Caryn Sullivan has been here for a couple days this week. Here is her blog post written on June 13.
Last summer I invited my friend Kelly to join me for a getaway to Half Moon Trail. Kelly is always up for an adventure, so I expected an unequivocal “yes” response.
Instead, she countered with “Can we bring the boys?”
The boys (my Chuck and her Cooper) are cousins. They have deep brown eyes and soft white hair. They love their play dates more than anything (except, perhaps, their mamas).
They romp and run, pant and nibble each other’s ears for hours.
Then they collapse into exhaustion-induced naps.
Our boys were born in the same litter two years ago. They are English Golden Retrievers who think they have green thumbs.
They dig. And they dig. Often, my backyard looks like a combat zone.
So when Kelly asked if we could bring the boys, I quickly explained the resort has a “no pets” policy. You’ll understand when we get there, I told her.
When we drove into the resort, Kelly understood immediately. The grass is lush and well manicured. The gardens are free of weeds and full of colorful displays of assorted annuals and perennials. The thought of our boys set loose in the expansive green grass, the ferns and the flowers was almost criminal.
A couple of weeks ago Kelly and I were preparing for our daughters’ graduation parties, to be held in our backyards. She texted me, “Cooper just destroyed a flat of impatiens.” I replied, “I counted 15 holes in my backyard.”
Graduation parties behind us, I made a quick trip to my home away from home. Yesterday, I watched the gardeners toil for hours. They painstakingly groomed and tended the flowerbeds. It was a labor of love that will continue throughout the season.
From my perch on the balcony above the lodge, I had a good chuckle this morning. Just below the bird feeders, the ladies with green thumbs had planted impatiens along with begonias, miniature evergreens and hostas.
Good thing the boys are safe at home!
