Saturday Musings

Pumpkin patch, freshly mulched with the straw from Boone's house.

Squash that came up over night after the hard rains.

The weather has settled down a bit, and we haven't gotten any more wicked storms. It's pretty nice at night with a cool breeze. Not too bad today either with a nice breeze, but pretty hot out in the direct sun.

My house was getting pretty rough looking, so I spent some time yesterday afternoon sweeping, de-cluttering and straightening. I had to go to the local 'Mart store--which I loathe--to pick up some supplies so I was later than normal getting home. After getting the house at least half way presentable I started on the dogs.

I was only going to bathe Ariel, because she needed it badly. Bathing, trimming, clipping etc is an ordeal with her, because she just won't relax. She stiffens up like a board and makes it very hard on herself and me. She has always been like this to some extent, but being old and frail just makes it ten times worse. I decided to soak her in Boone's pool, then soap and wash and rinse her. She kept sliding backwards in the pool when I made her sit down, I thought she was gonna mess around and go under! The whole time I'm soaking her and soaping her up in Boone's pool, he was standing in the water looking very stubborn. This is my pool. Mine!!!! While he has never been aggressive he certainly is possessive of his things! I decided since he was just hanging around anyway, I'd give him a bath too. Then of course he wanted nothing to do with getting in the pool. No way.

When I finally got Ariel done, she wasn't doing too good--having trouble with her hips and falling over. I finally got her settled down and locked in the hallway where she could lay in front of the fan or on the dog beds (she did neither). I upped her pain control meds this morning, but she seems to be doing okay for now. However I intend to try and lift her up on a portable table and work on clipping/brushing her later in the day. She needs it so bad, but I know it will be hard on her.

Boone got his soaping and washing and smells much better. I brushed a ton of hair off him this morning.

Boone's House....all the straw out, swept once and letting the wet spots where the rain blew in dry.

Yesterday before I left for work, I set off a bug bomb in his house and locked him out of the pen for the day. This morning, I took out his bed, and am washing the covers, and letting the cushion part dry and air in the sunlight. It looks like quite a bit of moisture worked it's way into the house and straw bedding in one area, so his cushion was damp on the underneath. I also forked out all the straw and had several loads to mulch the garden with. Then I climbed in his house, knocked down cobwebs and swept up the floor. Again there are a couple of damp spots the floor that need to air dry, so I might not put any rugs down for a few days. Boone didn't really approve of me moving his things out of his house. He lay down and put on his best sad face and looked all mopey while I worked. Did I mention he does not like change?

I'm still washing the never ending (it seems) supply of dirty animal bedding. I think once I get this batch done today, then it'll only be the normal weekly stuff. At least the sun is shining today so that makes everything dry quickly and sweet smelling.

Thursday night I was pretty tired after the lack of sleep from the storms/electricity being out the night before. I dozed off while reading, around 10:00 or 10:30 p.m. Boone was very happy and was quiet as a mouse so I wouldn't wake up and evict him. It was nice though, because it was cooler, and the fans were rustling up a pleasant breeze. Finally about 12:30 a.m. I rousted myself and went out to put Boone up for the night and check the sheep. After I put Boone up I went out and was shinning the light around, counting sheep. About then I heard a car coming over the hill on the highway from the North. Then I saw that it was two cars, traveling slow. I had an idea they were up to no good, so I shut my flashlight off. I heard them stop down in front of my folks house near the old store. About two seconds later I heard a big crashing noise. I took off towards the fence line, not sure what I planned to do, maybe scream at them or something, but I heard a door slam and they took off almost immediately. I quickly finished counting the now spooked sheep and went inside and called my folks to see if they were okay. I wasn't at all sure what had happened. Mom didn't hear it, but my Dad did. He went out and checked and they had thrown something (or used something to bash in) through one of the large plate glass windows on the old store. Most of the windows have now been damaged as well as the door from these vandals. Miserable little creeps. They tend to travel in teenage packs and never are up to any good. Reminds me of a bunch of dogs--by themselves they are nice little things, but team them up with others of their kind on a dark night and even their mommas wouldn't recognize them. The sheriff's department came out the next day to file a report, but there isn't much that can be done. It's weird though that the one night I'd be out late checking the stock was at the exact moment they pulled into town to do their pathetic little show of juvenile delinquency.

Anyway, I didn't sleep much the rest of the night, since we didn't know if they'd be back or not.

I've got a bunch of paperwork calling my name this afternoon, so I better get to it....I guess.

Ah....clean sheets and a cool breeze.....

Have a great weekend!