I know, I know, you’re in Babs withdrawal. Me too. And it’s been raining and everything’s in bloom so my head hurts. But my house is still firmly attached to its foundation, the Duo are contentedly asleep in a pile on their favorite chair, and I found the source of the mildew smell so things are looking up around here. I’m going to take a couple of aspirin and go hunt up Babs. Here’s a little slideshow to hold you. Flowers with scary names. Aliens. Springtime in northern Michigan. While it’s loading you can make a nice cup of tea to fortify yourself until I get back here with Babs’s photo.
Posted in: Adventures outdoors
Torch Lake Views 
uphilldowndale
May 23, 2011
Oh Gerry, I can’t start to tell you just how much I needed this post this evening. Lovely flowers that sooth, a tidy terrier and that tinkerbell Cowboy made me laugh out loud… just what the Dr ordered
Gerry
May 23, 2011
I’m so glad–and the tinkerbell is deeply gratified to be of service. I should post a photo of his newly-bathed self, but he looks worse than ever thanks to much tangling of his clean fur. As usual, he looks like a beloved stuffed toy that a two-year-old has drooled over and chewed on and dragged through a dusty house.
Joss
May 24, 2011
Oh, I’m so glad I finally got to see Miss Sadie and the Cowboy. They look grand. Now imagine this: my dog, who is a cross between a spaniel and a terrier. Nothing could be more different than your spaniel and your terrier, so what would their offspring be like if … don’t even go there. My pattercock (who is a cross between a patterdale terrier and a cocker spaniel) actually seems quite ‘together’. You can see her on UHDD’s blog sometime back, if you search for Rani.
Gerry
May 24, 2011
Miss Sadie and the Cowboy are very companionable, but I have made absolutely certain that there will never be any offspring. I am sure that if there were, they would be Holy Terrors.
I went looking for Rani and then remembered the posts quite well. Nothing like dog stories to get Mrs. Uhdd’s readers chiming in. Rani was an extremely appealing puppy, and I’m willing to bet she’s growing into a fine companion.
kanniduba
May 24, 2011
Lovely photos Gerry!
In the moments that I can step back in appreciation, I am absolutely gobsmacked when I observe the greenery surrounding me. The flowers have never been bigger, the leaves-never fuller, the grass-never lusher. I cannot stop looking at it all.
Now, the molds…the molds I could do without. Hope you feel better quickly.
Gerry
May 24, 2011
I know the feeling. One day we finally had a tiny hint of spring, a faint shimmer of pale green in the maples–and then suddenly Everything Is Green. It seems to happen when I’m in the shower or feeding the dogs or reading the paper. Sneaks up on me every single year. I’m feeling all better, thank you–my allergies shriek when the air is full of clouds of pollen but shutteth up when everything is decently busy making seeds.
Kate
May 24, 2011
Ah yes, springtime — complete with runny nose & headache every morning. I’ve been forced to resort to a neti pot. Unglamorous as that is, the blasted thing works! I can breathe, & my head has quit throbbing. All without benefit of Big Pharma, which is always a plus in my book.
Kate
May 24, 2011
And lovely flower photos!
Gerry
May 24, 2011
I suppose when it comes to allergies we’ll do whatever works for us.
Mostly what works for me is to go sit on the shore and drink hot tea and curse. One morning of that is usually all it takes.
My favorite solution would be to lie quietly in a lovely spot while someone brings me peeled grapes but I haven’t been able to persuade anyone to do that yet. (The Cowboy says he’d be happy to oblige, did he but have opposable thumbs, but I think he’s just trying to scam some grapes.)
Karma
May 24, 2011
I love your cheerful little slideshow – although indeed there are some kind of scary names in there. That first shot of the purple archangel is a perfect alien face!
Does the Cowboy actually believe grapes to be edible food? Daphne and Teddy are of the opinion that grapes are toys to be spit from one’s mouth.
Gerry
May 24, 2011
Now see that’s what I thought, but you are the very first person to mention it! About the alien face I mean. I think the flowers along the road by Mickey’s house bear watching.
The Cowboy is fond of fruit – he will even eat orange slices, but his favorite treat is a chunk of banana. The thing about grapes is that they’re hard to eat unless they’re cut in half, but I’ll be doggoned if I’ll make fruit salad for a spaniel. OK, maybe on his birthday.
Kim J
June 23, 2011
Hi Gerry, grapes and raisins are not good for dogs, so no grapes for Cowboy! 🙂