14 June 2026
1168
R. Linda:
It's that time again, when Tonya gets her massive garden going. It's a thing of beauty, it truly is. She's gone to great lengths to make it both magical and functional. She even has a small greenhouse for growing flowers and a larger one for vegetables.
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| Me fav dusk snap of her garden as the pirobugs come out early evening |
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| Her peonies along the garden fence |
I wanted to surprise her for Mother's Day by buying her flats of plants, but it was too early. Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it's planting time, I am told. So, to surprise her, I went to the local nursery she likes and bought a load of flowering perennials. I had help, yes, I did. The Dragon had asked me where I was off to, and I foolishly told her. Out of character, she asked me if I needed help picking out the plants. Well, yes, I said, come along if you like. And she did.
The ride over, she chattered on about her gardens of old and what she had at the Jersey house that could withstand salt air and such. When we got to the garden centre, she suggested plants that were not only useful but also pretty. Like bee attractors, bloomers that grow in shady areas, plants that keep certain pests away, that sort of thing. In the end, it was all my decision on what I'd get for Tonya.
When Tonya got home, I was rather excited with my selections, and I just knew she'd love everything and be surprised, since she had no idea I had got plants because I don't usually. I put all the flats at the door of the greenhouse and was figuring out a way to get her to go out there, and SURPRISE! But I needn't wrack me brain because as soon as she pulled in, the Dragon Lady was hopping down the stairs to greet her with this gem: "Wait until you see the plants I had Gabriel buy you! I knew you'd want polenators and shady growers, come see."
I stood there next to the plants with me mouth hanging open in shock. The Dragon was animated and chattering on about all the plants she inspired me to get for the garden. Why is it that when I do something nice or even useful, Dragon steals the credit? I don't get it.
I didn't have long to ponder that because the wee one came running over to tell me our cat was stuck in a tree.
"Oh my," Dragon groaned like this was the worst thing that could happen. No longer were we gushing over HER choice of plants; it was directing me to find a ladder quick and save the cat. I was not a happy man. I wanted to talk to me wife, but now I had to get the cat on the ground, which meant Gabe above the ground, probably about to be scratched to shreds trying to save it.
When I saw the tree, I had instant reservations about trying to rescue it. It was a massive oak with arms that don't start sprouting out until 30 feet off the ground, and THAT was where the cat was meowing its plight.
"Get the double ladder for your father," Dragon instructed the two older boys who had come out to see what the trouble was. They ran off; the cat was yowling to get down; the Dragon was leading Tonya back to the flower flats; and I decided to follow along until the ladder was brought out. I should have stayed put because when the kiddos came to get me, the double ladder was two ladders, not the shiny aluminium one that extends. They found, and God knows where they found, two of the most rickety ladders I'd ever seen and not only that, the rungs got smaller as they went to the top! I was gobsmacked and asked where on God's little green acre they found those things.
They told me they couldn't find the "big ladder," just these two, and since I wanted a double ladder, there they were! Such geniuses I raised.
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| Yes, indeedy me! |
Don't laugh, it wasn't funny.
Well, I'd like to say rescuing the cat was a piece of cake, but it wasn't. I have scratches up and down both arms to prove it was a risky, bloody affair. But did I get any praise for me efforts? Of course not. As soon as I had the feline down, the Dragon snatched it out of me hands. She was wearing oven mitts! She had her picture taken with the now glad-to-be-out-of-the-tree cat and sent it to all her friends and family with the caption: I rescued my daughter's cat!
She took the credit because it was HER who directed me to get the cat out of the tree and get a ladder. I can't catch a break.
Gabe
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omg but i laughed anyway. only you.
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