Greetings and salutations, everyone; yes, once again it is I, Mani the tiny purebred border collie, filling in for the guy I live with (who doesn’t have anything to say anyway), and here to bring you the latest news from our garden, and maybe a picture or two of me being cute. You may remember me from such posts as “Still More Melting”, among at least a few others.
Here I am in a characteristic pose.
It was misty this morning, not really hugely misty, but still misty, which it rarely is around here, or so I’m told, and it was pretty different. I picked up an earthworm on the patio this morning, right after breakfast, but the guy I live with told me to spit it out, which I did (“for once”), because it was icky.
This is part of the garden, looking all misty (but not really misty). You can see that there are piles of gravel where there weren’t any two days ago, and you can also see some plastic covers for bulbs whose pictures need taken, and the tray of cactus that still hasn’t been leveled, though I understand it might be, soon.
The piles of gravel appeared yesterday, and I had to check them out, of course. Here I am taking a survey. Measuring stuff, you know. 
Well, today, I was wandering around the troughs, and I met someone who didn’t like me at all, which was surprising. Everyone who’s met me has liked me: the little kids in the neighborhood come down to see me when the guy I live with carries me out in front to meet people, and other dogs have liked me, but this thing didn’t like me at all. The guy I live with realized that I’d just met Earl, and of course he didn’t have his camera with him, so he went to get it, but by that time Earl had learned that there was a new King of the Garden, and it wasn’t him. Partly because he was the old one, or acted like it, but partly because he could see my fiercely gnashing teeth and determined brow. That’s his tail up there in the tree, against the big branch going off to the right, some. 
So that was that. Earl was really mad, because he could tell I would brook no nonsense at all, and that there was going to be a tough new regime here.
Then I discovered another squirrel, and chased it out of the garden. This is me triumphantly watching the squirrel leave. I’m standing on the seed frames, which I’m not supposed to do, but this was important. 
Speaking of the seed frames, the guy I live with says “Stuff is coming up”.
stuff coming up
Afterwards, I stopped to pose in front of the seed frames. This is me. Like, if you weren’t sure. 
I took a nap after that. 
We went out again a little later, after I had my lunch, and I got all interested in the moss growing in one of the troughs. I learned soon after that how much the guy I live with likes the moss there, and how protective he felt about it. He said not to eat the moss.
the moss
That’s really kind of it, for today. The day isn’t over, but there’s some stuff to do, and I guess we’re going to be doing it. Or at least thinking about doing it. I kind of like the pace of things around here.
Until next time, then.
the miserable gardener 
Yea truly, Mani, the squirrels will write legends about the pure bred border collie who smote them by just looking at them. And if I must say, you really know how to strike a pose.
When I see your head shots, which are excellent, I think, “Those ears have a personality all their own.” I believe yours are the most adorable floppy ears I’ve seen.
Thanks; well, you know, the guy I live with says my head is too small for my ears, for now anyway. I can tell he’s just jealous.
I can see you are going to be very busy Mani, what with surveying all the piles of gravel AND chasing squirrels. Just don’t go overdoing things will you?
Thanks; we purebred border collies are Moderation Personified. The guy I live with says that Sandy Loam is coming over tomorrow. I haven’t met her yet. Something to do with all the gravel. He says it’s going to be exciting.
Really making yourself useful, Mani, patrolling the estate. I admire how your ears stand up in rigid disapproval of any squirrel mischief, which is basically anything a squirrel does. And then you turn right around and pose, giving us soulful, luring eyes.
Oh, I want that moss, the bright spring green moss, moss so right for a misty day.
Thanks; I like my ears pretty well. The guy I live with says that the moss is probably a native moss, a species of Grimmia, and what it does is, it gets all green and happy like this, and then in summer it dries out completely, which is good because then it doesn’t need any water, and then in late autumn it turns green again.
Well, you may be a pure bred Border Collie and all that, but you look very primitive as you leap against the tree. Rodentia seems to bring all doggies a little closer to wolfdom, don’t you think? I’m sure looking forward to what I’ll see in the gravel and Miss Sandy Loam, aren’t you?
Thanks; I agree I do look wolf-like, and utterly fierce. I’m not sure what’s going to happen tomorrow, but it might be exciting.
Wonderful vanquishing of the squirrels!
Thanks; indeed, it was a triumph. At least for today.
Well Mani, it’s clear to see you’re taking excellent care of the guy you live with, and in trade he’s teaching you lots of neat new things. Well done by both you guys. It seems you two are doing just fine together. Earl the Trespasser is probably going to stick around and continue to tease you. Squirrels can be like that. But it’s all very entertaining don’t you think?
It’s moderately entertaining, though not nearly so much so as untying the guy I live with’s shoelaces as he walks around the garden. Like his shoelaces would stay tied anyway. He says he’s known how to tie his shoelaces for a few years now, but I can untie them faster than he can tie them, even when he’s tying them. So that’s fun. I have him extra-trained about getting me to come inside by shaking the biscuit bag, too.
I am waiting for the day that you start herding the owls. I want videos of that event. I KNEW that you would win over Earl.
I’ve heard about them, and they sound really scary. I’m pretty good at biting (just ask you know how), but owls sound scary.
Hard to believe someone so cute could become so dangerous looking. You deserve those naps, it must be exhausting!
Thanks, it is exhausting being both deadly and cute.
Our Annie thinks it’s her job to make sure the squirrels and Hawks leave the birds in peace in our yard like the sanctuary it was meant to be. Purebred border collies all need jobs. Looks like you’re finding yours early. 🙂
I think so too, though, today, my job seems to be holding down some piles of dirt. I’m not really big enough to hold them all down at once.