From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat

"It is better to wait until the gate opens then jumping over it. This way you know that you have been invited in."

From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat

"Don't lick out the can. You will get more food from the dish."

From the Sayings of Smudge, the Cat

"Meow sparingly, so that your human will understand you better."

"The Greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." - Samuel Butler

Before the Pine Tree Died

By Sharon Graves

A mini-ecosystem was never discovered

Until Sharon bought the house and uncovered

A wondrous place only found

In the hills of Southern mountains.

Three pines there were standing tall

Not the prettiest ones of all

But underneath them cool and damp

Wildflowers grew, undisturbed plants.

What were they? No one cared

Until Sharon happened to spare

Leaves of green

That she assumed were weeds.

June came and surprise was on the way

When something pink began to display

On that weed of green leaves

that started to produce colorful sheathes.

The flower grew and revealed who it was-

A Pink Lady Slipper from the mountains above

My little house in the foothills below

What a blessing it bestowed.

I looked everyday, taking photos

Among the scrubby pines and weeds of my "Eco"

Two, three, maybe four seasons she displayed

Her pretty slippers in June days.

One pine tree died and then was cut

Now there's death, heat, and much dry mud

Will my pretty flower survive?

No more able to safely hide?

Today I see the leaves of green

That once I had assumed were those of weeds

June will be here again next year

Flowers will bloom somewhere near.

And maybe I will see a flower revealed

A pink lady slipper just for me.

Balloo's qualifying Open Standard Run

Sharon and Casey's Standard qualifying run at Fletcher

Sharon and Balloo my two year old at Fletcher, NC

Balloo's dog agility beginnings

This is Balloo after the weave poles running with me with my red shoes. Balloo always beat me running, so I have found short cuts to keep up with him. He is fast!

You all may have to lie down on your side to see this, but I decided to post it anyway so that you can see my two year old, Balloo running the poles. He loves them.