Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

We took the dogs to the farm again last night.  It got pretty warm towards the end of the afternoon, and the sun came out (it was TUESDAY afterall), even though Mike didn't have golf last night :-)  When we go now, we bring several frisbees.  One for the dogs, and one for us.  The dogs usually ignore them completely, so Mike and I toss one around while we watch them doing doggy things.

Since the sun was out so nicely, I decided to push the last few ounces of battery power in my camera battery and took a bunch more pictures.  When we go to the farm, I start with the flower garden, while Mike takes the dogs into the pasture and locks the gate.  That way I know they are contained at least for a while and I can relax a bit.

This is my mother in laws purple delphinium (Thanks Kat for telling me what it is!) in all its glory.

They are absolutely stunning to see as we drive up.  I managed to get a much better close up of one of the blooms as well:

The colors are so deep and striking!  And there was a white stalk as well:

She had some gorgeous daisy's growing - not sure if she planted them or if they just sprouted up, but they were really pretty.

I even caught a tiny black and white bug on one!

I tried to take more pictures of the lillies, but I am not too happy with how they came out:

I am not sure what these are, but they were very pretty.  They grew on short stalks around my mother in law's house.

And these as well, I think I once knew the name of these.  Now it escapes me though.

There is a bush in back of the house that has these white flowers.  It looks strange, a little, as they have white bud type flowers, and two flowers on each group of buds through the entire plant were bloomed.  It was weird, but wonderfully symetrical!

A yellow flower I assume are related to the pink ones above.  I took this one mainly for the bug in the center :-)

I caught a small bee on the purple columbine:

And this is it from the side (the columbine, not the bee!)

She also had a white columbine:

I think they are so pretty.  I love intricate flowers like the columbine!

This is a giant begonia bloom.  My mom used to love to grow wax begonias.  She never had a bloom this big though!  It was about the size of a half dollar!

I caught a green bug on a day lilly bloom:

And tried for a close up:

And these flowers, while I am still not sure what they are, were brillian blue and purple just a few weeks ago.  They have gone to seed, but I think they are still very pretty!

After I got my fix of flower pictures, I headed back into the pasture to play with the dogs and Mike.   Of course they went straight for the pond!

I keep trying to get a video of Zelda swimming, but usually as soon as I see her do it and aim the camera, she stops!

Look at this sky, I thought the clouds were so cool last night:

I wish I could make it bigger so you could see it really well.  It was amazing!  The cows were all around the pond as well.  I thought it was neat how they walked in a single line!:

Mike and I played some Frisbee while Datz and Zelda romped around.  Sparky didn't really play with them last night, as Mike's Aunt Kathy was at the farm, with her dog, and I guess Sparky has more fun with Tanner, so he was distracted.  I was excited about this, as it finally gives Datz and Zelda a chance to play together.  In the past, Zelda would be totally occupied with Sparky and just leave Datz to his own divices.

They did play a little.  Not too much though and not for too long.  I think Datz is still learning how to play :-)  After a while they got bored and looked for a place to lay down.  Mike and I tossed the frisbee, and both laughed when Datz started to dig a hole in one of the large manure piles at the farm!  Eventually he decided to lay down in the big pile of cow crap!

Ew!  LOL.  Well it was very old manure and I am sure mostly broken down into soil by now.  But he's a dog and as long as he's not eating it, I'm happy, you know?  LOL.

After a while, Kathy and her husband Steph, started calling the cows in.

I just love the cows, but they never let me get close enough to pet them :-(

They really don't like it when I try to get close either!

And this is where Datz got attacked.  I don't have a photo, but I did catch some of the noise on a video.  Poor thing.  Kathy brought her dog, Tanner with her, and Datz and he just don't get along at all.  We introduced them a while ago, me and Mike, and both had their hairs standing up, so we took them apart.  When we first saw them last night, they seemed to have gotten past that, and were playing together.  However, when Kathy called the cows in, I am not sure what happened, but I saw Tanner starting to stalk Datz.  However, I wasn't 100% sure that was going on - Tanner is an older dog, and part of me thought maybe he was just stiff, not feeling well, and walking strange.  They got together and sniffed, and it seemed that things were going ok, so I turned to shoot a video of the cows walking in to the barn, when all of the sudden we heard the yelps, growls, and bites.  Tanner attacked Datz.  We did manage to get them apart, all the while Kathy yelling "They need to work it out themselves" which sure, they do, but I am not going to let my dog get all bit up and end up bleeding so they can work it out.  Tanner got Datz badly on the neck, he lost a big patch of hair and was bleeding for a while.  Poor boy.  No other injuries though, but I will be keeping him away from Tanner when he's not on a leash.  I felt so very bad for my boy.  He seems to always get hurt, and all he wants to do is play and be a good dog.  :-(

So with that, we decided it was time to head home.  We were there for about an hour anyway, and that's usually about as long as the dogs can tolerate running around in the heat.  I decided when we got home to try to get some pictures of my tiger lillies.  I actually do not like tiger lillies.  I think its because, as a kid, I saw them as weeds, as they were everywhere, in the woods, along the roads, in unkempt places.  They seemed to grow wild anywhere someone didn't mow the lawn or take care of the plants on the sides of the roads.  So when I bought this house and saw it surrounded by tiger lillies, I was less then impressed.  I want to dig them up, but I am afraid to do so with no help.  However, each time I ask my mother in law for help, she goes into this tirade about digging up an established garden and how hard it will be to reestablish something.  *sigh*  This fall they are out of there!  I am giving the bulbs to neighbors and anyone who wants them lol.

I just don't like them!  I don't like the colors, or how the petals get that wilted look.

Anyway, my knockout rosebush is budding like crazy :-) Ever since we finally got it into the ground, there has been a spurt of new growth.

Such beautiful blooms!

And my lavender plant, which has yet to bloom at all - I have to find a home in the dirt for it, but can't decide where is best to plant it as I really don't get full sun anywhere in my yard.

It is clearly doing very well though!  This plant loves all the rain we've had.

Last night, around 10pm, Mike and I walked the dogs.  The moon was full, and there was a line of clouds under it - the moon illuminating only the top of that line of clouds.  Every few minutes in the distance, over the mountains, there were lightening strikes.  It lit up part of the sky by the mountain, under the moon and clouds, and it was a breath taking sight.  I tried so very hard to get pictures.  Everywhere I stood though, there was a streetlight not far, and of course that made it so the camera would not open the arpeture enough to allow the dimmer lights of the moon and clouds through.  All I really ended up with a big white disk in the sky.  Oh how I want a digital SLR.  Sooo very badly.  Come on Gather, start giving me points again so I can save up lol!

That's it for me!  That was our night last night.  It was relaxing, and really nice!  I am getting better at Frisbee lol.  Its been like 20 years since I last played, so I am very rusty!

Tonight I have a half hour to health workshop class at 6:30pm.  Not sure if Mike will join me.  I have to remember to bring a note book and pen so I can take notes this time.  There is a lot of information that is shared, and I'd love to share it with all of you as well!

Thanks for viewing my post!