Esmerelda

Saw Essie today.  She was on the ground digging up acorns she had buried when Missy and Daisy and I came out.  She shot up the Bradford Pear tree and sat on the lowest limb and fussed at Missy and Daisy.  Daisy sat under that limb until I made her come inside.  She is ever the optimist.  She just knows that someday Essie will just jump out of that tree and into her mouth.  Problem is she probably would be so shocked she would not know what to do. Essie sure looked like a well-fed squirrel.  Looks like she has been enjoying all that squirrel food I have been putting out for her. 

Stupid humans

Watching the news and seeing what stupid people we have in this country makes me so very glad I have my little non-judgmental friends.  I would like to just move into the boonies far away from the idiots that call themselves people and never see any of those two-legged creatures again.  None of my animals would ever be so cruel as to tell me that if I became pregnant from rape, just to have the baby and see it as a blessing from God.  My little friends give unconditional love and acceptance. Sorry, I am really angry right now  and it doesn't belong here.  So let's start over.  The weekend is here.  Just me and my little friends.  I'm going to be working in the yard today and they will be helping me.  Bella follows me into the garden and digs up what I have planted.  Last weekend, she pulled up some of the broccoli plants.  Gotta watch her.  She is a sweetie though.  I am at the moment listening to Daisy and Joey have a barkfest.  Both have very loud voices.  Ok, enough.  I'm going outside.  They can bark out there and make the neighbors angry.

My little guys

My granddogs will be going home in a couple of weeks.  I will miss them.  Daisy and Missy won't.  Kenny and Joey drives them nuts.  I put out bird food and squirrel food today.  Essy came to get hers.  I don't see her much in the winter.  I miss seeing her.  I do have about 20 doves feeding in my yard every day.  Lots of cardinals and finchs, too. 

Texas Tornado

We got rain here in Texas this morning.  It brought tornados and high winds with it.  I watched the winds start and thought, "Ok, looks like we are in the path."  So I rounded up the little dogs, shoved them in my closet.  Missy and Daisy were safer in their little den.  I grabbed my three little guys and shoved them in the closet, then went for my son's little ones.  As I was shoving them into the closet, Abby darted out and ran hell bent for leather of the living room.  I slammed the closet door and ran after her.  I grabbed her as she hit the couch and ran back to the closet.  She was growling and snarling.  While we were in the closet, all of about 5 minutes, she barked the entire time.  When I let them out, she marched off in a huff.  She was so insulted that I had made her sit in the closet.  She is her mistress's dog.  My daughter has the same attitude. Just leave me alone.  I am not gettin in any closet.  So what if I blow away?  Yep.  Just like her mistress. But we did get lots of rain and we did not blow away.  Just lost a couple of limbs and had to chase the garbage can down. 

Duncan

I am having a heck of a time ridding Duncan of the whipworms. Poor little guy.  I really feel sorry for him.  I think it is time to go see Dr. Don.  He really is a sweet little guy.  He charges around and defends the house now.  He sits in the window with Jock and barks and barks at anything in the cul-de-sac.  He loves to sleep on the couch, but I have to put him on the couch and put him down.  He will sit and whimper when he wants down.  Jock likes to get on the couch to get away from Duncan.  Duncan has attached himself to Jock.  He can't attach himself to Abby. She is a witch.  She allows no one to be near her on the couch except Jock.  God help the cats if they get on her couch.  Good thing she is only 6 pounds.  I found a groomer I trust and they are all going to the groomer.  Kenny, Bella, and Joey will go next week and Jock, Duncan, and Abby the week after.  Abby will hate it. 

More on my friends..

Kenny got a bath tonight along with Duncan.  They were so dirty.  They had played outside this afternoon in the mud.  Seems so strange to even see mud in Texas.  Anyway, these little white dogs were no longer white.  Since Kenny needed it the worst, he got bathed first.  Duncan was scared to death when I put him in the bathtub, but he always is.  I hope he gets over these fears.  He is improving.  Now if I can just get him housebroken. 

Duncan

Duncan is not feeling well tonight.  I am having a really difficult time ridding him of the whipworms. Maybe I will put him on the hearworm meds that also control these parasites.  I hate having to give him that medicine every three months.  It is given for three days, skip three weeks and given three more days, skip three months and start over.  Well, it just does not seem to be doing the job for little Duncan.  Guess a trip to the vet is in order.  He is not due for a checkup until summer, but this is hard on him. 

Wildlife

I have seen just how hungry our wildlife is.  There is a herd of deer grazing on the side of the road each day.  There is some new grass there.  I noticed today that some rancher had delivered some hay for them.  I put out bird food yesterday.  I always toss a lot on the ground under the trees and shrubs.  The mourning doves are ground feeders and by putting it under trees and shrubs, it keeps the hawks from getting them while they feed.  I went inside and noticed a few minutes later looking out the window, I could see around 20 doves in my yard.  I make it a point to feed the birds and squirrels every day.  I do have hollys and yupons with lots of berries. but as slim as the summer was, they need extra nutrition.  Tomorrow I am hanging apple and orange halves from the trees.  I am also going to make some suet for them. 

What do you call a herd of little dogs?

I can't decide on herd, gaggle, pride.  Just don't know, but I do know that they are great.  I was sitting on the couch watching NCIS tonight and Jock came up and wanted to be picked up.  He snuggled in my lap for about an hour.  He is so sweet and he feels like he is being pushed out because Kenny, Joey, and Bella are here.  Also, he really does not care for Duncan.  He tolerates Duncan, but you can tell he does not like him.  Jock never fights, he never growls, he never tries to push in.  I have to make an extra effort to make sure he gets enough attention.  I don't think I have ever met a sweeter little dog. 

Update on Daisy

Remember Daisy came to me almost a year ago with severe hip dysplasia.  It was so bad that the bone broke when David did surgery to correct it.  He wound up putting in 4 pins with a stabilizer bar on the outside to hold the pins in place while the bone healed.  She had to be kept confined for another 3 months.  So for the first year of this dog's life, she lived in pain.  After David took the pins out, she jumped into life and has enjoyed herself ever since.  You can't slow her down.  She still hurts, that is obvious, but it is bearable now.  Sometimes I give her aspirin to help.  She is really enjoying her life now. She was abandoned because she wasn't perfect.  Well, she is perfect for me. 

Rain!

It rained last night and all day today.  Unless you have suffered through what we did in Texas last summer, you can't understand how delightful that sight was!  Anyway, this morning around 4:30am, I got up to put the dogs out.  I put the little herd out first.  I had to push Kenny out the door.  He wanted nothing to do with all that wet stuff.  So they came back in pretty quick.  No dawdling today.  Then I put Daisy and Missy out.  They too came back in pretty quick.  I fed everyone including the cats.  Then, I said, "Ok, let's all go back outside."  Daisy ran to her crate and refused to come out.  She would not even come out for a carrot!  She wanted absolutely nothing to do with all that wet stuff on the ground.  And tonight after I got home, she made her foray outside to do her business, came back in, ate, and went back in her crate and curled up on her cushion.  That dog is definitely a dry weather dog.  She likes it around 80 and dry.  Not too hot and not too cold. 

Back to work.

My little ones will be upset today.  I go back to work.  I have been home for over a week and they have enjoyed it immensely.  So have I.  Bella is asleep on her bed at my feet as I type. Kenny has the bed and Joey is on the daybed.  Abby is on her throne which is a soft bed on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed.  Nobody dares get on that bed.  Jock and Duncan are holding down the leather couch.  Missy and Daisy are sunk down in their huge pillows.  All is right with their world.  Shame we can't make this type of world for all animals and children.  It is a black mark against humanity that we have animals and children and old people hungry, mistreated and without shelter in this world.  If you judge a country by how they treat those who are the most vulnerable, then we have failed miserably. 

Happy New Year

We made it through another year.  It was a rough year.  There were times when I could only afford to buy food for my little friends.  I ate a lot of oatmeal.  But my babies had their food and vet visits.  We are through that now, and hopefully on the road to recovery.  I would never let my little ones go hungry.   On a more positive note, they are all doing great.  Duncan improves and comes out of his shell more every day.  He charges around the yard with the others now and barks like crazy.  Sometimes he will come in with the others without any encouragement, but most of the time when it is time to come in, I have to carry him in.  He just stops at the door and cowers.  But he doesn't cower nearly as much now as he did when he came to me.  He really is sweet and it has been a delight to see how far he has come in only 4 months.  Animals are so wonderful and each one has his or her own distinct personality.  And all will react to kindness.