Kacti Update

It has been a year since I spoke much about my cactus collection. GG, the Las Vegas Cockapoo, has been taking up most of the web time. Since we moved out of the house and into a loft, much has changed to my little prickly friends.

Remember these guys? These are some of the babies that I raised from seedlings using seeds from my fishhook cactus. They are mostly around an inch tall now.

Mr. Peanut Cactus was doing great until I recently transplanted him. Now, we will just have to see what happens. So far, so good.

I'm very happy with this guy. He has grown in several different places.

Frustrated is the key word with my adenium. I have tried and tried to get rid of the bugs on this guy. His leaves still grow back all wrong.

Remember this fella called Mr. Gray Ghost? I cut his top off to try to attach another cactus on top and the other cactus died. Anyway, I stuck it in a corner and, lo and behold (good words for the Christmas season), he began growing a new one of himself.

We three old men cacti of orient not. ... Get it?

This guy is very persnickity. He seems to do best if I just leave him alone. Know anyone like that?

Seriously, this cereus is my tallest specimen from the cactus garden I purchased back in 2006.

Fake saguaro doin' fine.

Here's an old guy. I've had him since 1991 and he has since been split into several plants.

My Old Man of the Andes is undecided on whether or not he wants to live. He didn't like where I put him last summer and I believe he might have the scales disease.

Mr. Pine Cone Cactus is doing fine although he hasn't grown too much.


I cut off an arm of my Argentine Pipe Cactus that lived in my backyard before I moved. Planted it in a pot and it started to grow. I was thrilled that it was even alive and about a month ago, I noticed it had started growing a baby!

This is my very oldest cactus. It must be very hardy! I got it as a 1.5 inch in diameter youngster in 1989.

Another old one. This one was purchased in 1991. He bloomed along with the one above a couple of years ago but not since then.

This guy is not thriving but he is alive. Maybe it's the pot.

Mr. Birthday Cake Cactus isn't blooming either. In fact, none of them are. They are probably not getting enough light since I have them on my north facing balcony. The south facing balcony is too hot and there isn't any room inside facing the south.

Gasteria are very slow growing.

This gasteria is a little faster growing than the one above.

The twins are bursting at the seems now. Happy! Happy! Happy!

My Feather Cactus gave me some really nice blooms when I lived in the house where my plants had a south facing window home. Now, no blooms.

This one is making all kinds of babies all over it. I still don't really know what it is or what it will look like in maturity but it is fun to watch it. I just transplanted it. I hope it likes its new home.

Mr. Bishop's Cap gave me one flower about two years ago. Now, it teases me with flower starts.

This one is doing fine but it hasn't changed much. Just a little bigger.

This one is supposed to be fat ... I think. Either that, or he is beginning to turn columnar. Some cacti do that but, personally, I think he may be in trouble. Just waiting.


My Golden Ball Cacti are fine. The top one was about the size of the second one when I got it in the cactus garden of 2006. They naturally lean toward the sun when maturing.

This guy is very slow growing. Watching him is kind of like watching paint dry.

I don't know why but I just like this guy. I still don't know what he is. Since I brought him in from outside, as I did all of them about a month ago, he has grown a bit.

Mr., er, Ms. Powder Puff Cactus has also not bloomed. In fact, she hasn't done much of anything. I'm a little worried.

My other curiosity plant is doing pretty good. It hasn't grown much but it looks a lot healthier than it did when it went through that over-watering phase.

If you missed some cacti that you remember from before, there is only one that I still have that isn't pictured. It is my aloe plant. It is still very healthy and has its own place on the main level.

A Day in GG's Life

Hi, me again. GG. I just thought you might like to know what I do all day.

Well, it starts out with a patrol of the neighborhood. First, I ask Mom or Dad to take me for a walk. We go out to the courtyard and I do a lot of sniffing. You know, I have to read my pee mail. I take care of, ... well, you know. Then we go back in. Mom or Dad opens the back balcony door and I go out and look over the backyard. I have a really big back yard.

Next, I patrol my house. I run around and check out the front window, too. Did you know that I just got a new neighbor? Yeah. A beagle. We haven't met yet but I've announced that I was here and for the little poopsqueak to remember that I was here first.

Downstairs has to be patrolled, too. I check out to see if I left any of my toys down there from yesterday. By the way, where did I put my ball. Oh yeah, Mom put it in my ball bowl on the counter. Time to ask for my ball. I'll wait as long as I have to. I'll stare at her until she breaks.

Got it! Wanna play?

Here. I'll throw it to you. Sometimes I throw it to myself. I'm very talented. I shoulda been a baseball player.

Come on! Throw it back. Or roll it to me. I like to play a game of roll the ball to me, to you, to me, to you ... well, you get the idea.

Mom and Dad put my fence out on the balcony. Remember when I lost my ball and I think I might have hid it on the balcony? Well, I can hide it on the balcony now and not lose it ... but that's not nearly as much fun.

After playing and sleeping all day, Mom and Dad eat. Therefore, ... I eat too. I make sure. I'm just so cute I get a lot of what I want, sort of. But, I try not to let on that I know that. I am always sure to say please and thank you. They seem to like that.

At the end of the day, I play a little with one toy or another. Usually, it's Yellow Man but this particular day, I played a little with White Man. Sometimes I play with Orange Man but not so much any more. Then I get my DB. (I know that means dog biscuit.) I play in the bathroom while Mom and Dad get in water. Then I fall asleep in my bed that Mom and Dad and I got on the day that I adopted them.

GG's First Hike - 11/1/10

Today, I, GG the Las Vegas Cockapoo, did my first hike. Well, actually it was the second hike but the first time I didn't have my hiking boots so it wasn't actually a hike. But, today, I had my hiking boots. I have to get used to them and break them in but they did all right. No blisters but it did seem to be rubbing on one of my boney feet. I gave Mom a hard time anyway.

I didn't really want to go hiking. The boots were cramping my style a bit. Every time I got a chance, I would just sit down. Mom would pull me up then I would sit again as soon as she gave me half a chance. When I saw a parking lot with some cars and people, she didn't have to pull me anymore ... until we had taken a snack and water break and began to move on. Then, I really gave her a hard time ... until I saw this dog running behind a guy that was running in front. Then, I was okay. Finally, I knew that what Mom was making me do was normal.

I'm gonna sleep well tonight.

A Ball Story

Okay, here's what happened. Mom and Dad lost my ball ... okay, okay, I lost my ball. Well, the first time, I hid my ball and Mom and Dad couldn't find it. Then one day, I went and got it and they had no idea where I got it from. So ... I thought I would try that again. Well, it's gone. I think I may have tried to hide it on the balcony. Anyway, Mom took out the back-up ball. I knew it was different but, hey, it was a ball.

I like to hide my ball under my bed then try to find it. This requires pulling the bed over the ball. I grab it by my teeth and pull. Most of the time, this is hard work. The bed just pushes the ball. It is difficult to get the bed to go over on top of the ball. So ... sometimes the bed ends up in the middle of the living room. This particular time, as seen above, I wasn't watching where I was going. I was trying to pull the bed between the sofa and the coffee table. I tried and tried but I guess I wasn't strong enough. I even went around and tried to push my bed through. I kind of forgot about the ball for a while.

I gave up. Left the bed there, took my ball and laid down. Many times I'll use my ball as a pillow. Mom was taking pictures and the flash was really annoying me so I decided to stop being cute.

Hmmm. It was futile. I'm just cute. Can't help it.


My Mom says I look so innocent when I'm asleep.

One Bite - 5/2/10

Hi. GG, the Las Vegas Cockapoo, here. I just wanted to tell you about my food system. You see, I'm not big on eating on command ... unless it involves potato chips or chicken. So, when Mom puts my dog food in my bowl, I rarely eat it right away.

When I was growing up, Mom used to put my dish on the counter in the late afternoon if I had not eaten all of it. I think she didn't like me going outside through my doggy door in the middle of the night. I'm not afraid of the dark but I think she is, or something. She shouldn't be ... I would protect her ... I know I would.

Anyway, as I was saying, she used to take away my food ... oh yeah, I said that. Anyway, so I started a redistribution plan. I developed this system whereas I took pieces of my food out of my bowl and put them in various places throughout the house. Usually, I lay them here and there on the floor or in my bed or even in the bathroom ... just in case I find them and realize I'm hungry. Then I eat them ... sometimes days later. This way, a midnight snack is not out of the question.

Well, as you can see in the picture above, I can be quite a creative canine. I laid this bite of food on the top of the back of the sofa. You see, this is creative because I'm not even allowed on the sofa when Mom or Dad isn't on the sofa. So, I had to think of this at night when they were asleep. That way, they never knew I had gotten up on the sofa to put it there. Then a few nights later, I remembered where it was and I got up there and ate it. I just crack me up!

GG's Easter Vacation

With the wind under my ears, we were off! Aw, Dad, com'on. You don't need a soda! Let's get this show on the road! ... As long as we aren't going to the vet ... or the groomer's ... or anywhere else that requires a separation policy. Hey, so far, so good. I've never seen this road before. What's up? Probably, it's not the vet. I'm good. As long as these boxes don't come crashing down on me when Dad puts on the brakes, I'm good. Are those potato chips for me? Pardon me, sir. Might I have a potato chip? Please, please, please. Okay... I'll just lay down. But, I'm not taking my eyes off these boxes.

Hmm! That sign. I think Mom said Calee- fournya state line. Wow! That's pretty far to go for a walk. We couldn't be going to the vet. Or, the groomer. I'm really sleepy but I'm not taking my eyes off these boxes. No way. Hey, we're slowing down. A turn! Where are we? No, it's not the vet. Or, the groomer. Mom, why are you asking me to "get busy" in this dirt? Grass, Mom, I need grass!



I remember this pen! It's been a long time but I remember it. I used to climb up the sides of it. Now, I just stay inside it just to humor Mom and Dad. I could probably leap out of here with one push of the old paws. Thanks, Mom. My ball! You brought it! This is fun! I think the ball should go under all of these blankets. The dirt is an added pleasure. Dirt and blankets everywhere! Oops, the ball is in the water. How did that happen? Fun, fun, fun!

What? ... I was just playing with my ball, Mom. You gave it to me to play with, didn't you? I love my ball. How about some food? Thanks. I'll put one little piece of food here on the bed. Three here in the towel. Two here in the blanket. Oh, and a couple here in the corner of the pen. Now. I'll hunt for them and eat them.

All fun things come to an end some time. I went for a walk with Dad and when I came back there was this new blanket under my pen and it didn't scratch up very easy. So much for playing "hide the ball in the blankets." All I have to do now is chase the shade. Man! It sure is hot in the sun. That shady spot is getting smaller and smaller. Mom keeps moving my pen. That food sure smells good. I wonder what else we will do.

These are a few pictures of things I saw on my walk with Dad. There were so many things to see at my eye level. Flowers and bugs and stuff.

A cactus flower and bee.







A yellow flower and little butterfly.







Twin other yellow flowers.







A strange bird.







A strange two-headed bug.







A pretty white flower.







And, a little purple ball.








Then, we went for a drive. I was so glad to get back in the car. It was hot in my pen.

Mom and Dad kept stopping to go out and look at things. Dad would always come back to the car first and he would start the car. When he started the car, cold air would begin blowing.

I have no idea what they were looking for. Maybe they lost something.

Finally, we stopped at someone's house. There were no dogs there. Come to think of it, there weren't enough walls for a dog to be there.

We went back to the place where my pen was. Mom and Dad ate more good-smelling food. Then we all got into the car. "This was a highlight," I thought. We all went to sleep. Then, I woke up and my whole body was shaking and I wasn't even scratching! Mom beckoned me to her arms and I was so glad she was awake. I shook and shook and shook. I could tell that Mom was doing her best to comfort me but it wasn't until Dad woke up and allowed me to climb in between them that I got much relief. Boy, oh, boy, it was cold!

Finally, it was morning! Phew! What a night! We packed up the car after Dad took another nice long dip in the hot springs and went home. I slept in my own bed the rest of the day. The End.