Some of my roommates

Esmeralda

Essie has decided to tease Daisy again.  Daisy spent over half an hour barking at her this afternoon.  Even I was tired of the barking.  So I brought her inside.  I have returned to work and my four-legged roommates do not like it at all.  I keep explaining that I need to work to pay for their expensive food.  They don't buy it. 

Duncan again

We had a thunder storm  last night.  I found it delightful because we have had so  little rain in Texas.  Duncan, however, was terrified.  For the first time since he came to me, he would not sleep in his bed.  I had to sleep on the daybed because my bed is too high for him and it scares him.  But last night he needed to be close.  He lay on my arm and did not close his eyes until it stopped thundering and raining.  When the storm was over, he got down and got on his bed.  I can only imagine how horrible his life has been.  I cannot imagine someone treating any living creature in that manner.  How can someone live with themselves? It is so foreign to me.

Duncan again

Ok, so I am a sucker.  I can't give Duncan up.  He has a home and he loves it here.  He and Jock are fast friends and even Abby is kinda tolerating him.  Even the cats like him. So, yeah, I guess I knew all along I was gonna let him stay.  He even sits in the window and helps Jock guard the cul de sac. 

Duncan

Ok, since I posted last, I have talked with the lady from the Maltese rescue in Austin.  I really hate to give Duncan up.  He is leaving Abby alone now.  He loves his bed.  He loves the food.  I had to cook for them tonight.  I ran out of food and don't have any money till payday, so they will get home cooking until then.  I gave him his bowl of food and he kinda sneaked up on it and was really shy of it.  Then he tried it.  He loved it.  He ate everything including the apples even though it was difficult for him to chew them.  If he stays, I'll have to get the money together to have his teeth worked on.  He is settling in.  However, I am having no luck house breaking him.  He will go outside and sniff around but will not do his business outside.  Good thing I don't have carpets.

Daisy

Daisy has been with me now for about 1 1/2 years.  She was about 7 months old when I got her.  She had been dumped and found my son's house. Being broke, he brought her to me.  He gave me the money to have her spayed and get her shots.  When I took her to be spayed, my vet discovered she had been born with severe hip dysplasia.  Well, David gave me the choice of putting her down or fixing the hip.  Of course we scraped the money together to fix the hip.  She is fine now and really enjoys life.  She was in pain for the first year of her life so now it is "Look out life, I'm here."  She has such enthusiasm now. 

Duncan

I don't know if I will be able to keep Duncan.  He has gotten really aggressive toward Abby.  Abby is 12 and this is her home.  I can't allow her to be intimidated.  Duncan jumped her this afternoon and would not stop.  I had to pull him off her.  She was so scared.  This can't be allowed.  If I find that I cannot keep him, I will find him a good home with someone who will  love him dearly.  He really is sweet and he has lost a lot of his fear.  I'm having trouble housebreaking him though.  He goes outside with Abby and Jock, but comes back in to do his business. He has no socialization at all.  He must have led a miserable life.  He has gained weight, but his backbone and hip bones are still prominent.  I would estimate that he would not have lasted a week if Kelsey had not found him.  We'll see if I can socialize him.  Wish me luck.  I really do love the little guy. 

Essie

I was getting concerned about Essie.  I hadn't seen her in several days.  Apparently she was just lying low.  She was in the front yard when I came home for lunch today in the bird feeders.  I put food out for her, but she prefers the bird feeders.  I have to keep feeders full and several containers for the birds to bathe in.  I also Essie in the ones on the ground.  Large trash can lids work great for this.  So do pie plates for the really small birds.  I put out hummingbird feeders today.  They are so hungry.  There are no flowers for the bees and butterflies and no food for the birds.  The squirrels will have fun though.  The oak trees are  loaded with acorns. 

Update on Duncan

Duncan is putting on a little weight.  He is still scared of everything but he is doing better.  We have to go to the vet on payday and get his tooth taken care of.  He is even playing with his toys now.  He sleeps with two stuffies.  I have him on Nutro Ultra food.  I will have him in shape in no time. 

My Escape basket

Got my disaster supplies in last night.  I have three cases of canned dog food, two cases of canned cat food, bottled water, snacks, flashlights, cash, one credit card, a bag of clothes and items I will need and my pictures.  I can load all this in a heartbeat.  See, I really do need a van.  I'll call the bank today and start looking.  I'll have a suitable one within the week.  I'll be ready if my friends and I have to evacuate.  Scary stuff.  I have never been afraid before.  I am not afraid of hurricanes, do not like tornadoes at all, but fire really scares me.  We are so dry, the grass in my back yard crunches when you walk across it. 

Texas Fires

Well, the fires are burning on all sides of us now.  Last Sunday night we had one spark about a mile from us.  We had high winds from Hurricane Lee.  They were gusting to around 50 miles per hour and took down a power line. This started a fire.  We are so dry that all it takes is one spark.  That one burned until well into the night, but the firefighters did get it out.  Bastrop has not been so lucky.  Over 600 homes have burned over there and it is still not under control.  All this has convinced me that I am buying a van or an SUV as a getaway car just in case.  I want to be able to get my animals out.  They are totally dependent on me.  I don't want to ever have to make a choice of whether to leave them or take them because I would not leave without them.

I'm Back

Got back last night.  Everyone met me at the door.  Abby, Jock, and Duncan were so happy to see me.  Daisy was going nuts.  You would have thought I had been gone for ages. Found a flea on Duncan today and saw where one had been biting on Abby's head so I bathed all of them and sprayed the big dogs. I hate using poison on them, so I am trying a natural flea treatment.  Sure hope it works.  Also, Duncan has an abscessed tooth.  Yahoo! More money for my vet.  Oh well, I did invite him to live with us. 

Gone

I have to be gone for 3 days.  Not liking leaving my friends.  My son will be here, but I still don't like being away, especially from Duncan.  I'm afraid he is going to think I have deserted him.  I'll have to be extra nice to him when I get back.  He loves his little bed under my sewing table.  I took the first one up to wash and put a new one down.  When I started picking up the old one, he looked like I was going to hit him.  I put him on the new bed and patted him.  He curled up and went to sleep.  He must have had a hellava life.  Well, he'll have a good one now.