Aussie Style Camping
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Grevillea superb.
It is easy to see how this exotic flower came by its common name.
I saw this specimen in the Australian section at Kew Gardens,England . I was immediately transfixed by its curious beauty. It is a compact evergreen shrub, a hybrid with long lasting flower clusters.
Click on image to enlarge.
Jasper: What are you doing back there, Dad?
Todd: Trying to take your portrait.
Jasper: Seriously Dad! Put down the camera and let's play frisbee.
Orders received. Will comply.
Jasper often prowls the shrubberies in the neighborhood. He likes to see if he can find kitty cats. He really wants to meet them, but their posture when we do encounter a cat seems to indicate that they don't particularly want to meet him. We get the classic Halloween cat pose with arched back, tail up, bared teeth and a hiss. But Jasper is always kind, wanting only an inter-species encounter.
This gorgeous dress from Mirage.NA is available at this months round of Shiny Shabby!
Dress: Mirage.NA @Shiny Shabby (Jan. 20)
Hair: Doux
Pose/Hat: IDK
Location: Aussie Shores
There is a lot of ground that needs patrolling. You have to use your nose to find out what animals have been around and what other dogs have been here. Jasper is on it.
Betty Bunny was mysteriously flying through the air when Jasper snatched her in-flight and brought her safely back down to Earth. What a hero!
Jasper can sometimes be a little underwhelmed with our playfulness. Betty Bunny seems to have the same attitude. Jasper will keep his eye on me just in case I decide not to be totally lame.
Jasper keeps a keen eye on his humans in the evenings. If they move, they might be ready to play. Right Edward the Elephant
I think Jasper looks right at home her exploring the Old West. I'm glad he's showing his mustache in the shot to kind of fit with the theme. Those sun-kissed mountains in the back are the Superstition Mountains. In the first comment I've shown the real set of explorers - a phone pic that my sister-in-law's husband took of us on the trail
As the golden dawn light spilled through the trees, Jasper remained vigilant at his post. Watchful. Alert. Aware. (corny enough for you?)
When patrolling the neighborhood a dog must remain vigilant. Jasper and I did a nice walk around the neighborhood this morning soon after sunrise. Be calm, we found nothing awry.
Jasper is playing the sympathy card here, looking up at me with his puppy eyes. Pleading for play. Which of course we did. Jasper brought out Lemur the other day. Lemur's neck is broken and he can't hold his head up, but he remains in good spirits, always ready for a little rough and tumble.
Jasper commiserates with Betty Bunny after the humans stopped playing. Poor Jasper never gets any attention!
Here's an example of how Jasper is ignored and lives just a horrible existence. On a typical weekday morning I do a workout while Jean walks Jasper. Yesterday I got done with my workout and came downstairs to find Jean on the floor massaging Jasper. I said, "Hey, how come you never massage me?" She said, "You're not soft and furry and fluffy" True, none of those adjectives fit Todd. But if Jasper isn't getting a massage when they get home from the walk, he's getting play and fun and love. What an existence.
Jasper is settling in nicely to the Ranch he acquired (see first comment). Happy, happy cowpoke. Now, time to go tend to the cattle. Mooo
Meanwhile, across carpet land, Jasper and Betty Bunny conspire to engage the humans in play. Clever duo.
Jasper just loves playing in the back yard. It's his happy place. I took this portrait of him the other evening after some fun play and as the sun faded. I liked the bokeh as the dwindling sun filtered through the trees
Jasper inspects the shrubbery troops. A perfect line. Tops high and tight. Polished roots. Everything is ship shape. Inspector Jasper gives them a paws up. And he knows where to go in case he runs into the Knights that say , "Ni" (Monty Python reference)
Here's Jasper doing his impression of a barrel cactus, like those behind him. Nice try Jasper, but you're just not prickly at all
With very pleasant weather, we've been playing in the back yard quite a bit. But at some point I have to tell Jasper we've got to go in. Got stuff to do, you know. But Jasper always gives me this totally disappointed look, like, "what do you mean we have to go inside? We were just having fun!" Well, kiddo, life has a few disappointments along the road. Took this shot blind as Jasper looked me in the face to communicate he wasn't ready to go in.
Well looky here, Jasper bagged himself a rooster. Rebel Rooster that is. Poor Rebel, face down in shame. But, such is the life of a dog toy
If I'm sitting back on the couch and Jasper his failing to get my attention, he'll sometimes poke his head over the arm of the sofa to peekaboo me. Next he'll place a toy on the arm of the sofa. Then comes the none too subtle move of putting his front paws up on the couch and placing the toy on my lap. He's a playboy for sure. And a cute one at that so he mostly gets us to play. (BTW: if you're wondering what that angular black mass is on the right of the frame, it's just my iPad with keyboard sitting on the arm of the sofa)
Jasper came with us to the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on Saturday. This is a 110 acre park about 15 minutes from our home. It features 7 recharge ponds that are stocked with fish for the birds. There is also a fishing pond stocked with fish for humans to catch. The park is free and ebird.org typically lists over 300 species of birds that have been spotted there. The park is a real gem in our community. Jasper has been birding with me his whole life. Fortunately, he's never chased the birds. Only watched them with interest.
A shot of one of the ponds in the first comment.
Taking on a rather serious expression, Jasper investigates rumors of lizards at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
On Sunday we went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum. They open at 6AM starting in May so we took advantage of the cooler early morning to check out some desert blooms. There were lots of these purple flowers about and Jasper agreed to pose for a shot or two.
Jasper at the riparian preserve wondering why Mom took his leash off and told him to stay. Humans are so weird!
One good thing that has come out of the pandemic is that the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix have opened their gates to dogs more often. This month, you can bring your dog every Sunday morning. Jasper seems to enjoy it. Especially these shady respites where he can relax and do a bit of people watching.
"You will play! You will play! You will play! " broadcasted Jasper through the powers of his mind. Then suddenly, inexplicably, I got up to play. Amazing how we fall victim to the powers of a dog's telepathy
The weather was really delightful this past weekend. Normally, after Jasper eats his dinner we take a walk around the neighborhood. But Sunday Jasper had play on his mind. We started on a walk, but he did his "business" right away and then started pulling us back home. Once back home, he grabbed Betty Bunny and stood at the back patio door. Oh, we had such fun with Betty and frisbees and running and flying and jumping and tugging and challenging. [pant, pant, pant...] I'm getting tired out just typing about it 😀
Jasper likes to sniff around some of the neighborhood shrubberies. Sometimes we see bunnies. Or sometimes we see kitties. All very exciting
Jasper keeps an eye out for lizards and ground squirrels and whatnot. All those creatures that inhabit the rocks and scrub of the desert
This is not an uncommon sight around our house. We were finishing up dinner and I looked over to see Jasper patiently waiting for the next phase of the evening (which is his after-dinner treat, then play, then tricks, then more play, then...)
Jasper turned 12 on Friday, July 21st. So we celebrated in grand style this weekend with toys, and treats and play. Such fun. A couple of new friends have joined the fray. The orange fella on the left is Mr. Gecko. And on the right is Mosely the Marvelous Moose, but his friends call him Moosey . Jasper is doing quite well for a 12-year-old. He maybe takes a few more naps but still has energy and playfulness.