Pete's Promise

Yes, this a new post about Perennial Pete. If you are new around here and want to read more about Pete then just type the word "Pete" into the search over on the right side of my blog and you can read all about our adventures.

A couple weeks ago, Ace rang his "go outside bell" before my alarm went off.

The Hubby elbowed me awake.

He mumbled "Ace is ringing the bell"

and I automatically stumble out of bed.

There are two reasons The Hubby can get away with this.

One, because I don't hear anything when I sleep so he has to elbow me

and two, because I'm too confused when I first wake up to argue "it's you're turn".

Anyhoo, I noticed the sun was just beginning to rise when I opened the front door for Ace.

The sky was a pretty hue of oranges.

I was appreciating this through my one open eye and with my forehead plastered to the little window next to my front door while I waited for Ace to do his doo-doo.

As he trotted back up the sidewalk towards me, I opened the front door

that's when I heard it.

It was a rooster crowing.

Ace walked past me while I shook the sleepiness out of my head.

I was sure I must be hearing things.

I waited a few minutes but didn't hear anything else.

Figuring I was just sleepy or maybe loosing my mind, I went back to bed.

A couple of days later the same scene played out.

Bell, elbow, muttering, stumbling, doo-doo, door, rooster crowing.

But this time that old rooster crowed a few more times.

And I smiled.

It's always a good thing when you realize you're not crazy.

So later that day as I was driving out of the neighborhood, I looked over at Pete's property.

And there it was, just as Pete had threatened or promised or prophesied.

A chicken coop.

And a bunch of chickens running around his yard.

It's not a giant chicken coop (like the neighbor said he planned to build) and his property is fenced so I don't see anything wrong with some chickens.

I will admit, I'm a little scared of chickens.

The Hubby and I have friends, who used to have chickens.

This couple told us some stories of their crazy and aggressive rooster.

They were even afraid of their rooster who would chase them around (even on the lawn mower).

So I blame Dave and Juliane for my fear of chickens. :)

So imagine my surprise the other day when I found chickens wandering down the road towards my house.

Thank goodness I was in my car.

With the twins.

Because I had to resist the urge to run them over.

I didn't want to scar the twins.

And make them afraid of chickens for the rest of their lives.

And besides, I'm kinda enjoying that rooster crowing every morning.

Perennial Pete strikes again

This weekend is "garage sale weekend" here in my neighborhood.

I've only held one garage sale in my life.

It went like this....

I took a couple days off work.

I spent hours and hours doing the following~

*cleaning my garage and covering things that were not for sale.

*hauling out tables, digging through boxes in storage.

*sorting through clothes, toys and miscellaneous junk.

*folding, more sorting, pricing.

Then stood there for 2 1/2 days while strangers did the following~

*they riffled through my stuff.

*they unfolded and tossed things all over.

*they insulting me by saying that 25 cents was too much for that dress my 6 month old only wore once.

*they relentlessly haggling with me on things that were priced for 50 cents and less.

In the end I made a hundred bucks.

Then I had to haul all the unsold stuff to Goodwill.

It was torture.

I figured if I had worked my normal nursing shifts I would have made multiple times the money I made at my sale. And I could have just donated all the stuff and saved myself a lot of work and grief.

That's what I did from then on.

So when the garage sales happen in my neighborhood I just go about my business and try to be patient.

Yes, patient. Because we all know what it's like when there are garage sales in your neighborhood. All these perfectly normal people come into your neighborhood and instantly turn into "bargain-hunting-neck-craning-not-paying-attention-to-where-they-are-driving-can't get-to-the-next-house-fast-enough" bad drivers.

That's what was happening this morning when I went out to take Ace for a walk. Not only were people driving distracted but they were parking all over the place.

And this is where Perennial Pete comes in. If you don't know Pete or need to refresh your memory you can go HERE HERE and HERE oh and HERE

As you remember...

Pete doesn't like people to park in front of his property.

Pete likes to yell at people when they park in front of his property.

Pete insists on calling the police when he doesn't feel people are listening to him when they are parked in front of his property.

And that was how it went for Pete today.

Some of my neighbors were NOT amused.

The police were NOT amused.

I heard all about it today and started to get a little angry at Pete.

Then this evening I was sitting on my front porch relaxing when I saw Pete opening his gate across the street.

He yelled over to me "Do you want to come over and see the peonies?" (I haven't talked to him since the last time I blogged about him).

And so I went over.

I introduced Ace to Pete.

We went on a mini tour of his property and looked at all the blooming tree peonies. He has them in every color you can imagine. Multiple shades of red, pink, white, purple, and yellow (I didn't know the color of yellow even existed).

We talked and he picked me a bouquet of lilacs and quizzed me some more on my knowledge of herbs which I was about 50/50 this time.

I think we can find something in common.

We both hate garage sales.

I've decided that I like Pete.

Perennial Pete "part four"

Sorry to leave you all hanging yesterday....but I'm having lots of computer issues.....the Internet service down here in "Pete's" basement....where I'm locked away....is not so good......

If you're just joining us for the first time please read this post first, then part two, and then part three and you'll be all caught up.....thanks!


So "Pete" began his tour. He lead us through some over grown paths to a couple different ponds with waterfalls and fountains. I could see that they were once very beautiful but they definitely needed some attention.

He continued to quiz me on plant names which sometimes I knew but most times I didn't. Lori and I asked lots of questions and he seemed pleased to share his knowledge.

There was a point where he lead us around the back of his house. Lori and I both felt a little uneasy (she confirmed later)....but he only wanted to show us his shade gardens filled with so many different Hosta varieties that I lost track....he also had some beautiful Japanese Woodland Peonies that I had never seen before. This is also when he compassionately put his old dog in the house....he had been wheezing behind us and trying to keep up but was struggling.....I could see how much "Pete" loved that dog.

"Perennial Pete test part three" began when he asked if I "cooked". He broke off a piece of plant and told me to smell it. Thank goodness it was an easy one...."Thyme!" I said and he got a big smile on his face.....I seemed to pass onto the next level of acceptance to "Pete" because this is the point where he began to grab my hand to show me things with even more excitement. And this is where I tell you another one of my "quirky personality traits".... I don't like to be touched....pretty much everyone that knows me figures that out....but I found it kinda sweet that he was so excited to show me the next flower or garden or whatever....

He lead us to a couple more ponds with hand made bridges, waterfalls and loaded with big Koi....and then he stopped and broke off another plant leaf..."chew on this one"....he handed a piece to Lori too. I hesitated for a moment....I have no idea what "Pete" is feeding me....he could poison me for all I know....bury us in his backyard....or put me in the compost pile, use me as a fertilizer....or lock us in the shed....or....Oh what the heck!! I popped the leaf in my mouth and chewed....horseradish!!! (yuck btw)....and he smiled and we moved on.

"Pete" continued to "feed" (or test) me. I think I had a 50% average (not so good). He also had a large area of berries which he proudly had us sample and compare varieties.

He then lead us to the back of his property when he had an enormous vegetable garden. He talked about his soil that he composted himself. It was dark and fluffy and rich. Lori and I noticed that he sank to his ankles as he stepped into it. "you don't expect me to go in there do you?" I asked and we both looked at my flip flop clad feet...."Pete" smiles and says "Yes, I know you will. I knew you would when you ate my herbs back there"....then he turned around and lead the way. I kicked off my flip flops and stepped in....and it was actually very nice.

"Pete" ended up giving me some onions to take home. He did spend sometime trying to talk about the land development...he has his side of the story of course....and I can understand his frustrations....but I tried to steer the conversation away from all that.

Flowers and gardens are more fun to focus on....and I think maybe "Pete" and I could be friends. I have a lot to learn and he has a lot of knowledge.....and I'm not just talking about flowers and gardens here....

Perennial Pete "part three"

For those of you who don't know who "Perennial Pete" is, you should read schizophrenic gardening and Perennial Pete "part two" first....just so you know....

Yesterday, my BFF Lori announced just an hour before we were to leave that she was taking me across the street to "Perennial Pete's".

"No Way!" I said..."I'm not going over there!"

"Come on" she said..."'Pete's' outside, the gates is open, it will be good for you! Let's go make friends."

"Nope! Not interested. Not ready yet"....like I've told you before....if I can procrastinate on something...I will.

"It will give you something to blog about....." she teased in a sing-songie voice.

That made me reconsider....for about 2 seconds....."no thanks" was my reply.

"Then I'll drag you over there kicking and screaming!"



and so she did.....well, not really but almost.

I pouted....stuck out my bottom lip....and stomped my feet as we crossed the street.

"If he yells at me and makes me cry (I cry so easy, This IS a weakness of mine, as opposed to one of my "quirky personality traits"---I hate it!) then I'll.....I'll....(I was at a loss for a coming up with a punishment for her that would match my humiliation)....I'll...oh I don't even know what I'll do, but it will be big!" I lamely threatened.

So we walked thru the gate into his gardens. The first part is layed out like a nursery, a little run down, kinda old, little over grown, slightly neglected, nursery. Rows of potted plants, a small covered area with more potted plants on long tables.

And there was "Pete" behind the covered area, with a huge rototiller, struggling to keep it running. Every couple of minutes the engine would gasp and "Pete" would grab an aerosol can and squirt it at it and the engine would roar back to life.

Lori and I browsed while he repeated this process about a dozen times. He didn't seem to notice us there and I was thinking....maybe he'll keep ignoring us, we can sneak back home and I will get off easy....I "tried" I could report.....

No such luck. "Pete" cut the engine....and my heart started beating a little faster.....and I continued to browse. It seemed like an eternity and then I hear this strange wheezing noise. I was already a little creeped out....the whole place was a little scary to me in a "Freddie Cruger/ Friday The Thirteenth/ meets Martha Stewart" kinda way (oh come on!!! you know she's not human!)

anyways....the creepy wheezing noise....I turned around and there was a really old dog lumbering towards me. He was very dirty, and missing half his fur, and limping with arthritis. But he seemed to be greeting me with a wheezie smile.

"Pete" was following the dog. If I had to guess, I'd say "Pete" is in his early 70's and he was dressed in a grubby pair of coveralls.

I paused and waited for him to take the lead, but he made some comment on the beautiful day (I think) so I thrust out my hand and said "I'm Tori, I just moved in across the street a couple weeks ago". He paused and looked at my hand just long enough for me to have that thought "he's not gonna shake my hand and now what am I supposed to do with my hand hanging out there" kinda thought. But then he pulled his hand out of his coveralls and looked at it and said "It's covered with gasoline...." and gave me a questioning look. I grabbed his hand and said "Oh! I don't mind at all!" and gave him my best "I'm not the dainty little girl that I might look like--don't you ever mess with my kids again--or I'll kick your butt" firm handshake that I could muster.

Right there, and then, I think I passed some kind of "Perennial Pete" test "part one".....I don't know how to explain it....I could see it in his eyes.

On to "part two"....we walked up to some of the tables and he nonchalantly quizzed me on plant knowledge. Again, I could tell something was going on...but I seemed to pass.

Then "Pete" suddenly turns his back and mumbles something that I think I hear about a tour (darn deaf ear!) and he's off walking. Lori and I look at each other and give a quick shrug of the shoulders and then start to follow him.



To be continued....

Perennial Pete "part two"

Yesterday, Tony and I took a quick trip to one of our local food markets to pick up a few things. I didn't realize it until we were in the store, buts it's one of those places that you have to have a membership card in order to get their "special prices".

One of the check out ladies was standing outside her lane and waved me over to check me out.

I was a little preoccupied with getting my card that I didn't notice much about this woman. She gave me the form and chatted with me while I filled it out. She asked if I was new to the area. I said yes. She asked where we live and I told her the name of our neighborhood. She said she lived in that neighborhood too. "my husband owns the perennial business on that street" she said.

Yes, it was "Perennial Pete's" wife....again, for the purpose of protecting the innocent and protecting this blog.....names have been changed....I'll call her "Petunia".

The blood was pounding in my ears....my mama bears claws instinctively came out (come on moms out there, you know how it is when someone hurts or scares your kids).....

"I live right across the street from you " I said as I looked up from my half completed form and looked "Petunia" right in the eye.
"Do you know what your husband did?" I asked. Then I reached across the little scanner thingie and put her in a choke hold. The teenage bagger person had to pry my hands off "Petunia's" neck!

Calm down Dad....I'm kidding....of course! Just a little poke at my dad, who e-mailed me after my schizophrenic gardening post and told me to go across the street and "kill him with kindness"

Here's how it really went....
after "Petunia" said her husband owned the perennial business....
I paused from filling out my form and said "I live right across the street" and I looked directly into her eyes....and gave her one of those "you know that I know that we both know what I'm thinking" looks.....
and then the teenager bagger person interrupted the too long stare. And said in a chirpy little voice "hee hee, well I guess you know where to buy your flowers from! hee hee"

I smiled at "Petunia" and said "I guess so" and left the store.

Today I spent the day in Kalamazoo, tying up some loose ends. I went to my favorite flowershop ever....River Street Flowerland...which is it's real name. Go there if you live in kzoo. There is no other place like it and never will be! I spent 2 glorious hours there and had to finally leave before I went over my flower spending limit and the Hubs would kill me.

But don't worry....I will head over to "Pete and Petunia's" place and buy a little something....sometime....as soon as I can get my mama bear claws to retract.

Schizophrenic Gardening

One of the hardest things for me to leave behind (besides family and friends, obviously) is my garden. Every house that Dear Hubby and I have owned, excluding this house, has been new construction. That means landscaping from scratch. I get to decide what the lay out will be, what plants and trees I want in my yard. It's all very fun...and as Hubby would point out...also time consuming and expensive!

I know I should never do this...but I will go back to my old houses and see what the new owners have done with the yard. I know what will happen when I get there and look...it always upsets me..."what happened to my Hosta collection?" ...."Where did my Peonies go?"...."Why did they mow down my cutting garden?". Even worse, I'll talk to my old neighbors (who know how much time, energy, and love I put into my gardens)..."They just dug up your Hybiscus and threw it away!!" Oh the pain! Why do I do this to my self? It's like getting on the scale after the holidays...you know it's not going to be good news....it's only gonna depress you...but you just have to know!

So gardening in this house will be a new experience for me and my gardening venture. The house is a couple years old, and we were told by the realtor that the previous owner liked to garden. Even though we looked at the house during the winter months, I could tell that the sellers were my kind of people....she had pictures of her landscaping laid out for us to see. And even more exciting was the fact that the guy across the street owns his own little perennial business (who, as rumor has it, gives free gardening advice). I could see it now (cue the dream sequence music)...me digging in the garden...and deciding on a whim, "I think I'll put some Coreopsis here"...standing up and brushing the sweet, soft perennial blend off my hands and marching across the street...grabbing my new potted baby...waving to "Perennial Pete" *names have been changed to protect the innocent*...and saying "Just put it on my account Pete"...because of course I'll have an account.

Ahhh, but that dream was shattered on our first day here. Remember when I talked about how friendly everyone was here except for the crazy guy across the street? Well, that was my "Perennial Pete". (Don't worry, I'm sure the chances of him ever reading my blog are about as good as him coming over and apologizing....sigh).

Let me tell you about our experience with "Perennial Pete" so far.
Day One: Move in day....It is pouring rain when the moving semi pulls up. Our street is very narrow. Hubby and the moving guys do their best to position the truck on our side of the street with in our postage stamp sized lot lines..."Perennial Pete" calls the Sheriff on us....for blocking the streets.
Day One: One hour later..."Perennial Pete" comes out and yells at Hubby...because obviously he didn't get the results he wanted by calling the police....
Day One: Two hours later..."Perennial Pete" comes out and yells at Mac and her girlfriend for turning around in his driveway...
Day One: Minutes later..."Perennial Pete" comes out and yells at Bud for parking on "his side" of the street...
Day Two: The next door neighbor comes over telling us their "Perennial Pete" story...when they came to look at the lot to build their house..."Perennial Pete" tells them about all the lots being in a flood zone...about how he's planning "to raise himself some chickens" and build a "giant chicken coop" on the edge of his property....
Day Three: The stories from other neighbors just keep coming...apparently they all witnessed and cringed when they saw the Sheriff and our moving van...cuz they knew it was coming...."Perennial Pete" pulled a fast one last year on the city and had out street rezoned and made it so there would be no parking on either side of the street....had signs posted and tickets handed out and everything....that took months of city meetings and arguing to get that mess all straightened out.
Heard enough? Yes I could go on and on....

The point of all this? Yesterday the weather was beautiful. I'd had enough unpacking of boxes. I decided to get my hands dirty and just pull a couple of weeds. Well, one thing lead to another, and when I finished with the weeds I decided I didn't like the Creeping Myrtle that was around one of the trees out front. I think Creeping Myrtle is nasty stuff. It is a bully of a plant...takes over everything....choking the life out of other plants. As I stood there debating on yanking these plants out of the ground, I thought about how I feel when I see the changes the new owners have made to my gardens. Will the previous owners drive by and cry out "Why, oh why, did she do that to the poor Myrtle?" Even more gardening schizophrenic thoughts....I wondered if "Perennial Pete" would call the Sheriff on me....

I decided to yank away...and proudly, I only looked over my shoulder across the street a few dozen times.