View from Space

DG was on the roof this week-end starting up our swamp cooler when he took a few aerials of the backyard. I managed to take the time to crop myself out of this pic, rather than let the entire world see me in full sloth mode, in my pjs as lazy as I am, on the phone, climbing up and down the ladder, in flip flops, an accident waiting to happen.

Our backyard has become our oasis in the city. We didn't want to leave it all weekend. We pretty much hung outside on the patio with the dogs, drinking coffee reading the paper every day. We are babysitting Holly and Bruce's dog Ali while they are on vacation. We think she is an australian cattle shepherd/blue healer mix? Though I don't know much about those dogs so we are not sure. She has a great temperment, tons of energy, can easily jump 5 feet in the air, outrun a car, and thinks Gibson, who is 1/4 her size is her new boyfriend. In the beginning Tica was having a little trouble sharing her lady of the house status and has had a few jealous throw downs, but nothing major. All day yesterday, they were partners in crime trying to chase the squirrels out of the bird feeders. Ali is also as needy as Gibson, and wants to be a lap dog with the rest of them. As seen below, Ali is trying to get the coveted position on the couch next to me. I can't imagine having 3 children. How do you give love enough to all of them?