Around the cottage in February

Our garage has needed repainting for a long time.  Especially since we rebuilt the doorway for the boat to fit into it.

Years ago, I used to paint furniture with an air compressor and spray gun, often leaning the pieces against the garage while I worked. Mostly I used whites, but I used quite a variety of shades from snowy to cream to ivory. So, there were faint, layered outlines of chairs and headboards all along the side of the building.

The trim had been pretty messed up too.  It is good to have a carpenter for a son, our boy rebuilt the wrecked trim and gave the  building and the shed next to it a fresh coat of white paint.

Now, our whole yard looks revitalized.  I've always said that paint is magic, and this sure proves it. What a difference.

Haircolor can be magic too.  I was still feeling the effects of a long, grey winter (funny how the lack of snow was more depressing than getting snowed in and feeling trapped, huh?) and decided to get a pick me up of a shot of blonde.

I felt much better after! 

In other Around The Cottage news, Honey has been busy digging.  She finds moles and starts a collection on the porch where she can keep an eye on them.  A few times a week, I go out and gather up her latest critters and throw them in the trash.  

Between the 4 cats proving their love to me by bringing decimated creatures to the front door, and Honey's skill in hunting moles, I'm used to picking up and disposing of carcusses.

This latest catch really surprised me, though. A snake?

In February?

Aren't reptiles hard to come by in Kansas in the winter? She managed to find one. I guess she dug it up from somewhere.

She also seemed to have found a carpet cutter. There was not razor blade in it, thank heavens. And who knows where she got it. And is it now part of her snake hunting arsenal? She has put it in her pile of favorite things.  Usually there are a few insides of toys and cushions, along with her sticks and bones, and dead things.  And always in this spot where she can proudly watch over them.

Our yard is mostly holes now, Honey is busy looking for more items to add to her collection.

We'd heard that if you bury a balloon in a hole a dog has dug, they will dig it up, pop it, and frighten themselves so much, they will never dig again.

Sugarwings and my husband thought they'd give this a try and filled a few of the many pits in our yard with colorful balloons.

We didn't consider that Goldens are bred to retrieve birds and have gentle mouths.  Honey found all the balloons, retrieved them, and was thrilled to get new toys to carry around and play with.  Not a single one popped and scared her. She was just excited to find so many bright and fun things to egg her on into digging to look for more.  

So, now Honey has her habit of searching for hidden treasure underground reinforced, not cured.  We need to find her a new skill...

Sugarwings is learning a new skill, she has signed up for circus classes.  Here she is doing silks.  Next up, after our trip to Cali? Trapeze!

I'll be back from California soon, but if you'd like to sign up for the Farewell to Downton swap, you don't have to wait for my return. Here is the info.

Comments

[Cheryl Comfort]

If you fill in most of the dug up holes with dirt... then bury some of your dogs poop at the top of the hole the dog won't dig in that spot anymore :-)

[Karla Nathan]

That is a GREAT TIP!!!!!!!! Thanks, Cheryl.

[Laurie Jackson]

Haha, love the Honey stories!

[Karla Nathan]

The Honey stories never end around here. Did I mention that she ate a hot tub cover?