We Are Loud Today!

Yes, Grandson + MeeMaw = Loud around our house. After chasing Bampa with a snake around the kitchen island for a while, then chasing Meemaw around the house with a snake, even Ruby for a while, it was time to put the snake (a long shoe horn) away and wave bye-bye to Bampa as he backed out of the garage and went to work. Scaring everyone brought him great joy. Ate cereal with blueberries, fed dogs,doggy dishes washed, doggies taken out 3 times, watched Big Bird and Elmo for a little bit on Sesame Street. We have built a sand tower in the garage out of the sand that is used to keep the doggies from slipping on the ice, advised Bampa that his pond is frozen and needs more water. Made the Robin 'flap flap' around the house and go sit back on its perch to sleep. Read 3 books twice, done puzzles, played with the Little People Airport. All doggies have been kissed more than once and informed 'WAKE UP', found the kitties, started the dishwasher. Played dodge ball, seal, bounce the ball, chase around the island, spin the ball on your finger, kick ball and roll around on the ball on your tummy (which I didn't participate in that one so much, hide and seek and it is not even 8:30 am yet. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring.

Yesterday

Crazy day....geez I hate Saturdays where you have so much to do the day is gone before you even know it is here. Took a lot of the pets here into the vet to the tune of $1300+. The rest of the crew are not due until April, so we will do it all again then. Mostly good news

Renner Sleeps In Back Of Car.

on the ones that went in, but we have to wait for the lab tests to come back, then see if there is anything we need to do from there.

Then the Fridge in our camper was recalled, we just had the camper in last week getting a winter thing done on it, and the stairs fixed (they quit working right the end of last fall) last week, would have been nice to get the recall letter BEFORE we did that, but no it came right after we got it home from the shop. So took it back again yesterday. Hopefully they can fix it up in good time so we can go visit my Mom and Dad with the doggies when the time comes.

I also had to hunt some new kitty food for Monty. He and Vinni are the old guys of the crew here, will be 20 in April, and Monty is supposed to be eating NF, but can't tolerate it for some reason. So I started giving him regular kibble again. That helped a lot, but was too high in protein. So I was trying to find a commercial brand that matched the vet kibble, that he would be able to eat. I came up with a few choices, but couldn't find any of the brands at my normal haunts. So I got a kibble that was close for now, however...he snubs it. I guess less protein means less appeal, which makes sense. Sigh - well....what do you do then...something I have faced with many a pet. We usually just work until we find some sort of mid-ground that works for all, it is just finding it that can be tough some times. After finding the kitty food we moved on to Fresh and Natural.

F & N is an organic food store that carries a lot of Gluten Free items as I am a Celiac and so have to be on a special diet myself. Usually I shop at a normal store for most things, but some things you can't find at a normal store, so I have to head out to either

F & N or a Whole Foods. I like the organic stores better anyway, but they are pretty expensive. After going back home to feed the dogs and let them out, (where we’d be in and out a few times already) we stopped for dinner. When dinner was finished we went to the airport to pick up the kids who were coming back from San Diego. Brought them back to their house, then came back to our house to pick up Ruby, my GrandGreyhound, to take her back home. Everyone was very glad to see each other. :) Blew had graced us twice that day with a peed on floor...frustrating, but he is an old man and had a rough day (does not like going to the vet), so we felt pretty bad for him. Having such a tough day then having your owners gone off and on so much is not easy for an old guy. By the time we got home and settled in again it was about bed time. Being busy is good of course, but sometimes I feel like I should just have a revolving door installed at my house.

My Grandson-less Tuesday

The kids are on vacation down in San Diego this week. I have had Grand Greyhound Ruby with me since last Friday. She is a good little girl, no problem to have. The boys may feel a little put out about having a bossy female around. Ruby runs the show when she is here, is an only greyhound at her house and thinks everything should be her way and for the most part the boys do give way to her. I am also caring for their kitties (3) and their house as well. They will be back soon and we will go pick them up at the airport. Meanwhile I need to get my kitties and doggies all into the vet in the next couple of weeks. Everyone is due for everything. Gonna' be an expensive March!

Meanwhile, I thought I would get a lot more done on my school work from not having my Grandbaby here with me today, but it is funny how life always finds a way to ‘fill in’ any extra time you may suddenly find on your hands. I was working on my notes for Excel, which I am already behind on due to a class communication issue the professor seemed to have with the entire class. I left to go check my daughter’s house and kitties, get some more dog food, and mail a birthday card…just a few errands, wasn’t gone all that long. Came back and Ruby had made herself pretty comfortable on the couch, found my notes on the back of the couch…hidden up there so nothing would happen to them, and decided to do a little work on them herself. Let’s just say the Excel notes are even more of a puzzle than they were. You know, I really didn’t want to do them anyway! ;)

ROOOBEEE!

Meemaw Is Tired Of Being Sick!

I think the title just about says it all. I keep getting sick, I do believe my little grandson brings more than his greyhound with him on his days with Meemaw. What’s a Meemaw? Oh yes, once my little grandson could talk, he began by calling both me and his Momma, ‘Momma’. It was all a bit confusing for him I think at about 6 months old or so and he also had another Gramma to address as well. He had a lot of concepts to grasp for a little guy. Very smart he is indeed, and I'm not saying it just because I am his Granny. He started talking in full sentences early enough to even surprise his own doctor. But then sometimes in order to understand him you have to speak 'his' language. Somewhere along the way, Momma stayed Momma (and rightfully so) but I turned in to Meemaw. I will pause here to mention that actually his first name here was given out to his very well loved Bampa. Yes, the first thing he asks as he walks in the door is Where's Bampa? Bampa still in the shower? Once Bampa enters the room it is all about Bampa. Anyway, getting back onto the subject of 'Meemaw'. I thought it was cute (I think everything he does is cute!) that he was calling me Meemaw and still tried to keep saying Grammy so that eventually he would get around to calling me what *I* thought I should be called. But found myself many times saying Meemaw back to him, when speaking grandson-ese, rather absent mindedly, instead of consistently supporting the Grams thing.

So the other night we were all together for his 2nd Birthday party, Meemaw, Bampa, his folks, and his other set of grandparents (my SIL's folks). He's all 'hi Meemaw, hi Bampa!) and then he turns to his other grandmother and says 'hi Grandma'. I am like whoa!!!! Did I actually hear ‘Grandma’.... he said 'Grandma' to her, Wow!!! So I commented to my daughter about what I had heard. She explains to me that he's been saying Grandma for quite some time to the other Grandma, and just refuses to call me anything but Meemaw. That is who I am to him, and quite possibly, that is who I will stay. I wasn't sure how to feel, because I am the Grams who has seen him (and my daughter's family) through most everything regarding Grandson....I was graced by being able to be there for his ultrasound (when we found out it was a boy) right on through his birth (push...Push..just a little more Sweetie, you can do it). My word, I think I was nearly as tired as she was because I was pushing in a standing position and at least she was laying down. ;) I have cleaned a ton of the poopiest of butts, rocked, held, played, read, worried....well, I figured it was high time I deserved that name 'Gramma'!! And you know, who ever heard of being called 'Meemaw' sounds a bit like a donkey's bray don't you think? Okay - well except when my Grandson says it, then it makes me feel very happy and proud that I am his Meemaw. Obviously he has bestowed upon me his own version of identity for someone who he knows loves him very much and he feels safe with. I'm good with that, in fact I am more than good with that, I feel honored. However, I just have to ponder occasionally how it is going to sound in 20 years (if I am still around) when he walks to me with his girl and says, "Hi Meemaw, meet my girl friend." His girlfriend will probably ask 'Meemaw' where did you get that name?" I'm thinking he might answer, "Well it is what she wanted to be called so that is what I call her, makes the old lady happy." Now my question at this juncture is...how did he know I wanted to be called that when he was only six months old... before I even knew? See, I told you, he is a smart little guy!

Note To Self

Keep mouth closed tight while chipping  poopsicles from ice in potty area!

Sunny Spots

 

 In this house the most important spot is any area that has even  the slightest amount of sun hitting the surface. Scooter takes this very seriously. If there is no bed on the sunny spot he tries very hard to 'think' one over into the area. If that doesn't work then he stares at the person in the room trying to 'think' them into moving the bed into the sunny area. And if *that* doesn't work, then he claws, pushes and shoves the bed in the direction of the sunny area. By the time he has tried everything that hasn't worked, and IF the sunny spot is still there, he walks over and throws himself down in the sunny spot stretching his very long body as far and wide as possible. Making sure everyone must now walk over him to get from point 'A' to point 'B' while looking at you like, ‘seeee – you should have just moved the bed!’

Lite Snow

 

Yep...the skinny stuff, no calories....just a little fluff. It has been good to make things look clean, no yellow snow at the moment because it is currently snowing, but the hounds always make it their business to have their business be everyone's business...so it goes that by the time they are out a couple times it is pretty clear where the dogs live. Look for the yellow snow and you will find a dog (or in our case the dogs!) Dogs are pretty 'out there' where bodily functions go, whereas cats are.....shhhhhh, 'scuse me' shhhhh....going in to a little covered box where I will have my privacy, and then....shhhhh (quietly now)....cover it up so no one sees it...I will tip toe back to where I was and get in the exact same position I was in before I did my ....shhhh.... business. No one will even know I did my business, because I am a cat. No body's business is my business and my business is no one else's business.

Really quite the big difference between the two!

Dogs are all 'yeah, yeah....right here...I got your business right here! And I advertise!'

Unless of course your cat has gas...then it is a little more everyone's business but still not as bad as several Greyhounds with gas, and for those moments we stock Federally approved gas masks or, if it is your choice, we can just let it render you unconscious and drag you out into the fresh air to recover. (Not recommended when the temps are -zero outside).

By The Pond

 

I guess I really never thought much about this until this morning. We have a lot of owls around our property, which I think is good. However, this morning I noticed a very large Barred Owl, I'd say about 18 inches or so in height, sitting on a wing of a fountain fairy (spouts water into our pond when temps are not freezing) looking for something. I went to take a photo and it flew into a nearby tree, still keeping an eye on something. That something turned out to be a small squirrel. *This* is the part that I really hadn't thought much about before, the squirrel was about to become a part of the owl's diet. We also have a lot of squirrels (who doesn’t) around the pond and have a bird feeder too which attracts them. No birds were in sight due to the owl's presence. It just never really occurred to me that owls eat squirrels too. Mice and other small rodents, but it never clicked that if the owl was of a larger variety it also gnaws on a little larger animals like fox, Opossums, and squirrels. We hear them in the night hooting away outside, I love listening to them, don't see them then though. I have never really seen them hunt in the daylight, actually I thought they reserved that behavior for the evening hours. Guess it all depends on how hungry they are, this one was definitely hunting in the day. I was then looking for the movie camera and caught a tiny bit of footage of the owl sitting in the tree looking around, but suddenly he took off. I missed it with the camera of course, it all happened to fast, so I am unclear whether the owl actually ended up with the squirrel or not. Not a very smart little squirrel to be the only creature at the pond with a big owl looming over head, I must say. The owl suddenly swooped out of the view finder and then both owl and squirrel were gone.

Hey, It’s Warm, Boots? Naw We’re Tough

Warm...well considering (28 degrees) how the weather goes in MN this time of year, a lot of times it is the most exciting thing going on. When it gets around this temp snow is never far away and stands to reason it has found its way into the forecast for the next few days. Quite a bit of it melted in the last couple of weeks with our warm spells and all. On the other hand the water that has formed from the melting snow is now a crunchy ice pack and makes for a poor running environment for my greyhounds who often feel the need for speed. Needless to say they have suffered some minor nicks when making the rounds. Two of my hounds have real issues with boots, another one is a total spaz when you put boots on him. I have several pair of expensive boots in their closet that I'd love to put on them when they go outside during times when the terrain is rough for paws. I gave it up when we were outside one day and one of them threw one boot, had the others loosened...and was just generally not happy with the situation. Still I was determined these guys were wearing their nice boots! I bent over to put this one hound's (okay...it was Blew!) boots on right and just as I was getting the last one on he decided to bolt. My glasses went one way, I flew another...I think it would be safe to say 'I had my bell rung' big time. When I found my glasses, I noted that now Blew was running around with two boots on right, one missing and the other ‘tread’ side up. Renner only had one boot on. Blew was standing on a patch of ice doing his best 'Bambi' impression (if you have seen that movie, where Bambi first stands on ice). Renner was running around on three legs because he still had a boot attacking one foot! Yeah....gave up on the boots after that. Now, days when the terrain is ultra rough just becomes a 'no run' day.

‘Blew and Renner Share A Little Sunshine’

R

Quiet Day

 

So far it has been really quiet here. Sundays usually start out that way. It has turned cold again, 3 degrees right now. But the sun is out and that is something we have been missing, so it is good that it finally blessed us with it's light yesterday.  A lot of the snow cover has gone due to the warmer than normal temps earlier in the week. Very nice, but gray the entire time. Seems we just can't get both things to happen at once, sun and warmth. Eventually it will come...here in MN that is called Summer!

Spring?  Oh that must be the couple of weeks that happen about mid-May, passes right by us pretty quickly and on occasion even with a slight dusting of snow. We have the same problem with Fall, which is my favorite season, but is here only 2 or 3 weeks then gives way to winter all too quickly many times.  Actually if you live in Minnesota then you know the saying 'we have two seasons - Winter and Road Construction'. It is a lovely place.

Fall Hike, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, MN

Long Night

 

But we were having a good time. My kids brought over Rockband 2 for the PS3 and we played it....until 2am this morning. Who'da thunk it? I do believe Scooter even joined it a couple of times (my singing). ;) Pretty bad. I do believe the animals were thinking, 'looonnnggg night, will it ever end'?

 

“I Just Can’t Take Any More!”

Precipitation

The dogs went out this morning, still dark outside and found it was pouring rain. The water was standing on top of what was still left of the snow, which is now a sheet of ice. I had sanded it (have more than once in the last few weeks) and even still there was an awful lot of slipping and sliding out there. I was concerned especially for Blew, the old man, because he has a weak rear end going on, and I thought he'd be doing the splits out there. But he didn't go out far, and did pretty well. Scooter it didn't really bother in the slightest (he's the youngster here at about 5 years old). Renner was not amused and walked slowly, I think he slid around more than the rest. He is the middle man at about 7. But the warmer temps are nice. It is 42 right now. This is going to freeze most likely in the next few days and wow, won't that be good fun. For now we are going to just enjoy the warmth though.

……A Little Rain Must Fall

Feeling on the sad side today. A new friend of mine lost one of her greyhounds about 5 or 6 weeks ago, was a lovely greygirl named for royalty, and rightfully so.  She also had been having problems with their older greyboy, and after so much effort to help him, he suffered pulmonary embolism and passed away last night. She is now pet-less and I could just feel the anguish in her words. She and her OH seem such lovely people and mentioned how terribly quiet the house was without him. (what heartbreak!) Having gone through losing my pets so many times, instead of hardening, I seem to feel other's pain ever more severely when they lose their animals. We had a very bad year a couple of years ago where we had many, many elder and special needs greyhounds and for a while we were losing them one a month or so. It hurt so much, so often, for a while I became a bit numb from all of the tears and anxiety. It is so very hard to lose a pet, but something I have not yet experienced is becoming pet-less through loss. I have always gone and brought in another. My Mom has asked me several times why I keep doing it. I mean....setting myself up to continually go through heartbreak after heartbreak. As I get older I keep thinking, ok I just can't keep taking this. And then I do it again. I am addicted to these beautiful animals, and I love having them around me. The love and memories they impart upon me must be worth all of the pain I feel when I lose them. I really can think of no other excuse. They make me feel good...a Greyhound high.

***My heart goes out to you Jay and your OH. God Bless. God Speed Pirate. :(