It's An Ill Wind That Blows Nobody Any Good

We love our new grand (to us) terrace right on the beach. The sunshine. The serenity. The refreshing sea breezes powerfully gusting winds.

We planted three very broad, very heavy yuccas on the terrace. Taller than us. Two have already been blown over. The other is in the corner by the living room, protected from the strongest gusts. I was going to simply tie the two exposed yuccas to the railing. San Geraldo, however, had a better idea. He spent two days (one for each yucca) cutting hose, inserting wire, and attaching hooks and gadgets to the brick walls. Those yuccas aren't going anywhere. We'll camouflage the hardware with other plants.

THE CORNER YUCCA. SAN GERALDO'S HANDIWORK.

THE YUCCA AROUND BACK.

THE CABLES ARE HOLDING.

FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER I SWEPT AND VACUUMED. I DON'T KNOW WHY I BOTHERED.

Next, we need to plant ground cover or use a layer of rocks to hold down exposed dirt in the planters. If we don't, given the amount of dirt that gets blown out of the pots, we'll eventually be able to seed the terrace and grow a lawn.

DUDO HELPING SAN GERALDO WITH THE WATERING.

Dudo and Moose love the terrace, although they still get easily freaked out. A strong gust of wind really spooks them. Dudo was exploring earlier today when the wind kicked up. I've never seen him move so fast. He hid between some pots and didn't move until the wind again settled.

DUDO HIDING FROM THE MIGHTY WIND.
(LEFT) HEBE ANDERSONII, (RIGHT) HEBE FRANCISCANA.

Last week, Dudo discovered that if he jumps up on the ledge next to the wall that separates our terrace from the neighbor's, he can walk out on a decorative projection and jump onto the neighbor's terrace. No one is there right now. Dudo panicked when no one would open the door and let him in, until San Geraldo poked his head around the wall and Dudo came running back over. That really scared him. He didn't try to go back over to the neighbor's terrace ... for at least 10 minutes. We surreptitiously spray them with a water bottle when they misbehave. It seems to be working. Dudo clearly understands that he's not allowed on the wall. He's actually spending more time on the terrace without jumping up.

DUDO GIVING MOOSE THE TOUR.

Moose then discovered the ledge and terrace next door. He also clearly understands that it's not allowed. So he waits until our backs are turned. I think the boys are even plotting together. Divide and conquer. Dudo leads me around the corner of the terrace, acting as if he's going to jump up on the wall in back (no neighboring terrace, just open air). In the meantime, Moose has made a beeline for the front and is busy exploring the neighbor's terrace. I know because I've seen him coming back. He looks at me as if to say, "Oh, crap. Busted." before he runs into the house.

JUST LOOKING. DUDO DEMONSTRATING BORDERLINE GOOD BEHAVIOR.
I THINK IT WAS A PLOY.

WITH DUDO DISTRACTING ME, MOOSE SEES HIS CHANCE.

AHA. CAUGHT MID-JUMP.
ONE SQUIRT WITH THE WATER BOTTLE AND HE JUMPED RIGHT BACK DOWN.

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER.
THINKING MOOSE WAS IN THE HOUSE, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM RETURN FROM NEXT DOOR.
HE WAS VERY CALM WHEN HE CAME AROUND THE CORNER. THEN HE SAW ME.