Sunday, January 30, 2011

Help in the garden...

The kids went snow boarding this weekend and dropped Lola off to stay with us...we are always happy to have her here...she is such a sweetie! We needed to do a few things in the back yard and of course Lola was ready to help! Her favorite past time though is stalking the birds...Lola...I think they can see you there...I don't think you're fooling anyone!
One of the big jobs we have every January is trimming the apple tree...we have only had a professional trim it back hard once...we try and take care of it ourselves...but it is a very big tree and it takes a few weeks to accomplish because we only have a 90 gallon recycling can that is picked up once a week...and there is far more to trim than that. Last week, we managed about 1/3 of the tree...this week 1/3 more...

but then...look! This is not supposed to be happening so soon!


All this crazy warm weather we have been having has had an effect on so many plants...and the apple tree too! We have to get this done this week for sure, because we can't trim to much after the blooms start...




Don is trimming all the long ones that stick up everywhere...our apple tree gets those suckers like crazy!





Then up top to get it thinned out a bit...




I thought I'd mow the lawn...it is still pretty dormant in the back, and we only mow it about once a month in the winter...I had help with this...






Lola decided that the mower was trouble and tried biting the wheels as I mowed...it was hard going...because she's very strong and actually pulled the mower by the wheel!







She decided Don could use some help with the blower too...







Here...I think you missed a spot!











We tried to wear her out a bit by playing ball...but I think I'm the one who got worn out...that is one of those Tuff balls and it is heavy...can you say sore shoulder...









Lola decided to rest a bit before she was off smelling everything in the yard...
The weather decided to change again...no surprise here and it is raining now...I'm glad we got out and got everything done before the rain came...
Thanks, Lola for all your help and love you gave us this weekend...we love when you stay with us...now did I hear someone say nap...
Enjoy the day, my friends, and remember to cherish the simple things in your life!











8 comments:

Cyndi said...

Oh how fun! Lola is such a beautiful dog...and looks as though she is a BIG helper with yard work, too! How funny that she is not afraid of the mower or leaf blower....Noah would have head for the hills when those came out! :o)

XOXO,

Cyndi

mountain mama said...

lola looks like quite the big helper! :)

Loris said...

That Lola is a hard worker :-) Love the apple blossom pics! This rain kind of surprised me. It was really coming down here in the middle of the night and has just been sprinkling intermittently since. We almost had our trail dried out and now we are muddy again. Oh well..

Michelle said...

Lola does look like a sweetie. I have the same help from my dogs when we work in the yard.

Simple Home said...

The plants around here have been confused too. We haven't got rain yet, but it's supposed to come in tonight. Love your apple blossom photo!
Blessings,
Marcia

Sherrie said...

Hi!
That is one big tree. Very brave of your hubby getting in there and trimming it away. Lola is adorable. Have a great day!

Sherrie
http://sherrie-myphotosgoodorbad.blogspot.com/2011/01/287-stripes.html

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Linda, I love Lola! She reminds me of my collie who used to bite the spray from the hose if we tried to water anything. She hated it for some reason. LOL! Dogs are so funny.

Hope everything works out with your apple trees. This has been a strange winter. Normally we have a mild winter in Florida, and it has see-sawed between warm days and very chilly ones. I'm almost at the point of preferring summer's heat to this.

And you are welcome to borrow any of the ideas I shared. I put them on there because I had several requests to see what the women had done, and I wanted to share. So please feel free to steal away!!!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I can see that Lola is full of energy! What a cute dog.

You have blossoms and rain, and we have cold and snow! More snow coming here tomorrow ..thsi is soem winter!