Updates

It's October.  I've built my first fire.  I'm working on the 'getting ready for Winter' list and am making some progress.  We haven't had a frost yet, but it's been pretty close and I expect this week it'll happen.  I have a bunch of nice looking green tomatoes, which I am going to pick tonight.  

Early Morning at the Lake

Sadly vacation has come and gone (sob...).  The weather was absolutely wonderful.  I spent one day and two nights staring at the Lake and doing nothing.  Then I came home and worked--but at my own pace on my own things.  The dogs loved me being home...the cats, I'm not so sure.

Sweet Milo looking happy in his new home

The bestest news is that the Little Grey Dog/Freddy now Milo has found a wonderful home.  He has become a member of a family who loves him already and say he is the sweetest thing.  He has a doggy brother named Chet who matches him in size and they have allot of fun together!   And Milo's new Mom has been kind enough to email me and let me know how he is doing.  I'm so happy for this little guy and my heart feels much more peaceful as I realize I was just a part of a bigger plan to get him to a family that needed him. A special little dog for a special home.  (and doesn't he look great?)

Milo (front) and his new doggy brother Chet

However....I hope that I'm done for awhile.  This stuff really wrings me out. I fear though that things are only going to get worse.  Our only 'local' animal shelter has pretty much been shut down, (not enough money, dontcha know) so now I suspect there will be even more dumping.

There does seem to be some sort of magnet attached to me...or my house...or my vehicle.  While at the Lake, on the last evening there, I thought I heard a cat meow....and when I walked into the room with the patio door (which was open) there stood a rather defiant ginger tomcat.  He hissed and meowed and hissed.  So I got him something to eat.  He hung out with me on the deck that evening--in a strictly no pets resort--and was there the next morning.  He finally left just before I packed up.  I'm sure he belonged to someone, as he wasn't skinny.  Typical intact tomcat with battle scars and attitude and a soft side.  At one point as we were companionably hanging out on the deck, I waved my arms around and said to the cat, --do you see all these decks?  do you see any cats on any of these other decks??   He just looked at me and blinked. 

Lake Cat (yes he looks like Noah, but it wasn't...really)

Today as I sat here at my desk at work, one of my co-workers shouts at me from the other room--'hey, is that your cat?'  Whaaa..where?  'There is a cat out there walking around under you truck, is he yours'?  Uh, no...no he isn't.  But by golly he was just circling my truck, sniffing and having a good old time.  And when he was done,  he was done, and didn't give a glance to anybody else vehicle as he sauntered off.  Now tell me why?  It's not like I have cats running amok out where I park my truck at night......but, yet, something was fascinating for him. Was this big ginger tomcat with long hair, looking for that secret symbol?

These two boys I was able to walk away from, they didn't need my help.  But, well, Johnny, he was a different story.  He deserves his own post but with my recent track record I better just tell his story and be done with it--so here's what happened....

One evening during vacation as I went out to  fasten up the chickens and do sheep chores, there was Buford  just sitting there by the chicken pen.   While it isn't unusual for him to stop by, he usually is on the move and mouthing off the whole time.  (If you don't remember who Buford is, he is a traveling black tomcat who shows up periodically to bum a meal (from my Mom--she feeds 'em the good stuff).  But there he sat...quietly staring.  Since he rarely stops by, I went to get him a can of cat food and have a little visit.  I fixed him a little flat place to eat and dumped half a can.  While this was going on, in the back of my mind I wondered why Buford had started growling.....  Well, it wasn't Buford.  As I stooped to put down the food, I saw something out of the corner of my eye that made my blood run cold.   

To go backward here a little, back in the summer a calico cat appeared.  She was a thin lanky thing, and you couldn't get within a mile of her.  We (my Mom and I) would have helped her--at least gotten her spayed and given her some good meals, but she was wild with no clear feeding habits.  I'd see her periodically off in the distance, always with a sense of dread.   I haven't seen her now for awhile, so she has either perished or moved on poor thing.

So when I saw that 'something' out of the corner of my eye, what I saw (in my lightening quick worst case scenario mind) was the leg and tail of a calico cat inside the little igloo in the chicken pen.  A calico-cat with kittens.  

It wasn't though.  I went in the chicken pen, closed the door to keep Buford out and stooped down to see what was what.  The cat inside the igloo howled and yowled, hissed and growled but finally came staggering out when I waved the remainder of the can of catfood around.  Poor kitty.  Poor skinny kitty that was scared out of his mind.   He wolfed down the food and I went and got him more.  I closed up the pen for the night and figured I'd deal with it all in the morning.  Buford was horrified that I was helping this intruder, and (eventually) stalked off in a huff. 

Poor Skinny run down Johnny Cat

In the morning Johnny-cat was limping badly and I was sure he had an abscess on his hind leg.  He hissed and growled at me while at the same time craved pets.  I had thought I would open the cage and let him go and see what happened, but when I saw him in the light of day--skinny, crippled and obviously with no intent of leaving his little island of calm, I decided to get him to the vet.  And since he was going to the vet, I'd just have him neutered at the same time. 

Johnny cat scarfing down food--skinny and depressed

So the next day that is what happened.   Only he didn't have an abscess.  The vet thinks he has an old injury and his hock has limited mobility.   Johnny came home from the vet one sad sick pup-uh-kitty.   It took him a few days to get up a good appetite and quit growling and hissing at me.  He never at any time offered to scratch or bite, but he put up a big show.  In fact he was a big love bug.  In the meantime I listed him on a few lost and found sites, with no responses. While he was at the vet I had him scanned for a microchip--even though they all thought that was a hoot.  In this area it's hard to get anyone to chip their dog let alone a mere cat.   

Top view of skinny cat

 I emailed a friend (hi old buddy, old pal) asking her is she was interested in a farm cat.  They lost (as in vanished--probably stolen) their beagle this summer and he was determined to keep cats off the place.  Now with Goober gone, maybe she would be open to a cat.  I didn't have much hope.   As the days went by with no response, I tried to figure out my next move.  Worst case he could hang around --I'd feed him and he would be terrorized by Buford and probably end up dead on the road eventually.   But I hoped it wouldn't come to that.   I don't need any more cats, at all.   

Skinny now, but you can see he is a gorgeous boy

He was such a sweetie and as the days went by he started to put on weight and relaxed--he was happy where he was and no thanks, he didn't want to venture out!  I feel like he was a big pet at some point, but either he wandered too far and got lost or equally likely he just got to be nuisance and got dumped off. 

Johnny Cat a week later.  Feeling fine and looking good.  (Those are shadows on his nose not scratches)

This is one of the most gorgeous cats I've ever seen.  His markings are stunning.  He will be a big cat once he fills out.  His hock seems fine too-no limps now, although there was a spot that opened up on his inside upper thigh...so I think he probably did have an abscess after all. 

Nearly impossible to get a picture of since he just wanted to rub on me and be petted--but isn't he pretty?

Johnny went to his new home Saturday.  All fixed up--neutered and vaccinated and with a few extra pounds added.  My friend was tickled to have him and we set him up in her dis-used chicken house.  She will feed him and he has his bed in there and will stay in there four or five days and then she will let him out to see how he adjusts.  I'm praying he just stays put.  He'll have a great home.  They aren't silly syrupy about their animals like I am, but he will have a good solid home.  Food and attention and lots and lots of hunting ground.   They have outbuildings and fields and live well back from a gravel road that isn't highly traveled.  I took probably a months supply of food so he'd keep gaining weight for winter.

A week later and gaining!

I pray that it works out.  He is such a sweetie and was so good about riding in the crate over there.   Animals are so vulnerable to our whims and even though I know I'm trying to do my best by him, I felt guilty.   Hopefully he will be calm and not bolt and he will live long and prosper.

I hope.  I'm wrung out. 

That is it for now.  I've got more pictures and more updates and can only hope I'll be motivated to get 'em up.

Hope you are all doing well out there!

 

It's been a long cold winter--all two nights of it... (clockwise starting upper left--Meshach, Gabe, Sage, Chaco & Noah)

Hard Business

Being how the inn is full here, I knew that placing the little stray dog was a must.  I have to tell you though, that my heart wasn't in it.  With three dogs and umpteen cats sometimes I feel stretched pretty thin.  However the little guy just fit in so well with the girls.

One last bath

As you can tell I was very torn.  I had sent out several emails after I got him asking for advice in placing him.  One went to my friend Kati who works alongside the St. Louis Senior Dog Project, a rescue based in the St. Louis Missouri area.  My email was basically asking for advice on what questions to ask that might raise red flags for a prospective adopter.

What scruffy cutenss

The next thing I know, Kati emails me back and evidently not quite understanding my email, she had smoothed the path to having him entered into the rescue via the foster program, and that we would just have to figure out how/when to meet.  At that point I completely flipped and probably started hyperventilating!   I emailed her back explaining I didn't want them to take him, as I was going to try and find him a home myself...but I would think about her offer.  So I did.  All night.  I realized by my response that I had 'crossed the line' and become too emotionally invested to be objective. Most likely 'no one' was going to be good enough in my mind to adopt him!

Plaaaay-time!

I thought about it more.  In the end, although it was terribly hard I decided to turn him over to the rescue, I thought it would be for the best.   They are equipped to interview people, and get all needed vet work done (micro chip, heart worm check, vaccinations, teeth cleaned) as well as place him in a foster home that can evaluate him as regards to what his temperament is like and if he is fully house trained (he is, but refuses to acknowledge the doggie door!) and how he might integrate into a prospective adopters home.  

Carly gets down on his level

Most importantly they do screen prospective adopters and microchip all their rescues so if somehow they get back 'into the system' the rescue is called and will retrieve the dog.   This organization is made up of a group of fosters so that no dog is kenneled somewhere in a building with a bunch of other dogs, just passing the time.  They take the dogs out every Saturday to adoption events and are actively seeking homes for them. 

Scruffy, scrappy and happy

A week ago Saturday I met Kati in Rolla, which was a little under halfway for me and turned the little guy over to the St. Louis Senior Dog Project.  That was one tough day. 

Time for some tug of war....

While he was here, he finally became comfortable enough to have wild play sessions with the collies.  They were worrisome for me, but evidently he was having a blast.  He only got rolled a couple of times,  and never hurt.  The two 'pups' Minty and Carly were quite thrilled with his running rabbit like ways and there were lots of chases, with either him being the pursued or being the pursuer.   Carly liked to use him for a chew toy which evidently delighted him.  She would pretend to gnaw on his hind leg and he wouldn't even flinch.   Ashley thought the whole display disgusting and politely pretended he didn't exist. 

And to the victor goes the spoils...even if they are as big as you are...

In his nearly four weeks here he also managed to grow a downy covering of fur on his hinder parts and while quite funny looking he was well on his way to being healthy looking.

Tag...you're it!

I literally spent hours looking for this little dogs owner.  I put up flyers around the nearby roads, and in nearby towns, ran ads in the two local newspapers,  called every float and/or camping outfit near the river (and there are many...let me tell you....), listed him on as many internet sites that I could, and scanned pages and pages of statewide and nearby states lost and found ads on the internet.  And not forgetting that he was scanned for a microchip right off the bat at the vets.  It still disturbs me greatly that no owner was forthcoming.  I had a few calls, but they were wistful hopeful ones from people who had lost dogs that didn't really even come close to matching him.  I'm sure I'll never know his story, but I do know that for probably most of his life he was a much loved little lapdog.  Someone cared enough to have him neutered, to house train him, and to raise him to be a polite and joyful little dog.  And it breaks my heart for him that that was lost or thrown away.

And the chase is on....

However.  (deep breath) With all that being said, there isn't any use in dwelling on the sadness, but to be prayerful that he will find a special loving permanent home as he enters the next chapter of his life.

Hey!  Wait up!!!

For now he is in a foster home and has already attended one adoption event, had a haircut that has made him look quite dapper, plumped out even more, grown more hair, been deemed to be a "Freddy" and Thursday is having his teeth cleaned.  He will officially be up for adoption after that.   I know he can't understand it, but I'm out here rooting for him and keeping tabs on him....and I told them if he ends back up 'in the system' then he would have a home here.

That was fun....

In the meantime if you are looking for a rescue to sponsor check out St. Louis Senior Dog Project--they have a Facebook site and website, and their original intent is to rescue and place older 'senior' dogs, but they also work with all ages, shapes and sizes if they can--even the oft hard to adopt 'big black dogs'.  They also have a  program called the  Red Ribbon Program where select older dogs are offered at lowered adoption fees (or waived in the case of the adopter being a senior citizen) and vet costs covered for the dog even after adoption.  They also have on occasion puppies, younger dogs, senior citizen dogs, puppy mill 'breeder' rescues and more. 

A week later, new haircut and new digs

Handsome 'young' dog looking for a loving forever home!

Catching Up

Tomatoes, Peppers and Millet

Warning...picture heavy! 

Cabbage!

So as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, we were getting extremely dry here.  Typical July/August weather, but still after last years drought, a bit scary.  All that changed last week.  We have had monsoon like weather for over a week.  I lost track somewhere, but I think we got close to ten inches at the little farm.  Maybe a bit more.  It would storm everyday--sometimes several times a day.  The usual pattern though was for it to roll in around 4:30-6 a.m. (chore time) and then clear up a bit in the evening.  The ground was very saturated, but we never got into any serious flooding issues, because for the most part it came steady but slow.  However just a few miles from us, people would randomly get true gully washers, and there was a tremendous amount of flooding in places that haven't flooded in decades if ever.   Evacuations and even several deaths were the result.  The whole pattern was bizarre.  We are still under possibly more rain issues this week, but so far it has been mild showers in our area.  The humidity doesn't feel as bad, but it's been pretty high the last week--it feels nasty when you walk out into it. 

I wasn't really saying 'I told you so' but it wasn't a surprise to see the brand-spanking-new-built-on-edge-of-the-riverbank RV park under water one morning.  I mean it's called river bottom land for a reason.  Sigh.

My 'new' planter--this is an old bbq grill that I had converted to a flower pot when I was a kid.  Fast forward 30 years and I found it squashed flat under a pile of scrap that my Dad and I hauled to the recycle center.  I popped it back into shape and scrounged some broken bits of  'wandering jew' plant off the parking lot at MFA, and added some flowering plants and viola! 

This was the scene a few weeks ago when it was so dry and the leaves were falling into the dog's pool

The rain has been a tremendous boon to pasture, and if all goes well, I should have pasture way up into the fall, with judicious rotation.  I'm falling behind on mowing as it's so wet, but did manage to slog the weedeater through the jungle in the catio and around the garden on Saturday.  I had several limping sheep for a few days which is probably from wading through the muck in the paths, but always a concern it could be something worse like foot scald.  They do seem to be clearing up on their own though. 

Meshach--high on 'nip

I'm posting some picture of my gardens, but this was before the monsoon and it has tripled I think in growth since then.  Some of the tomatoes are splitting because of too much rain, but am hoping the rest will be good.  I have lots of varieties this year and for the first time ever some nice looking heads of cabbage ready to harvest. 

My two old outside girls--Echo on the left snuggling with her mom Dixie on the right

The fur crew seems to be doing okay.  They keep me way to busy meeting their lengthy demands, but I'm always thankful when the day is done and everyone is still alive and kicking and in good spirits. 

After a week on good food, and meds to heal up his allergies. Can you even resist that face??

I still have the stray dog, and even though I have exhaustively searched for his owner, there has been no response.  I have put up fliers,  newspaper ads, all the online lost and found (and craigslist) avenues and haven't had anyone claim him.  I've had several people ask if they could have him, so I'll have to face placing him soon, but you better believe the person that takes him is going to be given a thorough checking.  I gotta tell you people make me pretty sick with their lack of commitment.  One minute 'oh I'd love the little doggie' and then the next thing you know the 'little doggie' is old or a nuisance and they kick them out.  Jerks.  I mean how does an 11 lb house dog end up in a remote area on his own with no one looking for him?    Can you tell I'm stressed by this responsibility of finding the little guy a good home?   The little Jack Russell I found and was able to adopt into a loving home last fall is doing so good.  What a lucky little dog he is.  I'd love to find an equally caring home for this guy. 

Here is the little wart hog--you can still see the bare areas--he has a good covering of short hair coming in

It doesn't help a bit that he reminds me of my first little dog--Boots--although he is much nicer than my beloved spoiled Booty.  If I were at a point in my life that I were retired and home much of the time he would stay, but it will not be fair for him (or me) to go that route now.  He has come out of his shell a bit and seems pretty assured in his place in this 'new life' he has.  Scares me to death how he plays with the big dogs.  Although they usually try and be careful, Minty isn't a very careful dog and she plays pretty rough.  Carly is usually more mindful of him and will even get down on his level to play by laying down.  She had his leg in her mouth gnawing on it the other night--at least it looked like she was, but obviously she wasn't crunching or he would have been yelping!  My first three dogs I had when I moved out were two collies and a Pomeranian.  The Pom came a little later and grew up thinking he was a Collie.  Nicky would lounge around in the Collies mouths while they chewed their bones!    Pray I can be discerning in finding him a safe and loving home!

Here you can see his size in comparison with the girls.  They have all gotten along well--they were trolling for treats here

The Collie girls are doing well, but I think I'm drowning in hair.  Will they never stop blowing coat this year??   Minty has had a big hotspot on her back near her tail and Ashley has had itchy paws--to the extent that I made her her own personal set of leggings to wear at night so she wouldn't chew them raw.  Liberal amounts of organic coconut oil were applied to both dogs and things are better now.  I have also been rubbing the little dog's bald parts with the coconut oil and tell him he looks like a little wart hog ready for the BBQ grill.   The stuff really seems to work though and it doesn't sting like the meds from the vet.  

Ashley in her hated super special leggings--doesn't her expression say it all?

Can't believe it's mid August now....Autumn is nearly upon us and will rush by...and then it'll be Christmas..  (do you want me shut up now?)  Oh, to be ahead of the game just once.   I'm sure though I'll go falling through the seasons as usual, everything last minute and hectic. 

Hope you all are doing well during these summer days.  I do read your blogs, although I'm not always good about getting to comment.

Here We Go Again.....

Found very small grey male dog near Niangua River Moon Valley access in Missouri.  

So here we are again with a stranger on the farm.  Sometimes it just doesn't pay to drive home from work...or church or....town....or for that matter sit on ones own deck. 

This time I was headed home from work, cutting through on the shortcut, which is scenic, low traffic and the route I usually take on Friday afternoon.   It was raining lightly so there was absolutely no people, cars or any signs of activity at the river.  I paused on the low water bridge to admire the view of the quiet rain speckled river.  Then I headed up the road on the steep switchback that towers over the river itself.  A nice relaxing way to end the workday.

Until I saw a little grey blob running heck bent down the middle of the road right towards the truck.  I slowed...I saw it was a dog.  A dog that wasn't going to give over to the truck headed its way.  I stopped.  The little dog swerved around the truck and made a beeline to my door.  I rolled down the window and said hi and asked what it was doing in the middle of nowhere by itself?   I opened the door.  He wanted to jump in, but was a little scared.  I got out and looked him over.  He seemed to need some help pretty bad, so I got a little fleece blanket out of the back and wrapped him up and put him in the truck.  He promptly sighed and sunk down in the fleecy folds.   He also ate a bite of hamburger I was saving for the girls (don't tell them...).

From one end he is about the cutest thing I ever saw...from the other end he is about the ugliest thing I ever saw.   Since he is missing about 3/4 of his hair, I knew that I couldn't risk bringing him home to the girls, so I called the vet's office en route and they agreed to work me in for a scan (for a chip) and a skin scraping. 

At the vet's sadly the scan came up negative for a microchip, but the skin scrape also showed no mites--but he was covered with sand most likely from being near the river. He was also infested with fleas.  I've have never seen an animal so covered in fleas.  Pulling up his ear flap reveal 20 or 30 fleas hiding in his ear.  

He weighs under 15 pounds and seems to have been well treated in his life.  He is very quiet and subdued with all the new stuff he has been thrown into.  He has been treated for fleas, wormed and given a medicated bath.  I took him back to the vet on Saturday because his incessant scratching ad crying made me want to dump him myself.. (not even close to really...but I could see how it could drive a heartless person over the edge)--it literally hurt to watch him rip up his skin.   Now he is on predisone and that actually seems to be helping him.  I also got some antibiotic spray but that seems to sting pretty bad, so I've been rubbing his tender parts with organic coconut oil. 

He took his bath like a trooper on Friday and never gave a bit of trouble.  The water was black with fleas, and I probably combed off a hundred more after.  However by the time I combed him again that evening there were only five or six and they were dead or dying.  He seems to be flea free now. 

For now he is living in the breezeway and crated when I'm not here.  I have to make sure he is okay and flea free before he gets to come in the house.  Not sure how he will handle cats, but surely they could beat him up if they had to?? 

I believe he has been well cared for and was a house dog--he holds his 'business' all night and makes a mad dash for the yard when I let him out.  He responds well to affection and doesn't act abused.  He also hates to walk on wet grass or through the tall grass.  He wants to be picked up allot.  He also made himself very scarce when I got the clippers out to clip out a hotspot on Minty--which I found very interesting since he held his ground quite well around a skil saw and the lawnmower.  Does he not like to be groomed?  

He eats with gusto, but prefers soft treats and will attempt to bury the hard treats with his nose.  The vet estimates him to be between 3-5 years of age.  We figure he is a 'Schnoodle' --part Schnauzer and part Poodle most likely bred by a breeder (hopefully not a puppy mill) as his front dew claws have been removed.  The 'designer dogs'--poos, doodles etc are very very popular around here and we have our share and then some of breeders.   Whatever he may be he will likely be very cute once we get his allergies under control. 

For now I'm looking for his peeps.   I'm praying that somehow he got loose from them and has been on the run for a bit.  On the other hand, if he was dumped then may the people that did it have a pox upon them.  I try not to judge, because there is always more to the story--but if someone let this little guy out where I found him, then they didn't give a rip if he lived or died.  It's remote...very remote.  We have coyotes and owls and probably even eagles down by the river.   He runs and hides in the bushes when he gets nervous so maybe he had to do that to survive a few days...or more.  

I think he has been spoiled and important to someone and am hoping to reunite them.  I'll give it my best shot anyway--and they better have a good story about what happened.  So far he is listed on several FB lost and found sites, Craigslist, and I'm running ads in two local papers and will make up some flyers to post along the road.   If indeed he is now 'homeless' and someone dumped him out like the trash he is not, then eventually he'll be available for adoption.  He'd make a great little pocket dog for someone.  He travels excellent in the car, and wants to be glued to you all the time. 

Until then the collie girls are suffering through another beast that takes my attention off them.  They have been good so far, and while the little dog is nervous around them, he isn't terrified or defensive.   Mostly they just kinda ignore each other. 

Pray for us that there can be a happy reunion for this little guy.