Soggy Saturday chat

Glenda, we're getting ready to go the farmers market in a little while.  You are so right about the heat and humidity soon to come.  It hasn't been bad yet but it's getting there.  I'd still rather deal with heat than cold, snow, ice.  I guess it's what a person is used to.

Gina and her family seem to be doing fine.  

I've got a lot of garden chores planned for the weekend.  Fertilizing, mulching, planting some annuals, and trimming the honeysuckle vine before it completely overtakes the house.  The hummingbirds live it as do the wasps and bees.  

A friend of mine has taken on four semi feral young dogs, all littermates.  They were found jammed in a crate, covered in feces and urine.  She's making good progress but it's going to be a long road before they're ready for their forever homes.  

Kate, I forgot when you said the new Lab is coming home.  Hope you can share some pics when you get him.  

Fur Ball is now signed up for Basic Obedience.  Hopefully, this will fix the brain problem he has-it turns off when he sees children.  Recall stops, and he loves the world.  He doesn't look like a puppy any more.  He is now a dog-prettier than most and not very well educated yet.  But we have time to fix that.  

I am enjoying this dog more than I thought I would.  In some ways, he reminds me of Piper, in other ways he is completely different.  Any time I run him in a local WMA, it's a place I trained and hunted over Piper, and the good memories come back.

Had the Lugnut out to the WMA this morning.  Cold wind blowing, but it was a good time.  He hit a scent cone, worked it back to the beginning.  As he got close, the fur on his back lifted, but he kept working it. " It" was a dead mink-very dead.  And flat.  It was a hard winter.  A little latter, he picked up what appeared to be a bird track and worked it hard for a good distance, then a couple of geese flew over low and loud, and Guns got a little distracted.  But the nose works, and he will hunt.

Snow forecast for N. MN today.  We have several days of cold rain coming.  Looking foreword to working outside this week.  Frost is leaving, and I may get Pipers ashes into the ground soon.

Doug, I think that Piper picked her time to leave and that she wanted to make sure you were ok with a new friend.  That little guy sounds so incredible, and I'm thinking Piper is giving him some guidance from the Bridge.

Jackie, I know you normally do the Farmers Market on Saturdays and so I thought of you.  Ours has finally started too, but I'm betting not many folks showed up today considering the weather.  That, and the lack of any really good produce this early in the year.  

However much  I dislike cold, snow, ice and all that goes with winter, the heat and humidity really bother me.  I can put on more clothing and still enjoy being outside when it's cold, but there is a limit to how much you can take off, and since the only part of me that really sweats is my head, I overheat far too easily, and I don't like having to stay shut up inside in AC.  I enjoy being outside too much not to be able to do so.

Off to get some stuff ready to move......

Our largest outdoor farmer's market in town just opened for the season.  There's a small indoor one that's open year-round, but the big one is the best.  One nice thing about this climate and part of the state is there is something growing nearly year round, whether it's edibles or landscape plants, so along with the crafters, there's plenty to buy no matter what month it is.

So, my quiet night and sleeping-in plan went awry.  At 8pm, I got a call from a friend I hadn't talked to in weeks, so we chatted a long while.  Then my slumber this AM was ruined when the phone rang at 7am.  I assumed it was one of those robo-calls, but it was one of DH's friends.  Grrrrr!

Taking Ruby to the vet shortly for a check up and to discuss getting her first dental cleaning.  Then I'll get back to the laundry and housework.  Pretty exciting day!

Doug, I enjoy your pup's antics vicariously thru your stories and updates.  I admire your energy  level that gave you the courage to take on a puppy's needs . . . I couldn't handle it!  But it sounds like you've got a terrific foundation built already for a wonderful hunting partner and relaxing at-home companion.

Relaxing?  His favorite sport is waiting for me to nap on the couch.  He sprints from the hallway, jumps and lands on my chest.  You can see him grin when I start screaming and cover up.

He truly loves people.  You move to another room, somehow he moves in and sleeps in a corner.  When wife is out in the yard, pup is near and watching.

Hi all.

Doug I love watching dogs work scent cones.... Except when it ends at dead animals lol. Speaking of dead animals, the chipmunk that has been in my garage finally died. I don't know what from but it was uncanny how fast the dogs found it.

I'm dealing with a migraine and a continued sprained ankle today. But we did some dog training this morning and had breakfast with some friends so it's not a total loss of a day.

I tried yoga with the ankle last night. Didn't go so well. It was a big mental challenge that I feel like I won though! I wanted to quit and lay down mid way through but I modified poses and fought through it

The new Lab arrives May 17...it's a test of my patience waiting! I had to look up all the names of one eyed mythological creatures because he had to have one eye (left one) removed. So, his name is Ronnie (which I will likely keep) and I've added Odin--a Norse one eyed god--and am now calling him RonnieO. I've also been trying to read up on any special training considerations, but it doesn't seem like there's too much to worry about. If anyone has any tips for training a one eyed dog, do let me know.  Many pictures to come.

Today has been rainy and cold--tomorrow, we're supposed to get a bit of sun.

Julie, I hope you feel better quickly. Doug, the Lugnut adventures make me smile.

Glenda, do you have a move date yet? How was Ruby's vet visit?

glorious weather here :) - finally

I only worked a few hours today, it was fabulous! I did laundry, walked with B & DH, gardened, did a little food shopping, all very exciting!

The worst of this project is behind me, delivery starts Monday and although I have many hours of work ahead on the project it should be without strife.

Apparently I 'hurt the feelings' of some employees because the work they did is crap and I told them so LOL I soooooooooooo don't do politics!

crap=crap

Bugsy is finally better - I swapped out the bag of Orijen food and wala his gut was healed. i wish I had considered that the food was off before I spent $$$ at the vet and threw chemicals into his body but in the end I am happy that the one food he has done well on is still fine.

I marvel at how wild he still is as he is approaching 9. He spoils us and protects us from thinking about the reality that a dog his size at 9 is very old.

Tomorrow we are doing a walk to the lake with our new GSP pup friend- their temperaments are very similar but the pup has this connectedness B will never have. Anyway it is fun to watch them together - happy boys. I suppose it is quite amazing that B can keep up with a 6 month old GSP pup the way he does.

Julie I LOVE watching them scent, happily B only finds dead things and then gives you a look like, "it's dead, no fun to be had here" It's quite funny :)

It is also interesting to watch the GSP pup scent, although he and B work in a similar way, B seems to get the scent and wants to kill, the pup (true to his breed) locks on and if anything, creeps a bit. But the initial reaction to the scent is totally different in the two.

Doug, Lugnuts is just perfect for you. I am so fearful of life with no dog after B leaves us. He's bigger in personality than he is in size and the hole will be huge. I desperately want to add a pup before I face that time.

OK it's 8:16 and I want to go chill

Karen, I have a sneaking suspicion that Ruby will exhibit similar "youthful exuberance" like Bugsy when she's his age. She's estimated as 4 years old, and there's no sign of her mellowing yet. Doug, sounds like you may have to wait a while for your relaxing companion to develop, too! You asked about the vet visit, Kate. She is a rather uncooperative patient -- not growly or snappy, but will NOT stay still for things like ear exams, rectal thermometer, and doG help us, blood draws (that took three attempts). DH was feeding her freshly baked chicken breast, and she was still wiggling around. Along with a full exam, blood draw, and bordatella vaccination, she had the general stress of the waiting room, etc. You'd think she'd come home and zonk out. Wrong --- she did insane zoomies after dinner as usual. Anyway, the vet said she looked "lovely and healthy," but agreed a dental cleaning is in order. Her first one, so I will be a basket case because she's never had anesthesia. I'll be asking for iDog vibes that day (May 6). Julie, nice to see you -- I didn't know about your ankle. I'm sorry to hear about that, and I hope it's fully back to normal use ASAP. As for yoga, I need to get back to that. I really found it helped my back and neck issues when I went regularly.

Not sure why there are no paragraphs -- they were clearly visible when I typed it.  Odd.

Ooops, I also meant to say that I love your idea of combining the Ronnie and Odin name, Kate! Can't wait to see some photos. I know a couple people who have dogs who've lost an eye, and I've seen nothing unusual about their handling or anything. I suppose they may be more startled if someone approaches from one side? Actually, one of the women has a one-eyed pittie, and she dressed her as a pirate for the annual Halloween-themed fundraiser for our local shelter, and she had a little black patch on her eye. She was the most popular guest of the event!