Life Keeps On Chuggin: September 2006

Can't Fight the Enemy If You Can't See Them

In case you don't know this is Freckles and BooBoo.

I have fought the enemy since middle of July. Molly and Happy brought them into the house. I have never in 15 years with BooBoo had fleas. I have sprayed dogs, furniture, carpet,etc. I have dipped dogs. I have cleaned carpets once a week, vacummed daily. I finally gave up today! The Chows have 3 layers of furr and water rolls off them like a duck. BooBoo and Freckles didn't fair well with the dipp so I had to wash it off them within 12 hrs. Being 15 and 14 years old it affected their breathing. Poochie is next then Happy and Molly. If I can't see the little buggers through so much hair, I don't know if I am winning. Yes I know it is getting cold so they will all have coats. I will win!!!! But I will have butt ugly dogs for awhile.

Fall

Fall has arrived. A few days early but here to be sure. The temps for this area are suppose to be in the mid 40's tonight and with only a high of 52 tomorrow. Burrr, at least I can drag out my sweats again. I prefer the cold weather here over the hot. The cold is not a damp cold all the time like it is in the south. It may be 52 tomorrow but our humidity will be about 30 percent. So much for the weather report---who cares.

I am glad to see the leaves turning and the beauty of all the brillant colors. I like watching Norm and Crazy Squirrel gathering walnuts off the tree and burying them in my garden. I was astounded how many rotten walnuts I kept digging up when I was trying to create my garden. Now I know how the walnuts ended up there. It's great to sit on my couch in the great room and look out front toward the lake and see a gaggle of Canadian Geese come in for a landing in my front yard. Daily I have to refill the bird feeders because flocks of tiny colorful finches, sparrows, morning doves, and cardinals are flying south for the winter. The mallards stop in long enough to eat old bread or corn I have thrown out back. Butterflies have come and gone, but all the work in my garden was worth watching the monarchs flitting from one bright, sun drenched zinna to the next. When October comes for about 3 nights we will be able to witness the northern lights. How beautiful and mysterious these lights glow and turn. I am at peace living here. I have found a place I want to live out my days.

Well that is it for this blog entry. I await winter now and the first big beautiful snow, but not before I have fully experienced fall and all the colors and beauty nature gives us to help keep our memories warm through the long winter. Winter is beautiful too only done up in basic white.

Crazy Squirrel Strikes Again

I had a small tomato sitting on top of the table in my garden but if you will look closely Crazy Squirrel tried to run across the flower fence with it and got it stuck when the dogs ran out to bark at him.

Labor Day Weekend Pics

Pictures I wish I had taken--Jason falling on his butt and smashing my sunflowers because he was wearing my flip flops while staining the flower fence; Jessica cooking Aunt Sandras lasagna; Andrea turning the hose on Jason washing some of the stain off him and then him turning around and wetting her; Gary and Jason working together peacefully "engineering" the gate; Andrea and Jessica staining while Gary and I screwed boards on while Jason sat on truck bed drinking a beer playing lead man----good memories I have of Labor Day Weekend.

Happy and Molly Say It's Finished

Jason, Andrea, and Jessica came up for the Labor Day Weekend and helped us finish the doggie corral--just in time because it has turned cold here. Todays high is 60 and it was in the 40's last night. Thanks to all of them for helping us with all the hard work.