Family Conference

My sister and Mother came to visit and help me sort out my new home. Very cool. Got a lot of things figured out to make living here enjoyable. Thanks very much Jamie and Mom!

Also a friend whom Jamie and I have known for over 30 years came by for a few hours. Cyndy's someone I consider a sister so she's family too! We took the dogs and ourselves for a walk. The weather was wonderfully cooperative. Not so hot it makes you search for the water jug...we were pretty close to the Fraser River so a very slight breeze made it even more enjoyable.

Cyndy and I


Henry


Ticket and Watcher

Today it has been raining off and on and Watcher says blech! to the wet stuff!

With all the forest fires around here and other parts of B.C. I was actually looking forward to it pissing down all day. We need wet here!


It seems Hummingbirds also detest the rain. Not a one spotted today.

Oh well, the rain makes me stay indoors too...and that's good because I have plenty of work that needs to get done!

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

What I See

When I look behind me....

Fresh heavenly smelling Oregano

Chokecherries

Henry sleeping as only Henry does...the bed is a spot for his butt.....

Or his head

Blackberries....gloriously delicious Blackberries

A Daylily

Special Things

Watcher is hooked on Blueberries. What he will do in protest, after the season ends, only he knows. I've been giving him a handful with every meal these past few days.

Henry's off the Blueberry kick and moved on to a liking for peaches. He likes them cubed and cold please and thanks. If they are room temperature he walks away.

Ticket, to my utter astonishment is favoring Watermelon. I am astonished because that chick is so freaking picky when it comes to any food.

And I am in heaven with the Blackberries. Juicy, sweet and tart at the same time Blackberries. *snarf snarf snarf*

I wonder also about other animals I have tended to. Learning their intrinsic likes and dis-likes was a journey that I hope others continue, but will probably not. Even after continuous conversations about it to others, they still did not grasp that each and every one is an individual. Easier and faster to put them all in the same boat was their moronic thinking.

For example...Czar prefers carrots. He will eat an apple, but truly prefers carrots. Gideon prefers his apples cooked, warmed and smashed because he has but a few teeth left. Lahanie will accept almost anything but really really likes a sauce of apples as well.

Speaking of Lahanie....I was reading a sentence that a blog had spoke of him. ( the blog I am speaking of is Saints...sometimes you find a jewel of a canine health link or tried and true information that can be helpful ) They said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that he was getting shiny, soft and round. ( those adjectives are correct though ) He's shiny and soft with a wonderful coat because of the ground flax he and the other equines were receiving daily while I was employed there. Sadly, the flax has been removed from his and the other's diet. As for him getting *round*....I want to say that is disgusting. But not surprising as where he is, the caregiver there has a penchant for fat animals. If they are fat, they are well fed and we must be doing a good job is their thinking I guess. No one can accuse them of starving them! So sad and pitiful.

Lahanie...saw us and came down for a visit. As he rounded the last corner the batteries crapped out on my camera. Shit! He wandered up to Ticket first. They touched noses ever so slightly. She knows this horse well! Then he came over and snorted a greeting onto my left shoulder. Warm horse breath is a glorious smell and feel.



Petunia a pot bellied pig, who has now passed, always liked Spinach the very best. And Gideon dropping some morsels of grain her way!



Herman, another pot belly, goes bananas over bananas. I swear he could hear me peeling a banana from 100 yards away! Ohhhh, I miss Herman! It took me near a month to entice him out of his pen and into the wondrous outdoors. My last 2 weeks there he was confident enough to wander over to the feeding shed to see what I was making everyone for dinner. And to snag an extra slice of apple/piece of banana/leaf of spinach or whatever.



I've left that employment but my heart still, and always will, wonder and worry about them.

Back to my guys....Henry, who is normally quite seriously shy, took an instant liking to my friend Maria who came by this past weekend. He did his normal backing up at the sound/smell of someone new, but within a few moments he went to her. She did not utter one word, make one sound but let him come to her. He went to her slowly, sat down at her feet and looked quizzically around her scent. She touched his muzzle and he melted. Maria!!! You are a dog god! Not surprising....even Watcher with his spookiness adores Maria. Some folks are true canine *people*, others just think they are. Or they believe it when told often enough.

For supper this evening we are having a crock pot roast with all the trimmings. Yes, I'm back on the beef after 4 + years without! And loving it!! It did, however, cost me me a wee fortune for a few cuts from a free range rancher near here. But I saw his ranch, toured every corner and am pleased with his place.

K, 4 hours in and 4 more to go! C.mon pot roast!

Thisa and Thata

When Henry knows he's gotten away with a lot of foolishness with the other dogs he swaggers. And has a shit eatin' grin on his face.

Ticket is the absolute best alarm clock in the world! She gently licks my face while ever so slightly while tapping my arm with a foot. ( and always between 6:45 and 7:00 am. )

Watcher....I am soooo proud of him. He's come a loooong way. From a genetically programmed spook to a full fledged full of confidence German Shepherd Dog. And his focus on myself has never swayed. Good boy my Watcher man!

The different species of trees that cover our yard area are wondrous. I look forward to Autumn and Winter. The colors will be spectacular!

My copper and purple tea light lanterns are hanging from branches where my wee table and 2 chairs are. Photos to follow.

Henry is a digging fool. Now, dogs are natural diggers....so I left alone a 8' X 10' area for him to dig to his hearts content. When he started digging in other areas I redirected him to *his* area. He gets it and digs it. Everyone wins.

To order crushed rock is simple and it's actually inexpensive. To have it delivered is whacked out highly expensive. My brain can NOT wrap around paying near 85% MORE for delivery. I understand the concept of a large truck ( fuel service charges, gst and now the fucking hst ) but nuh uh man. Not gonna' do it. I will find a cheaper way.

Air conditioning is vital.

Don't ya' wanna' slap yourself when you drive many miles away to specifically grab one thing, amongst others, and then you forget the one important thing? Sorry Henry, I will go back to Chilliwack to get you your wading pool Monday.

Did I mention that air conditioning is vital?

Of Bears and Blueberries

Bears...are very very scary, most especially when they are literally 2 feet away. And face to face. That's what happened to me last night.

But wait, I left something out! I was in my home, peeking out through one slat in the blinds.

I heard the gravel crunching under a fair amount of weight and knew it was a bear that busted through the fence. It stood looking in the window while I looked out at it. Though I don't think that it could actually see me as much as smell me through the open window. My looking out the window intently brought the dogs to see what the heck I was eyeballing out there.

And that's when all hell broke loose.


The above is what Watcher and Ticket looked like. Henry, being blind, just stood and stared into space barking... caught up in the excitement of his sis and bro raising hell.

The bear vamoosed out the way it got in. Today I will be spending a couple hours repairing and thinking about how to reinforce the fence.

Blueberries...the fruits are ripe!! Lawdy lawdy lawdy, I dream the winters away waiting for the fresh fruits of summer. I bought some Blueberries, Peaches and Cherries. So far. Today I will go to our Farmer's Market and see what other delectable beauties are available.

I offered the dogs a handful each of Blueberries last evening. Ticket took one wee Blueberry ever so gently between her teeth and went to a corner to try this weird thing. She rolled it around in her mouth, spit it out and looked at me with disgust. Clearly she was saying " Wench, you have yet again disappointed me with your food choices". Ticket is my prissy princess.

Watcher sniffed at them but didn't seem impressed either. Henry on the other hand was thrilled with the new taste sensation!


When Watcher saw how Henry wolfed them down, he then wolfed his down and then the party started! They both absolutely loved them.

A couple of videos!

Henry and Ticket

Lahanie and Ticket ( her first up close and personal meeting with him )