Spring Flowers

Our downstairs neighbor Eileen gave us this lovely bouquet to thank us for helping her get started with cycling. Over the past few weeks, we took her shopping for her first bike clothes, took her on a short bike ride, and Barry has installed some equipment on her bike and helped her fix a her first flat tire. It is our pleasure to do these things as we so enjoy sharing this activity that we love so much with new "converts", and she's so enthusiastic and interested that it makes our task easy and fun.

Overnight the daffodils opened up and smelled so sweet this morning!  Tulips and daffodils are two of my very favorite flowers, so I am delighted to have this pretty arrangement to enjoy for a few days.  

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

In my quest to save both money and the planet, I am starting to ride the Triangle Transit bus to work twice a week.  Since I already work at home once a week, this means I only have to drive twice a week (on the days I want to zip home a little more quickly for a bike ride or am meeting a friend for lunch).  Walking to and from the stops and riding the bus with its multiple stops makes for a slightly longer work day, but this time of year when days are getting longer, the impact isn't significant.  It's kind of nice not having to pay attention to traffic and arriving at my destination in a less stressed-out state of mind.

A 10-ride bus pass is $16, and we calculated that my driving trip to and from work takes about a gallon of gas per day. So when gas is over $3.20 per gallon, it costs more in gas for me to drive than to take the bus, not even including the savings in car maintenance.  And I'm lessening my carbon footprint at the same time -- a win-win. Additionally, walking to and from the bus stops each day adds to my daily exercise tally, always a plus!

Barry took a few photos on my second bus trip home this past week.  This stop is just a short walk from our apartment complex.

Leeds' First Birthday Party

Paisley, ever the popular girl, got an invitation to Leeds the chocolate lab's 1st birthday party on Sunday, held in a dog park at a nearby apartment complex.  As her owners, we got to tag along and enjoy the fun.  In addition to the other usual Meadowmont play group (Cayman the Viszla and Ruby the Boxer), a few other dogs that happened to be at the dog park that day got in on the action.  We had a perfect day for it with highs in the 70s.


There were two other Bostons there, one of whom (a small male) took a distinct liking to Paisley.  Poor Paisley was assaulted from every angle, and I'm sure had no idea what he was so interested in!  It was pretty humorous as Paisley is spayed, and the tiny male had been neutered, but something in his brain still told him that humping a cute female was a necessary thing to do.  Some of the photos Barry took were R-rated, so I have had to censor them to keep this blog family friendly!  :-)


Here are some photos and videos from the party.  A great time was had by all!

The dog park is quite nice.

Paisley (front) and her male suitor (rear)

Paisley (center) and the other two Bostons

Cayman, Paisley, male Boston, and other neighborhood dog

Male Boston on left, Paisley on right

Cayman, Leeds, and neighborhood dog

Dogs going for the ball

Warner, Matt, Rhian, doggies, and neighborhood folks

Doggies playing

Everyone gets in on the action

Louise and Warner (Leeds' owners) brought a doggie pinata filled with treats.  The birthday boy made short work of it!

More pinata action.  Paisley in back left - she got a few treats!

Cute doggie cake - peanut butter and pumpkin flavor!

Paisley and Ruby (who used to be the same size!) scanning for treats

Paisley with a "pupsicle"

Video of pinata at Leeds' birthday party - Paisley is the Boston that's usually right in there with the bigger dogs, of course:

Another video showing Paisley doing a lot of running - she's one of the fastest in any crowd!

Paisley ringing in Springtime

So, it's not quite officially the first day of spring, but since we've touched 80 degrees here already (though we're still up and down a lot - today was chilly and windy!) it's time to welcome springtime.

This fantastic action shot that Barry snapped was enhanced by the owner of the Boston Terrier Yahoo list I am on, "V", and I thought it was so cute I wanted to post it here for my friends and family to see.  It's currently gracing the home page of the Yahoo group for this month.  Paisley has no idea what a star she is!