Greetings and salutations, everyone; yes, once again it is I, Mani the semi-small, and yet moderately large, purebred border collie, filling in for the guy I live with, and here to bring you the latest news, not really from our garden, but just news. You may remember me from such posts as “One Hundred Snowdrops”, among so many, many others.
Here I am in a characteristically pensive pose.
Well, like a say a lot, hardly anything at all is happening here, except that the guy I live with is super-grouchy, because of the snow, and when he almost slipped on the ice the other day he got extra super-grouchy, but I’m sure this will pass, like everything else.
You can see what the back yard looks like just from this picture.
The amount of complaining that the snow doesn’t go away, has to be experienced to be believed, and that’s one reason why I like to stay outside. There’s stuff to look at, too, of course.
And I have my toy that I got from Secret Santa at Day Care. It was kind of a huge Christmas caterpillar thing, and I really like it. I had to modify it a bit, though. It came with two eyes but only has one now, because it sort of stared at me in a weird way. 
As far as gardening goes, it’s not very far at all, and the only thing happening is something that’s happening in the house. The cactus which hangs over my Upstairs Fort is blooming. This is supposedly exciting.
Rhipsalis pilocarpa
That would be it, except for the one thing I hoped not to have to talk about. Let alone do. Yesterday the guy I live with wanted me to wear a pair of what he claimed were “Christmas antlers”, but I was sure it was some sort of torture device, and I wouldn’t let these things stay on me for even a second.
Today he tried again, and got really mad at me for what he said was “infantile behavior”, but of course that’s the best kind of behavior, isn’t it?
I did finally agree to wear the stupid antlers for a couple of seconds, while he took my picture. I think I look like a complete idiot. But wearing them made him happy, and he got to post the picture on Facebook, and wish everyone Season’s Greetings, and so I’ll do that too.
Until next time, then.
the miserable gardener 
Season’s Greetings, Merry Christmas, and all the rest, to Mani and TGYLI. I don’t suppose it helps much to tell you how very handsome you look in those antlers, and that you really should be happy that he didn’t take a video of you being tortured, because right now the web is chock full of videos of various animals being tortured by various holiday-themed articles of clothing, because many humans (me included) think that kind of thing is hilarious. I enjoyed that you included the pics of the Rhipsalis flowering. I have one, probably a slightly different one, and I’ve been wondering what its flowers look like.
That should be TGYLW. Don’t know what the “I” could stand for…
Yeah, I figured.
Thanks, same to you. The guy I live with says a video of me playing “Try to get it on me” (which is the game I play with the harness before I go on my walk) would have put me “in a very bad light”, and we wouldn’t want that, would we? The rhipsalis, which used to be called Erythrorhipsalis, came from a nursery in south Denver that was really old and nice, but the blizzard of March 2003 caved in the greenhouse, and the owners said the heck with this, and the nursery closed. But the cactus is still here.
Oh, you poor sweetie. The horror! You do look adorable, however. I’m glad that your Secret Santa was so nice to you, and I hope that your not-so-secret Santa is equally nice to you today.
It was 70 degrees yesterday and looks like it will be equally warm today in NYC. Strange weather.
Merry Christmas to you and TGYLW!
Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too. The antler business was awful, but I think I’m over it. The guy I live with says he wishes it were 70 degrees here. Or even 25.
Mani, I think you look adorable in your antlers (and those little hamster ears that come with it). I think you would learn to love them too, if you could teach your guy that the price of such a photo op is a tiny slice of Brie.
We celebrated the Saturnalia in 72 degrees here on the shore of the Long Island Sound, where the forsythia is blooming, which is excellent at this time of year.
I wish you a new year of light and French cheese.
Thanks, that sounds like an excellent idea, though even better without the antlers. It’s 22 here, no sun, and everything is encased in ice. The path along the canal is a sheet of ice. It got up to 60 a few days ago and nothing happened, ice-wise, and so the guy I live with started talking about government conspiracies. He says that back in the last century, which must have been a very long time ago, the snow wouldn’t last that long, and everyone would freak out because it should be cold when it wasn’t, but that in this century the snow has lingered for weeks, and so it must be a conspiracy, directed at him. What a weirdo, huh.
Mani, I agree you look more handsome without antlers but, let’s face it, we all have to do things for the folks with whom we live. A very merry Christmas to you. I’m looking forward to your 2016 adventures.
Thanks, same to you.
I completely agree that the antlerless look is much more sophisticated. Debonair, even.
Hi Mani,
I think you should begin to worry when TGYLW starts where the antlers around the house. From your report, one could conclude, that he is starting to show the teensiest hint of cabin fever. But, then again, it could be a government conspiracy. Atmospheric engineering gone wrong or a Republican ploy to drive certain groups, used to a warmer climate, out of the country perhaps?
Merry Xmas to you both, Marcus from Down Under
Thanks; the guy I live with does think it a plot, but apparently other people around here have snow in their yards, too, which is mildly comforting.
Oops, I meant ‘wearing around the house’, drat my fumbling fingers and a tablet with a mind of its own! M
We got that…..wearing the antlers around the house. However, I would point out that his head is much too large for the antlers…… I don’t think they make them that size. Ho ho ho. Oh, and Merry Christmas to you, too.
Merry Christmas! What did you get Mani? I see your nighttime temperatures on Saturday will be a little chilly even for you! I guess if we want to be warm we must go east. But only this year, this moment. I wouldn’t like to have my flowers blooming in December only to be blasted by the cold that’s sure to come. The antlers are the best with your face underneath. Perhaps you could do a bit of modeling to earn cash for
more toys…..
Thanks; the guy I live with says I got another toy but it has to be washed first. He always washes the toys before I get them. It’s like a rule. Yes, tomorrow night it’s supposed to be one below zero. I hear, from the constant whining, that Denver is about the coldest place on the planet at this time of year. Maybe places in Siberia are as cold. So he now says he’s building a Bulb Frame next year. A cold frame, but for bulbs. To keep “the stupid snow” off them.
Nothing says Christmas for me more than a dear deer, Mani modeling antlers and Santy cap and a look of forbearance. Next year – and there will be a next year – try for a merry look. It will doubtless make the guy you live with even happier in his posting and he might be a bit quicker to wash new toys. The stupid snow transforms your yard into a very excellent state, and I can understand why you like to stay outside to sniff and look. Inside, you have that gorgeous flowering Rhipsalis pilocarpa dangling over your fort in a most interesting way, Outside, inside, you are spoiled for choice. Season’s greetings to you too, and I thank you for providing me with a screensaver shot to last through the Epiphany.
Thanks; outside is mighty chilly right now. There is stuff to look at, and patrol against, but the guy I live with objects to having the back door open for any time longer than “a few minutes” because he gets cold. The cactus flowers are barely noticeable, but it is one of the few house plants that has been here for a very long time.
I’m not surprised you didn’t want to wear the antlers Mani. Whoever heard of a dog with antlers?
Thanks. I totally agree. A dog with antlers, how ridiculous. (Okay, maybe an elkhound, but not me.)