Boris

Meet Boris. He and Abby were (rather rudely) introduced today and poor Boris didn't know what to do. I heard Abby barking like mad and staring at a spot in the grass so I went out to see. I thought she had finally caught our resident gopher.

Nope. Instead she had found Boris, who most likely had found our family of gophers, from the looks of his belly.

I'm not sure if Boris is related to Horace who also liked the good meals in our back yard, but I would not be surprised. Boris did not appreciate being photographed so once Abby went in and I backed away, he slithered off to a quieter spot to digest his lunch.

Oh gnats!

Guess this means I'd better do the dishes more often. And I didn't even think about the potted plant thing....

But the good news is, I tried these and they really do work! The vinegar with soap actually works really well. Never thought to add soap to it!

My most effective solution was to find where they like to congregate then stand there and spray them with bug spray every time I saw one. I did spray the counter and floor a bit, but now hundreds of gnats no longer live in my house. And the floor got a mopping.

Hairy

Abby has been brushed 4 times already since she started shedding her spring coat.
I said I did not want another shedding dog.
Oh well. Good thing she is so awesome.

Abby hates to be brushed. I used to use one of those fine tined wire mat brushes but she always cried and ran away. So I got this great new combing tool - what a difference. It doesn't hurt, takes no effort to get her fine undercoat to come out, and she just lies there, doesn't hurt at all.

Today I got out another grocery bag full of fine undercoat. This is just from her back using this new comb. My vacuum, Dobby, thanked me. And Abby feels a LOT better.

A day for names

The big kids are having great fun with letters and making their names. Today was H day.

Puppy shadow

Hamilton and Abby keep a close watch on Margaret. Up or down.

My garden

Hamilton the Helper

This is Augie's new helper. He was more welcoming than I expected but only after 30 minutes of watching me pet and hold Hamilton. Now Augie seems very relaxed about it.