Wonderful Wednesday Personal Blog
2/25/2015 0 Comments Snow DayWe finally got a bit of snow. The yucky part was the two layers of ice mixed in. The other yucky part was walking the dogs several times a day in the pelleting sleet and across the icy porch steps. The new yard fence is still under construction. It was easier walking out the front door, but the dogs didn't understand what 'lack of traction' and 'so cold my fingers are numb' mean. Freki was incredibly happy to play in the white stuff, though she ducked her head when the sleet pounded the hardest. Ben is rather indifferent to the snow and cold., but was willing to play for a bit before he took up his post at the gate and asked to be let inside. (Ben is currently curled up beside me on the couch, Freki is hanging off the small dog bed, and Dixie is under my feet. They are all asleep) The cold does wear them out fast, bless their hearts. It takes a lot of energy to stay warm and active. All the dogs prefer the cold to the heat, however, so they will likely be happiest in the house come sumer The birds are happy I filled their feeders yesterday, though I suppose I will have to fill them again this afternoon. They must have told their friends about the feeders, because there has been a host of birds out there since before the weather started yesterday. Birds fighting on the feeders, birds on the ground picking up what the others spilled -- I am sure none of it will go to waste. Hope everyone stays warm and safe. We have more snow and wintery mix predicted for later in the week. Brrr!
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2/18/2015 0 Comments A Girl and her Ball(This cute story is pre-empted by my notes from this morning: how on earth did she pull the hinge pin and door stopper off the bedroom door? How did I not hear it? Fortunately easily fixed, but the teeth marks in the baseboard next to the shower is not. Reminder? Make sure she has a toy while I am in the shower. Back to the regular post-) OK, so I started off with the serious photo. What you don't see is Freki dancing about the house with that bone in her mouth, batting the ball around with her feet. I posted that photo of her playing 'golf' when she was quite young. She still does it. Only, now, we have a variation on the theme. Rather, several variations. She loves her tennis ball. She knows where it is pretty much all the time. Outside, the word 'ball' sends her into a frenzy of playing with the basketball, but her inside game involves her beloved tennis ball.
2/11/2015 0 Comments New House, New RulesWell, it's a week into the new house, and the dogs have pretty much settled in. This yard isn't fenced in (yet) but there is a large dog pen not too far behind the house. That means the dogs have a place to play, but must be leashed to get from the house to the pen. So, the day goes something like this: 6am- walk dogs 6:30- feed dogs 7:30- put Ben and Freki in the pen 10:30- bring Ben and Freki inside, walk Dixie 12:30- put Ben, Freki and Dixie outside play,, walk, inside routine varies during the afternoon 5pm- feed dogs 8:30-9pm- walk dogs Bedtime The impromptu walks to potty or chase a squirrel have been put on hold. But Freki's bell made the move, and she can alert us if she needs a sudden potty break. The dogs are beginning to identify the neighbors, and barking noise is decreasing. However, Freki was not amused to see the internet tech go in and out of the house. She alternately barked somewhat fiercely, then sat and leaned against the fence as if to say, "That's all I can do, mom, until someone lets me out." She eyed the top of the fence once or twice, but is young enough to believe she can't go over it. Freki was inside the house the day the refrigerator arrived. I had just installed the dog gate in the utility room door, and she had her front feet on it for the first few minutes, staring at the two young men who calmly went about their job. She settled down and kept an eye on them through the bars after that, and one young man even stepped over and spoke to her. She was fine with that and wiggled happily. But he didn't offer to pet her. Hmm. She does look intimidating. We won't mention she sleeps on her back and snores adorably at night. Come on, Jason! We need a fence! 2/4/2015 0 Comments Bird-watchingWe have so many different birds at our suet feeder this year. Cardinals rule it, until the Blue Jay shows up. But the chickadees, Tufted Titmouse (mice?), Hairy woodpeckers, and even sparrows squawk over it whenever possible. I love to watch them. They are so busy, and their little social interactions are quite amazing. I did see a squirrel hanging off the roof of the feeder, stealing seeds. But I have not seen him since. Ben and Dixie do not share my love of birds. The are pretty much oblivious to the feathered creatures. I can only think of once or twice that they have propped their feet on the window sill and stared outward. Ben will watch out the window if someone is walking along the street. To be sure they don't suddenly decide to attack the house, he will give a soft woof-- rather under his breath. This works because Dixie then takes up the cause and comes barreling through the house at top speed, barking ferociously enough to keep the zombie apocalypse at bay. It works, for we have not seen zombies here. Freki, on the other hand, loves to look out the window. She watches the birds, the squirrels, the neighbors. This morning she is watching the garbage truck. She watches Dad leave in the morning, and looks for him to come home. She gets very excited about this and dances and whines when his car pulls up. She can get sidetracked by window-watching while playing, and I will sometimes find a toy on the windowsill where she placed it in order to concentrate on whatever is going on outside. (An aside: It is hilarious watching her play with her toys. She can entertain herself, and comes up with interesting games. Her favorite new inside toy is a plastic juice bottle in a sock. It works great to keep her from chewing pieces off the plastic, but still gives that lovely, crunchy sound.) I love that she is so interested in things. It is so great to watch her explore her world. She has quite a range of visual concept, from the squirrel on the power line way overhead, to the toy I just hid under a blanket. She will wait on that silly squirrel to fall (they don't) for long periods of time, watching him move from tree to tree, shaking its tail at her. And she understands that just because the toy is now out of sight, doesn't mean it no longer exists. She will get it. Really, the only downside from her interest in things outside, is the occasional muddy footprints on the white window sill... |
AuthorThis is where I talk about things in my life outside of writing. Mostly gardening and dogs. Archives
December 2019
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