Spring is in the air

While on a hike with the dogs, I noticed a bunch of daffodils in bloom already. I know Winter is not finished yet, but it was nice to see the first signs of Spring.

Jon and boys

The boys got their hair cut, so now they look like decent, tax-paying citizens again.

Baby Milo

Went to D.C. last weekend to visit the grandkids and to help out a little while their dad was off on a business trip. Baby is so cute! Such a happy little butterball. His brothers adore him, so does Koko and I understand he's a big hit at his daycare. I wish they lived closer so I could go and cuddle with him more often.

Those pesky squirrels

The squirrels managed to destroy the birdfeeder hanging on the back deck. They chewed right through that hard plastic. I was considered buying a new one, but was reluctant to spend $50 for a replacement. So, I improvised and did a DIY with a gallon water jug. The squirrels have already chewed it a little bit, but it's okay for now and I can make another one very easily. I love my birds and they can use a little help during the winter months. Our winters aren't cold enough for the squirrels to hibernate. I know they have to eat, too, but GOOD GRIEF--they are annoying.

Last known photo

Our dear Capt. America disappeared a week ago. I am sure he went off on his own to die in peace. He had been losing weight for a couple months. He didn't seem to be in any distress, so we weren't overly concerned. He was still playing and going about his usual business right up to the end. It's sad, but he had a very good, long life with us. He will be missed, especially by Mal. He spent a lot of time sleeping in Mal's room. He really liked it in there. He was such a sweet, mellow guy. I think Clawdia misses him too. She has been extra clingy lately. But, life does go on.

A Walk in the Woods

I am very blessed to live in a place where I can walk out my backdoor and be in nature. I love hiking with the dogs. I almost never see another person. It's peaceful and I have the opportunity to clear my head. My usual trek is to head northward to a little creek. Sophie always jumps in and hunts for tadpoles, even in the winter. Then we continue to the powerline right of way. It's been mowed recently, so it's easy to walk. From here we either turn left and head toward Mt. Gilead Church Road and cut across Bam Bam's house (actually, where his house used to be--he and the house are long gone). OR, we go right and pick up an old logging road that takes us to another creek and a bridge. The logging road is grown over with young long leaf pines and the bridge is about to collapse. There's one more route we sometimes go...we head east on the logging road that is right behind the house. It runs behind all the houses on our side of Hudson Woods Road. Where the road forks, we go left and follow it to the end. It's a pretty good road even now because the people on 4-wheelers use it sometimes. There are a couple of deer blinds that some hunters built and abandoned. They're falling apart. There's also a little shed of sorts that appears to be a fancier deer blind. I never see any hunters, but my walks don't occur during prime hunting hours. I know there are a lot of deer out there. I see their tracks everywhere. And Sophie manages to locate and roll in their poop. Disgusting. She can't help herself. I try to get outside when the weather is good. The best hiking time is late fall to mid spring--after the undergrowth has died down and before the spiders start building webs everywhere. Dad used to spend a lot of time wandering around in the woods surrounding his house. Now I understand why.

He's still the cutest baby in the world