Our rhododendrons are out-doing themselves this year. They are a riot of color; exploding with dense clusters of bell-shaped flowers.

I am not their only admirer. Here they are visited by pollen-laden bee.

This swallowtail butterfly likes them too.

Don’t you agree they are beautiful?

It’s a jungle out there! Parts of my back yard become a jungle at this time of year. It’s a bit boggy because we have a small trickle of a stream that bisects our four acres. Skunk cabbage grows green and lush until August.

Vines wander.

Ferns abound.

And little black monkeys climb in the trees.

Yes, it’s true. Myrtle and the Fantastic Five visited the back yard yesterday morning. They figured out how to come over the fence. BUT, not only did they use my yard as as a jungle gym, Myrtle and one of the cubs were up on my deck! Too close for comfort—especially since only a screen door was between them and the furiously barking Alex and Hailey. In her defense, I did have a bird feeder hanging from the railing of the deck, which she knocked off into the yard below. So, no more feeding the birds from the deck.

P.S. Myrtle is much bigger when you are right up next to her rather than just seeing her in the yard. yikes. 

Friday morning I awoke to Patches the Bear in the front yard. This is the result of having bears in your yard.

My brand-new bird bath got knocked over and broken. I guess I’m going to have to get an unbreakable one. This is the second bird bath that has met its fate in the same way (via big bear butt).

On Saturday, Myrtle brought her family to visit. They are still very small, but have grown since the last time I saw them. They played in the chaff leftover from feeding the birds and clothed themselves in spent sunflower seeds and the millet the birds didn’t want. They cavorted around the front yard like young puppies. They scrambled up and down trees like little black monkeys. They made themselves at home. Take a look for yourself. I think they are just about the cutest things I have ever seen (including puppies), and they were just what we needed to cheer us up.

Rick took this last video while standing in the back yard. You can see where a few seconds in she false charges him and lets out a warning huff. You can tell by the way Rick nearly drops the camera!

We hope Myrtle brings them back throughout the summer so we can watch them grow.

Milli awaiting her litter in the whelping box (eBay is helping)

Daisy and Bode 3 weeks old (Simba in background)

Daisy and Bode 3 weeks old (Simba in background)

Daisy and Bode 3 weeks old (Simba in background)

Dad Sailor gives Daisy a lick while cuddling on Simba

That’s a good question. Just how do you say good-bye to a loyal, trustworthy friend? Sailor was a good dog; a wonderful companion. Beautiful. Intelligent. Sweet and loving. The last of my true kids from my favorite dog of all time, Indy. He was a lot like his father before him.

We always thought that of all the dogs, Sailor would be the one most likely to live into his older years. He was so energetic and healthy. Not one health problem ever marred his short life. He fought bravely, but that insidious disease proved too much for him. He kept smiling right up until the end.

Over the past three weeks he was on a roller-coaster of a ride. He went so low a few times that we were certain he was leaving us. He rallied several times much to our delight, although never coming back up to where he was before. This past week he was basically a hospice care patient. I was at his beck and call. He needed help getting outside and getting up. He was fussy eating, so Dairy Queen vanilla cones were a big hit with him. His eyes would grow big with wonder and anticipation when he realized that it was all for him. How he loved them! The hours of my day were filled with his needs. Now my day seems empty.

(I love this pic because of his smile and because he looks like he’s wearing my hair as a wig!)

I watched him leave us little bit by little bit. I started preparing myself the minute I heard the diagnosis of lymphoma. I had great hopes that the chemo would keep him with us longer than it did. I kept as upbeat and happy around him as I possibly could, and I think I did a good job. I have no regrets there. He had a good life; I just wish it could have been longer.

We were both with him at the end. He passed as peacefully as we could have hoped for. That he did it with us, here at home, instead of the vet’s office was a great comfort to us. We didn’t have to end his life for him, he chose his own way.

So, good-bye dear Sailor. Sailing-man. Skipper. Mr. Prissy Paws. Scupper-gubs. We will miss your sweet, dear face. Let your soul be free to go wherever it was that you needed to go. Promise me you’ll be back to visit.