Here and There, Bits and Pieces

I am going to try to get back into the habit of blogging daily again.  I have jobs through the end of July, but nothing yet in August, though I'm sure that a few of my regular clients will suddenly remember that they haven't yet scheduled me to cover for their vacations.  I've been busy trying to keep up with all the new foals on the southern end of Assateague, taking care of multiple houses and the attached critters, working on three families genealogy, trying to keep up with the news, and reading for pleasure.
    I stopped in at the pharmacy yesterday to pick up my anxiety/high blood pressure medication, and received quite a surprise.  I normally get a 90 day supply of 90 50mg tablets four times each year.  Yesterday I was given 30 tablets, and was informed that the pharmacy would not have them in stock again until September - and that I needed to contact my MD and ask to try a different medication.  I just checked for shortages of the medication, but could find none.  I will be calling another pharmacy to see if they have the same problem, and, if not, will transfer my prescription to them.  If there is a shortage of this very prevalent beta-blocker, I want to know why it wasn't recognized sooner - and I guess I'll need to call my MD.  But this has me quite upset, which isn't good for my blood pressure, nor my anxiety.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!
   My wonderful 2-year-old Chincoteague filly, Surfer Princess, has apparently settled in with Tornado Legacy's herd.  Legacy is a buckskin pinto, and the Princess is a rich copper color.  I'm hoping she won't have a foal until the summer that she turns four, but I can't control Mother Nature.  Her dam, Surf Queen, has finally settled in Hoppy's herd.  Hoppy is the nickname of Effie's Papa Bear, and he is a 15 hand bay stallion with no markings, not even a brand.  On Monday, June 26, Surf Queen had a half-sister to the Princess - another gorgeous filly, solid bay with three white anklets below her fetlocks and a black right hind.   And I think her legs are longer than the Princess's were...
    At the moment, we're sitting at 60 foals born in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  There have been, so far, no new births reported since Surf Queen on Monday - but today might bring new sightings - and there have been three deaths.  One of the deaths, perhaps, might have been prevented - the mare White Saddle lost her foal last year to the marsh, and the same thing occurred this this year.  I am going to ask the Pony Committee to, next year, take her and her newborn to one of the farms on Chincoteague, so that White Saddle won't lead her baby where it should not go again.  The other two deaths were due to a massive infection incurred at birth, and to a congenital leg abnormality.  I'll soon start posting photos of all the foals born so far this year, in order of birth.
    Despite the snow melt making our local creeks run a bit higher than normal, our vegetation is very dry.  There was a grass fire that burned 3 acres yesterday because some idiot set off fireworks along the side of a road - in someone's hay field.  We had an adult black bear spend yesterday in a tree at the corner of 16th Street and Spruce Avenue here in Boulder.  It moved back to the open green space to the west of town during the night.  And an adult moose decided to visit the Flatirons Mall - at an 8-lane Interstate intersection the day before yesterday.  Wildlife officials had to tranquilize the moose, after which they trailered it to South Park, where they turned it loose.
   I am upset, and will stay upset, for as long as the Pompous Pricktator is in the White House.  I well remember that it took almost two years for Nixon to resign - and I hope and pray that this Putin-Sucker will not be able to hold out that long.  That oddly-coiffed creature is an abomination on this planet.  I would dance with joy if he and his cronies were suddenly dropped into Hell through a fiery maw that suddenly opened up beneath their feet!  That mass of orange crass is an ass.  Disgusting.
 

Critters, Wild and Tame

It doesn't seem like a week since I sat down in front of a blank blog page...  All sorts of things are going on in the news and wildlife areas.  And I've been taking care of multiple houses full of critters, as people decide to vacation on a whim, without planning for pet care.  I've been running around like crazy.  I think I have two days off, Wednesday and Thursday this week, if nothing else pops up.
   I've started re-reading my Robin Hobb collection, and am currently reading Dragon Haven.  After I read her books, I'll hit my Rafael Sabatini novels, and then my un-edited editions of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.  That should keep me busy for a little while.
  I received my National Geographic DNA information back some time ago - my Haplogroup is J1c4.  But I have recently sent my DNA for processing to both Ancestry and to 23AndMe, also.  I'm waiting to see what is reported by the other two agencies...
   We've recently had moose in North Boulder - a woman was tending her garden on the edge of Wonderland Lake, and said she "suddenly felt a presence looming over" her.  It was a mother moose with twin calves, and the mother decided the woman was threatening her babies.  She was knocked down and walked upon.  Luckily, she only had scrapes and bruises.  And another moose with a single calf was reported at the Justice Center near the end of Boulder Canyon.
   Of course it's now summer, and we're having our usual incursions of coyotes, mountain lions and black bears.  The coyotes have been grabbing small dogs who are off-leash on walking, jogging, and biking paths, as well as cats loose in neighborhoods.  The mountain lions are grabbing the mule deer and fawns.  The bears are smashing bee hives and stealing honey, as well as raiding any bird feeders they can reach.  A friend has a one-inch thick wrought iron post for her feeders, and thought they were safe - this morning the post was bent at a 70 degree angle and the bird feeders were crushed and empty on the ground.  And folks around my sister and brother-in-laws house now have teen-aged bobcats out hunting with their parents, as well.  The fox are staying under cover as much as possible.  The cottontail rabbit birth explosion is feeding most of the smaller predators.
    Tess, one of the dogs I care for, is not doing well at the moment.  She started having seizures last fall.  They began occurring every 4 days a couple of months ago, and she has finally been placed on Potassium Bromide as a daily medication. (Her owner is a very firm believer in holistic medicine and diet taking care of everything.)  The K-Bro medication has increased her appetite amazingly, as well as her thirst.  But the main side effect is ataxia, her hind legs don't support her well...  The vet told the owner that once Tess reaches her optimal medication level, she'll return to normal.  The vet told the owner it would take one month.  I read the information, and it says the optimal level is reached in three to four months...  We'll have to see.  In the meantime, the dog who always bounced and danced on her hind legs is now shuffling with her nose to the ground.  It's pretty sad...
   Still at 59 new foals on the Chincoteague NationalWildlife Refuge - 56 after the three losses.  One foal died from an umbilical infection, one foal got stuck in the marsh mud and couldn't break free, and one had a congenital defect of the forelegs, which could not be healed.  All the others are quite bouncy and bold.  As usual, there are some really stupendous pinto markings, quite a few solids with great conformation, and a few real stand-outs.  I'm happy with the foals so far...
 

Bits and Pieces

It's nearly noon on Wednesday and the parking lot is almost dry after we had 8.2 inches of snow fall in the last 24 hours.  The sun is shining brightly, and the temperature is up to 45 degrees (F).  I had to scrape 2 inches of frozen ice and snow off the windshield this morning to head for the library, bank, and grocery store, but it came off easily.  I am so lucky that Donn loans me his vehicle while he's in California, Texas and/or Mexico.  It's pretty nice to have a 4-year-old SUV - a VW Touareg - to get my stuff done in - and all I have to do is pay for the fuel I use, and, occasionally, replace the wiper blades...  Donn takes care of everything else, and recently he's been gone for stretches of 4 weeks at a time.  Unfortunately, I am getting very used to having the convenience of a car at my disposal.
   Our raven family hadn't visited the dumpsters next door for three or four weeks, and we were getting worried about them.  They returned this morning and had good breakfasts from Chez Thuy...  Beatrice and I went to Sam's Club and stocked up on nuts, so Bertrando and his gang of squirrels won't go hungry.  And the finches and sparrows are having a ball at the tree feeders, along with the small feeder and water bowl on the balcony.
    It's normal Colorado weather, but it seems really strange to have 8 inches of snow on Tuesday, then temperatures in the 60s and 70s Thursday through Saturday.  We're both getting tired of Boulder, so we'll probably take a day trip out and about - either over the Divide, down south to Manitou Springs, or out to the eastern plains - we need a change of scene.  I'd like to go to Grand Junction, Hanging Lake and Steamboat Springs - but right now we'd have to take I-70 west, and I'd rather not do that, which means waiting until June or so.
    Beatrice and I are going to a Town Hall Meeting with Jared Polis, our Representative in the House on Friday evening.  We have to get there 30 minutes before it begins to get through security - but at least it's nearby, on the CU Campus.  I'm not sure whether either of us will speak, but we are attending.  I loved seeing the news headlines this morning that Bannon is off the National Security Council.  That bigot  had no reason to be on the council in the first place - and I laughed hysterically when a source said that he'd been placed there by 45 to "watch over Mike Flynn's dealings."  As if that did any good...
     We ate at the Cheesecake Factory on Monday night - was stuffed to the gills, and brought home enough for two more meals...  Delicious!
    And - if you're in New York, or nearby, please go see a play that will open on Broadway, in the Cort Theatre, on April 18.  The play is titled Indecent - and it's an incredible musical ...   I give it a High Five in voting ranks!!!  Go - see it - you will never regret it!

Nature With Rosie

Rosie and I had a "nature day" this past Friday.  Just a quick reminder that Rosie is an elderly Irish Setter, who, at 14 + years, has out-lived her brother, her parents, and, as of last week, all four of her puppies.  Rosie has problems walking these days - her hind legs have no feeling, thanks to a compressed spinal cord, but once she gets her feet under her, she can keep walking for miles.  But - her left hind paw turns over as she walks, and she scrapes her toes raw, so we avoid walking her on asphalt and concrete surfaces these days.
   Friday, it had gotten a little warmer after snowing, and the roads and sidewalks were snow-packed, so we walked to my sister's instead of driving.  Her toes just slipped on the snow-pack, and didn't abrade, so we footed it.  The amount of small wildlife we saw was amazing.  Several bunnies were along the Garnet spur, and they all went dashing into burrows under a huge juniper bush.  Rosie had to spend a lot of time investigating each and every path.  When we turned onto Topaz, several squirrels chittered at us from one of Bernie's cottonwoods.  As we approached the next home, we were greeted by an eight-point buck and six does.  Rosie whined, but sat quietly and we watched them cross the street in front of us.  We passed lots of small birds singing in the trees, and saw tracks of squirrels, a raccoon, and other dogs in the snow.
   When we reached my sister's home, we went in by the Creek gate, and I took the leash off Rosie's harness.   Her first item of business was following the trail of a single deer that had jumped the gate, and then gone diagonally across the back yard.  The only areas clear of snow were right up against the line of firs trees along the irrigation ditch, so I set my chair up there.  Rosie began playing "safari" - looking for lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) under the drooping boughs,  She spent about ten minutes doing her reconnaissance mission, and then felt it was safe enough to go wallow in a deep snow drift.  After several back-scratching rolls and wiggles, she heaved a deep sigh, and came back beside me.   She chose a sunny spot on the grass, and stretched out to absorb the sun's rays.
   I sat in the chair and watched the sky, listened to birds, and thought about how nice my life is.  (I was also hoping that it would stay this nice...)  Looking at the sky, I noticed that the lowers clouds were racing from the west to the east, and I watched a jet's contrail get twisted into a double helix before it was totally blown away and apart.  The higher, larger clouds were slowing moving to the northeast, and formed a darker backdrop for the lower, faster clouds.
   I then noticed there were very few birds singing in the back yard, so I started scanning the boles of the firs.  The fifth one I gazed at had a pair of great horned owls, a male and a larger female, near the top branches.  On the other side of the yard, there was the usual gaggle of chickadees, sparrows, juncos, robins, and one rufous-sided towhee.  Then a murder of crows flew over, followed by a few magpies...  All in all, the normal sightings in the Githens Acres neighborhood.
   Rosie and I walked back quietly - she was a little tired, and (I think) starting to get chilly.  I kept on thinking about all of the creatures that I had been allowed to view.  Got Rosie home, and she immediately curled up in her bed, so I threw her coverlet over her.  Then I stepped back out the front door and had a squirrel greet me.  Creatures in life are nice.

Cold Colorado and Critters

I know that I have a strange brain, and that my thoughts leap from flash-point to flash-point, seemingly with no coherent reason.  This morning, I took Rosie out for her potty break after sleeping the night away, as usual.  The temperature was below freezing, and Rosie had to empty her bladder.  It's pretty stupid, but I was amazed to watch the steam rise...   I guess I'm still keeping my brain trained to remember winter in Florida and northern Virginia.  I actually laughed aloud, which was very childish.  Anyway, it's just more proof that my mind doesn't work normally.
   It's 27 degrees outside at nearly 9 a.m., but the sun is shining brightly.  The raven family has been visiting the restaurant dumpster, and are having a good time ripping the plastic bags open and getting large pieces of food out.  Beatrice put out nuts for the squirrels last night, and Bertrando has been sunning on top of the telephone pole, while munching away on his breakfast.  So far, it doesn't look like any birds have been attracted to the suet and seed feeder, and the Niger seed (thistle) also looks like it hasn't been touched.  But the birds and the squirrels seem to be enjoying our offering of nuts, dried berries and hulled sunflower seeds in the large feeder.  Perhaps when the forecast arctic blast arrives Monday night, the critters will feel the need for suet - we try to fulfill all the critters' needs.
   I pulled the ivy and the honeysuckle inside on Thursday - the ivy seems happy whether it's inside or out, but the honeysuckle leaves had gone quite limp.  They are now filled out and standing proudly from the stems again; I guess they're both in for the season now.  And thank goodness I placed the honeysuckle pot on a wheeled base!  We seem to move it around several times each day, and it weighs about 70 pounds...
   We are finishing up our big grocery shopping spree today and tomorrow, and putting up our outside Christmas lights.  We'll probably get a tree between the tenth and fourteenth, which means a trip to the basement to get the Christmas decorations out.  But, then too, we need to take Nedi's scratching box down, so we'll have room to set up the tree...  It all works out in the end!

Critters and Rosie

I wish I could take a really good photo of the new moon and evening star hanging over Mount Sanitas right now...  The sky is shades of blue with the black silhouette of the mountain below it, and a few small puffy grey clouds just above the ridge.  It's gorgeous.
   Our temperature got up to 78 degrees this afternoon, but a slight breeze that began at 11 this morning turned into a good wind this afternoon.  It blew all of our balcony furniture over, and one of the glass pendants on one of the wind chimes was broken while beating against the balcony railing.  It was so gusty outside that Nedi went outside, but stayed for less than 60 seconds before heading back in.  The weather this morning was fantastic - wore shorts and a T shirt while out walking Rosie  - and was extremely comfortable.  The cottontail rabbits were chasing each other in weaving patterns from one side of the street to the other, and back again.  I saw more than two dozen of the little critters this morning on my way to Rosie's house from the bus stop.
  Once Rosie and I arrived in my sister's acre-sized back yard we saw even more rabbits, and frightened a young buck away from the apple tree closest to the patio.  There were a few butterflies in the yard, and lots of small birds and squirrels darting about.  Abruptly all the small birds fell silent, as a jay started a warning call.  The squirrels flattened against the tree trunks.  Suddenly there was a great deal of crashing sounds in the top of one of the cottonwoods - I looked up to see a pair of red tailed hawks "playing" in the tree tops and over the back yard.  It was such fun to watch!  One hawk landed on the smallest, top-most branch of one of the fir trees.  The hawk was so large, and the twig so small, that the hawk had to keep adjusting its wings to the bobbing motion of the branch.  And, it seemed to me, that as that bird was concentrating on keeping its balance, the second one deliberately flew into it, chest to chest.  The bird on the branch fell backwards and had to do a loop-the-loop to get securely upright in the air.  It seemed as if I was watching two brother fledglings trying to out-perform the other.  After a 30 minute acrobatic air performance, they left the area, as a flock of magpies came in, screeching and clucking.  The magpies "talked" in low murmurs most of the time, and the other small birds returned to the area.  A few minutes later, the squirrels were all out, chattering to each other...  It seemed magical.  By that time, Rosie was ready to go have her brunch, so we headed back to her house for her meatballs and chicken breast.

Rosie and Critters

Hopefully I can get back into the habit of blogging every day...  This past three-day weekend was very relaxing, and the cats let me sleep in on both Saturday and Sunday.  Yesterday I walked one dog and stopped by my sister's house to drop off photos from my vacation, and we ended up sitting and chatting for more than 3 hours.  It was wonderful.  Today we have heavily overcast skies, but there is a slight bit of sunshine to the east.  Bertrando is on top of his telephone pole, with a slice of apple, trying to pull in some warmth.  The raven family hasn't visited the restaurant dumpster next door yet, which is pretty unusual for them.  They are usually here eating and partying from sun up until 9 or so.  Lovey is curled up in my bed, and Nedi is asleep in the living room cat tree.
    I feel so much for Rosie and her family.  Rosie is an Irish Setter, and is well over 14 years old now.  She eats well, is very alert when not sleeping, and is doing well physically, except for her hind-end. Her vision and hearing are not what they were, but her nose misses nothing. The vet says she has no feeling at all in her right hind leg, and has only partial feeling in the left hind.  Her hind legs have lost their muscle tone.  She can get up from sitting or lying with a little effort.  And she has no problem walking, trotting, or even making short runs on the ground or floors.  Stairs and steps are her downfalls - literally.  Her rear end collapses and she slides, with her back legs knocking her front legs out from under her.  Then she looks extremely embarrassed and woeful, as only an older dog can...  Rosie gets acupuncture every two weeks, as well as laser joint treatments.  She has developed a thyroid problem, and takes one pill a day for it.  And she's gotten very finicky as she age progresses.  At the moment, her favorite edibles are meatballs from Lucky's Market...  She'll do almost anything for a Lucky's meatball.....   Rosie's young man just had his 21st birthday, and he was reluctant to go back to his senior year of college.  We all are really hoping that she'll be here when he returns for winter break.  She is such a good and loving dog.  I dread the day she will cross the Rainbow Bridge.
    I start taking care of  Charlie, Tinkerbell, and 7 hens today.  Charlie is part pug and gosh-only-knows what else... she is bouncy and full of energy.  Tinkerbell is the very aloof cat; so aloof the housekeeper didn't know she was living in the house, and was very frightened by her appearance one day.  And the hens are out in the rear third of the acre back yard.  I just hope that Blanca will want to come inside the next few evenings!

Odds and Ends

We're half-way through February in a new year, Thoroughbred foals are being born all over the country, horse racing enthusiasts are starting to talk about the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown in the United States, and the British Triple Crown in the United Kingdom.  I am looking forward to Saturday, the 20th, when Ziconic will make his racing debut.  Unlike his elder brother, Cozmic One, Ziconic seems to realize that racing, and going under the wire first, is the name of the game in his current life.  Cozmic One, the oldest son of Zenyatta (by Bernardini), has raced twice but not with his Mom's need to win.  In his first race, he finished last in a field of six; in his second race, he was seventh of nine contenders.  Cozmic One doesn't seem to be able to focus on his job.  Ziconic, the younger brother, by Tapit, seems to enjoy racing much more.  I'm looking forward to his race on Saturday.   Zenyatta, herself, is due some time in March with a second foal by War Front.  This foal is eagerly awaited, as her last foal (also by War Front) died from injuries in a paddock accident.  I hope her progeny can continue her winning ways.
   One of my four granddaughters, a pre-teen, has just won the National Cheerleading Team title with her squad.   She is certainly making her parents and grandparents proud.  I only wish my husband could be here to express his encouragement to her and the other participants.
   I can start collecting my retirement pay from working at Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida in a few months.  They have given me the choice of a lump-sum payment, or a monthly stipend for the rest of my life.  The lump-sum payment is enticing, but I'd lose 30% of it due to federal taxes, and then there are state taxes, too.  I'm pretty sure I'll choose the monthly stipend over the lump-sum.
   I had to laugh this morning - I have on my calendar that, beginning tomorrow, I walk the DD dogs every morning for at least an hour.  Another woman is house-sitting, but she is recovering from a back and hip injury, so I'm to walk two of the dogs while she walks one.  I sent an e-mail to both the dog owners and to the house-sitter earlier today, asking for confirmation that the trip was still going to be taken, and stating the dates.  I also asked the house-sitter at what time she wished to walk the dogs each morning.  The house-sitter called me back, almost immediately, and said she'd visited the people and critters (3 dogs, 1 cat) yesterday, and that I had the dates wrong.  The family was returning on the 25th, not the 23rd...  I read her my three letters from the owner, which designated the dates each time - she looked her original contact notes and found she'd made a mistake - I was correct.  Then she asked if I could meet her to walk the dogs at 7 each morning, in order to avoid the middle school students.  I told her that I could, but that I would have to arrive later on the weekend days.  She asked why, and I told her the first buses that ran by my house on the weekend came by at 7:30 - there was an earlier one, but it heads east, while the dogs' home is west of me.  She was completely taken aback by the fact that I don't have a car.  She wanted to know how I got around, and I told her, by bus or by foot.  She was also amazed that I don't own a smart phone....
    I guess I live to the beat of a different drummer in more ways than one.

Books and Critters

Yesterday and today have been busy - met the Brittany Spaniels' family at 5:20 yesterday morning, and was a passenger to DIA, then drove back home to feed the girls.  Roxie and Finney are fun.  Then over to take care (feed, water, and walk the dogs, and feed and water the hens) of the Chandler critters.  Discovered their Subaru in the driveway has a flat tire this morning - I hope they have a spare.  Spent the night with the girls, and enjoyed the fireplace.  But, after feeding and walkin them, and taking care of the Chandler critters this morning, it was still only 4 degrees (F) when I came home to my place to feed the kits and clean their boxes.  Lovey attached herself to my chest and wouldn't let go, once I sat down.  Nedi explored the balcony for 5 seconds and returned inside.  Taking down the Christmas tree tomorrow - have to find a small box to place all the new ornaments in.  Finished re-reading Betrayer and Intruder yesterday - began another Jack Reacher novel last night, and it's very good, as usual.  Then I'll begin The Bone Labyrinth....
  Beatrice made herself Belgium waffles for breakfast today - glad I picked up milk on the way home from the Spaniels.  Looks like I'll have a pizza while watching the Broncos and Bengals play tonight; I could prepare chicken and broccoli risotto, but I think I'll put that together tomorrow.  It's 3:55 now, and the sun is going behind a cloud that's sitting on top of Mount Sanitas - it'll be behind the mountains in 8 minutes and the darkness will begin again.  I don't like winter, even though I know that the natural world has to have time to prepare for Spring renewal.  I want sunshine and warmth!  Or the sea, at least!

Progress?

It was a little strange to walk through the extremely familiar neighborhood of Githens Acres today.   I had to do a classic double-take while walking by property well-known to me.  I was a pet- and house-sitter for the previous owner for several years; I loved the lay-out of the one-story house, that had a huge English-park-like back yard, with multiple bedrooms and baths and a large art studio.  A new person purchased the property for $1.25 million (most of the cost was in the land itself), and had rented the property to friends for more than a year.  I hadn't walked by and looked at that property since I left on my vacation.  I was amazed to see an ugly chain link fence around the front of the property that had an inner facing of green plastic.  I had to step to a corner and climb up on the stump of what had been a beautiful tree to be able to see the yard.  The entire house and garage have been removed.  The garden shed and less than half of the trees have been left standing.  As I was staring at the scene of devastation, a truck pulled onsite that had a drill bit that was wider than I am tall on it's bed.  What the heck are they going to drill for?  The water table is only 3.5 feet under the surface at that property!    And, the thing I miss most of all, there was a blue spruce that was over 100 years old at the corner of the house.  The previous owner and I had both watched the birth of countless deer over the years underneath the boughs of that tree.  Deer that were born there came back to give birth to their young at the same place - and a big buck that had been born there made that spruce his winter bedding area every year.  And now it's gone - in, seemingly, the blink of an eye.   So, so sad.
   Later, while catching some sun with Rosie in the park near Crest View, We made friends with three dogs, and a visiting 18-month-old child and her parents.  The family was visiting Boulder from Minnesota, and they came out for an early excursion, so Hazel could enjoy the park.  The first two dogs had moved on, with their owner, and Rosie and I were both sitting in the sun, absorbing its warmth.  Then we heard a squeal of delight, as baby Hazel had seen the "dob" - Rosie.  Her parents checked with me first, then allowed Hazel to come pat Rosie.  Rosie laid very still and allowed the little girl to pat her all over, and then Rosie licked her hand.  Hazel, her parents, and, I think, Rosie, too, were happy with the outcome.  Hazel squealed and danced, yelling, "Dob! Dob!"
   Walking back from the park, we passed the house on Redwood that raises Silky chickens (in three colors).  As we were almost past, I heard what I thought was the word, "Me."  Rosie and I both stopped to look for the speaker.  I couldn't see any people out and about.  There were no signs of the Silkies, either; and while I've heard chickens make all kinds of sounds, I haven't yet heard one say, "Me."    We started to walk on, and heard, "Meeeee,"  So we both started doing an inventory of the Silkies' property.  We saw nothing, so we took another step.  "Meeeeeeeeeeeee!"  We stopped short, again, and looked again.  Finally a young goat, almost  a pure cream color, parted the bushes and stepped into our view.  I scratched its head vigorously, while Rosie investigated its mouth and lips.  After about five minutes, we started walking back home, and had to hear plaintive "Meeeee"s for most of the block.  It's a sweet kid, but lonely.
 

Bits and Pieces

It was nice and warm yesterday, and I spent most of the day listening to the sound of snow-melt pouring from the roof.  I also finished reading Cabinet of Curiosities, then read a Michael Jecks' Knights Templar mystery, and the started on The King's Curse by Phillipa Gregory...  Today should be nice and sunny again, as well as tomorrow.  The Chinook wind will begin Friday night, and is supposed to end sometime Sunday...  On Sunday, I'l be taking care of Tugger and my kits only, and I will be able to breathe easy again.
   I'm hoping that the Colts and the Packers will be winners this weekend, in pro football, so I can root for Green Bay in the Super Bowl.  If the Patriots beat the Colts, then I'll be rooting for whatever team is facing Tom Brady's arrogance.
   So...  Jack Del Rio, the Broncos' defensive coordinator, is now the head coach for the Raiders.  Adam Gase, the Broncos' offensive coordinator, has had six interviews for a head coach position, including one with John Elway, the general manager of the Broncos.  John Fox's new coaching berth is still an open question...  
   The National Western Stock Show is still bulling along, and has another 10 days to run.  I would love to be able to go and spend several days just soaking up all the exhibitions, all the different kinds of livestock, and all of the rodeos and horse shows.  The local news station has spent the morning with the Petting Zoo exhibition, and it's been fun watching "city girls" learning to catch, pick up, and hold baby goats, baby pigs and loose chickens.  I have to admit I grin like an idiot watching these ladies, dressed to the nines, and listening to their comments as they try to grasp and hold a live, wriggling critter.  (Is that mean-spirited of me?)  I mean, I really giggled when a reporter grasped a chicken, held it to her chest and then yelled, "Oh, crap!" when the chicken did exactly that....
   I hope your week is going well - and that your weekend is something to look forward to!

Flooding, Spring, $2 Million in Taxes in One Month

The biggest news around here is that the first month's sale of recreational marijuana brought in $2 million in state taxes for Colorado.  Not only that, but the first marijuana smoking club has been licensed and will soon open it's door - Club Ned - up in Nederland.  Yep, where they just finished the three-day celebration of Frozen Dead Guy Days -they keep a man's body preserved in dry ice in a shed.  ...  Also, since 1 July 2013, if you buy anything in Boulder from a grocery store, you have to pay 10 cents apiece for the little, flimsy plastic bags the store supplies.  Monday, Boulder announced that the use of those plastic grocery bags has dropped by 68 % since they began charging for them - this was done by the city of Boulder, not the grocers, to reduce plastic trash. And, since Target sells groceries, as well as everything else, one must purchase (or bring) a bag, even if you're buying underwear...  (That's my only gripe!)
  It was in the mid-60s on Sunday, and it was 70 degrees here at 4 Monday afternoon.  Of course, we're expecting rain and snow this afternoon and evening...  March and April in Colorado is like taking a roller-coaster ride blindfolded; you go up and down, and are never quite sure what's going to happen next.  All of the domesticated animals and wildlife I see seem to be exhilarated by the signs of spring - trees and bushes are budding; snowdrops, daffodils, irises are starting to show green above the dead leaves and grasses.  I've seen several types of birds gathering items for nest building, and the red-winged blackbirds were singing their hearts out in the marshy areas along the foot path yesterday.  I guess that Spring will eventually arrive...
  Lovey and Nedi still chase and hiss at one another when they are running around playing - but they are occasionally sleeping together these days.  It's taken a long time, but I'm very happy.  They play and share food and water, but they have never cuddled with each other.  I think I might see that in the next few years.
  The other big news item in Boulder is that the County is holding meetings this week for anyone who lives on, or near, our huge creek system - Boulder Valley has at least 20 different streams and creeks that pour into it from the mountains.  After the big flood last September, which many people (and properties) are still recovering, it seems that we have a bumper crop of snow in the mountains.  This is good, because it is our drinking water for the rest of the year; it is bad because the creeks and streams have not recovered at all from the flooding this past fall.  Other than Boulder Creek, most streams and creeks here are seasonal - they are dry during fall and winter months, and for the last part of the summer.  Almost every single creek and stream has water running along its course right now, when it "should" be dry.  As we have 142 % of our annual snowpack up in the mountains, if we have high temperatures, and the snow melts rapidly, we could see September all over again.  So the County is calling folks to come to local meetings to discuss what will probably happen if we have more water than we can handle...  It will be an interesting spring in this semi-arid area!
  ~~~ On another note, if my husband were still alive, this would be his 66th birthday.  Jeffery Dale, I still love you and miss you.  I hope that you share all that I see, hear, read, think, and experience... especially the joys of your grandchildren!  ~~~

Critters

Cat on a temple roof in Beijing, China

 

Dogs in Dusseldorf, Germany

 

Lamb in Wales

 

Tiger with a lily, India

Critters

River otters in Oregon

 

A kitty with an interesting marking

 

A pet wolf in Minsk, Belarus

 

Sandpipers at Cardiff, California

Critters 'Round the World

An armadillo eating corn in Texas

 

Red fox in a park in Berlin, Germany

 

Sheep on Streymoy, in the Faroe Islands

 

More Critters

A chipmunk lunching in Yellowstone National Park

 

One of the local squirrels enjoying a peanut

 

A black bear grabbing greens in a Massachusetts back yard garden

 

Critters

A western screech owl

A white-faced Saki

The scent of a fresh tulip is magnificat.

Person of Interest Season Finale Tonight

It's a lazy, warm day.  I just woke up from a nap, and am getting ready for lunch.  The kits are basking on the patio, and Ernest Borgnine is playing a Basque on "Wagon Train" - oh, my, there's Leonard Nimoy...  He must be playing either a son or nephew of Ernie....
   About 6 last night, a very insistent squirrel demanded some nuts through the window screen.  He (definitely a he) ate  or buried all but two of them - then at 9:30, two raccoons cruised by and the the nuts.  The critters provided good entertainment for my kits.
   Saturday is the Preakness, and it's also my niece's birthday.  Sunday night, the 20th, I'll be watching CBS to see Tom Selleck in a new Jesse Stone movie.  On May 26, Encore Westerns is celebrating John Wayne's birthday by showing 19 of his movies - a wide sampling from his career, including Rooster Cogburn.  And tonight is the season finale of Person of Interest;  I'll definitely be in front  of the TV to see Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel tonight. 

This Is "News?"

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am definitely not a "main stream" consumer or news reader. When I read something about J-Lo, I have to think for a few seconds before I realize that the article is not referring to my great-grandfather (his name was James Loren, and the family called him J-Lo back in the 1880s.) I do not watch any of the "reality" or competitive shows on the airways - unless you consider Jeopardy! to be one of those types of shows... And today's situation comedies are puerile pap aimed at teen-aged boys with raging hormones.... Yuck! Other than local news and weather, Jeopardy!, and NCIS, I watch PBS, the History Channel, History International, and (mostly) Encore Westerns. In reading today's entertainment news, I saw something referring to "J-Lo", and after all these years, I'd guess that is Jennifer Lopez; Sly Stallone was a name I knew; and the name Sheen, I would guess refers to Charlie - but those were the only names I knew. I guess I'm really out of touch....
I also saw two items about plane travel: in one, a"well known" author was removed from the plane because he was cussing up a blue streak, and using the "f-word" with great frequency; the other was about a college football player who refused to pull up his pants to cover his boxer shorts, he,too, was removed from the plane. My thoughts? I would not want to be on a plane, for any amount of time, with anyone who cannot speak clearly without using the "f-word." - Please ban that author from all of my flights! And, secondly, the young man who boarded the plane with the waistband of his jeans just above the backs of his knees... Give me a break! The man was asked several times by air company employees to pull his pants up and cover his underwear. The young man's mother states that the young man "had just attended a funeral and was full of raw grief." Did he attend the funeral with his drawers down around his knees? I don't think that is respectful of anyone. The young man should have been approached by an air company employee long before he got on the plane, perhaps as soon as he presented his ticket(?), and informed that "courtesy to all" was a rule, and that other folks might not want to see his undies. If he wouldn't pull up his pants, then he shouldn't have been allowed on the plane, period. Oh, well.... Thanks for reading my diatribe!
And poor Florida has over 300 wildfires burning right now. I feel for all the folks and critters that live there! ** Last night there was a raccoon in the back yard, and this morning, a fox! - The critters are returning!**