First Shock, Now Awe

The new trees went in last week during a record heat wave. No humidity, high UV index and smoke from the Station fire. The shock to the system was swift. They soon lost a lot of leaves, some of the leaves even seemed burned by the relentless sun. The larger trees lost their lower leafs and branches, seeming to protect the their crowns.
Yesterday we started to see some new growth. Hopefully the Jacaranda and Tipu's are out of the proverbial woods now.

Garden

Some new blooms came up last week with all the heat and smoke of last week. This interesting little grasshopper appeared this morning next to a newbie kumquat.

Weekend Dog

We had a good trip to see Dr. V out in Norco this morning. The doctor further reduced Seven's phenobarbital dosage and it looks like he will be off the stuff in for to six months.
Here is Seven in the backseat of the Saab.

Our First KwH

After 7 weeks of misplaced orders and re-faxed requests, DWP came out yesterday and installed a spiffy new meter, connected the new box and cut the wires to our old interior panel. We won't be looking at that electrical eyesore anymore.

La Canada Burns

We got a pretty dramatic view of the wildfires sweeping through the Angeles Crest two days ago. In the course of ten minutes, the fire came up and over the hill.

We Have Trees

I left early this morning to buy some paint for the front of the house. About 9 o'clock the nursery truck came and dropped off the 2 Tipu trees and the Jacaranda. The holes we dug were far deeper than they needed to be and we filled them with compost and soil. We muscled the trees into place and added some more mulch and fertilizer. It's great to have instant shade now.
I then got back to painting the house. The front will be a two tone green with a near white trim. I love being able to frame the house's front with the new trees.

Unexpected Beauties

I returned home yesterday and decided to do some work on the hill behind the house. When I looked this morning, there were a bevy of pink blooms. Some kind of lily, I guess. A nice, if unexpected, surprise.

Watson Shoot

We were working today with one of our fave photographers Albert Watson, and Tristan took a nice picture of Gus and I watching the proceedings.

Miniture Pets pt.2

Today we had chicks in a neo-Victorian bedroom. Kinda sweet but I loved the lighting here. We tried not to use too many hot lights although some of the "actors" found the warmth snooze inducing...... Many jokes about grown men and doll houses. Wish I had a better camera.

Miniture Pets

We are currently doing a commercial with a carnival theme..... however all the patrons are small rabbits. We have a rollercoaster, balloon ride, tunnel of love and bumber cars. They have dressed the animals in period wardrobe. The entire spot intends to be insufferably cute.

Mauerhase

I went to see Martina's short film, "Aliens Among Us" last night at the IFC in New York. It was grouped with several excellent documentaries. The one that got me was titled Rabbit a la Berlin. It told the history of the Berlin wall from the point of view of the rabbits that lived and found protection in the no man's land between east and west. Very clever and inventive. All four of the festival films' trailer can be seen here