Weekly update August 9-15

A good week! Highpoints include Snoopy getting chewing gum in her fur, Corey getting 'quicked' by clumsy Mary Lou, Banshee going in to town for a bath and getting rained out, van ride to Bilo, and attending a memorial service in spirit for a departed dog friend in the UK ...

Monday: Morning run, no work here today. My back spasmed during night again, am moving very very slowly. Fed and kenneled, Snoopy eating well. go to work, return, husband in town. Let dogs out, very brief run, then inside. Can't bend over to brush Corey. Back outside, another brief run and mowing, then sit on porch til time to feed and kennel.

Tuesday: Hot and muggy, morning run, then feed and kennel. Corey doesnt want to go in pen, goes in shed with DB, Banshee and I, I leash him take him to pen. he won't eat, only a bite, barking. wont take chewie. I am beginning to wonder if this is a strange reaction to the rabies shot 2 weeks ago, last Monday he did the same thing. Go to Saluda to meet clients, then return around lunch time; all dogs inside. I have a work related evebing event, so take a few hours off, Decide to groom Corey, try to take him in computer room but he gets all upset, so, put DB and Snoop in crates in shed and let Banshee out. Groom Corey, Let Banshee in, brush her,then decide to clip Corey's nails. All fine.  then get DB and Snoop and bring them back in. and ... blood everywhere, apparently I quicked Corey ... and cant find styptic powder, finally get it stopped, husband says he'll clean up (I have to go to dentist and then a 6-9 work event at library... so, I leave. I truly hate it when I inadvertently injure one of my babies... I feel like the klutz of the world ... return home, husband has fed and kenneled all.

Wednesday: Morning run, Corey's paw is fine.Feed and kennel, all eating well. Go to work, return, Corey, DB and Snoopy inside with husband, Banshee in her cave under the porch. Go in, dogs wildly excited, Corey crowds DB, she snaps at his face, husband puts her out. no injuries. After awhile, go outside on porch. Still hot, decide to mow anyway, and water (no rain for almost a week.) Nightfall, feed and kennel.

Thursday: Hot and muggy... August in SC. Morning run, back to kennels, Corey doesnt want to go in his pen, no, he wants to go in the shed with DB and Banshee, let him in briefly, then leash him, he trots happily to his pen. Go figure. Feed, Snoopy not eating her dry food. Corey doesnt want his chewie. Go to work, return, husband in town at Lowe's. Let dogs out, all excited, run around then realize how hot and nasty it is, humid, buggy (gnats), and settle down under tree to watch crazy Mary lou mow. I give up and join them. Mattie from next door comes over, actually comes up to us, takes a treat, plays with Banshee and Snoopy (Banshee play bowing, Snoopy rolling on her back, then Snoopy chasing Mattie ... and then Corey, who has been standing back politely, joins in, Mattie takes one look at the big red tank barreling towards her and yips and runs ... Corey circles back and sits by me.. but Mattie has fled ... she comes back later when i make it back up to the trailer, comes over for a treat ... Corey is at the front door but then comes down the porch, Mattie runs again. but this is the closest she's gotten. I remember Banshee at first was hesitant at Corey's size ... it took her a week or two to stop eyeing him nervously when he was running behind her ... fed and kenneled, all eating well.

Friday: Hot and mugggy still, morning run and omigosh, Snoopy gets chewing gum in her fur!! One of husbands workers must have spit it on ground somewhere ... got ice, got most of it out but had to cut some fur off. Fed and kenneled went to work ... went by SPCA Thrift Store, then to lunch with my 'dog people' friends, back to work. Returned home ... and its pouring rain.Dogs kenneled. Finally slacked up around 730, let dogs out and had a rather damp evening run, fed and kenneled again.

Saturday: Cool (high 70's0 and cloudy in AM, but still very damp after yesterday's rain. morning run, then fed and kenneled, release again after a rest and rode around property, trying to decide if pears should be picked ... I've not had pears before ... check on Net, says this variety nheeds to ripen OFF tree in September. Pick a few that are damaged, give to orey and Banshee (Corey LOVES them, eats them completely, Banshee eats a bit and carries them around, Snoop and DB still think they're a play toy not a food item... around noon, load up Banshee to take to town for SPCA dog wash ... but halfway to Aiken, it starts raining, pouring ... dog wash cancelled. Go to walMart to pick up some vitamins 9at least its cool enough to leave Banshee in the car) then take Banshee to PetSmart (I promised her an outing) ... and its not raining on that side of town. Visit the rescues doing adoptions today, one really beautiful boxer girl, and some very sweet white puppies ... Banshee is petted and cooed over and given treats ... decide to go back by dog wash to see if they cranked up again but no, still raining on that side of town. Return home. Husband says it drizzled a bit, but the 3 dogs stayed dry on the enclosed porch so he let them in. Let Banshee out of car, she doesnt want to come in, go inside greet others and then bring them out, Banshee and DB do their 'reuniting dance' (Banshee picks up a piece of wood, growls at DB, DB dances around her cautiously, they sniff each other, then sit for treats ... ) take all inside for nap time. Up again around 5, still relatively cool out, mow for an hour, rest, mow some more, looks like its going to rain, come inside with all dogs but they're too restless, so let 3 out and keep Corey in to brush (he's a mess, and he grumbles SO at being brushed ...), got the ShooTags in mail, got husband to pout on Corey's collar (I need to change DB's collar and find the breakaways for Banshee and Snoop... then back out for an evening run, feed and kennel.

Sunday: Warm and muggy, morning run, fed and kenneled then to church ... returned and tried to mow as it is threatening rain again and I wanted to finish the section I was doing yesterday ... hot and sticky, I only lasted an hour ... Corey stuck with me, the others went to the trailer and sat on the porch til Corey and I dragged in (well, I was dragging) went inside, oh blessed cool! fixed lunch, did wash ... started raining, then stopped, went back out but came in quickly ... Banshee and DB wouldnt settle down so put them out ... brushed Corey, had a brief nap with the Damcat ... out again late afternoon.... My friend Kathy in the UK (whom I have never met except online) had a memorial service today for her Angel Bridie, who crossed the bridge 2 days before Angel Ginger ...DB,Banshee,Snoopy, Corey and I went to Angel Ginger's tree this afternoon (after it stopped raining) and I talked about Angel Bridie and how I always pictured her with Angel Ginger .. then, the oddest thing, the dogs were all grouped around me, and DB's head suddenly whipped around and she cantered to the edge of the 'grove' (there's a slight depression, then the hill starts on the side) and stood there on alert, then turned around and rejoined us... I believe animals are more sensitive than we humans to spirit presences, and, DB is the most sensitive of my animals ... and, I think Angel Ginger and Angel Bridie joined us for a moment ... after this, mowed a bit, went over to pear trees so Corey and Bsanshee could eat a pear and DB and Snoop play with them,  then back up the hill, took dogs for van ride to BiLo, return after dark, feed and kennel. ...