Karbon Kounty Moos

Maggie is a dog that was rescued from the pound by my friend. This pretty girl was bitten by a rattlesnake on the Rims today. She is at the vet and they’re doing what they can for her.

If you’ve been visiting here for a while, you know that I share my life with three dogs. In case I didn’t have enough to deal with, they have been keeping me occupied with their health concerns.

Almost eleven years ago the Sugar Beet Baron picked out a puppy and named him Ty. About eight years ago, Ty had a run in with a sickle mower. Thanks to our vet, Ty and his leg were saved. If he gets nervous Ty has a tendency to bite on that leg. When my husband was sick, all of the dogs sensed that something was wrong. Our friends took good care of them while we lived at the hospital. I would come home to do laundry and pick up the mail. The dogs would be thrilled to see me. When when they realized that I was leaving again - they’d get upset. Right after my husband’s funeral, Ty began limping badly on his front legs. The vet started him on an arthritis medicine. Within days he stopped limping, and seemed to be less stiff. But he continues gnawing on his back leg. Nothing stops him. He has grown accustomed to wearing his Elizabethan collar.

I took the collar off him for a bit the other night. While I was talking to him and scratching his neck I noticed that he had an ear infection. I cleaned his ears and by the time I put the collar back on - he had chewed his leg bloody. I packed some gauze with ointment and taped it up. The next morning the bandage was still on. I gave him his arthritis medicine and his anti-anxiety pill. Then I saw that Lucky’s toe was bloody and swollen. I soaked her foot in an Epsom salt bath and fooled her into taking her daily incontinence medicine. It was too early to call the vet. When I came back in from irrigating, Ty had the tape on his leg, but he had eaten most of the gauze. I called the vet and managed to get an appointment for both of them. After putting leashes on them, and sheets on the car seats - we were ready to roll. I don’t like to take Ty for rides because he barks constantly. Lucky is quiet and polite, so she sat up front. Ty was in the back - swinging his head wildly, slapping plastic into the headrests, barking through his megaphone. I drove the twelve miles as fast as I could. Not out of a medical urgency - I was afraid that I might wreck the car due to eighty-eight pounds of maniac dogflesh in the back seat. At the vet’s office his behaviour didn’t improve.

Lucky went first. She has an infection in the nailbed. We’re hoping that it responds to the antibiotics. Ty’s ear isn’t serious, but I do have some ointment for that. He had some x-rays, which showed that there’s nothing new (or bad) going on. The combination of scar tissue and anxiety are more than he can resist. We drove home with more medications and the same amount of noise.

Things here have been okay. Busy, but not quite as manic. I discovered a mouse residing in the desk last week. She found it so inviting she had her babies there. I was not spending much time in the house or doing paperwork, obviously. The mouse mama was. Just in case I didn’t have enough to do - I demolished her home and evicted her and the family. That was only the beginning. I dread hanta virus. It’s surprising that I don’t have more mice problems on this place. That was the first one I’d seen in the house in ages. Rocky (the cat) lives on the porch these days, but he and the dogs keep the rodent population in check.

We had a strange downpour on Friday. I was pleased to find that the storm did not destroy the creek crossing. That was a first. Instead of fixing the fence, I spent the weekend tossing things out of the flooded basement.

The pairs are in the hills.

The heifers are at home in the pasture.

All the cattle seem content.

I called the dentist’s office first thing Monday morning. They gave me an appointment for that afternoon. Wow! As I was getting ready to go out the door, my doctor’s office called. They had a cancellation - if I could make it on Tuesday, they’d fit me in. Wow again! That moved my appointment up two months. Both visits went well. And lunch out is always a treat - as is good company.

My lawnmower seems to have decided that it’s no longer a self propelled model, so now I’m pushing. I have half the meadow ( I mean lawn) done. I may develop upper body strength after all. Or maybe buy a new mower. Well, so much for mowing - it’s raining again. Oh no, make that

hail . . . how’s that for instant gratification. Digital cameras are great. Yes, I know, I should turn the computer off during a storm.

Who is now One.

This was a gift from Sugar this morning.

Yesterday, the Sugar Beet Baron, the dogs and myself camped out in the bedroom. We had some new flooring installed, and we left the crew to their own devices. It looks wonderful. Now everything is covered with a fine coat of dust. If you’ve been here - you know that it usually is dust covered - but there’s never been anything fine about it before. I’m also still searching for things. . .

There’s a storm across the valley
Clouds are rollin’ in
The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders
There’s a truck out on the four lane
A mile or more away
The whinin’ of his wheels just makes it colder
He’s an hour away from riding
On your prayers up in the sky
And ten days on the road are barely gone
There’s a fire softly burning
Supper’s on the stove
There’s a light in your eyes that makes him warm
Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm

Feels like a long lost friend.
Yes and hey it’s good to be back home again
After all the news to tell him
How’d you spent your time?
And what’s the latest thing the neighbors say?
And your mother called last friday?
‘Sunshine’ made her cry
And you felt the baby move just yesterday
Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm
Feels like a long lost friend.
Yes and hey it’s good to be back home again. . .

*********

We were back in the hospital again -
but now we’re home.

The Dogs In Goofy Cone Hats pic { censored }
Originally uploaded by hasfurrychildren.

I needed a laugh this morning. I found it on flickr. Now this is one serious dog birthday party.

There’s a series of Gabe’s birthday shots uploaded by Has Furry Children.

It’s that time of year again - with the below zero temps we have to be vigilant.

My helper - she doesn’t really help - but she is good company.

Much warmer now.

Reunited.

When I went back to check, a heifer had started to calve. I kicked the rest of the girls out to the pasture. The heifer had dropped her calf, and left it to follow the herd. I locked her up and called my father in law. Two hands are better than one! We loaded the calf sled and brought the pair to the barn. The heifer seemed to want her calf, especially after I put some oats on it. Well, the grain must have been more interesting than the calf. The oats had been licked off, but the baby was still wet and cold. It’s in the warmer now.

This morning, I handed the twine to Allan so I could take a photo of what Sugar does to me. She loves helping. Click on the photo to see more detail.

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn’t guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Monday Monday, can’t trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be
Oh Monday Monday, how could cou leave and not take me.

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin’ all of the time

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn’t guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin’ all of the time

Monday Monday . . .

Between these lyrics and California Dreamin’ - I think that at least one member of the Mamas & the Papas suffered from SAD .

A few more links:

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply - this is where I purchase my mantids.

Nature Nuts - a photoblog from flickr users.

Bug Guide - more great photos & help identifying insects.

The Daily Puppy

The Daily Kitten

10,000 Birds