#Around my new kneeling area and seedlings

[jyou-no-sonoko19]

A bright and blessed Solstice to all, be it Winter or Summer!

[sidespromptblog]

Away: Part 8

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine, Ten, End

Summary: There’s no point staying in a place that does not welcome and loves you, there’s no point in causing yourself daily pain for people who would love for you to never exist again. That’s why he has to do this, to be selfish for himself, in a way that his host and the others could never grasp.

When he woke, Deceit opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by soft warmth that was tucked all around him and the smell of broth in the air. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light around him, much less the faint background noise hushed voices and clinking objects. It took only a few seconds after that for him to realize that he was on a couch, and the warmth around him was dozens of towels and warm fuzzy blankets that had made a cocoon around him like he was a caterpillar forming a chrysalis in order to emerge as a butterfly. Stretching his legs out until the tips of his toes just barely brushed against the end of the couch, Deceit’s stretch ended as soon as the tickle in the back of his throat morphed into a couch. 

“He’s awake!” The hushed voice of Emile practically leaped around the door of his kitchen area, a mixture of relief and worry dampening his features as he made a beeline for Deceit. “How are you feeling?” He asked, barely giving Deceit any time to reply as he pressed his chilly fingers against his forehead feeling for the fever that was raging under the other man’s skin like a fiery inferno of hell. “You had both of us quite worried when you passed out like that, what were you thinking?! Walking in the rain like that, and with a fever no less? You could have just called me to let me know you were sick! You’re lucky that Remy is a nurse, otherwise, we’d both be in quite a bit of trouble, if I do say so for myself.”

As Emile rambled and rambled, Remy, smirked faintly from the chair that had been seated right across from the couch. 

He most certainly wasn’t new to Emile’s mother henning, and despite being a nurse there was no way in hell he was going to step in the middle of this when Emile was that worked up. It made him feel warm on the inside, to see Emile doting on the other man clearly worrying over the guy in a way that someone clearly had never done before. It would have been cute, had it not been so sad in the first place. 

Deceit, however, mostly just looked confused as he stared blankly back at Emile with his fever glazed eyes. “Why are you doing this?” He mumbled, only halfheartedly attempting to swat at the therapist’s hands, just to stop as the world around him jilted slightly to the side at any of his sudden movements. “Why?” He mumbled again, feeling that burning embarrassment along with his fever as the tears started to well up in his eyes. 

To his horror and shame, he couldn’t stop them as they started rolling down his cheeks. 

He didn’t understand the look on Emile’s face, much less the sudden seriousness that had gripped Remy as he looked up at pink-haired man, hoping for some kind of answer to the question that sent Emile reeling. 

“Why don’t you hate me?” 

He couldn’t help it, he honestly couldn’t as he jerked back his steps faltering as his fingers itched to cup Dee’s cheeks and wipe away the tears and whatever had caused them in the first place. “What do you mean sweetie? Why would I hate you?” Emile softly asked, as he finally settled on petting Dee’s hair as a rough hiccup crawled its way past the other man’s lips while more and more tears drenched the sick man’s face. He hated to see such a look on Dee’s face, the sweet face that always cracked a tiny smile when he made his cartoon references, the face that had lit up upon seeing him every day, and… and the sweet beautiful face that he had personally come to adore. It made his heart hurt just to even think of why he should hate such a sweet man in the first place. 

Remy’s hand settled on his shoulder as Dee tried to pathetically wipe away his tears with the corner of one of the towels that had been draped around his head. 

“Be..Because…” He wept the words out, stumbling over each one in a stuttering mess that Emile and Remy were all to0 patient to see through until the other was ready. “Because I’m me. I’m bad, e..even when I’m doing my job I’m a stupid no good snake.. I’m..I’m not any good. They didn’t even want me… so why should you? I was made for him and even then.. I wasn’t good enough.” 

Remy’s grip tightened for a brief second on Emile’s shoulder before it fell away as soon as the other man’s fists started clenching. Even as his eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, Emile could read him as easily as a book. 

He was thinking about it again. 

Pushing up his sunglasses into his curly hair Remy stared back at Dee as he kneeled down beside the feverish man, he knew that the other could see the scars around his eyes that stood out against his tanned skin, but right now he didn’t care. Dee needed to know, and he needed to know now. 

“Listen to me,” He seriously said, cupping Dee’s balled up hand under the towel as he looked right back into those mismatched eyes. “We might not know you like they did, especially since we just met. But I promise you, Dee. I promise. Whatever you did, and whoever you were...you didn’t deserve how they treated you. You deserved respect, you deserved to be listened to, and you deserved to be treated like a human being. If they didn’t… that’s on them, not you. Do you understand me?” 

“But I-” 

Deceit tried, only for Remy to once again cut him off. 

“But nothing,” He gripped Deceit’s hand tighter, and it was only now that he could see how badly Remy was trembling as he spoke, unshed tears reflecting in his dark eyes. “Basic decency isn’t a ‘but’ kind of subject, no matter what… you deserve to have it okay? And they or whoever this he guy is… shouldn’t have taken it from you.” Remy sniffled a little once again fighting back the tears blurring his vision of Dee, feeling Emile’s knuckles gingerly rubbing against his back he smiled just the tiniest bit, they both knew how hard this was for him. “I don’t care how many times I have to tell you this, or how often… because it needs to be said until you can say it yourself. Okay?” 

For a moment, there was nothing but silence from Deceit. 

He laid there, on a couch that wasn’t his, in a home that didn’t belong to him, and with people he hadn't even known a couple of months back. But here he was, crying in front of them in a way that he never would have had he been with the other sides, all while spilling things that never would have ordinarily left his mouth if he were still with Thomas. 

Something cracked in his chest, “You.. you don’t even know me… or who I was.” He finally whispered, and the smile that came from Emile just about broke him even more. 

“Oh honey,” Deceit tried not to lean into the hand that rubbed his wet cheeks, “We don’t need to. You remember Rose right?” He blindly nodded his head, “Greg knew nothing about her, and he could have cared less. Because he loved her as she was now… not as she had been. And that’s the same for you, we don’t need to know… because it would change nothing about how we feel.” 

Deceit tried not to let his bottom lip wobble too much, as a small but incredibly happy smile curled on his lips. “Okay,” He merely whispered, the little seedling of hope and comfort blossoming inside him, unlike anything that he’d ever felt before. He’d felt sadness when he had first left Thomas, and he felt despair when Virgil had left, and he even felt guilt after leaving himself. But this… for the first time, he dared to let himself feel hope over such a small enough thing as having someone love him. It was.. it was such a nice feeling. 

“Now then,” Emile murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Remy’s head as he wiped away the last of Dee’s tears. “How about some chicken soup for that cold?” 

Feeling himself smile, as the happiness shined in his eyes he nodded. 

“That… sounds perfect.”

[dxmichelle]

‘Of Lost Swords and Shadow Magic’ fic prompt #2!

Thanks @darksidechick823 for the prompt!

Prompt idea: The three exchange students in one of their extra lessons.

This little ficlet actually takes place during the main story, and was referenced back in Chapter 14! 

For those unfamiliar with how the spirits interact mentally with their hosts in the text, here’s the key:

/Text/ Spirit to Host /Text/ Host to Spirit 

My ask box is always open for more prompts, so if you have an idea, I’d love to try and write it! :)

Prompt under the cut. 

Following dinner that evening, Yugi, Ryou, and Seto split off from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, heading not back up towards Gryffindor Tower, but down towards the Entrance Hall. Professor Sprout was waiting for them near the front doors to the castle.

“Good evening!” she said cheerfully, “Ready to hit the Greenhouses?”

“I think so,” said Ryou. “Are…are you escorting us down?”

“I am,” said Professor Sprout, “If you remember from Professor Dumbledore’s welcome speech this term, you cannot be outside the castle past sunset on your own.”

“Oh, right,” said Ryou, “I’m sorry, I forgot.”

Professor Sprout dismissed the thought as she led them down the path towards the Greenhouses. “Think nothing of it. I will meet you here for all of our upcoming evening classes together, but please do not leave the castle on your own if I am running behind. Wait for either myself or another member of the staff to let you out.”

“Okay,” Yugi nodded. He began walking towards Greenhouse One, where the first-year lessons were known to be kept, and having been in step with him, Ryou followed along. Neither realizing that Professor Sprout hadn’t gone in that direction at all.

“This way, boys!” Professor Sprout called. She was standing a bit further down the path, closer to the doors to the other Greenhouses.

Yugi blinked and looked over at the building he almost entered. “We’re not going to the first one?”

“Oh, no. We’ll be in Greenhouse Three this evening!”

Yugi and Ryou exchanged worried looks. Hermione had told them that the Greenhouses were numbered by how dangerous the plants inside were categorized. The first one had the least dangerous specimens inside. …And there were only three buildings.

“We’re not…starting small?” Ryou asked.

Professor Sprout shook her head. “We’re jumping right into the thick of things! This way, please!”

“I’m suddenly very afraid,” Ryou whispered to Yugi, who quickly nodded.

Professor Sprout gestured to the rack of gardening robes along the wall. “We’re going to be playing with dirt today, so you may change your robes out for those if you wish. And don’t forget your dragonhide gloves! When you’re all set, come meet me at the front table.”

The front table consisted of three pots. One was empty, one had a leafy plant inside, and the other was full of fresh dirt.

When her three charges were gathered around her, Professor Sprout gestured to the pots. “We’re going to re-pot some Mandrakes today. Can any of you tell me what is special about the Mandrake’s root?”

“It’s used as a cure for petrification,” said Seto.

Yugi, eyebrows raised, met Ryou’s dumbfounded look. Just how many books did Kaiba absorb over the summer!?

Professor Sprout beamed, obviously impressed. “I didn’t think any of you knew the answer, considering this is a second-year subject. Very good! 10 points to Gryffindor! Now, Mandrakes like staying cozy and warm in their pots, so when we go to replant them, they will scream.”

Ryou bit his lip and raised his hand. “W-what do you mean?”

“Unlike most plants you may be accustomed to in Muggle life, the roots of the Mandrake will resemble a human infant,” said Professor Sprout, “And you can imagine how upset they would be if you grasped them by the hair and yanked upwards.”

“So…”Yugi looked about the front table, “Are we just taking them out of the old pot…and putting them in the new one?”

“Essentially,” said Professor Sprout. “They outgrow their pots over time, which is why we are going to re-pot the ones in here this evening. And, as I’m sure you can imagine, as the Mandrake grows, so does the intensity of its scream. An adult Mandrake’s cry is fatal to anyone who hears it.”

Upon Yugi and Ryou’s sudden terrified expressions, Professor Sprout raised a hand reassuringly and gestured back to the pots. “Now, no need to worry yourselves, these Mandrakes are only seedlings. Their cries will only knock you out for a few hours, which is why…” she reached to her side table and produced a pair of earmuffs. “You will have these for auditory protection.”

Professor Sprout gestured to the base of the leafy area of the Mandrake, just above the top of the soil line in the pot. “Now, you’ll grasp your Mandrake there. You want to pull it sharply out, and then set it down into the other pot, and then spread a good bit of fresh soil around to keep it warm. …Any questions?”

“Will they stop crying?” asked Yugi.

“Yes, once they’re warmed up to their new pot, they’ll settle. Now let’s get started.” Professor Sprout pointed to a small cabinet along the side wall. “There are earmuffs there for you to use. Make sure they’re down tightly before you start.”

“This doesn’t seem too bad,” said Ryou, “For some reason, I thought this would be a lot harder than dunking a plant into another pot.”

“Yeah,” said Yugi, grabbing a pair of earmuffs and making his way to one of the workstations. Seto passed him in the aisle on his way to getting his own pair of earmuffs. “This will be easy.”

He reached for the bottom of the stem, just where it reached the base of the roots, and began to raise it out of the pot.

Watching from the safety of their soul corridor, Yami gasped. /Yugi – wait! Don’t pull it out yet!/

/Huh?/ But it was too late. The Mandrake’s head had already breached the dirt in the old pot. It scrunched up its face, clearly unhappy at being disturbed, and let out its ear-splitting screech.

Yugi was glad he couldn’t hear anything, but he was quick to find his error. /Uh oh…/

In his haste to begin the lesson, he neglected to make sure everyone else in the room had their ears covered before grabbing hold of the Mandrake. He quickly finished the task of re-potting his plant before hurrying to the next table over, where Ryou and Professor Sprout were kneeling over Seto, unconscious on the greenhouse floor. His earmuffs rested loosely in his hand, having never made it over his ears in time.

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

I miss ur Hades Harry and Persephone YN :( what if he was being cute one day and surprises her with new flowers he planted for her? How cute to see the god of the dead blush!!

JAJZJAJAI AW IM SO HAPPY U LIKE MY HADES HARRY IT MAKES MY HEART SWELL ILY SO MUCH SNJSJS

On one particular day, as Harry’s walking around the palace talking with his counsel about new torturing techniques and a missing hellhound (which he’s sure is connected to the handful of missing spirits from the Fields of Asphodel), he passes by the library. The humungous set of obsidian doors are slightly ajar and even though he’s surrounded by a flurry of ghastly servants with papyrus containing population graphs and data tables, Hades manages to peek over their heads to see Y/N inside.

She’s standing in front of a painting her mother had gifted her a couple decades back, depicting the garden from her home back on Olympus. Harry watches with softening eyes as Y/N smooths her fingers over the image, a small frown dipping her pretty lips as her eyelashes shimmer with tears. He feels a splinter of pain prick his heart, sympathy sinking in right after.

He can’t stand seeing his girl sad. Whenever she’s hurting, he feels it with double the strength because he cares so deeply for her, it’s inevitable. Harry may be the god of the dead, but that didn’t make him heartless. It only makes him cold-hearted. And with that being said, Y/N holds one of the rare corners inside it that is full of warmth.

And so he takes it upon himself to help her out of this homesickness that has taken away her smile.

Later that day, Hades finds her lounging in the kitchen with the cooks, taste-testing different ambrosia recipes for the summer equinox party that is coming up soon. And when the staff isn’t watching, Harry catches her sneaking lemon square pastries from the trays besides the oven.

He comes up behind her, leaning against the closest wall, crossing his arms over his broad chest and tilting his head to the side, fighting off an endeared grin. “You’ve eaten so many of those, you’re going to become a lemon square.”

Y/N lets out a surprise yelp, body jolting in panic. The half-eaten treat in her hand falls and she fumbles for it, catching it just as it’s about to hit the marble floor.

She cups it in her hands, checking it for wounds and then pinning Harry with a deadly glare (pun intended). “At least then me and you will have something in common.”

“Oh, yeah?” He pushes off the wall, his powerful stride placing him a few inches from her face. “And what would that be?”

Y/N’s tinted lips tilt up coyly. “Bitterness.”

With that, she pops the last bite of the dessert into her mouth, scrunching her nose up mockingly and pushing past him, heading towards the pitchers of wine.

Harry rolls his eyes, turning on his heel and going after Persephone. He presses up against her backside, pushing her forward over the edge of the mahogany serving table, hands coasting up her outer thighs, lifting her dress up slightly. He rests his palms on her hips, leaning forward and planting sloppy kisses on the shell of her ear. “Y'know what else we’d have in common?”

Y/N slumps her shoulders, annoyance tinging the action, but he can feel her body clenching at his touch. “What?”

Hades sucks softly at her skin, trailing down her neck and back up to her ear. “We’d both be good enough to eat.”

“Gods, you’re stupid,” she grumbles, dipping her finger in the nearest pitcher of wine and tasting it.

“Say whatever you want. We all know you’ve had both in your mouth before.”

Y/N chokes on her index finger, turning around and shoving at his shoulder roughly. Her eyes flit around the room nervously, hoping no one had overheard. Meanwhile, Harry’s having the time of his life, snickering like a child and making sucking noises with his mouth.

“Stop!” She hisses, scowling up at him.

“Last time I heard you say that was last night, after your third orgasm,” Harry shrugs his eyebrows dismissively, reaching over her and tasting a wine brewed in Athens. “Or was it the fourth?”

Y/N’s cheeks and neck flush. “Shut up!”

He just chuckles lowly, pressing his lips to her forehead and hugging her tightly. “I came to tell you I have a surprise for you.”

“Does it include dirty jokes?”

“Possibly.”

“Sometimes I wonder how I fell in love with you.”

A few minutes later, Hades and Persephone are standing within the confines of her garden– the one he’d had built for her ages ago. They’re walking hand-in-hand through the beautiful trails, heading for a patch of land that seems to be freshly turned. Upon close inspection, Y/N sees that the area has been planted with a new species of flower she’s never seen before.

“What’s this?” She drops to her knees in front of the blossoming buds, eyeing them curiously.

“A pretty sight, that’s what.” Harry gives her a lopsided grin, dimples pinching into existence.

“The flowers?”

“No, you on your knees.”

“I swear it on Artemis’ favorite bow, if you don’t shut up…”

“Alright, alright. I planted these earlier today,” Harry kneels down beside her, reaching up to thumb over her cheek affectionately. “Had them brought down from the Garden of Hesperides. They were a pain in the ass to get a hold of but I pulled a few strings. There’s two spots set aside now in Elysium for two people who probably don’t deserve them, but it is what it is.”

Y/N stares up at him in shock, eyes bright with happiness. “You did this for me?”

“Of course. I saw you were feeling a bit homesick and decided to take it upon myself to help out.” He plants a kiss on her head, smiling softly. “Anything for my girl.”

Persephone smiles thankfully at Hades, feeling a thousand times better. “You’re such a romantic, y'know that? Nothing but a big softie.”

Harry tries to push it down– he really does– but the blush invades his cheeks nonetheless, making his entire face simmer under her fond gaze. He fidgets with his fingers, twisting his new ruby ring around his middle finger and avoiding eye contact, reaching up to push his hair from falling into his eyes. “It was nothing.”

“It’s everything.” She goes to hug him, pecking his cheeks, eyelids and nose until he’s laughing, scrunching up his face as his eyes sparkle.

He points to the plant’s petals, beginning to explain its origin. “It’s maroon with purple flecks, and it changes color when exposed to warmth. The gardener said they’d change to a mossy green with sky blue flecks, instead.”

“Yeah?” Y/N stares at him, sounding fascinated.

Harry takes her hands in his larger ones, bringing them together and cupping the elegant flower in between them. As promised, the heat of her skin causes the colors to melt into the new shades, even going as far as to grow a few new petals.

“Goddess of spring has her perks,” he winks, loving the way her smile brightens at the change.

“You should try it!” Persephone exclaims with excitement, turning around in his arms and staring at him with big innocent, expecting eyes.

He shrugs, reaching out towards the plant. “Don’t see why not.”

As soon as Harry’s fingertips caress the velvety petals, the flower stiffens up, the color changing back to its original shades, but even darker than before. It folds into itself, petals drawing upward until it is a closed bud, as if to protect itself. And if Harry isn’t mistaken, the leaves along the stem seem to be shaking, almost as if it’s…shivering.

“I didn’t wanna touch you, anyways.” Harry grumbles, pouting like a child because he can’t help it. He planted the damn thing. If anything, it should be hugging his fingers. “Who knew plants were assholes…”

Meanwhile, Y/N is having a ball, clutching her stomach as loud giggles and snorts shake her body.

Hades’ scowl deepens. “Y'think this is funny?”

“Hell yeah!” She grins widely, trying to calm her laughter. She touches the plant gently and Harry watches in utter disbelief as it slowly opens back up, almost hesitantly. “He doesn’t like that you’re cold.”

“Well, there’s nothing much I can do about that!” Harry snaps at the seedling, furrowing his brows over narrowed eyes. “Kinda comes with the territory. And it’s a ‘he’ now, is it?”

Persephone doesn’t respond but rather skims her index finger over the flower’s leaves. “And he says you smell funny.”

Harry can’t avoid the face he makes– it looks as if he’s just been slapped with Poseidon’s trident (which he has been before and strongly discourages it). He stares daggers at his gift, clenching his jaw. “At least I don’t eat manure.”

Y/N concentrates for second, and then breaks out into more spontaneous laughter. “He says you don’t have to. That you’re naturally full of shit.”

“Hand me that shovel.”

[blueeyesspitfire]

Broken Bones

I guess it’s about time I update this blog. I could’ve sworn I wrote here more recently, but apparently three months flew by in an instant. I’ve also been making small but more frequent updates on Patreon, but I don’t expect (or want!) a ton of people to subscribe to that.

Where do I begin? I started my last entry with “The entire world has changed in the few weeks since I last wrote.” and this one is no different. The global pandemic seems to be trailing off in most places outside of the United States, and (thankfully) in the northeast. However, it seems to be thriving in the south and west, and as a country, we’re far from out of the woods. It’s hard to plan anything for the future, or to feel optimistic about it.

We’re also in the middle of a historical civil rights movement, which began in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. (Although police brutality and systematic racism Black people have faced goes well beyond Floyd’s murder) I’ve been trying to donate to as many organizations and funds as I can, but there’s still so much that needs to be done, and so much more I hope to do as an individual. For right now, I’d encourage you to find BIPOC leaders in your community and support them. Of course, vote, donate, educate, amplify Black voices, sign petitions, march, do everything in your power and use your privileges. But also, listen, and know when it is not your turn to hold the megaphone.

I know, this is a blog about a dog sled team, but human rights are incredibly important to me. If that bothers you, or if you prefer to bleat, “All lives matter”, you’re more than welcome to fuck off.

OK, so what else.

In my last post I wrote about chickens and gardens. Much has changed in the homestead since, unfortunately not for the better. To start, I killed almost all of my initial seedlings by planting outside prematurely. But that was only the beginning of my woes.

A few weeks into owning the chickens, they began free ranging a bit. I only let them roam when the dogs were inside, but I didn’t anticipate how much the sight (through the window), sounds, and smells of the birds would set them off.

The mayhem started after I had been kneeling in their coop, submerging my work pants in their scent. After tending to their needs, I went to the backyard with the dogs. Denali and Willow started sniffing my pant leg with great interest, and I didn’t think much of it. I wanted them to grow accustomed to the chickens’ presence, without putting them directly in their line of sight.

In a split second, the two girls were at each other’s faces, biting and snarling. I have no idea who started it, but my guess would be Denali, as she’s the more grumbly boss lady around here. The fight was gnarly, but I was able to get them apart by shoving one off the porch. I ended up bringing Willow to the vet for a 1” gash near her ear, but neither of their wounds were severe.

I’ll pause to mention that these two have fought maybe three times before, in the nearly five years I’ve had Willow. The last time was in Big Bear, and it was pretty mild by comparison. Aside from a quick crate break, I didn’t need to separate them afterwards; they both were over it fast.

I mistakenly assumed this fight would be no different. After the trip to the vet and several hours to calm down, I let the girls out together, and another fight happened almost immediately. I got it controlled quickly, but it was shocking to me. And, man, did I feel like an absolute asshole.

I proceeded to rotate the girls for a week or two (at this point I don’t even remember), until I felt confident enough to let them loose together with heavy supervision. Things seemed to return to normal, until one day Knox caught sight of the chicken trio roaming and set off a group howl. The excitement lead to a series of fights: first Denali and Willow, then Dexter and Hubble, and finally Willow and Laika. Thankfully no one was hurt and they were all minor scuffles, but obviously this was not OK. That same day, I reached out to my NoCo friend circle about rehoming the chickens. The next day, I loaded everything up and brought them to my friend’s place where they’re now living happy lives. It’s heartbreaking for me, as I’ve dreamed of keeping chickens for so long, but I needed to reset.

Once the chickens were gone, things improved almost immediately. The fights stopped. I restarted the crate and rotate cycle with Denali and Willow, but soon found they could be loose together without issue. I was proud and relieved. For about a month.

But then they fought again. I almost predicted it. We get Amish horse buggies passing the house every so often, maybe once a week tops. On this particular day, multiple buggies went past, and this fired the dogs up. Denali and Willow fought again. I did finally have a pattern, though: excitement (Willow rushing around/barking) and Denali feeling cornered. Everyone came out of this one OK, and I adjusted accordingly. I’d have to be careful in hallways and the backdoor area, where Denali feels more defensive. If I could avoid having them in those spaces, things seemed to be OK. They never had any fights in the big, open play yard.

Another week and a half went by with things once again going back to “normal” (whatever that word means). As we got into June, the temperature was high and the dogs were much lazier. I was outside working on my laptop and all the dogs were loose in the small dog yard with me. Denali and Willow had been lounging in the sun all day together without a problem. I let my guard down, I guess.

Denali was asleep on the porch and the younger dogs were milling about the yard. A robin landed just outside the fence and Willow leapt across the porch to chase after it. Just as she made her dash, Denali sprung up and, expecting an attack, lunged at her. The two girls began their typical brawl, but this time Laika joined in, so it was two versus one. The younger girls had a grip on Denali’s neck that screamed “life or death” situation, and I dove into the brawl. Denali bit down on anything she could reach in self-defense. This mainly ended up being me; she broke my thumb with her first bite.

Despite my injuries, I managed to pull the three girls apart. I threw Willow into the garage, Laika in the house, and made sure Denali was OK before getting everybody safely crated and myself to urgent care. They cleaned me up, took X-rays which confirmed the break, and set my hand in a splint. They also set me up with an orthopedic surgeon, expecting I’d need surgery to fix the bone. I cleaned Denali up when I got back home and gave her antibiotics I had on hand. My vet handled a few staples the next day.

My parents came up from New Jersey to help me sort life out, but the streak of bad luck wasn’t over. Within 48 hours of breaking my thumb, my dad stumbled in my hallway and fell down the stairs, breaking his wrist. At this point, it’s hard not to laugh (through the pain).

It’s been almost a month now and I’m cautiously optimistic about the immediate future, at least. I’ve gone through three splints, surgery to insert pins, and a hard cast for another week and a half. Dad’s had surgery to insert a plate in his wrist. Denali healed and had her staples removed.

As far as Denali and Willow’s relationship is concerned, things strained. I have been rotating them between crates, gates, and the two separate yards. The only time I’ve let them out loose together is when we’re sitting on the couch and I’m physically between them. Denali is very wary of Willow while Willow actively avoids Denali. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than having two dogs that are actively out to get one another. It’s a rather dramatic misunderstanding that I’m hoping they’ll eventually forget.

If they don’t, then we’ll live with these adjustments. As Denali gets older (along with Dexter and Knox), it makes sense to separate the team into smaller play groups, for everyone’s safety and happiness. I’ve also been applying a bit more structure and enforcing more rules, mainly more time in their crates to “cool down” after play or while I’m cooking/eating. It’s been going well—they all run straight to their crates after coming inside. In the Covid-19 era, I don’t leave the house much at all, so they got a bit too comfortable with 24/7 freedom. That said, they all seem to enjoy crate naps in their own quiet spaces.

Mushing has been an ongoing learning experience and this is all part of it. My thumb might end up weaker, but I hope my character comes out of this stronger.

[cookingtipss]

New Post has been published on My Food and Cooking Blog

New Post has been published on http://princefood-cooking.princefamily33.com/2019/03/17/organic-horticulture-made-simple-through-these-tips/

Organic Horticulture Made Simple Through These Tips

You will need a great deal worth of patience, and you will also need a green thumb to get into horticulture. The aim is to grow food for the family that is both healthy and free of chemicals and pesticides. However, organic horticulture can seem quite daunting, especially if you do not possess the proverbial green thumb. The following hints and tips can help you grow your own organic garden easily and successfully.

TIP! Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. These biennials and annuals are fast-growing, and they allow you to brighten up your flower bed with a change for each season.

Fight pests before you even plant, by getting your soil in shape. If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease. High-quality soil that is low on chemicals is key. It’s the first thing you should think about when planning on growing your garden.

Do not spend your money on chemicals to fight mildew. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Baking soda will not damage your plants and treats the mildew gently but efficiently.

TIP! When you are tending your garden in the fall, be on the alert for stink bugs. They love to inhabit peppers, beans, tomatoes and all kinds of fruit varieties.

Prepare your seeds by soaking them in a dark environment. Place your seeds in a container filled with water. That way, the seeds will have sufficient hydration and will have the best start possible. The seeds will then have a greater chance at lasting and blossoming.

Knee Pads

TIP! Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Bulbs are hardy, easy to grow into flowers, and will blossom for several years.

Get horticulture knee pads if you have low-growing plants. When you spend a lot of time kneeling while gardening, your knees can be very achy by the end of the day Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. A pot of very hot water is one of the most effective ways you can get rid of the weeds in your garden. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. This can cause enough damage to the roots of any plant to kill it.

TIP! When fall is here, you need to plant autumn edibles. Instead of a clay pot, show some fall spirit by using a hollow pumpkin to plant your lettuce or kale in.

Make sure air can circulate around your plants, and keep leaves moisture-free. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. Fungi commonly afflict a number of plants. Fungi can be controlled with fungicide sprays, but it is important to treat your area with the spray, before you see any problems.

Start peas inside in a container, rather than planting the seeds outdoors. By initially planting them indoors, the seeds tend to germinate better. You will also have hardy seedlings that will be able to resist disease and pests much better. When your plants are sturdy, move them outdoors.

TIP! Grow some plants that cats like to eat – try catnip or wheat grass. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.

Horticulture organically is a rewarding hobby that incorporates nature, effort and patience. It makes use of empty land to produce something tasty and healthy. But, if you are ready to dedicate yourself and stick to the advice in this piece, you are sure to be a successful organic gardener.

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Create A Beautiful Garden With These Great Tips

There are endless all-natural methods available to help you produce a vibrant organic garden. All you need to do is gain a little knowledge, and then put it to good use.

Baking Soda

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Put a little baking soda and some dish soap in water. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. Baking soda won’t harm your plants, and takes care of the mildew efficiently and gently.

TIP! If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. This is an easy and inexpensive solution to increase the acid content back into the soil.

For a garden that thrives, choose the right type of soil. Fertilizer can enrich the soil to make it more viable. You can also make an artificial area using only one type of soil.

To achieve the best growing results, plants need sufficient carbon dioxide. If the level of CO2 is extremely high, your plants will grow much better. A greenhouse can concentrate the levels of CO2. Higher CO2 levels can provide optimal conditions for growing plants.

TIP! Before you plant a garden you should plan it out. It will be easy to remember where each plant is when sprouts start to shoot up the following spring.

In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.

Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming. Some evergreens that will provide winter color are the American Holly, Common Snowberry, American Cranberrybush, and the Winterberry.

TIP! If your garden requires a lot of low work, then save yourself some strain by investing in knee pads. When you spend a lot of time kneeling while gardening, your knees can be very achy by the end of the day Having a good pair of knee pads will cushion your knees in comfort.

Keep your pet out of the garden with old perfume or aftershave in the grass. This can make scents that dogs are attracted to, and make your garden less interesting in general for pets.

Include your kids in growing an organic garden. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.

TIP! When it comes to harvesting your vegetables, know when the optimal time is to do so. Each kind of vegetable should be picked at a specific point for maximum flavor.

If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow. If your thermostat is normally kept lower in winter, you can use a heat lamp to keep your plants warm enough.

To make the most of your time in the garden, you should store all of your tools and implements in a close, accessible location. You have several options including using a bucket to hold your tools or wearing pants with lots of sturdy pockets. Keep gloves, small pruning shears, a trowel and any other tools handy in order to increase the quickness of the work that goes into your garden.

TIP! If you are growing a vegetable garden, you may find that pests can be difficult to control. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table.

Have plastic bags on hand so that you may cover your muddy gardening shoes. When you do this, your flow stays going, and you can just get right back out to your garden and finish quick.

Anyone can have a garden, but it takes knowledge to have a productive and healthy one. Put these organic horticulture tips to use.

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A Little Guide To A Lovely Garden

Organic horticulture can either be a nice, calming hobby, or a considerable annoyance. The following article is designed to turn you into a successful and happy organic gardener.

TIP! Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier.

For the best results, select the right kind of soil. Depending on what type of plants you have, your soil may or may not be adapted. You can simply use one type of soil to make an artificial area.

Bulbs are the best solution to get flowers in spring and in summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year. Include a variety of plantings to get a full season of flowers, from early bloomers to late-season varieties.

TIP! Think about starting plants in pots, and then placing the seedlings in the garden later. Your plants will be more likely to mature this way.

Try growing some cat grass or wheat grass in the vicinity of the plants that your cat likes to eat. You may also place something offensively smelly atop the soil, like citrus peel or mothballs.

Don’t cut your grass too short! If you leave your grass kind of high, your roots will be deeper and your lawn will be stronger and not dry out. The shorter the grass, the shallower the roots, which makes the lawn more likely to develop brown patches.

TIP! Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee.

Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all gardening tools and chemicals prior to using them. If you don’t do this, you could cause unnecessary skin irritations, which are very painful. Wear protective gear, and use the products as directed.

Invest in a kneeling stool, and a wheelbarrow to work in the garden. It’s rough on your knees to spend lots of time on the ground kneeling or squatting. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a portable, lightweight garden stool on hand. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with horticulture, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.

TIP! Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn’t too large for the plant you’ll be growing.

When landscaping and horticulture in autumn, choose plants and trees with vibrant colors. However, that does not have to be the case! The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Fall trees sport a variety of colorful leaves that range from subtle yellows to rich crimsons. Consider hydrangea, barberry and cotoneaster when considering purchasing a shrub.

Choose a specific plant to become your garden’s focal point. To create an attractive garden design, arrange a focal point to draw attention. The best focal points are those plants that really stand out from those that are adjacent.

TIP! Do not cut your grass too short. When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant.

Vegetables get softer as the temperature goes up, so you could damage your vegetables if you pick them during the hottest hours. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.

Organic Gardening

TIP! For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. The safest herbicide that you can use in your garden is a simple pot of boiling water.

Clearly, organic gardening is a more voluminous subject than is commonly known. Organic horticulture demands hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity, but your sacrifices will be rewarded when you can look out of your bedroom window and see a stunning organic garden in your own backyard, that you created with your own bare hands. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic gardening pro.

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Great Advice For Having A Flourishing Garden

Organic growing is becoming more popular due to the questionable effects of toxins and pesticides on the body and the environment. Organic horticulture is also cheaper; you don’t have to spend as much money on tools and equipment. These tips will get you right into the swing of organic gardening and improve your skill in no time.

TIP! Transform your gardening tool handles into clever measurement rulers. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks.

Plant seeds in pots that have a rich soil to give them a strong start. By allowing them to sprout first, you are increasing the odds of a seedling reaching maturity. You will then be able to lessen the time between planting your seeds. Once the fully matured plants are removed, the seedlings can be planted.

Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. Annuals and biennials that grow quickly can really wake up your flower beds, and they allow you to have a new garden look every season or every year, if you choose to. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.

TIP! The first thing you can do to ward off garden pests is to ensure you are using healthy soil in your garden. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects.

As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. If you let your grass grow, the roots will go deeper and make your lawn more resistant to dryness. If you keep your lawn too short, the roots will not go deep enough to survive in case of a heat wave.

Whenever you are planting a veggie garden, it is vital that you place them in a location where sun shines down on them for six or more hours per day. Most vegetables need at least that much sun exposure to grow properly. Some flowers also need six hours of daily direct sun in order to grow and blossom well.

TIP! When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. Instead of using regular clay pots this year for planting lettuce and kale, try a pumpkin container instead! To use the pumpkin as a planter, it is important to prevent it from rotting.

Make a landscaping plan before you dig your first hole. This is a good way to remember which plants have been planted in each area before they grow. This can also help prevent you from losing smaller plants or smaller groups of plants within a larger garden area.

Organic Mulch

TIP! Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. You can also try to offend the cats sense of smell with orange rinds or mothballs.

Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. The organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil for a little longer. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.

Before you start working in your garden, purchase a wheelbarrow and a good kneeling stool. In order to relieve stress on your knees when horticulture, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable. Gardening also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.

TIP! Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them.

If you start implementing the organic gardening advice included in this article today, you can look forward to having a healthy, productive, toxic-free garden in the near future. In addition, you will notice more wildlife that congregates around your garden. You can be one with nature! Start planning your garden today.

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Discover Useful Techniques For Growing An Organic Garden

There isn’t a better time than now to get it started. You may have many questions and concerns about initiating this, but rest assured that the following paragraphs will give you the answers you seek. This article includes a few tips and tricks that can help you begin gardening.

TIP! When powdery mildew appears on your plants, you should not rush out to purchase a costly chemical treatment. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water.

Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. These fast growing flowers let you change how your flower bed looks season to season. They are very useful for filling in the gaps between perennials and shrubs in a sunny area. Some varieties are hollyhocks, petunias and sunflowers.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. These versatile plants can grow over fences to enhance the fence’s appearance. Often, climbers grow quickly, so you’ll get the effect you want by the time the season changes. You can also train climbers to cover arbors and other things that you want covered, and they will even grow right through trees and shrubs. Some varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. You can be sure that varieties such as climbing roses, wisteria, jasmine, clematis and honeysuckle will grow very well.

TIP! If your garden includes vegetables, make sure you plant them in a location whether they are exposed to sunlight for a minimum of six hours each day. This allows the vegetables to grow quickly and healthily.

Plant some wheat grass or cat grass near where you car tends to nibble in your garden. You can also try to offend the cats sense of smell with orange rinds or mothballs.

Knee Pads

TIP! If a test indicates that your soil is very alkaline, you can mix the dirt with used coffee grounds. Basically, the grounds resupply the soil with acid.

A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. Spending lots of time on your knees while horticulture can injure them and create lasting pain. Using a pair of quality knee pads designed for horticulture can provide your knees with cushioning and support, preventing any discomfort.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. Slugs who want to enter a vegetable garden, for example, can be repelled by a simple border of marigolds and onions. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.

TIP! If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. Weeding, watering and picking through your vegetation can cause a lot of damage to your knees if left unprotected.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The mulch will add beneficial moisture to your soil. This also helps reduce the appearance of weeds. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.

Having a good wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool makes garden chores a lot easier. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort. As well, gardening can involve some heavy lifting and moving, so a strong wheelbarrow can really make that aspect much more effortless.

TIP! For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil.

Hopefully, you are now much better equipped for your gardening endeavor. You may have thought you were already set to start, but you’re in an even better place now! The tips above were meant to give you a little guidance to aid in your gardening endeavors so you can go out and have some real fun!

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Making Your Garden A Family Fun Activity

More and more people are finding out how great it is to have an organic garden. With the advice provided here, you’ll soon be learning how to create your very own organic garden. Coming up are a collection of organic gardening oriented tips, tricks and ideas to grow and harvest nontoxic, free, healthy, fresh, produce for your whole family.

TIP! When winter arrives, you could save some plants by placing them inside your house. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants.

Transform your horticulture tool handles into clever measurement rulers. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

Baking Soda

TIP! Seeds should be soaked in a dark area overnight. You then want to place a small amount of seeds in a container that’s smaller and then fill it up with water to the top.

You don’t need a costly chemical solution to deal with powdery mildew in your garden. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water. You then want to spray this mixture on your plants one time a week until you notice the mildew disappear. Baking soda is safe for use on your plants and is a gentle, but effective way to care for your plants.

Bulbs will give you wonderful flowers that you can enjoy in early spring and right through the summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year. Different bulbs will bloom during different time periods. Therefore, if you select your bulbs correctly, you could have blooms in your garden for all of spring and summer.

TIP! Irises should be divided. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up.

Natural materials or some other plants can be used in your garden for keeping away pests. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.

Be sure to buy a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool that you can use for your garden. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees; therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making horticulture easier on them. Gardeners usually need a wheelbarrow to move the heavy dirt and other objects so they are a good item to buy.

TIP! If you’re going to grow peas, start them indoors before putting them in the ground outside. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination.

Choose a specific plant to become your garden’s focal point. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze. It can be anything, but oftentimes a plant that stands out from its neighbors will do the trick.

If you know that you’ll be in the garden for an extended period of time, protect yourself from the sun with proper attire. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen. When using the right protection in the sun, you will lower your chance of getting a sunburn and decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.

TIP! Be careful how you water your garden. You can save time by using soaker hoses to water more than one plant.

As you can see, keeping up with an organic garden is both challenging and rewarding. It takes time and patience. Use the tips above to see how great your new garden may be. Whatever you chose to plant, the suggestions from this article will help your gardening be a success.