Planting garlic.

I have been working in my garden this week.

Frantically trying to get my wonderful garlic that I purchased from 

Skoog Farm in the ground.  

You may ask......Jill, why do you have cow skulls in your garden and what does this have to do with planting garlic?

Well....you may remember "cow cam".  One of the neighboring farms had a bit of a tragic event

when two of their cows became ill and died (in an area that was rugged and they could not be buried).  That is when I had the bright idea of setting up my 

wildlife cameras to capture some of the animals that feast on carrion.   I got 

some really nice shots of Ravens, Vultures, Coyotes, a Bear, a Bobcat, and other small assorted animals.  Then when they were finished cleaning up, I got the skulls.  I had to put them in my 

garden to keep them away from the dogs.   This has nothing to do with planting garlic. 

So...there you have it.

I really liked the light and colors in this photo.

Smudge helped me get the garden ready for the garlic.

I put in about 5-6 inches of really good compost (horse manure/hay/leaves)

Then I planted the garlic.

Then I put a nice layer of ground up leaves on top of that.

Then....I put a nice thick layer of old hay on top of that.

Now my garlic (and the rest of the garden) is all tucked in and ready for winter.

You can see how nice and dark that compost was.

Beautiful stuff. 

Smudge really enjoyed the leaves.  

Here she is giving me the "evil" eye.  

Right after this she pounced on me and tried to bite the camera.

As usual. 

She is starting to grow into her ears a bit.

Well...at least that is what I am hoping.  

What a ham....

I think she is just having a competition on who can have the best 

"quotation" mark ears.  

This kid is giving Smudge a run for her money.  

Oh no!!!  Now she looks like a Frenchie.

I think Benny and Lily (Smudge's French friends)

would like that.  

Smudge lost her last baby teeth and had to get some dentures.

She really liked this set.  They made her feel dangerous. 

I went to a friend's house this past week and snapped a few shots of her chickens/roosters.

I really enjoyed watching these guys. 

Beautiful birds.

The craziest thing happened....

My friend had this little mini cow in her truck.  

It just kept standing there and looking at us.  Cows are weird like that. 

Ha ha ha..

Zippy and I visited the Wizard tree the other day.

He is still very wizardly. 

While on our wizard tree expedition...we came across this wonderful piece of old Chestnut.

Very weathered and the texture was incredible. 

My little baby is growing up!

She looks so mature in these pictures.

Her face is really getting ready to change as her new "big" teeth are coming in.

I am enjoying this brief time that she is unable to chew things up.

Or at least...it takes more time for her to chew things up.

Just look at how big she is getting!!

They grow up so fast.

I hate that. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Well....well....well..

Look at that cute little flower.

Smudge did not have a costume for Halloween.

So...I made one for her.

A scrap piece of watercolor paper, some paint and 

you have an instant flower.

I had to take fast photos....the costume only lasted a moment.

You might think this is a costume.

No costume.....just my dad.

He hurt his eye and had to wear a patch for a few days.

He made me draw an eyeball and eyebrow on it.

Too funny.

It really looked strange when he was sleeping.....just a bit creepy.

Smudge chewing her nylabone.

We had a bit of snow last week. 

Just a dusting.

Smudge is starting to enjoy snow and I hope she gets used to it soon.

She better.....

Loving the late afternoon sun.

Zippy and I went the the "thinking" place to check out the view.

So pretty.

Elk Knob State Park.

Our Ginkgo tree was so beautiful this year!

Many times the weather turns before the tree is able to transform 

into it's vibrant yellow fall foliage.  

Zippy jumped for joy when he saw it. 

Smudge has been having a ball playing in the leaves. 

She even tried balancing them on her nose. 

This past week was a very busy week and I am late in posting.

A large group of folks in our community got together to put on a benefit 

for my friend Mary Anne.  The benefit was a grand success and she was overwhelmed.

It is amazing what can happen when a community of folks can come together. 

We had wonderful music, a silent auction, and pot luck dinner. 

Klee Liles, The Lost Faculties, Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney, and Melissa Reaves performed.

We also had a theatrical performance by Black Sheep Theatre.  

Just an incredible evening full of fun and fund raising.  

Mary Anne is in the hospital again to have a bone graft for her wrist and we all wish her the best!  

  

The deer have really been enjoying my leftover giant pumpkins.

This one was around 200lbs.

Oh deer...

Smudge continues to grow at record rates.

She has just lost her remaining baby teeth and I am so glad.

She is chewing through all of our porch furniture and she would put a 

termite to shame.  

We are constantly having to take things out of her mouth.

Her ears are still in the "quotation" mark stage and I 

am beginning to wonder if they are going to stand straight up.

I have never seen a bulldog with such funny ears.

She may end up looking like...

This.

Even though all of our leaves have long been blown from the trees...

I am leaving you with these beautiful shots.

I took them and forgot to post them.

Have a fabulous week!!!!

New teeth, playing with Zippy and more artwork.

Zippy enjoying some nice warm sunshine.

As I am sitting here typing this, it is 32 degrees and the forecast is calling for snow.

It was in the mid 60s yesterday. 

Shadows.

Smudge has a very cute shadow.  

A pudgy little thing with tall ears.

Not sure if you can see them, but she has a few new front teeth.

The drool is from the loss of one of her canine teeth only moments before this shot was taken.

I have put in a request for training help with Jane Killion.

She has a most wonderful book on training dogs called

When Pigs Fly

Training success with Impossible Dogs.

We really need it here.  

This is impossible.

Help!

Just kidding....really.

Even without teeth...she can still hold onto my jeans.

Smudge and her brother Gus.

I did not do it!!!!

Nope...it was not me.

I am much too sweet and innocent to be accused of such a crime against furniture.

Handmade furniture...

Handmade by my grandpa.

Maybe I could lick it to make it better.

Hmmmm.....this tastes GOOD....

crunch 

Smudge!!!

Seriously...I did not do this!!!

Gus did it!

I get no respect around here.  

Please send more handmade furniture.

I also enjoy antiques and I have been known to chew on some concrete.  

Just don't tell anyone. 

Here is the rare and elusive one headed two bodied horse.  

Lots of fun to ride and easy to feed. 

Oh wait...

Ha...

Two horses two heads two bodies...

I saw a sign recently that said

"Reality is only for those who have no imagination"

A new fountain.

New wall hanging/stepping stone/backsplash...

really it can be anything you want it to be.

Very versatile.

New birdbath.

This birdbath is going into a silent auction for my friend Mary Anne.

She was the one injured in a car accident earlier this summer.  

Nov. 3rd High Country Press Lobby, Boone, NC

6pm-10pm

We will have lots of beautiful artwork and items from local businesses

in the auction.

There will also be entertainment from

Melissa Reaves

The Lost Faculties

Klee Liles

Dave Haney and Lisa Baldwin

The Black Sheep Theatre

If you are in the area feel free to stop in.  

When I said that I was taking it slow with Smudge and Zippy...

I meant it.

Here they are on different sides of the fence getting to know each other a little better.

They are actually playing.

Zippy is doing his hucklebutt dance and Smudge is jumping around. 

They really got into it.

I like that!

I just want to make sure Smudge is big enough to handle it if something goes wrong.

Just being careful.

Zippy has a few loose screws.

So far though..he is doing well with the whole thing.

Smudge is really excited about the whole concept.

Just look at the cute tummy she has!

I had to quit letting them play together with Zippy wearing his muzzle, because 

Smudge kept biting the muzzle and I could see that it was stressing Zippy out.

I want this to be like smooth sailing.

No stress, just fun. 

Too cute!

Ollie update.

STILL off on that front leg

However...it is much improved and I think that with time it will be fine. 

We have decided that he must have hurt some of his soft tissue while "playing" with 

his brother Otis.  The vet and farrier were unable to really determine

anything specific.  I am glad to see him much improved and hope that will 

continue.  Amazingly he has shown no signs of pain throughout this and that 

does make me optimistic that he will have a complete recovery.

Have a great weekend folks!!!