And then there's the Southern ReinGator
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
I'm Back With - Miscellany - Tonight
Well, Pony Penning is over for 2017 - the major part, anyway. Fall round-up will be October 13 and 14th, when folks who purchased younger foals will return to pick them up, and the veterinarian will give everyone another quick check-up. I don't how how much money the raffle tickets for King Neptune brought in, but the 62 foals sold (including the ten designated Buy Backs) brought in $209,900. It was also reported that other items auctioned - art, photographs, arts and crafts, T-shirts, etc. - brought in another $3,300. Pony Penning was successful this year.
I have up-dated the previous post with the auctioned foals information twice; today it was to add the 24 names that the youngsters have been given by their new owners. Still waiting to hear what the CLG decides to name their colt and filly, as well as a few other Buy Backs. The names of purchased and removed foals are slowly percolating through Chincoteague Pony lovers. I'll post them as I learn of them.
One of the dogs that I care for crossed over the Rainbow Bridge Monday evening. I'm pretty sure her owner had her put down. She was a delightful 12-year-old mutt, named Tess. She bounded like a gazelle, and pounced like a fox on prey. She began having seizures around Christmas. The owner believes in holistic medicine and would not put the dog on "normal" seizure medication until 8 weeks ago. The medication made the dog unsteady on her feet, gave her a tremendous appetite, and caused her to drool excessively when sleeping. The dog had good days and bad days, and was slowly getting adjusted to the medication. The owner's daughter and I have been the dog's most active care-givers, as the owner has been "home" only six weeks since Christmas. I was notified by a Facebook posting that the dog had "left us." I will miss that happy, romping, black girl for a long, long time. Goodbye, Tessa.
I laughed out loud today when I read the news that officials on the University of Colorado campus here in Boulder sent Tweet and e-mail alerts to all students that a "rare" and "extremely dangerous" badger had been seen on campus. A number was given to call in sightings, and students were told to avoid the badger at all costs.... What a laugh! If a badger is protecting its' young, or if it's cornered, will fight to protect itself (or its' young). It does not rampage about, causing mayhem wherever it goes. When the Department of Wildlife was contacted about the message, they laughed. Badgers are usually seen a little farther north and west, on the edges of Estes Park, and in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. They are somewhat unusual around Boulder, but CU sure made a fuss over nothing.
OK - I'm going back to politics for the moment. Since I started this blog, I have had comments made in many foreign languages. If it's a language I recognize, I translate it. But when I last worked in Washington, DC, for the EPA, I was still getting weekly visits from FBI agents to view my folder of "odd/unusual" comments. Once I began this blog, I hate to say it, but I routinely delete any comments written to me in Cyrillic or a Middle Eastern language. Since spring and summer of 2016, I have had an upswing in the number of comments in those languages. So I was interested in learning about Russian bots and how they grab certain words and send "disinformation" to the writer. - I wrote a blog on this s few months ago.
Today a friend, and several of his colleagues, who have worked for the US government in the past in the area of cyber security, have opened a new website called Hamilton 68. It does not show the response on the internet - but it shows how the bots, implemented by Russia and their comrades, react to words on Twitter. If you ever use Twitter, look at this site! Once you get there, there is a button for first-time users that explains pretty much anything you want to know - the site can be viewed at: http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org I highly recommend at least one visit - the information is mind-boggling.
Two other political items, and I'll be quiet for the night. My jaw dropped tonight when I heard that the current President wants to have the Commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, fired by his Pentagon Generals. He stated, "We aren't winning." And went on to ask why we haven't demanded a share of the $1 trillion in mineral wealth that Afghanistan owns for "US aid and assistance." After the President left the meeting, a shouting match was overheard between Steve Bannon, the White House chief strategist, and H. R. McMaster, the White House National Security Adviser. - But then I remembered that the President had said something along those lines during his campaign.... I had no idea that America expected Afghanistan to pay us for a war against ISIL and the Taliban waged in their own country.
The other thing is the new immigration laws and limits that the 45th Administration wants to impose. Not only does this group want to ban all immigrants of Muslim faith, they now want to decrease the number of legal immigrants each year. The new immigration laws they are calling for will limit legal immigration by 50% over a period of 10 years by reducing the number of relatives allowed to join families later. They will cut refugee numbers to 50,000 people per year. They will end the diversity visa lottery that currently allows 50,000 from under-represented countries to receive a green card. And they will most highly favor those immigrants who speak English, have skills to raise the economy, and who can financially support themselves and their families upon arrival in the United States.
In a televised news conference today, White House adviser Stephen Miller was presenting the above outlines to an array of reporters, when Jim Acosta, a CNN representative, quoted the first few lines from the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York City's harbor: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses..."
* The Statue of Liberty, actually named Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift from the country of France to help us remember their assistance during the Revolutionary War. Edouard de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and an abolitionist, proposed the idea of the statue - and made certain that a broken shackle and chain were placed at her right foot to show that America had broken the shackles of oppression and tyranny. American people raised the money for the shipping of the gigantic statue for more than 6 years, and she was unveiled and dedicated on Thursday, 28 October 1886. *
After Acosta spoke those lines, Miller stated, "The poem you were referring to was added later. It's not actually part of the original Statue of Liberty." Miller went on to say that the statue is a "symbol of American liberty lighting the world" and suggested that it had little to do with immigrants of any kind. This has caused a huge amount of protests today.
*While waiting for the statue to be assembled in New York harbor, writers and authors asked Emma Lazarus, a poet and descendant of Jewish immigrants, to write a sonnet that would be sold at auction to raise money for the gigantic pedestal that was needed for the statue to rest upon. Emma Lazarus wrote "The New Colossus" on 2 November 1883 inspired by the plight of immigrants and refugees, and her own experiences in New York City. The poem appeared in The New York Times and in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. Lazarus died in 1887 and her poem was forgotten.
In 1901, Georgina Schuler, a friend of Emma's, found a book containing the poem, and began an effort to resurrect the work, have it inscribed on a plaque, and placed on the statue's pedestal. The sonnet reads:
I hope all of you have a wonderful August!
I have up-dated the previous post with the auctioned foals information twice; today it was to add the 24 names that the youngsters have been given by their new owners. Still waiting to hear what the CLG decides to name their colt and filly, as well as a few other Buy Backs. The names of purchased and removed foals are slowly percolating through Chincoteague Pony lovers. I'll post them as I learn of them.
One of the dogs that I care for crossed over the Rainbow Bridge Monday evening. I'm pretty sure her owner had her put down. She was a delightful 12-year-old mutt, named Tess. She bounded like a gazelle, and pounced like a fox on prey. She began having seizures around Christmas. The owner believes in holistic medicine and would not put the dog on "normal" seizure medication until 8 weeks ago. The medication made the dog unsteady on her feet, gave her a tremendous appetite, and caused her to drool excessively when sleeping. The dog had good days and bad days, and was slowly getting adjusted to the medication. The owner's daughter and I have been the dog's most active care-givers, as the owner has been "home" only six weeks since Christmas. I was notified by a Facebook posting that the dog had "left us." I will miss that happy, romping, black girl for a long, long time. Goodbye, Tessa.
I laughed out loud today when I read the news that officials on the University of Colorado campus here in Boulder sent Tweet and e-mail alerts to all students that a "rare" and "extremely dangerous" badger had been seen on campus. A number was given to call in sightings, and students were told to avoid the badger at all costs.... What a laugh! If a badger is protecting its' young, or if it's cornered, will fight to protect itself (or its' young). It does not rampage about, causing mayhem wherever it goes. When the Department of Wildlife was contacted about the message, they laughed. Badgers are usually seen a little farther north and west, on the edges of Estes Park, and in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. They are somewhat unusual around Boulder, but CU sure made a fuss over nothing.
OK - I'm going back to politics for the moment. Since I started this blog, I have had comments made in many foreign languages. If it's a language I recognize, I translate it. But when I last worked in Washington, DC, for the EPA, I was still getting weekly visits from FBI agents to view my folder of "odd/unusual" comments. Once I began this blog, I hate to say it, but I routinely delete any comments written to me in Cyrillic or a Middle Eastern language. Since spring and summer of 2016, I have had an upswing in the number of comments in those languages. So I was interested in learning about Russian bots and how they grab certain words and send "disinformation" to the writer. - I wrote a blog on this s few months ago.
Today a friend, and several of his colleagues, who have worked for the US government in the past in the area of cyber security, have opened a new website called Hamilton 68. It does not show the response on the internet - but it shows how the bots, implemented by Russia and their comrades, react to words on Twitter. If you ever use Twitter, look at this site! Once you get there, there is a button for first-time users that explains pretty much anything you want to know - the site can be viewed at: http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org I highly recommend at least one visit - the information is mind-boggling.
Two other political items, and I'll be quiet for the night. My jaw dropped tonight when I heard that the current President wants to have the Commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, fired by his Pentagon Generals. He stated, "We aren't winning." And went on to ask why we haven't demanded a share of the $1 trillion in mineral wealth that Afghanistan owns for "US aid and assistance." After the President left the meeting, a shouting match was overheard between Steve Bannon, the White House chief strategist, and H. R. McMaster, the White House National Security Adviser. - But then I remembered that the President had said something along those lines during his campaign.... I had no idea that America expected Afghanistan to pay us for a war against ISIL and the Taliban waged in their own country.
The other thing is the new immigration laws and limits that the 45th Administration wants to impose. Not only does this group want to ban all immigrants of Muslim faith, they now want to decrease the number of legal immigrants each year. The new immigration laws they are calling for will limit legal immigration by 50% over a period of 10 years by reducing the number of relatives allowed to join families later. They will cut refugee numbers to 50,000 people per year. They will end the diversity visa lottery that currently allows 50,000 from under-represented countries to receive a green card. And they will most highly favor those immigrants who speak English, have skills to raise the economy, and who can financially support themselves and their families upon arrival in the United States.
In a televised news conference today, White House adviser Stephen Miller was presenting the above outlines to an array of reporters, when Jim Acosta, a CNN representative, quoted the first few lines from the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York City's harbor: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses..."
* The Statue of Liberty, actually named Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift from the country of France to help us remember their assistance during the Revolutionary War. Edouard de Laboulaye, a French political thinker and an abolitionist, proposed the idea of the statue - and made certain that a broken shackle and chain were placed at her right foot to show that America had broken the shackles of oppression and tyranny. American people raised the money for the shipping of the gigantic statue for more than 6 years, and she was unveiled and dedicated on Thursday, 28 October 1886. *
After Acosta spoke those lines, Miller stated, "The poem you were referring to was added later. It's not actually part of the original Statue of Liberty." Miller went on to say that the statue is a "symbol of American liberty lighting the world" and suggested that it had little to do with immigrants of any kind. This has caused a huge amount of protests today.
*While waiting for the statue to be assembled in New York harbor, writers and authors asked Emma Lazarus, a poet and descendant of Jewish immigrants, to write a sonnet that would be sold at auction to raise money for the gigantic pedestal that was needed for the statue to rest upon. Emma Lazarus wrote "The New Colossus" on 2 November 1883 inspired by the plight of immigrants and refugees, and her own experiences in New York City. The poem appeared in The New York Times and in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. Lazarus died in 1887 and her poem was forgotten.
In 1901, Georgina Schuler, a friend of Emma's, found a book containing the poem, and began an effort to resurrect the work, have it inscribed on a plaque, and placed on the statue's pedestal. The sonnet reads:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore."
I hope all of you have a wonderful August!
Sunday, June 25, 2017
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...
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...
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Losing a Loved Pet
I haven't lost one of my own, personal pets in seven years, now. When my cat, Banichi, was poisoned by a neighbor, I withdrew completely and only Lovey, my other cat kept me from committing suicide. I didn't know it at the time, but my psychiatrist and my therapist were both very afraid that I would do away with myself - but Leofgifu made me stay on - to care for her.
I take care of a lot of pets who have grown old in the past 13 years I've been a pet-sitter. Sometimes the loss of the pet has been quick and unexpected, and sometimes the owners and I have watched a long, slow decline and discussed the difficulty of euthanasia versus a natural death. I have always said that if the pet was suffering great pain, or had totally lost control of all body functions, that it was best to euthanize.
Sweet Rosie was a week away from 15 years, which is pretty incredible for an Irish Setter - they usually don't live much past 12. Her body slowly deteriorated, and the last few days she needed assistance to walk. She essentially told her owners that it was time to say Good-bye, and they did so. The owners were in tears, but it was the best thing for Rosie.
I've been caring for a really special, loving Spangled Bengal cat named Seek. Her owner has had only five other pets in her life, and all the other pets died suddenly and quickly, in unexpected ways. That included Seek's litter mate brother, Hide. Seek was diagnosed a few weeks ago with bone cancer. It was originally thought that she had an abscessed tooth, and during the dental work, the growth on her jaw bone was seen, and a scraping was sent to the lab. The owner has never had to watch, or nurse, any pet through such pain and suffering. The last bit of anything that Seek consumed was pureed chicken Florentine that I fed her through an eye-dropper last Thursday, a week ago. The owner has not been able to get her to eat or drink since then. Seek's mouth has swollen enormously, and she cannot groom herself, or use her tongue in any way.
After talking with the owner at great length yesterday afternoon, and with me telling her that the ultimate decision was hers, she has decided to have Pete, our local house-call veterinarian come over and let Seek slip away peacefully. The owner is a Buddhist and wanted the cat to die "a natural death." I pointed out that with no nourishment, and with a continual ooze of blood, mucus and infected gunk running from her mouth and down her chest, Seek had to be uncomfortable. Her eyes are greatly dilated, and she is purring constantly, a sign of pain. We can't give her pain medicine, other than an injection, and the owner said no to that.
The owner told me that she was calling Pete, the vet, yesterday evening. I told her that I would be happy to be there, if she wanted me to, when she says good-bye to Seek. (And then I had to tell her that I had a dentist appointment this afternoon, and wouldn't be available for a couple of hours.) She said that several other people had expressed the wish to be there, so I probably will not attend.I said my good-byes to Seek yesterday afternoon, and told her about the Rainbow Bridge, and seeing her brother again. I wish her a pain free trip......
I take care of a lot of pets who have grown old in the past 13 years I've been a pet-sitter. Sometimes the loss of the pet has been quick and unexpected, and sometimes the owners and I have watched a long, slow decline and discussed the difficulty of euthanasia versus a natural death. I have always said that if the pet was suffering great pain, or had totally lost control of all body functions, that it was best to euthanize.
Sweet Rosie was a week away from 15 years, which is pretty incredible for an Irish Setter - they usually don't live much past 12. Her body slowly deteriorated, and the last few days she needed assistance to walk. She essentially told her owners that it was time to say Good-bye, and they did so. The owners were in tears, but it was the best thing for Rosie.
I've been caring for a really special, loving Spangled Bengal cat named Seek. Her owner has had only five other pets in her life, and all the other pets died suddenly and quickly, in unexpected ways. That included Seek's litter mate brother, Hide. Seek was diagnosed a few weeks ago with bone cancer. It was originally thought that she had an abscessed tooth, and during the dental work, the growth on her jaw bone was seen, and a scraping was sent to the lab. The owner has never had to watch, or nurse, any pet through such pain and suffering. The last bit of anything that Seek consumed was pureed chicken Florentine that I fed her through an eye-dropper last Thursday, a week ago. The owner has not been able to get her to eat or drink since then. Seek's mouth has swollen enormously, and she cannot groom herself, or use her tongue in any way.
After talking with the owner at great length yesterday afternoon, and with me telling her that the ultimate decision was hers, she has decided to have Pete, our local house-call veterinarian come over and let Seek slip away peacefully. The owner is a Buddhist and wanted the cat to die "a natural death." I pointed out that with no nourishment, and with a continual ooze of blood, mucus and infected gunk running from her mouth and down her chest, Seek had to be uncomfortable. Her eyes are greatly dilated, and she is purring constantly, a sign of pain. We can't give her pain medicine, other than an injection, and the owner said no to that.
The owner told me that she was calling Pete, the vet, yesterday evening. I told her that I would be happy to be there, if she wanted me to, when she says good-bye to Seek. (And then I had to tell her that I had a dentist appointment this afternoon, and wouldn't be available for a couple of hours.) She said that several other people had expressed the wish to be there, so I probably will not attend.I said my good-byes to Seek yesterday afternoon, and told her about the Rainbow Bridge, and seeing her brother again. I wish her a pain free trip......
Monday, April 3, 2017
More Stuff...
In the Kentucky Derby picture, El Areeb is out of contention, coming back from a breeze with a bone chip in his knee. Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby this past weekend and Girvin won the Louisiana Derby. Next Saturday will see the Grand National Steeplechase run at Aintree - there are currently about 50 active entries, any of which can be scratched by the trainer up to the start of the race. No more than 40 horses are allowed to start in the Grand National.
We've had some rain and a little drought relief this past week. Forecasters are claiming we'll get snow tonight, again. There's a big westerly breeze that is drying, but it looks as if it's bringing clouds up to the mountain tops. We might have rain, or snow... I'll just wait and see as always. The Forecasters were very serious when they said we'd have 5 to 8 inches of snow fall Thursday and Friday, but all we had was a light rain.
Still missing the lady Rose. My next pet appointment is on the 14th - walking Nicodemus and Emmett, and then again on the 17th. Seems very odd not to have walking duties daily... I could accept an offer from a couple in the same neighborhood - they have three Anatolian Shepherds, a Golden Retriever, and a wolf-German Shepherd mix. The Golden is the smallest, at 60 pounds; the youngest Anatolian is 7 months old and weighs 75 pounds so far. The others range in weight from 110 to 135 pounds. - And when I walk two of them together, the sidewalks and pathways clear out - it seems like I'm walking two great white sharks... But the owners gave me incorrect dates a few years ago, and while the dogs did receive care from me, it wasn't the full-time care the owner expected. She gave me a date that was 3 days off from the correct date, and when I noticed the family hadn't returned, I continued to feed, water, and walk all of them - but I wasn't staying in the house. They were not nice about it, even when I produced their original e-mails regarding dates and times.... So I'm not sure I really want to get involved with them again.
We have placed a rather light-weight bird feeder on top of the coffee table on the balcony, and placed a small water bowl for the birds as well. The cats can only go out under supervision, so we won't have any calamities. But they are so cute when there is a flock of finches and sparrows on the balcony, eating and drinking (and occasionally bathing), and the kits are curled up with their noses against the glass and they are making their instinctive chittering sounds... Love my kits, but love the birds, too!
The third Chincoteague pony foal born this year - a little boy I named Lost Tide - didn't survive. He was born on the 27th and died on the 31st of March. He was originally ignored by his first-time Mom, but then they were placed together in a box stall with a small paddock. He seemed to be doing well, they were bonding, and he was nursing. He laid down for a nap Friday afternoon and didn't wake up. A filly was born on the 27th, also, I call her The Swan - Mom is Little Duckie and Dad is Legacy. Then Splash of Freckles had a buckskin pinto filly on April Fools' Day - the fourth foal so far for Legacy... So he's sired three girls and a boy so far this year. Riptide has only had the one colt (so far this year) who didn't survive.
We've had some rain and a little drought relief this past week. Forecasters are claiming we'll get snow tonight, again. There's a big westerly breeze that is drying, but it looks as if it's bringing clouds up to the mountain tops. We might have rain, or snow... I'll just wait and see as always. The Forecasters were very serious when they said we'd have 5 to 8 inches of snow fall Thursday and Friday, but all we had was a light rain.
Still missing the lady Rose. My next pet appointment is on the 14th - walking Nicodemus and Emmett, and then again on the 17th. Seems very odd not to have walking duties daily... I could accept an offer from a couple in the same neighborhood - they have three Anatolian Shepherds, a Golden Retriever, and a wolf-German Shepherd mix. The Golden is the smallest, at 60 pounds; the youngest Anatolian is 7 months old and weighs 75 pounds so far. The others range in weight from 110 to 135 pounds. - And when I walk two of them together, the sidewalks and pathways clear out - it seems like I'm walking two great white sharks... But the owners gave me incorrect dates a few years ago, and while the dogs did receive care from me, it wasn't the full-time care the owner expected. She gave me a date that was 3 days off from the correct date, and when I noticed the family hadn't returned, I continued to feed, water, and walk all of them - but I wasn't staying in the house. They were not nice about it, even when I produced their original e-mails regarding dates and times.... So I'm not sure I really want to get involved with them again.
We have placed a rather light-weight bird feeder on top of the coffee table on the balcony, and placed a small water bowl for the birds as well. The cats can only go out under supervision, so we won't have any calamities. But they are so cute when there is a flock of finches and sparrows on the balcony, eating and drinking (and occasionally bathing), and the kits are curled up with their noses against the glass and they are making their instinctive chittering sounds... Love my kits, but love the birds, too!
The third Chincoteague pony foal born this year - a little boy I named Lost Tide - didn't survive. He was born on the 27th and died on the 31st of March. He was originally ignored by his first-time Mom, but then they were placed together in a box stall with a small paddock. He seemed to be doing well, they were bonding, and he was nursing. He laid down for a nap Friday afternoon and didn't wake up. A filly was born on the 27th, also, I call her The Swan - Mom is Little Duckie and Dad is Legacy. Then Splash of Freckles had a buckskin pinto filly on April Fools' Day - the fourth foal so far for Legacy... So he's sired three girls and a boy so far this year. Riptide has only had the one colt (so far this year) who didn't survive.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Bits and Pieces
If you want, or need, a good laugh - and can stand to read a lot of incomplete sentences that were uttered by the current President - please read (and guffaw, as I did) the following new article, or interview, from Time magazine: http://time.com/4710456/donald-trump-time-interview-truth-falsehood/
There were six late additions to the Triple Crown nominations list, so the current list of contenders now registered is 425. A horse must have a certain number of qualifying points to run in the Kentucky Derby, which is capped at 20 entries. Other horses that are nominated, but do not have the points, may race in the Preakness Stakes and/or the Belmont Stakes. The newest nominees are: Thunder Snow, Hollywood Handsome, More Than Words, Parlor, Rapid Dial, and Stretch's Stone.
The wind is picking up again, here in Boulder - it's from the west and is expected to bring a rain-snow mix overnight and into Friday morning. We really need the rain, snow, sleet - whatever precipitation we can get. I just hope there's no hail - gardens are blooming and trees are budding and putting out fresh delicate leaves right now. I'll pull our potted plants back in from the balcony this afternoon.
It has been judged that the Sunshine Canyon fire was started by an illegal campfire by people trespassing on private property. The fire investigators state that the camp appeared to have been used by "transients."
And Joe Pelle (our Sheriff) announced that a body has been found on one of the local hiking trails... currently, no further information is available.
I am still grieving the loss of Rosie, the Irish Setter, whom I cared for over a period of more than ten years. We lost Remy, her brother four years ago... And I'm preparing to say good-bye to a beautiful cat who has bone cancer in her jaw. She seems to be in quite a bit of pain and is no longer eating - but she will drink... so I've suggested that her owner give her chicken bone broth for some nutritional value.
My two kitties are doing well. Lovey is curled up in her little nest beside my bed, and Nedi has burrowed under the afghan on my reading chair. Lovey is napping - Nedi is keeping an eye on the birds visiting the feeder and water bowl on the balcony...
I hope you have a great day, wherever you are - and whenever you read this!
There were six late additions to the Triple Crown nominations list, so the current list of contenders now registered is 425. A horse must have a certain number of qualifying points to run in the Kentucky Derby, which is capped at 20 entries. Other horses that are nominated, but do not have the points, may race in the Preakness Stakes and/or the Belmont Stakes. The newest nominees are: Thunder Snow, Hollywood Handsome, More Than Words, Parlor, Rapid Dial, and Stretch's Stone.
The wind is picking up again, here in Boulder - it's from the west and is expected to bring a rain-snow mix overnight and into Friday morning. We really need the rain, snow, sleet - whatever precipitation we can get. I just hope there's no hail - gardens are blooming and trees are budding and putting out fresh delicate leaves right now. I'll pull our potted plants back in from the balcony this afternoon.
It has been judged that the Sunshine Canyon fire was started by an illegal campfire by people trespassing on private property. The fire investigators state that the camp appeared to have been used by "transients."
And Joe Pelle (our Sheriff) announced that a body has been found on one of the local hiking trails... currently, no further information is available.
I am still grieving the loss of Rosie, the Irish Setter, whom I cared for over a period of more than ten years. We lost Remy, her brother four years ago... And I'm preparing to say good-bye to a beautiful cat who has bone cancer in her jaw. She seems to be in quite a bit of pain and is no longer eating - but she will drink... so I've suggested that her owner give her chicken bone broth for some nutritional value.
My two kitties are doing well. Lovey is curled up in her little nest beside my bed, and Nedi has burrowed under the afghan on my reading chair. Lovey is napping - Nedi is keeping an eye on the birds visiting the feeder and water bowl on the balcony...
I hope you have a great day, wherever you are - and whenever you read this!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
This and That...
Our local wildfire, in Sunshine Canyon, is completely contained, and evacuation orders have been lifted. No loss of pets or people, no loss of homes - but I'm afraid that nests, burrows, and wildlife were lost... And there was a fiery public bus crash yesterday in Boulder yesterday; one of our friends has been charged with "careless driving." We wish Rich the best outcome possible.
Seek, the Spangled Bengal, with bone cancer in her jaw, is doing a little better. I'll go spend time with her tonight and Thursday while her Mom is teaching art classes. Seek eats well for me, and likes to be a lap cat while I'm visiting. Then I take clients to Denver International at 4 Wednesday morning; Seek again Thursday evening; a quick visit with Pip and Squeak's people on Friday morning; and care of the chickens and cats on Dellwood begins Saturday afternoon... But no Rosie (sigh) - I know she's in a better place where all parts of her work, but I miss our daily outings.
In the Kentucky Derby picture, things are getting more cloudy as time goes by and the race gets nearer. Mastery would probably be the betting favorite today - but he's out of the picture for any spring or summer racing. The colt won the San Jacinto Stakes by almost 7 lengths, under a hand ride by Mike Smith; 10 strides past the finish line, Mike felt the colt change his movement, and pulled him up. The colt had suffered a condylar fracture of his left fore cannon. He's had surgery and is back in his stall in Bob Baffert's barn. At the moment, Gunnevera has the most points earned for the Kentucky Derby; but a lot of folks are talking about Malagacy's win this weekend in the Rebel Stakes. Here's the list of the horses with the most points: (1) Gunnevera, (2) Mastery - out with broken leg, (3) Tapwrit, (4) J Boys Echo, (5) Malagacy, (6) Epicharis, (7) Girvin, (8) Mont Saint Legame, (9) Practical Joke, (10) Untapped, (11) Classic Empire, (12) El Areeb, (13) Gormley, (14) State of Honor, (15) McCraken, (16) Iliad, (17) Sonneteer, (18) Adirato, (19) Cloud Computing, (20) Wild Shot, (21) Caucus, (22) Guest Suite, (23) Petrov, (24) Lookin At Lee, (25) Term of Art, and (26) Uncontested. Many more colts have ten points or less; Gunnevera, the leader, has 64; and only 20 colts will start in the Derby on 6 May.
Spent part of yesterday listening to the House Intelligence Committee asking FBI Director Comey about the current administration and Russia... Things are getting very interesting.
Seek, the Spangled Bengal, with bone cancer in her jaw, is doing a little better. I'll go spend time with her tonight and Thursday while her Mom is teaching art classes. Seek eats well for me, and likes to be a lap cat while I'm visiting. Then I take clients to Denver International at 4 Wednesday morning; Seek again Thursday evening; a quick visit with Pip and Squeak's people on Friday morning; and care of the chickens and cats on Dellwood begins Saturday afternoon... But no Rosie (sigh) - I know she's in a better place where all parts of her work, but I miss our daily outings.
In the Kentucky Derby picture, things are getting more cloudy as time goes by and the race gets nearer. Mastery would probably be the betting favorite today - but he's out of the picture for any spring or summer racing. The colt won the San Jacinto Stakes by almost 7 lengths, under a hand ride by Mike Smith; 10 strides past the finish line, Mike felt the colt change his movement, and pulled him up. The colt had suffered a condylar fracture of his left fore cannon. He's had surgery and is back in his stall in Bob Baffert's barn. At the moment, Gunnevera has the most points earned for the Kentucky Derby; but a lot of folks are talking about Malagacy's win this weekend in the Rebel Stakes. Here's the list of the horses with the most points: (1) Gunnevera, (2) Mastery - out with broken leg, (3) Tapwrit, (4) J Boys Echo, (5) Malagacy, (6) Epicharis, (7) Girvin, (8) Mont Saint Legame, (9) Practical Joke, (10) Untapped, (11) Classic Empire, (12) El Areeb, (13) Gormley, (14) State of Honor, (15) McCraken, (16) Iliad, (17) Sonneteer, (18) Adirato, (19) Cloud Computing, (20) Wild Shot, (21) Caucus, (22) Guest Suite, (23) Petrov, (24) Lookin At Lee, (25) Term of Art, and (26) Uncontested. Many more colts have ten points or less; Gunnevera, the leader, has 64; and only 20 colts will start in the Derby on 6 May.
Spent part of yesterday listening to the House Intelligence Committee asking FBI Director Comey about the current administration and Russia... Things are getting very interesting.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
This and That
Two months away, the Kentucky Derby is already getting a lot of news coverage. It is the best known race in the United States, and this is the normal hyperbole, but it seems that this year,again, the Derby is a wide open race... El Areeb, Irish War Cry, and Beasley have recently been in the headlines surrounding the Derby, and there are 9 stakes races at Gulfstream Park today. There have also been a spate of stallion deaths, including the 11-year-old Giant Oak, a son of Giant's Causeway.
The Chincoteague Pony Spring Round-Up will take place on April 7 and 8 this year. The ponies of the north and south herds will be rounded up and checked for any problems, plus they'll get blood drawn for testing, annual vaccines, and the equine veterinarian will give each and every pony a check-up and evaluation.The buy-back ponies from last summer's auction have been staying at the Carnival Grounds on Chincoteague, and they will be released back onto Assateague on Saturday, 8 April. Hopefully, my filly, Surfer Princess will be taken back to the north end of the island to be separated from her full-brother, Riptide. She managed to get back down to the south end of the island after Christmas, and joined her brother's herd. (I wouldn't worry if she were running with Maverick or the Don Leonard Stud II - but she's with her brother.)
Rosie continued improving yesterday, and wandered around the back yard on her own when I took her for her daily outing. I got some really good photos of her. I wasn't sure this past Tuesday if she'd survive until the end of the week, but it looks like she'll definitely hang on until next weekend, when the son of the family will return home from College for his spring break. That will make all of us humans very happy.
Had a great time playing with Tipsi last night and again this morning. His people went cross-country skiing and took the two dogs, so Tipsi is at home by himself (since Pounce passed away last month). We played with the laser light, and tossed catnip toys, watched birds and squirrels in the back yard - and he ate like a little piglet. He's tangled with other critters (cats or raccoons) three times in the past year and ended up with an abscess and surgeries each time. He is now an indoor cat, and does not like it.
And now the idiot "45" is claiming that President Obama tapped all of Trump Towers during his, 45's, run for office. What a hoot! As Nancy Pelosi called him, he's the "Deflector-in-Chief" for trying to get folks to stop asking questions about his and his associates ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin. As a top United States Security man stated, a wiretap cannot be directed at a U.S. facility, without finding probable cause that the phone lines or Internet addresses were being used by agents of a foreign power - or by someone spying for or acting on behalf of a foreign government. "You can't just go around and tap buildings," the official said. - And any wire-tapping must be approved by a Federal judge...
Hope you have a great weekend!
The Chincoteague Pony Spring Round-Up will take place on April 7 and 8 this year. The ponies of the north and south herds will be rounded up and checked for any problems, plus they'll get blood drawn for testing, annual vaccines, and the equine veterinarian will give each and every pony a check-up and evaluation.The buy-back ponies from last summer's auction have been staying at the Carnival Grounds on Chincoteague, and they will be released back onto Assateague on Saturday, 8 April. Hopefully, my filly, Surfer Princess will be taken back to the north end of the island to be separated from her full-brother, Riptide. She managed to get back down to the south end of the island after Christmas, and joined her brother's herd. (I wouldn't worry if she were running with Maverick or the Don Leonard Stud II - but she's with her brother.)
Rosie continued improving yesterday, and wandered around the back yard on her own when I took her for her daily outing. I got some really good photos of her. I wasn't sure this past Tuesday if she'd survive until the end of the week, but it looks like she'll definitely hang on until next weekend, when the son of the family will return home from College for his spring break. That will make all of us humans very happy.
Had a great time playing with Tipsi last night and again this morning. His people went cross-country skiing and took the two dogs, so Tipsi is at home by himself (since Pounce passed away last month). We played with the laser light, and tossed catnip toys, watched birds and squirrels in the back yard - and he ate like a little piglet. He's tangled with other critters (cats or raccoons) three times in the past year and ended up with an abscess and surgeries each time. He is now an indoor cat, and does not like it.
And now the idiot "45" is claiming that President Obama tapped all of Trump Towers during his, 45's, run for office. What a hoot! As Nancy Pelosi called him, he's the "Deflector-in-Chief" for trying to get folks to stop asking questions about his and his associates ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin. As a top United States Security man stated, a wiretap cannot be directed at a U.S. facility, without finding probable cause that the phone lines or Internet addresses were being used by agents of a foreign power - or by someone spying for or acting on behalf of a foreign government. "You can't just go around and tap buildings," the official said. - And any wire-tapping must be approved by a Federal judge...
Hope you have a great weekend!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Bits and Pieces
I had an appointment for 90 minutes in the dentist's chair yesterday, and ended up in there for 150 minutes instead. I was not happy. The dentist office scares me witless anyway... I had two cavities to be filled - the two upper rear molars. During the procedure, which took 8 Lidocaine injections, a wedge that was placed between the two teeth shattered. The dentist had to dig the pieces out, after trying to flush them out with air and water. One piece ended up jammed against my jaw bone, and had to be surgically removed. I have to go back again on 10 March for more work and X-Rays...
I am very disappointed that Betsy DeVos was voted in as the Secretary of Education yesterday. The vote in the Senate was tied at 50, so the Vice President got to cast his vote as the Senate President. Of course, he voted for the nominee. I still can't believe that the person in charge of education has never attended a public school, nor gone to a university or college, and that her children haven't either. And the craziest thing was her support of teachers having guns in classrooms so they could protect the students from grizzly bear attacks...
I just read several entertaining and revealing articles about how practicing psychologists view the newly-elected President. The term malignant narcissist keeps floating around in my mind - along with the nine points of displaying such a mental illness.
One of my clients passed away Monday. He was a 19-year-old cat with thyroid problems. Two years ago, he developed a small swelling, the size of a pea, on the point of his left hock. It was, essentially a small hernia and a major vein dropped into it. Over the past two years, the pea became the size of a large grapefruit, with a huge explosion of capillary growth. This last four weeks, he began to have trouble with his balance, because the grape-fruit sized tumor wobbled back and forth as he walked. Because of his age, and the huge amount of blood flow, an operation could not be done. Monday morning, the tumor/hernia ruptured. He suddenly began to cry. Susan, his owner wrapped that leg up in towels and took him to the vet. He was bleeding out, so he was put to sleep. I'm gonna miss that guy sleeping on my head when I'm at his house... There are still two dogs and another cat for me to care for, but Pounce was special.
Then, on Monday night, Tessa, one of my (client) dogs, had a seizure. Tessa is an 11-year-old mutt. and other than having stinky feet, and one bad reaction to a rabies shot, has no problems. He owner called me in a panic - but, by that time, the seizure was over, and Tessa was, pretty much, back to normal. We discussed the fact that most dogs with epilepsy usually have their first seizures when they are between 3 months and 5 years old. But, Tessa was inside (and unrestrained) for a double-roll-over car accident. She was stiff and sore for the next few days, but otherwise checked out OK at the veterinarian's office. Tessa, was, however, thrown from the rear,open area of the rear of the vehicle into the backseat - against the ceiling and over the seat backs. We wonder, now, if she had a nasty head bump that might have caused this seizure...
I am very disappointed that Betsy DeVos was voted in as the Secretary of Education yesterday. The vote in the Senate was tied at 50, so the Vice President got to cast his vote as the Senate President. Of course, he voted for the nominee. I still can't believe that the person in charge of education has never attended a public school, nor gone to a university or college, and that her children haven't either. And the craziest thing was her support of teachers having guns in classrooms so they could protect the students from grizzly bear attacks...
I just read several entertaining and revealing articles about how practicing psychologists view the newly-elected President. The term malignant narcissist keeps floating around in my mind - along with the nine points of displaying such a mental illness.
One of my clients passed away Monday. He was a 19-year-old cat with thyroid problems. Two years ago, he developed a small swelling, the size of a pea, on the point of his left hock. It was, essentially a small hernia and a major vein dropped into it. Over the past two years, the pea became the size of a large grapefruit, with a huge explosion of capillary growth. This last four weeks, he began to have trouble with his balance, because the grape-fruit sized tumor wobbled back and forth as he walked. Because of his age, and the huge amount of blood flow, an operation could not be done. Monday morning, the tumor/hernia ruptured. He suddenly began to cry. Susan, his owner wrapped that leg up in towels and took him to the vet. He was bleeding out, so he was put to sleep. I'm gonna miss that guy sleeping on my head when I'm at his house... There are still two dogs and another cat for me to care for, but Pounce was special.
Then, on Monday night, Tessa, one of my (client) dogs, had a seizure. Tessa is an 11-year-old mutt. and other than having stinky feet, and one bad reaction to a rabies shot, has no problems. He owner called me in a panic - but, by that time, the seizure was over, and Tessa was, pretty much, back to normal. We discussed the fact that most dogs with epilepsy usually have their first seizures when they are between 3 months and 5 years old. But, Tessa was inside (and unrestrained) for a double-roll-over car accident. She was stiff and sore for the next few days, but otherwise checked out OK at the veterinarian's office. Tessa, was, however, thrown from the rear,open area of the rear of the vehicle into the backseat - against the ceiling and over the seat backs. We wonder, now, if she had a nasty head bump that might have caused this seizure...
Monday, January 23, 2017
Critter Sitting
I met two new cuties that I'll be caring for in a few days - a pair of black sister litter-mates, Pip and Squeak. They are very sweet. As usual, I had a little giggle because the cats came out to meet me, after their owner assured me that they were both sound asleep, and wouldn't be stirring for several hours. I heard a quiet "Mmm-row?" and told her that one of the cats was awake - and she looked very startled and told me I must have heard something from outside, or that the cleaning team had made something squeak. Less than 30 seconds later, Squeak was doing the snaky figure-8 around my ankles. It gave the owner quite a surprise. Less than a minute later, Pip also joined us, and I was able to see the differences between the sisters.
I was also able to walk Rosie today... She is such a sweet girl. The owners' son had been home from college and just left yesterday, so I didn't walk Rosie on Thursday and Friday; instead Max spent time with her. And she loves Max so dearly - she'll try to do anything he asks, no matter what. And since she's fourteen and a half years old, we never know if the day will be her last. She still enjoys life greatly - she absolutely loves Chicken McNuggets and usually eats 17 to 20 of them when I take care of her in the evenings. She doesn't have much of an appetite for her prescribed dog food, and usually gets rotisserie chicken and meatballs from a local market, plus fresh-frozen duck. Spoiled? Not my Rosie! Today she chased a mule deer in my sister's back yard, and I think that made her feel powerful and young again. There are usually squirrels and rabbits galore for her to see, and chase, if she decides to do so. Today, the fir trees were full of chickadees and that was almost all you could hear - and Rosie had a good time "playing Safari" under the low branches of the trees, looking for lions and tigers and bears. The only thing we haven't found there is a tiger, so far...
Both of my cats are curled up on, or next to, my bed - Nedi has made himself a little nest in my dirty laundry basket and is out like a light. Lovey is at the foot of the bed, but I can tell from her ears that she's listening to the keyboard. I have been lucky to have had the use of Donn's VW Touareg since two days past Christmas; while he's away, I pick up his mail, and get to use his vehicle, just replacing the fuel that I've used. He returns tomorrow afternoon, and after almost 30 days straight with a car available, it'll feel strange to go back to busing and walking... but that's what happens tomorrow.
Luckily the job that I begin on Wednesday (actually two jobs start at once) is within a block of a bus stop; I'll have to walk two more blocks to see Pip and Squeak. I'm just hoping that we'll continue to have mild weather and little snow until both families return. Also back a Dellwood on Wednesday - chickens, cats and fish to care for. At least, if there is a heavy snow, the way is short from the house to the chicken coop, and the girls will be able to stay in the covered run. They also have a heat lamp and heated water bowls, so there's no worry there. I'll just have to try and keep the cats inside, if there is a heavy snow; Carter would rather be inside where it's warm, but Xuxa wants to go out and burrow in the snow, silly girl!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Christmas Eve in Colorado
It was dark and cold - 18 degrees (F) - when I got up and started my daily rounds this morning. My kits were not happy that the alarm went off earlier than usual, and while I was preparing to leave, Nedi was winding up into his loudest rendition of the feline Hallelujah chorus. Giving him a "special treat" for breakfast convinced him to be much more quiet, but I understand that he gave Beatrice a rousing vocal at 7 o'clock.
Victor and Xena were happy to see a little earlier than usual, and scampered out into the back yard like the big kids they are... It was still not yet full day, and the chickens decided not to leave the coop, so I had to go in and count nebs. I had put out fresh, warm water for them, and given them cracked corn and some fresh garbanzo beans. Then I gave the dogs their morning treats, and headed over to the Jack Russells'.
Nicodemus is a smaller, tri-color Jack, who recently lost an eye to an infection we couldn't get rid of. He was almost completely blind with cataracts at the age of 2, and he had surgery to remove those. He was fine for 5 years, but something scratched the lens of his eye while out playing at Coot Lake, and it just would not clear up, or heal up. The vet finally removed the eye two months ago. Emmitt is a larger, almost all white, Jack with a few tan spots on his ear. He's a rescue dog, having been kept in a cage in a basement for the first 5 years of his life. He didn't know what grass was, and it took several years for him to get used to all the sights and sounds he encounters in the house and outdoors. He's an extremely vigilant house protector, and barks at anything that moves in the yard or on the street. Thank goodness they live on a small cu-de-sac!
This evening I'll go visit Seek, a Spangled Bengal cat, and give her supper, love, and some playtime and grooming. Her Mom will return late Sunday night, so I'll make three visits, in all, to see her. She has a beautiful copper-colored coat with black swirls and dots - and huge green eyes... She's a sweetheart.
And, of course, I'll spend cuddle time with Lovey and Nedi today, too. - I've finished my Christmas shopping, and just picked up a gift from Rosie's parents/owners from Mike's Camera. I couldn't believe how wonderful and generous these folks are - They bought me a complete package of the Canon Rebel EOS T6, with the regular and the zoom lens, care and protective items, and $300 worth of coupons for free photos, classes, and all sorts of things...
For all of you who are my friends, I am very blessed to know all of you...
May Christmas bring you peace, joy, and great happiness!
Victor and Xena were happy to see a little earlier than usual, and scampered out into the back yard like the big kids they are... It was still not yet full day, and the chickens decided not to leave the coop, so I had to go in and count nebs. I had put out fresh, warm water for them, and given them cracked corn and some fresh garbanzo beans. Then I gave the dogs their morning treats, and headed over to the Jack Russells'.
Nicodemus is a smaller, tri-color Jack, who recently lost an eye to an infection we couldn't get rid of. He was almost completely blind with cataracts at the age of 2, and he had surgery to remove those. He was fine for 5 years, but something scratched the lens of his eye while out playing at Coot Lake, and it just would not clear up, or heal up. The vet finally removed the eye two months ago. Emmitt is a larger, almost all white, Jack with a few tan spots on his ear. He's a rescue dog, having been kept in a cage in a basement for the first 5 years of his life. He didn't know what grass was, and it took several years for him to get used to all the sights and sounds he encounters in the house and outdoors. He's an extremely vigilant house protector, and barks at anything that moves in the yard or on the street. Thank goodness they live on a small cu-de-sac!
This evening I'll go visit Seek, a Spangled Bengal cat, and give her supper, love, and some playtime and grooming. Her Mom will return late Sunday night, so I'll make three visits, in all, to see her. She has a beautiful copper-colored coat with black swirls and dots - and huge green eyes... She's a sweetheart.
And, of course, I'll spend cuddle time with Lovey and Nedi today, too. - I've finished my Christmas shopping, and just picked up a gift from Rosie's parents/owners from Mike's Camera. I couldn't believe how wonderful and generous these folks are - They bought me a complete package of the Canon Rebel EOS T6, with the regular and the zoom lens, care and protective items, and $300 worth of coupons for free photos, classes, and all sorts of things...
For all of you who are my friends, I am very blessed to know all of you...
May Christmas bring you peace, joy, and great happiness!
Thursday, December 8, 2016
It'a a Little Chilly Out
Thankfully, there wan't any wind to speak of during our snow Tuesday night and Wednesday - and it isn't windy or breezy now - winds are "calm" and it's all of five degrees outside. The sun is shining, and fog is developing on the roadways. The big worry out driving today is unseen ice on the road... I'm not going out, unless there's an emergency for one of my clients. - I'm sitting here, in my desk chair, wearing slippers, sweatpants and a T-shirt. And I'm warm enough that I've pulled my hair back into a ponytail so my neck won't sweat... I'll put my boots on later and go out and sweep the balcony clean.
Beatrice, my room-mate, just left with Mike. They spent yesterday afternoon working on a Christmas surprise for Mike's wife Sarah, and they're hoping to get it finished today. A week ago I introduced Lovey to Bea's new waterbed mattress, one that is "waveless." Now, every morning at 9:30, Lovey goes and gets on Bea's bed, and follows the sunshine from the window across Bea's king size mattress. She just luxuriates in the warmth and the sun. When the sun is not shining, she whines and complains to both of us, as if we can turn the sun on for her...
Nedi is working apace on his newest art project. He loves boxes. Smaller ones, and crisp paper, he shreds with his teeth - but he loves to artfully claw and scratch large boxes. The only large one we have inside is the one that Bea's old waterbed mattress is packed in. We need to take it down into the basement storage area, but Nedi is having a delightful time clawing and scratching the upperreaches of the box. He was actually swinging by his front paws, with hind feet and tail off the floor, yesterday morning. It means we sweep the floor daily, and sometimes thrice; but it keeps the boy happy and he doesn't attack the furniture.
We're supposed to warm up to 40 degrees tomorrow, so I'll be walking Rosie again. I spent yesterday with Tessa, Cleo, Lily and Lyra - walked Tessa and Cleo for 45 minutes in the snow at 1 p.m. and then stayed inside as much as possible. I turned the dogs loose every 90 minutes to go run and play and use the bathroom in the snow, but I did not join them. Even Lyra, who longs to escape the house, didn't try to go out... She's a smart kitty!
Beatrice, my room-mate, just left with Mike. They spent yesterday afternoon working on a Christmas surprise for Mike's wife Sarah, and they're hoping to get it finished today. A week ago I introduced Lovey to Bea's new waterbed mattress, one that is "waveless." Now, every morning at 9:30, Lovey goes and gets on Bea's bed, and follows the sunshine from the window across Bea's king size mattress. She just luxuriates in the warmth and the sun. When the sun is not shining, she whines and complains to both of us, as if we can turn the sun on for her...
Nedi is working apace on his newest art project. He loves boxes. Smaller ones, and crisp paper, he shreds with his teeth - but he loves to artfully claw and scratch large boxes. The only large one we have inside is the one that Bea's old waterbed mattress is packed in. We need to take it down into the basement storage area, but Nedi is having a delightful time clawing and scratching the upperreaches of the box. He was actually swinging by his front paws, with hind feet and tail off the floor, yesterday morning. It means we sweep the floor daily, and sometimes thrice; but it keeps the boy happy and he doesn't attack the furniture.
We're supposed to warm up to 40 degrees tomorrow, so I'll be walking Rosie again. I spent yesterday with Tessa, Cleo, Lily and Lyra - walked Tessa and Cleo for 45 minutes in the snow at 1 p.m. and then stayed inside as much as possible. I turned the dogs loose every 90 minutes to go run and play and use the bathroom in the snow, but I did not join them. Even Lyra, who longs to escape the house, didn't try to go out... She's a smart kitty!
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
It IS Snowing
I stepped outside yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock to take out the recycling and to check the mail. I was quite surprised to have two teeny-tiny snowflakes land on my glasses lens. It came down small and fine, almost like powdered sugar, at first - in 3 hours, it was big fluffy flakes falling. This morning, it's fine light flakes again. The newspaper says we had 5.1 inches fall overnight - and, of course, it's still coming down. - Right now, I'm looking at a red-shafted flicker eating mealyworm suet from the feeder in the backyard, at Lynn's house.
Seeing how light, fluffy, and fine the snow looked, I took the broom downstairs to the Touareg - swept 95% of the snow off in just a couple of minutes. A neighbor was trying to clear her car with her hands, so I loaned her the broom to get her going. The car started right up, and, as I had pulled the wipers away from the windows, I had no problems with them being stuck. Then again, it was so cold, there was no ice melt on the windows to worry about... Supposed to get up to 20 degrees (F) today, with a low tonight of -3. I'll be safe at home with my kits, when that occurs.
I had no problems getting from the apartment to Lynn's house, but I had to laugh when I arrived: the garage door was stuck mid-way up and down. Christine hadn't waited to be sure the door closed before exiting the driveway. I had to get out of the car, stoop under the door, and use the re-set button inside to get it to close, and then re-open, so I could drive the Touareg inside.
Lily met me at the laundry door, which was a surprise - but I guess she knew I was here to feed her. Opened the office door and Lyra, Cleo and Tessa popped out, in that order. I put Cleo and Tess out while I fed the cats breakfast, and made the dog's breakfast. "Made the dogs' breakfast" sounds funny, but Tess and Cleo both get assorted supplements added to their food. After the car crash, Tessa's kidney function test was a bit abnormal, and she's never been a big water drinker, so the vet suggested giving her turkey or chicken broth to drink. That's now mixed in her food, as well, and, of, course, Cleo has to have some, too.
Currently, Tessa is asleep in the entryway; Cleo is asleep on the radiant-heat tile floor behind me; Lily is upstairs on the bed; and Lyra is snuggled up in her petal bed in the top of the cat tree, watching the snow fall and the birds visit the three feeders.
My kits are home and have probably awakened Beatrice by now. I gave them a treat for their breakfast and they ate almost all of it. Nedi wanted to go out and play in the snow on the balcony, but I didn't open the door for him. He was giving me a hugely pleading look, but no mews, when I left to come here....
Supposed to stop snowing around noon (according to the weather folks) and then just keep getting colder. We'll see. I have a book to read, and can do genealogy work while I'm here. I promised Christine I'd stay until she returned from her planned trip and a stop back in at work. I won't be bored, with four critters, books, the internet, television, and the outside winter wonderland to keep me engaged!
Seeing how light, fluffy, and fine the snow looked, I took the broom downstairs to the Touareg - swept 95% of the snow off in just a couple of minutes. A neighbor was trying to clear her car with her hands, so I loaned her the broom to get her going. The car started right up, and, as I had pulled the wipers away from the windows, I had no problems with them being stuck. Then again, it was so cold, there was no ice melt on the windows to worry about... Supposed to get up to 20 degrees (F) today, with a low tonight of -3. I'll be safe at home with my kits, when that occurs.
I had no problems getting from the apartment to Lynn's house, but I had to laugh when I arrived: the garage door was stuck mid-way up and down. Christine hadn't waited to be sure the door closed before exiting the driveway. I had to get out of the car, stoop under the door, and use the re-set button inside to get it to close, and then re-open, so I could drive the Touareg inside.
Lily met me at the laundry door, which was a surprise - but I guess she knew I was here to feed her. Opened the office door and Lyra, Cleo and Tessa popped out, in that order. I put Cleo and Tess out while I fed the cats breakfast, and made the dog's breakfast. "Made the dogs' breakfast" sounds funny, but Tess and Cleo both get assorted supplements added to their food. After the car crash, Tessa's kidney function test was a bit abnormal, and she's never been a big water drinker, so the vet suggested giving her turkey or chicken broth to drink. That's now mixed in her food, as well, and, of, course, Cleo has to have some, too.
Currently, Tessa is asleep in the entryway; Cleo is asleep on the radiant-heat tile floor behind me; Lily is upstairs on the bed; and Lyra is snuggled up in her petal bed in the top of the cat tree, watching the snow fall and the birds visit the three feeders.
My kits are home and have probably awakened Beatrice by now. I gave them a treat for their breakfast and they ate almost all of it. Nedi wanted to go out and play in the snow on the balcony, but I didn't open the door for him. He was giving me a hugely pleading look, but no mews, when I left to come here....
Supposed to stop snowing around noon (according to the weather folks) and then just keep getting colder. We'll see. I have a book to read, and can do genealogy work while I'm here. I promised Christine I'd stay until she returned from her planned trip and a stop back in at work. I won't be bored, with four critters, books, the internet, television, and the outside winter wonderland to keep me engaged!
Sunday, December 4, 2016
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!
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!
Friday, November 25, 2016
Fall Is Here
It's been chilly the past few mornings, but when I looked outside this morning before heading off to the chickens, I decided to bundle up. The forecast had said a low of 24 degrees, but it looked colder out the window. Jeans, ragg wool socks, a T-shirt, sneakers, my quilted jacket, and a red and green striped pointed hat with elf ears sewn on and a big jingle bell on the end. A lot of people driving down the roads did a double-take, and then waved at me this morning. I smiled and waved back to everyone. Bounced up the steps onto the bus and jingled all the way - made the bus driver laugh. It was 17 degrees (F) when I left the house, and 27 when I returned an hour later.
The hens were ready to come out, but their water bowl was almost dry, so I had to rinse and refill it. I scattered some scratch and beans for them to snack on today. Carter, the tom cat, definitely wanted to come outside and wander, but Xuxa, the girl, decided to stay inside where it was much warmer. I'll get everyone back inside again at dusk.
The bobcat is still around in my usual house-sitting neighborhood. My brother-in-law was sitting at the dining room table, doing paper work, when he saw a movement on the patio. He looked out, and the bobcat was investigating the sliding glass door and the picnic table, then it nosed around the woodpile, where the mink lives. Jim got up to get his camera, and the bobcat went across the yard to one of the big cottonwood trees, and Jim said that it bounded up into the foliage in the blink of an eye - two leaps and it had disappeared. Since the bobcat has been in the neighborhood for 2 weeks now, I sent out a reminder to folks to keep an eye on their smalls dogs and cats. I'm pretty sure the bobcat is feeding well off the huge number of rabbits in the area, but so are the fox pair.
I am not going to any shopping center or retail store today, Black Friday. I've already read headlines about shootings and stampedes with injuries - so, as usual, I'm staying away from all that madness.
The hens were ready to come out, but their water bowl was almost dry, so I had to rinse and refill it. I scattered some scratch and beans for them to snack on today. Carter, the tom cat, definitely wanted to come outside and wander, but Xuxa, the girl, decided to stay inside where it was much warmer. I'll get everyone back inside again at dusk.
The bobcat is still around in my usual house-sitting neighborhood. My brother-in-law was sitting at the dining room table, doing paper work, when he saw a movement on the patio. He looked out, and the bobcat was investigating the sliding glass door and the picnic table, then it nosed around the woodpile, where the mink lives. Jim got up to get his camera, and the bobcat went across the yard to one of the big cottonwood trees, and Jim said that it bounded up into the foliage in the blink of an eye - two leaps and it had disappeared. Since the bobcat has been in the neighborhood for 2 weeks now, I sent out a reminder to folks to keep an eye on their smalls dogs and cats. I'm pretty sure the bobcat is feeding well off the huge number of rabbits in the area, but so are the fox pair.
I am not going to any shopping center or retail store today, Black Friday. I've already read headlines about shootings and stampedes with injuries - so, as usual, I'm staying away from all that madness.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Puppy Attention
I'm watching Cleo and Tess play in the back yard while I write this. There are also a lot of birds at the feeders, and a few squirrels who dare to make runs under the dogs noses. The two cats are inside, and I'm surprised the gardener is not yet here. Martin usually arrives between 8:30 and 9 on Saturday mornings. Lily has been begging for love and affection since I arrived yesterday, and Lyra has been, also. Of course, Cleo, the puppy thinks that she should be the center of attention, and then there's Tess... It's hard to keep everyone happy when two sets of adults are away.
The sky is a beautiful clear blue, with no visible clouds. The temperature was 31 degrees (F) when I arose this morning, but has warmed up to 53 so far; the forecast high is 68. It's also eerily quiet outside today, other than the bird song and rustling of leaves. For once, it seems there are no baseball, soccer, or football games being played on the school grounds today - and there are no children screaming as they run around outside, either. Seems like the quiet before the storm, almost.
I want to get immersed in my family tree research, but I can't until Christina returns to take care of her critters again. Actually, I could, but I focus on my research so intently that I don't listen to the dogs, or think about their needs - which one cannot do with a young puppy in the house. I simply can't crate her for hours on end, and my other alternative is to allow her only in a tiled room with her toys and bed. That doesn't work too well, either. So I'm hoping that Christina will return tonight, or early tomorrow. It will depend on how much she misses Cleo, and whether or not she's having a good time with her friends from high school.
If I didn't have to worry about the puppy, I'd be totally involved in research right now, instead of blogging...
The sky is a beautiful clear blue, with no visible clouds. The temperature was 31 degrees (F) when I arose this morning, but has warmed up to 53 so far; the forecast high is 68. It's also eerily quiet outside today, other than the bird song and rustling of leaves. For once, it seems there are no baseball, soccer, or football games being played on the school grounds today - and there are no children screaming as they run around outside, either. Seems like the quiet before the storm, almost.
I want to get immersed in my family tree research, but I can't until Christina returns to take care of her critters again. Actually, I could, but I focus on my research so intently that I don't listen to the dogs, or think about their needs - which one cannot do with a young puppy in the house. I simply can't crate her for hours on end, and my other alternative is to allow her only in a tiled room with her toys and bed. That doesn't work too well, either. So I'm hoping that Christina will return tonight, or early tomorrow. It will depend on how much she misses Cleo, and whether or not she's having a good time with her friends from high school.
If I didn't have to worry about the puppy, I'd be totally involved in research right now, instead of blogging...
Friday, October 28, 2016
Weird Happening
Yesterday, I arrived at a regular clients' house to drive the car back from the airport - the client's daughter will be taking care of the pets while the client is gone, but she needed transport to and from the airport. I stepped in and greeted all the critters when I arrived, and we left for the airport almost immediately. The client asked me to let the dog out when I returned with the car, and then put her back into the office.
When I arrived back at the house, I needed to use the bathroom badly. The daughter's car was not visible, so I assumed I was alone in the house, other than the critters - two cats and a dog. I walked quickly into the closest bathroom, dropped my jeans and underwear, and sighed as I began to "go." Then I heard a male voice yell, "Oy!" just outside the bathroom door, which I had left open. I slammed the door closed with my hand. ... After I was finished, re-attired, and had washed my hands, I stepped out into the hall - and saw Lyra's tail flash by. There was no sign of the man I had heard.
I walked into the kitchen and was joined by the dog. I looked around, and realized that the basement door was open, the office door was open, and the rear door, leading to the back yard was wide open. As I was questioning the dog, a young man came up the basement stairs. He said he was a friend of Connor's, and that the family had allowed him to stay in the basement for two weeks. He informed me he was waiting for his Uber ride to show up and take him to the airport.
The young man told the dog and been crying, so he opened the door to the office, and then opened the back door, knowing the back yard was fenced. I asked him about the cat, and he said he wasn't aware that a cat had been inside the office. I asked where she was, and he guessed that the cat had gone upstairs... I was looking out into the back yard, and saw both dog and cat. Then I glanced into the office, and saw that the dog had pooped all over the floor. I decided to leave the critters loose and outside while I cleaned up the office floor. The young man, in the meantime started chasing the cat. He managed to grab her by the neck scruff and the base of the tail. Lyra has never been handled like that. She was hissing and crying as the man brought her inside and closed the door. Lyra took one look at me and ran. I left the dog in the back yard, and finished cleaning the floor. Then I cracked the windows in the office, made sure there was plenty of water, and went to gather Lyra.
Poor kitty... She hissed and hissed as I picked her up very carefully and placed her in her kitty tree in the office. Then I rounded up Tess and put her inside the office.
On my way back to Rosie, I called the client and told her what had happened. It seems the young man was supposed to have left before the client and I went to the airport. She called her daughter and made certain that the daughter would check up on the critters at lunch -
Just another odd happening in the life of a pet-sitter.....
When I arrived back at the house, I needed to use the bathroom badly. The daughter's car was not visible, so I assumed I was alone in the house, other than the critters - two cats and a dog. I walked quickly into the closest bathroom, dropped my jeans and underwear, and sighed as I began to "go." Then I heard a male voice yell, "Oy!" just outside the bathroom door, which I had left open. I slammed the door closed with my hand. ... After I was finished, re-attired, and had washed my hands, I stepped out into the hall - and saw Lyra's tail flash by. There was no sign of the man I had heard.
I walked into the kitchen and was joined by the dog. I looked around, and realized that the basement door was open, the office door was open, and the rear door, leading to the back yard was wide open. As I was questioning the dog, a young man came up the basement stairs. He said he was a friend of Connor's, and that the family had allowed him to stay in the basement for two weeks. He informed me he was waiting for his Uber ride to show up and take him to the airport.
The young man told the dog and been crying, so he opened the door to the office, and then opened the back door, knowing the back yard was fenced. I asked him about the cat, and he said he wasn't aware that a cat had been inside the office. I asked where she was, and he guessed that the cat had gone upstairs... I was looking out into the back yard, and saw both dog and cat. Then I glanced into the office, and saw that the dog had pooped all over the floor. I decided to leave the critters loose and outside while I cleaned up the office floor. The young man, in the meantime started chasing the cat. He managed to grab her by the neck scruff and the base of the tail. Lyra has never been handled like that. She was hissing and crying as the man brought her inside and closed the door. Lyra took one look at me and ran. I left the dog in the back yard, and finished cleaning the floor. Then I cracked the windows in the office, made sure there was plenty of water, and went to gather Lyra.
Poor kitty... She hissed and hissed as I picked her up very carefully and placed her in her kitty tree in the office. Then I rounded up Tess and put her inside the office.
On my way back to Rosie, I called the client and told her what had happened. It seems the young man was supposed to have left before the client and I went to the airport. She called her daughter and made certain that the daughter would check up on the critters at lunch -
Just another odd happening in the life of a pet-sitter.....
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Poor Old Rosie!
I dearly love this dog. We lost her "brother" 4 years ago, and now her health is failing, also. She's considered a medium- to large-sized dog, being an Irish Setter, and she's now 14 and 1/2 years old. Her muzzle and face are almost - but not quite - white; her ears have streaks of blond; and the red of her coat is more orange than red these days... According to the veterinarians, and she sees four different vets, she no longer has any feeling in her hind legs. She powers her way up from lying and sitting using her shoulders and forelegs. If we get her hind legs under her, she can walk and trot normally. Since her hind legs don't cooperate very well, she rarely runs any more.
Her left hind foot turns inward, and then pivots out when she walks. Her right hind leg frequently collapses on her. The vets say she isn't in bad enough shape to put her into a wheelchair - yet. This past week, she's been dragging her left foot with the tops of her toes - her "furry knuckles" - tucked under, and has rubbed the fur and skin off. This morning we got a good, professional paw wrap from her vet, and, if we keep her off hard surfaces, she should be okay. The problem is there are wooden and stone steps at both the front and back doors - and when she starts downstairs, her hind legs collapse and she drags her feet. We have earthen ramps for her to use, but most of the time she chooses the steps.
Today, I drove her over to my sister's for our hour in the back yard. Had no problem getting Rosie into and out of the car, and she used the bathroom at my sister's (which I dutifully picked up) and enjoyed wandering around the grassy acre. I loaded her into the car to go home, and we drove there without incident. I had all the windows half-way open so Rosie could scent the wind as we rode. When we got to her house, I grabbed my bag, and then opened the back door for the Rose. I slipped my right arm in front of her hips to make sure she was standing square on all four feet in the garage. An intense odor greeted me. I thought she had farted when I pressed against her belly. I took her inside, gave the owner the car keys, and left. She caught me at the foot of the drive - Rosie had pooped all over the back seat of the car, apparently just as we pulled into the garage.
The owner had to meet with patients at her office in 30 minutes, so she and I both wiped up, and washed down the back seat of the car, so she could leave. We went back inside the house to wash our hands, and realized that Rosie had pooped again, while sitting down in the kitchen. I sent the owner on to her meeting, and Rosie and I took a shower; then I blew her dry with her hair dryer. Then I got to clean up the kitchen floor.
The owner was on time to see her patient, and tonight she and her husband called me and announced they'd be doubling my usual wages staying with her over the next few days. I told them that a raise wasn't necessary, because I consider Rosie a part of my family, and that we all need to accept the changes of growing old. I do love that Rosie!
Her left hind foot turns inward, and then pivots out when she walks. Her right hind leg frequently collapses on her. The vets say she isn't in bad enough shape to put her into a wheelchair - yet. This past week, she's been dragging her left foot with the tops of her toes - her "furry knuckles" - tucked under, and has rubbed the fur and skin off. This morning we got a good, professional paw wrap from her vet, and, if we keep her off hard surfaces, she should be okay. The problem is there are wooden and stone steps at both the front and back doors - and when she starts downstairs, her hind legs collapse and she drags her feet. We have earthen ramps for her to use, but most of the time she chooses the steps.
Today, I drove her over to my sister's for our hour in the back yard. Had no problem getting Rosie into and out of the car, and she used the bathroom at my sister's (which I dutifully picked up) and enjoyed wandering around the grassy acre. I loaded her into the car to go home, and we drove there without incident. I had all the windows half-way open so Rosie could scent the wind as we rode. When we got to her house, I grabbed my bag, and then opened the back door for the Rose. I slipped my right arm in front of her hips to make sure she was standing square on all four feet in the garage. An intense odor greeted me. I thought she had farted when I pressed against her belly. I took her inside, gave the owner the car keys, and left. She caught me at the foot of the drive - Rosie had pooped all over the back seat of the car, apparently just as we pulled into the garage.
The owner had to meet with patients at her office in 30 minutes, so she and I both wiped up, and washed down the back seat of the car, so she could leave. We went back inside the house to wash our hands, and realized that Rosie had pooped again, while sitting down in the kitchen. I sent the owner on to her meeting, and Rosie and I took a shower; then I blew her dry with her hair dryer. Then I got to clean up the kitchen floor.
The owner was on time to see her patient, and tonight she and her husband called me and announced they'd be doubling my usual wages staying with her over the next few days. I told them that a raise wasn't necessary, because I consider Rosie a part of my family, and that we all need to accept the changes of growing old. I do love that Rosie!
Sunday, September 25, 2016
A Fall Weekend
Fall has definitely arrived, with breezy weather and the temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than they have been. The weather forecasters said we'd have a high of 58 degrees (F) today and it would be grey and rainy. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, there's an occasional breeze and the forecast for today's high is 70 (in Boulder). We had homemade Belgium waffles this morning for breakfast, as well as some turkey sausage - I had juice and Bea had her coffee. I was surprised when I arrived home this morning at 7:10 and saw Beatrice out on the balcony - usually she sleeps until 8 o'clock, or so. When I got upstairs, I asked why she was up, and she said that Lovey had been talking to her. As she (Bea) drifted awake this morning, she thought there was a small child in the apartment that kept saying, "Hello? ... Hello?" The voice got closer, and she looked down and realized that it was Lovey. I had thought it would be Nedi, but no - it was the girl.
Cooper had a wonderful time yesterday, chasing the planes that were flying overhead, along with the gliders. I'm thankful that there wasn't a home football game, or the whole neighborhood would have wanted me to keep him inside. But he has a good time chasing the planes and barking - and doesn't run into the wooden fence too often. Lola, the other dog, just sits and watches him act the fool. Pounce has been having a fantastic time stretched out along my legs while I'm reading, or watching television. Tipsi has been busy hunting - he's brought me six snakes in two days, along with one bunny, and a partially mashed frog (it looked like a bicycle had run over both hind legs). I turned everything loose again, except the frog, which was too badly damaged to survive.
The Gators started out well against the Tennessee Volunteers, but couldn't hold onto the lead yesterday, so the Vols beat the Gators for the first time in 11 games. Mizzou had a huge blowout, and at the half, the teams agreed to play two ten-minute quarters to end the game. South Carolina lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. And, much to everyone's surprise, including my own, the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Oregon Ducks in an away game.... We'll have to see what happens with the Denver Broncos today....
Cooper had a wonderful time yesterday, chasing the planes that were flying overhead, along with the gliders. I'm thankful that there wasn't a home football game, or the whole neighborhood would have wanted me to keep him inside. But he has a good time chasing the planes and barking - and doesn't run into the wooden fence too often. Lola, the other dog, just sits and watches him act the fool. Pounce has been having a fantastic time stretched out along my legs while I'm reading, or watching television. Tipsi has been busy hunting - he's brought me six snakes in two days, along with one bunny, and a partially mashed frog (it looked like a bicycle had run over both hind legs). I turned everything loose again, except the frog, which was too badly damaged to survive.
The Gators started out well against the Tennessee Volunteers, but couldn't hold onto the lead yesterday, so the Vols beat the Gators for the first time in 11 games. Mizzou had a huge blowout, and at the half, the teams agreed to play two ten-minute quarters to end the game. South Carolina lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. And, much to everyone's surprise, including my own, the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Oregon Ducks in an away game.... We'll have to see what happens with the Denver Broncos today....
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Pets, Vikings, Photos
It's another cool morning - 45 degrees when I was walking Tess this morning. The sun is now up and shining, the first time since Sunday, and I am very happy to see it's glow through the trees in the back yard. Tess is asleep on the floor behind me, having had her walk and breakfast; Lyra is in the cat tree, and I'm pretty sure that Lily is on the bed upstairs (that's her usual spot after breakfast). They've lost three more carp, or koi, since I was last here. Pinto, Lumpy, and Red One have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. That leaves only Red Two, Shadow and Goldy, out of 18 fish three years ago.... I know that Lynn puts them into the garden soil, but I always wonder why they died....
I have now seen 9 of the latest 10 episodes of Vikings, and just read that the series will return on November 30 and show on Wednesday nights until the break before season 5. Writer-historian Michael Hirst's take on the old Norse eddas that follow and/or mention Ragnar Lothbrok are wonderfully imagined and envisioned on the small screen. Season 5 (and hopefully, 6 and 7) will be incredibly interesting with the continuing exploits of Bjorn Ironsides, and Ragnar's four younger sons, who will become the scourge of Europe. I'm also looking forward to see Hirst's vision of Alfred the Confessor (Ooops. Alfred the Great is correct, VL G, not Alfred the Confessor. Thanks!!), who was blessed by the Pope, in episode 9. And, of course, Rollo, Ragnar's brother, is the direct male ancestor of William the Conqueror, also known as William the Bastard, who became King of England in 1066.... I just love history!
I'm currently labeling photos from the 2016 Pony Penning for Lynn, as she missed our vacation together, due to a death in her family. I have about 30 photos that definitely contain Surfer Princess, the filly I purchased with Lynn's money last year, and I have about 300 other photos of Pony Penning, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and the waters that surround them, and wildlife - both marine and terrestrial. I managed to get about 50 labeled yesterday evening, and I'm going to work on the labeling until I go walk Rosie this morning. And you have no idea how happy I am that I already have everything labeled and stored on my PC - that means just matching photos and copying the existing caption - I don't have to look up each pony in each picture, again!
Beatrice and I are hoping to take our friend Melissa, from Atlanta, over Trail Ridge Road this weekend - hoping we can get across before it closes for the winter. I'll be taking more photos - especially since I know there is plenty of snow on Pikes Peak (100 miles south of us), already!
I have now seen 9 of the latest 10 episodes of Vikings, and just read that the series will return on November 30 and show on Wednesday nights until the break before season 5. Writer-historian Michael Hirst's take on the old Norse eddas that follow and/or mention Ragnar Lothbrok are wonderfully imagined and envisioned on the small screen. Season 5 (and hopefully, 6 and 7) will be incredibly interesting with the continuing exploits of Bjorn Ironsides, and Ragnar's four younger sons, who will become the scourge of Europe. I'm also looking forward to see Hirst's vision of Alfred the Confessor (Ooops. Alfred the Great is correct, VL G, not Alfred the Confessor. Thanks!!), who was blessed by the Pope, in episode 9. And, of course, Rollo, Ragnar's brother, is the direct male ancestor of William the Conqueror, also known as William the Bastard, who became King of England in 1066.... I just love history!
I'm currently labeling photos from the 2016 Pony Penning for Lynn, as she missed our vacation together, due to a death in her family. I have about 30 photos that definitely contain Surfer Princess, the filly I purchased with Lynn's money last year, and I have about 300 other photos of Pony Penning, Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, and the waters that surround them, and wildlife - both marine and terrestrial. I managed to get about 50 labeled yesterday evening, and I'm going to work on the labeling until I go walk Rosie this morning. And you have no idea how happy I am that I already have everything labeled and stored on my PC - that means just matching photos and copying the existing caption - I don't have to look up each pony in each picture, again!
Beatrice and I are hoping to take our friend Melissa, from Atlanta, over Trail Ridge Road this weekend - hoping we can get across before it closes for the winter. I'll be taking more photos - especially since I know there is plenty of snow on Pikes Peak (100 miles south of us), already!
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