DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 26 - 09:20 AM

I've put a description of recent events on the FB page some of us share. DogWorld is a tough place this week.

Murphy's Law has had a hand in finishing the tile in the laundry room; I find I'm short about 6 tiles for the job. I'll check the company and see if that style is still available, and even if it is, it won't be the same color batch as what I bought a while back. I'll find that or something similar for the rest of the work and I think you can buy just a few, not only the whole box of 40. I'll use what I have to fill in the visible sides of the space and use whatever I find in the middle where the dryer will sit on top hiding any difference.

That feels like the state of the world this week.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 09 Apr 26 - 01:05 PM

If you can't get a good colour match, Stilly, what about a good contrast? Make it look intended, or (if all else fails) artistic.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 26 - 04:28 PM

I found a faux-marble that will complement the colors in the tile pattern I'm using. I thought I had enough of the originals or I wouldn't have started the project with them, but it's the laundry room, it isn't likely to be conspicuous.

We're into iced tea temperatures this week, though my backyard thermostat isn't working as well now, perched on a window ledge, as it did when it was screwed into place on the patio cover.

Terrible short night's sleep last night, but I'm resisting taking more than one nap so I hopefully get to bed at a normal time tonight. And it's that time of year when the quilt is flipped off of me one night, and back in place the next.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 26 - 11:00 AM

If I'd known what events would unfold by adopting another dog, one to give Cookie a more playful companion and take the pressure off of Pepper (who didn't ever cuddle with Cookie and who was food aggressive around her), well, that knowledge isn't possible. It seems that over time Pepper just normalized "crazy" enough that it was the frog in hot water thing in our household. But after Mango's arrival and about eight hours of peace, Pepper growled and would leap on the new dog at any opportunity, and I couldn't always keep them separated. Nasty fights began when Cookie piled on to correct Pepper - she didn't want her attacking the new dog. The last straw was a fight when jaws were locked by both dogs and 13-year-old Pepper was injured (I dragged Cookie out of the door by a leg to separate them.) I transported (inside the crate - I couldn't touch her to put on a leash) Pepper to an emergency vet to get an overnight pain shot, then the next morning my regular vet put her down. (My first dog was a pitbull. This same vet told me at the time that they don't usually start the fight, but they will end it. That's what pocket pit Cookie did.)

Pepper almost bit me; had she bitten anyone there would have been consequences. She loved what she loved - me - and wasn't happy with another dog and in the end even if the new dog was removed, was going to continue to attack Cookie. She was too broken to fix and you can't rehome a dog like that. Later that day the vet also checked over Cookie to be sure she didn't have injuries that might become infected; she's ok (but a terrible complainer about riding in the car.)

The house is strangely quiet now. Cookie learned from Pepper to bark at the mail carrier so I will still know when the mail arrives, but it's so quiet now. Two dogs, the 6-year-old Cookie and the 2.5 year old Mango follow me around or are usually asleep nearby. Two other families briefly adopted then returned this sweet girl to the shelter, and the comments were that they couldn't handle her neediness. Really? Why have a dog if you don't expect them to stick nearby much of the time. That's what dogs do.

Years ago Pepper went berserk at a pop-up bet clinic where I took three dogs to have their nails trimmed. Zeke was first, and then I led Pepper in and took Zeke back to the car. Returning to the store with Cookie, I had the thought "that dog looks just like Pepper" with the woman standing outside - it was Pepper, who refused to be left with total strangers. I realized this was probably her experience at being left at the shelter, she remembered being left behind a couple of years earlier. I promised her not to do that again, and at the end I was the last person she saw.

Yesterday was the day from Hell; I was at that emergency clinic until about 3am, then was up to take Pepper at 9. I thought about this all day long, but as I am getting over PMR I know must process it and move on or I'd be back on Prednisone again. Last night's sleep must have been quite a process inside my tired brain. I slept soundly and felt better this morning.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Apr 26 - 12:31 PM

Big condolences to you, Stilly, on the loss of one of your companions.
That is really difficult.
You made Pepper's life so much better, if that is any consolation.
And Mango is very lucky to be with you and Cookie now.

Subject: RE: DECLUTTER: *Health *Progress - 2026**
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Apr 26 - 06:15 PM

Thanks! I've mulled why didn't I see this sooner? When neighbors to the south moved in Pepper started charging the back stockade fence every time their dogs were on the other side. Duh. Since there was no contact I didn't think about the consequences if she'd gotten past the fence. I was in charge of food - she knew the rules, but beyond that I made assumptions that everything was fine.

Drum roll please! The last section of the laundry room floor has the underlayment layer painted on and in a few hours I'll place the last tiles. It will involve some trimming with a straight edge and a box cutter (way easier than ceramic tile). We're supposed to have a rainy weekend, but once this project is finished the next is to disassemble the edges of the raised beds (cut them up to put in the trash).

A big garage declutter coup when a large two-piece "pet barn" clamshell-assembly dog house was tucked into the trash bin. It was too chewed up for anyone to want it.

Working on the social calendar with the next door neighbor who gives the dogs biscuits at the back fence. Mango doesn't know the routine, so we'll plan to meet in the mornings until she figures out that this is a wonderful reason to go out into the back yard.

Gotta dash over to feed the cats so I'm back home in time to watch the Artemis II splashdown.