“What the heck, Little One. It looks like someone shot a tree.”
“Big winds last night. Ixnay on the eveslay.”
“Huh. What do you mean?”
“Dad’s on the other side of the yard. So don’t talk about the leaves.”
“Why not?”
“It will cause him to get that noise monster out to pick them up.”
“I don’t think talking about them will have any effect. He knows they are here.”
“You don’t need to yell that all over the place.”
“He’s gone inside, so he can’t hear me. What are you doing?”
“I’m having a staring contest. I’ll bet I can make you look away.”
“Yeah, okay, you made me look away. You win.
“You didn’t even try. I’ll race you to the patio.”
“Okay, you win that too. Next time give me a heads up when it’s time to run.”
“I really don’t think it will make any difference. It reminds me of the tortoise and the hare.”
“You know how that turned out, don’t you? My, these impatiens are beautiful.”
“No, I never finished reading the story. So how does it turn out?”
The hare was so confident that he took a nap, and the tortoise passed him up and won the race.”
“Aw, that would never happen. The hare was so fast and the tortoise so slow.”
“Well, the tortoise just kept at it, and the hare slacked off. It’s a good lesson.
“To keep doing your best?”
“That’s it, Little one.”
“How’s your treat begging skill?”
Fiction Favorites 
I so love these John…the casual Lucy and Twiggy you capture so well. You have no idea how much I enjoy photographs. They say so much if you look at them thoughtfully.
Must be fun taking their pictures and I know they must LOVE the attention…girls will be girls after all. 🙂
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They do love the attention. I more or less follow them like paparazzi and get the shots. They are method actors and pretty much ignore direction. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 😊
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The Meisner Technique. Yes. I can see that. Lassie was a member of the Actor’s Studio from what I understand.
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I can imagine that too.
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I just saw Joanne Woodward and Geraldine Page inviting them out for coffee.
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I want to go too.
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And you can treat. You know how women love that. 🙂
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I will and do.
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Old school you are. 🙂
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Totally. Gentleasauris.
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But remember, you have other virtues like paying for women’s lunches and paparazzi skills. Hiding behind bushes, jumping out at the right moment. So you know, that really made me laugh. 🙂
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That makes me feel good.
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I see this came twice. OY
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Eh. no biggy.
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WordPress at 4 a.m. is still asleep.
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Yes. Me too.
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Not me. I’m up like a Navy SEAL doing maneuvers. sigh
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I know you are. Way too early for me.😊
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I may have been a rooster in another life favoring the early morning. My mother did too so many it’s a genetic thing…who knows.
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For years I got up and was out the door at 4:30 AM. In California it was a hellish commute and then it become routine. I don’r do that anymore.😊
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You’ve earned whatever it is you prefer to do, I’m sure of that.
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Excercise at 8:00 instead of 4:45
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Eh, that’s a mere 4 hours, like you’re in Paris while I’m here. 🙂
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Ah Paris in the spring. I would like to be there. 😁
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I’m rereading John Baxter’s, 5 Nights in Paris and just want to pack and book a flight.
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I spent some lovely time there.
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Wow, those are a lot of leaves! I think the girls are going to be listening to the noise monster for a long time. Hopefully, they’ll be inside with their treats when it’s time for all those leaves to be sucked up!
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We got some rain so it will be tomorrow. Thanks, Mae,
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That’s a LOT of leaves, John. Kudos to the Producer…the yard looks terrific.
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Thank you, Lori. Things are being added in as the temperatures go up.
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They always look like they’re having fun exploring.
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They do love their yard. Thanks, Charles.
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Shot a tree. LOL That is a lot of leaves. Hope those girls don’t get too scared of the noise monster.
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They do hate it. I think all the live oak leaves have fallen. Tomorrow is the day.
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You had me with the noise monster – therefore hoping it would make an appearance. Which of the two is the best treat begger?
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Lucy taught Twiggy so I would say Lucy is the master beggar,
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Sounds like a bunch of people got some wind. Glad leaves are the only thing in your yard.
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Yes, there could have been a cow for sure.
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LOL! Loved this, John. We’ve got your winds this morning!
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Yes. They moved East. Hang on to your hat.
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I always enjoy listening to the girls, John. I’m sure Lucy has perfected the art of treat begging. Too bad they can’t help clean up the leaves – that must have been some storm.
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Winds were in the 60s. Quite a storm for sure.
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Yikes!
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😳
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The girls did it again, John. You ever get afraid they’ll pass you up?
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They are usually ahead of me, GP. I’m quite used to it. 🤣
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Lucy and Twiggy are in top form today!
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They are, Liz. Thank you. 😁
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You’re welcome, John.
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The dog whisperer has struck again – another fun post, John. 😊 Your yard is looking more beautiful by the day.
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Thank you, Gwen. A little more gets added as the weather turns nicer.
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There’s no hare in Twiggy. When she sniffs out that prize, it’s all chips to the center of the table laser focus.
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She does call. Thaks, Marc.
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The girls sure seem to enjoy their time in the yard, and their conversations always make me smile. 🙂
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I’m glad, Tim. They love their yard. Thanks.
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Shot a tree! 🤣 Yep, I think the noise monster would scare me too. Treat begging is a good skill to have … wonder if it’ll work on dear hubby?! Thanks for the laughs, John. Hope you and the girls have a good day and the weather behaves 💕🙂
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Thank you, Harmony. it is a beautiful day here today. I think begging for treats will work on hubby. 😁
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😁
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😊
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Noise monster, lol. Bond feels the same way about lawn mowers that interrupt his day. Have fun with those leaves, John!
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Thank you Teri. Tomorrow is the day.
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Your yard is looking spectacular, except for the leaves, of course (sshhhhh). Twiggy and Lucy are their usual teacher and pupil selves!
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Thank you, Noelle. 😊 You describe them so well. 😁
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I think the landscaping looks lovely. Even the “tree snow” that you use the noise monster on. And, as usual, your last line is gold.
Belly rubs to the girls.
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Thank you Miss Staci.😊
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Fallen leaves, a beautiful landscape, two adorable dogs, and a witty writer. It all just made my day!
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Aw. Thank you so much, Karen. 😁
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Always fun to watch the girls’ antics. That wind must have been fierce!
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It was, Dale. Gusts in the 60s.
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Yowza. Here, we are still freezing our heinies off…
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Protect those heinies. 🥶
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Tee hee!! Definitely!
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“Someone shot a tree.” Still chuckling over that, John. Yes, she’s right: it *does* look like someone shot a tree … or that a tree exploded. I heard you had some big winds come through (so did we). Hope everybody is safe and you have a nice day for cleanup!
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Going to clean up tomorrow. The leaves are still a little damp. Thanks, Debbie. Everything survived the blow.
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It sure does look like it was windy, that’s a lot of leaves. Cute pics as always 🙂
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Thank you, Denise.
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That must have been a doozie of a windstorm. I imagine a leaf blower picks this up relatively easily on your turf.
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Yes it does. Thanks Pete. 😁
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Not only do just follow them you have worked around the aphasia part too… ourpay reefingersthay ilewhay ouyay ixnay the eaveslay.
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Yes. Three fingers is the key.
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That’s a lot of leaves, John. I empathize with you. 🙂 And I loved the stare down. Cute story as always.
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Thank you, Lauren.
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Wow, that’s a lot of stones! Looks very nice. Do you get weeds growing in the stones or is there a layer of something underneath? The older I get, the more appealing smaller areas of grass are.
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We have a weed block fabric underneath the stones. We have to occasionally spray for weeds.
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Excellent words of advice! But either one could be the hare and either one could be the tortoise.
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So true, Pamela. In fact I think it just depends on the circumstances.
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We did have some hellacious winds yesterday. I’m sure many yards are covered with leaves. Love the telling of the tortoise and the hare. Never too young for an important life lesson. 🙂
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Yes we all need to remind ourselves that we too could fall behind.
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Creative writing – “someone shot a tree!” Good thing you can vacuum them. It looks like fall around our yard with the live oaks shedding. I love your beautiful Mountain Laurel.
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It smells so good too, Jo. Thank you.
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There is something philosophical in this stroll, dear John: faded leaves, a new spring, a tree shot, Lucy & Twiggy longing for new adventures 🙂 🙂 🙂
PS: It is still winter for us. Frost doesn’t go away. I suppose that it is a bad influence of a certain event happening you know where. 🙂
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I do know. I often wonder if you get the real news about that thing.
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It looks like they are having fun. Is that wisteria poking its nose into the image? Beautiful whatever it is.
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It is Mountain Laurel. In full bloom right now.
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The girls always are amusing and clever, but — that mountain laurel! And what is on your fence? It’s just beautiful. Have you invited the girls to sniff the grape bubblegum fragrance of the laurel?
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Funny you should mention the laurel. and dogs There is a branch hanging low and they both spent a long time sniffing the bloom. That is cross vine (Bignonia capreolata L.) on the fence. This year it is spectacular
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I’ll bet you went in the house to get the noise monster. I like the look of he scattered..pink leaves?
I’m a pink thing on your likes.
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I’ll have to go look at the pink.
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Looked pink to me. Going to look at it!
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Trick is to look helpful with said leaves so you might score a treat for a job well done. 🤣
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You should be their advisor.
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YES!!! Pale pink leaves. Very pretty.
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Indeed. They are from the crossvine.
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Lucky you! They look beautiful all over the green grass.
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They are beautiful this year.
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I just love their play!
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😁
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I say pull a Tom Sawyer on the gals. Let em see how much ‘fun’ raking is! Then give em rakes. 🤣🤣🤣
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I thought of that but unfortunately they have trouble holding the rake. Thanks, Cheryl. 😁
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Goals and objectives,John. Goals and objectives. 🙃😂
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Yes indeed. Thanks, Cheryl.
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I’m with the girls about the noise made by the blower – I also hate it.
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Me too. My tone deaf neighbor was running his on Sunday night at 7:00. 😳
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Eeek!!!!
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I know right?
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Someone shot a tree…love the phrase. Very descriptive too.
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Thank you, Ankur.
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