Pensive Pansy

It was time to plant the front-porch pots yesterday.

I chose a mix of grapey purples with a bit of honey thrown in.

Clover has been learning to be in the front yard, which is not fenced. She starts off on a long, 30-foot lead.

The idea is that, on this lead, she is free to wander about the property, but we are supposed to correct her from afar when she crosses the boundaries.

In four days, we haven't had an opportunity to to correct anything since she pretty much sticks to us like glitter.

We should probably ask our doggie tutor Steve about that.

Why so pensive, little pansy?

She has a heart of gold and is so sweet and generous, so much like her auntie. So much like her.

It's hard to take photos of black-and-white dogs, I must say. It's hard to get the detail in both those colors to come out well. And you need the eyes, most of all. Sometimes you're lucky and you get the tongue, too.

I have so scored in this marriage: I pick out the plants, arrange them where I want them to go, and then take pictures while Andy Paulson cheerfully plants them all for me. Every year.

I don't enjoy planting things. I enjoy picking them out, arranging them, I'm getting better at watering them, but I don't love the actual stuffing them into a pot or the ground. Andy likes that part, not the picking them out or the thinking about what to get in the first place.

They should have questions like that on Match.com. "Do you like picking pansies out or planting them?" and if you both say "picking them," keep looking. Or know that you'll need to hire a lawn service.

Andy Paulson, while sensitive and literate, also brings considerable brawn to the relationship.

Mmmmwah.

Puppy loves her daddy most of all.

My cup runneth over. xoxo

Comments

[Crystal]

Mr. Paulson is the bomb diggety. :)

Great pics!

[Amy]

I'm green (and grey-purple and honey) with envy. It will MAYBE make it to 45 degrees here in Minnesota today. Still much too cold for planting, let alone in my shirt-sleeves. Yes, I'm stuck being my own brawn!

[kelly]

These photos are great! Love Andy's "brawn" photo -- what a terrific face he's making.

That Clover! That Andy! That YOU! What a bunch of sweethearts you are!

[Sharly]

Love the pictures of Clover! She has grown so quickly!! Andy makes a nice backdrop, too! :)

[Laura A.]

Good grief. How do you get anything done at all? I'd just sit and stare.

I'm going to be sneaking back here all day to see the montage again!

Thanks!

[Jennn]

Don't you just love a man in gardening gloves?

Happy Planting.

[Renna]

You are a blessed, blessed, woman! :-)

[Sarah]

You definitely got the best job!

I had just stopped by to say that the Country Girls arrived today - looking forward to a quiet Sunday afternoon covered in paint :o) It's a beautiful kit - thanks so much

Love all these photos - too cute

[sheila]

omg. so cute. the both of them. I bet you just had a ball of fun taking those photos. that looks like a good day.

[katie]

I love that you included so many beautiful photos . . . for each one shows the next moment of cuteness (Clover), handsome brawny-ness (Andy), and sweet pansy-spring love!!

[Lisa K.]

I so enjoyed your photos today! The puppy, the pansies, and the hubby. You have a blessed life!

I'd love to start planting a few pretties, but the sky is spitting out snow this morning. What the heck?? And I live one short mile from the beach. (In Port Angeles, WA) The rule here is 'do not plant until after Mother's Day.' *sigh*

[Katie]

Clover has ears like my pup (: They're so adorable! I wish I was able to plant flowers. It snowed here last night and is supposed to be -25 with windchill this weekend. Sigh. Glorious spring weather. Hopefully I'll be able to get my planting done on the May long weekend. Your pansies look beautiful! You're so lucky to have a husband that will plant for you (: I forgot about that criteria when I was looking for my husband...dang it!

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I'm sitting here with stupid cold,and clicking on your blog has made my morning. So adorable as usual. I think I have told you how much my daughter loves your blog,especially the photos of Andy and clover. She thinks your hubby is so cool.
I am like you with the gardening. Love to pick out the pretty flowers, but to actually put them in the dirt, well, that is just too much for me. My husband loves to do vegetable gardens,and not so much of the flowers. You are lucky lady miss Alicia!!

[Cynthia]

It must be so nice to be warm enough to plant, after what seems like a long, never ending winter (atleast for me) I can't wait until the beginning of May to plant here. Looks like everybody had fun.

[Deann]

This is so sweet. And I love that you posted all the photos. I love Love. :)

[LeS]

Ok, lady, these are just such happy images. And that you posted 23 photos in one post! Hooray for the abundance and that cup of yours :)
You do know that their cups runneth over with you, too.
mwah.

[Betsy]

Lucky girl! What a great deal you have worked out there..I love these pictures, they make me want to plant some pansies..

[Tandra Boyer]

23 pictures??? Thats the motherlode!!
My fave pic is #5, cuz LOOK at those front stairs!!! OMG I LOVE the colors!! And chippy-peely!! <3 And those aqua pots---ooooh!!
Clover is A-dorable!! Andys ok.
Bah-hahaha!
What a hunky cutie!!

Thakns for all the pics!! Amazing!!

[Cathy Santarsiero]

Oh Alicia! I just love the new pics of Clover. She may just inspire me to add more Cardigans to my paintings. She is just precious. And hurray for hubbies who plant! I've got one of those as well. Have a happy weekend. Cat ^..^

[teresa]

What colorful and cheery pix you shared! My hubby and I are the same way...I pick out and he plants. Love that. And Miss Clover in her "black and white and happy all over jacket" is soooo darling!

[betz]

good gawd...your cup runneth over and so do your photos. :) Must be love if you can't edit...

[Jamie V]

I'm lucky to have an "Andy" too... thank goodness for them! Wonderful post - you made my day! Jamie V in Bozeman, MT
http://rem-nants.blogspot.com

[Suzanne]

I'm with you Alicia--pick out the flowers, arrange them ALOT! Then sit back and give the hubby the thumbs up to plant:-)

[Glenda]

Adorable photos!!

We got two pups about a week or two after you guys got Clover, so it's been interesting seeing what types of things you're working on with dog training. I like the idea of having them on a long lead in the front yard.

My hubster and I both like to pick out plants, tho he's sweet and will get the soil all fixed up in the pots for me so all I have to do is put whichever plants in whichever pots I choose. I don't mind getting grubby but I far prefer picking plants and deciding where I want them to go ;-).

One of our pups is black and it's darn near impossible to get a good picture of her -- her black eyes just blend into her face in pictures. I think you did a fantastic job of getting great pics of Miss Clover (and I especially love the one with the little bit of tongue sticking out!).

[Michele]

Aww.. so sweet! :) Your honey, your puppy, and flowers! My husband and I have the same planting deal, too. (Although, lately I've been planting some, too!)
Blessings,
Michele :)
www.frugalgranola.blogspot.com