Gardens For Goldens

Blessings

November 18, 2018 by Ogee

Rosie was a breeder dog who was considered “used up.” A good Samaritan took her and brought her to us when the breeder made clear that she would be disposing of her. She has never lived inside or been treated with love, and yet, she gives hers unconditionally. The first bed she had was the one we provided her. When her adopters mentioned that they would be letting her pick out her own new bed and toys, Rosie made clear […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Thanksgiving • Tags: appreciation, Camp Fire, dog rescue, Gratitude, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Thanksgiving

When Bad Things Happen

November 11, 2018 by Ogee

California is on fire…again. Each occurrence seems to set a new record for destruction and loss of life. The entire town of Paradise is gone and with it, 23 lives and countless animals, domestic and wild. The thick smoke has drifted and settled in our valley turning the landscape an eerie orange – blocking out the sun and delivering an early cold that caused a premature freezing of tender fall blooms. It is tempting to complain about the suffocating air […]

Categories: Humanity, Loss • Tags: California Wildfires, Camp Fire, Helping Others

Choose Your Garden

November 4, 2018 by Ogee

You can create whatever man-made environment you want – just as you can build false societies. But these artificial landscapes require strict restraints, constant oversight, and continuous, often heavy-handed, feeding to maintain control. Without it, they eventually return to their natural state – often in bullying or survival-of-the-fittest ways. Natural gardens spring from what was always intended to be there. True to their nature, they find paths of peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation. And they thrive. Their success supports future […]

Categories: Humanity, Nature, Thought • Tags: Choosing our Future, Vote

Some Things…

October 28, 2018 by Ogee

Some things make me laugh. Some make me smile. Some fill me with joy – like the asters in fall. And others make me want to say, “Don’t worry boy, didn’t I tell you you’d be home in a flash?” Some touch my heart. Some fill me with hope. And some make me wonder how a boy ever thought that peeing on a new girlfriend would win her over?! But this just fills me with pride. Last year, I told […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Airman Dog Reunion, dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Inspiring

Fall Project #3: Where Did All The Dogs Go?

October 21, 2018 by Ogee

This is not my project…but it’s a big one that impacts everyone who volunteers at the rescue. We had been waiting for the weather to turn to get it done. This weekend, the guys removed all 25 kennels and lined them up in the yards where they will wait for a week. Monday, the floor installers will come and begin putting down flooring that has been vet-tested for endurance. It should withstand the wear and tear and make cleaning easier […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Kennel Project

Fall Project #2: The Puppy Pad

October 14, 2018 by Ogee

Maria’s decorations signal that fall has arrived in the garden…but gardening had to wait this weekend. I’m a big fan of completing one project before starting another (the Virgo in me) – so I was hoping to complete the new bed this week. But when the success of a project depends on the muscles of others – you adapt! My crew was available this weekend…so this weekend was dedicated to the new Puppy Pad. We built a Puppy Palace in […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Puppy project

Fall Garden Project Number One

October 7, 2018 by Ogee

No, really, there are no remains in the Memorial Garden…although you might suspect otherwise if you saw this. While we were away, fall signaled its arrival. Just hints so far, but the creatures know. And with cooler days come a mountain of projects. First on the list: a complete demolition and re-do of the raised bed area of the garden. Once, these housed a mountain of overgrown and deadly blackberry brambles. They spread their spikes throughout the garden, so they […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature • Tags: Fall Garden Project, gardening, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, new garden bed

Yellowstone

September 30, 2018 by Ogee

The Native Americans called it “Burning Mountains.” They thought an evil spirit lived among the meadows, rivers, forests, and towering mountains. If you witnessed the geysers or stepped into one of the scalding pools – you might think so too. But good spirits live here. Animal spirits. Nature spirits. I have just returned from my first (long overdue) trip to Yellowstone National Park. It is magnificent. I traveled with my friend and fellow gardener, Maria, and her son. There were […]

Categories: Nature, Nature Photography • Tags: Nature Photography, Yellowstone Bear, Yellowstone Bison, Yellowstone Elk, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone pronghorn, Yellowstone sheep, Yellowstone Steamboat

At the Heart of Gardening…and Rescue

September 16, 2018 by Ogee

“At the heart of gardening there is a belief in the miraculous.” ~ Mirabel Osler Who would have believed that an acre of weeds and thistle would turn into our memorial garden. Or that seeds, bulbs, saplings and bare roots would grow into this. Yes, it takes hard work, water and sun, and a fair amount of luck – but what unfolds is kind of miraculous. Rescue requires its own belief in miracles. Here are a few of the tiny […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies • Tags: dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, hydrocephalus in dogs, Puppy rescue, swimmer puppy syndrome

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