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De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life 2019 - 2020
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 15 Oct 19 - 09:48 AM Thanksgiving is over and winter is definitely on its way, although the weather forecast is calling for a warm, wet week. But the wind is biting cold half the time and the sun doesn't scramble above the neighbours' roof until after seven -- and there we are, on the down-slope of the year. We Canadians don't make the fuss over Thanksgiving that we see among our neighbours to the south. Here, it's about the end of the growing season and the harvest in full swing, and a ham or turkey-centred meal more or less on par with an old-fashioned Sunday dinner is about it for the festivity. The statutory holiday is nice, of course, as it gives folks time to travel and visit, but it's not the four-day extravaganza we see on U.S. television and there's definitely no shopping. We're still recovering from "Back To School!" frenzy. Himself and I stayed home. He worked on his legal theory course, reading about German philosophers of the 19th century (I could hear his brain bleeding from the kitchen), and I roasted a chicken and made a batch of bread. Ho hum. The new air-conditioner and humidifier are in place, and the furnace and the water-heater are clean and squared away for the winter. Four thousand dollars well spent ... I guess. I'm certainly glad to be rid of the poisonous antique that previously squatted beside the basement window, and I look forward to a winter without lizard hands, sandpaper shins, and constantly inflamed sinuses. But, in general, such projects are what I call no-fun spending: large sums whacked out to maintain a comfortable status quo. Such is the life of a middle-class householder, constantly striving against the forces of entropy. Reading Michelle's posts, I am reminded (as if I need to be reminded!) to be grateful that both Himself and I are fit, strong, in robust health, and still happy in each other's company after all these years. I remember sleepless nights with my mind in a squirrel cage of terrifying possibilities, and count freedom from fear among the greatest blessings of my very fortunate life. The sun is shining and the sky is that ineffable blue Ontario offers just to show that it can. Time to put on my walking shoes and head out to the post office. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: mg Date: 14 Oct 19 - 04:20 PM remember we have brilliant surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, etc. Hoping everything goes well. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Oct 19 - 11:20 PM The dark hours are more difficult to get through when something is bothering you, when people are dealing with stress, etc. That's the time when playing the old comedy programs on television, or playing old familiar happy movies in the background can be helpful. Danceable music on the radio. It is important to Pete that you be your strong self, so use the tools available to help all three of you get through this. We are all pulling for you and the family - as are all of your friends and family there. ❤ ❤ ❤ |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 13 Oct 19 - 10:18 PM Mom and I had a good day out...spent too much money but surprisingly not at the quilt shop. I had set a budget for the quilt shop and stayed under it with ease. However, then we found a Kmart that is going out of business. I didn't buy anything exciting but did get some great deals....2 packs of undies in Jeremiah's current size, 2 more packs in the next size up (40% off), two packs of socks for me (40% off) and 6 matching cocoa colored bath towels (35% off) for our recliners....animals are welcome on the furniture so I like to keep it covered...all that for $75.00. I wasn't planning on spending that but it's all stuff we will use daily. Today was church and then Jeremiah's last soccer game of the season. I'm on the 4th load of laundry, the mail has been sorted, bills paid and I have butterflies in my stomach as Pete's surgery is coming up. I am okay most of the time but now it's dark out and my guys and 4 legged babies are all sleeping....it's too quiet even with the TV on. I have lavender going in the diffusers because it's supposed to help ease anxiety....maybe it does....just not so much for me. I wish I could be more like Pete...he's so laid back and not worried at all....at least not that he's talking about. Ugh. Just ugh. Doing my best. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Oct 19 - 08:00 PM One busy week down, another begins of two that have more going on than usual. Life continues to have moments of excitement in a house with a puppy. Friends came over for lunch today so I put all dogs in the yard and Cookie found a box to chew on the the garage that is full of those cornstarch packing peanuts. I looked out to see where she was and she popped out of the dog door in the garage with a chunk of cardboard and a peanut in her mouth. I rearranged the dog houses in there to block her from reaching the boxes any more. [sigh] The friends enjoyed meeting her, and saw the chaos that ensues when Zeke and Pepper are fetching and Cookie is let loose in the yard. Everything gets nuts. The house got an adequate cleaning before today's event, but I still need to take apart my vacuum and clean out all of the filters, or take it over to the local repair place and let him do it. It works, just not as powerfully as it used to. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Oct 19 - 12:32 PM Your mother is a wise woman! I've located the shoved-way-up-under-the-glove-box compartment for the SUV air filter, I'll pick it up this afternoon when an errand takes me past the store that carries the right size. I'm not a fan of Febreze in general, but I think that was in play with the current filter when I bought this and it does keep the pooch and lumber smell at bay for all of the hauling around of stuff that I do. It did cool down yesterday, and it's time to make soup. Turkey to start with because I have some frozen pieces I want to use to start clearing out the freezer. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 11 Oct 19 - 07:52 PM Pete's surgery is on Tuesday. Today was my last day at work until he is able to be home on his own. I tried to wrap everything up, got 90% of this month's work completed and my supervisor told me if I'm not back for this month, she'll wrap it up. I think that's pretty awesome. I'm feeling anxious about the surgery and Pete being out of commission as he really has been healthy for the last 27 years....it scares me. So...as a distraction, my mom has scheduled a Mother Daughter Day for tomorrow and we are meeting up with a friend to hit some quilt shops. I'm feeling clingy and not wanting to go anywhere but I know it IS a good thing for me to do. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 19 - 12:59 PM That does sound like a nice surprise, Michelle! Is his surgery coming up soon? Heavy rain overnight and in the space of 12 hours we flipped from summer to winter. Two days of autumn, tops. Ugg. The fleece jacket isn't warm enough today while the t-shirt was all that was needed yesterday. Time to declutter the dust in the SUV and change out the cabin air filter. And while I'm working in the garage I'll paint on the wood preservative on the fence pickets so I can clear them out of that space. I hope Susan is able to read along on her phone if she has it with her at rehab. We're thinking of you! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 10 Oct 19 - 04:13 PM Today is the first day I've been home before dark....it feels wonderful!!!! I have laundry going and am going to do a little bit of rearranging of furniture that Pete would like to see happen....he would do it but I think it will be a nice surprise for him to come home to. :) I'm down 2 more pounds this week. I'm not sure how as I am not tracking or exercising much but rather just trying to take it easy. My stress levels are high at the moment and I'm all about comfort food when I'm feeling that way.....just doing my best to make smart choices throughout the day. Anyway....the dishes are almost done, the laundry is going and Jeremiah is taking care of the sweeping. He's a great helper! Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Oct 19 - 10:58 AM I hope that work on the air conditioner goes more quickly than the patio work. I see by my calendar that next Monday is the Canadian Thanksgiving. Will the system be working and the mess be out of the way in time (and are you cooking or having people over?) We have a last couple of hot and kind of strange days (after the cool mornings earlier this week, these muggy warm mornings at 6am feel surreal). Then it turns cold and rainy - BAM! - from summer to winter with no autumn to speak of. Cookie is gradually decluttering the house of the older dog beds as she rips off zippers and pulls out stuffing. They've served well but it's time to go because I'm not going to mend them. There are still others around. Last of the gel shots in the knee, and I'm hoping it will settle into a comfortable few months (they say it takes 2-3 weeks after the final shot to get the full effect.) Ragweed is in full-pollen-mode and it will take until the first hard freeze to wipe it out for the year. We're pacing the amount of time Cookie spends in her kennel, but I can't leave her out unsupervised. This means I get up every hour or so and go for a walk with her in the yard, and she's out when I'm not in my office. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 09 Oct 19 - 05:29 PM Dupont: I have 3 rain barrels at Beaver, each with its own configuration of down spouts. Must remember to let them drain this weekend! That Cookie is a force to be reckoned with! May she soon get with the program! Turning off the exhaust fan was an error. On Tuesday aft, I realized I was smelling chlorine and went outdoors a couple times, thinking that would help. Poor R came home early- about 7 - and said something to me which should have been innocuous. I went ballistic and went to bed- with window open and door shut. I could not even read, just pulled the covers up and mewed pitifully. An hour or so later, I ventured out and asked that he put the fan back on. I knew I was hypersensitive to chlorine but - WOW! His Monday had gone well with the presentation. He is hoping for continued progress and, even, someday, a successful culmination. A lower stress level is a wonderful thing. Perhaps one of the best de-clutters available! Meanwhile, I putter along, remembering to tend to plants that need to come indoors. Three lovely red blooms on the tender hibiscus in our BR window this morning! The Beast, in the hall, continues to bloom amazingly. Had two students yesterday with virtually NO knowledge of English! Winnie the Pooh helped me through! "Cup" "teapot" "table" BASIC! Searching on line today elicited nothing helpful. Tomorrow, the library to check out I Spy books and whatever else might be available at that level. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Oct 19 - 03:58 PM Sheets and some laundry are hanging on the clothesline in the back yard; I'll take the puppy out of her kennel when I go out to retrieve it, and I'll have a squirt bottle of water with me if I need to start the job of persuading her to leave the laundry alone. #BabySteps I've finished several loads of laundry in the last couple of days as I prepare to put some things away and get other things out because autumn will eventually get here. I have a lot of yard work to catch up on also. And editing and other contract work. I have managed to completely fill my days as a retiree - with the pleasure of not having (usually) to get up on Monday morning to go to the office. :) The kitchen is cleaned up, dishwasher emptied. I'm considering how I want to leave a reminder for myself that the dishes are clean or not - there is absolutely nothing magnetic on the front of the dishwasher for a magnet with the clean/dirty message will stick to. One Pinterest post had a canning lid glued onto the spot where the magnet was to go, and that's a possibility. Or simply think of something with the messages that sits on the counter above, because dogs might notice something attached to the dishwasher and munch it. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Oct 19 - 11:48 AM Charmion, I've seen some innovative downspouts that travel laterally to deliver rainwater to barrels when they can't be placed directly underneath the best spot on the roof line. We did a critical dog-training test this morning; the next door neighbors came to the fence with dog treats and Cookie was so excited she tried to charge up to the fence a couple of times but got zapped and backed off. She's not happy with this, but she now understands about that zap along the fence, and the neighbors will toss her treat to her. She's enjoyed ear scratches at the fence for a couple of weeks, but now we'll have to stop by on our walks out of the yard for that attention. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 08 Oct 19 - 10:24 AM Rodney the HVAC Guy is wreaking havoc in the garden. Nothing strikes trepidation into my heart like the sound of a Sawzall at work on my property. The concept of operations and operational plan died on contact with reality, as so often happens. We had planned to move the air-conditioner to a vacant spot along the foundation, beside the other basement window on the west side of the house. Not happening. When Rodney and his henchman opened the bulkhead running along the basement ceiling, they found, instead of the skirting board they expected, the concrete beam and steel joists that support the fireplace. So now the air-conditioner has to stay in its original spot, at the corner of the house where gas line, the internet cable and a drainpipe from the eavestrough are also located. So now I must rethink the installation of a rain-barrel that Himself has been harping on for two years by my watch. I'm thinking flexible tubing ... Crap. At least it's not raining, and Rodney will also clean the furnace and install a humidifier. And did I mention it's not raining? |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Oct 19 - 11:55 PM Today I learned of the death of an old friend from during my time in New York City. We both worked at two places together, and it seems that the extra time he spent working on one big project (in a park I won't name now) resulted in excessive exposure to asbestos. He apparently died of a related cancer. We were all offered checkups at a specialized hospital but I don't know who took them up on it (we were young and foolish and immortal in the 1970s.) I've had some contract work keeping me busy today; the only accomplishment around the house was washing some dog bedding and running the dishwasher. AND - I've always used cleansers that didn't scratch up things, and then cleanser got hard to find for a while so I broke down and bought Ajax (and it says it doesn't scratch now.) I was astonished that Ajax easily removed what I thought was a permanent discolored area in the sink. Dorothy, another dog anecdote: Cookie has been unmoved by the puppy-strength settings on the Invisible Fence collar, though she seemed to understand the beep it made meant something. So I went back to the dealer and she increased the collar to pitbull strength, since the pit part of the pup seems to be at play here. And when I took her out into the yard this time she not only heard the beep she felt the little shock (it's like strong static electricity) and jumped away from the boundary. This happened several times in different parts of the yard, and now she's staying a bit back from those areas. As time passes she'll figure out how close she can get; most dogs experience some "shrinkage" in the yard until they fine tune their understanding of the collar. Pepper does fine and I'm sure Cookie will figure out that where the other dogs go, she can go. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 07 Oct 19 - 01:37 PM Dupont: Not good news about Susan; may she have some recovery soon! And glad to hear Pete is scheduled! Sooner is better. Mags dogs are a lark. I am still happy with our stuffy on the hearth! Or especially so when I read her posts! Friday was a big day! R's long dreaded presentation was accomplished with great assist from Eph. It was very well received and people wanted more info - history of the "old port" area of Montreal which is now slated for redevelopment. A step forward for the Project. On Friday, I had gone to the mill and in my trekking picked up a choc pie (YUM!) and, as I was passing Bo Thai, picked up a take out of his fav General Tao. Txted him that I had a special meal for him so he excused himself from the "gang" and was home by 6 for his special celebratory meal; he was high on success! And relief! And in bed by 7:30 for 13 hour sleep. Sat am, we started out with the needful things in house but he had to go to city to show that house. An afternoon nap ensued. Then a major blowup resulting from the stress of the last couple months. We realized that I had been under as much stress as he and sorted ourselves out: that was a major de-clutter. Sunday, windows were closed, the ceiling of basement cleaned of black mold, clutter removed from hallway, agreed to move guest room upstairs and his gonna be office downstairs (this had been weighing on him), sorted furniture in TV/sewing room so it is now usable. More, of course, to be done but it de-cluttered our beings to make decisions and changes and be "normal" again. A load of laundry concluded the work day as he had worked in his good pants and needed them for today! Today, he turned off the fans in basement that were pulling -heated!- air out of house! I had closed off the heated part as much as possible but we need a door between main house and the addition (he measured for this and hopes he has one). In the meantime, a foam mattress is serving! Then we can heat the bathroom only. It is a BIG house and expensive to heat so we need to look at better ways. Off he went today, after a good BF, in clean clothes to attend the presentation by the architect of the Project. R will be able to help field questions knowing his concepts have been well received! Life feels so much better today. I had actually reached a low point where it did not matter if food was rotting in the frig. So, here we are, a rainy day and cool but R planted the remaining plants and we re-potted the Brugmansia and put it in place in the upstairs hall, access to a double, south facing window, branches stretching from wall to wall! I will have much stretching and bending exercise picking up the leaves and blooms as they fall. And watering and feeding "The Beast". On a sunny day, I shall photo it and post on FB. We are thrilled with it and happy to have a space for this unique "house" plant. Tomorrow the weekly English classes resume. We are, or I am, going to Beaver for Canadian Thanksgiving weekend! The fall colours are going to peak. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Oct 19 - 12:17 PM Finally a cool morning! It was around 60o and perfect for a walk with a long-sleeved work shirt over the usual t-shirt and jeans for the walk. I was just going to mention just the blue work shirt, but knowing Mudcatters, feared someone would ask if I was wearing anything under it. :-/ My daughter has a friend with dogs who will take those toys confiscated from my hoarding blue heeler, but one still in the wrapper returns to the store. I have to stop by a business that will adjust the dog collar stronger, to the pitbull part of the dog. My heartworm meds site in the UK is finally up again (I was going to have to shop locally to buy 3 ampules of Zeke's medicine for the same price as 12 of them from the UK, but the UK site was finally restored after many weeks of no payment option.) Time to clear a back yard pile of brush that seems to be inhabited by mice that can magically teleport out of any live trap I place back there. Fall isn't completely here, it's supposed to get hot again for most of the week, but we've had a taste of it and can soon move forward doing outside work in comfortable weather. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 06 Oct 19 - 09:27 PM Milk delivery disappeared from Ontario by 1967. The threat to milk on the doorstep was raccoons or crows. Or neighbours. I dread the day when I can't shop for myself any more. Food delivery is a niche service in Canada; you can get it in big cities like Toronto and Ottawa, but in rural areas or small towns like Stratford -- forget it! And even if the supermarket offers delivery, you have to haul your bones out to the mall to do the shopping yourself, and pay the delivery charge. I'm not at all sure I would ever trust anyone else to choose my apples anyway. Certainly not at the price they go for these days. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Jon Freeman Date: 06 Oct 19 - 01:46 PM Blue Tits were always a problem there SRS as they would peck through the tops ;-) More seriously, I’m under the (perhaps wrong but) impression that the milk rounds are gaining a little in parts of the UK but I don’t know of one round here. Sure, it should be easy enough to pick a time slot for groceries. We pick a cheapest mid afternoon slot but there are still, IMO quite reasonable – at least if you consider the alternative as taking car to supermarket and trudging round – evening slots too. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Oct 19 - 01:21 PM Years ago people had milk boxes on their porches that the milk delivery people placed the fresh bottles and containers (butter, cream, cottage cheese, etc.) into. And people expected to check early and bring things in so they weren't out too long. What goes around comes around. Amazon is cutting corners by not using refrigerator trucks to deliver the food. And if time of day is a problem, people should schedule morning or evening, etc. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Jon Freeman Date: 06 Oct 19 - 12:29 PM Not looked in here in a few days.... Firstly, kind thoughts to both those who are unwell and to those carrying related worries. On the home food delivery topic. We have our weekly grocery shop that way but Tesco deliver in open plastic crates (from vans with onboard refrigeration). These are unpacked (usually a combined effort of driver and one of us here) at the time of delivery and the crates go back on the van. I think there was a time when you could have the contents of the crates in one use carrier bags with a small charge/refund on return system but I think that option stopped and most things are just packed loose now. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Donuel Date: 06 Oct 19 - 12:00 AM I put a new rubber roof on the car port. Doing it solo with 2 ladders and ropes took some thought without any trauma whatsoever. Now the roof and 2 sides are sealed for winter. Then I put a big happy face crop circle in the yard with a lawn mower and ate fried chicken. Some days go better than others. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 05 Oct 19 - 10:13 PM I'm sorry to hear about Susan and am sending good thoughts for a complete recovery!!! Life here seems to be moving at warp speed. We now have a surgery date for Pete and so the countdown begins. We met with the surgeon and both of us are feeling very comfortable with him. Now that I know more about what is going on and the Bethesda staging, my anxiety has just about all dissipated. I'm running at full speed at work so that I will be able to have a week or two off to stay with Pete as he recovers and not lose any billing. They are being very supportive which is helpful. Today we all went for a ride around the area, stopped for lunch at a quirky fun spot, then stopped at a new antique/crafty store and then onward to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon at Colton Point. It was a chilly but gorgeous fall day. The leaves are beginning to change in some areas but not by much. As far as decluttering goes....I am running laundry tonight...does that count? I made the bed this morning and wiped down the countertop. It's not much but honestly...these 10 hour work days are leaving me with my butt dragging a bit. Tomorrow is church and then the second to the last soccer game. Is it bad if I am praying for rain? ;) Not really....maybe..... I am planning a mother daughter day soon and will also meet up with a long time friend that we haven't seen in probably year...so I'm looking forward to that. A beloved quilt shop is having a big sale and I am looking at quilt patterns so I have a reason to pick up a good deal...LOL. I am hoping to have some time to sew while I am home with Pete. Hope the rest of you are doing well. Love to all, Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Oct 19 - 09:11 AM I found a Facebook note from September 25, posted by Susan's husband Greg, that she has been ill and will be away from Facebook (and the computer, apparently) for a while. It sounds like she is in a hospital right now and will go to rehab on Oct. 11. From the brief update her friend posted, it sounds like a stroke. Best wishes, Susan, and hoping you're up and around soon, and online when you're ready. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Oct 19 - 07:02 PM It's me again, after an efficient afternoon. I got the second of three gel shots in my knee, and on my way home, I took a route through town that had me near a grocery store that sometimes has deeply discounted large bags of ripe bananas. So the bananas lured me in, but then I realized they had a pharmacy and I was able to get my annual flu shot. Right knee, left arm. This morning I looked around the house at all of the things I have to keep away from the new puppy, much of it that is just here, isn't needed. I suppose I should make my next declutter goal to clear stuff out before I have to throw it out after a puppy mangles it. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Oct 19 - 10:24 AM The dog toys were all taken up because it wasn't enough to have toys for everyone, Pepper wanted to hoard all of them and became a monster in the process. When they're out of sight she's her old lovable self and she and the puppy had a terrific rough-and-tumble run around the back yard; the point at which I opened the sliding door Cookie was on top appearing to chew Pepper's head off (with her compliance, of course.) Whew! Another high of 96o predicted today, but rain is in the forecase tomorrow iwth a high at 89o, then back up for a couple of days before it FINALLY seems to settle into fall-like temperatures. This is one heckuva hard-fought seasonal shift. This week I started reading a new environmental email newsletter called HEATED (https://heated.world/about?utm_source=menu-dropdown). The topic they discussed this week is those insulated delivery packages Amazon has developed that are totally unrecyclable, though their various components do recycle (when not combined.) It is something I consider - I don't have groceries delivered so I haven't received those, but I've seen people still try to drop them in the village recycle bins. I reuse much of the packaging that comes to the house (as padding in boxes I send out.) It makes for a stack of this stuff I have to thin out every so often. The days of wood shavings (excelsior) and padded paper envelopes seem to be gone. I wonder if you can even buy them any more? |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Oct 19 - 05:24 PM I'm going to share this here also, it sounds so good: From Martha Stewart's magazine last year (it appeared on Facebook today). https://www.marthastewart.com/1524910/turmeric-ginger-chicken-soup Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup 1 thinly sliced garlic clove 1/4 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 6 cups Basic Chicken Stock or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth 3 ounces angel-hair pasta, broken in half 1 cup shredded cooked chicken 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Microgreens and thinly sliced scallions, for serving DIRECTIONS In a saucepan over medium-high heat, saute garlic, turmeric, and ginger in oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add stock; bring to a simmer. Add pasta; cook 1 minute less than per package instructions. Add chicken; heat through, 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with microgreens and scallions. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Oct 19 - 05:35 PM Poor Pepper has been so envious of that squeaky Kong Wubba toy of Cookie's that she walks around the kennel trying to figure out how to get it for herself. I figure if the puppy has to spend time in the kennel she should have a toy, which is why I've put it in with her. So today I took Pepper with me to the same feed store and we bought out their supply of extra-large squeaker Kong toys. One is camouflage, another is purple like the first, and one is red. I gave Pepper hers in the car and when she got into the house she grabbed it and squeaked and ran. And I gave one to Zeke, and they they proceeded to run around taking them from each other. I have a spare, but I'm hoping having several around will help. Pepper and Cookie get along well now, so we needed to take the pressure off toy-wise. I've been exchanging mouse catching stories with a friend who lives in New York City and had a huge problem with them a couple of years ago. His record string of catches is 25 mice. I told him about my three and he wrote this today:
I was laughing so hard from this image that the dogs all came running in to see what the noise was about and Cookie jumped up into my lap. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Oct 19 - 10:52 AM Two toads and three mice so far; toads released, mice not so fortunate. I should probably put one of these traps in the attic. A new month in some ways feels like a small new beginning. An infusion of cash to take care of business and hopefully have money left at the end of the month. There are job openings for part-time work, and I'm thinking about it for the holiday season. The village has been doing some paving work (painting a sealant over the existing asphaltic concrete) so I haven't been able to drive up to the recycle bins. I need to make that trip soon. This week I'll start the dog training to the Invisible Fence, now that she's getting a sense of this household. She sits until I tell her to eat (though if I don't put her on a leash she'll try to dive into one of the other bowls, so we're not perfect yet) and she's walking calmly. She's wearing the Gentle Leader head collar. I figure one thing at a time gives her little brain time to adjust. I'm starting my holiday shopping, making practical but interesting choices, and spreading the expense out over the next three months. And I need to push more eBay items out there for people online shopping for the same reason. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 30 Sep 19 - 03:22 PM Dupont: YEP! Definitely FALL in Southern Ontario. I asked R two weeks ago to close the windows (storms and all) and do something about that fan in the basement- pulling any warm air out of house! (nope!) As I sat here this morning getting colder and colder, something had to be done before the brain froze! I fetched a foam mattress from upstairs - where it should not have been anyway!- put it over the doorway to the addition and turned on some heat in the main house. Went to get groceries, to get warm, and now the house is tolerable. The rads are warm! Sun gain is helping and the distiller in the K. It will be expensive but I cannot expect him to do anything serious until after the presentation. Yesterday, R kind of took day off; he planted the tiny oak (8 inches!) - moving it from front where it would have no room, to the back which will be just fine. He also did emergency repair on toilet. I planted the juniper. Still have 3 plants to go. Digging holes in clay is no fun! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Sep 19 - 11:29 AM Lucky you, Charmion! And Alice (if she's still reading along) has snow her first week of autumn (in Montana). Here, it's dry and humid at the same time - no rain forecast until maybe 10 days from now. Two mice went into the drink yesterday, the entire trap fits into a tall water-filled bucket I picked up along the curb years ago and have used around the garden. I think it originally held pool chemicals. This way I can release toads selectively and slowly get rid of rodents. I toss the carcasses across the back fence toward the creek where something will pick them up for a meal. Editing again today, it's a messy process on a paper they want to publish but it was poorly constructed and sending it back to the graduate student author wouldn't help. It has a second writing credit, but that's mostly just to give the first author a chance to get published - the politics of academic publishing and sponsorship stuff. My ear needed decluttering this morning; after a couple of sessions of the Debrox ear drops it's better, but not perfect. I don't wash my hair daily any more, so shampoo and soap don't get into the ear to clear it out. But if this is the worst of my health complaints for now I'm okay with it. The knee has improved with the first gel shot, the bone spurs aren't as pronounced this week. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 30 Sep 19 - 09:29 AM Today, we woke to a chilly house and no appreciable warming in the forecast. I turned on the furnace. Summer is over in Perth County, Ontario. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:39 AM I just finished a 10-day stint of pet and house sitting; the off-the-books income is nice, but it does mean I have to reschedule some of my activities around the preferred times for pet feeding. Sunday morning feeding is early enough that the stores I need to visit aren't open yet when I'm making the run (they are now) - dog food is on sale (buy one get one half-price) and a couple of other stops. I'm still waiting for fall weather to turn up. We're in the 90s for another week or so. Ugg. The yard is crispy. I'll be hand watering the okra and pots of vegetables later this morning. Yesterday I set up the two new Hav-a-heart traps and it was as I expected - one of them was sprung by a toad. I let that little guy out and reset the trap. This way my toads and lizards won't be offed by deadly traps. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 28 Sep 19 - 09:22 PM Dupont: The cabbage/carrot soup was a big success with one small hot pepper and some fresh basil - about a gallon! Some in freezer, one container in frig; we do not mind eating the same thing for 3 or 4 days. Dishes washed and plants watered but apple sauce did not happen - the apples are out on deck and it was really raining! But tomorrow as we used up the last tonight. Feeling somewhat recovered; R home at 8 again! Fed and feeling less stressed. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Sep 19 - 05:00 PM Charmion, good job on figuring out that con job on the tour! I hope another chorus comes along that lets you jump ship on this if you decide that would be best. It seems like that director is perilously close to a place where a public shaming could happen rather anonymously and let that cat finally out of that bag. Editing myself this weekend. Rewriting, more like. The main editor and I worked on this yesterday and I have the notes directing the repairs. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 28 Sep 19 - 02:33 PM Dupont: Charmion: Good job it happened sooner... ! Michelle: Just when you think your plate is full, it becomes more so! And not with the good stuff! You have said what you need, so surely you will keep that in mind, in addition to the needs of Pete and Jeremiah. Just remember that you cannot take care of others unless you take care of yourself. Hans Selye referred to this as altruistic self-centredness. So after a decent day yesterday, this rainy day finds me more than half asleep. 3 hours on the internet to keep from falling asleep - after making us a nice BF and R going off for more of the same. At least he came home early (8) last night and went straight to bed - for 12 hours! Green tea has not helped get my eyes open. I am thinking nap. Then: dishes, water plants, do some K re-organizing, finish making the soup, maybe make applesauce as the apples await me on the deck. Maybe I do not have enough energy for trips to Mill to pot two days in a row. Pots will be OK for another day or so, I hope. If they get too dry it is extra work. I did cover them with plastic. R's share of clutter is being ignored until after he does that stress-producing presentation on 4th or 7th or?? I may be deluding myself to think there will be space before the next major stressor. Hope! |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Charmion Date: 28 Sep 19 - 10:21 AM My book contract has been put off yet again. I am beyond irritated, but this is such an old problem -- civil service administrative constipation -- that my only reaction is a cynical snort. At this rate, I'll get started for Christmas. This cloud has its silver lining, however; the delay gives me a good excuse to wriggle out of a half-commitment that, on learning more about it, I realize I do not want to accept. I am now in my third season with a community choir that does Messiah at Christmas and a repertoire of concert masses and other traditional European-style classical choral works. The standard of performance is pretty good and the conductor is excellent. However -- and this is a big however -- the group has a clique problem centred on semi-annual overseas trips to sing at Anglican (Church of England) cathedrals. The conductor and his wife (the choir's perennial soprano soloist) organize these trips and recruit participants from the ranks of our choir and others with which they are involved. I turned down two invitations to take part last year on grounds of expense, but the book contract gave me enough economic slack to agree to go to Kingston, Jamaica, in January 2020. I had believed that my financial commitment would be limited to air fare, lodging and meals, all at discounted rates, but the cost structure finally revealed to me this week also included a $550 "registration" fee for something described as a "choral course". Hmmm. I picked up the phone and called the woman who sits next to me at rehearsal, who joined at the same time I did and took part last year in a trip to Canterbury. It seems that what I had understood to be simply a series of performances is actually a not very entertaining tour package organized by the conductor (and wife), and a nice little earner for them; the $550 "registration" fee goes into their pockets. By pitching the trip as a "course" -- I don't know what I would be learning, as the repertoire is well known to me, and learning was never my motivation for going -- they put the charge in a comparatively flattering light. But the fact that I found out about the $550 only after agreeing to go, and after several wheedling conversations with the conductor that resemble grooming more than somewhat, suggests that they know the whole deal has more than a taint of bait-and-switch about it. In short, I don't have $550 to spend on anything that I feel ambivalent about, especially not on top of air fare, lodging and meals in a tourist destination at high season. And the delay in the book contract gives me a socially unassailable excuse to back out. Why don't I just tell the conductor what I think? Good question. I won't do that because I want to continue singing in the choir -- the only such group in this area -- and telling the conductor what I think of him in words of one and two syllables would make that impossible. But I have to move him to the "a bit of a sleazeball" category of acquaintance, and in future I will take the long-spoon approach to personal dealings with him (and wife). Sigh. It's always disappointing to find out that a person in one's life sees others primarily as potential sources of revenue, but it's good to know. So this week I was decluttered of an illusion. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Sep 19 - 09:46 AM I've heard that the hardest part of dealing with thyroid like this is the emotional roller coaster. I hope you're able to work out some ground rules between yourselves that allow for time out if it gets too much one way or the other. I accidentally stepped in some floor finish at a friend's house and as I walked away from the spot my shoes were sticking to the existing floor before I took my shoes off. I tried to catch the floor guys (I had to go outside and around the house) but they'd left; this is going to be a strange note to write. There is a warning sign at the back door, but the dining room I walked through had no such sign and the doors were wide open. Still, now that I've stumbled into this I'll go back with some blue painter's tape and leave a spot on each of my footprints (you can see them from an angle in the light). It is like the new stuff on my shoes pulled up the shine on the non-refinished floor. Maybe they can polish it away? I'm going to write a "Mea Culpa" note and hope the remedy isn't too much work. Here we were concerned all week that the cat not get into this. The 10-day weather forecast has us in the mid-nineties through next week, and on days 9 and 10 in the high-80s. It's almost effing October and we're still baking. It's usually nice this time of year, but not this hot. There's a tree seedling beside the driveway that I want to transplant, but I'll flag it and wait till the first frost before I dig it up to move. Mostly this weekend is editing, catching up stiff I didn't finish last week. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: LilyFestre Date: 28 Sep 19 - 08:05 AM Update on Pete: The CT scans indicate no spread of the follicular thyroid cancer however a very small nodule was found in Pete's lungs. The recommendation at this point is just to monitor it. The surgical consultation has been changed for the 4th time and we are hopeful it is the last time as they have an opening for him on Monday. Two staff people left the agency this week which means the rest of us have to pick up the slack so I have some new clients. New additions to our staff our starting this week but it takes a solid two weeks to get through signing up for various programs/getting clearances to use said websites, required webinars and then of course the actual training. I tell all our new staff that they are newbies for the first 6 to 12 months, there just is so much involved. In any case...despite being told I won't have any more additions for a bit, that just isn't the case. I will do what I can. Today we get Pete's truck back from the auto shop. We also have a friend who ordered chicks which you have to order with a minimum number of chicks. She does not want all of them and has offered them to us, so we will be picking them up today. There is also a community picnic but I'm not sure Pete is interested in going and I'm currently following his lead. I am feeling kind of alone despite all the well wishes. It's not that I really am alone but at night, when Pete just isn't his normal self and I am trying my best to be what he needs (or doesn't need), I am struggling. I think I need to give him some more space and I think I need to do some self care for myself as well. With that being said....I'd like to work either in the bedroom on the laundry situation (I'm great about doing laundry but putting it away is another story) or I'd like to spend time in my sewing room organizing or sewing. Jeremiah is going with the flow and does not seem overly worried. His biggest concern is if he will get to go to soccer practice and games. He also wants to go spend the day at Barnes and Noble....he's quite the reading machine and that makes me most happy! I'm hanging in there and hope you all are too. Love, Michelle |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 27 Sep 19 - 05:35 PM Dupont: Managed the laundry in spite of a trip to music venue for an hour - plus half an hour getting lost getting there! R was very late home - midnight - so the sheets dried and were back on the bed before we got to it. And a light super ready for the nutcase. Dragged myself out of bed - R is running on "have to get things done"and E pushing him. Soon he will sleep for a full day or more but not until after the fourth when he has to make a presentation - in French - re the Project. WE both know this is not healthy but it is the only way he knows to operate. So, I dragged myself out this am, back to the Mill to pot, do some sorting and cleaning up in studio, brought a box of K stuff home, including a blender - for the carrot soup that is in my head for tonight's supper. And maybe a couple more days. With cabbage and tomato, onion, and some finely chopped hot pepper - OH, but it will All go through the blender! A few more pots thrown, and all well wrapped as yesterday's were not ready to trim. I'll see about tomorrow, tomorrow. Drove 24 extra Km to pick up some more blueberry muffins from the orchard - Arghhh! Only one half dozen available. More tomorrow! And that behind someone going 15 km under the limit on a road where passing was difficult to impossible. The transport breathing down my neck managed to pass both of us! They can see further. No planting today; plumb wore out! Maybe a nap... |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Sep 19 - 11:44 AM I've gotten very little accomplished this week, but it's my own damn fault. The puppy and a couple of other distractions have stood in the way of concentrating on the editing I need to do, so this weekend will be dedicated to that task. It is the seventh day of a new dog in the house and the others realize she's here to stay. It was so sweet this morning when the big old lab went (again!) into the kennel to get the tough Kong cloth/ball/squeaker toy and wave it around enough to catch Cookie's eye. She pounced on the toy in Zeke's mouth and he pulled and gently shook then let it go so she could take it from him. This is a dog who can pull a full-grown human over in a game of tug-o-war. And when I'm not in the picture Pepper lets Cookie jump all over her. The adoption packed from the shelter included a sheet with a gift package offer from one of the local pet stores, so I'll see what I need to take along and go pickup whatever is free or incredibly cheap. I think a bag of food, a couple of toys, whatever. They won't go to waste. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 26 Sep 19 - 06:41 PM Dupont: OK: drove two hours, potted two hours, threw 6-7small pots while chatting with a visitor. Did not go great but OK and at the end of the day, I feel much better for having gotten something done, some clay prep also. Visitor would like to learn so I told her I would spend time showing her how, then she can practice as much as she wants - she has a key to building. Had another visitor who took up time, so what with all of that, I can be happy I accomplished as much as I did. With any luck, I can do it again tomorrow. A little shopping on way home - more plants: some small indoor succulents are now nicely potted and a campanula is in the ground and one other that was needing. Still a few to go. But it is sure getting dark earlier! Had supper and now remember I was going to do laundry. Guess I will go do that. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 26 Sep 19 - 09:38 AM Dupont: I believe I have recovered sufficiently from getting here to do the return trip - just. (Sat to Thurs) Four day recovery - not too bad. Part of me wants to GO! Another part sees the stress of R might need alleviation - good meals and supportive attitude. ... Only managed to plant one more - we had rain! About 6 to go but the weather is holding. Realized yesterday that it might be an idea to plant those daffies in the flower beds - and get them in the ground where I can, rather than wish I could clear another area! I have a small "hole-maker" and put that on my to-do list. Feeling the need to pot so am going to try going down to the mill - an hour drive - and hope I still have the energy/inclination when I get there. Raining lightly. Not much done here but bare essentials - dishes up to date and laundry coming due. Some re-potting - geraniums; some starting to bloom. My conserving nature may end up with some to spare and spirder plants to spare as well; they are so easy to increase! Yes, better get gooing lest I sit on computer all day then feel lousy at having done only that for another day. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Sep 19 - 10:09 PM Sept. 25 and the thermometer hit 100 again today. I'm so tired of this, I'm just staying indoors until it rains. Cookie visited Dr. Bob at his veterinary clinic, and he's always glad to see a new rescue come through the door. He's seen all of my dogs for the last 15 years and all of my cats before that. Turns out Cookie has her adult teeth and is about seven months old. That said, the growth projections are reduced - she'll probably end up about 40 pounds when she's full grown, pretty close to Pepper's size. I'll start training her to the Invisible Fence as soon as I get the holes drilled in a collar to mount the electronic unit, and I picked up a bundle of wire flags at Home Depot to put around the radio signal boundary at the edge of the yard. I visit the knee and hip center tomorrow and finally get the first of three weekly gel shots. This is overdue, and will be a big help. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Sep 19 - 11:21 PM Checking things off of the longer-than-usual list of things to do this month in my bullet journal. Muggier than usual this last couple of days and still warm, so I'm really really ready for those fall colors some of you have noted on your facebook pages. Dishwasher is running, and I have run the washer and dryer, but never got things put away so have pulled fresh underwear out of the laundry basket on the seat next to the bed. I'm waiting for that burst of energy that comes once it cools off here and a lot of this will be finished. I haven't done much with my blog for a while, but I'm thinking it's time to revive it. I have an essay in mind. I've made a note so I don't forget it. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Sep 19 - 04:33 PM The tree-thinning impulse is running through the neighborhood, though in our yards it is a very modest attempt at reducing shade or protecting structures. My next door neighbor took out a crape myrtle today because he has a lovely weeping yaupon near the house that was being shaded out. I knew one or the other of those would eventually have to go, and I was rooting for the yaupon to stay (since I planted it for the neighbor who was living there before.) Elsewhere, there are the two parts to that property across the road from me, with a creek down the middle. Last month they destroyed the understory of the property on my side of the creek. Now the other side of that wild property is being scalped and left as trees on bare soil. It looks larger when you can see through without brush, but the wildlife! The habitat! What a waste for no good reason. I knew a new dog would be work, but a new puppy is exponential on the work. We're seeing the glimmerings of her personality shining through the general puppy antics, but right now she is 22 pounds of toothy toothsomeness. When she first arrived, and through yesterday, it was the two big dogs and Cookie. They were aware of and treating her as a visitor. But this morning I've noticed that they're much more a unit and she is much more in unison with the big dogs. She also has picked up on Pepper's affectionate/not-exactly-submissive habit of giving Zeke lots of kisses on his face. Cookie does that to both Zeke and Pepper. I'll borrow an old term from Susan - Cookie has discovered "Dog World" out in the garage, the stall with dog houses and bedding (one of them was still full of a big comforter because sometimes Poppy would hang out there.) This was from the days when dogs lived outside all of the time unless they were indoors in the garage. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 23 Sep 19 - 03:07 PM Dupont: That Brugmansia is not a Datura and it is fine, at the moment, on the front porch of the second entry - a mini deck with rail all the way around. (The one I went out on last spring and the door closed and locked and I had to get a neighbor to come in and let me out.)It dropped a lot of flowers while I was away and gobbled up most of a bucket of water! So, lots of dead flowers to pick up - good bending over exercise. I think they, like the hibiscus in our BR, only last a day. The H needs lots of feeding before it will have many flowers; it was in sorry shape when I got it for $5! Having listened to the entire 58 min youtube and looked at a couple more, I feel prepared to deal with the beast - about 4 feet high and five wide. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 23 Sep 19 - 01:51 PM Dupont: Long time gone! Was at Beaver, back Saturday, catching up! No signal and no inclination while there.Wore myself out with a horrendous trip - truckers were bumper to bumper in two of three lanes, most of trip. Very unusual - maybe worst trip on 401 for me ever. No more Monday trips! I hope it was because it was Monday. All well at Beaver and I got up Tuesday am and started a day of moving firewood and resting. Did well until 4 pm when the body said quit. It seems I used up the weeks energy as very little wood was moved and not much else done but it was a lovely week and I left on Sat with things fairly in order, including a tarp over the wood that still needs to be moved. Doubt there will be snow in the next few weeks, though November has seen it in the past. I hope to get back in a week or so and continue to store wood and enjoy the country and friends. Maybe even find enough energy to pot. Almost did this time and did do a bit of organizing in studio. A lot of weeding and a handful of blueberries left for me by birds! No rain all week and came back to do some watering! One of my new plants was quite limp and I dumped a half bucket on it before running out of energy. A hose connection on front of house would be helpful but not likely to happen. Happily, it rained last night enough to perk things up. Although I had fair success making muffins, I stopped at fav bakery - The Hidden Goldmine, in Madoc - for a pre-ordered dozen muffins and half dozen scones. (I was much less successful making scones!) So, what we have not already eaten is safely stowed in freezer. They freeze and warm beautifully. And I saved the bags for next trip, in that spot where I put "things to go to Beaver". Trip back was just fine. I off-loaded and, eventually R came home - very tired - and we had planned overs for supper. And a scone for him! Late morning and light bf on Sunday and off to country for R to photograph an antique machine and then meet with the architect of the Project. I now realize this is a long term Project! Serendipitously,he phoned as we reached the driveway of the country home. By the time we got into the house and met wife, daughter, her husband and son, it was proclaimed that we were staying for late lunch that was already in the making. Wonderful meal! Karina used the term, "in my country" a couple times. I asked; she is Armenian from Russia and the meal was unique, simple, eminently eatable, and I shall have to replicate a couple of the dishes. R remembers what was in them. Clearly, they were not expecting us but the country home is well equipped and they dipped into the freezer for meat. The rest must have been ready. The daughter, Marena, and I found much in common and were oblivious to the rest. R and V were talking business. The 8 year old was somewhere and his dad was doing yard work. All in their lovely Kitchen/sunroom on a lovely day. A most pleasant afternoon. I went to bed about 7:30! So, the lovely rain spritzes sporadically. R has gone to work and I have been catching up on computer. Looked into de-humidifiers and found what I think we need - one available on kijiji, in Ottawa; will keep looking for one closer. Shocked that SRS has adopted yet another dog! WOW!! We are happy with our stuffy; a live dog would be overload. Understand the need we have to hold on to long term fav clothing. I even have a few left from before I was born. We let go of things when we are ready. Now to go to library |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Sep 19 - 10:35 AM Having seen this pup's profile a few times when she slowed down enough, I think she's as much or more boxer than pit. The lower jaw has an underbite that pit's don't usually have. So - when you adopt an older dog (like Pepper, who was ~ 3) and you leave them in the bathroom overnight they drink water and sleep. Puppies tear up the paper off of the holder and spill their water on all of it.* We went for our first walk this morning, around the block. We had to turn around on the first block and go the other direction because there were two small dogs out loose. I met a neighbor out walking her two larger dogs (labs) and warned her, but those two came barreling around the corner and caused a bit of a tangle. With my own three I had to keep going the other way, I couldn't help. The pup has a collar but I walk these guys with the Gentle Leader head collar. We compromised this trip - she wore the head collar but I clipped the leash to her regular collar. She has to get used to this thing on her face. It took a couple of blocks before she settled down a bit and I'm hoping she learns from the other dogs that the walk is meant to travel and spend time together, not jump all over me and grab her own leash. :) We haven't been at this for 24 hours yet, so there is lots of time to work this out. Adopting this younger dog now is strategic. There is no such thing as a free dog, the no-adoption-fee program over the weekend just gives you a little financial head start on the lifetime expense of owning dogs. Zeke is a 70-pound Chocolate Lab who will be 13 in November. They can live to 15, and we want to have him as long as we can, healthy and happy. I think eventually I'll be back to two dogs and will keep it that way when the day comes. These two girls will be in the 40-50 pound range. *Note to self - childproof all of the cupboards. |
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Subject: RE: De-clutter & Fitness: House, job, life - 2019 From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Sep 19 - 08:52 PM The grown dog I went in search of seemed to have been adopted, and the other grown dogs had coats that would shed (I've got enough of that already) so I ended up with a very persuasive 4 month old pitbull pup. She was a green dot dog - that meant she was so good with other dogs that she got to go outside with a playgroup in the kennel yards. They have red dot dogs - people aggressive - that I've always thought they should simply put down. Not everyone is Cesar Millan, even if they think they are, and those dogs can mean trouble. The orange dot dogs means they don't do well with other dogs. The green dot is a sign to look for. As soon as we got home she got a bath, then the others did. She met the neighbors, and I think my daughter has named her because her brother says he agrees that the name she suggested, "Biscuit," is pretty good. I told them I was aiming at a food name (after Cinnamon, Poppy [seed], and Pepper. I didn't name Zeke.) I set up the kennel I'd bought to use for Poppy (but Poppy died before I tried it) - this pup backs up a couple of steps and jumps right out, so it'll be nights in the bathroom and my absences in the bathroom until I get her set with the Invisible Fence collar. She's pretty needy right now, wanting to jump in my lap. Everyone will relax after a couple of days and the novelty wears off. She learned the dog door very quickly and I have a leash dragging behind her. I need to trim her sharp little nails, we'll see how that goes. |
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