Sister's Choice Quilts

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Take a Walk With Ozzie and I

Would you like to take a walk with Ozzie and I, through the neighborhood?  Come on, it's a great day, let's go.

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This is Ozzie in his new lead.  Ozzie is a bad walker.  He likes to pull and tug and choke himself half to death when he is on a normal collar style leash.  This little invention is called Gentle Lead, and makes it possible for me to actually walk Ozzie, instead of being pulled, knocked down and dragged down the sidewalk behind him.  I am loving it.  Ozzie?  Not so much, but he is getting used to it.  The principle is that the leash is attached to the dog's muzzle, so if he dashes ahead of you (who are holding the other end of the leash), his head gets pulled backwards in an uncomfortable manner.  Hence, the dog tends not to pull ahead, but rather walk along side you.  Amazingly, this works like a charm.

So, off we go, down my street for a lovely early Spring walk.

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These trees are at the entrance to my street.  The flowering plum trees are all at the height of their glory right now.  Just look at this.

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I wish you could smell these blossoms with us.

This is the home stretch, a lovely boulevard with a creek running along side it.  You should hear the frogs croaking in that creek!  That weird patch of brown grass?  The landscapers are trying to eradicate some sort of invasive grass, and have put weed killer on patches of it.

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Let's get up close to one of those blossoming plum trees.

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Here we are, back at home.  We've got a couple of those trees in our front yard too.

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Thanks for coming with us! 

Oh, don't hate me.  I know this is like rubbing salt in a wound for all you poor snow bound people.  Just one more thing….

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It's sandal weather.

102 responses to “Take a Walk With Ozzie and I”

  1. Unbelievable! It was like a breath of fresh air. Spring does actually come. Our temps are well below zero with several feet of snow. I was shocked to know that there are flowers somewhere in the USA right now!!! It was good to come out of the igloo.

  2. Unbelievable! It was like a breath of fresh air. Spring does actually come. Our temps are well below zero with several feet of snow. I was shocked to know that there are flowers somewhere in the USA right now!!! It was good to come out of the igloo.

  3. Oh – while looking out at the white world here, your pictures of beautful flowering tree blossoms bring hope, a wonderful reminder of things to come here soon. But the sandles – that was mean!!!

  4. Oh – while looking out at the white world here, your pictures of beautful flowering tree blossoms bring hope, a wonderful reminder of things to come here soon. But the sandles – that was mean!!!

  5. Oh, I miss sandals and painted tootsies! Thanks for the reminder that Spring IS on its way back. St. Louis doesn’t look anything like your pics right now.

  6. Oh, I miss sandals and painted tootsies! Thanks for the reminder that Spring IS on its way back. St. Louis doesn’t look anything like your pics right now.

  7. I’ve seen people with those leads for their dogs and wondered how they worked.
    We too will have green grass and flowers, spring will come we just have to wait another 4 1/2 months or so. Your pictures are beautiful and a great reminder of what will come 🙂

  8. I’ve seen people with those leads for their dogs and wondered how they worked.
    We too will have green grass and flowers, spring will come we just have to wait another 4 1/2 months or so. Your pictures are beautiful and a great reminder of what will come 🙂

  11. My granny would have said, “you’ve got some meanness in ya!”. ;). That’s fine. Brag about your spring… It’ll be spring here in Lexington in march! And absolutely gorgeous!!! And everyone will be bragging about how beautiful it is here in the spring while popping pills for their allergies… I just have to wait. I just have to wait…. Is it march yet???? 😀

  12. My granny would have said, “you’ve got some meanness in ya!”. ;). That’s fine. Brag about your spring… It’ll be spring here in Lexington in march! And absolutely gorgeous!!! And everyone will be bragging about how beautiful it is here in the spring while popping pills for their allergies… I just have to wait. I just have to wait…. Is it march yet???? 😀

  15. What lovely surroundings! Our flowering plum is still bare but there is a heavy frost this morning. I saw my first pair of Eastern Bluebirds yesterday so they think spring is coming.
    Interesting leash.
    Thanks for the hope-inspiring pictures!
    Hugs!

  16. What lovely surroundings! Our flowering plum is still bare but there is a heavy frost this morning. I saw my first pair of Eastern Bluebirds yesterday so they think spring is coming.
    Interesting leash.
    Thanks for the hope-inspiring pictures!
    Hugs!

  17. Wow! It looks like Spring already in your neighborhood. It’ll be months before I see anything like that! Sandal weather?? Again, I’ll be in Ugg Boots until May!! 🙂 So nice that you can walk Ozzie now and enjoy such a beautiful day. I won’t walk Sarge until the snow clears out. Trust me, we both could use a good walk!!

  18. Wow! It looks like Spring already in your neighborhood. It’ll be months before I see anything like that! Sandal weather?? Again, I’ll be in Ugg Boots until May!! 🙂 So nice that you can walk Ozzie now and enjoy such a beautiful day. I won’t walk Sarge until the snow clears out. Trust me, we both could use a good walk!!

  19. OHHH! We got 3″ of wet heavy snow overnight and the temperature is dropping as I write! We don’t really see spring-flowering trees till April, the beginning of May! I’m coming to your house!

  20. OHHH! We got 3″ of wet heavy snow overnight and the temperature is dropping as I write! We don’t really see spring-flowering trees till April, the beginning of May! I’m coming to your house!

  23. Is that house still for sale because I want to be there! Gorgeous, all of it…including the sandals weather! Thanks for the respite…we might be up to 40 degrees by the weekend and it might melt some of our drifts of snow…might. Ozzie is so cute.

  24. Is that house still for sale because I want to be there! Gorgeous, all of it…including the sandals weather! Thanks for the respite…we might be up to 40 degrees by the weekend and it might melt some of our drifts of snow…might. Ozzie is so cute.

  25. That is so hard to believe. I am sitting here and it is pouring the snow. And freezing. Beautiful photos. thanks for sharing.

  26. That is so hard to believe. I am sitting here and it is pouring the snow. And freezing. Beautiful photos. thanks for sharing.

  27. Oh my gosh, there is hope of Spring to come! I have just come in from shoveling 4 more inches of snow and trying to find new places to put it besides the ever increasing snow banks. I just wanted to catch my breath before heading back out when I saw your pictures, the green grass and flowering plum blossoms,so beautiful! I should hate you, but thanks so much for sharing. Lol

  28. Oh my gosh, there is hope of Spring to come! I have just come in from shoveling 4 more inches of snow and trying to find new places to put it besides the ever increasing snow banks. I just wanted to catch my breath before heading back out when I saw your pictures, the green grass and flowering plum blossoms,so beautiful! I should hate you, but thanks so much for sharing. Lol

  29. Beautiful! I love the trees 🙂 It’s not that nice in my part of Florida yet! I just got back from walking Copper and it’s cold!! Your dog is cute!! Thanks for sharing some Spring with us 🙂 Enjoy!!

  30. Beautiful! I love the trees 🙂 It’s not that nice in my part of Florida yet! I just got back from walking Copper and it’s cold!! Your dog is cute!! Thanks for sharing some Spring with us 🙂 Enjoy!!

  33. It’s not the flowering trees and green grass that makes me jealous – it’s those pretty red toenails in those sandals – my feet are so ready for spring!!!!

  34. It’s not the flowering trees and green grass that makes me jealous – it’s those pretty red toenails in those sandals – my feet are so ready for spring!!!!

  35. Ouch!! That salt stings LOL! We have 14 foot snowbanks and you’re wearing sandals and smelling blossoms! I’ll be right there..make up the spare bed LOL!

  36. Ouch!! That salt stings LOL! We have 14 foot snowbanks and you’re wearing sandals and smelling blossoms! I’ll be right there..make up the spare bed LOL!

  39. We’re getting ready for another round of snow here in north Texas. Oh my! Crazy!
    I’m glad the gentle lead is working for Ozzie. It’s no fun playing tug-of-war with a dog when we just want a nice, easy walk!

  40. We’re getting ready for another round of snow here in north Texas. Oh my! Crazy!
    I’m glad the gentle lead is working for Ozzie. It’s no fun playing tug-of-war with a dog when we just want a nice, easy walk!

  43. Here in Wyoming, I got a pedicure last week myself. But, as I left the shop I wore my flip-flops and dodged snow on the sidewalk all the way to my car! As for walking dogs–they head out their flap and right back inside as soon as they finish in single digit temps! Thanks for sharing–we’ll have some blossoms and leaves by late May!

  44. Here in Wyoming, I got a pedicure last week myself. But, as I left the shop I wore my flip-flops and dodged snow on the sidewalk all the way to my car! As for walking dogs–they head out their flap and right back inside as soon as they finish in single digit temps! Thanks for sharing–we’ll have some blossoms and leaves by late May!

  45. That’s just plain mean! It’s -4 here now, with snow still on the ground, but we’re hoping for temps around 40 by the weekend. Will be glad when spring arrives in a couple of months.

  46. That’s just plain mean! It’s -4 here now, with snow still on the ground, but we’re hoping for temps around 40 by the weekend. Will be glad when spring arrives in a couple of months.

  51. You and Ozzie are so fortunate! It was good to see green grass and flowering trees 🙂 I can’t even imagine wearing sandals right now … my feet are freezing!
    Makes me want to paint my toenails and get ready for Spring 🙂
    Hugs,
    Donna

  52. You and Ozzie are so fortunate! It was good to see green grass and flowering trees 🙂 I can’t even imagine wearing sandals right now … my feet are freezing!
    Makes me want to paint my toenails and get ready for Spring 🙂
    Hugs,
    Donna

  59. Why do I live in NH? This is just about the most depressing and wonderful walk I have “been” on. Our neighborhood will look like this at the end of May. Not sure I can wait that long!

  60. Why do I live in NH? This is just about the most depressing and wonderful walk I have “been” on. Our neighborhood will look like this at the end of May. Not sure I can wait that long!

  61. I’m not that far away from you and we have no trees blooming! Good thing as I’m getting ready to go out of town on a retreat and when the almonds are blooming my allergies act up.
    I got Maggie a harness for two reasons. One, like Ozzie, she pulls and drags and it has helped. The other is so I can hook her into the seat belt leash we have so she can sit in the back seat safely. If it was hooked to just her collar and I had to break fast or was in an accident she would more than likely break her neck.

  62. I’m not that far away from you and we have no trees blooming! Good thing as I’m getting ready to go out of town on a retreat and when the almonds are blooming my allergies act up.
    I got Maggie a harness for two reasons. One, like Ozzie, she pulls and drags and it has helped. The other is so I can hook her into the seat belt leash we have so she can sit in the back seat safely. If it was hooked to just her collar and I had to break fast or was in an accident she would more than likely break her neck.

  63. Thanks for the hopeful pictures, we had 4 inches of snow, but still warm at 28. We will look like your pictures in April and I will love it. Thanks for posting!

  64. Thanks for the hopeful pictures, we had 4 inches of snow, but still warm at 28. We will look like your pictures in April and I will love it. Thanks for posting!

  65. Lovely photos, Nicole. I think our cherry trees should be flowering soon as I can see buds on the trees. Snowdrops are blooming and daffodils are budding so it can’t be long now until spring. I can hardly wait.

  66. Lovely photos, Nicole. I think our cherry trees should be flowering soon as I can see buds on the trees. Snowdrops are blooming and daffodils are budding so it can’t be long now until spring. I can hardly wait.

  69. I need one of those leashes for one of my dogs! My lab is a GREAT ‘walker’, but the older ‘mutt’ is terrible! He is a ‘leader’ and will NOT walk beside you!

  70. I need one of those leashes for one of my dogs! My lab is a GREAT ‘walker’, but the older ‘mutt’ is terrible! He is a ‘leader’ and will NOT walk beside you!

  71. Beautiful, I spied a few crocus bulbs poking out of the dirt this morning, but it was also trying to snow, so no open sandals here in the NW yet! Pretty pedi.

  72. Beautiful, I spied a few crocus bulbs poking out of the dirt this morning, but it was also trying to snow, so no open sandals here in the NW yet! Pretty pedi.

  73. HA HA Nicole! We Calif girls are spoiled, no? Here in southern Calif it is a beautiful 68 degrees…. even warmer by the end of the week. So glad that Ozzie can walk beside you now with his special leash.

  74. HA HA Nicole! We Calif girls are spoiled, no? Here in southern Calif it is a beautiful 68 degrees…. even warmer by the end of the week. So glad that Ozzie can walk beside you now with his special leash.

  75. Brat! You had to show this on the coldest day that we’ve had, didn’t you? I know, we choose to live here in the midwest but I am envious that you get to walk Ozzie. Can’t wait to start walking Tillie in the spring too. Glad you enjoyed it and let us keep living through your’s and Ozzie’s walks.

  76. Brat! You had to show this on the coldest day that we’ve had, didn’t you? I know, we choose to live here in the midwest but I am envious that you get to walk Ozzie. Can’t wait to start walking Tillie in the spring too. Glad you enjoyed it and let us keep living through your’s and Ozzie’s walks.

  77. Oh, you are so cruel to punish us with your gorgeous weather while we are freezing our butts off! Just kidding, of course. I would love to be there to take a walk with you and Ozzie. It’s simply gorgeous there right now. Enjoy it!

  78. Oh, you are so cruel to punish us with your gorgeous weather while we are freezing our butts off! Just kidding, of course. I would love to be there to take a walk with you and Ozzie. It’s simply gorgeous there right now. Enjoy it!

  79. Your pictures are a tantalizing taste of what is to come here sooner than later I hope. We are getting a winter storm here tonight and tomorrow, then it will be 55 by the weekend. That’s our normal for this time of the year. It’s certainly been a winter to stay in and quilt. I’ve enjoyed reading back and forth between your blog and Thelma’s. It’s inspiration for sure!!
    Now shouldn’t you be doing something quilty after your stroll???… LOL!

  80. Your pictures are a tantalizing taste of what is to come here sooner than later I hope. We are getting a winter storm here tonight and tomorrow, then it will be 55 by the weekend. That’s our normal for this time of the year. It’s certainly been a winter to stay in and quilt. I’ve enjoyed reading back and forth between your blog and Thelma’s. It’s inspiration for sure!!
    Now shouldn’t you be doing something quilty after your stroll???… LOL!

  81. I mean this in the nicest way – I hate you! It has been a lovely sunny day here in the Uk but it has been cold and yesterday was so windy! I am still wearing thick tights and boots.
    We use one of these ‘gentle leads’ on Meg. If we didn’t there would be no way I could walk her as she is so strong and pulls so much, it does work like a charm.

  82. I mean this in the nicest way – I hate you! It has been a lovely sunny day here in the Uk but it has been cold and yesterday was so windy! I am still wearing thick tights and boots.
    We use one of these ‘gentle leads’ on Meg. If we didn’t there would be no way I could walk her as she is so strong and pulls so much, it does work like a charm.

  87. I love the smell of plum trees! And they are beautiful. We arrived in Tucson yesterday. We are setting up and getting acquainted with the campground and area. Tomorrow I am getting a pedicure! Yup, I’m in sandals, too!

  88. I love the smell of plum trees! And they are beautiful. We arrived in Tucson yesterday. We are setting up and getting acquainted with the campground and area. Tomorrow I am getting a pedicure! Yup, I’m in sandals, too!

  91. The pictures are terrific! We are buried under lots of snow and very cold temps up here in Canada but two weeks from today, we’ll be in southern California and I’m so ready for sandal weather! We have the Gentle Leader harnesses for our two beagles; they were recommended by the trainer and although I don’t think the dogs care for them it made a tremendous difference in being able to walk them (almost) sanely. Sorry, Ozzie, but it’s for your own good!

  92. The pictures are terrific! We are buried under lots of snow and very cold temps up here in Canada but two weeks from today, we’ll be in southern California and I’m so ready for sandal weather! We have the Gentle Leader harnesses for our two beagles; they were recommended by the trainer and although I don’t think the dogs care for them it made a tremendous difference in being able to walk them (almost) sanely. Sorry, Ozzie, but it’s for your own good!

  93. Am enjoying 68 degrees and sunshine here in Scottsdale. Love your flowering cherry trees… I miss them and the Bradford pear and dogwood flowering trees that I used to have in the Midwest,,, but not enough to go back and live there!!

  94. Am enjoying 68 degrees and sunshine here in Scottsdale. Love your flowering cherry trees… I miss them and the Bradford pear and dogwood flowering trees that I used to have in the Midwest,,, but not enough to go back and live there!!

  95. Enjoy that sunshine! And the need for pedicures!
    Wish I had known about those leashes when I had two big 80 lb dogs to walk 10 years ago…..they always pulled, and my arms felt like rubber by the end of each walk! But I loved them so much, I just kept on!
    Beautiful pics….thank you!

  96. Enjoy that sunshine! And the need for pedicures!
    Wish I had known about those leashes when I had two big 80 lb dogs to walk 10 years ago…..they always pulled, and my arms felt like rubber by the end of each walk! But I loved them so much, I just kept on!
    Beautiful pics….thank you!

  97. Oh, that’s just wrong! I live in Florida, and I haven’t been warm in months. I enjoyed the pictures — such a lovely neighborhood!

  98. Oh, that’s just wrong! I live in Florida, and I haven’t been warm in months. I enjoyed the pictures — such a lovely neighborhood!