Friday, September 4, 2009
Odds 'n' Ends
The NCAA football season began last night - I was watching ESPN at 5 p.m. for the kickoff between the South Carolina Gamecocks and North Carolina State. It wasn't a pretty game, nor a high scoring game - but it was a gutsy defensive game, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. As soon as the college game was over, I switched channels and watched the rest of the Broncos and Cardinals game. With Tom Brandstater starting as QB, we actually did rather well, winning 19 to 0. I do enjoy my football! - The kits have been all snuggly the past two nights, and last night, I heard Lovey hissing just inside the door, so I looked out and there was a raccoon about a foot away from Banichi, who was ignoring it. I hissed at the coon, and got the cats inside by giving them both a pinch of catnip. (I'm such a terrible Mom - I give my kits drugs so they can get high!) - Rosie and Remy and I had an excellent walk yesterday morning. I took a baggie full of natural treats with me, and we stopped and sat when we met other dogs; then the Rs got treats as the other dogs passed them. Buck actually asked nicely for a treat, and with his owner's permission, he shared treats with the Rs ( - oh, yes, very mean, vicious, aggressive dogs!!). We ran into 8 sets of dogs out walking, as well as visiting Suki and Boo on the return walk, so the kids got lots of treats. The only time Rosie barked was when a yearling deer broke cover and ran by within 4 feet of us. - Our air has cleared up quite a bit, but one occasionally still gets a good whiff of smoke; at the majority of the haze has cleared. I was delighted that I could actually see the snow on nearby peaks this morning. - And, finally, this Saturday, Rachel Alexandra (the 3-year-old filly who won the Preakness against the boys) will be facing older males in the Woodward Stakes. She will make history, if she wins. She faces 7 older handicap horses, all of whom are impressive winners, at Saratoga. And that's the end of another short blog! - TGIF!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Remy and Rosie Passed with Flying Colors!!!
I just called the Rs house, and got Joel, who had just walked in the door and not even put his briefcase down. As soon as he finished the testing, he brought the kids back to the house, and headed off to Regis University, where he teaches, and had classes all afternoon, and this evening was an "Open House" type affair to meet the professors... so he is whipped. Anyway. The dogs and Joel were taken into a large room with the man administering the test; while they were talking, 5 people brought in different dogs with different behavior patterns, and Rosie and Remy just sat and looked at them. After that part was over, the tester said that he liked the harnesses we use to walk the kids, as well as the short, 6-foot leads. He says that when Joel and Nancy walk the Rs, which they will continue to do separately, they'll take a jar of frozen meat baby food and every time they see another dog, then the Rs will get to lick the meat - so it will be a positive training tool for Joel and Nancy. I'll continue to take treats in my pockets and will give them a treat in anticipation of good behavior, just like the owners. I give them treats after I get good behavior at the moment.... And the tester told Joel it was fine for me to continue walking the kids together. -- I had thought that the Rs might have to go to the Grumpy Growlers class at the Humane Society - but the tester said they are absolutely normal, nice dogs. Of course, Rosie got bored while Joel and the tester talked, so she barked a couple of times for attention, and when Joel told her "No", she walked over to a closed utility closet, opened the door, and went in and explored - and Joel had to explain that all the cabinet-type doors at the house are tied or bun-geed closed, if we don't want the Rs rummaging in them... So I can celebrate!!!!!
Horses
A blue roan Mustang
Luna, a Lippizanner, working in a double bridle
A Percheron stallion in Canada
Romar Dazzlin' Dude, a Paint/Percheron cross
Short Post Now, More Later Today
Well, today is the day. Rosie and Remy will be evaluated at the Humane Society to see if they are "vicious and aggressive" dogs. I think they'll pass the test with flying colors, if Joel doesn't get too tense. - And I wonder exactly how the dogs will be tested... will they walk a specific route with other dogs and people and critters ready and waiting for them to approach? Will they be inside a room and other creatures brought to greet them? Exactly how does it work? I hope that Joel will call me afterwards and let me know (a) how the testing is done and (b) how the kids performed. As soon as I know these things, I'll make another posting today. In the meantime, I'll give the kids a good walk prior to Joel taking them to the Humane Society....
Thanks to the particulates and ash in the air, the sunrise this morning was truly spectacular - oranges, reds and purples were spread across the eastern sky. The Flatirons are barely visible through the haze this morning, and the Health Department says that if your visibility is less than 5 miles today, then your air quality is "Poor." The Flatirons are a mile away, so I guess we have poor air quality; and the weather folks say it will stay this way for at least the next two days. Everything smells and tastes of smoke and ash - it's a rather bitter taste. It looks like I will be going to the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival up in Estes Park on September 12. If you're interested in what the 33rd annual festival entails, please visit: www.scotfest.com .... Later!
Thanks to the particulates and ash in the air, the sunrise this morning was truly spectacular - oranges, reds and purples were spread across the eastern sky. The Flatirons are barely visible through the haze this morning, and the Health Department says that if your visibility is less than 5 miles today, then your air quality is "Poor." The Flatirons are a mile away, so I guess we have poor air quality; and the weather folks say it will stay this way for at least the next two days. Everything smells and tastes of smoke and ash - it's a rather bitter taste. It looks like I will be going to the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival up in Estes Park on September 12. If you're interested in what the 33rd annual festival entails, please visit: www.scotfest.com .... Later!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Cats
An armful of Maine Coon cat
Abyssinian sisters like "fresh" water - most cats do...
Kali, the calico cat
Hunan, a brown tabby cat
Wildfires & a Good Walk
I truly feel sorrow for the folks in California that have lost houses and homes in this latest wildfire; but I am truly moved by the loss of habitat and wildlife that have not been able to escape the heat, ash, bad air, and tongues of flame. - The critters, after all, are "dumb" animals; they can smell the smoke, feel the wind and heat, and try to run in front of the fire, but in many cases there is absolutely no way for them to escape the horror of dying from burns and asphyxiation. My heart goes out to all creatures caught in or near these fires.
The smoke from the California fires has been carried here to Boulder, so we are hazy, and have a great deal of particulates in the air. People are being told that if they have respiratory problems, they should stay inside and avoid exertion. There is a dry, burning sensation in the back of one's throat after walking a couple of blocks here. (I guess I'll take my inhaler with me when I walk Rosie and Remy today.)
Remy and Rosie were extremely well behaved yesterday - we ran into four sets of unexpected dogs on our walk; and the first one was the only one to get Rosie a trifle riled. The first dog was a golden retriever that was barking at us long before Rosie gave one half-hearted bark in return, and Joel had shortened the Rs leads, so nothing really happened. As we passed another house, a dog that was tied up in the driveway lunged out at the end of its rope, barking like mad at us. Remy and Rosie just continued walking. The house full of Newfoundlands barked at us as we walked by, again with no response. We ran into a loose Norwegian Elkhound at the Elks Club, and he left us alone, so the Rs ignored him. After cutting across the Centennial track, we ran into two Chinese Pugs - and, again, the Rs ignored them. I think it was a great walk, overall, for Joel to have taken with the kids. I told him not to expect trouble, and most of the time it would not appear (this, after he immediately shortened the leads by half as soon as we saw another dog). He seemed surprised that it worked, so I told him that the dogs can definitely read his tenseness, and if he relaxed, so would they. ... The kits have been having a ball with me at their beck and call 21 hours each day. They have managed to get me to spoil them even more - Banichi with huge, pleading eyes like a dog, and Lovey by talking to me until I'll do (almost) anything to get her to stop talking. She is a mouthy child!! ... The only "news" on the horse racing front is that the owners and trainers of Mine That Bird have Calvin Borel back on the colt for morning exercise rides at Saratoga. ... And, finally, Aspen is still plagued by bears: yesterday afternoon a lady fell asleep on her deck while reading and was awakened by a pain in her leg. It was a black bear, clawing at her, trying to see if the scented tanning lotion was edible. The bear ran up a tree when the lady screamed, and DoW tranquilized and relocated the bear.
The smoke from the California fires has been carried here to Boulder, so we are hazy, and have a great deal of particulates in the air. People are being told that if they have respiratory problems, they should stay inside and avoid exertion. There is a dry, burning sensation in the back of one's throat after walking a couple of blocks here. (I guess I'll take my inhaler with me when I walk Rosie and Remy today.)
Remy and Rosie were extremely well behaved yesterday - we ran into four sets of unexpected dogs on our walk; and the first one was the only one to get Rosie a trifle riled. The first dog was a golden retriever that was barking at us long before Rosie gave one half-hearted bark in return, and Joel had shortened the Rs leads, so nothing really happened. As we passed another house, a dog that was tied up in the driveway lunged out at the end of its rope, barking like mad at us. Remy and Rosie just continued walking. The house full of Newfoundlands barked at us as we walked by, again with no response. We ran into a loose Norwegian Elkhound at the Elks Club, and he left us alone, so the Rs ignored him. After cutting across the Centennial track, we ran into two Chinese Pugs - and, again, the Rs ignored them. I think it was a great walk, overall, for Joel to have taken with the kids. I told him not to expect trouble, and most of the time it would not appear (this, after he immediately shortened the leads by half as soon as we saw another dog). He seemed surprised that it worked, so I told him that the dogs can definitely read his tenseness, and if he relaxed, so would they. ... The kits have been having a ball with me at their beck and call 21 hours each day. They have managed to get me to spoil them even more - Banichi with huge, pleading eyes like a dog, and Lovey by talking to me until I'll do (almost) anything to get her to stop talking. She is a mouthy child!! ... The only "news" on the horse racing front is that the owners and trainers of Mine That Bird have Calvin Borel back on the colt for morning exercise rides at Saratoga. ... And, finally, Aspen is still plagued by bears: yesterday afternoon a lady fell asleep on her deck while reading and was awakened by a pain in her leg. It was a black bear, clawing at her, trying to see if the scented tanning lotion was edible. The bear ran up a tree when the lady screamed, and DoW tranquilized and relocated the bear.
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