june 30 2021

 tonight  smithsoniqan "dogs with impressive jobs".  . at 8pm eastern.  starring bella and george...i hope all teh great dane people watch it... ( along with all the brown dog people). HAVING  george( and bella... and her family...) do so well has been the highlight of my career...   along with helping bella .,... i certainly wouldn't want to attempt climbing mt everest---to have been a lifetime goal-- that would  not have helped anyone.-- except for those natives who will carry your equipment up ( and you down if you don't make it.  )--

here we go.......

i do not know why we ( insert...whatever group or tribe you belong to .. human..dodgers....  yankees...... american... ...new englanders)must insert ourselves as  the top of teh food chain...  not true !   as we watch teh dogs being called on  to sniff out the remains of teh apt building in florida  because of superior noises.......-  if we made a better study of  teh accomplishments of different species--  just maybe.......

how would any government organizathion stand up to the organization of ants ... or bees....

googleing....Ants are considered one of the smartest insects. Bees are generally ranked smarter, though, and have shown the ability to observe, learn, and demonstrate the memory needed to problem solve. Their ability to navigate a wildly divergent field of flowers helps to illustrate this.

Still, even though bees may be smarter, ants are among the top most intelligent insects. One study showed that ants possess the ability to use tools – which is a common way to assess intelligence.

 that last one got me.....   using tools is getting bred out of our DNA as teh younger generation  can only sit and wiggle fingers-- this exercise does not produce much food or clean water-- so someone better  get on the ball... ( we need a  mike rowe university !!!)   can you imagine an entire country where not one person knows how a siphon works -- or how to fix one that does not siphon????... as in toilet flushing...??? 

i do struggle to do my part..... as i cleaned oout and  attempted to organize teh shop-- i constant asked whoever was standign around. what different tools did..it became very clear.... anyone under the age of 30. did not know a phillips from star.. from slot or square bit..   why we need all those i am not -sure....except i have a 10 pound bucket of  screws  need ing a star bit-- and i own only one of those-- now taped to the ignition of my golf cart.  for security...---

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todays project... redo our web.... and decide on a new phone.. maybe.... the current local expert is grandson colby (now 6'+)-- as i seek his advice... i cannot help but remember i spent hours driving him to and from nursery school... trying to get him to think "out of the car".  and  yell stop when we saw a red stop sign... it was a heck of a challange at the age of 2 or whenever it was.....  now i need his expertise on cell phones??? ---- and his 6' to deal with heavy objects.. like fences and tipi poles-- which now have one coat--

 tipi to be shipped july 12th??? from nomantics tipi .. in oregon??? 

------

many black squirrel stories .. mostly new england-- adn michigan??

Princeton  New Jersey has many black squirrels, and now they have moved into Lawrenceville.  I see them in my yard.  They have been in Princeton for many years.

Hi Carlene,

Just wanted to let you know that there were some black squirrels in West Peabody 10-20 years ago when my kids were young 

june 29 2021

 FUN WITH RUST-----   I MENTIONED-- AT MAIL CALL LAST N IGHT--- I HAVE ?GALLONS OF VERY HEAVY CHAIN... TEH KIND THAT WOUOLD HOLD A BIG TRACTOR ON A TRAILER--- I FOUND IT ON ROUTE 495- I NEVER HEARD OF A  TRACTOR FALLING OFF A TRAILER... BUT ... I GOT IT.... WITH DIFFICULTY---I ALSO HAVE WHAT MIGHT BE 100 FEET OF TEH MORE USEABEL CHAIN.. MAYBE 1" LINKS-- AND A BUNCH OF 1.5 INCH LINKS OFTEN USED TO PULL POSTS WITH OUR TRACTOR... AND JUST AS OFTEN SET DOWN IN THE GRASS------WHERE A10 ' PIECE OF NICE CHAIN IS 1 INCH TALL--- NOW SINCE THE GRASS IS 2" TALL,  THAT CHAIN IS GONE.  ALONG WITH 14 FENCE MENDER PLYERS,AND  SEVERAL CROW BARS ALL OF WHICH ARE 1 INCH TALL.. IN THE GRASS.. NEXT TO THE FENCES SOMEWHERE

ALL HAPPILY RUSTING AWAY INTO OBLIVION.... WELL.... I GATHERED SOME  - DRAGGING THEM INTO MY NEARLY RESPECTABLE SHOP  TO DRY OUT ... HEAVILY RUSTED.... THEY ARE NOW PERFECT FOR  TEH "COKE VS VINEGAR VS WD40". EXPIREMENT...  TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED AN ELECTROLOSYS WITH A CAR BATTERY AND  "SUPER WASHING SODA"  FROM THIS MORNING'S COLLECTION OF EMAILS.    Here is a video in which a woman gives demo and a pretty good explanation of the science: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l3Dt5-zxPs You might want to google it to see other ways people have set up electrolysis tanks. M-------TO CHAMPION THE SELFLESS ACTS OF OTHERS | explore.org

 THAT ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR BUD....  HOWEVER TEH COKE AND WD40 ARE RIGHT UP MY ALLEY.

I FIGURE I CAN EASILY CUT A FEW INCHES OFF THAT 100 FOOT CHAIN SO I WILL BE STARTING WITH  A UNIFORM "SUBJECT"   ALTHO I AM CHEERING FOR COKE, I THINK WD40 SOUNDS MORE LIKE IT. 

  FROM MY YOUTH, I KNOW THAT COKE WILL NOT DISSOLVE A TOOTH OVERNIGHT.

MY OTHER OPTION IS TO DRAG IT AROUND BEHIND TEH GOLF CART FOR A WEEK AND I AM SURE HTE. STONE DUST IN THE SAND RING WILL GET MOST OF IT.

----

 ROUTE 495 HAS BEEN KIND TO  SDP----- BECAUSE MY USUAL VEHICLE WAS A PICK UP TRUCK, I COULD NOT DRIVE BY ANY INTERESTING  "STUFF"   --- MOST CRITICAL WAS A PALLET OF  WHAT MUST HAVVE BEEN  COLORED LEXON.... IN BLUE AND BLACK HEAVY SHEETS.  PROABLY.  1/4TH  INCH THICK- A CORRESPONDING  SHEET OF CLEAR LEXON WOULD BE ABOUT $600--- ( the window to the arena)   this was 6  sheets of teh stuff.... so i dragged it into the grass and had to come home and get help to  get it into the truck...--  it became  many tables and dog feeders still in use today..--------- likewise the day i came to sheets of stainless steel--- which is now teh  hood over the fire pit int he t tent...the stuff is like plexaglass except. lexon does not break--  

---

rt 495 was my usual  path....-- especailly for teh magazine business.... seems i often had to cover the lowell magazine route.....  from which cometh my favorite story--- about delivering  want ads in a blizzard.... i was in a "neighborhod variety store"  waiting to collect my$5.16 for the sold...- teh place was loaded with kids  who did not have any school because of teh snow... they were there buying candy--- when i got to the register i said to the guy "gee you are awfully nice to these kids' ---and he said "why shouldn't i be... maybe half of them are mine" 

----

other project is teh tipi poles....  they need.  2 or 3 coats  of someting. i don't own any of yet...  teh tipi people recommend olympic  maximum --  clear. -- luckily our training program is organized about taking the dogs to stores in the community... --- that gives us a personal shopping service... so today --- haley---- how about a dog in home depot????

i never was for training a dog  by walking in circles yelling heel.... sit... -- our dogs get outin the reql l world.  get on a bus.... and pray there is a bus going back to where you started...  this happened to one of our trainers once....   got on a bus and landed at teh end of teh day in teh  termainal... so i had to drive 3 towns away and retieive her.

---

i remember being at another training facility where they had lined up  those collapsable chairs into rows so the dogs could learn about  riding on a bus.  for the life of me i coul d not figure out why the dog would associate the lines of chars  in a room.  with teh smels and joshling of a bus--- but they were serious...  for sdp-- you want the experience of a bus or train ride... get on a  bus or train. - just plan so you can gt home-- actually. we do have th current scheduoe... there is a train from beverly-- tqke that inbound.... and get off in salem.. you have only a 7 minute wait til you can get back to beverly on teh outgoing train.  

---

there is a dog rtrqaining lesson there... just because you perceive   a situation one  way, if yo uare a  real trainer- you have to  think out of the bos of your won head...

perfect example-- mary thinking she would practice with her new service dog in the quiet cemetery--and the dog thinks it is w squirrel raising paradise...

----

speqaking of squirresl-- todays picture is of a black squirrel... in hamilton mas... i never saw one before !!

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Hi Carlene,

I hope you are doing ok in this awful heatwave!  Hoodsie and I are pacing ourselves so we don’t overheat. We’ve been starting our days much earlier than normal so we can do a 2 mile exercise walk before breakfast and before the heat sets in.  Interestingly Hoodsie LOVES doing errands in this weather as he seems to know that each store or place of business was has chilly air conditioning.  The attached photo is from this morning as we were about to enter a chilly Trader Joe’s. 

We’ve been working on getting Hoodsie more comfortable and settled on deck when I am in the swimming pool.  He stands up to watch me swim rather than lying down and settling on the deck although I am seeing bits of progress and more settling as the days go on.  Last summer our community pool did not open because of COVID. 

Hoodsie and I are coming to SDP in 2 weeks for a “tune-up” with Lynn as well as to volunteer as needed.  I hope to fine-tune our skills as we’ve been partners for 18 months now.  Because of COVID we did not have the opportunity to come back for a refresher before now. Having said that, Hoodsie and I have walked on for many miles together successfully; and we generally know what to anticipate with each other.  We also look forward to seeing you again, seeing old friends and making new friends too!

Best regards,

Hoodsie and Janet

Find us on Facebook, @HoodsieConeSDP

ju ne 28 2021

  apparently teh little pony  was lying down most of the night... looks fine at teh moment... however....  all i know of her history is .... she was in very tough shape coming out of the slaughter pens...  janine got her back to relatively healthy and deposited her here for further  care-- warning us that she might be pregnant -- and that is all i know about . her.  -- aside from going down to the stall and yelling 

push.    push.   there is not alot i can do---   i suppose i could pay bryan to come and stand around and say---- push----- push--- but that would be an unneessaery expense. and wouldn't improve her life---- so lets be patient and see what happens.    she is certainly in a much better spot here than the slaughter pens.... so to some degree  all we can give her is a good shot at health...  so far so good...

project of the day is to get the gates up around the pond to save my waving to wash my sheets every day becaus eof sizzle's muddy feet.  details of dogdom.

 yesterday we had few new people arrive wantiing to volunteer-- also wanting to get away from the #$%^&*() world as is now overwhelming.  crazy acres farm is just that--- never did i think i would be holding classes in "teh mucking of stallss 101". and have a bunch of people sign up for it !!!!    well it is  in what i consider fresh air....

You've all heard me vent about the color of the manure pile and how it's far too light in color because people just shovel everything out and break up in a new bag of shavings which are nearly white very light tan that means that the manure pile has no commercial value as it once did there are three phases valuable people will buy it add acquit there are places who will let you dump it and then there's the third kind where you've got to pay somebody to take it away and the very light colored too many shavings is just that so for all you heard me spout it was interesting the other day that had Janine stand there in the office and complain that an gatchel was having a fit about that donkey operation over it groten house which is the Winthrop place urban or pile just was too light colored.. how Janine was really kind of tired of city folk who really didn't understand the concept of valuable manure.. with a whole lot of very valuable things that city folk don't understand.. along with palatable running water there are things that are just expected then nobody questions well it's time we question more things like valuable manure and exactly what we should do about it so apparently I should hold courses

back when I was a 4H leader and I had to do barn inspections from all my four age kids that had a horse I could tell whether they were doing a good job by the color of a newer pile the worst kind were the very very black smelly kind mixed with the very very light kind because that meant so that they were not doing anything for a while and then just digging it all out and covering it up with white shavings it's a very delicate process and furthermore it must never ever contain things like straws coffee  coffee cups and anything that would have way resembled trash because three years from now it should be perfectly wonderful topsoil.

let me bring up the slightly sword topic of rocks in the stall... never in my life have I seen golf ball size rocks a stall.. Until this year in Ipswich.

let's think about this there's no way a horse can bring in a rock stuck in their feet in their jaw or anywhere else.. so how else do things get into that stall they either come off a Bale of hay or bags of shavings both of which are mechanically produced and if there was a rock or two in a Bale of hay or the shaving machine it just wouldn't happen they're too finely tuned so how did the rocks get in our stalls here in Ipswich I don't know but I do think about it.     anybody else have any ideas?

 

As this horrific building collapse story dominates the news.... I remember the guy from Rhode Island who put that appoxee on the floor and walls of our cellar had a great deal of concern for the fact that there was so much flaking before he did it.. and he really wanted to do the outside the building which I couldn't quite figure out because it's underground and I opted not to do it because of the confusion and I wasn't sure of the science involved I think as they solved this problem of why did this happen down in Florida we may all have thoughts about those tiny cracks that can appear in concrete they are an indication up something going wrong sort of like the rocks in my stalls however..

 

Sunday afternoon we had a lovely family here and they had a box of cookies to go round and feed all the dogs through the fences it was working very well the kids love the dogs the dogs love the cookies and as I talk to the parents.  it it was one more case of they really would love to have a dog at home but they were terrified of the veterinary expense involved they said with two children that they had to put through college they could not possibly afford the expense oh of the veterinary care for a dog  there is a huge need in my opinion.  for the General practitioner type veterinarian.    Tehn  stop promoting the veterinarians have now learned to do heart transplants.  and make you feel very guilty if you don't want to spend $100,000 on the cost of doing that..

 

Moving along..... 

Hello,

Just an update on Service Dog Oz. 

I am a volunteer at SDP and wife of John- matched with service dog, Oz. 

Oz has been to his new home for one week now. If you saw John & Oz together, you'd think that they'd been together forever.

Watching the bond that Oz and John have grow so rapidly is remarkable. 

I recall that you have said "the dog picks the person." I see now how true that is! I didn't understand how a dog could do that until I actually witnessed it happen.

Oz is calm and quiet, but always watching so he can anticipate John's needs. 

John is up early and training /working with Oz daily in the mornings.  They have become quite the duo!! 

I am doing my part too--I dont feed,  give water, groom or walk Oz. Oz is so sweet, it makes it super hard to not want to jump in and do these things, but... I was given my instructions... I promised that I won't do anything to sabotage their bond. The amount of training, dedication, and time that's put into each dog by your trainers?--- it would be very selfish to undo that work. 

Carlene-, you will be happy to know that John is grinning ear to ear! You would be so proud of them both and they hard work they do every day to connect. 

We will be moving soon to Florida, and will keep you updated on how Team Oz & John progress.

Thank you so very much for ALL you do: you, your trainers, your volunteers, your gardener (she makes SDP so lovely!),  your "do-it all"  Bud, and your dedicated camera people and viewers. 

Tanya

on behalf of Team John and Oz

worth reading the numbers.....

JUNE 27 2021

 TIME WOUNDS ALL HEELS.. LOVE IT !!.. THE OTHER QUICKY QUIRKEY  QUOTE OF YESTERDAY WHICH REALLY MADE MY DAY... WHY DOES A MILKING STOOL HAVE3 LEGS? ( THE COW HAS THE UDDER) ---???WHERE IS STEVE WHEN YOU NEED HIM FOR ONE OF THOSE  PAINFUL WORD GAMES HE LOVES??-- I THINK HE IS AT HOME TRYING TO MAKE HIS ANKLES OR KNEES WORK PROPERLY.

I HAD ALOT OF QUESTONS ABOUT THIS CRAZY ACRES  FRIDAY CLASS FOR THE  INTELECTUALLY CURIOUS- YES-- IT IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO SUPPORT US IN ANY WAY... EVEN A FEW POO PICKERS A MONTH   IN AN ENVELOPE FOR 50 CENTS POSTAGE. IS ENOUGH  IF AN ACTUAL CHICKEN BRICK IS BEYOND YOUR BUDGET...AND I KNOW HOW THAT IS !!--  MORE PEOPLE MORE LAUGHS..I AM NOT TOO SURE WHAT YOU WILL LEARN--  LIKE GOAT WRANGLING....BUT WE DO HAVE ANIMNAL EPISODES HAPPEN  HERE.. ALL OF WHICH ARE CHALLANGING AND SOMETIMES AMUSING.

WE CAN DO ANIMAL THINGS.---- LIKE  THE LIFTING OF A FOOT OF A 4 LEGGED BEST......    I KNOW ROPE SPLICING IS ON THE. MENU--- ALONG WITH KELLY POT COFFEE MAKING. I HAVE A SIDEBAR PURPOSE-- WE MUST LET POCKETS OUT TO WANDER MORE.... SHE IS A NICE ANIMAL. WHO JUST NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT IS ALLOWED...HAVEING TAUGHT  HER TO BITE TOWELS AND THINGS... KEEP YOUR  HANDS AWAY FROM HER MOUTH  WOULD BE MY ADVICE.-- SHE IS LIKE A YOUNG PUP WHO HAS NOT YET LEARNED THAT MOUTHING IS NOT ACEPTABLE.

I CAN THINK OF ONE TALENT SORELY MISSING IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.. HOW TO HERD AN ANIMAL-- I SEE IT ALL THE TIME AROUND HERE-- AND IT IS A CRITICAL BIT OF KNWOLEDGE

LIKE SAFETY KNOT TYING. -- AND I BET WE CAN PRACTICE ON THE CHICKENS AND GRADUATE TO THE GOATS..  BASICALLY TEH ANIMAL WILL GO AWAY FROM WHICHEVER EYE CAN SEE YOU-- DISTANCE IS NOT ALWYAS A FACTOR.. WHAT AMUSES ME IS WHEN WE ARE CHASING GOATS... SOMEONE ALWYAS ASSUMES 

'   THE GOATS WILL NEVER SEE THAT TINY OPENING.'   ....    ----WRONG!!!!     SOME DAY WATCH A GOOD  BORDER COLLIE WORK TO GET 20 SHEEP THRU A NARROW GATE-- THEY ARE THE. EXPERTS.

ON A LARK, I LOOKED UP SHEEP HERDING AND THE SECOND BOOK ON THE LIST WAS BY VIRGILL HOLLAND--  I IKNEW THAT GUY-- I BORROWED BOTH HE AND HIS DOGS FOR SOME MOVIE... HE IS  GOOD.  IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE WRITE A BOOK ABOUT SOMEHTING IN WHICH THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHED. 

 LIKE TEH BOOK ON N  MANAGEMENT OF  THE LAUNDRY IN THE WHILTE HOUSE..-- THERE IS SUCH A BOOK-- AND IT IS INTERESTING- TOTALLY AS NON POLITICAL. AS LAUNDRY CAN BE.. I WAS PARTICULARLY FASCINATED BY THE FACT THAT THE  ENTIRE STAFF HELPS IN THE 4 HOURS  THEY HAVE TO TOTALLY SWAP  ALL THE BELOONGINGS FROM ONE  RESIDENT TO THE OTHER DURING THE SWEARING IN OF THE  NEW PRESIDENT.

SO MUCH FOR BOOK LEARNING.---- AS FOR CHICKEN BRICKS-- TEH 23 %  SOLD SO FAR. SOUNDS LOW-- BUT IT IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT SOOOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE DONATED TO  REPLENISH  THE FUN FUND IN PAM'S NAME.. MOST OF THOSE HAVE SAID " OR WHEREVER NEEDED...."  ONE PERSON EVEN SAID. TO BUY CHICKEN BRICKS ANONYMOUSLY-- WELL TEH FUN FUND IS REPLENISHED-- SO TEH NEXT IS TO GET TEH CHICKEN BRICKS SOLD OUT.     I DO HAVE SOME  OF TEH PAM OVERFLOW ONES TO ENTER

WHICH I WILL  TRY AND DO TODAY-- BUT PLEASE , IF YOU CAN, KEEP YOU EYE ON TEH. CHICKEN. BRICKS...NEXT SHATTING IS JULY 4TH-- ALWAYS A TOUGH ONE...

----

AND HERE WE HAVE 2 RECIENT GRADUATE WHO HAVE MADE IT TO THE 6 MONTHS STARTING PHASE..... WHICH IS SOMETIMES TIRING.... DISCOURAGING... DURING WHICH TEH PERSON AND DOG TRY AND FIGURE OUT EACH OTHER.... MOST SPECTACULAR WAS MARY-- WHO SAW THE CEMETARTY AS A NICE QUIET PLACE TO  GET USED TO WORK ING WITH  ABBY--- AND ABBY THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL OF MARY TO TAKE HER TO A PLACE SO FULL OF SQUIRRELS TO CHASE...  THIS MAKES MARY'S COMMENT ABOUT BUSY NOISY  A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT ABOUT PERCEPTION----

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 After helping me navigate a very busy and noisy downtown without missing a beat, Abby had a play date with two of her favorite canine companions. Thought you'd enjoy this photo of a tuckered out but very happy young lady!

Best,

Mary

-----

Good morning, 

I wanted to share an update about how service dog Tin and I have been doing. For starters everything has been going amazing Tin is such a good boy (so incredibly smart) and everyone from SDP should be so proud of him. I also wanted to take the time to let SDP know that Tin slipped in our backyard while playing and hurt his ankle. Not to worry we went to the vet right away and Tin was on rest for a little bit but he didn’t do anything serious just a little bit of swelling, but now he is back to his crazy goofy normal self again and back to work and play. Back to how we’ve been, I truly cannot believe that Tin and I have already been together for 6 months! Tin and I have bonded so closely in such a short amount of time I cannot imagine how close we will grow in the years to come. During the time that Tin and I have been together Tin we started our journey by going to high school as a team. I was so impressed with how well Tin behaved in school, always focused on me and trying to do everything correctly so that he knew I was happy and safe. Although Tin had a couple bumps in the road when we first started going to school he has overcome every single one and continues to impress me on how he adapts so quickly. Another new experience that Tin and I had this year was that I got my first job! I am an administrative assistant in an office and it works perfect for Tin and I. While I am hard at work so is Tin, napping waiting for when I might need him. Another thing that amazes me about Tin is how strong he is. Every time we are going up or down stairs he doesn’t move at all, it is so reassuring to have he there and know that I can count on him to help keep me balanced. The amount of independence Tin gives me is life changing. I am able to do so many things I otherwise would not be able to do like, drive places myself and be able to go into stores, go shopping, go for a walk, hike, go to school, go up and down stairs with ease and most importantly I know that there is always someone there for me ready to help me and take on any adventure together. Tin and I have been having such a great summer and I am so thankful to SDP for yet again giving me back my independence! I really hope that Tin and I can visit soon so everyone can see how incredible Tin is, oh and how big he is too! We currently don’t even know how much he weighs because our vets scale only goes up to 175lbs!!!

Enjoy some pictures and videos below. 

GABBY

DO NOT LET TIN GET TOO OVERWEIGHT---  THIN IS NOT BAD....

Carlene White

www.servicedogproject.org

https://www.memsaic.com/servicedogwall

 june 26 2021

karen...nutty (AND VERY COMPETNT) KAREN-- GATHEREED A GROUP TOGETHER TO   START A CRAZY ACRES FARM COURSE IN  THE  MANY SKILLS LONG GONE FROM WHAT IS NOW  "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR OF TOTAL RELIANCE ON MECHANICAL DEVICES.I HAD THOUGHT I WOULD START THE DISCUSSION ON SPLICING ROPES WHILE THE  6 OR SO PEOPLE ARRIVED BUT WE NEVER GOT THAT FAR.-- ONE PERSON  BROUGHT 2 DONKEYS WITH HER-- ONE HAD BECOME A BIT OF A BRAT AND SHE NEEDED ANOTHER SET OF EYES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

THIS WILL BE LONG AND INVOLVED...

Her basic problem with the donkey ------which was a beautiful little donkey about 32 inches tall just like the ones I used to drive---- basic problem was that that donkey had discovered that he it was really in control of her --this happens a lot with animals dogs AND CHILDREN.   ----    when he wanted to do something or go somewhere he could often get away with just walking in circles around her and just plain pulling her with his nose  ----- HE  had a halter on pulling it wherever he wanted to go and he was strong enough to do that donkeys are very strong so you just had to explain to him that that was unacceptable behavior in the horse world there is what's known as astallion lead  strap rope whatever which starts with a chain which is very much like the the chain that goes on a dog training chain it goes over their nose or through their mouth or wherever you want to put it and hooks from side to side on the halter so that if he if he walks along a behaves it's absolutely no problem at all in it's just lovely and charming and things like that but it does discourage him from pulling people around by his nose especially if they give it a little bit of a tweaked....    doesn't really have to be a jerk but a tweak for the donkey to realize but life had changed a little bit----- so I did find a small piece of chain which I did put over his nose and by golly he behaved and he stood right there next to her just as polite as could be and he was fine the rest of the whole two or three hours that we spent until she put on the other hALTER ON --- he was back to drag her around so first lesson donkeys are smart donkeys are much smarter than horses but of course practically everything is --------there's not much well let me phrase it this way----- to say somebody has horse sense is one of the biggest insults I think you can give A PERSON..... horses don't have any sense donkeys do.  FEAR FLIGHT...IS ALL THEY KNOW... HOW HUMAN...

 

So we graduated from that little mini donkeyTO pockets who has had some education and thoroughly enjoys the company of people and showing people what she knows how to do -------because she enjoys relating to people especially people who are inclined to carry little peppermint candies or apples and things like that-----one of the thinGS  she knows best how to do is to pick up whatever you've dropped which puts her ahead of great Danes-- Karen bought her out with a towelAND  pocket Knew that that she could grab hold that towel and pick it up ----which she did Do often----- you just have to be now that she knows something like that you have to be very careful with your fingers not involved in the towel somehow but pockets knows how to pick it up---- if you drop it anywhere or go get it and bring it back ----like the basket ---- also if you put it on her back like you're going to SadDle she'll turn around and pull it off her back which is the basis for a lot of comedy sketches with horses ---- put the saddle on they pull it off she would do that without any problem at all but she also knew that we would put the towel over the top of her and scratch her back with it and then put it underneath her and scratch her belly as she just stood there----- it was interesting that the other people who were in the circle really felt we had to have a lead ON TO HOLD HER===== that's not true she she's gotta stick around because fun things were happening and people had cookies and she was all set to hang around----

 

BIGGEST PROBLEM ---in my opinion----- is that with dogs donkeys and children we ----as supposed adult ----operate with a bunch of preconceived notions instead of looking at what we're dealing------- with with the dogs ----I have discouraged and forbidden the carrying of dog cookies because I know damn well the dog is going to be thinking about the cookies and not what you're trying to teach him------ they'll be totally focused on your pack back pocket or something when you're trying to teach them to walk up and down a flight of stairs----- so the total waste of time to distract the dog before you're trying to teach him----    there is logic there they basically have to look at you in a friendly manner and then the occasional treat in a very controlled situation is certainly necessary but treat carrying it in funny little pouches on your belt is contraindicated donkey training donkeys are very happy to be scratched or padded as a reward ----they are a very close equivalent to a dog -----plus you have the addED  problem with donkeys especially donkeys who are used to having their way and realizing how strong they are -----   they might very well try and get the treats out of your back pocket by themselves and are very capable of picking you up by that blue jeans and carrying you around the yard ----  not a problem---   so it's a thing you don't necessarily want to start----- unfortunately with pockets it's already started--- so you have to be careful donkeys are inclined to get something in their teeth and then hang on to it and if it's your thumb it's a really bad situation-------- just as an educational sideline the very worst situation I was ever in for this problem is the candy canes at Christmas that every kid has  ----an his slobbering on as they eat it they get that pepperman on their fingers which are the same size as the candy canes and then they come in to pat the donkeys -----so to get around that problem with my hitch I used to give donkeys treats by putting the treat between their eyes on their forehead and then sliding it down and putting it in their mouth this would get away from the little kid who comes along and sticks his hand out as he's been told to do with the dogs.  and have the donkey thiNK  OH great A  candy CANE--- a walking candy game..

 

THIS KAREN’S CLASS OF “FRIDAY 101” IDEA WAS GREAT FUN AS WE GRADUATED TO THE HARNESSING AND GROUND DRIVING BEHIND POCKETS—WHO FINALLY JUST QUIT WALKING AROUND.. AND PEOPLE STARTED THINKING .. STUBBORN... BUT IF YOU LOOKED AT IT FROM HER STANDPOINT. SOMEONE WOOULD ASK HER TO WALK ON—AND SHE WOULD... BUT THE PERSON WOULD FORGET TO MOVE THEIR OWN FEET... SO SHE WOULD GET YANKED IN THE MOUTH WITH THE BIT.  SHE VERY CLEARLY WAS SAYING ... WILL SOMEONE STRAIGHTEN OUT. THIS BUNCH. BECAUSE I AM NOT MOVING TIL YOU DO... CLEAR AS A BELL .

 

THIS WAS FUN.. COMMENTS WERE OFTEN WILD AND UNUSUAL... AS TO PROVE A POINT, I TRIED “DRIVING” KAREN WITH THE REINS HOOKED TO HER BRA STRAPS.... This was reminiscent of blindfolding a person and having then give commands to another person who is holding the guide dog harness sometimes you really have to take the viewpoint from 180 degrees.

Someone had bought 2 bags of apples as treats for the donkeys and I needed one to give to pockets after she had the bridle on because her mouth was dry and it just was going to work better if she had little saliva in there so I wanted to give her an apple and one of these my students turn to go get a knife to cut it up and I just putTHE APPLE  on the ground and stopped on it with my foot breaking it up very nicely into five pieces people were amazed and never thought of that but we were standing in grass in the 1st place and there was nothing on the bottom of my shoe that shouldn't have been there ----A very good way to do that

This opened a very unusual door when one of the women who is from Scotland explained that in her youth she used to spend one month on an island off the coast of Scotland where the whole attitude toward life in general was just amazingly different she found in some books written by Lillian Beckwith and those 3 BOOKS are the ones I have pushed many times the sea for breakfast the hills is lonely and a rope with a ring a funny lady AND  it's a very funny way of life but very practical ONE...    I had a good time talking about that but to have anybody know of Lillian Beckwith was very strange it's almost a Goldie moment

WE DECIDED these Friday  convocations were fun and educational and decided they should continue even if we had tO have these Friday convocations on some other day like Tuesday whatever.. my stipulation is that absolutely everyone is invited and somehow we have to figure out how to put that on a website or noticeboard or something so we are a work in progress but we are working tord having aN open discussion group of a peculiar nature about one day a week.   to be decided stay tuned

and I never even got to the  HARNESS OR ROPE SPLICING  TOPICS...

I so loved this young lady and loved watching her with the pups. So sorry to hear this!

From Tina:

We've lost another past volunteer to cancer -
Mary Jo Driscoll

friday 101.  sideways...

june 25 2021

 SPALLING----NEW WORD FOR THE DAY-- ABOUT WHICH I KNOW NOTHING-  THAT HAS NEVER STOPPED ME FROM DISCUSSION  ANYTHING BEFORE..

I heard that word this morning on the television regarding the collapse of the building in Miami and how it was possibly due to spalling----- which someone described as concrete dandruff--- very descriptive ----I know a little bit about concrete that sheds because our cellar for the past 39 1/2 years has been terrable as the walls have produced piles of concrete dust which when swept up quickly replaced by more concrete dust to the point where I have worried about the thickness of the walls ------however in my estimation we've lost maybe an eighth of an inch around the whole foundation of this concrete dandruff -----I don't know how much we've losT on the outside but theRE still considerable concrete left.. what I can talk about it being absolutely wonderful is whatever that plastic EPOXY.  stuff is that was applied buy a company somehow connected to some of the camera people who read this daily doggie.

having complained about this messy seller ----I wish I could give you the boost but---- it was someone in Pennsylvania was an expert and either work for owned or whatever a company that produced totally washable epoxy for concrete floors and walls they knew of someone in Rhode Island who would apply this stuff which has to be done over the course of several days in layers     whatever it is is absolutely wonderful and is now ALSO sealing  the walls and floors in the  ICU   ..  this was very impressive to the USDA and the other animnal inspection orgainzations who tromp thru here reguolarly...including  george myers (DVM) .. who told me 5 years ago someone would eventurlly complain about the wood in  our  kennels as being too pious no porris( HAVE HOLES?)  and possibly holding contamination which they would not approve and at some point I would have to change it all -----well I suppose redesigning our kennels would eventually be appropriate but that'll have to be addressed further on down the road.

the reason I heard this word Spalling.  was there was one concrete expert that they had an early morning television today who said that would be one possible reason that the building in Miami collapsed that between the ocean aire and protruding rebar which is the metal in the concrete the rust would have expanded and contracted -------I should say could have expanded iAND  contracted causing the concrete pillars underneath that building to delaminate they become structurally unsound

 

that being the 1st semi logical assessment of that collapse I immediately latched on to it and associated with it my garage.. BUT-------I remember seeing in Boston in the vicinity of the government center a janitorial crew very busy sweeping up piles of concrete dust around a pillar in the garage which is underneath all those office buildings and I can remember thinking at that time-------- that was actually a layer of support for the thing that was over my head------ which is a great big building------ so I am suggesting that wherever you see piles of concrete. Dandruff.  yes  slow up and give it a second thought. Along with rusted rebar sticking out of the concrete in the highway bridges I know I've seen a great deal of that also.. hopefully that qualifies as infrastructure along with railroads   and airports.

Speaking of airports also in the news.. a TSA agent was bitten yesterday.. biEING dog people you will all assume immediately a dog bit him -----not true--- a person bit him.. so I suppose now along with all the other preparations for flight you may be required to have a rabies shot

 

All goal is divided in three parts... so is CRAZY ACRES... Yesterday aT  coffee break number  32 .. It was realized that the volunteers or staff wandering around with a bucket in one hand and putty scrapers in the other we're actually DOGGIE POO PICKERS under the domain of lYNN—WHILE the four people trying to chase the goats around and get them where they belong we're really carlene's problem.. and the person on the phone calling to complain that our paper shredder was an outdated model and why were we not worried about people reading our improperly shredded electrical bills (it would be possible for them to gluing back together-)-that becomes linda's domain ..... somehow we manage.

 

and the crazy acres that we manage seems to be absolutely fascinating to a bunch of people searching for some sort of reality in life and they wander up the driveway in a slightly confused fashion and I usually put directly to work holding something up or holding something down whatever but the physical work that's required around here SEEMS TO BE TREMENDOUSLY RELAXING for some people who probably spend too much time on the computer------ almost to a person people are thrilled to chase goats or pick up poop as witnessed by this morning's project where some people who started in the donkey manure PILE ---have put together a group wanna come and learn some of the details of caring for donkeys and horses------ well that's a shoo in for me  ---- WE CAN CALL IF FRIDAYS 101. ON THE  CAMPUS OF CRAZY ACRES FARM. 

 I SUPPOSE WE NEED TO HAVE  CZA COLORS.. WHICH WOULD NATURALLY BE BLACK AND BLUE.

 

I'll start the discussion  the first thing you really ought to LEARN  IS ROPES  -------what is a safety Knot in case you should tie an animal to A FENCE  and they take offense at that------- oh did I say that ?-----at any rate if you should have to untie them very quickly you should be able to do that with one quick snap of the rope but we will evolve too teaching an animal to pick up a foot---- we'll start with the front foot and work our way round to clyde's rear end -----which is going to be the ultimate challenge----- that will not happen probably for a month because Clyde being a draft animal in Amish country was put into a stock ----a bunch of very strong metal stuff  OR.  wooden stuff---- and had his foot tide up into place so they could put shoes on him nobody ever stopped long enough to teach him just to pick up his foot and hold it there------- so consequently if you get near his feet he'll kick -----Moe was the same way probably the same as stock---- at any rate we should have fun today and maybe get a harness on somebody and do a few things that this Friday morning group coming to learn

I certainly wouldn't want to exclude anybody from this  Friday morning So what do we call it?------Friday  101---- so by all means join us---- I don't know what time everybody was told to be here I certainly would think somewhere between 9:00 and 11:00 I don't know when it starts---- that was up to Karen but I will have a cup of coffee and get out there...

NEXT WE ARE GOING TO NEED A  CZA.  KNOTICE  BORARD.. OR WEB SITE.  OR SOMETHING.

june 24 2021

 

USTABEE.... I WOULD SAY " A PIECE OF PAPER WILL HOLD STILL AND YOU CAN WRITE ANYTHING ON  IT"---    NOW REPLACED BY TEH INTERNET.. 

USTABEE WHEN I WAS A KID... I WAS THOUGHT  THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WERE THE EDITORS OF RESPONSIBELE NEWSPAPERS  SO YOU WERE GUARENTEED THAT WHATEVER YOU READ IN THEIR PAPER, THEY HAD VERIFIED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

WHAAAAAAT HAPPENED...????? SOMETIMES I EVEN WONDER IF THE DAY AND DATE ARE VERIFIED AS CORRECT AS BOTH NEWS AND GOSSIP INTERMINGLE IRRESPONSIBLY.....SO THAT NORMAL PEOPLE CAN BE UNDER HORRENDOUS PERSONAL  ATTACK BY PERSONS IN TH BUSINESS OF CREATING THE MOST SPECTACULAR NEWS OUT OF SOMEONE  PUTTING THEIR TRASH OUT ON THE  WRONG DAY.  IN OTHER WORDS... JUST TRYING TO BE A NORMAL  PERSON  WITH NO COMPLICATIONS CAN INSTANTLY BE TERRIFYING.

DON'T BE A BOY SCOUT HELPING A LITTLE OLD LADY ACROSS THE STREET, WHAT IF SHE TRIPS AND FALLS .... SHE COULD SUE  YOU...

 JUST LET HER STAGGER ON AND DON'T GET INVOLVED......--

DON'T GET INVOLVED IS A  NATIONAL DISEASE--  WITH SOME BASE IN FACT.  IT IS SO BAD THAT THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON NATIONALLY THAT CAN NOT JUST WANDER OFF INTO OBLIVION...THERE ARE THINGS TO NOTICE......THERE IS A SCIENCE OF DISTRACTION-- TAUGHT IN BUSINESS SCHOOL. DISTRACTION 101.

THIS MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING... BUT........ WHY ON ROUTE 95 IS THERE A MASSIVE DISPLAY OF ORANGE TRAFFIC CONES DIVERTING TRAFFIC AROUND CREWS INSTALLING  GUARD RAILS ON EXIT RAMPS.... A VISUAL OF FIXING THE  INFRASTRUCTURE? ----WHILE A BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN WASHINGTON DC.. WHY DO I FEEL  I AM BEING DISTRACTED BY A MINOR SO TO AVOID THE REALL PROBLEM???? 

EVEN MARY-- OUR OLD DONKEY KNEW ABOUT DISTRACTION.... SHE HAD IT DOWN PAT BETTER THAN A PICK POCKET IN MANHATTAN.... IF YOU LEFTR A CAR DOOR OPEN AND WENT TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING ... SHE WAS IN YOUR GLOVE COMPARTMENT BEFORE YOU COULD TURN AROUND... OR EATING YOUR TUNA FISH SANDWICH...

------

I REMEMBER ( A LOT OF THINGS... BUT...) REMEMBER THE LITTLE OLD LADY CROSSING TH E STREET WITH A HEAVY SHOPPING BAG AND BAGGING SUPPORT HOSE...... SHE PASSES SLOWLY IN FRONT OF A SPORTS CAR SITTING AT A STOP. LIGHT WHICH HAS TURNED GREEN...... AND TEH DRIVER TRIES TO HURRY HER ALONG BY BLOWING HIS HORN........ SHE STOPS IN FRONT OF THE CAR, AND STARTS SWINGING HER BAG  AT TEH SPORTS CAR AND HIS BUMMER FALLS OFF".  LOVED IT !!    I COULD WATCH THAT VIDEO FOR HOURS.

-----

 IMO-----THERE ARE 2 KINDS OF  THIS MEMORY PROBLEM WITH AGING...... ---I WAS ALWAYS FORGETFUL--- BUT  IT COMES IN DEGREES... I DO NOTICE I AM MORE INCLINDED TO REMEMBER PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT HAVE MADE ME LAUGH-   CURRANTLY --- SHEILA CRANNEY... WHO'S OBIT VIDEO IS ONLINE ...,    Obituary for Sheila Ann (Tucker) Cranney | O'Donnell - Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations (odonnellfuneralservice.com). 

SHEILA WAS A SUPER  TALLENTED CREATIVE PERSON... 

-----

THERE IS ALSO A SECOND COURSE IN BUSINESS SCHOOL... QUANTITY 201-- GIVE SOMEONE SO MUCH DETAIL THAT   DISTRACTION 101 GOES INTO EFFECT.   

---

PUPPY PEN IS NOW  MINUS ONLY THE TIPI ---  LYNN SWEARS SHE WILL GET THE PUPS  MARCHED.....DOWN THERE AT 1:00 TODAY.---I MENTION THAT HERE TO FORCE THE ISSUE SO ALL OF YOU WILL BE WATCHING ON THE 2 CAMERAS INVOLVED... DOWN TEH DRIVEWAY WILL SHOW ONTHE CHICKEN CAMERA... THEN THE PUPPY HILL CAM WOULD NEED TO BE AIMED AT THE T TENT

I NEED TO RIG SHOME SHADE.... SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM-- SOMEHOW

 I EVEN FOUND 8 ORANGE SCREW THINGS I ONCE USED TO SCREW INTO THE GROUND AND TIE DOGS TO FOR SOME MOVIE...  THEY CAN BE USED... I THINK.. TO SCREW TEH TIPI DOWN..

---

WHICH REMINDS ME----- WHEN I OPTED TO REPLACE OUR WOODEN RIDING ARENA WITH THE  WHITE ONE  THE IPSWICH BUILDING INSPEDTOR WANTED ME TO HIRE A WOOD  BUILDING CONTRACTOR he KNEW ABOUT...... I SAID NO....FORCED ME TO HIRE A SOIL COMPACTION EXPERT FOR A BUILDING THAT WOULD GO UP,   ...   NOT DOWN 

  $27,000 and 12  6 FOOT LONG sona tubes later, we have the white arena.... AND I HAVE A UNIQUE  OPINION OF BUILDING INSPECTORS.

----

SPEAKING OF SCREWING TO THE GROUND...... WHEN I DECIDEED WE NEEDED A NOTHER TENT--- THE GIRAFFE TENT... I WENT TO LAY IT OUT... WITH MY 

'HALF VAST" KNOWLEDGE OF A 3-4-5 TRIANGLE AND TRUSTY 60 FOOT SIPHON  HOSE TO GET IT LEVEL....  A CONTRACTOR GAVE ME AN ESTIMQATE  OF $10,000 TO PUT IN THE "FOOTINGS" 

 BASICALLY A 4 FOOT SONA TUBE  WITH CEMENT AND  A METAL THING IMPLANTED... --- I KNEW ABOUT THOSE-- I HAD  WATCHED THE BIG ARENA 6' ANCORS MADE. SO I DUG HOLES ANBD PLANTED THE THINGS.-- I ADDED A COUPLE TRUCKLOADS OF STONE DUST......AS YOU CAN SEE ... IT HAS NOT FLOWN AWAY... YET... --- 

---

TODAYS WORRY? ... IT DOES LOOK LIKE TEH ROOF ON TEH CHICKEN COOP COULD STAND SOME MORE NAILS.

*****AN FYI FOR THE DAY..... THERE DOES EXIST AN ANTIQUE HOOK, WITH  A FLAT  DISK ON THE HOOK----- THAT GOES OVER TEH PEAK OF THE BUILDING AND HAS A 2ND HOOK ONTO WHICH YOU ATTACH YOUR LADDER -- SO YOU CAN CARWL ALL OVER TEH ROOF SAFELY

AT  LEAST IT HAS BEEN SAFE IN THE PAST...

june 23 2021

 new keyboard--- new mouse....let us pray.. if insanity is to expect a different result by doing the same thing over again.... why do i keep buying  keyboards.  and trying to use technoology...

case in point---- i was delighted to have everyone solve teh where is smithsonian channel... and was told with great authority it was channel 634-- and to show me   they put it on the office tv.. and it worked.... showing at teh moment ships at sea....-- so i quickly ran in my room... pushed 6. 3. 4. and got a black screeen.. with sounds of  the titanic disaster... well they had that right.-- wanting to be ready to watch teh "dogs with extrodinary jobs."

'... i really wanted to line it up ahead of time...--i had sound but  no picture...  wailing loudly,, linda came in and diddled with my 2 remotes for 10 minutes abnd got a picture.. declaring "there.. you see it is on 134". -------- what is she ... some kind of tech wizzard.. or did she just flip thru  500 channels and find smithsonian there... and if she coudl... is that how i should have been self sufficient and done that myself.... i totally do not understand what happened--answers  began flying arouhnfd to questions i had not begun to ask..... like. -----why with one bill should the office tv get different chanels than anotehr in the same house... is it the "did you want one asprin or two" like teh hospital billing.... they gave me one super box thing AND A SECOND ONE IS ANOTHER   $4.18 A MONTH?? -- IF TRUE.  WYHY IS IT IN THT OFFICE WHER3 NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHENING ANYWAY????

SO PLEASE-- IT IS ABOUT ....MY RELUCTANT PHONE---LETS TRY for another. cp help--  TAKES ME 10 SWIPES TO TURN IT ON -- AND YESTERDDAY .. IT JUST PLAIN WOULD NOT.-- I AM TOLD I NEED ANOTEHR AS THIS BATTERY IS SO OLD I ONLY GET ONE PHONE CALL AND IT GOES DEAD... 

SO EVERYBODY... WHAT SHOULD I BUY TO BE ABLE TO PHONE, TXT AND TAKE PICTURES???? I THINK MY IDEAL WOUOLD BE SOMETHIGNSTRAPPED TO MY ARM AT 5AM EVERY DAY.  WITH THE ADDED ATTRACTIO OF BEING WATERPROOF ----I COULD THEN CARRY A  MAGNIFYING GLASS AROUND MY NECK---- ALONG WITH A PEN WITH THE FAKE FINGER SOFT END....TO TOUCH THE SCREEN... HOPEFULLY....I HAVE THE SEVERE LIMITATION OF  FAT SHAKEY FINGERS.OR Have it operational by screaming at it-- i could do that.

of teh 133 adult care centers judy and i went to----i can totally understand why 131 of them were non functioning because of a lost remote. it was wireless...

it all goes back to the origin of computers and teh  word "if" 

somebody took  a simple calculater and  rewired it. so instead of turning it on and typing  2+2  which would then =4, you could turn it on  tyoe in 2+2 and it would say 

'if you type in my secret number  i will give you the correct answer... otherwise enjoy our advertising for  birch bark canoes."  and teh password industry was born.

maybe i can still write  a  program...like eliminating duplicates in a  list of  1000. names....I HAD TO SKIP A FEW CONCEPTS BUT THE IDEA IS TEHER???  

0900 x=0

1000.  open file "A"

1010 open file "B"

1015 x=x+1 

1016 IF x =1001 GOTO 1070

1020 read 'A' line  x "name 1"

1025 x=x+1

1030. read  "A". line x"name 2"

1040 if if name 1 = name 2

1050 goto 1015

 1055  write name 1 in file "B"

1060 goto 1015

1070. close A

1080 close B

1090 stop

  oh boys... does that work???  it has been a while.

MIGHT WORK IF THERE WERE ONLY DUPLICATES.   NO TRIPPLES

it is teh ability  for a machine to make a decision ... and that is the word "IF".  

you can get so many  "if's " strung togethere you can really get screwed up...

to me that is how you make a computer work. -- it was all black screen and white instructions.

given a program like that to run, you would have your list. of 1000 names all listed without dupliocates in less that 3 seconds.

it is much better now,'you turn on the computer and it wishes your aunt louise birthday wishes and tells you  it is snowing in faIRBAKKS ALASKA.. all in color...

i had a wonderful career when everything was black and white...

now i am black and blue.