Our commonwealth

Well, since we are introducing ourselves to the world wide web (why don't we call it that anymore? it just trips off the tongue), I thought we should debut the real charm in the family.


This is Kentucky. We got him in May 06. He was about this big then:



He also looks dapper in Santa garb:


He generally believes in the goodness of life and doesn't notice when stealthy cats are stalking him (Hint: look behind the flowers).


He enjoys long, long, long runs (on the beach is a bonus, but not necessary) and would rather swim beside the canoe than sit in it. He steals vegetables away from the kitchen floor (oops!) and away to his special spot in the bedroom where he can ponder the carrot or green bean for a good long while, giving it a nibble every now and then, but leaving it for us to find.

We think he is such a great dog because his older brother Toccoa (who died last spring) tells him what to do and how great it is to have a family (both were rescues).


Kentucky also would like a friend. Another dog. Tell Bryce you agree with me (because I know Kentucky does, he just can't speak English to say it).

Summer Abundance

Nobody has told our garden about the drought, apparently. Bryce has put a ton of work into it and it really shows. Last year we had a few measly plants that I plopped into the ground pretty late... I was shoveling with a big cast on my foot, so I'll use that as my excuse. Well, the Bryce has gone wild over this 4'x15' plot by our house. It's in the front yard because our back yard is shady shady and full of glass (don't ask). He has tilled manure from my grandmother's farm, starting back in March. We planted our vegetables in May (just after that awful frost!) and they have gone crazy!



Last year, pests got fifty percent of what I planted (you could see little toothmarks in the strawberries). It is so true that healthy plants are the best pest-deterrent. This year, you could see that something was eating the leaves of the peppers just after we got them in the ground. Once the plants settled into the good soil, though- forget about it! They just shot up. We used some organic fertilizer in the first month or so, but haven't done much of anything lately. We haven't even had to weed, because of the cloth we put down between the plants (what is that stuff called?)

Last week, Bryce picked about 15 pounds of veggies out of our little garden (mostly cucumbers and green beans and squash) and you can see 20 or 30 tomatoes that will be ripe soon. We are going to turn into vegetables ourselves! (I will be a tomato- Bryce is clearly a watermelon). Have I introduced you to the guardian of our little vegetable wonderland?

I think he has a little something to do with the lack of rodents, too. Here he is hanging out on the prolific cucumber vine, enjoying some shade. So- if you live in the neighborhood- come on over and pick some for yourself (and say hi to the snake)!