I was gonna...

I was gonna...to catch up on some toy photos I've had fun taking every once in a while.

So last night I started putting this together...

Dinos getting read to dine on a 
Stink Bug?

I found Mary out in the garden
looking to pick some Fungi!

My Garden Supervisors

Lego Chess for an incredibly hot humid day...

It ended in a melee of sorts....

the antique board is warped so the pieces kept falling over anyway....

But then I took some time to sit with Charlie and Hannah and read a book. No I read to myself while we listened to 'Dog Music' on Pandora. So the Dog Music Station is similar to listening to ... mmm, elevator music? It is mostly popular and classic music done in a soft soothing genre. The dogs don't really care much about music, they don't react much.

It was just nice background noise. I use it to drown out the very loud silence of our house. For years I had the constant repetitive hum from Rich's O2 Concentrator.

I was checking Hannah's mouth to see if all of her baby teeth were gone and it does look like it. I then turned to Charlie and checked his teeth. He had some build up on two teeth this spring and I asked the Vet if we should clean them. She decided it could wait.

Uh. Oh. Those two teeth are wobbly now and the gum surrounding those teeth look nasty. Time to call the Vet and get Charlie in. This morning I did a double check and he flinched. Definitely have to get him in for tooth surgery.

Now. I do not blame the Vet, she is good. It is up to us owners to either push for a procedure [I didn't] and to keep track of our pet's health.

~~~~~

Charlie will go in for Dental Surgery on Thursday to have the teeth removed. $$$$

Well, this is my life and it is a big deal to me personally. Most people think dogs are just dogs. They are, but this guy spent a huge part of his life comforting my husband when he didn't feel well. He has taken me through loss and helped me find the meaning of life afterwards.

So. 

He is my pet and my confidant who will never tell my secrets to anyone else. [Hannah would tell everyone my secrets!]

Keeping his mouth in good condition is essential for his well being [and in case no one knew this, it is essential to human life also]. Bad teeth can lead to kidney and heart failure, and inflammation in the rest of the body. 

My Jack Russell [soul dog] suffered from dental issues later in life and I lost him due to kidney failure. I didn't know much about dental health for dogs so I assumed bad breath and bad teeth were just a thing to do with age. 

Morris and me, Self Portrait in 2017.

Farm stuffsss

Farm life for us.

Hannah and I did fence and field inspections via the 4 wheeler on Saturday morning before the smoke moved in. 

She has adapted well to being a 'farm' dog. 

Since she is part terrier she believes she is a super dog. She is fearless. She tags along when I lead Little Richard from one place to another. She will bark at and chase any animal that may stray into her vision. She thankfully is smart enough to return after a chase.

I went back to putting 'clothes' on her and wrapping her incision area with ace bandages again. She has developed a spot to the side of the incision that looks like a little bubble. Trying to keep a 'Terrier-Terror' calm without jumping, running, and chasing is a tall order. 

For most of the week I've been stuck inside during the worst of the smoke and the other night both dogs had so much pent up energy that they had the most crazy Major Zoomies/FRAPping I've ever seen or heard. Charlie chased Hannah, Hannah chased Charlie around the house.

Both surprised me by leaping onto the couch and using it as a springboard to leap to the area rug and take off again. 

I thought it was hilarious and let them do it. Afterwards, they fell sound asleep on the couch together. In fact I posted the photo of that peaceful moment in my last blog.

While doing belly rubs the next day, I noted that Hannah had a little 'seroma' which is a pocket of fluid that is generally a reaction to the inner stitches of her incision. It is usually caused by activity after being spayed. You know, like what pups normally do. Jump, run, play. 

That means we are back to limiting activity. The advice to keep her calm from internet searches are: Crate Time, only leash walks, keeping the dog from jumping and so forth. 

Hannah Hannah. 

I will call the vet today to see if she would like to check Hannah's Seroma out. This morning it is back down but I rewrapped her. Otherwise she tends to lick that area and I imagine that irritates it also.

She tolerates the clothes and the Ace Bandage very well. 

This dog really loves her food bowl. She will lay next to it in the late afternoon and sleep on it so she won't miss her supper. This after a busy morning of being a porch dog [anchored to the porch by tie out!].

Below, 10 seconds of Hannah's eyes from ground view while she is watching me. It is just pretty funny. This was late afternoon when she was sure that it was feeding time.

How's Mr. Charlie? He is fine but most of the time he doesn't engage much with Hannah if he doesn't have to. They will lay on the porch bench together and watch the world go by.

Charlie. Carlos, Chuck, he always looks so serious and dignified doesn't he?

I did get out to see Sunshine on Sunday. We went for a short ride because the smoke was moving back in. It felt really nice to ride again after all the hot and smoky days. 

No pics. Sunshine was really bothered by the huge herd of sheep that rotate through sections of Kristi's farm [they rent the pastures and forest to an Amish who raises sheep]. Sunshine was not impressed by their bleating and the guard dogs barking. My guess is that the sheep were just moved to that section and had been herded in by the sheep dogs.

I figure once the sheep get pastured next to her and Cash's pasture, she will have the opportunity to get used to their noises. She has already accepted the pygmy goats and mini donkeys that live on the farm.

We turned away from the sheep's temporary pasture [we'd ridden that area last week] and headed towards another field. Sunshine spotted movement not far off in a cow pasture. A white cow was making noise and others were moving around. She has seen them before but this wired her up a bit more. 

Meanwhile Cash just gave Sunshine the 'whatever' look and walked past her. 

By the time we rounded another field, and headed back to the indoor, Sunshine was back to her old self. While Kristi unsaddled Cash and rinsed him off, I had Sunshine practice 'heeling' to my shoulder. It gave her some ground work to think about. She did great and we ended up on a very positive note.

[I've taught my mules to 'heel' to my shoulder for ease of leading them. Hands free heeling is fun to do. They stop when I stop, walk when I walk, and back up with verbal commands. It took a lot of time and effort, but it is fun teaching it to them.]

I rinsed her off afterwards and when I turned her out with Cash she acted very ho-hum. But by then the nasty noisy sheep had all quietened down.

I wonder if she thought all the bleating sheep were a sign of distress and in her head it meant danger. Once they quietened down, she absolutely chilled out.

If we could only get into animal's heads!

No pictures during the ride, we were concentrating more on the vicious biting flies and our mounts, and the monster creatures. It was still quite relaxing.

As I left for home, the smoke move in with a vengeance. On the ridges it looked like this, but on the highway the road disappeared at 1/2 mile intervals.

I'm glad we got our ride in before the smoke descended on us again.

Hot Summer Daze

But first!

Not long ago, I got a surprise package delivered. Mary came to visit me and go on adventures. Immediately I had to follow her around to see what she would be up to.

She seems quite comfortable going on adventures and exploring. I even found her holding 'court' with my dinosaurs.

Mary doesn't look perturbed at all. She looks as though she has everything under control. It must be her sunny attitude they admire. One dino even brought her Forget-me-nots!

In 'other' non important news:

The heat has been exceptional. The dew point and humidity are some of the factors that make it feel so unbearable.

Of course the dogs wanted to be outside for a while. I was with them to make sure Charlie didn't overheat. He has a hard time with intense heat because of his Dachshund and Pekinese background.

Hannah isn't quite as bothered by the heat, she often goes out to lay on the gravel driveway in the sunshine.

I put my shallow stock tank out the day before and put water in it so it wouldn't be super cold for them. The water was actually warm, but it seems that they didn't mind. Hannah jumped in and out of the water while Charlie just stood there quietly.

I thought I'd do a little bit of 'work' with Hannah. She, like Charlie, is food driven. Unlike Charlie, she is extremely brave and curious. It took only a second for her to notice I put a dog treat in the Lego Robot's hand. 

We worked on 'wait' so I could try to get a photo of her taking the cookie from the Robot. Anything more than a two second 'wait' is a bit beyond her at this point, so I had to work fast.

Charlie wanted a treat too but he wasn't willing to push Hannah to the side to get it. He waited patiently. He was still soaking wet from his time in the stock tank.

I didn't know that Wednesday could get that much worse but it did. The humidity is worse and the breezes we had the past two days stopped. With that wonderful combination, the smoke from the Minnesota and  Canadian wildfires have descended on our area.

Just a couple of hours ago my son in Wausau sent me a photo looking down his street. It looked as if brown fog had descended down his street. It is about a 3 hr drive northeastward to where he lives. 

No wind. Smoke, humidity, and heat. Looks like another good day to read a book and work on crafty things. 

Sticks, glue, moss, and cardboard. Maybe a new 'forest house' for my Lego Minifigures. Hey the stuff is free out in the yard and forest, I just have to build it!

No night shots right now unless the mosquitoes let up a bit. Right after dark and just before dawn they are murderous. 

It isn't worth going out and trying to shoot stars when I'd get carried off by monster Skeeters.

Stay cool if you can. Doing chores this evening is going to be a soaker.

 

Hannah Belle -- by Charlie

 Hannah is a pain. She still nibbles on my ears and tries to make me wrestle with her.

But I am the King of this Domain and above such childish puppy shenanigans.

Yesterday morning there was no breakfast. Hannah protested and went on the couch to give Val the 'look'. I didn't know why we had to miss breakfast.

Then Val took Hannah away in the car. I figured they were going for a walk.

Huh.

She came back without Hannah. No Hannah. No irritating, nagging, annoying, Hannah.

While Val was taking groceries out of the car, I jumped in looking for her. I smelled her.

Did she give her back to the Foster Family? 

I wandered around the house looking. No Hannah. No Hannah. Instead of sitting on the porch like usual, I started wandering the yard, I checked the big shed where Val always hollers 'NO, get out of the shed!' 

No Hannah. 

Finally, I stood in the middle of the kitchen and gave Val that look. She came and sat down on the floor and talked to me. She told me that Hannah went to the veterinarian's office to get fixed.

Huh.
I didn't know she was broken.

Val said that when I was a puppy I had to get 'fixed' too. I don't recall.

She said it was harder for girl puppies. 

Whatever.

Did she get her puppy nibbles biting of my ears fixed? Was she coming back? 

Communication with humans is so hard. 

I had a quiet afternoon. It was pretty darned peaceful.

She came back. But she was different. In fact Hannah was like an old dog and she smelled like the Vet's office. Hannah ignored me and looked so sad.

I kinda felt sorry for her. I don't think she was 'fixed' I think the Vet broke her.

Val made a bed for us on the living room floor so Hannah wouldn't jump up on the couch. She said something about stitches.

I like Hannah this way, she was so quiet that we could snuggle close.

By 3am the old Hannah came back.

Val feed her and put a shirt on her so she wouldn't lick the stitch stuff.

The Veterinarian totally messed up.

She isn't fixed at all.

Same irritating pup that went to the office.

 Oh, and that shirt. Just wrong in my mind.

And Val should get her money back. 
She is NOT fixed at all.

Hike to Blackhawk Rock

Monday morning, after taking down the campground and hauling everything back to the house, I asked the pups what they felt like doing for the morning.

Well, they were not helpful at all so I decided we'd take a midday trip to Blackhawk Rock. The sun was bright and glaring but that makes for fun Infrared Photography.

I stop and look at this old tree along the trail every single time I hike the Blackhawk Trail. The tree is an ancient old maple that keeps losing parts.

At one time there was a plaque on it giving it a name and a number.

The trail gets steep once you head up towards the rock outcropping. One of the things I like to warn folks about is that the trail is narrow, steep, and full of poison ivy on both sides of the trail with plants that are as tall as my hip.

I always wear long pants while hiking through there and am careful not to crush any leaves as I go through.

Then you step into an opening of the forest and look up.

The feeling of just looking up at it, is a bit overwhelming. There is a legend that says that Blackhawk the chief of the Sauk tribe rode his horse to the top of the rock. 
The soldiers thought they had him captured, but he and his horse leapt from the rock and escaped.

That didn't happen, but it is a cool legend. 

I purchased a book on the Blackhawk War for my grandson as a gift. It is a pretty interesting book.

Our county has quite a few Historical Markers that a person can follow to read about the travels of the tribe and Blackhawk.

The post office of our town has a mural of Blackhawk. 

When we got to the top of the rock, Hannah slowly walked to the edge with Charlie and then backed quickly away. She didn't go near the edge again while we were there. Charlie took a nap in the sun while we simply enjoyed the view.

The edge of the rock is the same rock as seen from below. Yes, you can look down if you are brave. I usually kneel and then lay down to look.

I wanted to say that this was Hannah's reaction to the top of the rock...it wasn't, she was yawning when I took the shot. 

It was a nice day so we decided to do the whole loop which ended up being 4.99 miles according to the GPS thingy.

Hannah has made great strides in her leash work. We did run into a large group of horseback riders. Hannah was sure they were marauders of some sort. I think that the more often we encounter others on the trails, the less barking she will do. 

Once they passed, she ignored them. But she is part terrier and everything needs to be barked at when she first is surprised by it.

Both dogs were tired and slept on the drive home.

I'm pleased that Hannah and Charlie are doing well with hiking together now on leashes the double leash works but I didn't want two dogs pulling me around on the very difficult climb to the top of the rock.

We have continued our early morning 15 minute workout on a line learning to heel and sit when I stop walking. She is doing the sit now most of the time in the proper spot without me telling her and repositioning her now.

Charlie watches from the house. He believes that he is the overlord of the house and will refuse to join in our foolishness.

 

Weekend update.

Our Easter weekend and adventures.

 

This is a view of my long weekend away from home that was spent with my granddaughter Rory and her family.

I'm just going to say that it was a wonderful weekend adventure.

I did some travelling, lots of visiting, and enjoying meeting in laws and family as well as being able to see Ariel and Dennis for a bit on Sunday.

Hannah had a play weekend at my friend's house. Hannah made a new best pal named Paisley.

Now I am back home and ready to get to work ...and take a couple of naps.

But dreaming of the amazing food and people I got to meet.

Yum.

Porch Puppies

Another doggone post.

Picture below: we were working on recall and Hannah comes to me when I bend down and whistle or clap my hands.

She knows that 2 out of 3 times there is a kibble in my hand for her when she gets to me. She has to sit for it [I don't do that on command, we start with positioning the kibble above her nose. She sits and she gets it. I am starting to add the vocal 'sit' but she won't get it for a while yet.]

 

Recall is one of the most important things to teach a dog. It literally saved the life of Missy who was a Lab X Samoyed dog I had when my kids were very young. We'd just moved to a farm with a busy highway. Missy saw kids in the yard across the highway and went to greet them just as a Kemps Semi was barreling down the road.

I called out her name and yelled the only thing that came to mind. "Down!" Missy dropped to her chest mid stride and lay in the ditch as the semi blew its horn as it passed.

"Free!" and "Come" were my next commands and she ran as hard as she could to me and sat on my left side. 

She was an incredible dog. I had taken a 10 week course in Obedience with her in the 1980's. Training methods were much different then.

When I got my first Terrier [Fiest], I had no clue as to how to train something that was only 10 inches tall and full of crazy and attitude.

Xena had her own mind and was aggressive and nuts. She hunted on her own once in a while and would return to our place when she felt like it. She was beautiful and loyal to me. She definitely had a mind of her own though.

She was the longest lived of her litter mates who were all extremely aggressive. Her temperament with me was fine. She didn't tolerate other humans even though I tried socializing her. 

She lived until she was 4. We surmise that she got into a barn and ate rats that had been poisoned.

Xena, the warrior princess. 

Morris was the next Terrier I got in 2005. Crazy us, we decided to try again....

He came from very quiet and well behaved Jack Russell parents. 

He was so easy to be with, it was insane.

He went to work with me often and was the official patient greeter.

He literally would do anything for anyone. His biggest love was riding with Badger and I on adventures.

He followed the grandkids around like a little protector. We were so lucky to have him for nearly 15 years.

When he died, I couldn't bare to try another Jack Russell. I came home with Charlie [Daschsund X Pekinese]. He is totally different in temperament and demeanor. He is reserved, stoic, gentle, and is a Velcro dog. 

He's never met a person he didn't love through and through.

So .. I strayed quite a bit. Hannah Belle. 

So far she is a quick study. She is afraid of noises, a me too dog, and energetic.

I hope I can maintain her recall and continue to work on her manners along with all the other things she needs to learn. 

Yesterday, she and Charlie were porch puppies. She was content to be tied up to stay on the porch while I cleaned mule tails and groomed them.

When I put her up on the bench with Charlie later on, this happened:

Being a 3 month old [on the 24th] is hard work. So much to learn and absorb!

I went back to a Terrier mix [Terror Mix] because they are so high energy. Now the challenge is to see if I can work with her and we can become a dynamic trio.

So far. So good.