Bits of This and That

No new foals have arrived since 30 June.  We're still expecting quite a few, so there may be a few more before Pony Penning Week (July 20 - 27), and there will probably be about 10 or so born after Pony Penning.  It's hard to believe that two weeks from today the combined herds will be getting their final assessment by the veterinarians before the Pony Swim, and decisions will be in the making on which foals to keep as Buy Backs for the breeding pool.  It also seems very strange not to be gossiping about the foals with Maureen Beebe this year...  Gosh, I miss her!

At the old Beebe homestead - left to right: Paul, Ricky and Clarence (Grandpa) Beebe; 

a Jeffries cousin, and Maureen Beebe.

 
Spent the last week in Old Town Louisville with two black Labrador Retrievers, Ivy and Esmé.  Esmé's owner has allowed her to revert to grabbing her hand with her mouth again - and she asked me to work with her on it while I was there.  I believe that the problem is the dogs don't see the owner as the pack leader...  As soon as I entered the house to do my week's stay, Esmé tried to grab my hand in her mouth.  I pulled it back, said "No!" in a loud voice, and stomped one foot at the same time I said 'no.'  Esmé did not try to grab my hand again during the entire stay, nor did she reach for peoples' hands as we walked around town and folks petted her.
  Not sure I'm going to continue working for this client. On Friday, the company that mows the lawn and does the edge trimming arrived, and I made certain the dogs were inside and closed and locked the doggie door to the back yard.  I had stepped out onto the porch to let the men know the dogs were safely inside, when the owner called me.  She was in a panic - where was Esmé?  Someone down the street had sent her the photo of a dog she found wandering down the street, and insisted it was Esmé.  I told her that her dog was inside the house, and she asked if I was sure.  I went back inside and sat down on the sofa, and I told her I had a dog sitting on either side of me, and that the identity tags said "Ivy" and "Esmé" so I was pretty sure the dogs were at home and with me...  It was crazy.

Old Town Louisville Main Street - I house-sit 6 blocks from here

A black bear on the outskirts of Boulder found an unlocked Subaru on a hillside driveway.  There were discarded food wrappers and a few left-over snacks in bags on the car's floor.  The bear opened the door of the car and climbed in.  The door closed behind him.  He made a mess of the interior trying to get out, and somehow, finally (using the police description) "butt shifted" the vehicle into reverse.  Since the parking brake was not on, the car rolled down the driveway, across the two lane road and on into a field, hitting several trees before stopping.  The striking of the trees caused the driver's door to pop open and the bear escaped, apparently undamaged....

Been working on genealogies for four sets of people - when I hit a roadblock on one family I switch to another and then head onward again. It's definitely not boring, though some people may think that looking at old records is a terrible way to spend a day and/or night.  My cousin asked me to look at someone in her husband's family, and I started at 2 in the afternoon; at 8 she told me she had named the wrong relative, so I switched my search over to the correct man and worked on him and his family until 4 this morning.  Found myself looking at Tribal Records from the Cherokee Nation, since the family was originally Shawnee, but had been adopted into the Cherokee.  It was extremely interesting!

Blue Jacket, a Chief of the Shawnee

Weekend, Catnip, and a Client

I did some small grocery shopping over the weekend, checked the mail, and sat out on the balcony for several hours each day, and otherwise avoided people, other than Beatrice and a few phone calls I had to take.  Bea was feeling her cabin-fever itch and went out daily to window shop and just wander around different areas of town.  I stayed at home, cuddled with the cats and read and read and read.  It was wonderful for me.
   I did have to laugh about the phone calls, however.  I checked my work calendar for next week (now this week) on Friday, and saw I was scheduled at a house for 5 nights and six days.  I also knew that one of the client's adult children was at home, so I called to ask if my services were still required.  I was told, no, that the daughter would care for the house and critters while the client was away.  On Saturday, the client called and said the daughter was going to Aspen for the weekend, and could I cover caring for the house from Friday afternoon until Monday morning.  I told her, sure, no problem.  Last night, I received another call from the client - could I possibly cover the originally planned 5 nights and 6 days?  The daughter is currently house-sitting for someone else, and thought she could take her new puppy and older dog into another household that already has two large adult dogs and a new puppy in residence.  The daughter's job ends on Friday, when she plans on leaving for Aspen - and, oh, by the way, I'll have the daughter's puppy and dog at the client's home over the weekend....I sometimes feel like such a fool.  But this person is a very good client, and I've worked for her for over 8 years now, so I acquiesced.
   Last night, I opened the catnip jar.  The kits are still slightly high.  I pull out the dried catnip and roll it between my fingers to make very small particles before I place it on the nip rug.  Both Lovey and Nedi eat the catnip, and they both acted as if they were starving.  Then I pulled out one of their fuzzy, rattly toys that had been in the jar for a month.  Nedi was in ecstasy over that gift.  I put two other older toys back into the jar and resealed it.  This morning, all visible traces of catnip have disappeared from the rug, and the toy has been making odd appearances in strange places since I arose.  It seems I made them happy.

Back From a Trip Through Time and Space

Sorry, folks; between pet- and house-sitting and getting deeply involved in three new books, I just didn't get around to my blog.   I'm embarrassed by my back-sliding (not really).  I have been extremely busy in my critter-sitter business, and won't be sleeping at home again until the 26th of May.
   I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport.  When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking.  As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights.  The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon.  I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport.  As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph.  Oh, boy....   I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
   First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels.  Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi.  I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again.  Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap.  After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
   Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning.  (She's visited Tess the past three days.)  So we ambled toward my sister's house.  As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house.  Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it.  The raccoon was having great difficulty moving.   It crossed the street, and had a seizure.  Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat.  It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's.  The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning.   It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed.  I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer....   Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
    After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats.  I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers.  Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage.  So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening....   I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
    I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series.  I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one.  Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!

Pet-pourri

I have been laughing myself silly about a news article from the state of Oregon.  A pet shop reported the theft of a Galapago monkey, or Bush Baby, and a few days later reported the theft of a money jar with Girl Scout cookie donations inside.  Then a laptop computer was reported stolen.  The pet shop was owned by a couple - and, several days after the reported thefts, the male half of the couple was seen behaving erratically on a sidewalk, having just exited an adult pornography store.  The man was arrested after it was found he was high on methamphetamine.  The Bush Baby, named "Gooey" was found in a local motel room - having been given to the out-of-town renter as a "tip." The renter was a prostitute from another town.  Besides finding the monkey, the missing laptop computer was also found.  Police surmise that the Girl Scout cookie money jar was also a part of the tip the male pet shop owner had given the prostitute, but neither money nor jar has been recovered.  The wife of the man charged in the incident was a co-owner of the pet shop.  She is currently having his name removed, legally, from anything to do with what is now her business.  The shop's name?  The Zany Zoo.  Isn't that appropriate?

    As of last night, there were ten foals on the Virginia end of Assateague Island, and the colt on the Maryland end was showing his athletic prowess, jumping over car barricades.  I'll follow this written piece up with photos of the new foals....     For hundreds of years, people have used the words foal and colt interchangeably - but, in strictly correct usage, a foal can be of either gender, while a colt is a male.  Chincoteaguers, however, use the old-fashioned designations for the pony babies - you have either a "horse colt" or a "mare colt."  After working on a horse farm and at a thoroughbred breeding farm, I still cringe when I hear the word colt used indiscriminately, but - that's Chincoteague.  It goes with a lot of local Elizibethan-era words, like pitchpole and pizzle.
   And, speaking of Chincoteague words, I saw a perfect example of  "a scud of rain" yesterday, here in Boulder.  I had just returned to my apartment from picking up friends at the Denver International Airport, and I sat at my desk, as I am now, and looked out the window.  The Flatirons and the front range of hills are usually clearly viewed - but yesterday, as I watched, a wall of wind-driven rain came over the mountains and passed by with a good wind behind it.  We had, perhaps, five minutes of rain, and then the skies cleared behind the scud of rain, and we were dry again in less than 15 minutes.  I had forgotten how one can clearly see a line of rain coming at you when you're out boating, or just sitting on the islands.  Yesterday's scud made it's point.

   Originally, today was my only full day off this month - with absolutely nothing to do.  Well, I'm half-way through my job for today.  I've already been up to Githen's Acres and have released Chocolate and Blackberry from their hutch; I've refreshed their water and made certain they have plenty of food.  I'll need to go back near dusk and re-cage them (for their own safety).  That's my only job today....  I'll start over at Rosie's tomorrow, come home Thursday night, and begin Friday at Tess's.  From May 2 through 8, I'm scheduled only to walk Rosie and Tess daily; then I'm back at other houses until the end of the month...  And one of the couple I'll be house-sitting for (plus 4 critters) will be visiting Chincoteague.  Wish I was going with them......

Cats and Dogs

Well, with the snow storm here, the flights for Seek's Mom to return were cancelled.  She was due back in the wee hours of Tuesday, and then Tuesday afternoon, and now, Friday - tomorrow.  I'm getting paid, but I feel sorry for Seek.  She is definitely a social cat, and having Jill stop by in the morning, and me for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and Claudia stopping by two or three times a week, just doesn't match up with "Mom time."  I know I miss Lovey and Nedi greatly, even though I'm spending a few hours with them two or three times each day.  Finn's family will return tomorrow morning, and tomorrow evening I'll move in with Maggie May.  Then - unless there are any emergencies - I'll be home with my kits beginning Monday; with nothing scheduled other than week-day dog walks until April.  But, somehow, I always manage to have several last-minute house-sitting dates pop up....
    Finn has been having a ball in the snow - being a 70 pound Golden-Doodle, he has no problem with snowdrifts up to 3 feet deep - while that comes to my waist.  My biggest problem with Finn is that his favorite toys are white, and when he takes them outside, they have a tendency to disappear in the snow.  Thankfully, Lamb Chop has red gloves on her front hooves and she's pretty easy to spot - finding the plain white octopus, on the other hand, is a nightmare.  Finn has faithfully helped me shovel out the gates and parts of the driveway, as well as the walk-thru gate from the street, his walkway to his doggie door, and the area behind the garage.  I need to remember to text a message to his family that the driveway will be like an ice rink when they return home in the morning...
   Seek is a copper-colored Spangled Bengal with golden eyes.  She is a huge love and just wants to be loved and petted and made much of.  I scratch her chin until she drools all over my hand, and then holds me gently, while she bathes it away....  Such a sweetie.
   Nedi decided to supervise me yesterday when I was sweeping the snow from the balcony.  As soon as I had cleared a space for me to stand on, he was between my feet, swatting at the broom bristles when he felt they came too near.  He was intrigued with the way the snow disappeared down the cracks at the edges of the balcony.  He went over and patted at the opening, but it wasn't quite large enough for his paw to fit through, so he sat and pondered, while I swept more away in front of him.  The look on his face was priceless!   Lovey sat in my reading chair and observed the clearing procedure with some disdain.  Once everything was clean, though, she and Nedi, both, had to examine and critique my work.
   Lovey and Nedi have made Beatrice into their newest hand-maiden.  All they have to do is sit and look at her, and she will get them treats, or open a can of "treat" food, or grab their string toy and play with them.  Nedi serenades her every morning to open her bedroom door, so that he can go sit in her bedroom window.  (My bedroom window is five feet away from hers, and is never closed, but he needs to be in Bea's window...)   My cats have both of us humans extremely well-trained for their wants and desires...
   Enjoy your day - or your night!

Holidays Equal Busy Times

Sorry for the absence from blogging - I'm usually at my busiest over holidays, and this year is no exception.  While I am not staying at any specific house until the 27th, I am caring for 5 houses, 2 with cats, and one with hens and dogs - but am sleeping at home with my kits.  Lovey is currently standing/lying across my chest, while Nedi was seeing if he could chew through some ornament hangers.  We've been rather cold since Tuesday's eleven inches of snow, with lows at night in the single digits (Fahrenheit).  However, we're having some melt, as it was 50 yesterday and 60 today, in the sunshine.  It was odd - one side of the street, in the sunlight said 60 degrees, while the same corner, on the other side of the street, in the shade, said it was 43 degrees.
   I have been experiencing my annual computer difficulties.  The blasted thing keeps freezing on me, and I have to do an emergency shut down and then totally reboot, causing me to lose what I've just been working on.  I've run all of my virus scans, debugging scans, registry, add-ons and problem solving scans; they all say that everything is fine.  Well, if it's fine, then why does it freeze?
  I'm going to wait for a couple of weeks to go see the new Star Wars movie - I saw the first one on opening day down in Gainesville, and saw the second and third ones at the theater, also in Florida.  I think I saw the fourth one in a theater.  Haven't seen the fifth and sixth.  I'll be going just to see Harrison Ford reprise his role as Han Solo in this one....
   It was crazy at one house earlier this week.  I was staying there, with the dog, while the owners were away.  The lady of the house employs two house-keepers - one comes for two hours on each Monday and Friday; the second cleaner is a single mother and she cleans on Wednesday for two hours.  The cleaner who comes twice a week is Hispanic, and frequently uses her "no speaka da English" as a reason to not follow directions.  The husband of the house-owning couple speaks a Mexican, Peruvian, and pure Spanish dialect.  She pretends she doesn't understand him, either.  She is from a small town, just south of the Mexico-Texas border, so she should understand at least one of the dialects.  Anyway, Modesta worked Monday, as usual.  Heather came on Wednesday, but could only stay for one hour, not two, as she had to clean a house she had missed on Tuesday, due to it being a "Snow Day" for local schools.  Heather asked me if she could come back Thursday, or maybe Friday, to make up the hour.  I told her to come Thursday, as the other house cleaner came on Friday, and that Modesta could be very territorial about the house and her cleaning.  Heather left her payment on the kitchen counter, as she hadn't finished her work.  She called and left a message for the owner, telling her that she was doing two one hour shifts.  The owner called both Heather and me to say that Heather should just take her payment and not work on Thursday.  The owner had to leave a message for Heather.  I called Heather and left the same message.  Then I left the door unlocked, so Heather could get her payment, and I left for 70 minutes to walk a neighbor's dog.  When I returned, I could see Heather's tire prints in the snow in front of the house; but Modesta's car was also there.  As soon as I came in, she started yelling at me about the other cleaner - Heather.  Heather's payment was gone.  I just grabbed the dog and left, because I didn't want to hear Modesta's commentary.  She was upset that another house cleaner was there - and she had come a day early, because she didn't want to have to work at the house on Friday.  The only reason she could get inside was because I had left the house unlocked for Heather - neither of them has a house key.  When I returned 90 minutes later, with the dog, Modesta had left and left me a note saying that she was the house cleaner and she would see me Monday.  In the meantime, Heather called the owner because Modesta had scared the daylights out of her...  The owners came home early today, and it seems that Modesta may no longer be cleaning their house....   Weird.

White-Knuckle Ride

Had another white-knuckled ride to DIA yesterday morning…  Lynn's plane was due to leave at 8:05, so she was asked to be there by 6:30.  She picked me up at 6:24, and it 's then a 50 mile drive to the airport.  She decided to go on the Express TollWay, where the speed limit is 75 mph.  Several times I made the comment, "Gee, seems like we're going awful fast…"  and each time Lynn looked at her speedometer, we were traveling at 95 mph…  We did manage to get her checked in by 7:05 for her flight, and she made it easily.  I drove back to Boulder, staying within 5 miles of the speed limits.
  I arrived at her place to find that Lyra was locked in the office, none of the critters had been fed, and there was a very pregnant couple (the lady is 10 days overdue) staying in the basement, who have full run of the house.  That was unexpected.  I fed the kids, including the koi, and then hung out the bird feeders that get taken in at night.  Brought Rosie over here for her walk-about, and she promptly (as usual) jumped into the koi pond and had a nice swim.  Tess stood on the top of the waterfall and watched Rosie swimming, again, as usual.  Tess doesn't like to swim….
  I have written twice on paper, and once via e-mail, to my apartment management since receiving the notice that they are not renewing my lease.  Even though I have specifically asked, each time, what date they want me moved out, they have yet to answer.  If I don't hear anything before the 3rd, when my rent is due, I'll pay them for the full month and stay until the end of June - whether they like it or not.  I've already asked a real estate lawyer about it, and he says I'm within my rights, if they don't respond by the 3rd of June.
  Have already been home and spent 2 1/2 hours with my kits - have fed and loved them, checked on my e-mail, fed the squirrels, and cleaned litter boxes.  The men who work on the koi pond are here at Lynn's - they set Tess off barking, with their arrival.  It sounds like the couple downstairs are getting up - water is being turned on in the bathroom.  Yesterday, I finished reading the latest Isaac Bell novel by Clive Cussler, and started the new Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child.  I also need to fill out the new apartment application and make copies of my retirement and Social Security  funding, to send with the application.  I plan on submitting it Monday morning - wish me luck!

It's Still Snowing...

Light snow has been falling since dawn this morning, but we actually had 5 minutes of sunshine pierce the cloud cover a few minutes ago.  I've been over to the Sumac house, fed and loved Bop and Tiko, cleaned their litter boxes, and taken the trash and recycling up the hill to be picked up.  Then I wasn't sure I was going to be able to catch a bus back home - I'd waited for 45 minutes without seeing a bus travel in either direction, and then, at 3 minute intervals, a bus headed by, north-bound.  It took another 15 minutes for the first bus to complete the circuit, and return to pick me up...  I just spoke with Len, and he and Susan are heading up for their ski trip, so I'll be at the ABCs until late afternoon Wednesday.
   I did get to sleep in my own bed last night, with both Lovey and Nedi curled up close and snuggling.  Both Camilla and Lynn returned to the house last night without calling, so it was quite a surprise.  Tess and I had a blast playing outside in the snow yesterday - Tess had the best time "chasing" sleds being pulled by parents up and down the road.  She didn't bark, or frighten the kids, she just had a fantastic time running in circles and bounding through the deep snow around the moving sleds.  Thankfully, all the neighbors' dogs were out playing, too, so it was almost a block party for adults, kids, and dogs.
   The bands of snowfall varied widely over Boulder and the metro Denver area.  About 14 inches accumulated in Lynn's back yard; about 12 inches in my back yard; 27 inches up in Nederland; only 9.5 inches in downtown Denver; 10 inches at DIA; Eldorado Springs had 23 inches; but Westminster, between  Boulder and Denver, got whacked with 32 inches of snow.  It was 7 degrees (F) when I arose this morning - and now, at 10:30, it's 14 degrees.  The Boulder forecast calls for sunshine tomorrow, with a high of 40, and then snow through the weekend.  If one is a ski enthusiast, one is delighted; if one is a commuter, one is disgusted.  I'm neither, and I feel OK about it.
   Thank goodness our public library is open again, with all book areas available!  I've almost re-read all the Special Agent Pendergast books, and I now have three Faerie Wars to read...  Then I can go and browse the shelves to my hearts content again.  It will be a blissful experience.

Snow, Beautiful Snow

Yesterday morning's snow was damp and crystalline; it paused for a few hours and then came back light and fluffy for another 5 or 6 hours.  I didn't see any new signs of snow late last night, but we had that tiny, crystalline snow again this morning, beginning about five.  Then it turned light and fluffy, and now it's falling, once again, as a fine powder.  I'll take photos around town today, as I have several houses to visit, and multiple pets to see, along with dogs to walk.  At least it's 14 degrees out, and the wind is at 3 mph.   There was an accumulation of  about seven inches yesterday, and it's expected to snow throughout the day and night, slowly tapering off Monday morning.  I ran into the ABCs yesterday, and Len stated that Susan had a cold, but he was certain they'd be heading up to Snow Mountain Ranch on Monday, as planned.  I hope that either Camilla or Lynn can return home today or tomorrow, so I can come back home, before going over to stay at the ABCs for three nights.
   The squirrels have been feeding ravenously this morning - they've already zipped through a pound of walnuts and Brazil nuts, but aren't touching the sunflower seeds out for the birds.  Guess  I'll put out another pound and a half of nuts before heading back to Tess's.  And I'll stop by Bop and Tiko's on the way back, so I can get that morning stop completed.  My kits ran outside this morning, took one good long look, and came right back in.  Lovey is curled up on my fleece vest on the bed, and Nedi is nestling in the dirty clothes basket.  I'll leave the heat lamp on in the bathroom for them, too.
   Elaine Clevenger, who lived down the street from our house from 1961 until she was married in 1977, sent a surprise gift to me this week.  She and her husband, Russ, have just completed sailing "The Loop," up the Intercoastal Waterway, through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, then back down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.  When they reached Fort Myers, they arrived in time for an Arts and Crafts Festival - and what was the first thing Elaine saw?  A whole display of photos of Chincoteague ponies!  She immediately purchased two of her favorites and sent me one.  What a wonderful surprise!   -    Much better than snow!

Sudden Change in Plans

First, the snow has finally begun to fall for our predicted "Big Snow" event.  We were told that we'd get heavy rain, thunder and lightning yesterday afternoon, and that during the night, the rain would change to snow.  No rain. No lightning.  No thunder.  Snow began to fall about 4:30 this morning - and has just managed to cover the grass in the yard.  According to the weather folks, we'll get about 5 to 8 inches of snow by midnight, and then get that amount again tomorrow, with the snow continuing until noon on Monday.
   I was supposed to spend last night here at home with my kits.  I spent Thursday night at Tess's.  Yesterday afternoon, after I had taken all of my stuff home, I got a call from the lady who rents the downstairs apartment - she and her Mom were stuck on the western side of the Continental Divide in a snow storm, and couldn't say when they'd get back to Boulder.  I assured her I'd stay until either she or the owner returned.  Then I called the owner in New York.  She was supposed to fly back in a small private plane on Sunday.  She might not be able to leave until Monday - which has thrown my schedule completely out of whack.  But that's OK.
   I fetched my overnight stuff back last night, and spent the night with Tess again.  Home again, for the moment.  The kits are upset with me, because I'm not giving them enough love…  I'm now back at Tess's and am still watching the snow fall.  The owner called me at home, and asked me to feed the birds, and allow Martine, the gardener, access inside the house.  That's no problem.  I've fed the birds, fed all of her critters, and finished going through my e-mail.  I would really love to snuggle with Lovey and Nedi, but that will have to happen later.
   I was just getting settled down and extremely interested in Vikings Thursday night when the screen started showing the credits.  I felt lost - I had just been drawn back in time, to the early 9th century, and then - boom - it was gone.  I immediately wanted at least three more hours of the show then and there.  And, I have to admit, I watched it a second time, as the History Channel shows it back-to-back on Thursday night.  It was fun to see King Ecbert trying to flirt with Lagertha, and Floki was his usual prickly self.  Ragnar looked concerned about Bjorn's tenderness towards his new wife, and Rollo had his usual "what the…" attitude.
   The Blacklist was also intriguing - and, just as it was getting very intriguing, time was up.  And the writers on How To Get Away With Murder really know how to make a viewer crazy.  Introduce a whole new set of clues, throw Miss Cecily Tyson into the mix, with her own story of sexual exploitation and murder  - and I'm drooling to find out what happens next.  Too bad I'll be at the Grand Jury Thursday night, and will miss each and every show.  I guess I'll have to catch up on-line on Friday...

Boxing Day

My cats always love the day after Christmas - traditionally called Boxing Day in Great Britain and Canada - because they have a multitude of boxes to play in, attack each other from, and, in Nedi's case, chew and rip apart.  I have leftovers from yesterday's big meal, but am running around to three different houses, taking care of critters, today.  I've already fed and walked the Chandler dogs, and fed the cats and chickens on Dellwood.  After noon, I'll add Tugger to the mix until New Year's Eve.
   The Dellwood clients hope to get back to Denver from Guatemala this afternoon, as scheduled.  But it's doubtful they'll make to Boulder from Denver tonight, as their car is parked in a garage in a downtown alley that doesn't get plowed.  The hope to be home by mid-morning tomorrow.  At least Jim is recovering from his ruptured appendix, but Jan fell and sprained both her hand and foot yesterday, so neither of them will be very spry upon their return.
  I spent the majority of yesterday at Kathy and Jim's house.  We had our "traditional Swedish" Christmas breakfast, and giggled, yet again, about Pop-pop choosing an easy breakfast for Christmas morning, following Mom-mom's passing - sausage links, scrambled eggs and pumpkin pie.  Then I did the dishes and we sat around and chatted until their son Mike and his wife Erin arrived.  Then we got into two technical discussions - what Kathy was supposed to do last night and this morning before starting her chemo-therapy, and how best to cut off her glorious hair..  We got everything straightened out, and written down,and I put dinner in the oven.  Then Jim rebraided Kathy's hair and cut off the braid.  Withe her new, short bob, Kathy really looks like Mom again...  Then we ate, and after doing the dishes again, Kathy and I looked at photos of eight generations of our family - it was amazing, and fun.
  It started snowing a little after noon yesterday, and, as it had been warm, the snow melted almost as quickly as it hit.  It still snowing, at this moment.  Boulder officially had 9.7 inches fall up until 7 a.m. this morning.  The weather folks say we'll have another inch or so fall today and this evening; then it will stop until Monday.  Supposedly we'll highs in the low and mid-30s Saturday and Sunday, but a high of 11 on Monday and a high of 6 degrees on Tuesday.  Looks like I'll be staying bundled up for the next week or so. I add another house of critters to my care list on Saturday, SUnday and Monday... Before New Year's Eve, I'll be taking care of 6 houses full of cats, bees, dogs, fish, and (outside in their coops) chickens each day.  I'll be extremely happy when January 4 arrives, and I'm back to just my regular dog-walking for a week!
  I hope that you had a good time with friends and family yesterday, today, and through the weekend.  Peace and joy are my wishes for you for the rest of this year.

Cold and California Chrome

The weather forecasters said our highest temperature yesterday would be during the hour after midnight - they were right.  My brother-in-law, Jim, didn't hear the weather report, and so he went on a ten-mile run with Tulo yesterday morning wearing his light-weight running shorts, a T-shirt and his baseball cap.  The temperature dropped 25 degrees while they were out.  Luckily, Jim had extra plastic newspaper bags to pick up dog poop in - he was able to pull them on his hands and have a little protection from the cold.  We had snow flurries throughout the late afternoon and through this morning, but nothing accumulated.   Kathy came over last night, and we watched How To Train Your Dragon while she did laundry.  She loved the film, which made me happy.
   California Chrome, after finishing third (by a neck) in the Breeders Cup Classic, tried out his racing luck, and turn of hoof, on the turf Saturday.  The Hollywood Derby has been moved to Del Mar, and has been shortened to 1 and 1/8 miles.  California Chrome won it easily, and looks to have a continuing career in grass racing...  He has now won the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Hollywood Derby.  That's four Grade 1 wins on two different surfaces.  I think he's making a case to be 3-year-old, and, perhaps, Horse of the Year.
   I've finished all but one thing for my Christmas shopping - have to head out to the used book stores for that one.  And I'm truly hoping not to receive Christmas gifts from anyone this year - I have so much more than I need of everything (except time and money), so I think I'm ahead of the game as it is.  All I want for Christmas is the safety and well being of my friends and family...  Kathy wants to put off beginning chemo-therapy until Boxing Day, but it's up to her Docs more than her.  I just want her to be well.
   Unless someone makes an unplanned trip, it looks like I'll be home until almost the end of December.  I have one house for 11 days where I visit three times a day, starting December 16; then I add Tugger on the 21st. On the 27th I pick up Maggie May, and move into Lynn Thore's on the 28th...  I believe that Rosie's folks are staying home for Christmas, but will be going away the first week of January...  We'll see.

It's Been A Busy Week

I've been running around taking care of four houses - three within a half-mile radius, and one 2 miles out.  Then, of course, I've also made time to be home with my kits for a couple of hours each day - all using my feet and public transportation...  I've found a lack of east-west buses, while there are plenty of north-south buses...  Sunday and Thursday were the hardest days for transportation - buses only ran once an hour, which is a huge PITA.   Oh, well.  As of midnight, three families have returned, and I only have the ABCs to look after (plus Lovey and Nedi, of course).
   Let's see....   Kathy had her PET scan on Monday, and received the results on Wednesday.  On Wednesday, a Samoyed named Tulo joined Kathy and Jim's family for five days, while his people are away for Thanksgiving.   The Snow clan met and had Thanksgiving dinner at the Grange in Niwot, but I didn't have time to do so.  I did bake a fat hen, and a pumpkin pie.  And I had mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy to go along with them.
   I had to laugh at Tipsi, one of the cats I'm caring for.  Last night, just before dark, and just before I closed the pet door, Tipsi brought in a large vole.  He wouldn't let me approach him closely, but the vole looked extremely limp, so I figured it was dead.  Ten minutes later, it ran across my foot, with Tipsi walking along behind it...  Am I, somehow, causing cats to alter their behavior?  I can understand my kits bringing in live prey, because I yell a lot if they kill anything.  But why is Tipsi suddenly bringing in live mice/voles (like Nedi), and just following them around - not pouncing and attacking, but as if the vole is something to study?
   I also had my annual check-up with my physician.  My fasting blood sugar was 68; and my A1c level had dropped .2 since last year.  Blood pressure was 123/70; and I weighed 2 ponds less than last year.  Her only comment was that she thought I's feel even better if I dropped 10 pounds.  I agreed.  So I'm just waiting on my liver panel and cholesterol tests...  Everything else is A-OK.

Short Blog

Three of my teams won yesterday, but I have to say that none of the play was particularly inspiring.  South Carolina had an amazing string of lucky incidents in the second half to help them win, and Coach Spurrier noticed it.  The Gators stank against Alabama.  The CU Buffs defeated Hawaii, here at home....  It was an exhausting day, because I seem to "play along" with my teams.  Silly, I know.  I'll have to see how the Broncos play today.
   All of my requested books have arrived, and I need to pick up the last two from the library this afternoon.  I'm almost finished with the first to arrive, and am looking forward to starting the books that were recommended by a blog reader.  ...  It seems that no one won either of the lotteries over the weekend, so I guess I'll risk a few more bucks - I do want to return to living on Chincoteague.
  My kits are being clingy - and I don't blame them in the least.  I'll be back sleeping at home on Friday night, and I'll be very happy.  I only have one house-sitting stint in October (so far), and I'm looking forward to spending 18 hours per day at home.  I'm back to walking 6 dogs each weekday - Rosie, a set of two after her, and then a set of three.  Thank goodness it's cooling off a bit,temperature wise, otherwise I'd be baked.
  Starting Tuesday, I'll spend my afternoons at home with the kits, as I'll be at the ABCs once Lynn returns on Tuesday.  At that point in time, I'll be staying with three cats and two dogs.  Friday night is looking wonderful to me!
   And, I just titled this piece "Short Blog;"  I used to tell my husband that I'd be back shortly, when I left home to run a quick errand - he always responded with, "Well, you can't be home longly, sweetie."  It was his private joke with me - since I have a 27-inch inseam, and am pretty short, period.

Bits and Pieces

Turley's Kitchen performed it's normal magic yesterday and presented Bea and me with a fantastic breakfast.  It was a little unusual, in that it was a home football game day for Boulder, and that Bea and I decided to eat out anyway.  The restaurant was bustling with the normal Saturday patrons, returning alumni, visitors from Arizona State, and the normal passel of Rocky Mountain tourists.  I was excited about a three-in-a-row game line-up for the afternoon and evening - South Carolina and Georgia, Florida and Kentucky, and then the home game of Colorado and Arizona State...
   The first game was at Columbia, South Carolina - and it was delayed for almost 90 minutes due to lightning strikes.  Sixth-ranked Georgia against the South Carolina Gamecocks, coached by Steve Spurrier - on the SEC pre-game show, Tim Tebow said that the Ole Ball Coach would prevail (and he gave another hilarious Spurrier impression).  Tebow was right.  And the team ranked 23rd defeated the team ranked sixth.  ...   Due to the weather delayed start, the first game ran into the second game, and I was switching channels like crazy.  The Florida-Kentucky game ended up running long, as there were three over-time periods, and the Gators managed a unanswered TD on the last play.   ...
 Poor Buffs.  Arizona State came in and ran over the Buffaloes - it was quite odd, because I could hear the game and the crowd, less than a quarter-mile down the street from me, so I could switch the TV channel over to see what had happened here, while the Gators were playing overtime.  I have to admit I stopped watching the game in the middle of the third quarter.  I was tired from exerting so much energy in "helping" the Gamecocks and Gators win....   And today, I get to cheer on the Broncos.  At least yelling at the TV screen yesterday allowed me to get rid of any stress I had stored up - I feel like a cooked strand of vermicelli today, just limp.
   It was in the 40s when I arose this morning, but it's 68 degrees outside now, and we're supposed to reach the low 80s - Denver has plenty of sunshine, but Boulder is overcast, and ther's a cool breeze that's been blowing in from the west-northwest all morning.  I have the patio door open for the kits to run in and out, but I have the window closed, and I'm watching the upper branches of the trees wave in the breeze.
   My new next door neighbor plays the piano beautifully.  He picks at guitar strings, rather than strumming, or playing a complete tune.  However, his voice is awful.  He plays and sings from about 1 in the afternoon until about 10 at night...  His voice is flat, almost toneless, and he doesn't sing in time with the music.  I can hear him over my television.  Oh, well.  At least he isn't abusive or screaming or throwing things about.  I'm sure I'll get used to it.
   In horse racing, the favorite for the Irish Champion race at Leopardstown was Australia; he was beaten by a neck by The Grey Gatsby.  ....  Black Caviar, the undefeated Australian sprinter, has given birth to a beautiful bay filly sired by Exceed and Excel, a Darley Stud stallion.  She has a small star and two front socks.  ....  And America's champion mare, Zenyatta, is enjoying a year off as a brood mare.  Her foals, two colts and a filly, are doing exceedingly well.  Cozmic One, the two-year old, is in training with Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs.  Ziconic is undergoing yearling preperation training at Lane's End Farm.  The filly, currently officially un-named, but called ZPrincess, is still with her Mom at Lane's End, but will soon be weaned.
   And I start house-sitting again at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning....  So much for my vacation!  But I feel much more relaxed than I did last week.

Let It Snow!

It's raining here in Boulder, and snowing above 11,000 feet.  The weather forecast is calling for snow Thursday night into Friday morning down here - with a high of about 50 degrees on Friday.  But then, it's supposed to be 80 on Sunday for the Broncos game....  Typical Colorado weather.
   Today is, actually, my first day of actual vacation.  I was taking care of Tugger, with three visits a day, until yesterday evening.  I couldn't say no to Tugger's family, as he's the guy who just lost his litter-mate, after 18 years together.  We read and snuggled, and I talked to him a lot.  He's a very caring cat, and enjoys discussions; although I can't say that I can literally translate his comments.
   I turned my alarm off last night, and the kits let me sleep until almost 8 o'clock this morning - of course, it's grey and damp outside, which I think helped their decision.  Currently, I've had a late breakfast, have read all of my e-mail, have fed and watered the kits, cleaned their litter boxes, and done my shopping for the day. I've also paid the one stray bill that came in; and I'm trying to decide if I want to try and visit the library this afternoon, or go tomorrow.  I'm almost finished reading my last library book, but I do have a large selection of favorites to re-read.
  Kathy, Jim, and Grandma Anne are supposed to return at some point in time today or tonight.  I still heven't heard from them, and don't know if they were able to see Kent before he died Monday, or not.  For their sakes, I hope that they were able to see him and kiss him good-bye.  I know that Kathy is still disturbed by the fact that she never saw Dad's body when he died, and I think she still expects to see him appear some day.  (Since Dad was cremated, and because he had donated his organs, the organ reapers didn't spend time to make him look good after the harvest - the funeral director told Kathy she didn't want to remember him that way, and convinced her not to see the body.)
   My vacation ends on Monday, and I'll be moving back into Lynn's house to care for Tess, the cats, koi, bees, and garden until the 24th, at which time I slide over three blocks to stay with the ABCs...  I also start walking Rosie on a daily basis, as well as Lucy on Tuesday and Thursday.  I actually have another few nights at home after the ABCs before I move into Rosie's, so I hope to adjust to the fall weather by mid-October.
   I'm looking for good mysteries, thrillers, and history books to add to my reading list - does anyone have any good suggestions?  I'll be happy to hear from you!

Chilly, Vacation, and Books

As the humidity rose yesterday, the day seemed to get cooler; I ended up putting on a pair of jeans and socks, instead of being in shorts and bare feet.  The high at Denver yesterday was 65 degrees; for Boulder it was 62 - and we had drizzle all day long.  Yuck.  It's supposed to be sunny this morning, so I'll have Rosie over to visit with Tessa.  Then I get to watch two of my college teams play football this afternoon, with the Broncos kick-off tomorrow night.  After spending last night at Tessa's, it's nice to be home for a couple of hours with my kits.  I've fed and watered them, loved them, and cleaned their litter boxes.  I'll be back again early tomorrow morning for another short visit and should be home to begin my vacation just before kick-off for the Broncos tomorrow night.  (Yea!!!!)
   I think, that as of, January 1, I'll be increasing my charge to stay over-night by $5.  That will be the first increase in my charges in 9 years - since I started this business.  I'll probably keep the walk and visit charges at the same amount until the following year, 2016, and then slightly increase those charges.  Most of my clients give me generous tips, knowing the charges by other groups and kennels is almost twice what I charge; but, I do have a few folks that pay me the bare minimum that I charge, and then ask me to do more work around the house and yard.  That's the reason for the increase.
  Several friends have asked me to go out and do things with them during this up-coming week of vacation.  I have thanked them all, and turned them down.  I try to explain to each person that I just want to be at home, with my cats, and not be obliged to be anywhere at any specific time.  That, for me, is vacation, since my business means that I run my life to other peoples (and their pets') schedules.  Most folks don't seem to understand - so I'm glad that I am not a family member.  For me, a vacation is a time period where I do what I want to do, when I want to do it - not something with a planned and timed schedule....
   I've read the latest James Rollins' Sigma Force book, and the latest in C J Cherryh's Foreigner series.  I guess I need to find another new author to enjoy...  Right now, I'm re-reading my favorite Zane Grey novels - and I just purchased a 100-year-old copy of The Light of Western Stars (a first edition) for $3 at a used book store.  I find myself cringing, these days, at the casual usage of derogatory terms for people of other colors and religions, but I always tell myself that, unfortunately, that was how most people thought and spoke at the time....  I have the same problem when I read my favorite series by Elswyth Thane - they were written at a time when racial prejudice was common, and the writing certainly shows that.  At the same time, I've seen a few newer editions of Ms. Thane's books, and I'm amazed at how differently the areas that have been "sanitized for political correctness" read.  A lot of the connotations have been lost, or completely ignored.  Hmmmmmm... Going to have to think about this....

Anniversary Celebration

Yesterday was my sister and brother-in-law's 33rd wedding anniversary - and I remember their ceremony and reception very well.  We celebrated by having supper at the Cheesecake Factory - and we arrived before the end of Happy Hour, so all of the appetizers were half price.  Other than having to ask to see the Happy Hour menu, we all had a great time and super food - so much so that everyone took home leftovers.
  I am able to relax a bit, since I'm currently caring for Cyrano de Biggercat and Pounce de Leon, and walking Rosie, only.  I was able to spend 5 hours with my own kits yesterday, and I'm hoping for six hours today.  I was surprised to find a boxed book inside my mailbox this morning; I had to dismantle the cardboard box inside the mailbox to be able to remove the book.  Then I was able to fold the box enough to withdraw it from the mailbox - I wonder how much force the mailman had to use to get the package to go into the box?  It took me 5 minutes to get it out....
  Kathy is beginning to get excited about next year's family reunion on Chincoteague during Pony Penning.  Our first cousins Aleda and Kathy Ann live on the island, along with their spouses, kids an grandkids; first cousins Nancy, Peter and Johnny live nearby with their spouses and kids and grandkids...  Kathy and her Snow clan will be there, and I'm hoping I can get a couple of my step-children and grandkids to also attend (they're in the DC area)...   It will be grand!  I might have to change our reservations and get a larger house for the week.
   I am still upset with the suicide of  Robin Williams.  This morning I heard that he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, according to his wife.  I wish that he had been able to contact Michael J Fox and speak with him about the effects of Parkinson's...  I know that it's an uncomfortable disease and diagnosis; my Mother had it, as well as Alzheimer's.  Perhaps that diagnosis was what put Robin "over the edge" to the point that he felt suicide was better than survival.  All I know is that I am still melancholy due to his passing.
   Thoroughbred horse racing...  Both the son of Zenyatta, Cozmic One, and the son of Rachel Alexandra, Jess's Dream, are continuing their training at Saratoga Springs.  I hope to see these two colts race against each other next year.  What I have to admit is that I don't like Rachel's eyes; so I have always preferred Zenyatta to RA.  I think I'm favoring Cozmic One over Jess's Dream already.
 
 

Busy, I Am

Do any of you remember the lyrics the White Rabbit sand in Disney's Alice in Wonderland?  "...I run, and then I hop, hop, hop; I wish that I could fly.  There's danger if I dare to stop,...." That's why I haven't written anything in the blog lately - I'm in a frantic stew....  Lynn asked me to care for her critters and house "in late August" when she went to New York City, but didn't give me a specific date.     Turns out, it starts today - although I don't consider this "late" August.  So instead of going home tonight and sleeping with my kits when Steve returns to be with Tugger, I'll be heading over to Tessa, Lily and Lyra.  I just looked at my calendar and realized that I won't sleep in my own bed again until the 26th of this month....  Rats.   If you're a friend, and are trying to reach me, e-mail is the best way until I get back home....
  Tugger has adjusted to the loss of his littermate - he pestered me, crying constantly, and searching, for the first 36 hours I was here.  The vet had told his folks to put Sasquatch's beds, etc, away, where Tugger wouldn't be able to smell them.  It turned out that what Tugger wanted was his brother's beds, so he could lie in them and remember his brother.  He's spent the last week sleeping under my hand, in his brother's bed.  He's a sweetie.
  SInce I'll be with Tessa, Rosie will enjoy our walks tremendously, because she'll be able to take a swim in the koi pond on a daily basis.  Rosie certainly loves the water!  Tessa will step onto the waterfall, but she doesn't like to swim.
  I've been so caught up with business and with Pony Penning that I hadn't realized that pre-season pro football was starting.  I watched the Giants and Bills Sunday night, and I'm looking forward to the Broncos and Seahawks tomorrow night.  I hope that the outcome of this game will be slightly different than the Superbowl!  And I found out that my satellite TV provider will have the SEC Network available, so I can revel in the best college football in the world - even though I'm in Colorado!  (Sorry, CU!)
   I have a doctor's appointment this morning, then will walk Rosie over to see Tessa; back to Tugger's and then off to meet new clients who are leaving for France on the 12th; then back to Tugger's and over to Tessa's.  Have to fit in a visit to the library, and home to my kits, as well. Then feed Tugger at 5, and Tessa and the kits at 6; give Tugger his meds at 7:30; and then go spend the night with Tessa, et al...  I feel like I've been running in place for the past three weeks -  
   But at least I have plenty of reservations, all the way through next April.  I think I'll be able to afford my week in Chincoteague next summer!

27 Large Wildfires Burning in the Western US

The conditions in the Pacific Northwest of the United States continue to be hot, dry, and windy.  There is one wildfire burning in Florida; the rest are in Texas, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.  The fire in Florida covers 650 acres and is 60% contained.  The two fires in California cover 9,780 acres - the smallest, in Sequoia National Forest is 85% contained; the second fire is only 20% contained.  There are three large wildfires burning in Idaho, and they cover 32,786 acres; the fires are at 5%, 10% and 30% controlled. The two fires in Texas have burned 6,100 acres and both are almost totally contained.  Washington has two wildfires burning, and they cover 23,071 acres; the smaller fire is uncontained, the larger has a 40% containment. In the state of Oregon, there are 16 wildfires burning, covering 89,797 acres; the containment of these fires varies between 40% to no containment.  For exact and updated information regarding wildfires, please see: http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm      California is going through a severe, if not killing, drought.  Water conservation laws have been enacted in that state; and both Oregon and Washington have declared states of emergency, enabling the state units of the National Guard to aid in fire-fighting and evacuations of homes.  There are also fires burning in Nevada and Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and in Wyoming.  The air in and around Boulder is beginning to get hazy from smoke particles again.
   Of course, Colorado has been seeing flash flooding over the past two days, because of heavy rain storms - mostly in southern Colorado, but also in Evergreen, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. Here in Boulder, there were several showers before daybreak yesterday, then a short period of rain just past noon. About 4 p.m., there was a heavy down pour, in which we received almost an inch of rain in 45 minutes; then there were four or six more showers before midnight.  We're having an extremely wet and cool summer, so far....
   The weather folks say thunderstorms again this afternoon, with a high temperature of 78.  However, we're supposed to "dry up" and have temperatures in the 90s from Friday through Wednesday.  I need to go over to Lynn Thore's and turn on her garden irrigation set-up, with watering twice a day - but I won't do that until Friday.  I was supposed to return home from Maggie's on Wednesday, but it turns out that Lynn's daughter will be leaving Wednesday or Thursday, so, after I take Christina to DIA, I'll be moving into Lynn's again - until I pick Lynn up at DIA on the 28th, when she returns from her trip to Italy.  (I wish I could travel as often as she does!)