Story Times...

Meet Glenda...she runs
a Lego animal 
sanctuary...

in my Succulent Garden!

 

You can probably guess that she stays pretty busy.

Let's not forget to check in on Joe and Dog. They are still wandering about exploring this wonderful world that is not The End of All Time. I don't think Dog is too impressed with the pond they are going to cross.

Nor do they know what else they may find.

Ailie and Rabbit... transported from a Starship in the somewhat distant future.

There is a Lego Photo Challenge this month, that I will be participating in. Wouldn't it be fun to get the project??? I can only try. 

So you could see some fun Lego shots here as I work through that 'assignment'.

Submit photos of LEGO subjects in interesting environments to apply for this On Assignment project. The selected photographer will receive the Space Construction Mech 60428 to create a series of at least 5 photos.

Me Time?

Charlie and I usually go out once a day to check on the fencing situation in the woods. We follow the path that was made by a dozer a few years ago. Since then, trees have fallen here and there across the trail and we either step over logs or go around the fallen trees.

The undergrowth is now in full force in places making it nearly impossible to just wander about off any path.

When we followed the mule trail to the creek, I saw a doe nursing her fawn. I stopped and told Charlie to sit. [Yeah, he just stared at me like I was speaking in tongues.]

The doe startled and ran off. Her fawn immediately dropped to the ground and became a statue.

Charlie and I headed off in a different direction so mom could come back and get her 'baby'. 

We eventually climbed down into the dry run.

This is what it looked like a few days ago with the heavy rains we had:

This is what it looked like when Charlie and I visited it yesterday:

and...

this is Charlie on watch, pretending to be my photography assistant. When in fact, he was just listening for his nemesis, the CHIPmunk. While I was setting up some Toy Photography, Charlie slipped away apparently on some sort of mission.

Imagine a dog who is 7 inches tall disappearing into the understory of the forest without a sound.

I couldn't hear his bell or see him. I called and called and hollered 'Cookie' as loud as I could, then I beeped his collar and buzzed him. I climbed up on rocks and took a plastic bag out and shook it [plastic bag noises almost always gets his immediate attention as that means Treats.]

Darn that dog! He is so bullheaded when it comes to the chase. He believes he is 7 foot tall and fearless. 

 After a few minutes of me thinking about freaking out, he came climbing up over the rocks and sat down next to my feet. He looked up at me with ... I swear... a grin on his face.

In the meantime, I had been setting up Homeless Joe and Dog. Looks like they are enjoying the nice weather also.

I don't think Dog likes this puddle of water. Joe seems distracted by something.

Thankfully, I can still get to parts of the creek without a machete, but it might be a good idea to take one along next time.

I decided to take this shot and call it--->

Me Time.

My walks in the woods in the mornings are my quiet time, my me time, and a time to regroup and get ready for the rest of the day.

Joe gets it...

Homeless Joe and Dog

Joe agrees with Dog, he should have something more to keep himself warm too. Perhaps they should go to the Time Warp place where he found Dog and see if anything has appeared.

 

Joe gestures down into the giant rusty artifact. He still isn't sure if Humans actually existed but this is a very curious metallic thing. This is where Dog appeared so ... maybe...

They climb down and discover something that could be useful.

Dog smells it and bites a hole in it.

They leave this place quickly before Time changes again. They don't want to be swept into another place.

OH! So that is why Dog bit a hole in the blanket! 

Joe is pleased, this feels pretty comfortable.

They head back to camp. Joe hears himself laugh. Dog licks his face.

Life certainly feels pretty good for Joe and Dog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh...here is how Charlie helped with this series.

Honestly, Charlie has now learned not to tip figures over while I am photographing them. He has become quite the assistant. These figures are small and easy to carry in a small plastic case. 

The 'cape' is a piece of material that I hand stitched some floral wire into so I can 'pose' the cape. Pretty cool, huh?

Joe

The last we saw of Joe, he'd found Dog.

That was just before two big snow storms. So I wonder what exactly have they been up too lately? How have they been doing? 

Did they survive the deep freeze? What's going on?

~~~~~~~

Joe cooks up some vegetables and offers some to Dog. He feels something strange going on. He doesn't know why, but he CARES about Dog. At one point in his life he was determined not to care for anything.

Dog shares with Joe and helps him gather more sticks for the stove along with some nice warm moss to sit in.

Joe notices Dog is shivering even though he is close to the stove. 

Maybe this could help? 

Dog receives the gift and jumps up and down in the snow. 

Joe looks down at Dog and feels another strange thing happening aside from the warmth in his chest.
He feels like jumping up and down with Dog. What feeling could this be? 

Joe doesn't understand the smile on his face. He has never smiled, not that he can recall.

This world may be much better than the one he left. 

Perhaps this is not The End?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Homeless Joe is a concept created by Zhi Park. Joe has a back story that I wasn't even really aware of until I was sent a link to the creator's Instagram account. The story is vague but at the same time I felt everything that was written just by posing and using this figure. I found this after I wrote the above. 
Interesting.

Joe and Dog keep giving me endless places to go in their story. 

https://www.instagram.com/zhi.park/?hl=en

About Homeless Joe ：As for Joe, the world is covering in gray. Ever since aliens captured Joe’s family, he got away from the crowd to observe the sky and extinct volcanoes. No one knows exactly how long Joe was in the wilderness, he changed, became loving life, and looking forward to the end of the world, expecting an end to give himself an answer passively. He likes to sit in the tent and soliloquize oddly, listening to his shabby no-signal radio with the rustle sound current or just lying down in the tent floor scribbling.

Joe finds...

 We are back with Joe. Do you recall Joe?

I started telling his story earlier this year: Joe

~~~~~~~

He heard about some metal relics in a ditch so he thought he'd go check that out. He may find some useful shelter. The ditch did indeed have a relic. So perhaps the fables and legends about Humans were true after all?

Joe climbs onto the relic and begins to look around when something taps his leg.

It then sits quietly and stares up at Joe.

What the?

Joe reaches down and feels an instant connection. Something in his body suddenly feels quite warm. He isn't sure what it is.

He starts to walk back towards the forest and....

well....

Hmmm.

He feels more warmth in his body. It seems to spread as the little...um, dog seems to be following him.
Maybe this world won't be so bad after all? This warmth under his coat isn't just from his coat.
He isn't sure what it is, however it feels pretty good.

Joe and Dog wake up to the world turning white and snow falling down. Joe grabs his pack and thinks perhaps he and Dog need some better shelter.

Dog walks up and drops a stick.

Joe stares at it.

Dog hops up and down.

Joe picks up the stick. He heads to the woods.

He sighs as Dog brings him more and more sticks.

Dog seems to make his lonely life more bearable. Dog seems to know what he wants without him having to say a word.

Is this what caused the  warmth under his skin? This odd feeling he has never had before?

~~~~~~~ 
I was going to work more on this but have kept putting it off with the snowstorms and extreme cold weather.

I had an inkling that Joe and Dog were on the track to become great friends. I bet they've holed up right now and are keeping warm someplace....

More Joe and Dog adventures coming along soon enough....

Endless days of snow and rain...

There are good things and not so great things about long stretches of cold rainy and snowy days.

The good thing was I worked on some deep cleaning. During the other half's nappy time, I had to be quiet [no vaccum cleaning or killing dust bison]. I moved Charlie's pillow to the new-old Christmas Chair which has had its legs cut off.

When I came back in the living room to mop the floor, I saw this. What a perfect spot for him! He likes the couch better. 

Squatch decided that he needed to build a good shelter. He was tired of cold wet fur and colder chilly nights.  Besides, he had Dog to think of.

He consulted with Doe who was one of the very first toys in my collection. She suggested building one.

A cream cheese container wrapped in cast off aluminum and encased in clay would make a good small cave.

Not exactly a castle, but...

with a fire, it seems pretty cozy. 

And then a neighbor dropped by for conversation, but the fire was so nice and warm....

He fell fast asleep. But his chicken carried on a conversation with Dog.

I made even a bigger mess in the one room I intended to clean up. I need to go back and do some major sorting. Out with the old junk, and in with the new junk?

Can I keep him?

Squatch's hut he built had been mostly demolished by the recent winds and rain. The dried grass insultation was gone and the inside was rather wet and windy. Time to search some more for a better place? Perhaps one that wasn't on the ridge. Or he could use the stick hut for a sleeping in on a hot summer night.

In the valley he admired the tree roots. What a nice cool shady spot.

The Root Caves were pretty neat, but they seemed to be occupied by chipmunks and mice. They made for annoying and noisy neighbors.

Squatch stopped to ponder the forest and admire the scenery when something odd happened.

A dog! 

They looked each other over and Squatch shrugged, the dog looked friendly enough. Maybe he was looking for a place too. 

Squatch turned and headed back towards the stick house thinking things over. 

Snow day

I adore the morning after a snow when the temperatures are frigid and the snow crystals glisten.
Snow Diamonds.

I'll never get those words out of my head. Yes, I think Dad each time I see them. He'd once asked me to take photos of them for him.
He was going blind at the time from macular degeneration.

But I always seek Snow Diamonds...

I live for these mornings. When the atmosphere is heavy with moisture and there is no wind.
The Hoar frost arrives and turns the world into a delightful place of reflecting lights.

Things look so magical with frost on them!

The morning light was magical on the snow. Charlie and I took a quick morning walk and went to do the chores.

Rich was still complaining about his stomach hurting. I asked pointed questions to try and help him figure out what was bothering him. It ended up with him telling me in a fit of anger to 'shut up' and get out.
Of course I think part of the issue was his inability to articulate what the problem was as much as deciding that my questions were nagging.
I handed him a sheet of paper that has the VA's phone number to the nurse's line and after I took all of his vitals [normal], I let him be while I took Mr. Charlie for a hike.

That dog does love snow!

Late in the afternoon, I fired up the Dreaded Skid Steer and cleared the parking area on the north side of the house. It is just yard, but in the winter it is nice to have it plowed out so I can bring groceries into the kitchen instead of walking around the house.
It went okay as far as driving the Beast goes. I got brave and did a little more touching up but didn't go hog wild. I need many more hours with the Beast before I could ever get proficient at it.

We are supposed to get some more snow later this week and the wind chills are to drop into the way below zero range.
Perfect weather for snowshoeing in the valleys.

Snow Day!

Just last week I went and had new bindings put on the pair of non waxed cross country skis that Dad gifted to me years ago. I've hung on to them all this time because ... well, they were Dad's.
And today I had a chance to try them out thanks to Mother Nature dropping about 4 inches or so on the ground overnight.

It was like having Dad skiing with me in a way. I literally flew through the meadow with Charlie and Sven chasing me towards the woods. I'd purchased some 'back' country skis a couple of years ago for 'breaking' trials. They are wonderful, but lack the slide and glide speed of long skis.

It isn't exactly Goat Yoga, but Sven sure enjoyed the romp. Charlie chased along with his tiny legs. Sven got distracted a few times by some greenery, but always came along after I whistled for him.
Note the bright orange scarf. He is colored too much like a deer to go out during gun season of course. But I thought a sporty scarf on both Charlie and Sven would be fun.

I did a morning hike after chores and will look at some of those photos later. But this was the fun part. Walking the dog and the goat in the snow while on skis.

I walked with Sven and Charlie to check the mail and see if they had plowed the road on the ridge. They did. I checked the mail and didn't see anything. As I turned and started downhill I hear the mailperson come. They have a large Jeep Rubicon. I thought I'd stand and wait for the mail.

I have no idea what the issue was, but since there was unplowed snow by the boxes? The mailperson just made a turn around and left.

I was certainly perplexed.
The new hires for the rural mail carriers sure are picky.
I could have driven through the unplowed snow area easily with my Subaru, heck a regular car would not have had trouble.
Remember, this is the mail carrier that didn't think two fire numbers meant two houses.
These are the people that I had to draw a map for.
How odd.
Well, I've decided to put up a trail cam on that area for future reference.

I generally do anyway at different times of the year. I do have a good spot to put the camera that takes shots of the plates and vehicle as they come down the hill.

Sigh...
Anyway, the skiing even though it was not superb, was a lot of fun.