Had to go back to my favorite country thrift store today to buy more iron pieces for this project. I'm adding a shelf on top to store things...also bought some iron doodads to hang my tools from. When I attached the wooden ladder pieces to the back, I saved the rungs from the wooden ladder. I attached these to the sides to hold towels. This project is so much fun! I have been so inspired by all of the potting benches posted lately. (Thank you!) I'm struggling with what color to paint/stain the potting bench... I did several swatches on the back and will go back and look as to what's my favorite... Can't wait to share! Bear Hugs! Kirk

Thanks, you guys! I'm not sure why this particular Clematis began blooming so early... a lot of things here seemed to start early this season. Normally, the east coast would be ahead of us by a little bit, I think... but this year, it seems like we're ahead of them! All I can say is... you just never know with Illinois weather! This is the first year for the Giant White Alliums, and I actually do hope they spread! We've got a really big area to fill in, so volunteer or by offset would be fine by me! Anything to help choke out the weeds and the poison ivy! There are several different types of Clematis... early, mid, and later bloomers... I think we've got all three represented on the dog fence... the only real difference is in time of bloom and how you prune them. I just let them go wild! The blooms are huge and spectacular on many varieties, and the shapes and colors are numerous, so the choices are great! They tend to take a couple of years to get settled in, but after that, they go nuts! I prefer growing things that don't take a lot of maintenance, and Iris, Daylilies and Clematis are three perennials that can be left to their own devices for several years before needing any work. Columbine is wonderful for early color, and for attracting hummingbirds! No maintenance there, either! I love an eclectic garden... one that keeps changing throughout the seasons, showing off different shapes and colors... and I love plants that continuously bloom from around May or June until frost claims them in the autumn... from the first bulbs to pop in early spring, to the last flowers to fade in fall, I try to plant things that keep the garden looking fresh and different all year! Gardening here is like a dream come true... except that it isn't all really mine. But I'm not complaining a bit... I get all this free experience and beauty, and when we move, I get to take armloads of plants with! What's not to love?!

SCG, sure, I'd like some of those trees delivered balled and burlapped, freight kindly prepaid, okay?? I can help you fall the others, though my lumberjack skills are limited and there's not guarantee as to what direction they'll come crashing, sooo you'll need to be responsible for pushing or roping and pulling them. lol. My Polish friend was a professional Lumberjack back home and had fallen a massive multi stemmed birch that was very close and leaning towards our house, I did not doubt his cutting skills, though his tied together flimsy rope left me very apprehensive ... okay, just plain scared!

Isaball, I just love that golddust! It's funny, Mason's never been much of a toy dog. He likes to tug with me but his idea of playing with a toy prior to Jovi's arrival was to rip it apart as fast as possible and see if he could eat the inndards before I got them. (Tennis balls he can "pop" quite easily, powerful jaws.) As a consequence, he only got toys when closely supervised. Well, now there are toys all over the place. The first week I was obsessed about picking them up so Mason wouldn't have access to them. (It's not the ripping up I care about, it's the eating and possibly causing an obstruction.) I finally figured out that the only time he picks up a toy, balls included, is when he wants to "tease" Jovi. He really is a very special boy and I hope some of him rubs off on Jovi. Maire cate, I'm so glad you're enjoying the photos! I really like GSDs and Rotties too. I just like big dogs and if they bred smaller Dobermans then I'd probably have stuck with that breed. As it is, I wanted a smaller dog too. That sofa and loveseat are old, about 12 or so years old. Our dogs have always been allowed on them and we've never had a problem but I keep their nails very short. How often I do them depends on their growing stage. Whit and Mason as mature adults had their nails dremeled once a week. When Mason was a pup, his nails grew so fast that I did them twice a week. Right now everyone is getting their nails done every 2-3 days because I'm teaching Jovi to accept the dremel. She did very well with it this morning! I'll try to get some new photos later today. It seems that one of Jovi's ears is trying to change from semi-erect (flopped over tip) to fully erect. I've never had a BC before so I've got no idea if this is common or what....I've sent a question in to the breeder's Yahoo group. Anyway, my little girl has one ear up and one flooped today. Oh and Marie cate? Just because I understand what you mean about size issues with a Dobe, that doesn't mean I need to make it easy for you. :-) A few more "baby Mason" photos to keep everyone until I get some new Jovi photos.