Flowers give their lives to us… Near them, gold and silver seem of no value. ~Auguste Rodin, French sculptor
I Monkey here.
Bet you’ve been missing me, huh?
I told Mama it’s been FAR too long since I’ve taken over her blog, but she just shrugged her shoulders.
What’s up with that? I ask.
Anyway, here I am, and I’ve got plenty to talk about, so let’s get started.
First, Mama has been such a boring old crab lately.
She says she’s got too much to do and not enough time to do it in. She says she’d have more free time if I didn’t bother her all day.
Bother?? C’mon, Mama, that’s my job. Shelties are supposed to shadow their favorite person.
You should be honored I’ve bestowed that designation on you.
Besides, just think of the fun things I’d miss out on if I didn’t follow you around — yowling to that screechy flute-thing, hoping to snatch a lone crumb during the cooking/eating thing, hearing you shriek when I drop “the brick” on your leg while you’re exercising, chasing you up and down the stairs, doing zoomies around you while you’re in the back yard….
Speaking of the back yard, recently, Mama did her annual Major Planting Extravaganza.
Now you need to know that every spring, Mama swears she’s done. Not gonna do that again. It’s too much work, and it makes her back hurt.
Huh. I Monkey think she secretly loves it. She just likes to complain.
Crabby, you know.
Anyway, she announced she was going to the store (contrary to popular perception, posies don’t drop from the sky!) and I awoke to find her dragging in oodles of baby flowers, along with potting soil and planters.
And she invited me to help.
Invited? Yes, indeed, she was pretty insistent, actually.
Said something about tiring me out so I’d sleep well that night.
Huh.
She spent most of an afternoon sticking flowers in pots, then watering them and talking sweetly to them.
When I cocked my head at her, she explained that plants grow big and strong when you talk to them.
Seriously, Mama? You don’t talk to the weeds like that, yet they’re growing big and strong.
Maybe gnomes show up at night — when I’m deep in a snoozle — and carry on a conversation with the nasty old weeds.
Or maybe weeds are just hardier than flowers.
Anyway, now we wait. Some of what she planted were seeds, so it might be weeks before we see progress. Others are already dancing in the breezes and snickering at me when I go outdoors.
Gosh, how’d you like having to use the bathroom with this audience??
Every one of these posies is vying for Mama’s attention. Good thing I Monkey got here first!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Now I know it’s really spring moving into summer — those flowers are the evidence. Keep your nose and your paws out of them, and your mama will be pleased with you, too!
Miss Linda, I Monkey don’t bother Mama’s flowers! I give them a sniff now and then, but she’d tan my hide if I took a chomp out of them. And Shelties really aren’t diggers, not like terriers. Now, if those flower pots ever started to move around by themselves, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d be herding them into a corner somewhere though!
Worth the effort, for sure! ❤️
Thanks, Miss Eliza. I Monkey will tell Mama you think so!
Yes Monkey, I have been missing you. So when I saw your recent post, I got all happy and excited!
I love that photo of you looking over all the beautiful flowers that Mama planted. Please tell her I said, “WELL DONE!” I especially love the square pots!
“When I cocked my head at her, she explained that plants grow big and strong when you talk to them.”
I agree! That’s because plants respond to nearby vibrations. Also, plants carbon dioxide that we humans exhale to create oxygen.
Fabulous post, you handsome boy! Wishing you and Mama an awesome rest of your week!
X
Mr. Ron, I Monkey thank you! I don’t care for Mama’s flowers that much — I mean, I can’t eat them and all they do is stare at me when I use the bathroom. I do suppose they’re good for the environment, though, and Mama is hopeful they’ll attract some butterflies. Or maybe even a hummingbird or two! Hugs and licks!
What a cute picture of you surveying the pots, Monkey! I hope everything thrives (and doesn’t taunt you when you’re out doing your business!).
Oh, Miss Kelly, I Monkey can almost hear the audience snickering every time I lift my leg! Lately, I’ve been trying to find another place to go where they aren’t so front-and-center, you know? But if experience tells me anything, I know the lot of them will be gone by the time Fall arrives, so I’m hanging onto that!
Well, you have to admit, Monkey, that the pots look beautiful! I’m sure your mom is happy that you helped her get that done. We haven’t done our pots yet. I only have 3 to do so I guess I should get moving. I had Penny help me change out the hummingbird feeder this morning. Don’t know how I could have done it without her!
Miss Dawn, I Monkey can assure you that you couldn’t have changed out the bird feeder without Miss Penny’s help! We Shelties are a curious, yet helpful, breed, and whatever our pawrents are doing, we have to be right underfoot. We’re nothing if not excellent supervisors!!
Looks like you and Mom have created a beautiful summer collection. Good to see you here on mama’s blog.
Why, thank you, Mr. John. I Monkey am glad our efforts made you smile! We appreciate your stopping by on your day off, too.
Always a pleasure, Monkey.
I have been missing you, Monkey. I am so glad that you are here today to paw-chat!
Those are pretty flowers that you assisted your mama with planting! I did not know that flowers have eyes, Monkey. That would be very uncomfortable having them watch while doing important business.
I do like this experiment with seeds. Please jump back on your mama’s blog to give us an update when they start peaking their green heads out. With your kind daily sniffs, I hope it will be soon! Yorkie 🐾🐾🌻🌺🌼🌸❤️
Hi Yorkie! Hope you’re feeling better these days. I Monkey am happy to hear you appreciate all the hard work I (okay, Mama) went through to get these flowers looking good. And yes, she’s finally getting some of those seeds to pop through the dirt, too! She checked her plant app and determined one is a marigold and one is a cosmos. We’ll keep you posted on how they do!
It would be fun for you both to see the that seeds are sprouting! Yes I’m feeling better. I had a third round of prednisone and that bitter med mama squirts in my mouth over the weekend. This morning I convinced her that she needed a walk up and down our street. I had to wear my PJ’s to keep myself clean. It was a compromise but worth it.
Mama is so old and slow that it took us 45 minutes. But I know that a walk outside will help her be less grumpy. She has been busy scrubbing all the floors and rearranging furniture. So yesterday there was a lot of chaos. But she does consult me with the arrangements. I am in charge of decorating of my critter stuffies. We agreed on a four foot padded bench in the front east window for me to watch out. I let her know anytime there is a passerby or nutty buddy eating our acorns. The cats know that they are not invited. So, I am back on my job! Enjoy watching the flowers grow! ❤️🐾🐾Yorkie
Monkey, one of the very hard facts of life that we dogs have to accept is that our parents refuse to focus all of their attention on us. (As, obviously, they should.) They do gardening, they read, they build things, etc….. Sometimes we’re allowed to help, other times, we aren’t. It’s unfair, but that’s just how it is. So know that your mom still loves you and that you are a great dog, but that sometimes she’ll ignore you and do things like plant a bunch of seeds and wait for them to grow. Just tolerate it, is my advice. That’s what I do! Love, Finn
Aw, Finn, I Monkey will be glad to heed your advice. After all, you’re a bit older and wiser than I am, and I appreciate your sharing that wisdom! I’ve learned over time that you’re spot on, too. Mama practices that screechy flute-thing, goes to all sorts of places in the car, and pokes her nose in a computer or book far too often for my taste. I Monkey am just a wee pup, so I’m demanding LOTS of attention, LOL!
Your Mama is so lucky to have you as her gardening companion, Monkey! She’s sharing her passions with you and I bet she loves your company as you zoom around the back yard, listening to her explain her world to you!
Miss Barbara, I Monkey fear you’re giving me more credit than I deserve. I really don’t help her much … other than sticking by her side, in case the flowers get out of hand, you know!
Well, Monkey, you’ve done an excellent job with the planting! I expect Mama just lazed around and watched while you did all the work, huh? Just as well you’re around or nothing would ever get done! Don’t tell Mama I said that, though…
HaHa, Miss FF, I Monkey am picturing Mama stretched out on a lawn chair barking out orders for me to get those flowers in pots! As particular as she is, I’d probably still be planting them, too, because no way would I get it right on the first go-round!
Crabby? I can’t imagine you being that…..but I know at 71 I’m getting more crabby days. As we age we have the right and duty to be a little crabby. LOL! This old age hurts and everything is harder to do!!! I think planting and growing flowers is a crab reducer!
You would think empty nester, less to do but….I’m still a little busy!
Miss Tanya, I Monkey am sorry you’re hurting. Mama complains about her aching back sometimes, but little pups like me don’t really empathize with pain. I just figure she needs to exercise or play with me more, and she’ll shape right up!!
Well Monkey…wait until your up there in age! You’ll be agreeing with me!