Sunday, August 28, 2011

Weekly update August 22-29

A good week! Still very hot and dry most of week, a few cool mornings to tantalize us with a hint of fall ... DB finds a dead bird ... visit Sally in her new home, she is doing great ... groom all 4 dogs on new table ... little Mattie comes to visit (first time since July 19!) ...

For those of you whose churches may be looking for new ministries and outreach, here's a link to some great animal ministries and community programs started by church ministers, which are deeply compassionate to both people and pets: including a church member-organized pet-sitting program which led into many other generous services, a placement service for the companions of patients in hospice, and a dog who accompanies a South Bronx missionary. Humane Society of the United States' Faith Outreach program released a booklet called  "Animal Protection Ministries: A Guide for Churches."
http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/faith/animal_ministry_guide/

For those of you who are unable to view videos on my FaceBook page, I've now started uploading to YouTube ...

http://www.youtube.com/user/libertymls1#p/u


Monday August 22

Oh geez, up to 100 degrees today. Morning run, hot and sticky, DB finds a dead bird  and carries it all over property ... husband later finds it but cant tell how it died as it's um, chewed a bit ... hope it isnt West Nile... feed and kennel, go to work, return pretty tired, back hurting. Evening run, feed and kennel..

Tuesday August 23

My goodness, it is actually cool this morning! Needed a long sleeve shirt! Dogs all excited, running wildly about, noses in air, ahhhh ... fall?? Feed and kennel go to work ... warms up later in day. Return home, my back is bothering me a bit, lay down and ice it, then out for evening run, feeling better.

Wednesday August 24

Warming up again. Morning run, Banshee and Snoopy both get sandspurs in pads,and cant get them out without help. It is SO dry out here now, the sandspurs are drying up and attacking us ... feed and kennel, go to work. Return, stop by store, still hot. Met at gate by DB and Banshe, Corey and Snoopy and the Damcat inside. Let Bashee and DB in, fix food, give all animals some chicken scraps (which the Damcat promptly throws up) Evening run, feed and kennel.

Thursday August 25

Warm and muggy morning. Dogs pretty sluggish, move quickly around property without any 'side trips' , feed and kennel. Gets really hot in afternoon, up to 100. Return home, dogs all inside, grumbling 'is it cool enough to go out yet? Huh? Huh?' Fix food, they are driving me bonkers, so go out for evening mowing. Still unpleasant, buggy and muggy, but perservere. Feed and kennel.In the night, I am sitting on porch and .. I thik I hear little Matie's bark! Could it be?

Friday August 26

Right pleasant this morning, breezy, cool, not a bit of rain from Irene which is hitting further up the coast ... fed and kenneled, take morning off,  groomed all dogs (Corey and Banshee have sandspurs and debris in their feathers and tails, cant wait) . Into town at lunchtime, stop by SPCA Thrift Store (half price sale), two precious dogs up for adoption, then to work, then to chiropractor, then hooray, get to visit Sally in her new home! She is doing well (see separate update). Return home,  fix food , go for evening run, and, little Mattie joins us! Hooray! Her eye is looking better! Snoopy and Banshee are thrilled to see her! Feed and kennel, then Mattie sits on porch with me awhile.A truly great, blessed day! 


Saturday August 27

Cool and cloudy this morning ... morning run, mowed a bit, husband in town so fed and kenneled by myself. Went to lunch for new pastor's wife, return home, met at gate by all dogs and husband on tractor .. back to trailer, change clothes, let dogs in, do wash, take nap. Out again, still hot, up to 100 again today ... husband in shed with Snoopy and Banshee. Let Corey and DB inside. Fix food, here come Banshee and Snoopy. All out for evening run and mowing and watering, still and buggy, not real pleasant, but Snoopy and Corey have a great time playing ball. Feed and kennel.

Sunday August 28

Warm morning, muggy ... will this heat ever end? Morning run, water some trees, feed and kennel go to church ... return, too hot to stay outside, let dogs in, DB very itchy, put some salt water on her tummy this seems to help ... outside briefly, Corey finds orange bone and wants to play fetch, noooo, way too hot sweetie. Back inside for naps, wash, and other household chores. Dogs very restless, keep wanting to go out, so we go outside a few minutes, its still hot, go back in. Finally 'colls off' to 95 around 7 PM, evening run, mowing, watering ... lots of gnats tonight ... gotta keep moving! No little Mattie, well at least we saw her Friday and she was OK.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Weekly update August 15-21

Weather starts off pleasant warms up by weekend ... the gang all gets groomed on my new table ...Sally finds a furever home ... the Damcat has tummy upset ... see first flock of geese ... no little Mattie again this week

"Beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices."- Lord Byron (inscription on tomb of his Newfoundland Boatswain)


Monday August 15: Cool this morning

Cool morning, in high 60's! Nice morning run, greet neighbor returning from work, feed and kennel, go to work. Return, stop by store and pick up yogurt for dogs. Evening run, fairly pleasant, nice breeze, play ball, play 'throw the squash', feed and kennel.

Tuesday August 16: Pleasant morning weather

Pleasant weather again, though heats up mid day. Morning run, Banshee gets a sandspur in her paw, then Snoopy. A flock of geese go honking by, Corey in mad pursuit... feed and kennel, go to work. On my return come across a huge snake in the road about a quarter mile from home, looks like a mocassin ... ack... I keep thinking of my friend's dog killed by a snake last week (but thats over 100 miles away)  ... greeted at gate by all dogs and husband, mad excitement ... go to trailer, let them in, fix food, then out for evening run and mowing



Wednesday August 17: Muggy and buggy

Weather heating up again, mid 90's, muggy and buggy ... morning run, still have to ride tractor, hopefully tomorrow one of my mowers will be fixed. Corey gets a bunch of sandspurs in his feathers, finally get them out (the sandspurs around the trees are getting high and withot a mower I cant get close on the tractor)... feed and kennel, off to work, stop by to visit Sally in afternoon, she's cheerful and happy, despite the gnats this time of day ... pick up Banshee's herbal blend from Claire and give her a 'pets go to heaven' picture frame for Angel Heidi .. return home, dogs all inside, loudly and ecstatically greeting me ... fix food, evening run ... some mowing, some watering ... return, the Damcat has thrown up ... clean it up, feed and kennel dogs

Thursday August 18: Mower still not fixed

Mower still not fixed, washers wrong. Use tractor again for morning run, this is really killing my back. Feed and kennel, go to work. Long day. Return pretty tired, husband has gotten more washers, hopefully the mower will be fixed tomorrow ... evening run, try to mow some, this is out of control also very very dry so water trees. Very buggy, gnats, feed and kennel

Friday August 19: Mower fixed

Finally have mower fixed! Morning run, a spot of mowing, feed and kennel, go to work, then pick Sally up at kennel and take her to vet, clean bill of health , and best news yet! One of the nice young women at kennel wants to adopt Sally! She has her dogs with her today, let Sally meet them (first time Sally's been off leash in a minth! Goes well! Will let her take Sally home tomorrow!) Go to chiropractor, return home. Evening run on my mower, hooray, mow some of the spots couldnt get for last week with tractor. Dogs all in high spirits, I think they like having me 'nearer to them' on the mower. Feed and kennel.

Saturday August 20: Sally goes home, rain

Morning run, hot and muggy and smoky (burning fields in back) feed and kennel, then to town with husband to take Sally to her new home! (see separate update). Stop by store and doctor on way home. Rain storm blows up, has just rained at home. Let dogs out briefly, brief run, then load them up in van and go for ride (to store) on way home another storm blow in, kennel dogs, let them out again after storm, evening run, feed and kennel.

Sunday August 21: Groom the gamg

Foggy this morning after yesterday's rain ... morning run, I always enjoy watching dogs disappear into the mist then reappear ... feed and kennel, go to church, everyone really happy Sally found a home! Return home, dogs greet me at gate, back to trailer, change clothes. Too hot for a run, so stay inside, fix lunch, do wash, take naps, then take all dogs to shed and groom everybody! Corey has some bad sandspur mats on legs, as does Banshee. Clip DBs nails. Even get Snoopy briefly on grooming table (though I dont attach her to the arm), brush her. Back to trailer, still in mid 90's. Fix food, then go for evening run and mowing. Feed and kenel

--

Mary Lou
DB,Banshee, Snoopy and the wild Irishman Corey (dogs)
Ginger in spirit (2005-4/9/10)
The Damcat
Callie in spirit (04/90-06/07)
http://marylouandcompanions.blogspot.com/
http://gingeroftheflyingears.blogspot.com

Monday, August 15, 2011

Weekly update Aug 8-15

On the bright side this week, temps start out in hundreds but moderate by week's end ... 2 great visits with Sally ...  new grooming table a great success ... my gang enjoys playing with, and eating, the final harvest of squash ... on the down side, no little Mattie again this week... one good friend's dog has to be helped across the bridge and another friend's dog killed by a snake ... both lawnmowers now out of commission, and my back is giving me fits.


"Auschwitz begins whenever someone looks at a slaughterhouse and thinks :
They are only animals." - Theodor Adorno , 1903-1969


Monday August 8: Hot and muggy

Hot and muggy morning, pretty sluggish morning run ... feed and kennel, go to work in pickup so husband can take car in ... another hot day, 102 ... return home, temps still in high 90's, fix food, brush corey, finally go out to mow ... hot and nasty, buggy, get stung by mystery bug mowing under trees, big welt on my arm, put tobacco on it ... lots of gnats harassing me and digs... feed and kennel

Tuesday August 9: Visit Sally who meets a cat!

Pleasant this morning, nice fresh breeze.. morning run, DB and Banshee hunt for critters in the high grass ... feed and kennel, go to work ... having to drive pickup again, husband supposed to get car wheel checked today ... temps up in hundred mid afternoon ... visit Sally late afterenoon, she is in fine spirits, its about to storm, we go out in play yard and she meets a cat! The neighbor's cat was out in his yard, a BIG grey tabby, puffed all up and hissed at Sally, who promptly sat down, looked at me, I said 'thats a kitty, good kitty'(or something similar) Sally yawned (a calming signal) and then ignored the cat. Dropped by to pick up flower essences from Claire, (whose sweet little gdog Heidi is nearing theend of her time on earth)  then return home, husband not back yet, let dogs out, go for nice evening run, nice breeze again .. apparently did rain earlier ... mow some on far side, husband returns, dogs all very happy rolling in grass clippings, feed and kennel... pleasantly cool in evening

Wednesday August 10: Second mower down

Hot mugginess descends again ... morning run, gnats plaguing us ... feed and kennel, go to work, another hot one, in the hundreds ... return fairly late, still upper 90's, DB, Banshee and Snoopy meet me at gate, where's Corey? Down the hill with husband, he then comes rushing to greet me ... inside, chage clothes,  go out to mow ... about 10 min later wheel comes off mower ... so thats both mowers down ... walk back up hill, horrible, buggy, swarms of gnats and skeeters ... tell husband, he doesnt believe me and goes to see for himself, meanwhile I let dogs in, fix food, I've had it for the day ... husband returns, yep I'm right. Feed and kennel

Thursday August 11: Both mowers still out of commission

Cooler today (in high 90's). Not feeling well myself, stomach issues ... morning run, feed and kennel, then back to bed. Finally better, go to Columbia for hearing. Return, husband had taken picked up other mower from shop, they fixed one thing and broke another. So now both mowers inoperable. Get on small tractor, evening run, pick squash, a lot of which is now bug damaged so the dogs have a grand time playing with the squash, chewing like a bone, chasing each other etc. (wish I'd brought camera). Cool this evening, nice breeze!

Friday August 12: New grooming table set up

Cool cloudy morning. Groom Corey on new grooming table, wow, what a difference! Root  some rosemary clippings, get some squash and cantelope, take in to town to Christ Central and friend ... planning to visit  Sally in afternoon but pours rain, go to chiropractor (my back is totally messed up now), then try to find washer for lawnmower wheel, return home, no rain here, evening run (on tractor, husband shows me how to mow with it, I just keep bouncing all over the place, its better when mowing)... feed and kennel

Saturday August 13: Visit sally

Warm and humid. Morning run, dogs pretty sluggish. The washers I got dont fit mower. Groom Banshee, then go with husband to visit Sally (see separate update) who meets the cat again... drop by PetSmart and visit adoption groups (and give out some squash), go by other places to try to match washer, get one that may work,  then return home ... pretty hot out. Let dogs inside, try to nap but they are too restless. Husband has put new washer on mower. Go for very brief run... make it halfway down hill, wheel comes off again. AARGH. Walk back to trailer.  Back in, the dogs now want to nap but the Damcat doesnt, he keeps licking my face and meowing firectly in my ear. Argh. Up again, do a wash, fix dog food, then finally cool enough to do some mowing on the tractor. Feed and kennel.

Sunday August 14: Storms!

Cloudy and very 'close' (humid) Can hardly breathe. Morning run, feed and kennel, go to church. Return, husband not feeling well. Let dogs out, it's only in high 80's, mow (on tractor) for about an hour, getting hot, go inside. Dogs had already given up and were on porch. Fix lunch, getting ready to take naps when storm blows in, quickly kennel dogs ... storm ends, unkennel dogs, go for brief run, back inside for naps ... just settling in when another storm comes by, no chance to kennel dogs, fortunately this one is brief and not very violent ... out again, do some more mowing, then husband takes over while I play ball with Snoopy and Corey. Feed and kennel.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Weekly update Aug 1-8

A few nice days with temps in low 90's, some rain (and storms), but several awful days (102, 104) ... pet therapy day for Banshee, several visits with Sally (she's doing great!) ... still harvesting squash ... Corey has short bout of vestibular syndrome (head tilt)... weeds growing like, well, weeds ... a good week, but no sign of little Mattie this week  ...


"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

Please help find a home for Sally! And, don't forget the kittewns who need a home!

Monday August 1: Cooler and cloudy (in 90's)

Cooler and cloudy this morning . morning run, dogs very peppy, cavorting about .. flock of geese! Corey takes off running and barking after them, isnt it somewhat early for geese? Feed and kennel, go to work, gets hot during day but only high 90's, when I return it is, hold on to your hats, only 92! Dogs and husband inside with the Damcat, change clothese, fix food, out to ow (weeds have grown dramatically) ... husband picks squash (corn is over and done, still getting squash) ... continue mowing, right pleasant, cool breeze ... ah, this is better! Banshee and DB stick near husband in squash patch, I think there must be a critter of some kind up there ... finish mowing, feed and kennel

Tuesday August 2: Pet therapy day for Banshee, visit Sally

Sigh ... temps rise into hundreds again ... morning run, hot and sticky ... feed and kennel, go to food banks, return lunchtime, fix lunch, pick up Banshee and go to pet therapy ... Banshee's new haircut very popular ... take her to PetSmart for an outing ... husband then comes to town with mower in tow, meet him at repair shop, put Banshee in his truck and fasten her seat belt harness, turn to go and poor Banshee decides to come with me, ack ... she is hanging mid air by the harness (well, at least we now know it works) .. poor sweetie, she doesnt struggle or get upsety, just hangs with a look of total shock on her face ... I prop her up, unfasten her and she gamely climbs back in the truck seat, unharmed ... buckle her in again and give her a treat. I then go by library and to Powderhouse to visit Sally, who is doing really great, too hot to go outside so worked with her on basic obedience (sit,down, stay) and she is beginning to 'get it' (even stay...) back home, still ungodly hot ... changed clothes, fix dog food and husband supper, then go to church, return at twilight, dogs and husbandoutside, go for evening run, feed and kennel.

Wednesday August 3: Corey has head tilt again

Heat continues, up to 104 today ... morning run ... let dogs out, you may recall, in May, Corey had this vestibular syndrome where his head was tilted to one side and he kept going in circles back in May, took him to vet, gave him pred, 2 days later he was fine (but had to finish course of pred). Well this AM here we go again, head tilt, dizzy ... no overt ear infection signs (ears have been good lately). My inclination is to wait 2 days and see if it improves .. clears up on its own...  as I really hate to give dogs (or people)steroids unless absolutely necessary . poor Corey, he gamely follows on our morning run, sideways ... feed and kennel, check his ears which are fine .. go to work. Husband calls mid day says Corey is still tilted ... return home, yep, he's struggling ... brush him, wash his face, massage his ears .... then go for evening run and mowing ... he's a bit tentative, but improves! Maybe this will pass! Feed and kennel

Thursday August 4: Thunderstorms!

Morning run, Corey is back to normal, no head tilt, prancing around like a king ... whew! Feed and kennel, go to work ... another hot one, up to 102 ... this has been a really bad summer ... return, dogs all inside, stormstarts brewing, too late to ennel ... nasty little storm lots of lightening, Snoopy and Corey all upset, Snoopy trying to crawl under couch, behind couch, pacing ... Corey freezes at crack of thunder then tries to crawl under me on couch, followed by Banshee who is grabbing pillows off the couch... the Damcat has hidden under the bed, DB remains unfazed ... finally storm abates, fix food, go for evening run, feed and kennel.

Friday August 5: More rain!

Cooler today, only in high 90's ... morning run, everything very damp, dogs are cheerful and boisterous, Corey eating pears, barking at pear trees ... feed and kennel, go to work, husband calls and says Corey has thrown up AND had the runs ... (then admits he gave them all a can of aged vienna sausage ... starts raining early, around 4, come home through downpour, husband has managed to crate DB,Banshee and Corey in dog shed, but Snoopy refused to go so she is in the trailer, pacing,whining ... storm abates, let her out, go let others out, take brief run, then back inside, brush Corey, clip DBs nails, brush teeth, fix food, evening run, feed and kennel

Saturday August 6: Visit Sally

Foggy this morning, damp, sticky.. morning run (I always enjoy watching the dogs disappear into the fog and reappear) ... feed and kennel. My back bothering me, I think from driving the little pickup yesterday ... go into town with husband to visit Sally, my back spasms badly, have to make side trip to chiropractor ... get to kennels before they close, whew ... poor Sally is beginning to go stir crazy, wants to jump and play so badly ... take her out in play area on leash, practice walking, sit and down, my back giving me a fit so I'm pretty inept today, but Sally is doing great ... give her a Zanie puzzle toy (you put treats in it) hopefully this will help stave off boredom (other suggestions welcome) ... go by Tractor Supply to pick up food, see dogs (and cats) SPCA and FOTAS have for adoption ..return home, my back is bad. Let dogs out, its pretty hot, go inside for naps (and lying on ice pack), just getting ready to go out and here come afternoon storms, get dogs crated before it hits ... lasts about an hour, let them out again, fix food, cut up squash, then out for evening run, and here comes another storm ... feed and kennel.

Sunday August 7: Cooler! Hooray!

Day starts out hot and muggy ... morning run, DB and Banshee after a critter in the high (unmowed) grass near the drainage pond, Snoopy and Corey follow me up to kennels for breakfast, DB finally appears, and, at last, Banshee ... really need to get that mowed down there ... feed and kennel, go to church .. return, still very muggy feels like will rain any minute, change clothes, start mowing , husband joins me... and it starts to drizzle ... back up hill, close windows in vehicles and sheds, stops raining. Husband has continued mowing, rejoin him for about an hour, then wheel on his mower attachment breaks ... inside for lunch, naps, wash ... out again, it is remarkably cooler, high 80's and NOT humid, very pleasant! Mow for about an hour, dogs all very happy, rolling in grass clippings, leaping about, DB running in circles, Snoopy finding balls and bringing them to be thrown, Corey barking, Banshee jumping up and down through the high grass ... husband tries to fix wheel and join us but no luck ... finish up, go in fix food, time for supper! Feed and kennel. Oh, if this weather could just hold for a few days ....

===
Mary Lou
DB,Banshee, Snoopy and the wild Irishman Corey (dogs)
Ginger in spirit (2005-4/9/10)
The Damcat
Callie in spirit (04/90-06/07)
http://marylouandcompanions.blogspot.com/
http://gingeroftheflyingears.blogspot.com