I Think I am Addicted to Pots!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I realize my title is very alarming and you are all probably wondering if I live in Colorado or Washington, but before an intervention is staged, let me be clear, I am talking about large clay pots.  I’ve got a serious problem and even though this is a dog website and this has nothing to do with dogs, I feel the need to share.  We are finally enjoying some spring like weather, which means we are getting our outdoor decorations and lawn furniture out and sprucing up our yard.  The yard we had when we moved in was much different than the yard we have now with two Doodles. The dogs tear through every inch of our yard and Vern runs through bushes and under evergreens like he doesn’t even see them.  Honestly, I can hear branches cracking as he slips, and not so gracefully I might add, under them to make a surprise move on Fudge. Unfortunately, when you are a large, dirty white, dog crashing through underbrush and small places where you do not truly fit, the element of surprise does not work in your favor.  Fudge is always two steps ahead of him, but Vern has pluck, and no one can accuse him of ever giving up.  Our yard is proof of this statement.

 

Last year, John had to rip out a good deal of ground cover because Vern used it as safe base when he had Fudge’s ball or could often be found lying in the middle of it watching the world go by.  This left a large area that needed something and two adults who couldn’t quite agree on what that something should be.  John likes Hostas and I like them far less. Now, before the National Organization of Hosta Lovers start sending me hate mail, I know this plant serves a purpose, it is easily maintained, and can fill in a lot of space, but I still think it is boring.   The problem is John and I do not agree about planting plants and flowers and he will take a large space and plant just one or two of something and I believe more is more.  All summer long he tells me it is going to look great when it grows and fills in and I think it looks like he planted two Charlie Brown Christmas trees with not much hope. 

I like to start out the summer season with everything looking good and not staring at the planted areas and repeating over and over, “soon, Laurie, soon.”  My neighbor loves to tell me what to plant here and there in my planters and I nod and pretend I will do it and then run up to a local store and buy planters already filled with lots of flowers and pop them into my containers.  My way is immediately prettier and saves an impatient person the hassle of waiting for everything to grow. 

 

Where I am envisioning colorful pots filled with exotic flowers, one or two measly hostas with the promise from John that they are going to look great someday are just not good enough. This more is more attitude spills over into every aspect of my decorating and sometimes gets me into trouble.  I consider myself to be very lucky in that John doesn’t care what I do in our house as long as it does not affect him in any way.  I could bring home a giant stuffed Panda Bear and put it in our living room and the only time he would complain is if I asked him to help me move it to a different location.  I can count on John’s middle finger the number of times he said he was really unhappy with something I brought home and it happened when we were still living in an apartment.  I had coveted an antique spinning wheel that I saw every time we went to one of our favorite antique shops for quite some time and finally somehow we could afford it, I took the plunge one day, and brought it home and set it up in front of our large patio window. 

It was exactly as I had envisioned in my head all those months of longing, except its placement prevented John from reclining in his recliner.  Personally, I thought it was something we could live with, but John thought otherwise and forced me to choose between him and an antique.  I am not going to lie and say the choice was easy, but in the end, I realized it was not going to sound right if our kids kept pointing to my beloved spinning wheel and telling their friends, “she chose THAT over our father.”

 

I would like to say that is the only time I have brought something home that no one but me seemed to like, but I would be lying.  Take for instance, my St. Francis statue that caught my eye because he was yellow.  Plus, he was on a clearance rack for $40, marked down from $200, because one of the rabbits was missing an ear.  Luckily, I knew John could fix that ear since the missing piece was included, and I know a steal when I see one. A Saint on the clearance rack is not something you are going to find every day, if you ask  me. He also matched my walls and is the Patron Saint of Animals, which includes Doodles, and it seemed like a win win situation to me.

I love him, but Hayley said he has creepy eyes and Megan said she was going to start buying me every ugly thing she could find and hand it to me and say, “I bought this hideous thing for you because it is  yellow.”  They both said when I die; Salvation Army is going to be getting a boatload of stuff with a St. Francis statue on top of the box, because they doubted they could stuff him into one of those large donation boxes we have around town at various locations.  When I mentioned that they might want to wait to go through my things until their grief at my loss subsided, they said they would be sure to dress in black as they loaded up the car.  All John said when I handed him the statue and the rabbit ear was, “You aren’t even Catholic.”  Thankfully, since it didn’t block his recliner, he was fine with my Saint. 

 

Well, this week I brought up the subject of getting a large fountain for that space.  I saw a really cool one up at the store and while John liked it, he did remind me that the dogs might think it is a drinking fountain.  I pondered that and decided that nothing spoils a good fountain like two large dogs continually sucking on the bubbler and blocking the water from flowing, so we nixed that idea.

Well, while I was in the store, I noticed a wide array of beautiful pots and came up with the plan to stagger several pots in different sizes and colors in that vacant spot on our lawn.  I figured I would fill them in with flowers or evergreens and have my very own pot garden. 

My only problem now is I can’t seem to stop buying pots.  I just keep finding one more in a cool shape or color and I just know I can work it in to my theme somehow. 

Oh, and before you say, “don’t you have a 5 foot Rooster, too?” all my pots match one of the colors on my big cock-a-doodle-do.  I am not an amateur, folks! 

Plus, it is not like I am dressing up those large geese statues you see out and about, or have one of those wood cutouts of a woman bending over, or even six pink, plastic flamingos in my yard. I mean I am not opposed to any of those things, but I just think a jumbo Rooster and matching pots makes a more tasteful statement!

I realized today, as I looked around my yard at all my pots, that it might be time to be done.  John is having trouble supporting my habit and I thought about writing a book called Pot to see if I could help bring in some cash.  I figured if I offered a no refund policy, by the time people realized I was talking about large, clay pots, the money would be in my bank account or handed over to some cashier in exchange for more pots.  So far, I have come up with the opening couple of lines…remember, it is supposed to draw you into the story…One Pot, Two Pot, Red Pot, Blue Pot, if I bring home one more pot, you might hear a gunshot.  It may need a little work, but I have all the time in the world since I gave up shopping for pots momentarily.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Ha ha, this is hilarious! I love your pots. I have a vacant patch of dirt in front of my townhome. The other neighbors plant flowers IN THE GROUND which is way beyond my skills. I'm considering a pot of fake flowers... ha ha

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Joanne, I have to laugh because, at age three, Vern is now lifting his leg all the time :) You would be surprised at how little room there is with three adults and two dogs. We removed the table to make it easier.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yes, but a Potted Palm would be a great place to lift a leg  :)  

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Joanne, I bet they don't have two large Doodles running around and watching for geese. They knock their water dish over on every trip :)

Karen, I am sorry you had a tough winter. It did seem rather long this year. I know you will get that hand fixed up because you love it so much. I could really use that hand when I drive :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie, rest assured that The Hand is fine. It was a tough winter here in Chi Town, we are all a little worse for the wear. My linden lost some of its bark, my knees lost some of their cartilage, and The Hand lost the tip of its middle finger. But it didn't go far and will be glued back on. :-) 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Where I live ( another pontoon village) many folks do have potted Palm plants on the decks of the boats. It actually looks nice.  Hint Hint.  

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sheri, Good question. We usually put our pots in the garage over the winter. I will try and update soon!! Home Goods has wonderful pots.

Joanne, Thanks! Rooster dung...just what I need in my already sad front yard :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Deanna. My way is very easy and no mess :)

Marnie, You sound like my kids :) LOL

Jane, My St. Francis is awesome. My kids are dumb about cool stuff :)

Karen, I can't help but wondering what happened to the hand :)

F, I am way ahead of you. I put pots in pots and bricks in pots...anything to use less dirt :) Ok, I am writing my plant tips down and telling John.

Marnie, LOL to your entire comment. My St. Francis is perfectly behaved at night :) I did not hear you actually say John may be right. Nope....I was holding my ears and humming.

Jane,  My St. Francis statue shows how great he is with the animals.  He is looking down at the butterfly he is so gently holding :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Carol. We put some evergreens in a few tonight and I realized I need ONE more pot :)

Jennifer, I will take an after photo just for you :) Give me a few more weeks.

Donna, LOL...I have some secrets :)

Joanne, LOL...I actually need one more :)

Lonnie, I am glad I inspired someone :) LOL Plus, I like to know someone else likes pots :)

Lori, Thanks for the tip. I love easy, cheap plants :) LOL

Thanks, Joanna. I will definitely update!!

[Carol and Banjo]

Laurie....I'm happy to hear you've gone to Pot.......I love all of your choices!!!!    Can't wait to see the "finished" pots....and abloom!