Backyard Visitors

August is a prime month for grandchildren visiting their grandparents and contractor’s cramming in their worksite jobs.  Both have been the case in my neighborhood this past week, making for busy days in the backyard.

Kendra and Brook are in town from South Dakota to see Grandparents Diane & John and Great Aunt Donna.  Holly is approaching 3 years old and has seen these young girls when they visit during the winter holiday and again for their summer vacation.  Having seven months go by does not impede Holly’s memory of them.  Shortly after the car pulled in the driveway, Kendra & Brook were running directly to Holly standing at the fence!  Holly grabbed the cherished soccer ball and her heavenly week had begun.   Kendra stays as long as she can, usually being called to the house by her parents for either supper, bathtime or bedtime.  If she gets frustrated with Holly’s obsession with playing tug or chase, she has Helen to hold and love up.  It’s nice to have options!

My neighbor on the west side, Dave, is having a new garage built.  The escavation team, Chad (father) & Trip (son), appeared on Monday morning and have provided both Holly and I plenty of entertainment the past few days.  Chad was on the phone with the general manager and contractor’s at length and often in attempts to get clarification on the job.  Meanwhile, Trip found his way over to the fenceline where Holly was hanging out, ball in mouth.  It was the start of a match made in heaven.  On day three, while Dad Chad was moving and spreading dirt with the skidster, Trip was in my yard rolling in the grass with Holly, playing tug and/or burying his head from the quick licking tongue.   This young man was very serious and speaking like a business man on Monday morning and somehow transformed himself into a smiling, playful young adult playing with a whacky golden retriever in my yard.   Chad & Trip’s role in the garage process is done (although I have said good bye to them three times and they keep coming back to do more for the concrete layers).  Holly has a new set of young men now to taunt and transform from laborer to ball tosser/ear scratcher, though the concrete layers may be a harder sell (no pun intended!).  And if not Holly, there is always Helen to help soften the sell.  There is more than one team at work, and more than one goal in mind!  I like Holly’s odds of reaching hers first!