Countess River makes sure the bees are doing a good job of pollinating.

A royal purple

I planted 6 new iris bulbs this year. I simply love them

The variegated poppy variety are still my favourite

 

Biennial Canterbury Bells I planted years ago in mom's honour
 for her biennial visits from the UK. Sure miss you mom.
I hope we plan a trip to see you soon.

The strawberries are doing well and I've managed to freeze a few batches before some little berry thieves gobbled them up.

Sir Henry - " I'm not eating them. Honest, Im just checking."

                                    Lord Lucas - " Im checking too Gramma. They're ready!"

We’ve been readying our ‘Cora’ for our 2-week vacation at the end of July. I’m getting excited! Daddy has been tinkering with 'Cora' getting everything up to snuff and in pristine condition. Our plan is to head to a Provincial campsite where we can truly test out all the amenities ‘Cora’ offers.
Daddy took her in to Kamloops for a new awning and I'm hoping for sunny weather.  He's been working so hard on his weekends off work. Thank you daddy you are The Best!

Yep, it will work!

For Father's day we took a drive to a nearby campsite. Little Miss Suzy Q and Lady May loved the wonderful new smells. It's nice to get them out of the yard once in awhile and daddy was able to check out the new brake pads and calipers he just put on 'Cora".  Thank you daddy.

Suzy Q - "Come smell over here Lady May its wonderful!"

Lady May - "Maybe mommy brought our dinner and we get to eat here?"

I've slowly been loading up supplies for our trip. I set up my old Keurig coffee machine and even bought a new little toaster so I can enjoy my morning toast and coffee outdoors. Oh, what luxury! Camping at its finest. I don’t really care about the weather. I have my books all picked out and I’m already feeling set to go. Lady May’s wheel cart is packed, along with her double sized xpen and big fluffy bed. Thank you lil Molly’s dad. She loves it! 
We still have another full month to go, and we are almost ready.

Of course its pack away safely for the travel, just waiting to be used.

Please keep in mind we’ll be closed from July 22nd – Aug. 1st
When we return in Aug. I'm hopeful the flowers will have flourished and be there to welcome us back.

Until then Stay Safe and bring on July!

Our daddy chose our patio colours this year. I love them!

Royal K9 Korner's Memory Rock Garden

 For quite some time now, I've been wanting to redo the small rock garden at the entryway of my yard.  It was initially placed there to try to eliminate the muddy area that never seemed to be able to grow grass. It's where I stand when Im greeting incoming dogs, especially in wet weather.  I guess I shuffle my feet and apparently scrub away any new growth.
So a few years ago I dug it out, levelled it and added a poly cover to keep weeds at bay. I decided to gather up all the rocks and stones of all sizes and shapes around the yard and filled the area so I had a clean, dry place to stand. It seemed to work great. Until of course, as Mother Nature continues to work her natural magic, the poly deteriorated, there was deadened and crispy old leaf remains, weeds poking through and the area was beginning to look 'shabby'.  It was still keeping the mud away and allowing me to greet the dogs but something was missing.  I tried adding a few flower pots to brighten it up. It was sufficient, but I still wasn't really satisfied.

Khione says, "it's just fine Lady. I like it."

...and then lil Molly passed and I had her and so many other visitors before her come flooding into my memory.
I have created a small area in a different garden where lil Molly is 'placed'. (Watch for a follow-up post)
It put my mind in motion and the creative juices, as it were, flowed for this spot.
I removed all the stones, dug out and levelled the area, replaced the poly and began to replace the stones one by one. 

Freshened but still lacking something

As I worked I had a few visitors that would come to investigate what I was doing. It made me rethink of all the times I had a sweet little nose or a big lolling tongue at me while I was digging or working on my knees in my gardens. If only there was a way to add those happy memories into a reality.
I felt a sudden rush of excitement and a huge smile forced it's way onto my face. I knew what I wanted.

I sat down and listed all the dogs that ever officially shared in Royal K9 Korner's fun times in our yard.
That was the easy peasy part. 43 names in total. From the Fall of 1999 until today Summer of 2022

I held the list for many days and reviewed each and every memory of each and every one. Some I laughed out loud to and some I cried for. All brought a small pang to my heart as I remembered so many happy days. 
I decided I needed to print each ones name on a stone and place them into a Memories Rock Garden.

And so it began.  I dug out my acrylics, (Thank you Aunty Paula) and sorted through the colours. Pink for girls, blue for boys.
Wait a minute. That's going to be really boring and kind of 'standard'  That is so, not me! There must be a way to colour group other than that!  I added a third colour and continued to think and remember as I painted. I found I was beginning by painting all those who have crossed Rainbow Bridge. Sadly, an already established group. Okay that's alright. I can do this.  There are now 17 royals in this group. I decided I would randomly paint with various colours.  Ok, they will be Group 1.

The first 3 visitors to receive daycare. Ricky, Flan and Mars, long since passed over Rainbow Bridge.
The leaders who are the beginning of Group 1

Of course there is another couple of groups already established. There are 8 in our Royal's immediate family. 5 have already passed and 3 are still reigning.  Group 2 done.
They need to be specially painted. right? Right, okay gold paint and purple text.

The golden stones for The immediate Royal family.
Group 2

Okay so, now, how to create another group?  That wasn't too difficult. There are some visitors who no longer require daycare or have moved away. They are all still deep within my heart and continue to share in my special memories. So, 14 sweeties in Group 3 created, painted and placed.
It's now beginning to come together and I'm feeling pleased. 

Cash gives it his seal of approval.
"You know this is boring right lady? When do you paint my name?"

And thus the final group. Those Royal subjects who are frequent/regular visitors to date.
Surprisingly there are just 8 at the moment. As does everyone else, they hold a very special place in my heart and will always and forever remain there. The final Group 4 painted, placed, and forever cherished

Royal K9 Korner's Royal Memory Rock Garden to be continued . . .

My goal is to replenish, repaint, renovate and add as the years go by. It will be a joy to clean out fallen leaves and remove Mother Natures effects. As I kneel to work in this garden I will be laughing at those little poking noses or those big lolling tongues that urgently  required my immediate attention. I will laugh and remember.
Thank you for finding that special place in my heart and memory.

I hope you'll stop by to read their names in days to come. It will be here. Waiting.

Quiet Days Are Fun Too

It’s not always rip tearin’ zoomin’, ‘go as fast as you can ‘days here at Royal K9 Korner.
Sometimes the visitors just want to be with their friends, chill for a bit and do a bit of bonding.
A good chew toy or a favourite ball to share and savor is all they need. That’s really what this week was all about. Sir Cash headed back home and will return in a few days.

Sage - " Umm I think it's a girls week Sir Cash. I see there's a pink blankie on that bed now.

Khione, Lupin, Sage and The Countess River all had a fun time indoors and out.
Resting and simple play. 

A good game of tug is always fun and still uses some energy.

Khione is getting some respite from long hikes with dad and from her playful little puppy brother. She now loves to choose a quiet spot and just sleep. I leave the doors open and she can come and go if she pleases. I think she’s enjoying the quieter days.

Khione, content to rest with a toy, while Sage decides if its playtime or quiet time.

Our Countess is now one of our seniors here and slow days are fine with her. She certainly still likes to go zooming around but, she’s slowed down considerably and keeping up with youngsters is no longer her priority. 

River rests while the youngsters play outdoors

Lupin and Sage have had a few days together and seem quite happy now to do their zooms in the cooler early morning and just have quiet play in the afternoon. That’s exactly what they were up to when Countess River invited herself to join them.
This 4-minute video shows it. I know its long but watch to the end. It’s so sweet.

We will be closed for a couple of Kamloops days this month and Lady May will be off to her annual Vet day. She’s been feeling pretty good and we’re wondering if Cache Creek's new veterinarian, Dr. Sarah Burleigh, DVM can revisit her meds. Perhaps it’s time to look into something different. She’s been on some pretty potent drugs for quite some time. Maybe we can look at something a bit less invasive? We’ll see. 

Lady May enjoys the quieter days

She doesn't really want to be involved but likes to stay close by. 

Lady May - "I get that bed when you get off. Okay River?"

The first week of July we have a couple of newcomers Chico and Pixie, coming for a visit to daycare. They hale all the way from Oregon USA and are frequent travellers. I understand they’ve never been through Lillooet before, so we’ll definitely be extending a warm welcome to them.
Stay tuned for their info soon.

Photo courtesy of Pixie and Chico's mom
Snuggled in their cozy beds at home.

I’ll get some of this weeks photos added to Facebook, so you can enjoy more of the smiling girls faces from this week. Oh and yes, they did sort of play with the new balls but, really, not like the boys did!

Khione - "What new balls does she mean?"
River - "I dunno. Just keep walking"

Sage - "I'm telling Cash you played with that ball!"
Lupin- "So what! He said I could!"