The War of the Roses

Today the rose bushes and I had our annual "discussion", (argument is more like it), about wintertime and going to bare-root stage.  The roses, as always, put up the argument that winter had not arrived yet, as evidenced by the sunshine and moderate temperatures.  There is no way it could be time to go dormant, they postulated, why else would they have all these green leaves and flowers all over themselves. 

It wasn't fair they complained, the Geraniums could stay all green and flowery and the roses weren't allowed to, and if I came near them with those clippers, they would defend themselves with all the thorns they could muster. 

I tried to reason with them about how it was nearly January, and that in order for them to grow and bloom properly they need to be cut back, but they would have none of it and defended themselves strenuously.  They tried to scratch and poke and claw at me, but in the end I won out, (as in years past). 

The yard waste can is now full of rose branches, and there they sit, a row of bare rose canes poking up in the flowerbed. 

I swear I thought I heard the daisies snickering.

Merry Christmas Charlie!

Christmas day is here at last.  (Actually the year went screaming by and Christmas arrived pretty darn quick!).

We managed to drag ourselves out of bed by 8:30 and have a French Toast breakfast.  Then with the fireplace going, (for ambiance, it's not that cold here), we sat and opened presents.

Charlie loves to help rip the paper off the gifts and, when allowed, tear the boxes to shreds.  He thinks it is great fun.

Charlie helping me open a gift, (the gift survived, barely).

 

Charlie protecting us from a vicious wrapping paper attack.

Charlie helping because Kathy couldn't unwrap the gift by herself!

 

Keith, warming his feet by the fire!

(Those 70 degree California winter days can chill you to the bone!)

One Cat + One Christmas Tree =

The tree is up, and the ornaments are hung, and re-hung, and re-hung, and.... well, you get the idea.

In the silent house I hear a faint tinkle and rattle.  It's coming from the living room.  I walk out to investigate and find the cat batting an ornament around on the wood floor.

I wonder how many there are under the piano right now.

Christmas Is Coming

On a rainy, December Saturday, it is time to put the tree up and decorate it.  It doesn't look too bad for a 27 year old tree.  And of course, the tree is topped by the "sad", worn out little angel that is older than some of our kids.  (We can't replace it though, it would cause a mutinous uprising among the kids).

Here is a picture in the light. You can't really see the dilapidated little angel very well, but take my word for it, it is getting worn out.

Another picture in the dark.

Fall Colors

Our young maple tree has grown large enough now that it puts on quite a show of color in the fall.  It is one of the few in this area whose leaves get fiery red.  Most of the trees around here go yellow and brown with some orange.

 

Turkey Shoot

This last weekend Keith went to the Boy Scout turkey shoot competition at Camp Three Falls, (near Frazier Park, CA). This was his last opportunity to participate.

We drove up to camp with Terry Nelson II, (the range master), his son, Terry III, (Young Men’s President), myself and another young man from our ward. When we arrived, Friday night at about 7 pm, the temperature had already dropped to 30 degrees and was headed downward. We were lucky, though. Terry, the range master, had arranged for us to stay in the Ranger’s house. While the other scouts were sleeping in tents out in the cold, we were comfy snug in beds in a nice warm house!

The next morning after breakfast, Keith competed with about 75 other scouts to see who was the best at trap/skeet shooting, prone/kneeling/standing marksmanship, and a written examination. When it was all over, Keith came away with 3 ribbons, (2nd, 3rd, & 4th), and a 15 pound turkey. He actually won two turkeys but they only let you have one.