Grillin' 'n Chillin' (at 90 Degrees Fahrenheit?)

First of all, a moment of silence for all the brave men and women who have given their lives in so many battles over the years. We hope everyone has a meaningful Memorial Day.


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Yesterday, Mom and Dogdad decided to inaugurate our new backyard/garden with a lunch for our Grandad, who is 96 1/2. Our new furniture is in place and the planting is just about complete.Dogdad made the bench and painted the sides Mom's favorite shade of blue.Grandad served in World War II, as a physician with an Army hospital. Just Harry and I were eager to greet him -- you might say we were all over him before we even got a chance to go outside. But once outside, we kept a close eye on the table -- sure that some yummy things would come our way: knockwurst, cole slaw, corn, potato salad, baked beans. We had to keep everything covered, because -- even though we never see flies on an ordinary day -- whenever we grill, it's as though they get a separate secret invitation!!
As usual, I was at the table and JH was underneath... Does he know something I don't know? Maybe he's not such a goofball after all.
And he always finds a way to be on Mom's lap.

This is our gardener extraordinaire, chief griller, and all around pawsome Dogdad!!
And Granddad enjoying a sunny afternoon with us canines -- and humans too, I spose

We were so entranced by all the good smells coming from the grill that we almost forgot our usual mission: Escape!!!
Notice how our "stealth fence" is getting stealthier every day with those hard-working hibiscuses!

The flowers are doing their job -- helped no doubt by what Dogdad calls a "frog flusher" on Saturday afternoon: rain and high winds. Mom and Dogdad had been grocery shopping when the storm came and -- even though they got drenched on their way to the car and then into the house -- they rushed home knowing that we'd be scared of the thunder boomers. And yep, instead of our usual stoic greeting from the stairs, we poured out the door into their arms as soon as they opened it!!


This is Jatropha. The yellow vine is Mandeville -- she's doing her best to cover the arbor as quickly as possible. You can almost watch her grow, she is so speedy.

New Mussenda (seen over Granddad's shoulder above) is doing fine too.

So, it was a delicious -- if a bit warm -- day -- and we thought of all our doggie pals and their loved ones!!

Jake