Saturday Steps!

 Hey Ho!

It's Sophie here!
(Gees Jim, you better not stand around that cannon too long!)

 Hey Sophie!

Where you goin', gurl?
(Oh just over here...watch out for that cannon!)

Oh,

 I thought,

I'd do 

the 2 step 

down these steps!
and besides...I just don't trust cannons!

Happy Saturday Steps!

Thanks to 

George The Lad

at

The George and Tess Adventures

Major Rain & Wind Storm

It's me standing in the middle
of the backyard during
a rain and wind storm
yesterday.

 The snowball bush is now
all over the ground
...see all the white petals
with Miss Sophie Marple investigating.

 The magnolia looks fresh and green
and I just know there's
something under the vegetation
that just shouldn't be there
...at least that's what I think!

Wetness
everywhere
can make things looks
a bit drab....

but this Allium Nectaroscordum

just glows with all the wetness
and moody background.

I hope you enjoyed my damp trek
through the yard....
I guess Tropical Storm Debby
is off the coast now.

She can stay out there if she doesn't mind!

Dealing with Life

Sometimes we all just have to go with the flow

and handle what we have been dealt

the best way we know how.

 Zeroing in on a problem

that pulls at us and ties us up

can be exhausting 

if not crippling.

 Getting close to the answer

and snatching the truth

with all your strength

and energy...

 is my position, right now,

as Daddy Jim deals with

his father's agedness.

 I will keep close to him

no matter what happens...

and no matter

where we are on this beach of life.

Visit Daddy Jim

at

OCEAN BREEZES

I know he'd appreciate it!

Summer Daze

 As I meander through my garden

I see the iris looking like the 

fleur de lys

 this iris hasn't totally bloomed and

needs some straigthening,

at least it's close for me to sniff.

 the white violets so intrigue me

as they do every year

 ajuga standing stalwart

 one lonely buttercup

don't tell Jim

he'll pull it out!

 pale pink Oriental poppy caught my attention

 the swath of forget-me-knots are all but gone now

 putting on an enormous show

 I lose myself in our Georgian blue veronica.

It's so very easy to do.

Dandelions just give me a zing and a kick.

but most of all

I enjoying sprawling in the grass

on a hot summer's day.

Inhale the sweet smell of fresh grass

and

slip off to dreamland

for a few Zzzzzzz's

Morning Fog Clarity

The morning can be somewhat hazy or foggy

all around you and within you too.

My first inclination is to sniff and

pretty much any spot will attract me.

 Come on Ron!

Up and Over

There aren't that many steps!

Slow, methodical steps 

as he places one foot in front of the other.

 Down the steps leading to the beach

always careful

 A few minor adjustments

a flick here

and

a click there...

There now

~~~clarity~~~

he is in capturing mode.

Can't you just imagine 

the waves rolling in 

slowly and methodically,

just like we were as 

we arrived for our 

morning de-clutter.

PS...major thanks to Daddy Jim 

at 

Ocean Breezes

for the candids!

Cooling Off 101

Summer has arrived in the northern hemisphere
which means "beach" becomes my second name...

~~~Sophie Beach Doodle~~~

Speed and agility

with a swift kick

and 

a perfect nailing

of

Mr. Orangie!

Depending upon the time of day

and whether the tide is in or out...

secret pools of warm water 

can be found as we make our way

down the beach.

Nose dives...

or in this case 

floppy ear swan dive...

as I plunk myself into the wetness

to cool off my belly

and 

to clean 

Mr. Orangie...

check out the warm water streaming off

the ball along with all that sand...

This is one of my favourite times
when all you hear are a few seagulls,
some burbling clams under the sand,
and
the gentle flow of the receding waters.

and with luck I will always
have a pool to rinse off in and
return for another dunking
when Mr. Orangie
is shot into the air
with a bull's eye kick.

Sweet....!

Peek-A-Boo

Happy 

"Sweet Summer Solstice"

to you!

Pee U...Phew!

Hey Folks~~~!

This is my sniffer

ready for any kind of action,

any time!

Huh...what was that?

 As far as I know

everyone has a hind end...

 Fragrance, aroma, scent...

 dooda, dooda

 perfume, bouquet, smell...

aah haa...

it's that ol' bachelor button

tickling my tail,

again...:-)

and I thought 

I tooted
or maybe a seeper

who me...!?

~~~sweetness~~~

nevah!

;-)

at the Beach...Who got Wet...!!!

Needing and taking 

a break in the middle

of any stressful situation

is always a good way

to revitalize and 

put most things

into perspective....!

I knew the guys needed just this beach moment

to laugh and let the worries

fade away.

Garden is Bursting!

 Apparently my garden is just over 20 years old....

 and the youngest plant Magnolia Sieboldii 

is blooming profusely...

 this moth is devouring these chive blooms...

 and the Jack in the Pulpit approves of its new home moved just recently.

 Columbines grace most people gardens and

this blue one delicately hangs waiting for a bee....

 here comes a bee

would you look at that...

how timely!

 This dogwood, Cornus Florida, is completely covered and should look

so very white soon.

 Ron loves clematis and this one called Moonlight

is aptly named because at night

the blooms are so visible...

especially with a full moon. 

 Guernsey Cream from the underside...

I sniffed this one and it's passes my test...

love it!

 Japanese Painted ferns are spreading after many years...

great colour combinations with the maroon and grey.

The Wisteria is so very happy this year...

many blossoms because of a moderate spring.

Oh Hi..I'm standing under the wisteria arbour,

night time is approaching

so I think I'll head in and pull up the covers.

Next time~~~!