Musing about July....

"July dawns on lake or river can be gauzy with mist and glowing beauty, a special bonus for quiet fishermen. July afternoons can roar and rumble with thunderstorms that slash the sky, shake the hills, and drench the valleys. July nights can be as cool as May, as sultry as late August, and they are lit with more fireflies than stars."

–Hal Borland

Hal Borland wrote an outdoor column for the Sunday "New York Times" for over 35 years. He's also written several books. I yearn to own a couple of them, but they're very hard to find. However, I'm lucky because one of the Mariansit Brothers at work has created somewhat of an art/meditation gallery in our building's elevator. Every day, he posts something written by Hal Borland. And in the 4 years that I've worked in the building, I've become quite enchanted with Mr. Borland's writings.

Family Night At Summer Camp

Russell has been with his Scout troop at summer camp since Monday. In year's past, family night has always been on Wednesdays. However this year, family night was moved to Friday (tonight). I was excited to see him (as always)! I left the house around 5PM in order to arrive by 6. I stopped and bought him some caffeine free diet soda and a big bag of ice. I then stopped to see the Colonel at KFC and ordered our dinner.
For Russell, ordered their new boness buffalo wings. For myself I ordered their honey barbecue boneless wings. I also got us some cole slaw and hush puppies. It took a while for the order to be put together. This isn't surprising considering my restaurant karma (which I'll blog about at a future date)!

I then headed to camp. I was worried about driving out during the 5 O'Clock rush on a Friday, but traffic really wasn't that bad. I arrived on time, and Russell was waiting. It was wonderful to see him. We carried our dinner back to the troop's campsite (Red Hawk). Several other families had already arrived, and we had a wonderful time talking with one another.

Everyone was in high spirits. All of the boys successfully completed all their merit badges. They had put together a skit for the evening's campfire in the council ring. As we were preparing to leave the campsite to attend the campfire, there were rumbles of thunder. Russell elected to stay behind at the campsite and watch over everything in case the storm was bad. I stayed with him and we chatted about the week! Another family joined us, and again we had a great time chatting.

The storm blew over.... there were only a few raindrops. It got darker and darker. It was really nice out. It wasn't too warm and the humidity had disappeared. It was fun watching the fireflies put on their show.... the trees were filled with them... it was beautiful.

Russell walked me to the car without a flashlight. He's so used to camp and can see in the dark. It's rather un-nerving but after 12+ years, I've learned to follow him out. They break camp tomorrow and he should be home between 12-1PM.

TS Beryl

It looks like TS Beryl has the potentional to wreck havoc with the Northeast. There is a "Tropical Storm Warning" for SE Massachusetts from Plymouth to Woods Hole. This includes Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. Additional warnings may be issued as well.

Any storm is worrisome. However, since we're in the middle of summer, and the areas affected are filled with tourists and vacationeers, it's even more so. I pray that Beryl blows itself out to sea and no harm comes to anyone.

The fact that is is so early in the season makes me believe what the forecasters have been saying. More than likely, this will be another active year, storm wise. I heard last night that the experts think that most of the storms will be on the Atlantic side and not the Gulf side.

Either way, these storms are really lousy. To anyone reading this in the path of Beryl, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay safe....

From my soapbox: Puppy Mills, Back Yard Breeders and Hobby Breeders

Ok… in a previous Blog, I have shared my views on what I think makes a “responsible breeder”. I now feel the need to discuss the difference between puppy mills, back yard breeders and “hobby” breeders. There are no clear definitions, and a lot of gray areas… and I’ll do my best to sort it all out in a clear and concise way!

What is a puppy mill?

Sadly puppy mills have been around for years, and because they are so profitable, they won’t go away anytime in the near future. There are many groups out there who are working diligently in shutting them down. Their task is monumental and overwhelming. Some might ask, why bother? Well, each life they save, each life they make better is a victory worth fighting for.
Here are some facts about puppy mills:
The Humane Society of the United States website defines puppy mills as: “Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred puppies in large numbers. The puppies are sold either directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, at the mill itself, or are sold to brokers and pet shops across the country…” “…The documented problems of puppy mills include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of socialization with humans, overcrowded cages, and the killing of unwanted animals. To the unwitting consumer, this situation frequently means buying a puppy facing an array of immediate veterinary problems or harboring genetically borne diseases that do not appear until years later. In 1994, Time magazine estimated that as many as 25% of purebred dogs were afflicted with serious genetic problems. Sadly, some dogs are forced to live in puppy mills for their entire lives. They are kept there for one reason only: to produce more puppies. Repeatedly bred, many of these "brood bitches" are killed once their reproductive capacity wanes.”
Puppies sold at the majority of pet stores around the country come from Puppy Mills. While these puppies come with registration papers, they are not a guarantee of the puppy’s lineage.
The best way to eradicate puppy mills is to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue. Or, to take the time to find responsible breeders. Here is a link to a great webpage that has good information for potential puppy buyers:
5 Easy Steps To Avoid Puppy Mills

What is a Back-Yard Breeder (BYB)?

A BYB breeds dogs in order to sell puppies. Their entire goal is to make money from the sale of the puppies. They do not bother to concern themselves with breeding healthy dogs. They have little or no knowledge about genetics, pedigrees and potential health problems. They pay no attention to the “Breed Standard” for each of the breeds they are breeding. They don’t care who buys their puppies. They offer no guarantees and if someone has a problem with one of their puppies, they will not “be there” for the puppy’s owner. Once the puppy is sold, it ceases to exist in the mind of a BYB.

What is a hobby breeder?

A hobby breeder is what I described in an earlier Blog as a responsible breeder. They are breeding to improve the breed. They are conscientious about the health and temperaments of the puppies the breed. They are involved with every aspect of the breed and they care deeply about each of the puppies they breed.

Afternoon Safari

Russell’s at summer camp, so I’m doing “dog duty” solo. After arriving home from spending the afternoon with my Mom, I begin taking the dogs out for their afternoon walk. As always, Cora goes first. She and I are milling around the outside when I realize that she’s become fixated on something. Of course, it’s the Kamikaze Rabbit that’s taken up residence in the bushes along the front of our house. I hadn’t put the leash on Cora, so I quietly walked up to her and snapped it on. She casually walked towards the rabbit, who then hopped to the edge of our neighbor’s yard, where it has gotten into the routine of watching, waiting and “baiting” our poor unsuspecting dogs.

Luckily for the home team, I had put my ‘thinking cap’ on and I realized that I could gently convince the suicidal bunny to move on and explore the neighborhood. I gently walked with Cora towards the bunny, who quickly realized that life was precious and decided to head off on some sort of expedition. What the rabbit doesn’t know is that Cora is the most gentle of our 4, and she had no desire to hurt it. She just wanted to “meet” it! Realizing that my plan had worked, and feeling rather cocky and proud, I headed inside.

My good luck continued as I took Ben out. He canvassed the neighborhood to make sure that no outside dogs were infiltrating his domain. Once assured that all was secure in his precinct, Deputy Benjamin Fife got down to business. Dinner was calling and he didn’t waste any time. Next up was Yelda. I quickly leashed her up and out we went. Of course, I was still feeling quite cocky over outwitting the rabbit. And I wasn’t paying close attention, and when one is out with Yelda, one must always pay close attention.

And this is where things went wrong. Not so much for me, and not so much for Yelda. Rather, things went very wrong for a little field mouse that caught her attention. When I realized that Yelda was avidly fixated on something and was seriously holding her ground, I knew that this was going to be something. She was sniffing the ground and before you could say Mickey Mouse she had a mouse in her mouth. She proudly looked back at me and all I could see was said mouse’s tail sticking out between her lips. YUCK!

I got her up onto the porch, where she spit it out at my feet. I was pretty sure that the mouse had perished and would not recover. I made Yelda go out into the yard, where she promptly did her business. I then decided that if I took her around to the other side of the porch, I would be able to get her into the house without her mouse. NO SUCH LUCK!

As soon as we were on the porch, she lunged and got her mouse back. There was no way I was going in the house. I despise rodents of any kind, and I don’t deal well with dead ones either. At this point, I had a major case of the creeps and my brain was spinning… what to do, what to do????

I remembered that there were some dog biscuits in the car, so I walked Yelda and her mouse over to the car. The passenger door was locked, so I quickly led them around to the driver’s side. I opened the door and Yelda prepared to jump in. There was no way that was going to happen… not in this lifetime. She then realized that I was going to giver her something to eat and dropped the mouse. I quickly brushed the body under the car, grabbed the biscuit and walked her a few steps away and gave it to her. We then went inside, where I quickly crated her.

Kira’s trip outside was uneventful, bless her heart. She sniffed around the porch, so she must have had somewhat of what had happened, but the evidence is missing. We returned to the cool house and dinner was served. So now all that remains is the body. As I see it, I have two choices. I can either park in the exact same place every day, covering up the evidence. Or, I can back the car up, retrieve the body and dispose of it in the woods. I realize that’s what needs to happen. YUCK!

The Making Of A Funnel Cake

The batter is poured from the funnel pitcher into the fryer...

The cakes are fried until golden brown...

Once cooked to perfection, the funnel cake is placed on a plate and covered in powdered sugar....

Sticky!

What a hot and sticky day. We got home from "Day 2" of the festival (a.k.a. "Funnel Cake Hell") about an hour ago. We're trying to stay up as long as possible for the dogs' sake. The picture on this blog is the view from the funnel cake booth. We felt immense relief when the sun went down! Tomorrow ("Day 3") is the final day. Thank God! I'm going to post a series of pictures that depict the making of a funnel cake!!!!

From my soapbox: What Makes A Responsible Breeder?

I am continually astounded by how many people are looking for puppies and have no concept of what a responsible breeder is. Many of these people are inclined to buy puppies from pet stores, which is a VERY BAD IDEA!!! However, that is another topic for another time.

At this point, I would like to share with you my list of criteria that I would use to determine what makes a good and responsible dog breeder:

* When breeding, does the breeder breed according to the breed standard for your breed of choice?

* Does this breeder do all pertinent health clearances for your breed of choice i.e. hips, elbows, and any other health issues that your breed of choice may have issues with?

* Are all clearances posted on the OFA Website?

* Is he/she a member of the National Breed Club?

* Is he/she a member of any Regional Breed Clubs?

* Does he/she show her dogs in conformation, and do the Dam & Sire have their championship? Or, do they at least have points towards their championship?

* Does this breeder participate in any working dog events pertinent to your breed of choice?

* Do they show their dog in Obedience?

* Do they require new puppy owners to enroll their puppies in obedience classes?

* Do they have a contract... and if they do, will they take the dog back for whatever reason? (I know this seems unlikely at this point, but sometimes things happen and people are unable to keep the dog.)

* Have they asked you for references? (This sounds strange, because you're the customer, right? However, a breeder who truly cares about where their puppies go will often make people practically jump through hoops to convince him/her that they are worthy of one of their puppies.)

* Does this breeder require you to spay or neuter your puppy if it's not a show puppy?

* How old will the puppies be when the breeder sends them to their new homes? (anything under 10 weeks is a major red flag)

* Does the breeder require new puppy owners to check in on a regular basis... and is the breeder good about returning phone calls?

and last, but not least

* Do you like this person... I mean really like this person? Is this person someone that you are comfortable with, and will be able to consider them as an extended member of your family for the duration of your puppy's life, and even longer? If this answer is no... then don't get a puppy from them.

As I've said before... these are my personal preferences. There are many good and wonderful breeders out there. The sad reality is that there are even more bad breeders out there.

Most Dog breeds are multi-faceted. It is my belief that it is essential that breeders focus on all facets, and not just one or two.

Switching Gears

Life tends to "go on" despite whatever mess you're in the middle of, and this is the case for me this weekend. Every year, Russell co-chairs the funnel cake booth at his church's festival. In the past few years, he's needed my help more and more, and I've been more than happy to oblige. This year, in particular, he really needs me, as the man who has co-chaired the booth with him in years' past, died last winter.

And so, instead of dealing with all issues pertaining to my Mom, I will be up to my elbows in greasy, sticky, yummy funnel cakes. Updates to come, for sure!

Tornado Warning! Yikes!

Things started out rather rough today, but as the day progressed, I was able to work things out. So I was feeling pretty darned good.... tired, but good. Russell had to work late and had just called to say he was on his way home.

We decided to meet at a nearby Thai restaurant when I saw there was a tornado warning!!! A tornado had actually touched down near the Dayton Mall and was heading in our direction. OMG!!!

Luckily, it passed us by... but geez Louise... what a day!!!!

And it's a full moon too!

Home Sweet Home???

It's been a long weekend and I'm exhausted, both mentally and physically. My spirit is weary tonight... and I have little energy to write this out. Yet I'm compelled to. I spent the day with my Mom in her new apartment at the assisted living facility. Understandably, she's feeling blue and vulnerable. I understand that, I realize that. We had a nice visit and she was doing really pretty well. And I talked to her when I got home this evening, and she was ok. Then I talked to my sister.....

Apparently, my Mother turned away the facilities' physician, because she didn't like the looks of her. We weren't there when this happened, and Lilli gave her a good talking to.

I don't know why I'm so upset... it's late, I'm exhausted... but I'm soooooooooo mad!!! And now I'll have to go and sort this out tomorrow. SIGH. Hopefully after a good night's sleep, I'll be more clearheaded and figure out how to sort all of this out.

Moving Day

We'll be moving all of Mother's furniture today, and will be getting her room set up for her arrival tomorrow. The emotions I've been feeling over the past few days have been intense. Her beloved "Gracie" is going to her new home today. Her beloved "Chloe" will go tomorrow. That is mostly what's breaking my heart. I'll see them again, but I know they're anxious and confused. However, "it is what it is" and we can't turn back. So I'm trying to stay focused on moving forward. Yet so many memories jump out with each drawer we open. Thank goodness for the support of my husband, my sister and her family, and very very dear friends.

How do you spell....?

My sister and I, along with our wonderful husbands are in the process of helping my Mother move into an assisted living facility, and it's incredibly stressful. We've been knee-deep in this for a few weeks now and things are progressing rapidly. We've carefully laid out a path for her and we'll be there every step of the way, every day... to love her and ensure she's getting the care she deserves.

We've found a wonderful place, and luckily, my Mother is receptive to this. She'll be moving in soon (probably this weekend). She is a collector extraordinare and her house is jam packed with stuff. So, I'm very very busy with this. There is so much to do, so much to think about that at time it completely overwhelms me. So, I'm just trying to take it one step, one day at a time.

The timing is good in one respect, because I'm on my annual summer hiatus. I need to be with my Mom as much as possible... while she's agreeable, she's still very sad... and the hardest part is that she can't take her little dogs. We've found good homes for them, and they'll be able to visit, but needless to say, for "dog lovers" this is still painful.

Happily there are two resident cats and one resident dog on the premises which will surely help ease her sorrow. Her new home is very homelike, and we'll be taking as much of her things as we can. It's causing great sorrow to know that she'll have to say goodbye to other things, but we've promised to keep them in our homes, in case she wants to see them.

This has been an extraordinarily difficult time.... however, it has had it's plus sides as well. My sister and I have become very close, and we're aligned arm and arm to help our Mother in any way we can. Lots & Lots of work ahead... but it will definitely be a labor of love!

The morning after...

Mea culpa time...

Well.... it was a long night. And bad-bad-bad dog parents that we are, we didn't get home before the fireworks started. We could hear Yelda barking when we got out of the car. To make matters worse, a thunderstorm was brewing. I got her out of her crate, and she ran and drank and drank and drank. I finally got her leash on, and took her out... and just as she was getting ready to do her business, lightening flashed, thunder boomed and firecrackers exploded.... literally all at the same time. She totally freaked out, and through herself at the door. My heart was aching for her. Russell said he'd take her out, because we knew that she had to GO.

Well, that was a bad idea... because the storm was really gathering steam, and the firecracker loving diehards in our neighborhood were still going at it. She was so upset that she almost dragged Russell down. They came inside and she flew into the den where she feels safest. I was frantic about her... she was so stressed, and I know how bad stress can be. I remembered the peppermint oil I had purchased in the spring, and grabbed it. I couldn't find any cotton balls, so I grabbed some paper towels and went and sat next to her. I poured some of the oil onto one of the pieces of paper towel, and rubbed it into the pads of her front paw. She wasn't thrilled by this, but she let me. I then took her other front paw and did the same.

The stuff is strong, and the entire room smelled like a peppermint shop. Yelda got up and went to drink some more water... and then came back and licked her feet. I do think that it helped her to calm down. She was still panting, because her body had gotten so hot. So I casualy fed her ice cubes to help cool her down. Russell thinks that I've babied her and that's made her worse. But I dont' think so. In researching for my blog on firework safety, I read horror story after horror story... and some dogs have died from heart attacks caused by stress. And, big dogs such as Newfoundlands can also bloat... and there is the possibility of stress causing bloat. So I wasn't willing to take any chances.

A couple of hours passed, and we were exhausted and wanting to go to bed. Yelda was resting comfortably at my feet, but the weather reports showed the possibility of more storms. Deciding not to take any more chances, I put Yelda to bed in her crate, and then gave her 1 Melatonin... a natural sleep aide that is also good in reducing stress. Many people used this for pets who fear storms and fireworks. Yelda settled and had a quiet night.

It's now the morning after, and I am feeling remorseful that she went through that. I'm glad we got home when we did. Yelda is fine. She got up and went outside without hesitation. She's her chipper mischevious self. And when she stole the roll of paper towels off the kitchen counter, instead of being annoyed, I was actually relieved to see that we're back a status quo!

Discovery Liftoffs Safely (and finally)!!!

The following is from NASA:

"With a rocket's red glare, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in a spectacular display of sound and light befitting of Independence Day."

Image caption: Discovery lift offs from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Photo credit: NASA/Sandy Joseph, Robert Murray

I am so pleased for NASA and for the crew of STS-121. The lift off went off without a problem. Some debris was seen falling away from the fuel tank, but it doesn't seem to be a concern.

I have the crew and their families in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless them and bring them home safely.

Happy Birthday America!!!

"America The Beautiful"
lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

Oh beautiful, for pilgrims' feet Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw; Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, 'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

Oh beautiful, for patriot's dream That sees beyond the years! Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

This hymn is very special to me... it was my Father's favorite, and he always felt that it should have been America's National Anthem. And I agree, so it is in his honor that I post it here. Other favorites of mine are:

God Bless America
by Irving Berlin

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America. Land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies , To the oceans, white with foam God bless America My home sweet home."

America
by Samuel F. Smith

My country, 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture thrills Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet Freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee, Author of Liberty, To thee we sing, Long may our land be bright With Freedom's holy light, Protect us by thy might Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day, 'Neath Education's sway, Soars upward still. Its hills of learning fair, Whose bounties all may share, Behold them everywhere On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty, The school shall ever be, Our Nation's pride! No tyrant hand shall smite, While with encircling might All here are taught the Right With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will The stars of progress still Our course do sway; In unity sublime To broader heights we climb, Triumphant over Time, God speeds our way!
Grand birthright of our sires, Our altars and our fires Keep we still pure! Our starry flag unfurled, The hope of all the world, In peace and light impearled, God hold secure!

From my soapbox: Fireworks Safety for Pets

It’s that time of the year again… it’s the 4th of July weekend, and the skies will soon be filled with flashes of red, white and blue. With the brilliant displays comes lots of noise, often loud and explosive. In addition to large fireworks displays, neighborhoods are filled with the snap, crackle and pop from a variety of noisemakers including firecrackers, cherry bombs and bottle rockets.

And while I love this time of year and love going to watch fireworks, I realize that one of our dogs is miserable during this time. She is absolutely terrified of lightening, thunder and fireworks. In fact, as I type this, neighbors are shooting of firecrackers, etc and Yelda is anxiously sitting beside me, panting, and very stressed. Just a few minutes ago, we were outside for her nightly stroll when she heard a firecracker. She jumped and flew to the house, anxious to get inside to safety.

Her anxiety reminded me of another dog that was terrified of fireworks. Just last year, there was a little Jack Russell Terrier who had been left out in the back yard. When the nightly fireworks started he panicked and managed to escape from his yard. He ran and ran and ran and was soon quite far from his home. He was found the next morning on campus by some students. Eventually his owners were found and the confessed that they had been extremely careless in leaving him outside.

There are certain things one can do to protect their pets during holidays like the 4th. They are listed below:

• Keep all fireworks away from animals
• Leave all pets at home when you go to watch fireworks
• All pets should be left inside. Do not leave them outside, even in a fenced in yard.
• Make sure that they are comfortable and secure indoors with the curtains drawn. Leave a television or radio on… this will help to cover up the noise caused by fireworks
• Make sure that all pets have collars and proper id tags and licenses on. In case they do escape, this will make it easier for people who find your pet to get in touch with you and reunite you with your pet.
• Cats tend to hide when they’re scared. It’s important to not force them from their hiding places. Cats will come out when they’re no longer frightened.
• If you’re at home with your pet, it’s very important to act calm. Do not baby or mollycoddle them. I know it’s hard (speaking from personal experience) but if you do try and comfort your pet, the pet’s fears will be reinforced. Instead, play with your pet, and try and keep it’s attention off of what’s happening outside.
• Some animals have such an extreme fear to fireworks, that you may want to check with your vet about using a mild sedative.
  

These celebrations are meant to be enjoyable. By taking these precautions, your pets will be safe and you’ll all have a happier, healtier holiday.

Wahoo!

As of this very minute, I am officially on Summer Vacation!!! Yippee!!! I do not have to report back to work until mid-August. I'll drop in from time to time just to take care a few odds and ends, buy WAHOO!!!! I'm now on BREAK!

I'm not going to be doing anything all that exciting. We've got plans for to help my Mother sort through alot of things and that will take up a great deal of my time. And hopefully, I'll be able to get my house in better order (emphasis on hopefully) and I'll be able to spend more time taking care of Russell and our newfs. And I'll get to sleep in some. That is definitely something I'm going to enjoy!

My Cell Phone and the general craziness of this week...

Well, it happened. I ran out of minutes on my cell phone! Never ever did I think that this would happen, but it did. I think the trip to Iowa didn't help matters.... because we traveled mid-week. My plan offers free weekends so once Saturday came it wasn't a big deal.

My sister and I have been on the phone practically 24/7 the past few weeks in regards to my Mother. I realized that I was getting low on minutes, and warned Lilli, but to no avail. She kept calling and calling, and suddenly I was over. So off went my phone and I was in-communicado.

And THAT is a weird feeling. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I knew that if an emergency popped up I could still make a call. I warned Russell and he understood. I just can't underestand where those 300 minutes went!!! I've never gone over before, so it will definitely be interesting to look at the statement! LOL!

Juggler extraordinaire!!!!

Upon reflecting about this past weekend, I've come to the conclusion that I've become quite proficient at juggling. And given my lack of coordination and balance, this is actually an amazing accomplishment. At this point, I should clarify that my newfound proficiency in juggling is not physical. Instead, it's actually "time" that I've come to juggle quite well! Now if I could just conquer the physical side, I'd be doing really really well!

From this, you may gather that I had a busy weekend. Yet it was a good one... filled with activities that I like, including, dog club events, ballet recitals, dinners with family and friends! Can't beat it! And the best part is that Russell took the day off today... yet he drove all the way to work (we both work at the University) to take me out to lunch. What a guy!!!

Rain or not, things are dripping wet!

I was outside with Ben this morning, and saw this wet leaf. I thought it would make and interesting picture, so after I had walked the rest of the dogs I grabbed my camera and luckily "the drip" was still there.

You may notice a "fine" hair hanging from the drip. Could it be a newf hair? It's white, I think... so perhaps a remnant from Sailor. I'd like to believe that's what it is!

Here another picture:

Finally, a good picture of Ben!

This is Ben. We've been fostering him for quite awhile and have decided to adopt him. He's a regular goofball but is all heart. The poor boy suffers from major anxiety. Prior to coming to live with us, he jumped through 5 windows trying to get to his people. When he arrived at our house, we were quite concerned about this. However, he settled right in. We had him on medication for quite awhile to help take the edge off. Though he'll always be anxious, he's improved a great deal.

Ben has the greatest personality... yet it's not easy to describe his personality. The closest I can get is to describe not one, but two character's from television.
The first is "Kramer" from the television show "Seinfeld". Ben's hair sticks up on his head much like Kramer's. And he also enters rooms just like Kramer does. It's always quite comical!

The second is "Barney Fife" from the "Andy Griffith" show. Ben is a self appointed deputy sherriff. He's constantly on patrol, and if he thinks anyone is doing anything wrong, he takes it upon himself to let them know. He also considers himself Russell's "back-up". He's definitely a deputy without a bullet...
Despite his many quirks, I love this boy with all my heart, and I'm proud to call him "ours".

Today is the best day....

...because it's my beloved husband's birthday. Not only is he my beloved, but he's my soul mate, my best friend and the most honorable man I know. Happy Birthday sweetie. I do love you with every ounce of my being... and appreciate all you do for me, all you put up with. I appreciate your tolerance, your good nature and your patience. You are always there for me, in good times and in bad... you are my everything.

Godspeed Sweet Quentin

I've just learned of the very sad news of the death of a friends beloved dog. His name was Quentin, and he's been very sick for some time. His Mom wrote about him:

"My Quentin's brave battle with hemangiosarcoma is over. He slipped away this morning, laying on our love seat cradled in my arms. Quentin lived life to the fullest, greeting each day with enthusiasm and joy, right to the end - he truly loved his life. Always a puppy at heart, he loved to swim, run through the woods, play tug of war and wrestle with the Newfs. He was such an incredibly happy boy who was dearly loved and will be sadly missed. He made us laugh each and every day for the last 10 1/2 years....the world is a much sadder place now that he is gone."

My heart, my thoughts and my prayers are with his family. He was such a brave sweet boy.. he fought the good fight... and I have grown to love him as I love "my own" these past few months. I'm going to light a candle when I get home... and I look for his star tonight... it's going to be a clear night here... and I'm sure it will be among the brightest of stars. Please join me.... and blow him a kiss. He has a page on Dogster... you can visit it by clicking here:

Quentin's Dogster page

Godspeed Sweet Quentin...

Silly Cora

Good Girl Cora?!?!?!?

There are times, when even the best behaved dogs are naughty. They don't mean to be. Something just happens to make them that way. In this particular instance, I'm referring to our good girl Cora. Cora is our best girl. She's not perfect, and can be "impish" at times... And yesterday was one of those days... and poor Ben paid the price.
We had just returned home from work, and Russell had taken Cora & Ben outside. Instead of concentrating on taking care of his business, Russell quicky aware that Ben was paying more attention to Cora. Russell looked over towards where Cora had been milling about, and all he could see was her rear end sticking out from beneath a bush. And then suddenly, a rabbit bolted out from the other side of the bush.

Poor Ben was beside himself. His inner "DEFCON" status was raised to the highest limit and he was totally on alert. No matter what Russell did to distract him, Ben's focus remained on the spot where the rabbit was last seen! Of course at this point, the rabbit was more than likely in the next county!

Russell and Ben came back inside after about 20 minutes. Russell was most annoyed and Ben was quite excited about the whole matter. I'm sure that he somehow communicated the entire chain of events to Kira and Yelda... in what ever "dogspeak" they use. And I do have to say that Cora appeared quite smug about the entire matter!

A Boy and his Dog

On our way to work yesterday, Russell saw a dog lying under a tree in a cemetery just adjacent to campus. One of my fellow co-workers also saw it and sent an email out to several known dog-lovers on campus. I went with her at lunch to try and catch the dog. We had no luck, and met again after work. Once again we were unable to find the dog. We left food and water for it and made plans to resume looking the next day and then parted ways. I drove through the cemetery. I stopped and visited my Father's grave and then visited a memorial that is legendary in Dayton. It's of a boy and his dog. I've visited it before, however, for the first time it occurred to me that the dog might be a newfoundland!

In 1860 there was a boy, Johnny Morehouse, the youngest son of John and Mory, who lived with them in the back of his father’s shoe repair shop. One day the five-year-old was playing near his home by the edge of the Miami & Erie Canal (which used to run along the present Patterson Blvd. in downtown Dayton near the library).
The boy accidentally fell into the canal water. His dog, playing by him, jumped into the water and tried to save him. He pulled the boy out, but not in time to save his life. The boy drowned and was buried in Woodland Cemetery.

Legend has it that, several days after the burial, the dog appeared next to the boy’s grave staying by it morning, noon, and night. Visitors to the cemetery saw him and began to worry about his health. Some began leaving him bits of food. Passersby still bring small toys and other trinkets to decorate the grave marker to express their spontaneous outpourings of sympathy. Some visitors put money there. A lady who walks the cemetery every day collects the money and buys something for the grave often. As you can see on his grave marker, he already has toys to play with – his harmonica, his top, his cap, his ball. There are several reports that Johnny and his dog have been seen walking through the cememtery at night. Reputed experts in the paranormal field have confirmed this.
I felt a bit silly, but I left a biscuit on the base of the statue. I think the dog looks sort of like a Newf.... specially from that era. Johnny's story reminds me of another great dog story, which, as it turns out, is from the same era. It's the story of Greyfriar's Bobby

In 1858, a man named John Gray was buried in old Greyfriars Churchyard. His grave levelled by the hand of time, and unmarked by any stone, became scarcely discernible; but, although no human interest seemed to attach to it.
The sacred spot was not wholly disregarded or forgotten. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872. The famous Skye Terrier, Greyfriars Bobby was so devoted to his master John Gray, even in death, for fourteen years Bobby lay on the grave only leaving for food.

It is reported that a daily occurance of people from all walks of life would stand at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o'clock gun and the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.

As for the stray dog:

We haven't gotten him yet. The good news is that of all places for a dog to be lost, a cemetery is pretty safe. There's plenty of shelter and water. We've left food for him. My friend Diane actually had her hands on him twice yesterday... he ate biscuits out of her hand, and dog chow (only thing we could find at the local convenience store). He's hanging out near a large pond, and is pretty savvy about hiding under thick brush, so he's got shelter and shade. Diane met a couple of women walking... one walks the cemetery daily, and is a dog lover. She's got the animal shelter's # programmed into her phone. She's also going to try and get him. The shelter knows that Diane will be happy to foster him, so if we can just get him, he'll get the care he needs. He's limping a bit, and is scared. We thought he was a puppy, but after getting a better look at him last night, he's older. He has a collar, but no tags.

Diane hopes that by going back alot and leaving food that he'll grow to trust her and get in her car. We're not going to chase him anymore... because the worst thing that could happen is if he'd leave the cemetery grounds.

I've called the cemetery office and asked them to call us if one of the workers does catch him. The workers have been very nice about helping us.

Local Team Trains For A Triathlon

Ok.... I've figured it out. Several members of our neighborhood are training for what has got to be some sort of triathlon. I'm certain that it's not the standard triathlon because instead of swimming, bicycling, and running being the three events, these individuals seem to be training for jumping, climbing and running. And bless their hearts, they are training hard. And while I am really quite envious of their dedication and focus, I have one small complaint. You see, their training schedule conflicts with our schedule, and their training routines create total havoc with our routines. You see... these individuals are squirrels. They run marathons through our yards, climb trees and jump from branch to branch... and they never quit. The seem to enjoy having an audience... because the really start this training process when we're walking our dogs. And as you can imagine, our dogs are fascinated! So much so, that they want to investigate and participate. And this is the crux of the matter. It needs a resolution.. one of which remains a mystery to me.

Obviously, it would be easiest if the Official Country Lane Squirrel Triathlon Team would cooperate and find another yard in which to train. Somehow, I just don't think that's going to happen. I think that this "Official Country Lane Squirrel Triathlon Team" has conspired to train in our yard, so that they can receive the highly entertaining benefit of driving "The Newfs Of Country Lane" out of their minds. Isn't this one heck of a conspiracy theory?

So, it appears, that we'll have to work on our own training regimen... and really work on the "Leave It" command..... among other things. Pawsitive reinforcement is called for, and I'm certain that our Newfy team will respond well to that. I just know that it is essential to get a grip on this before the walnut trees start dropping their treasures on to our yard. That's another conspiracy theory I need to deal with, but first things first.

Happy Birthday Daddy...

The first picture is of my Mom and Dad the summer they got engaged. They had just won a canoe race on Long Lake in Fifield, Wisconsin. The second picture is of my Dad as a very young man. He is in the middle. The two other guys were his very best friends… and they remained best friends forever. All three are now in heaven…. And I like to think of them up there together, tapping another keg and having a rip-roaring good time

Today is my Father’s birthday. He would have been 75 years old. Unfortunately, he died in October of 1983, at the young age of 52. Sometimes it seems as though it’s been a very long time since we lost him, and then there are times when it seems just like yesterday. My Dad was such a vibrant person. He had a wonderful sense of humor and at times could be outlandish. He loved being silly and teasing us… especially when we were young.

We had lots of pets growing up. Often, one of the conditions of be allowed to get a pet, was that Daddy would be allowed to chose the pet’s name. As an example of this, we had a guinea pig named S.O.B., a hamster named Horace. There were always lots and lots of pets. My Dad loved dogs, but was also fond of cats. He walked the Dogs every night, and it wasn’t unusual for a cat to follow along.

He was a loving man… a loving husband and father. While he was not a saint, he was a good man. Certainly, he had his flaws… as all of us do. He was honest and loyal. He had lots of good friends… and made new friends easily. He was the favorite Uncle. Everyone loved Uncle Jack, and whenever we were on some sort of family expedition, all the kids would want to ride in his car.

He loved the outdoors and his most favorite place on earth was the Northwood’s of Wisconsin. He called it God’s Country. No matter where he was, he was an early riser! Fishing was his passion. He enjoyed hunting too. And while he enjoyed a good catch, I think he was just happy being on the water, or in the woods. He loved bird watching, and passed that passion on to me. In fact, I have his binoculars. I’ll never forget when he got them. At the time, they were “top of the line” and quite expensive. My Mother gave them to me… and whenever I watch a bird through them, it feels like I’m almost watching them through my Dad’s eyes.

I miss him so much… I feel badly that Russell never got to meet him. I feel badly that my nephew’s never knew their Papa Jack. I “know” that my Father is nearby…. Loving us and watching… and for that I am grateful.

Stormy Night

It's been a stormy night here. We've had storms on and off since around 7PM. Luckily they've not been severe, and seem to be slowing down. I hope they are, because poor Yelda is terrified of storms and is quite anxious. I put her to bed thinking they were over, and she's not settling down too well. I'm going to go and give her some rescue remedy. Poor baby!

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

I took this picture yesterday. The sun finally peaked out, and as we were returning home from our 1st Mother's Day activity, I saw these leaves, and decided to try and photograph them. We're due for more rain... we've been lucky in that we haven't gotten as much rain as those of you in the northeast, but it's pretty soggy here too.

Mother’s Day was full of activity, and we spent much of the day in the car going to and fro! We started out by attending Mass and then having breakfast. We then spent an hour or so at home with the dogs before heading to Effie’s and then on to Peter & Kim’s. We got home shortly after 4PM and had a couple more hours to spend with the dogs. (It was at this point that I photographed the leaves). We then spent the evening at my Mom’s. Everyone had a lovely day.

Kanga Newf?

The other morning, I was outside with Yelda, trying to convince her that if she did her "business" that breakfast would soon follow. She of course, really didn't seem to care much, because she was so distracted by all the little birdys and other critters.

There were several incidents of her tricking me into thinking that we were getting somewhere. She'd walk around, sniffing and hunting for the spot... then she'd sort of squat... and....
(I've learned from experience to pay very close attention to their faces)... she'd get this intense look on her face... and WHAM! She was up and off.... just like a kangaroo! She uses her back legs to spring about 2 feet in the air. Actually, the more appropriate word would be "launch" because she really does launch! Anyway, she was totally intent on investigating whatever had caught her attention.

Of course, I would get her attention... and we'd start the entire process over again!!!
She did this about 4-5 times this morning, and it occured to me that I have a "Kanga-Newf" on my hands!

Cora in the Dogwood

These are the pictures that I took of my sweet Cora this past weekend. It occured to me that it's "The Year Of The Dog", and since our Dogwood tree has been so beautful this year, it would be fun to get some pictures of our dogs in the midst of all the blossoms.

They didn't turn out as I had hoped, but they're still cute. And Cora was an angel for putting up with another of my whacky whims! Bless her heart!

I am going to try and get some of Kira, Ben & Yelda, but I think I'll need some help from Russell to do that!

Weekend Report

The weekend is over, and I'm back at work writing this, instead of working. It was a relatively quiet weekend. Russell left on Friday for the Spring camp-o-ree, and I was on my own. You'd think that after almost 12 years, I'd get used to it. And while I don't get as distraught as I once did, there's always this empty feeling as I watch him back out of the driveway.

After he left, I went back in to let the dogs finish their dinners, and get a good drink of water. I then left to run a few errands. I went to Petsmart to pick up more dog food, and then to Wendy's to get a quick dinner. Of course, any intentions of it being "quick" went right out the window as I really got into the book I was reading. I enjoy reading in restaurants... it's a place where there are few distractions... and I can really read! Almost 2 hours went by, and any thoughts of "going Krogering" disappeared! I hurried home and took the dogs back out, and we then settled in for a quiet night.

Of course, Yelda being Yelda, any solitude was hard to come by. She seemed determined to keep me from relaxing, and I knew that she was bored. I did my best to entertain her, and she finally settled down for a bit and chewed on her favorite bone. Cora, Kira & Ben were all very good. I was on the phone with my friend Susan, talking about her Grandmother, who was quite ill. It seemed though that medications had started working and she was finally stable. Then I heard this loud noise coming from the living room. I told Susan that I needed to go and check, and sure enough, it was Yelda. She had somehow gotten her collar stuck on her crate, and managed to pull it out into the living room. Now this would have freaked out most dogs... but not Yelda. Unless it's a thunderstorm, she's basically fearless!

I managed to free her and put her crate back. At this point, I was weary, and decided it was late and time for bed. We all snuggled in for the night. I never sleep well the first night Russell is away. It didnt' help that the phone rang around 3AM! Of course, it was a wrong number. Our phone number is very similar to the phone number of a local escort service. So it's not uncommon for us to get calls in the middle of the night from people in need of an escort!

Saturday dawned and it was a beautiful day. I spent a lazy morning at home with the dogs. It was so nice not to have to rush off somewhere. I left around noon, and went to Meijers to pick up some things and then over to my Mom's for a visit. As with many Mother-Daughter relationships, my relationship with my Mother has it's ups and downs. There is a weird dynamic between my Mother and myself, and Saturday's visit left alot to be desired.

My Mother is becoming a recluse. She's decided to become bed-fast and refuses to go out. It's so frustrating, and really a waste. My Mother's health isn't the best, but it's not bad enough to keep her in bed. This is her choice, and Lilli & I are at our wit's end as to what to do about it. My sister Lilli & I are a unified front and that's a good thing, not to mention that it's also a huge comfort. So my Mother and I had an odd interlude. It wasn't really an argument... more of a philosophical disagreement. And, I decided it was time to call it a day. I headed back home for a couple of hours, and took Cora outside to take some new pictures of her. I also photographed a dandelion, which I've included in this post. I picked up some chinese food and headed over to the Fletcher's to watch a movie. Scott and Aaron were at the same Camp-o-ree as Russell. After the movie (Zathura) was over, I headed home, and watched another movie (Sabrina) and then read late into the night.

I went to Mass at Mary Help on Sunday. Russell was waiting for me when I came out and it was so wonderful to see his smiling face. We had lunch and drove over to his Mom's to visit. He then had to run to the office for an hour, so I went to the store, picked up stuff for dinner. I fixed chicken, corn casserole and green beans with almonds. Russell got home just in time to eat, and we had a quiet evening.

Robin Family Update

I thought about the nest all night long. I checked it while out with the dogs, but saw no sign of Mama Robin. There were Robins around, but none seemed to go to the nest. When we were leaving for work, I didn't bother looking... because it made me feel totally helpless and very sad.

Russell had gone outside ahead of me, and as I started to get into the car, he said "you'll be happy to know that the Mama Robin is sitting on the nest. I jumped out of the car, and walked quickly to where I could see for myself. Sure enough, there she was. My prayers were answered.... and the babies still have a chance, thanks be to GOD.

Happy Birthday to our Newf Kira!!!

Happy Birthday to our Newf Kira. She turns 6 years old today. She is still full of the vim and vigour she's known for. I love you girlie girl. I hope you enjoyed your cheese and peanut butter crackers, and all the other treats you had today.

You can get to know Kira better by visiting her webpage! All you need to do is click here!

I'm worried....

I am quite worried about our Robin family. As I posted the other day, Ben (one of our Newfs) saw a Robin sitting on a nest. I got some wonderful pictures of it, and the nest was positioned in a place that was easy for us to keep watch over it.

However today, when we were outside doing some yardwork (and yes, I was participating!) I looked up and saw that the nest had disappeared. At first I thought it might have been knocked down by the Hawk I saw this morning. Russell pointed out that there is no way a hawk would get that close to the house. And I think he was right. We had heavy rain showers earlier in the day, and quite a bit of wind. We think that it was the wind that blew the nest down.

Russell went behind the bushes, and sure enough, there was the nest. Upon further investigation, Russell found 1 baby, and I found another. They were both alive. Remembering an article we read a year or so ago, debunking the myth that we shouldn't touch the babies, we carefully placed both babies back into the nest, and the put the nest back in it's original spot.

Initially, there was no sign of the Mama Robin, but as we were putting the nest back, a couple of Robins flew to a nearby branch and were visably agitated. We got out of the way as fast as we could, and watched from a distance. We never saw one of the adult robins go to the nest. Russell thinks that they will return to the nest when things quiet down outside. He finished mowing the lawn, I worked around the yard, trying to stay as far away as possible.
I hope and pray that the Mama Robin returns to the nest... and tends to her babies.....

The verdict

The verdict on this past weekend is in: it was a good weekend! I went to an art auciton with my cousin Barbara on Friday evening and we had a blast. Saturday was spent doing errands, visiting with Russell's Mom and then going to our friends' house for dinner. We spent the evening on their deck, chatting and enjoy the lovely spring evening.

After Church on Sunday, we spent a quiet and very relaxing afternoon at home. Sunday evening saw us celbrating my Mother's birthday at Mother's house. All in all a delightful weekend!

I managed to snap a few pictures on Sunday. While outside with Russell, Ben spotted the robin sitting on it's nest. Our dogwood is magnificent, and this morning I saw an Indigo Bunting in our backyard!

I love Friday's. They have the same feeling as Christmas Eve. You've got something ahead, that you're looking forward to you. A blank canvas, so to speak, which by Sunday evening, will hopefully be filled with good memories of fun and accomplishment.

As for me, I hope to get some sleep, do some cleaning... go shopping and spend time with Russell, our newfs and friends and family.

Have a great weekend people. Have fun and be safe!

Easter Blessings....

We had a lovely day today. We met Russell's Mother at church and attended Mass together. Then we went back to her house and began preparations for an Easter feast. We provided most of the food so that she could relax and enjoy the day.

We had baked ham, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, corn pudding, pickled beets and eggs, and a couple of different desserts. It was a filling a delicious meal. There ended up being 6 at the table- Russell & myself, Effie, Pete, Pete's son Bill and Russell's brother Bobby. Kim, Peter and the twins stopped by for a visit on their way home from gathering with Kim's family.

All in all, a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday to me....

I'm 48 years young today!

Bah!!!

What a yucky day. Russell left to go camping last night with his troop. They were going up to St Mary's to go fishing. Since he's not yet replaced his camping gear*, they elected to stay in our family's trailers. I was relieved because the weather was really rough.

After Russell left, we had a quiet, uneventful evening. I went to bed early because I had to go into work very early this morning. We were administering a practice run of the LSAT. Of course, my day got off to a rocky start... and I was running late. Dr. K was nice about it... I wasn't that late, but he had the room all set up by the time I finally got there.

I left campus around 1:30... and headed to my Mom's for a visit. I was feeling tired and cranky, and that didn't bode well for a good visit.... my Mom was also tired and cranky, but then what else is new. I'm trying very hard to be patient, and not get bent out about her. But for goodness sake, she is her own worst enemy... and her attitude really leaves alot to be desired.

I decided rather than going our for dinner, that I would cook myself a nice dinner. Which I did, after a trip to the store. I chatted on the phone with my friend Susan until it was time to eat. My dinner was pretty good... (pork picatta & angel hair pasta).

Russell got home shortly after that, and was full of news about the lake; and not "GOOD" news. The owner of the landing where are trailers are located is in the midst of "improvements". He's installing a seawall around the point which is good because it had been eroding away. What makes me angry is that he's taken down some good shade trees, and replaced grass with gravel. YUCK. I'm distress about this... and am really thinking it's time to sell. Of course, that decision needs to be made with a clear head, when I'm not tired and cranky!!!! BAH!

Happy Spring

Spring is here, thank goodness. I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. There's no reason for my not posting... really. Time just got away, and in all honesty, I didn't think about it. Shame on me!!!!! 40 lashes with a wet noodle!!!

Ok... so... what have I been up to since February 14th? Not much really... just trying to stay warm and dry. I have to admit to feeling a bit surly from time to time. I'm chalking that up to wintertime blues. Now that there is a hint of green in the trees... crocuses and daffodills are blooming, as are our forsythia bushes, I'm feeling a bit more relaxed.

Of course, this could also be because I just got back form vacation. I was near Cumberland, Maryland attending the 2006 NCA National Specialty. It was held at Rocky Gap Lodge, and the area was BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely gorgeous. The National Specialty was alot of fun. I saw tons of old friends and met several new friends. Unfortunately, Russell didn't go, and I missed him and our newfs fiercely. It was wonderful to come home to them.

While I was gone, Russell planted flowers for me in the window box underneath our kitchen window. We're hoping to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The dogs are well... they all have spring fever as well. Kira & Yelda particularly enjoy watching the birds, and occasionally trying to chase them. Of course, with me at the other end of the lead, this isn't easily accomplished, yet it make things a wee treacherous.

Ben's not so much into the birds, he just is on patrol all the time. The only time I saw him affected by the birds was when he was trying to potty, and two bright red male cardinals zoomed around over his head in some sort of top gun routine. Obviously, it's mating season, and they were in a battle for territory. Ben's reaction was hysterical. He lost all concentration on his "task" and I ended up taking him back inside, with our mission "un-accomplished"!

Cora's well. She seems to be feeling spronky these days, and is outright playful. One day a couple of weeks ago, she playbowed to Yelda. Well, Yelda is always ready to "rock 'n roll" at a moments notice, but seemed to be surprised that it was Cora who wanted to play. Yelda playbowed back, and Cora returned the gesture. And the game was on. Until Cora suddenly realized that Yelda played much too rough. Cora ran to her her crate and let her self in (reminding me of Otis on the "Andy Griffith Show"). Kira was barking frantically, worried about her beloved Cora... and poor Yelda... disappointed that she couldn't have a raucous play session with Cora.

Just yesterday, Russell's Mom & Uncle Pete returned home from wintering in Florida. They had a good trip, and it's great to see them. My Mother is doing so-so. We've had a significant staffing change, and I think things will start to improve. If only Mother could have a more positive outlook. I believe that she's her own worst enemy. All others are doing well. Plans for Easter are underway.....