Welcome To The Zoo – Page 10

…and then there was Frasier

very time I head out the door for a Dog Days Event I’m reminded not to bring anything home. My family knows how hard that is for me…. all these dogs with hard luck stories, rescued and looking for homes. So far I’ve volunteered at three events… and although tempted 100 times, falling in love atleast five or six times.. at the end of the weekend the dogs were all adopted by good people and I could go home empty handed and feeling good about it. Husband, I’m sure, breathed a sigh of relief.

Last weekend, an older gentleman, a little scruffy looking… came in and wanted to adopt a dog as a companion. His neighbor, a well dressed older woman, came in to vouch for him as a good dog owner. On paperwork he filled out, he looked good. Dog Days requires references before they will adopt a dog out, and most of the time there are also home visits when possible. He chose Frasier….and off they went. Frasier was in his company for 25 minutes, when he turned him loose and the dog ran away. The woman who vouched for him came back to the event and told us the dog ran away, and if anyone finds him they don’t really want him anyway….so could he please have his money back. Unbelievable.

For two days volunteers put up flyers and searched the area where the dog had been lost… just a few miles from the event. There were a few sightings…and on the second day I returned to the area to give it one more look… and flagged a cop down that I saw on the road. I asked him if he had seen the dog over the weekend and he said.. “I just came from a house where construction workers have him trapped!”

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to the address and there was Frasier, scared, cold… and so happy to see a friendly face that he leaped into my arms as the construction guys let him out.

I called the husband, crying, and said…. I FOUND THE MISSING DOG!!! HE’S IN MY CAR!!!! and then I proceeded to tell the rest or the Dog Days crew that had been looking for him. I think we all cried. He came home with me, as his rescue crew was already on their way back to Georgia. The idea was just to “FOSTER”… but if you’ve ever done this sort of thing, you’ll know that when the dog just fits right in… …. enough said.

And this time? It’s me who has the husband of the year.

Just weeks ago Frasier, a retriever poodle mix,

was on death row in a high kill shelter in Georgia.

His coat was matted beyond salvage.

He was saved at the last minute by a Rescue group who saw beyond the matted dirty mess.

He is house trained, adoring of people and animals…

and so grateful to be loved, you can see it in his face.

He is weary of men. When approached he first hunches down, but once petted,

he realizes he’s not gonna be hit, and he wags his tail and leaps up for more petting.

My husband and son have been reassuring him that most men are good.

Just the sweetest guy. I can’t imagine the kind of person who could abuse this dog.

Welcome home, Frasier.

Why did the chickens cross the road? ….

To get to the birdfeeder under my kitchen window…

where apparently the birdseed is greener.

Our neighbors have some pretty chickens

and a few guinea hens that occasionally chase our cars down the road.

He looks angry, doesn’t he?

They are actually excellent bug hunters and tick eaters.

They weren’t thrilled about my camera,

so back to the other side they went.

..and the guineas said… Not before us!

They’re bossy little beasts.

Raw

That’s all she wrote today…Mother Nature.

I had some plans.

I wanted to take Ben down to the beach for a walk

but it’s too raw.

I wanted to go up to the barn and brush the horses…

but it’s too damp.

So..I did what I had to… cleaned the stalls and the chicken coop,

did my yoga and attempted a peaceful mind (ha!) for these achy shoulders.neck.back..

took a shower and shook off the chills…

and trudged out into the grey day in my trusty Jeep.

(have I told you lately how much I love my Jeep?)

I looked over some good second cut hay that will be delivered tomorrow
(because OUR hay was wet when baled, and then turned moldy – live and learn)

and I did the weekend grocery shopping a day early.
There’s a loaf of Banana Bread in the oven…

with chocolate chips added just because I can.

I am attempting to eat Gluten and Dairy free

whilst still feeding my family the stuff we usually eat.

Oh, that’s fun.

Not.

“No, you can’t make the bed! I’m still in it!!”

I usually make the bed before I leave to do anything in the morning.

Something about leaving an unmade bed doesn’t feel right.

Today when I left for hay and grocery detail…

I left the bed unmade.

I actually thought about it while I was out and about.

When I came home I thought about leaving it unmade, period.

It’s made.

I am not OCD. I’m not even a cleaning nut.

When did I become so anal about bedmaking, I ask you.

I think this is the prettiest rose I have ever seen…

husband sent some to me and some to grown-up girl…

because sometimes that’s how he rolls 🙂

I hope you’re having a good day, gloomy or not.

As I type this, the dogs are at my feet

and the aroma of almost done banana bread threads through the house.

I hope you are surrounded by things that bring you Joy too…

Life.Is.Good

Ben & Rudy’s Excellent Adventure

What a glorious morning at the Beach.

Packed the two boy dogs in the car..

and cruised on down to the water.

You’re not making fun of his sweater, now are ya?

He lost it soon after.

The sky was incredible…

And something odd was discovered…

Red sand all the way down at the far end, near the southernmost Jetty….

I have no idea what it is, some sort of mineral?

Ben made a new friend.. we’ll call him Fabio.

Fabio with his Dad…

Heading back down the beach, I found some treasures… shells you don’t find here

when summer people arrive.

Rudy bound around the beach with pure joy, barking at the waves, jumping in and out of the foam…

if only we could all let ourselves go, exactly like that…

Heading back to the Jeep, we deposited a bucket of shells and

about five pounds of sand all over the interior.

She is now broken in 🙂

My kind of day.

The Glamorous Life

Snow… finally. This is the scene out my office window early this morning, looking over to my neighbor’s house. Lots of charm, we’re lucky to see that across the way.

I often hear that I’m living someone’s dream at This Old House…

and I get it… it was always mine, too.

I do feel blessed.

There are some realities that come with the package…

..like mornings like this.. when it’s cold and wet outside

and I’d rather stay under the covers with a nice cuppa joe on the nightstand

and a good book in hand.

The farm doesn’t care, it has things that need attending to…

and attend.. I do.

…sometimes still in my PJ’s.

The chickens didn’t want to come out this morning.

It’s only the second time they’ve seen snow.

First was in October, when it shouldn’t have been there anyway.

By the time I had the horses fed, they figured out the treats

were out in that white stuff, so they better get over it.

This is their oatmeal, they are spoiled for sure…

I trudge up to the barn to grain, hay, water and turn out…

..and the mucking of stalls, ah the joys.
But there is something calming and rhythmic in the carrying out of chores..
and it keeps your weight down. Big plus.
I gained twenty pounds in the two year period where horses were
boarded out and This Old House was being made fit to live in.
I lost those lbs again once farm chores commensed.
I’d rather be doing this than pounding rubber in a noisey gym.
It’s all good 🙂

These cold mornings are the times I tell myself…

you DO like doing this.. . Really!

Pass the coffee, would ya? Light, no sugar.

Farm Updates

We’ve had a small horse farm for most of our adult life, but chickens are new territory this year. I’ve learned a few things. Chickens are mean to one another on occasion and sometimes even cannabalistic. I find this disturbing. I am now fully aware of the origin of the phrase “Pecking Order”. My blue laying Auracana hen is at the bottom of it… and her bottom is what the others have been pecking at. I had treated all for stick fleas several times, to no avail. It was getting so that the poor girl was no longer laying and all her tail feathers were gone, plus she’d walk out in the morning from a night of hen-pecking with a bloody hind end. you’re welcome.

What to do. The local chicken guy said “it’s nature, they’re gonna do it anyway, you just gotta let ’em. ” I could not sit back and watch, doing nothing at all. What I know is…a red heat lamp when chicks are young is supposed to deter them from pecking at each other, but you don’t want too much heat in an adult hen house, even in winter. Husband suggested red light. So, I found a red “party light” at the hardware store and put it in the hen house to see if it would deter the damn pecking. I also started sprinkling the hen-pecked hen’s butt with corn starch to stop the red look and blood specs from attracting the chickens to attack. It worked! My blue egged girl is back to laying and her behind is healing. I also have the added benefit of more eggs, as egg production slowed down once daylight hours were at a minimum. Now with the extra light, more eggs are being produced once again.

By the way… I want to know what people do with a “red party light” anyway.

Maybe I don’t.

I don’t know which is doing all the hen-pecking..

They’re not talking.

Poor Ethel – just one tail feather left.

Heading up the hill… it’s very grey and damp this morning.

A few new additions at the barn…

The gator has a home on the left side of the barn now (keeps out snow and rain)

It’s windy on the hill and the boys manes, tails and hay are blowing with it….

It should be snow season, not mud season.

Husband has installed an interlocking rubber brick isle so that the farrier can do his work on a level surface, important for proper trimming of hooves, and we’re not trudging in mud when cleaning out stalls.

This is a better gift to me than any piece of jewelry out of the finest store…

He jokes about this, but I bet he’s grateful… sorta.

Well, that’s a lie… truth be told.. he says..

It woulda been CHEAPER if you liked jewelry better than horses, who you kiddin.

moving along…

We brought the cuppola from our previous home

and installed it…

And the most exciting news at the barn is the new wood pellet bedding I have just discovered. During a recent visit to a large barn I saw these pellets being used as bedding… did some research and it was hailed as the best, safest, most economical bedding. So I gave it a try. I LOVE IT!! Much easier to clean, easier on my arthritic back, The pellets break down into really soft bedding, and it’s cheaper, less waste, than the pine shavings I’ve been using for all these years. The price of bagged pine shavings is outrageous, so finding a more cost effective alternative that’s easier on the work load is a beautiful thing.

Coady and Lacey approve.

The gardens are confused.. although if we can believe the forecast,

they are about to be reminded of the season we’re actually in…

My buddy Ben and Ipad App coolness.

Danes are just a different level of dog all together, I’m convinced. They really do think they are exactly whatever we are… (that would be human)… and should live accordingly. Ben will sit on the couch just as we do, he would just as soon eat at the table right next to us. Maybe it’s because they are so big…. The expressions on a Dane’s face are remarkable. You can tell when he’s worried.. when he’s afraid, when he’s curious, when he is SOOO happy to see you – his whole forhead scrunches up and ears pin back and he SMILES, I tell ya. And when you hurt his feelings?….oh, the wounded look. He doesn’t like having his picture taken and if you are trying, he will do his best to STAY, but he’s not really cooperating.

This is the “I’m not looking at that camera” look.

Nope, uh-uh.

*sigh*

picture a doglike heavy sigh and eye roll, if he could.
And my no-makeup on a Sunday evening look,
because who am I trying to fool anyway 🙂

No drooling on the table, Ben!

This is the wounded look. Scolded for begging with face on table.

Because he can.

Since both chicks were in the nest last night…

we played with Ipad apps. Heat Sensor camera. Pretty cool.

If you have apple products (ipad, iphone) have you discovered

Words with Friends yet? it’s basically Scrabble, and you can

play it against anyone you are friends with on Facebook or Twitter .

I don’t do Twitter. Am I the only one who thinks it’s a little narcissistic and silly?

No offense if YOU do Twitter, I’m just sayin.

So back to Words. You also don’t have to spend a lot of time doing it…

You can make your move..and your friend can take their turn a day later,

or whenever it’s convenient.

If the kids are gonna be on their “equipment”…

atleast they are learning something valuable, right?

It’s a Dogs Life

My version of Andrew Wyeth’s Master Bedroom

(I bet you’ve seen this print and loved it too)

Visiting Monks

On Christmas Eve we had our first ever Monk Parrot visit. A pair of them were perched in the white birch outside the kitchen window, eye-ing the birdfeeder. As far as I know, they never came down to eat. It’s an odd thing, to see green tropical birds living in the cold weather of New England…

I googled… The Monk Parakeet or Parrot is globally very common . In Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, Monk Parakeets are regarded as major agricultural pests (as noted by Charles Darwin among others). Their population explosion in South American rural areas seems to be associated with the expansion of eucalyptus forestry for paper pulp production, which offers the bird the opportunity to build protected nests in artificial forests where there is small ecological competition from other species.

The Monk Parakeet is the only parrot that builds a stick nest, in a tree or on a man-made structure, rather than using a hole in a tree. This gregarious species often breeds colonially, building a single large nest with separate entrances for each pair. In the wild, the colonies can become quite large, with pairs occupying separate “apartments” in nests that can reach the size of a small automobile.
The lifespan of Monk Parakeets has been given as 15–20 years. Monk Parakeets are highly intelligent, social birds. Those kept as pets routinely develop large vocabularies. They are able to learn scores of words and phrases.

These pics below are not my images, but give a better idea of the bird and it’s nest.

Birds of a feather?….

I’m dreaming….

… of a white Christmas. But so far, it ain’t happen’n.

Now that College girl has graduated, what do I call her here for you… grown up girl? Sounds silly. Hmmm… anyway… Daughter is out for a walk with Ben this morning (HIGH PRAISE to the manufacturer of the Easy walker harness. It’s a miracle item for those of us who have dogs who pull when you walk them.) Back to the weather … It’s downright balmy out. Weird weather for Christmas time. How do you people do it in Florida??… it just isn’t the SAME, I tell ya! ….