Took a dozen books to the library for their book sale ...

Banjo was chittering at me and I got the message, "I need to poop, mom!" So I quickly took him outside and he immediately did the job! What a good smart little guy! Mind, he is still chittering? He already peed on the big beach towel over thick newspaper on the sofa. I missed that. Not paying enough attention. ... May be chittering himself to sleep? Ah! Drink of water, Mom! Now quiet. This guy communicates; I just need to understand raccoon! I hope his leg heals before he is totally spoiled! I am handmaiden to a very small raccoon. He cannot support himself to poop; needs a hand under his tummy.

So, also took a pile of stuff to the thrift shop only to come back and have R unload a bunch of stuff from the truck - that he found in the trash. Some nice dishes and cutlery and a large stainless pot ....

Would you believe --- I had put him on the floor but, no, not right! Well, how bout back in your hiding place? No. I had to find a plastic to put on the sofa and another towel for his cosiness and NOW, his highness is sleeping! Can't help but love the wee thing!

Anyway, bunch of stuff some interesting, some already in a box for the thrift shop. Will continue tomorrow.

And picked out some books at library to bring home and R also got a card and five books - the limit.

Came back and the squirrel women were here, installing a couple more squirrels to get acclimated before release. The previous three were released last week and have made themselves a home in a large maple tree. We talked for a while. one is trying to get me vaccines for the raccoons and they gave me the name of a rehabber in Quebec, something I have been trying to find for 3 years.

Banjo must be feeling better to be so fussy! But I want him really healed before he goes back out. No more nights sitting up with a screaming-in-pain infant! One of the worst nights of my life. That was Monday night - 2 am - 4 am, holding ice cubes on his foot and leg as he screamed an ear piercing, heart rending scream. What a feeling of helplessness. Finally eased when I petted the top of his foot constantly for about half an hour.

We both went to sleep in the bed. His grand finale was pooping on the fresh bottom sheet. I was so tired I wiped it up and put a heavy towel over it and crawled in. Woke up with him on my pillow. So I hand washed sheet, mattress pad, pillow cases and a couple big towels.

Life is mostly feed the animals, change the water and litter - a couple hours/day. Vacumming was done a couple days ago and is needed again tomorrow. The leaves come in on our shoes; some of us do not wipe our feet on the door mats. Keep dishes washed. Eat carefully. Scale is at 165. May be accurate. May have lost a couple pounds for all my effort. I will believe it when scale reads 160. Motivation grows with success.

I am keeping up with the laundry by hand washing the essentials in the bath tub. A washing machine sits by the ouside faucet but we need to be sure it functions before putting the effort into moving a very heavy old Maytag into the Bathroom! Maybe this weekend, she says hopefully.

Then the things that were on the line were well rinsed by last night's storm and things that needed a pre-rinse got that in tonight's storm.

SRS: glad to hear that guacamole can be frozen. The question has been on my mind a few weeks.

Bruce Murdoch at the Cafe this Friday! Will we see Jeri?