Two Dog Tales

 
My friend Loren had to come down my way today, and she stopped by so we could go on a hike back by the river. I have some interesting pictures of things we found, but I think I have to tell you two dog stories first. Actually, I'll let the dogs tell you themselves. Maggie's tale is from Saturday, Corky's is from today.



Maggie's Story

Mom put the small yellow backpack with my hiking food bowl in it by the front door, and then my leash, so I knew it was going to be a good morning. I heard a car pull in the driveway, so I barked so Mom would know. It was Ellen, and we all got in her car. I like that because it's easier to get in her back seat. My legs don't work quite as well as they used to.

We drove a while and stopped at the same place Mom and I went on Thursday, but it was a lot different today. Instead of just Mom and me there were a whole lot of other people there. Corky and Cedar came too, and I know them, but there was another big yellow dog who came too. It was pretty confusing.

After the people talked for a while and Mom made everyone get in a funny bunch all close together where she pointed that thing she carries on a strap at us, we started walking the trail. There really were too many people.

At first, I was right beside Mom, and she was talking with someone. Then suddenly I couldn't find her. I couldn't find her anywhere! Why were there so many people today? This wasn't much fun.

But I knew where the car was. I ran all the way back to the car, even though it was Ellen's car. But I couldn't open the door, and no one was there. I was sad and scared. I sat down beside the car and barked. I barked and barked and barked until my voice was squeaky.

Finally, and it was oh, so long, Mom came and petted me and told me it was ok, and took me back to where everyone was.

Whew! She watched me better for the rest of the day, and I stayed closer too, but I had a scary morning.



Corky's Story

My mom took Cedar and me to that other lady's house today, that lady that Maggie lives with. We went to the store first, but at this place, Mom got out her backpack and then we all walked away from the house. It was a place I hadn't walked before.

I'm smaller than the other dogs, but that has nothing to do with anything. I'm all heart, and I'm the alpha dog. Everyone knows that!

We went a lot of interesting places. There were some steep slopes, and at the bottom was lots of black mud with interesting things to smell. We even found some places where Cedar and I could get in the water and cool off. Maggie doesn't like to get wet. I don't know why.

We went a lot of places, and Mom and the other lady did some goofy things like kneeling down in the mud and pointing those things on straps at plants. Plants! Who cares about them? I walked on some to point out how stupid that was, but I got yelled at.

Anyway, we finally got to a place where the water was wider and cleaner and there was a walkway made of boards that went right out into the water. We all went out there, 'cause Mom didn't like all the mud on her legs and wanted to wash. The water was right up to the edge of the wood. Suddenly, I slipped and went in the water. No big deal, I'm a great swimmer.

But the current was strong, really strong! I tried to climb back on the wood, but the water was pulling me so bad. Mom tried to grab me, but she wasn't fast enough, and I got pulled right under the wood! I could hear footsteps on the wood, and yelling. I tried to turn around and swim back but the water was too fast and I couldn't breathe! When I stuck my head up, it bumped wood and I couldn't get to the air.

I saw an arm come in the water where I went in but I couldn't get to it. Then there was an arm behind me, but it didn't find me. Then there was another arm where I went in, but it was even farther away.

Suddenly, I popped up to the surface and I could get a breath again. Wow. That was important. But I was swimming as hard as I could and I was getting farther from the wood thing. I tried and tried!

Then the other lady reached out with that stick she walks with and stuck it behind my head. The stick was just long enough. I swam and she pulled and Mom cheered me on, and pretty soon Mom got ahold of me.

Mom said I looked like a little wrung-out mop, but she seemed really glad to get me back on that wood.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Note from the human. Maggie's story is just kind of funny, and maybe a little sad. Corky's story was genuinely scary.

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Miscellany

 
Just one of those miscellaneous days. I went to church with Dave & Loren (hiking friends) because they belong to a handbell choir that was playing this morning. It was a lot of fun! They played "Do Lord." Yes, the old chorus from the childhoods of even the oldest of us. They made it really move!



This church also had a pipe organ (I used to know this, but had forgotten), and an interesting, modern stained-glass window.


There were a couple of other firsts for the season. I got my act together and took my first bike ride. Just did six miles (don't care to be crippled tomorrow), but it felt good!

And I had the first glass of iced tea of the spring. Tall, strong and cold.

Proofread the chapter of Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp that I wrote last night, and got some ideas to flesh out the next couple.

The honeysuckle is actually getting leaves already! (This is potentially terrible weather for the fruit farmers though because if the buds open and then we get a freeze it will devastate the fruit crop. The economy doesn't need that)

Quite a nice day.

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Spirit of the Woods at Magoon Creek

 
Today was the monthly hike of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

You've heard me mention that the last few months we've had a low turnout... not today! We posed a group picture. I'll save you from counting. There are 26 of us.



The weather was weird. Outstanding, but weird. It was a perfect day... for July. In March? Well, I'm not going to complain (I just hope it's not 20 degrees warmer when we do get to July.) We hiked a short loop trail just outside of Manistee at a park called Magoon Creek. The creek flows along the south edge of the park. Here's where it runs through the sand and into Lake Michigan.



There are few things as beautiful in the north as white birch against a blue sky.



Everyone did the loop once, then a few of us hiked some side trails and ended up at the picnic area where we ate lunch.



Ellen is home from India, and we drove there together. It was nice to visit.

	See Spirit of the Woods at Big M
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Philadelphia Flower Show 2012- Succulents - Aloe

 
Aloe is probably one of the best known succulents, grown as houseplants. The most common one is Aloe barbadensis, or Aloe Vera. It's the one you break off an arm to squeeze out the gel-like juice to treat burns. However, there are 200-500 (depending on which sources you believe) species of Aloe.

The description doesn't sound much different from a lot of other succulents- a rosette of thick, fleshy leaves, often lance-shaped, and often with spines. Not much help there. Their flowers are interesting, but I don't have a picture of one. Enjoy the leaves, though.

None of these look much like Aloe Vera. All but one have spikes, and the one without spikes is a much different color. Here it is. The exact species is not named, but it's the variety Aloe 'Quicksilver.' That probably means it is some hybrid. Collectors and succulent gardeners have been playing with these plants just as much as the usual garden flowers.



Here's another that is a hybrid variety called Aloe 'Christmas Carol.' You can easily see why.



When you see a plant name that has another genus name in its species name (are you confused yet?) you can probably conclude that the one plant looks like the other one. This is Aloe haworthoides (go back two days and look at all the Haworthia).



I like variegated plants of any kind, and sure enough, here's an Aloe that fits the bill, Aloe brevifolia variegata.



I think this one is my favorite, just because it's sort of outrageous. The leaves are smooth, but then then it has those bright, nasty looking spikes! Reminds me of Audrey Junior in Little Shop of Horrors. It doesn't even have a species name... must be another hybrid.



However, perhaps this one is my favorite instead, because I got to bring this one home! I allow myself one purchase a year. (You can't buy the really unusual ones- I'd need to join a club or hunt for internet sources or something.) This is Aloe juvenna aka A. squarossa, and right now it's very green, but supposedly it will turn reddish if it gets enough sun. I think it tends to get leggy. We'll see.



Tomorrow is a hike, so you'll get a break from the flower show. The temperatures are unseasonably ridiculous (supposed to break records again... I've been wearing shorts all week), but things are still brown and gray. I'll try for a couple of worthy pictures, though.

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Philadelphia Flower Show 2012- Volcano

 
Just a quickie post tonight. I worked all evening on work reports, and I wanted to show you this display, so it works well, because it's simple.

Since Hawaii is a land of volcanoes, this display tried to create the effect of flowing lava with lighting and plant material. The black edging was just plastic.





Nice weather here! Too warm, almost. Went for a hike today, but everything is gray and brown. The flower show is still more interesting to look at.

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