The roses are gone! Started to walk out to the drive to turn on far water for animals/birds and saw the pretty roses by the front porch are gone. Well, a better description is the poor pink blooms are lying in the pot and the bushes are only stubs. I think it must have been rabbits or smaller animal(s) since the roots aren't yanked up.

Also, am a bit worried this morning that maybe I have over-watered the citrus as a couple have sort of sagging leaves this morning. Older leaves look a little yellow. Some nutrition balance? I don't know since I never had any citrus trees. Their pots are all damp so backed off the water this morning. No black spots.

Well, those are my concerns.  Everything else seems to be perking along OK.

Played some toss-stuff-chase with Bourre this morning. She is like an action movie. This is where we miss Aidan. Daisy such a happy one. She makes me smile every time I look at her. The two dogs were so funny tearing around the whole pool area yesterday morning--Daisy like a little bullet right in front of Bourre who was behind only because of her cornering capabilities.

Ignore any LinkedIn messages from me. I quickly deleted membership yesterday when all of a sudden it splattered messages far and wide. Expletive deleted!!! So stupid of me...I just got on it awhile back to see if it would be a good thing for Phil to do, but it takes lots and lots of attention. Now and then, I'd get an email from someone on it, but yesterday I thought I'd take a closer look when an email came from someone I'm close to. I must have hit a wrong button so emails went out to every cyber address I have and don't even know I have.  Yikes!

Afternoon...2-ish

Dogs just had a half feeding for their afternoon second feeding. Now they have curled up and resumed their naps. I will leave in a minute or two when the dishwasher stops emptying. Thanks, for the wonderful setup here. The dogs are a pleasure as is all else. Enjoy your pool this evening. The water is going to be about 88 degrees when you get home. Think of me out on the res with nuns in the sun.

Adios mi amigas...

Such dear friends and family that contacted me yesterday knowing it was a time of great change for me as the grands took off for Philly to join their mom and dad. Happy for their flight going well, and a little surprised the PHL airport misled their meeting each other with strange signage that kept them in separate terminals for about an hour and a half. Glad it came to a happy conclusion. 

Gloria and I arrived at Lil Abner's sufficiently hungry to devour our steaks. They are as good as always, but the salad and beans were ho-hum. Janie's beans and ham in the fridge are far better. 

Dogs and I were early to bed.

And, here it is Monday evening already.  

Dogs and I woke around the same time this morning. Daisy, Bourre and I all missing Aidan a lot. Swimming this late afternoon just wasn't the same. No one there to challenge me to speed from one end of the pool to the other, or put every pool toy or exercise device into play; just the hot blue sky and waning sun. 

Thursday or Friday we blew up the mattress float, but I can't discover how to release its air. Still, I did get it back into the storage box. 

Dumped and refilled the dog waters in the back yard. The one on the jacuzzi end had started to mold underneath so moved it over next to the asparagus plants. The citrus had one little worm thingie, now gone. Couldn't see any more on the leaves today. Watered the potted things in the front and bird bath plus ran the hose awhile where it lies beyond the bath. 

I haven't been able to keep my hands off the Snackwell's in the freezer. Aidan and I pretty much killed off the ice cream in root beer floats. I'd forgotten what a favorite of mine that is.

I emailed Aidan that C & J are calling the guest room Aidan's room, and also they invited him to stay with me in August when I come back to their place. 

The cello shipping spiraled crazily. And expensive. Yes, Carol, you are right. For the price I could have driven it there with change left over. There just has to be a better way. I sure do hope that it turns out well tomorrow when it gets there. UPS has it insured; all praises.

Stopped off and took care of my place before returning. Bird The Bird lives on and was happily squawking since his life there is pretty dull right now and even my opening the door is highly entertaining; much less, having an interested Toby Tiger Tom stroll in.

I didn't get to use all the wonderful fresh produce Janie supplied. But, it is still good except for some over-ripe bananas. Getting droopy so will see if I can post a couple pictures and call it quits today...

Adios amigos

Phil Bellomo teaching Aidan to center clay.

Aidan centering.

Cello practice.

Daisy time.

Bourre time.

Octet time for Keoni.

Rocktet Your Socktet Offtet Octet.

All set.

'bye

'bye

First thing to pop up this morning on the monitor--pool man coming. Took appropriate action. Morning chores went smoothly accompanied by a Made in USA mug of coffee; yes, our president on one side, the birth certificate on the other.

Daisy missed Aidan coming to lie next to her on a dog mat while he wakes up; and, Bourre standing at full alert, eyes sparkling with excitement, the dog toy in her mouth ready for some action missed him, too. They settled for me. Not only that, they know my comings and goings a little bit now. 

Fetched Aidan back from Wali's taking care of Toby and Bird The Bird at my place on the way there. Brought along something else to wear tonight to Keoni's octet recital at 7:30 p.m. The plan is to have all packed up and ready for transport to PA early tomorrow. We'll see the Buterbaugh's and Betsy tonight so we can coordinate arrival time at the airport in the morning and see our grands off to their next chapter.

Sat. night...

Keoni called early this morning and said he'd printed the boarding passes for tomorrow morning. Wow! How grown up is that.

Wendy called and they have the horses and goats boarded with a retired veterinarian 80 years old who raises hunt dogs and he and his wife still ride to the hounds hunting. What a find. This happened when one arrangement for two weeks boarding fell through, another was horrible and many calls later and referrals they found this place. Wendy had to buy clothes at Target since she ran out of anything clean. 

The pool climbed from 82 degrees this morning to 87 this afternoon. Aidan and I swam/horsed around in it for an hour late afternoon. Too hot for Daisy and Bourre this time and they went in the house.

The string concert was really good, especially the finale octet that had Lucas, Ben, Michelle and Keoni in it. They wore black with aqua ties or hair bows and all had on striped socks and no shoes. Enjoyed that. Met Michelle's mom who is very congenial. 

Had a couple of sad news messages over the past four days. 

Fed dogs a portion of their breakfast since we are leaving at the ungodly hour of 4:50 a.m. They are going to miss Aidan's company. Dogs just made a barking tour outside, so I'll shut the place down for the night on the assumption they completed their business. 

Might get a chance to post some pictures

It is the beginning of the busiest day imaginable. Thank goodness for happy dogs, happy grandson and cool air starting this southwestern summer day. Temp will soar to the 100's today and the pool temp will warm to a nice 86 degrees. We will be elsewhere a good part of the day so missing the late afternoon swim. We are feeding dogs a bit late for the a.m. adding a portion of afternoon feeding in hopes they don't grow anxious before I return with their evening/night routine.

Followed same routine this morning as yesterday and this time I met a gentleman at the end of the drive who was briskly walking his Anatolian dog. Female and very beautiful. Nice chat; I with my coffee and he with his dog and a bit of her story. She was preceded by a half Anatolian who became old and "went to Heaven".  A google search found an Anatolian rescue society here in Tucson with one dog in "acute" need. She is now two and a half and very pretty. He mentioned "stubborn" with a smile. The something that says she is loved.

Nice start and I smiled through squishing a couple tiny citrus skeletonizers, watering, de-manuring dog yard, etc. Can't figure out quite how the front bird bath gets watered so have been taking a pitcher out and filling it. Only takes a day for the water to disappear.

9:40 p.m.

Whew! a long, long day. All good; just packed full. All here very glad Wendy and John made it to PA and I see they are in Pottstown today and can settle in somewhat while the boys spend their last day here in Tucson tomorrow. Away those two fly early Sunday morning.

So very tired and all is well with the sleeping dogs so I am calling it quits and heading to bed. 

It was easy to tell that Daisy and Bourre's day had begun when household sleep ended with a chorus of howls and barks. All smiles they loudly greeted Aidan and I at their kitchen gate.   We quickly opened up their outside dog door and while they relieved themselves, so did we.

It was five a.m. so I suggested Aidan try for some more dozing. I soon got up from my attempt, and found him deeply asleep almost buried in the beautiful covers on the spare room bed. 

A summer morning began then as I moved through the chores in advance of the sure-to-be-blazing sunlight. Newspaper, watering animal and bird stations and potted exuberances of euphorbias, citrus, dog buckets and dishes, squished a couple of tiny specks on the citruses that lead to skeletonized leaves and gold trimmed black butterflies if left alone. 

The coffee had finished, but Aidan slept on soundly, so I made an executive decision to feed the dogs without him. They obeyed the "wait" command and portions were given out. No squabbling. Daisy finished it all off licking Bourre's empty bowl just in case. I read the paper and checked my electronics for interesting developments while I sipped coffee.

Eight a.m. and I sat down on Aidan's bed and he awoke ready to go swim. He asked me if I got the gate unlocked for the meter reader, and the answer was yes.

Here are some pictures from our swim.

Aidan and the noodles.

Speedboat

Faster

One noodle.

Two noodles.

Three noodles.

Four noodles.

Lost his noodles.

Daisy at the pool.

Bourre keeping up with affairs.

Bourre licking Aidan's head clean.

It's afternoon and time to swim again.

Well, the gate is re-secured. dogs are fed. Aidan and I met his Nana Betsy and cousin Eliana for Grimaldi's pizza. A last visit over pizza for them before the boys' departures on Sunday. We, also, had our second swim of the day before leaving for Grimaldi's. Finished with root beer floats back here at C & J's. Got Aidan packed up for quick trip in the morning to Wali's home for the day and an overnight. Tomorrow is Phil Day so I'll be up early to see our furry friends are all OK. Also, Aidan's cello lesson, then he'll go back to Wali's until Saturday morning. Will see to Toby and Bird The Bird at my place somewhere in the day as well. 

Friday I stay out of trouble.

Indoor dog waters are in place and managed to try for a couple of Aidan/Daisy/Bourre pictures before he is off to bed. Daisy is snoring but now is the time for a final outdoor visit.

House sitting: An Idyll

Aidan and I arrived at around 9 - 9:30 a.m. Bourre (Boo-ray) and Daisy gave their noisy, exuberant welcome as we shifted past them carefully to see they didn't burst out into the carport. Aidan much help getting our gear indoors. 

Bourre must be the same age in dog years as Aidan. They see eye to eye on what makes it a good play date. I am the same age as greying Daisy now comfortably snoring on her mattress on the floor in front of me. Aidan remembers Bourre's Cajun name origin as a name for a game. 

Aidan wants to live here. For that matter, me too. He says it is beautiful and I agree. I am also content and don't think too hard about him leaving on Sunday. I am immersed in the calm order of looking after these dogs and property and grandson.  It is quiet. All but me are asleep and I can't let go of the moment.

Twice we swam; once when we got here and again after the trees made some afternoon shade on the pool.  Again, I could look west and see the same aspect of the mountains that were my everyday view from my own home years ago. I like resting my eyes on it again.

Every floating device, the frisbee and the glove thingies from the pool storage boxes surrounded me in the pool.  Aidan in his goggles found the gloves great for splashing. Bourre licked his head and whatever part of him she could reach. Daisy took a nap.

We fed the dogs and filled their waters a little early. Aidan taught Bourre to sit and to stay.

We fed ourselves and watched Property Brothers.  We played Yahtzee. Aidan discovered the trove of crackers and pretzels. After supper he led the way to the ice cream. Later, learning from Carol's call that there was root beer he fixed up a float and gave me some root beer, too. Aidan said that once he was able to burp for six seconds.

The mail is in, as is the garbage can. Watered animal and bird things while getting the mail.

Logged some reminders on Google Calendar. 

I miss Keoni while I am also glad he is growing into the man I now see aborning in him with his own life, pursuits and passions. We will see him Saturday and Sunday when they leave.

Time for the dogs to have their visit to their outdoor yard before I do what Daisy is doing so well.