Brownsburg Garden Tour

Linda, Kayla and I enjoyed enjoyed the Brownsburg Garden Tour today. Despite torrential rains here yesterday, six homeowners readied and opened their gardens today to help raise funds for The Tia Foundation. The Tia Foundation is a not-for-profit association founded by Monica Scott of Brownsburg, Indiana in memory of her dog Tia, as I was told. The foundation was developed to aid and rescue neglected, mistreated and abandoned animals — to restore their faith in mankind and ease the animals’ transition into healthy and happy lives with loving and caring families.

I now know how much prettier Indian Summer is compared to simple Black-Eyed Suzies. Do cottonwood trees grow in North Carolina? This four-year young garden has a wonderful cottonwood that created an audio aspect that for me is the pinnacle feature of any garden. The rustle of this tree’s leaves is perfect. The homeowner said she can even hear the leaves whispering all the way from her bedroom. What a gentle lullaby.

Laptopping with Kayla Loo!

Airports and goodbyes

I love airports. Inside and outside. When I first moved to Raleigh, I
would drive to the airport and watch planes from the observation tower.
Today, I’m flying to visit my sister Linda, my nephew Dawson and my
niece Kayla Loo! Oh, and their giant golden Samson.

It must be my first time in Terminal 2, or it’s all new. The $15 to
check my bag is certainly new. 42nd Street Oyster Bar has a spot and
so does Carolina Ale House. Nice terminal.

Starbucks of course. Triple venti three pump breve mocha with whip,
thanks! And Borders. I popped in for the fourth in a Pokemon series
I’ve being giving Dawson. Standing in line, I picked up The Art of
Racing in the Rain. I’m notorious for reading the end first, and since
the story involves a dog, I certainly did. I went right to what looked
like the last chapter or so. The book is from the dog’s voice. He
writes that his life has been so short. His life has been so long.
Everybody talks about the will to live, he says, and then asks what
about the will to die.

My eyes burst, my heart raced. I set the book down. I saw my little
dog Rea those last weeks flashing thru my mind. Laying there with
her, unable to leave her side, but knowing she couldn’t leave me either.

I picked the book back up. I can’t read the rest, but of course I
can’t not read the rest. My beau Jay graciously previews what I fear
might break my heart. Jay, it’s page 310.

I’m going to miss dreadfully my little dog Luna and my beautiful Jules
dog, while I’m in Indianapolis. But in my luggage, making it’s way to
the plane, is my bedside framed photo of my Reason. Her absence still
cripples me.

On the back of the novel and the reason I read inside, a review wrote
that it’s “the perfect book for anyone who knows….that the
relationship between two souls who are meant for each other never
really comes to an end.”

That I know, in my heart, with me, Reason, always.

Mr. Rufus hound dog

Mr. Rufus was taken good care of by the family whose fence he showed up in. He was a very young pup of only eight weeks and was anemic and malnourished. Thanks to the kindness of this family and the SPCA, Mr. Rufus is safe and getting healthier and on his way to finding his forever home! =O Share this with your friends and invite them to meet Rufus and all the other wonderful creatures just waiting for someone to call their own.

3BTs

1. When the temperture of the breeze is so perfect it feels like soft silk brushing your skin.

2. The way Jules wiggles her sniffer when she investigates new smells.

3. The way Reason loved to jump the fallen trees at Umstead! =O)

Bitterman and Pistil at The Pinhook

With fireworks from the ballpark illuminating the window behind him, Miguel Riley and his cohorts brought Bitterman to the masses at The Pinhook in Durham Thursday night. Performing as a tribute band to The Potato Gun Shooters, Bitterman amazingly out-performed the original group. Their sound and energy was totally more focused. While I was ready for another 45 minutes of Bitterman, their 40-ish youthfulness offered an incredible opening act for two chic indie punk bands.

My 40+ youth allowed me stay long enough to catch the first of these two bands — Pistil. Once they were onstage, I realized Meagan and Anne had been leading the out-front crowd grooving to Bitterman. I really had fun listening to their music, and they drew a nice crowd of obvious fans.
The Pinhook was a fun place. Located in downtown Durham, the back of the long bar was set off with a black stage curtain creating two separates spaces to watch the bands in the back or chill in the front. Or course, most were all in the back grooving with the bands. I didn’t get a chance to search for Galaga, but I understand The Pinhook has many vintage arcade games.

Fun night!!

3BT’s

1. Kitty cat alarm clock, whiskers and all.

2. Spotting a patch of wild morning glories in all their bloom tucked along the roadside on the morning drive to work.

3. Rubbing two doggie bellies at once.

=O)