APRIL 30 2018

two dogs on stage last weekend....i didn't hear of any disasters......

i wish i could include teh video  link to eve and finn -  on stage for a fashion show... pretty funny---. it is on facebook  chronicles of eve and finn-

the other" on stage" might have been  asher in rhode island  somewhere... he wqs written up in the "playbill"

Asher and I had so much fun spending a chunk of our weekend with you all! The cast and crew did such an awesome job - I'm so impressed with how well you all did with such a big production! 😊 If anyone has any photos of Asher on stage from Saturday or today and you wouldn't mind a couple posted to our public page Adventures of Erica & Asher, please message them to me! Thank you all so much for having us!! 🐶😘*****************

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i stayed up to watch the correspondents dinner/whatever...  i have seen some really funny performances-- unfortunately  i was disappointed in htiw one-

i can't imagine why that had to be like that---- the  whole  political episode in general  constantely provides  plenty of  comic material-   i know

 "it is tough to find for love or money,

 a joke that is clean and also funny"  but i fealt a real comic could haVE Taken any fact she had aND PRESENTED IT IN A much more INTELECTUALLY CHALLANGING MANNER...  THE  PAST  3 PRESIDENTS  BUSH, CLINTON,A DN OBAMA -HAVE HAD SOME REALLY FUNNY RESPONSES TO THE SPEACHES- WITH CLASSIC TIMING. - I WAS DISAPPOINTED-- MAYBE SHE WAS NOT PROPERLY AUDITIONED???

OR VETTED??

***

WHERE DOES THAT TERM VETTED COME FROM... I KNOW  IN THE HORSE WORLD YOU HAVE A HORSE VETERNARIAN  GIVE AN OPINION ON A HORSE YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUYING.....  AND THAT IS HAVING THE HORSE "VETTED" -- I DON'T SEE HOW TEH  EXPRESSION COULD HAVE COME TEH OTHER DIRECTION   FROM POLITICAL TO HORSE WORLD...

WAY BACK---  I REMEMBER......  I HARDLY EVER BOUGHT A HORSE  THAT WAS WORTH THE MONEY IT WOULD COST TO HAVE IT "VETTED"

  I BOUGHT OUR"REJECT"  HORSES 40 CENTS A POUND---  BUT THEN JANINE BEGAN TO RIDE AND ( ALMOST SERIOUSLY)  COMPETE IN "EVENTING"- I HEARD OF A HORSE MIGHT BE FOR SALE- RIGHT DOWN TEH STREET AT A BOARDING STABLE-- WHERE THEY  HAD A "PROFESSIONAL" WHO GAVE LESSONS-- I  WENT AND ASKED IF THE HORSE WAS FOR SALE- AND WAS TOLD NO-  BUT I LOOKED AT "THAT HORSE"   AND I THOUGHT  HE WAS NICE....  SO I WENT HOME AND CHECKED WITH  THE OWNER- WHO SAID " YES HE IS FOR SALE... WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SELL HIM FOR MONTHS NOW. AND NO ONE IS  INTERESTED" ?REALLY?????   TURNS OUT THE "PROFESSIONAL " WANTED TO BUY HIM FOR LESSONS AND WAS TALKING THE OWNER DOWN IN PRICE BECAUSE "NO ONE WAS INTERESTED"-- 

I JUST HAPPENED TO BE HAVING COFFEE WITH  "THE OLD VET" CONNIE THIBEAULT THE NEXT DAY AND  ASKED HIM IF HE'D  COME LOOK AT A HORSE WITH ME...  CONNIE WAS RETIRED AND ALWAYS UP  FOR  INTERESTING THINGS... SO WE WENT TO LOOK--- AND HIS COMMENT-- I REEMEMBGER WELL... WAS   " I AM NOT GOING TO SAY HE IS SOUND, BUT I CAN SAY   ... IF YOU DON'T BUY HIM, I WILL"

AND I DID---"THAt horse" ( his name)  was as honest a event horse that ever was....   the only fence he refused was a TERRIBLE FENCE  (JUMP) THAT I NEVER LIKED.

IN MY EXPERIENCE,,,..... VETS NEVER DECLARED THE HORSE "SOUND"  BECAUSE... EVENTUALLY DARN  few ever are SO AFTER YOUPAY A COUPLE HUNDRED $$  FOR HIS OPINION,,  HE SAYS   "HE IS PRE-NAVICULAR "-- IT IS LIKE TELLING AN OLDER PERSON THEY ARE PRE-ARTHRITIC... 

I SUPPOSE THE CORRESPONDING COMMENT IN POLITICS WOULD BE

 " WE FIND THIS CANDIDATE BE  TRUSTWORTHY -- THRIFTY -- BRAVE- -CLEAN  AND REVERANT... SO FAR"

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MOVING ALONG....

*******-

Hey Carlene,

We’ve been in Atlanta this weekend for a symposium on FA. Zep was perfect as usual and everyone loved him. 99.5% of people anyway. 

We went out to dinner last night and the restaurant was willing to seat us outside (where they only had high top tables which doesn’t work for someone in a wheelchair) or inside in a private room. Basically they wanted Zep away from the other guests. My husband and I calmly explained that what they were doing was illegal but even the manager explained it was “policy. “ At that point, we left and went to a restaurant that welcomed Zep. 

After all these years with a service dog, I’m still surprised and annoyed when things like that happen ( especially in downtown Atlanta) but it doesn’t throw me as much as it used to. 

I will still report It tomorrow to DOJ and leave bad reviews everywhere I can think of. 

Allison 

****

poppy--I sent that woman a message.  Poppy is with a special needs family.  I left it open to when to have her return.  There is an autistic girl who spends time with the 2 donkeys daily.  The other donkey I gave her was lonely and not bonding with the girl. THat is why Poppy went there - the whole situation has improved and poppy is spending afternoons with the little girl walking.  Her parents are thrilled.

Janine.

april 29 2018

no inspiration this morning--  i had to write a grant  thing  and a recopmendation letter for devin....and got distracted... best i can do is to follow thru  with the indian food concept---- I’m Canadian and we are able to purchase an Indian line of cooking sauces and condiments with the trade name Patak’s, made in the U.K. We love Indian food but no longer care to prepare it from “scratch” and have found these sauces to be just wonderful....You can get Korma, Butter Chicken, Vindaloo, Tikkah Masala, and other sauces, as well as chutneys and pickles.

april 28  2018

WE HAVE A NEW PROGRAM GOING.... GOING TO LOCAL SENIOR RESIDENCES LATE MORNING FOR A RUN THRU-- SO FAR 4 WITH  BENTLEY AND SIZZLE-- (PLUS MAY IF WE FEEL ADVENTEROUS.).. EVEN 5 MINUTES BRIGHTENS UP THE PLACE-- SO I AM TOLD...  NOW--------------------- IF I COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET INVITED TO THIER LUNCHES  IT COULD BE A WIN WIN... NOW THERE 'S AN IDEA...... 

?LUNCH DATES??   COST THEM 3 SANDWICHES??? PART OF OUR ?INTERN PROGRAM ?  DOWN TEH DRIVEWAY TO BACK HOME LESS THAN 2 HOURS --- USUALLY ABOUT AN HOUR...  THE 3 SANDWICHES COULD BE  TEH "KICK"  -- ARRIVE WITH DOGS.. TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES... SET THE VIDEO RUNNING-- GET 3 SANDWICHES FOR LUNCH AND LEAVE   WE MIGHT NEED 3 sandwiches  IF I TOOK BOTH INTERNS....  THAT BEING THE CASE WE COULD TAKE  2 PUPPIES TOO.

NOW THERE'S AN IDEA...   SO FAR ALL 4 OF THE PLACES I HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN THRILLED-- AND WOULD BE THRILLED TO LET US PRACTICE ON THEM.    IT BENEFITS THE STAFF AS MUCH AS TEH RESIDENTS-- 

AND IF I TAKE THE INTERNS.... THEY CAn run the #$%^&*(*&^  technical part. all these places have "program " people who are really  stretched to find amusement for everyone...  i have always wanted to  get tehm adicted to all the explore camareas....  not just ours....commercial free entertainments...  hard to find....

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and then.....  FYI    .૩૯૩ ગુજરાતી વાનગીઓ |   ૬૭૧ ફોટા        

i am all excited to have found Tarla Dalal   india recipie's  with all sorts of supportive information...  so supportive that i had to go buy ghee-- online... which all of you respectible chefs might know about-- but it is used in some of her  cooking-- sort of butter  with out the butter-- i copied out the recipie for sevaiyan pulao because the picture looked good--ordered the ghee which we did not have... with the  hopes that maybe pam can create  a new indian flavor around here????

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we have 3 cp's help this weekend   eileen- from NY and thing 1 and thing 2-- got their name  from one of the dogfests.... 

i had set up a fire near teh tipi  and hung a big pot of water with hopes of boiling fresh corn-- all we needed was to  throw a match tot he fire.. so as i was going by that pot-- in a hurry, i asked if two of the cp's standing there if they woue start the fire--

IMMEDIATELY  the --- in uniswon--- got out their cell phones to ask "how to start a fire"  -- at that point meatcutter steve walked by and said i like to start a fire withthe l;int out of the dryer-- i stuff it in toilet paper rolls and light it.  so those 2 cp's went round and cleaned all teh dryer lint on the property and got the names  thing 1 and thing 2  -- that was ?3 years ago  and not only are they still t1 t2  upstairs in the guest bedroom---  but  as of yesterday at mail call..... i am still getting toilet paper rolls stuffed with dryer lint !

****

and that same steve just came thru the door with his collection from the school's kitchen-- usually bannanas and cooked chicken  left over from school -- sometimes with diced ham  which makes a great omlet for me !!!

and leaves me wondering  what the machine looks like that dices that ham in 1/4 inch cubes

*****

the 10 pups began to play to rioughly and jade took the m out to the front "yard???" for a fe w minutes .. and they came back in much more civilized... tehy are getting tooooooo big to be in one "pen"  so today we qwill spilt in the ice house and kitchen-- then rotatte...

rotating them will be good for their "follow me"" exercise...

**

judy did set up  the play pen for teh 2 baby donkeys  i hpe it can be seen if teh camera is twisted-- she put a yellow  about 14" from the ground so the  baby donks could see teh fence better and not run into it

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70 degreee day-- so we will get them out.

HOW TO PUT UP A GRASS PROTECTING FENCE QUICKLY..

PREPARE HAY STRING WITH LOOP IN ONE END   X 20  .

POUND IN POSTS IN A FAIRLY STRAIGHT LINE....

UNROLL THE FENCING

WITH PREPARED HAY STRING IN AN AVAILABLE POCKET... STAND FENCE UP 

AND  TIE IT  AT TOP--- STANDING WITH ONE QUICK RELEASE KNOT

AFIX ONE END-  ( 3 PIECES OF HAY STRING. ) 

AT POST 1 LOOSEN KNOT AND GIGGLE  TAUGHT  THEN  RETIE

REPEAT 20 TIMES 

DONE.

YESTERDAY TOM GOT MOST OF TEH POSTS IN SO WE ARE AAT THE UNROLL PART TODAY

HOPEFULLY 20 MIN WORTH OF "STRINGING" 

WE REALLY NEED THAT POND AREEA FOR DOG RUNNING... THIS WILL PROTECT TEH  NEWLY GRASSED HILL..

HOPEFULLY...

 AS SOON AS THE GRASS GROWS(????)  I T CAN THEN BE REMOVED TO THE DONKEY HILL WHERE WE NEED TO    PROVIDE A LARGER EXERCISE AREA FOR DOGS  IN THE  ICE HOUSE-- AND  PROTECT A COUPLE BIG TREES THAT THE DONKEYS LIKE TO EAT THE BARK FRORM...

*****

CONTINUING ON THE TOPIC OF WILDFLOWERS--- PURPLE  LOOSESTRIFE-- LOVELY PURPLE FLOWERS-- PROBLEM IS  IT TAKES OVER COMPLETE MEADOWS-- LOOKS LOVELY..  BUT THERER IS NO HOPE FOR THE BLUE WHATEVERS THAT GET CHOKED OUT.  WE HAVE ONE OR TWO  "STALKS"  IN  WITH THE CHICKENS  WHICH I TR4Y AND PULL UP BEFOR  IT BLOWS SEED TO THE POND...

*****

CHICKENS  LOVE EATING GREEN-- AND THEY HAVE STRIPPED  GREEN FROM THR AREA---  I HAVE SEEN--- IN A EXPERT BIRD RAISER4S PEND--- A DEAL WHERE  HE MADE A FRAME, CCOVERED IT WITH  THE 1/2  X  1/2 INCH "RABBIT WIRE" AND TEH GRASS GREW UP THRU THE WIRE - WHICH HIS BIRDS ATE WITHOUT KILLING THE ROOTS--

 I DO THINK SOMEONE SHOULD TRY DOING THAT Again in our chicken areaS...  IT SEEMED TO WORK FOR HIM....

*****

BELLA DID 3 DAYS OF SCHOOL THIS WEEK! SHE HASN’T CALLED EARLY AT ALL. TUESDAY SHE WAS ABOUT AN HOUR LATE BUT I WAS LETTING HER SLEEP. SHE COMES HOME AND WANTS TO LAY DOWN. TOMORROW IS INFUSION DAY SO SHE WON’T GO TO SCHOOL. WE FIGURED FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT WILL BE GOOD FOR HER TO HAVE THAT DAY TO RECOVER. SHE IS DOING REALLY GOOD THOUGH. WALKING MORE WITH GEORGE WHICH IS GREAT. SHE DOES USE HER WHEELCHAIR IN THE HALLS BUT THAT IS MORE FOR HER COMFORT. I ALSO THINK IF SHE WALKED ALL DAY SHE WOULDN’T LAST THE WHOLE DAY SO HAVING HER CHAIR TO SIT AND REST IS A GOOD THING. BUT SO FAR HER FIRST WEEK BACK AT SCHOOL HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD! THANKS FOR CHECKING IN. LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE 

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WHAT ARE THE ODDS?  

YESTERDAY I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW OPHTHALMOLOGIST, DR. BELLOWS. I LET HIM KNOW THAT BELLOW WAS NAMED AFTER THE AUTHOR SAUL BELLOW. THE DOCTOR THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY IRONIC BECAUSE SAUL BELLOW WAS HIS SECOND COUSIN! NO JOKE. (WHEN FAMILY CAME TO THE U.S., HE SAID MANY DROPPED THE “S”.) BELLOW, OF COURSE, MADE YOU PROUD AND WAS A PERFECT GENTLEMAN FOR THE LONG DAY OF DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS.

ON A SIDE NOTE: THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS EYE APPOINTMENTS TO SERVICE DOGS. BELLOW’S APPOINTMENT IS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO.

CATE & BELLOW

APRIL 26 2018

I HOPE TEH GREAT GREEN GLOB OF TORRENTIAL RAIN  ON THE WEATHER MAP...GOT OUT OF HERE WITHOUT WASHING AWAY ALL MY GRASS SEED...  THIS DOWN HILL CASCADE OF WATER  IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY MENTAL HEALTH...

HOWEVER I HAVE  A NEW PLAN... SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE OFFERING TO HELP- SOMETIMES IT IS OVERWHELMING... BUT MY NEW PLAN IS TO GIVE THEM EACH A 5 GAL PAIL AND A TEASPOON OF WILDFLOWER SEEDS AND TELL THEM TO  GET A BUCKET OF THIS WONDERFUL TOPSOIL/MULCH WHATEVER( BLACK DIRT) GO ROUND THIS NEW STONE DUST PATH WE NOW HAVE AND FIND A SPOT THAT IS SUNNY AND HAVE AT IT.  

PERSONALLY I HAV NOT HAD A GREAT DEAL OF LUCK AT IT... MAINLY BECAUSE  I DON'T KNOW A WEED FROM A FLOWER...

SOME OF THESE "FLOWERS"  HAVE  FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR WITH HUMANS- AND IT IS HARD TO KEEP TRACK-- MOST OBVIOUS-- THE DANDELION-- CHEERFUL YELLOW FLOWERS VERY SIMILOAR TO FLOWERS I SEE SOLD IN  NURSERY PLACES--  NOT ONLY CHEERFUL  BUT EATABLE-- AND I AM TOLD ONE COUDL  MAKE WINE FROM  THEM-- HOW MUCH MORE USEFUL  COULD IT BE????  BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE  BAD.-- THE  KNOWING WORLD OF LUSH GREEN VELVET LAWN MAKERS HAVE MADE A POWERFUL POWDER TO RID ONE'S  LAWN OF THESE --  THEN THE DOGS PLAY  ON THE  LUSH GREEN VELVET LAWN AND GET CANCER AND WE WONDER WHY?-- THEY EVEN TRACK THE STUFF IN THE HOUSE TO MIX WITH TEH  DISINFFECTING FLOOR SHAMPOO TO ACCELLERATE TEH PROCESS.

 I WILL SETTLE FOR GREEN-- FORGET THE LUSH PART...  GREEN WILL DO.

I CAN REMEMBER........ I USED TO LIVE IN LYNNFIELD-- A VERY TIDY TOWN WITH  ORGANIZED LAWN MOWING - THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE  I MOWED MY LAWN ONCE A YEAR  A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE KIDS HAD THAT 4H CIRCUS- THE REST OF TEH TIME   SOMETHING ATE IT-- DONKEYS, PONIES, HORSES-- WE EVEN HAD A MILK COW ONCE.  THIS PUT ME AT ODDS WITH MY NEIGHBORS WAY BACK THEN...  I LEARNED TO AVOID  THE LUSH GREEN TYPES-- BECAUSE IF THEY DID NOT HAVE DANDILIONS, IT MEANT THEY WERE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT, AND TRAINED TO HATE THE  TYPE PERSON WHO LET  THOSE CHEERFUL LITTLE YELLOW FLOWERS RIPEN INTO WIND DRIVEN  SEEDS WHICH IMPREGNATED  THEIR  LUSH GREEN EPISODES.

AS FOR THE COW-- THAT IS ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

MEL STOFFEL IS PUSHING FOR CUTE GOATS AT CRAZY ACRES--- BUT I HAVE DONE GOATS-- THEY ARE TOO ATHLETIC FOR ME. A 4' FENCE IS  ONLY A SLIGHT INCONVENIENCE TO A GOAT...

I KNEW .... AN OLDER WOMAN (15 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS YOUNG) -- SHE HAD TEH PERFECT SETUP FOR NUBIAN GOATS-  WHICH SHE MILKED TWICE A DAY  --- WHICH KEPT HER HANDS FROM BECOMING ARTHRITIC SO SHE COULD STILL MAKE BEAUTIFUL QUILTS..-- SHE DONATED TEH GOATS MILK  DAILY TO SDP... BECAUSE  THE BOARD OF HEALTH IN IT'S GREAT WISDOM DECIDED HER MILKING PROCESS WAS NOT UP TO  BOARD OF HEALTH STANDARDS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.. 

  ANOTHER THING SHE  HAD WAS A 3' DIAMETER LIQUID NITROGEN  FROZEN SPERM  CONTAINER IN HER CLOSET IN HER BEDROOM,-  SHE HAD   A  L  O  T  OF THINGS-- INCLUDING VERY WELL BRED NUBIAN GOATS  WHICH SHE  DONATED TO THE HEIFER PROJECT IN AFRICA. 

 WHAT MADE HER GOAT OWNERSHIP[ POSSIBLE WAS HER CONTRACTOR SON WHO HAD CONSTRUCTED 6' TALL --- THEY WEREN'T FENCES, BUT BARRICAIDES.. TO KEEP THE GOATS  CONTAINED.

SINCE SDP/CA  DOES NOT HAVE THOSE KIND OF FENCES.... NO GOATS.... SORRY MEL....

april 25 2018

i wish ...i really knew how to include a picture  here's a try..

this is xubby from czech -- we have a deposit on him

 and he will be shipped  pet air  from  frankfurt at 10 or 12 weeks

he is from the claudia bohemia kennel -- has a facebook??  the merle????

 - which has dogs that look like chaos...

and before any of  the internet experts get critical of breediong a merle dog,, go to the color charts

that i have posted and will send to anyone requesting them-- with  over 300 dogs,

 i find this  chart extrememly accurate with the colors prooduced 

and teh % of those colors is also  pretty accurate too/-- most receintly breeding a white to a black

said we would get merles and harls-- and we did ---  7 merles  aND ONE HARL...

******

wildflowers-- hopefully  flowers that are wild and don't need all th etender loving carte of  rosebushes and other expensive plantings..

i did go round yesterday with a bucket of topsiol aqnd ploped some wherever ther was a sunny spot--  with hopes of scattering some  wildflowers for a cheerly interlude...

****

 i have forgotten what they call teh  back axle of a car that has a seat on it and shaves-- it is used to train draft horses--  and can be used as a towing vehicle...  it might be fun to  be able to drag the paths while seated behind mo.. or heaven forbid... pockets....

our stone dust paTHS ARE  A WONDERFUL ADDITION...  AROUND THE POND AND ATTACHED TO "A" FIELD...  THE 2 FOUNTAinsw are now working - thanks to bud and skipp and aq few others...

they do make a soothing noise   --

****

in an effort to get green something growing... i think i will have to fencde off  part of teh pond area so we can still  iuse that for exercise so teh small gate  will be "locked" for teh time being  but we can still use teh pond for running...  laura pointed out if she puts teh dog s in "A"  teh quickly stand at teh gate-- but if they are in the pond area, they run aroundl.

***

 exercise is a good thing-- and the only thiong that makes it possible to train these beasts  -- i think that  eliminating or reducing  recess in grade schools just  to increase the scholastic time, is counter productive... they wiould learn so much better if teh y ran 1/4 mile and then go back to arithmetic...  i also wonder that the  ratio of negativity is  between fresh air walkers or runners to people who use tread mills.. (either mentally or physically)  - i bet teh outside bunch are rejuvenated and teh inside bunch just tired.  fresh air is good   even if it is full of water.

***

no exciting cut and pastes

** 

 we are changing alot of teh times for staff around here... teh 3 biggest changes---- pam will start sat morning becasue she will then be going against the "cape traffic"-- cape cod has only one narrow footpath with a swinging bridge to get  on and off  "the cape"-- shannon  will be "doing" all the kennels starting  at noon... there were just too many people in the barn early morn.. and grace will  be off duty at 3,  after which she can do rosebushes or mannequins....

any of these people are very welcome to be ehre more  hours to hang around  volunteering-- being helpful  and sociable--- but those hours  are put aside specifically for working. 

***

and on cometh  the younger genreation... today will be hay string preparation... mostloy because we need more  properly pprepared hay string available "around"  like teh poo pickers...

in addition-- the choice and placement of a 2"  rock  instead of a grommet to hold teh tarp on the trailer.-- grommets break... i don't think i have ever seen a rock deal give out.

APRIL 24 2018

 JERI AND STEVE HAD TO LEAVE EARLY FOR  OHIO--THEY ALWAYS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AROUND HERE-- STARTING WITH THE PURPLE FORK LIFT--- odd to say but the preparations for dog fest start now.  we need parking in that back "lot"   and grass would be soooooo nice... THat meant   TEH DESTRUCTION AND REMOVAL OF TEH NIEGHBOR'S SHED--  IT WAS REALLY A FALLING DOWN SHED-- NO ROOF... BUT FULL OF "STUFF"  AND SITTING PARTIALLY IN TEH BACK DRIVEWAY-- THE NEIOGHBOR WAS/IS HAPPY TO GET RID OF IT...  JERI, STEVE AND TANNER CERTAINLY HELPED GET RID OF 1/2 OF IT.....  

 TOM AND I WILL GO TO THE "TRANSFER STAtion  wit that load and  GET MORE TODAY--- maybe....  the other push is to go to the manure/topsoil place and gt the grass project planted becasue it is supposed to be a nice rain tomorrow...-- then thursday david #1 said he would be here  and maybe  attach teh well to some faucets so we coudl water my flat field project and have grass by dog fest...  if i could possibly get some wildflowers growing in  places i don't want to cut... it  would be lovely... the distinction between wildfloweras an=d weeds has always escaped me.  but i will try.

my concept of gardening is to plop a pile of topsoil  and mush it once with the bucket.of the tractor-- then throw seed and hope.  it would be nice around that new path to see if we can get some patches growing..

******

the steve/jeri fork lift made an attempt at the garage- and moved up to the ice house   3 cartons of calendars we did not know we had...  they  should go in my car to be given away-- quickly---  they are lovely--  and we will do some in matts  but move the rest out.  

****

THE FEEDBAGS ARE ON THEIR WAY - TINA   is very good at organizing that stuff WITH MR MOON.......  the purchase is a carlene financial project--(to benifit sdp-- but my risk) - and i have lined up the usefull bag production with pens paperclips  asprins gloves,tye wraps... and things like that... to go in them... you can notice the prototype are being used daily to feed teh donkeys-- but they are very useful  in replacing the ubiquitous  plastic bag for shopping...  we legnthed the strap so it can be "worn"  across chest style-- sort of a back pack on your side that you can  have access to..

should be interesting.

****

NOW IT IS ABOTU THE OLD GLASSES PROJECT.... MANY PEOPLE HAVE A PILE OF OLD GLASSES NO LONGER USED... IN TEH PAST WE HAVE HAD A BOXFULL HERE-- AND AS IT TURNS OUT... MANY PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES-- WHICH IS FINE... THEY Are getting used... but it is getting to the  point of collecting some  more to replentish the supply... so if you have any sitting around doing notihtng,, pack them off to us... someone will use them here !!  -- this GLASS PROJECT   started because  a man was here in the living room  and about to write a check for a donation--- but couldn't because he left his glasses somewhere....  i don't want that to happen again.... SO WE HAVE A BOX OF A MISC COLLECTION OF GLASSES AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.

***

THIS VIDEO PROJECT-- WITH ANNE-- TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO GET "SHUT IN"  PEOPLE ONTO THE EXPLORE CAMERAS ( MINUS ANY COMMERCIALS) INSTERAD  OF THE VARIOUS NEW PROGRAMS-- I HAVE A LIST OF PLACES TO GO WITH  BENTLEY AND SIZZLE--  THE NEWBURY PORT SENIOR HOAM WAS SOOOO POPULAR... WE SHOUDL REPLICATE THAT IF POSSIBELE.

****

Pixie is going to be featured on the Florida vet website tomorrow. My girl is a Miracle and she’s so special to them as much as she is me. What an honor for her. If it wasn’t for them she wouldn’t be here today, they saved her life. We are so grateful but to be asked for this is so touching. Pixie touched their hearts as she does many. ❤️

april 23 2018

30 DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER, BUTJANUARY 2018  WILL HAVE 111..  YESTERDAY- NEARLY PERFECT SPRING DAY..- INCLUDING ALOT OF SANE AND HAPPY PEOPLE WHO CAME TO ENJOY ( AND WEAR OUT) THE PUPPIES...AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO FINISH TEHE  DAY THAN TO HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OVER DONKEY NIPPLES !!

BAby donlkeys may be teh cutest baby--  but watching them try and find a nipple has to be teh most un- nerving experience... after trying the walls, teh water buckets and the door latch,  they finally find mommy-- wrong part/right head position...   RIGHT PART / WRONG HEAD POSITION.... nice try but milk does not come out of that part...- unless there is some extenuatinG circumstance, they do eventuslly figure it out... i hoppe this new baBY HAS IT DOWN PAT-- I QUIT WATCHING ON THE COMPUTER... AND WENT TO BED... IN A NUTSHELL  TEH FIRST BUNCH OF MILK CONTAINS TEH COLOSTRIUM WHICH HAS ANTIBODIES AND TEHY MUST GET SOME EITHER FROM  THERE  OR A SYRINGE FROM A VET ( WHICH IS NEW TO ME BUT BRYAN MENTIONED IT.) I ALWAYS HEARD FIRST 24 HOURS-- JANINE HAS HEARD 4 HOURS... PUTTIN G MORE PRESSURE ON ANY WATCHING PERSON--  IN VERY COLD WEATEHER, I THINK IT ALSO CRITICAL TO GET THE WARM MILK IN THE FOAL;S BELLY TO KEEP THE INNARDS FUNCTIONING WELL-- THAT COULD BE TEH 4 HOURS TIME FRAME... WHO KNOWS.

BOTH MOTHER AND BABY ARE ALIVE THIS MORNING....   IT WAS A CIRCUS LAST NIGHT... OF COURSE... WHEREE WAS TEH GOAT SIZE  NIPPLE BOTTLE KEPT?  I DUNNO-- I DID NOTICE  A BEER BOTTLE WITH NIPPLE LAST TIME- BUT WHO CLEANED UP WHAT AND WHERE IT WENT , I DO NOT KNOW.-- ONLY EMPTY BEER BOTTLES ARE ALLOWED HERE ANYWAY...

***   

AND TEH PURPLE FORK LIFT ARRIVED AND INSPIRED ALL KINDS OF  MECHANICAL ACTIVITY- INCLUDING KNOCKING OVER A NEIGHBOR'S  SHED... ( ON PURPOSE)-- it was   minus teh roof-  i thought it was  sort of 4 walls and woudl fit int eh dump trailer.. well 1/2 fits... and we will have to go back for another load - if not today. then next tanner day -- we certainly have it flattened... what we did not know was it was full of  "AWAY" stuff-- as in throw it "away"  first thing today-- a dump run.. actually a "transfer statioon"  run

then if steve is still inspired  maybe a manure run and pick up top soil  and gert seed planted before it is to rain on wednesday.. 

****

speaking of wednesday... thursday david said he would be here.... david-- as in  these wonderful mitsubisi heaters we now have...

he is going to tasckle the problem of the dogs eating the pipe out of the well-  we do have a well-- lotsa water--- down 500 feet-- tastes like it came out of the bottom of a fish market.  but it is good for watering  the flat field.... and i do like to run it once in a while...  so to turn on the water, you flip a breaker in teh cellar... i usually do that in teh very dry august weather..

water consumpotion here is astronomical--  i have watched people scrubb outdoor runs to perfection-- while groaning about the cost of water bill...---fortunately most of the march mud has dried and fallen off teh golf carts... they were looking sad...

****

 our 14,000 donkey tote bags are ready for shipping-- tina in california is our mr moon connection-- she manages that episode-- and tho maybe not 14,000 , even the minimum number we had to aorder is huge....  hopefully janine's donkey group[ will want them too... they will be handy pouches-- maybe replacing the plastic bag ipisode for small items..

****

GRUMMAN HAD A VERY BUSY WEEK, WE TRAVELED TO FORT SILL OKLAHOMA TO CELEBRATE OUR SON, BENJAMIN'S ARMY BOOT CAMP GRADUATION. THE TRIP ENTAILED A FLIGHT TO DALLAS FROM DCA (NATIONAL AIRPORT) ON SOUTHWEST (ONCE AGAIN, THEY PROVED WHY THEY ARE THE BEST CHOICE WHEN TRAVELING WITH A SERVICE ANIMAL, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY ARE SUPERSIZED), WE THEN RENTED A MINIVAN FOR A 3 HOUR TRIP TO LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. 

THE GRADUATION WAS WONDERFUL! THE CEREMONY WAS STEEPED IN TRADITION AND HONOR, WITH A LITTLE HUMOR THROWN IN SO THE MOOD WOULD BE CELEBRATORY AS WELL AS DIGNIFIED. GRUMMAN PAID HIS DUE RESPECT TO OUR NEWEST SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY WEARING AN APPROPRIATE OUTFIT TO MATCH THE FESTIVE YET SOLEMN OCCASION! 

*****

CARLENE, HERE'S A 4 A.M. THOUGHT FOR YOU - POSSIBLE CREATIVE WRITING PROJECT FOR YOUR SUMMER INTERNS.

ASSIGNMENT - WRITE AN ESSAY RELATED TO EXPERIENCE AT SDP.

RULES:

- MUST BE EXACTLY 100 WORDS

- NO WORD MAY BE USED MORE THAN ONCE (INCLUDING 'AND," ,'A,"

 "THE" ETC.)

ANY JUDGMENT IS BASED ON COHERENCE, PLUS A VALID MESSAGE WITHOUT USING STILTED LANGUAGE.

POSSIBLE TOPIC - "MY EXPERIENCE AT SDP- THE UNEXPECTED"

JUST AN IDEA, POSSIBLE FUN, POSSIBLE DELETE! 

 CHEERS, DAVE MOWAT AKA MR.BEARS!-OR 

**

 now there is a good one....

APRIL 22 2018

I ASKED TEH 6  INTERNS TO WRITE A PAPER ON WATER BUCKETS-- ALL SIX DID THAT- AND PER THEIR SCHOOL TRAINING ALL CAREFULLY TYPED. THEY ALL HAD VARIATIONS IF METAL/PLASTIC  BIRD POOP/SOAPY WASH AND REFILL 3/4 -- INTERESTING-- BUT ORDINARY .....

  THE ONLY THING THEY DID NOT WRITE ABOUT WAS  " WE  STARTED LIFE AS A BIG FLAT SHEET OF STAINLESS STEEL-- AND AFTER A TORTUROUS 30 MINUTES WE  BECAME BUCKETS -- WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES - WITH OUR CLEAN SHINEY - NON RUSTING- BOTTOMS... NOT LIKE THOSE  OTHER ONES WHO WERE DESTINED TO BE IN CHEAP MOTELS AS ICE BUCKETS. MY GROUP ENDED UP  IN THE DOG HOUSE... LITERALLY.. TO BE SCRUBBED AND CLEANED DAILY  ETC..." 

BUT IT IS EARLY I THE SUMMER.  I EXPECT MORE CREATIVITY AS THE SUMMER MOVES ON...

*****

 OUR CREATIVITY WILL BE HELPED BY JERI AND STEVE WHO ARRIVED WITH A LOVLEY FORK LIFT  ALL PAINTED PURPLE WITH PAW PRINTS AND A PURINA LOGO..  A forklift is one thing i have not driven before-- since it is the back wheels that turn, it feels like you are in a car sliding on ice .. one thing it will help with.. our g tent needs to have the turnbuckles tightened...  piece of cake with thaat thing.  i might even get hthe extra CARTONS OF  CALENDAR STUFF OUT OF THE GARAGE????? AND INTO THE ICE HOUSE????..  A PERFECT ADDITION  ALL 8000 POUNDS OF IT...  IT DOES PREFER FLAT HARD SURFACES-  I DON'T THINK IT WOULD SURVIVE 5 SECONDS ON SOFT GRASS.   TODAY WE MAY TRY AND GET IT DOWN THE ALLEYWAY INTO THE ARENA... IT IS ?LP GAs driven. grace will have a field day with the g tent rafters--

***

 i am told animale control has contacted megan about barking  so as i sit here starting at 4am..... , i hav on the donkey camera with it's sound--THAT MIC IS VERY SENSATIVE... I CAN OFTEN HEAR MOMMY CHEWING and NOW...  i hear birds chirping  and ocassionally one single dog so far away that it can not be in our barn--   at 5:05  a bunch howl'd for 20 seconds-- then quit- and we are back to the single dog..  out on boxford rd?  - i can equate the volume to the noise of a dripping faucet-- course my hard of hearing might  influence that...  I HAVE SENT MOLLY DOWN WITH A BOX OF COOKIES TO THROW  A  HANDFULL UP INTO THE LOFTS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

****danes are  not prone to   thaT consistaNT \FRUSTRATED BARKING YOU CAN SEE IN ALOT OF KENNELS.. THEY BARK FOR A REASON- HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I STOOD HERE WITH A NEW COMMER AND SAID " THERE ARE 55 DOGS ON THE PROPERTY.. AND PLEASE NOTE.. NOT ONE IS BARKING"   ...  BUT THEY CERTAINLY CAN--

 PROBLEM IS IF ONE PERSON IN THAT DEVELOPEMENT NEXT DOOR STARTS BEING ANNOYED THEY GET WORSE WITH EVERY BARK.  THERE IS A SIGN UP THERE FACING THEIR DEVELOPEMENT "THIS IS A FARM-- WITH SOMETIMES NOISY, SMELLY ANIMALS"   UNFORTUNATELY I CONSIDER   THEM ABOUT THE SAME... ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY BBQ OUTSIDE !!

*****    

NOW WE NEED  TO DO MOUTH INSPECTION???

Dear Carlene, 

Pixie is all good thank goodness. They did a full lab work up along with her platelets. They where even higher then last time. She’s back to normal with her platelets. All her other labs looked good the dr said. They also did a full exam to make sure I didn’t miss anything. 

The spots in her mouth are more then likely from her meds. Not exactly sure the cause. 

She is on her her way home now with me and we sure are going to snuggle tight together. It was a scary moment there. 

The vet was absolutely amazing they rushed her right in. They knew who she was as soon as we got there. The vet in Florida to them all about her and how special she was. They had been speaking with the vet in Florida to make sure all her records where there and to make sure she had the best care possible, which she got so far today. 

She’s going to be a great place very caring and thorough with her exam. They knew everything about her disorder down to the T. 

Stacy and Pixie 

I WISH I KNEW WHAT SPOTS I WAS LOOKING FOR IN THEIR MOUTHS-- SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHIGN WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT.

**** 

FOUND.....

No railing? No problem!

We spent the afternoon in downtown Providence today - I had an interview for an internship at the state house. I'd been there several times before for various reasons, but this was my first time with Asher. It's a beautiful place, but it's somewhat inaccessible - the stairs are only in the back, but if I want to approach from the direction of the center of downtown without having to walk around the entire perimeter of the property, stairs it is. Last time I was here, I exited and wanted to end up at the mall, and it was then I realized that my best option was to go down the stairs and cross the street, but since there are no hand rails, I couldn't do it. I felt angry and defeated that something as simple as a lack of handrails in one spot could force me to add at least another ten minutes onto my walk since I had to navigate around to a more accessible area. But we don't do that anymore! Stairs - up or down - are no longer an issue. We had quite the trek today to get everywhere we needed to go, probably at least a couple miles, but it didn't seem long at all with my best friend next to me! As we get closer to a year together, I think about all the places we've explored together and how much farther I can go with Asher next to me. I think we both enjoyed our long stroll today, and we're hoping that today's beautiful weather is here to stay!

APRIL 21 2018

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THIS... BUT......CLAUDIA BOHEMICA POSTED NEW PICTURES OF THE LITTER X PUPPIES ON FACEBOOK.  WE HAVE A $500 DEPOSIT ON THE MERLE MALE... STRANGE THAT IT WOULD BE LITTER "X"  BECAUSE TEH FIRST MALE I IMPORTED WAS  "XUBBY"  WHO BECAME "DEAGLE" -- I HOPE THIS ONE IS 1/2 THE DOG DEAGLE WAS....

ACCORDING TO THE "CHART"  MERLE TO BLACK SHOULD GIVE US  50% MERLES, HARLEQUINS AND 50% BLACKS/WHITE--

ABOUT THE SAME AS WATSON/ ( HARL)  TO BLACK--50..50  -- IF I HAVE ANY CORECTION TO THE CHNART, I WOUOLD SAY OVER  350 PUPPIES   TEH RATIO MIGHT BE  56%BLACK AND44% MERLE/HARL-- WE DO SEEM TO GET ALOT OF BLACKS..

***

BIG EXCITEMENT YESTERDAY WAS WE DID PHYSICALLY GET THE CHECK  FROM TTOH-- IT GOT MIS DELIVERED TO SOMEONE IN TOPSFIELD AND  TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO US... IT WAS WRITTEN MARCH 22 ..

***

WE DID HAVE A VERY INTERESTING REPORT FROM ERICA AND ASHER  ABOUT  A SIMPLE PROBLEM ASHER HAS SOLVED...  THE LACK OF HANDRAILS.. IN GREAT BIG BUILDINGS LIKE STATE HOUSES  - SOMETHIGN THAT DOES NOT OCCUR TO  PEOPLE WITH "NORMAL" FEET...  AT  ANY RATE .. NOW ASHER IS HER PORTABLE HANDRAIL....

I WOULD HAVE CUT AND PASTED IT  EXCEPT MY WONDERFUL COMPUTER ATE IT.

++++

SOME THINGS WE CAN NOT PRACTICE-- LIKE CADAVER TRAINING?????

Hi Carlene,

Clark and I have had a very busy past few months.  I just submitted an application for a fellowship to fund my dissertation, and Clark was very patient with me as we spent lots of weekend hours at school and coffee shops while I was writing.  As always, he prefers to be out working somewhere, even if he just naps, than staying at home.  

This semester we've also been in an intensive class with the medical students.  The class lasts all morning, and has hands-on lab time, along with usual lectures.  Some of the labs are in the gross anatomy lab - with cadavers.  I was nervous at first about how Clark would react, but he has been perfect every time.  My instructors have been very supportive, and arranged for Clark to have his own mat and blanket set up right by my lab table, so I can use him when I need to get up, but he is at a comfortable distance when we are doing dissections.  I am always looking for new things to do and expose Clark to, and I think this definitely qualifies!  We have gotten many compliments from the professors and students on his behavior in class and I expect nothing less.

This week, we have finally enjoyed a break from class.  We made a trip to Columbus, OH, to see if I qualify for a clinical trial for a drug for FA.  In going through the evaluations, I notice the areas where the disease has progressed.  Still, I think I surprised the doctor with how much and how well I can walk with Clark.  He is truly the best treatment I have received.

We also got to meet up with Paul and Charlotte, who live close by, for a play date for the pups.  It is so great to have another SDP team near us!  Clark and Charlotte had fun in the mud, and Paul and I had a nice time, too!

Here are a few pictures from the past months.

Caroline

april 20 2018

i have some good news and some bad.....

good news-- we took ella to  a  specialist to figure out why she has a heart murmer that goerge had heard... i was very worried because of all the relatives she has that are already out being good service dogs... 

 turns out the cause of the noise is inconsequencial--  for $500...   now how we get  that news out to all the people who had started to worry, i do not know....  i do not do facebook-- so i will count on everyone to pass that around  facebook as quickly as possible... should i do a cardiac ultrasound on every pup???  well...historically george would stop by with each new litter and put a stethoscope on each one--- and usually someone at least listens to their heart when they get their rabies at 12 weeks...       we do not coddle our pups- tehy runn up and down puppy hill- falling down hitting trees... wrestling with each other-- i figure  - that kind of  life  itself is good screening should  uncover any physical problems.. we watch for any  deviation and  usually  donate them to volunteers as happy pets... which often become happy therqapy dogs.

***

 the bad news is we did not get the cummings graNT of $100,000   --- we were sooooo sure.... 

we will survive, but  this will mean we will have to redo our  bigger expenses like payroll--  job descriptions and .. we will not hot top  the rest of the driveway...

the good news on big projects is   that wonderful stone dust path  was 99% donation---

*****

how is news "slanted"  ?  or not equally distributed?????

it is not getting much press that  the captain who was so brilliant in landing that southwest plane with one engine

 was ... female...  now just immagine what would be all over thenews if she had crashed the thing killing eveerybody. 

Tammie Jo Shults, the Southwest captain who safely landed the jetliner, is being hailed as a level-headed hero for her calm in the face of crisis, as evidenced by air-traffic control tapes released Wednesday. i did listen to her recording as she  got details about  which runway-- and then thanked the ATC for their help ??????

******

now this is funny

several days ago, as I left a meeting at a hotel, I desperately gave myself a personal "TSA pat down." I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.

Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My wife has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition.  

My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them.

Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion: her theory was right. The parking lot was empty.

I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.

Then I made the most difficult call of all, "Honey," I stammered; I always call her "honey" in times like these. "I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen."  

There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard her voice. "Idiot", she barked, "I dropped you off!"

Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, "Well, come and get me." 

She retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car."

Yep, it's the golden years.

APRIL 19 2018
CAKE DAY  -- LETS SEE IF WE CAN GET A CAKE TO SOME FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE 7 STATES WHICH HAVE NOT HAD THE  CAKE OF TEH 19TH... YET..
*****
I HAVE HAD TO CUT THE GRASS IN MY BED  ROOM -- THE RYE IS UP ABOUT 6" SO WITH SCISSORS I CUT IT TO 3 INCHES.. WONDERING IF TEH "STALKS" WILL GET THICKER..  MEANWHILE THE EXPENSIVE "VELVET GREEN LAWN" STUFF HAS A FEW SPINDLEY SPROUTS ABOUT AN INCH TALL... MY CONCERN WITH GRASS NOT SO MUCH WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT WILL IT STAY PUT AND  HOW MUCH  EATABLE GRASS WILL IT PRODUCE- AND AT WHAT TIME WILL BITING IT OFRF ( AS IN MO'S CASE)  NOT PULL IT OUT BY THE ROOTS...

MEGAN  ENCOUNTERED TEH FEDEX MAN-- WHO IS A PART TIME LANDSCAPER WHO  ASKED HER "WHAT THE HEII IS CARLENE TRYING TO DO?   IF SHE SPREADS THAT HAY  OVER IT SHE WILL GET  HAY"  WELL IF THE HAY IS GREEN AND DOES NOT GET WASHED AWAY, IT IS A BIG PLUS AROUND HERE... HE SUGGESTED WE USE SALT MARSH HAY---  WHICH I DO KNOW ABOUT... BUT I WILL HAPPILY SETTLE FOR  ANY VEGITATION IN GENERAL...- AT ANY RATE-- Any time the fedex truck arrives, i go running out to try and find the same driver  so maybe he ca n organizin this "planting,."  in the meantime all teh straw from the painted lady's stay in the ice house is now spread in the aREA BY THE PUPPY HILL CAMERA-- SO YOU CAN WATCH GRASS GROW.....  REMEMBER GREEN IS GOOD...   

**

STEVE DROVE ME TO  A SENIOR LIVING PLACE IN NEWBURYPORT YESTERDAY--1:00PM -- THERE WAS NO WAY I SHOULD BE  DRIVING ON  THE HIGHWAY ABOUT NAP TIME..... IT WAQS FUN FOR THEM TO HAVE THE DOGS THERE- MAY  SIZZLE AND CHARLIE   - BUT I WONDERED HOW WELL THIS VIDEO WOULD HAVE WORKED IN PLACES WHERE I  HAVE TROUBLE GETTNIG TO...-- IT IS ON  OUR WEB-- RIGHT UNDER  OUR HOME PAGE-- IT STARTS WITH THE PICTURE OF ME DIVING--- WHICH  IS THE ONLY PICTURE OF ME I HAVE EVER LIKED.!!--

NEXT QUESTION -- IS IT POSSIBLE TO PROJECT  IT FROM OUR WEB TO A  WALL/SCREEN?   I KNOW I CAN DO IT WITH THE GIZMO JUDY BOUGHT... MOST OF THESE PLACES HAVE SOME KIND OF PROJECTION  EQUIP[MENT... THEY DID YESTERDAY... I GOT A KICK OUT OF IT...  TO CONNECT TO IT REQUIRED WIRES FROM TEH FLOOR BEHIND THE SPEAKERS PODIUM AND A GUY SITTIN G ON THE FLOOR BEHIMD ME WITH HIS COMPUTER-- GOT US TEH PICTURE, BUT NO SOUND...  THAT MAY MAKE SENSE TO THE TECHNICALLY ASTUTE- BUT THIS WAS IN A  SENIOR HOME... NOT A 12 YEAR OLD ON SITE TO FIX IT.

THERE USED TO BE A COMICAL ROUTINE ABOUT HUGE HI-FI  SPEAKERS WHICH WOLD GIVE  YOU  THE EXACT STEREOHONIC SOUND IF YOU SAT IN THE BOTTOM OF A CLOSET ( DONALD SWANN AND MICHAEL FLANDERS  "AT THE DROP OOF A HAT"  GOOD BRITISH HUMOR...)

WE'RE  TERRIBLY "HOUSE AND GARDEN" 

THE MONEY THAT ONE SPENDS

TO MAKE A PLACE THAT WON'T DISGRACE

OUR HOUSE AND GARDEN FRIENDS.

AND HERE I AM STRUGGLING TO MAKE PLACES LOOK  GREEN INSTEAD OF RAW  BROWN MUD.

****

PERFECT POOP AND VOMIT REPORT-- AT LEAST SO FAR....  I DID JUST ORDER A BIG BOTTLE OF FLAGYL

WE GO THR4U ALOT OF THAT -- BLAMING  THE  DOG'S LOOSE STOOL ON TEH CANADIAN GEESE FOULING THE WATERWAYS.. WHEN IN FACT IT MAY BE OUR GUINNEA HENS...  I DID COMMENT ON  THE FAct that  i never see any  "droppings" aROUND TEH YARD FROM TEH  GUINNEAS--- IT IS NOT BECAUSE TEHY DON'T GO...IT IS BECAUSE IT IS  THE EQUIVALANT OF CHOCOLATE TO A PUPPY.--

YOU KNOW HOW MANY INVENTIONS ARE DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT--- LIKE PENICILLIN..... WELL MAYBE WE DISCOVERED WHAT THEY SHOULD USE TO FLAVOR DOG TREATS....  I WILL LET PURINA KNOW....

****

LOTSA CUT AND PASTE....

*************

THIS IS HOW EVE FELL ASLEEP TONIGHT!

TOMORROW WE GO FOR FOLLOW UP X-RAYS ON THAT BROKEN FEMUR AND BENT ROD. YESTERDAY EVE TRIED TO WALK A LITTLE AND COMPLAINED ONE LEG FEELS SHORTER THAN THE OTHER.... WELL IT LOOKS LIKE IT TOO. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED WITH BEING NON WEIGHT BEARING THIS WHOLE TIME BUT SOMETHING HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED. IT’S NOT CAUSING HER PAIN BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS NOTICEABLE AND CONCERNING ! SO SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR HER TOMORROW IF YOU WOULD! WE SEE THE PT IN THE MORNING AND ORTHO IN THE AFTERNOON. WE WILL FIND SOMETHING NICE TO DO IN BETWEEN!

 ***

BELLA GEORGE

GEORGE DOESN’T EVEN GO AFTER THE PIECE OF DROPPED POPCORN WHEN HE IS ON DUTY. WHAT A GOOD BOY. BELLA HAS BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD. SLEEPING MUCH BETTER NOW WITH THE NEW NECK BRACE AND THE EAR INFECTION GONE SO THAT IS A HUGE PLUS FOR EVERYONE! ONLY 2 MORE DAYS OF THE HALO BRACE AND THEN SHE WILL JUST BE IN A NECK BRACE ALL THE TIME WHICH WILL BE MUCH EASIER TO MOVE AROUND IN. SHE IS GETTING STRONGER AND WALKING A LITTLE ON HER OWN. SHE DOES MORE FURNITURE WALKING WHEN HOME INSTEAD OF HER WALKER AND THE LAST 2 TIMES WE WENT OUT SHE DID A SHORT WALK WITH GEORGE AND NO WHEELCHAIR SO WE ARE DEFINITELY GETTING THERE. I WILL BE SO HAPPY WHEN IT IS FINALLY NICE AND SHE WILL BE ABLE TO BE OUTSIDE PLAYING BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WILL START TO GET STRONGER QUICKER. HOPEFULLY IN A MONTH WHEN WE GO BACK SHE WILL GET THE OK TO RIDE HER BIKE. BUT BABY STEPS AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS MAKING SOME GREAT PROGRESS! I AM SO PROUD OF HER! THANK YOU FOR CHECKING IN! LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE 

*****

NICK AND JOSH

Hey Carlene just giving you an updated on Nicholas and the amazing job he does.

So I learned something last night.

MS + Cold = Bad combination

I lost feeling in my right leg right arm and was having cognitive issues also lost vision. After dinner Nicholas assisted me with getting up and to the bedroom. With me being unable to see and having no feeling in my leg. He did a amazing job escorting me to me bed. He knew where I needed to go. My daughters helped with me laying down. Nicholas came and checked on me several times throughout the night to make sure I was alright. 

No cane, walker, or wheelchair could do the things Nicholas does for me. The bond between me and Nicholas is amazing his willingness to help me when I'm having a bad day. Again that is something you cannot get from a cane, walker, or wheelchair. 

Josh Lyons

*****

FINN/EVE

SO I GUESS I SHOULD TELL MY STORY FROM SATURDAY.... WE WERE AT THE 4-H BLOOD DRIVE EVENT. WE SHOWED UP AT OUR SCHEDULED TIME BUT ENDED UP WITH ABOUT A 45 MINUTE WAIT. WHILE FINDING A SEAT A WOMAN TAKES NOTICE OF FINN, HE’S KINDA HARD TO MISS YA KNOW AND CHATS WITH EVE ABOUT FINN AND HER OWN GREAT DANE. SHE WAS WITH HER TWIN DAUGHTERS (AROUND 8 Y OLD?) I TELL EVE SHE SHOULD GIVE HER ONE OF THEIR CARDS WHICH TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVE, FINN, SDP AND A LITTLE SERVICE DOG ETIQUETTE. THE WOMEN READS THE CARD AND STOPS SUDDENLY LOOKS AT ME, THEN EVE, AND BACK TO ME AGAIN. I CLEARLY SEE HER TRYING TO FORMULATE HER WORDS WHEN SHE FINALLY SAYS IS YOUR HUSBAND A FIRE FIGHTER? I SAY YES LANCE IS WHY DO YOU ASK? AT WHICH POINT SHE TELLS ME HER NAME AND THAT SHE WORKS FOR THE SHERIFFS DEPT. IMMEDIATELY I KNEW WHO SHE WAS.... I THINK I HAVE POSTED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT YOU SEE WHEN EVE WAS BORN WE DID NOT KNOW SHE HAD FRAGILE BONES. AT 6 WEEKS OLD WE TOOK HER IN FOR HER ARM THAT WAS CAUSING PAIN WHEN WE MOVED IT ABOVE HER HEAD. IT WAS SHOCKINGLY BROKEN NOT ONLY THAT BUT SHE HAD 13 MORE BONES THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN AND WERE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF HEALING. WHEN YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN HOW THAT HAS HAPPENED THEY ACCUSE YOU OF ABUSE! NOT MIND BLOWING I KNOW BUT DEVESTATING NONE THE LESS! THIS WOMAN WAS THE DETECTIVE WHO INVESTIGATED US! 

WHOA! THAT BROUGHT BACK A WHOLE BOAT LOAD OF EMOTIONS I HADN’T THOUGHT ABOUT IN QUITE WHILE. IT WAS PRETTY TRAUMATIC TO OUR FAMILY BUT THIS DETECTIVE AND HER PARTNER BELIEVED US- GOOD -BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY ONLY GET TO REPORT THE FACTS THEY FIND. CLEARLY THIS MEETING WAS EMOTIONAL FOR HER AS WELL. HER AND HER PARTNER WERE IN THE SENSITIVE CRIMES UNIT SO THEY DEALT WITH MANY ABUSE CASES. YET SHE SAID OURS WAS ONE OF THE FEW THAT SHE STILL THOUGHT ABOUT. SHE NEVER WAS INFORMED OUR CASE WAS CLOSED 6 WEEKS LATER OR IF “BABY EVE” WAS GIVEN A DX. TURNS OUT SHE DRIVES PAST EVE’S GRAND PARENTS HOUSE FREQUENTLY AND SAID FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS EVERY TIME SHE DROVE PAST SHE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED WITH “BABY EVE”. WE BOTH HAD CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ALMOST DIDN’T BRING US THERE AT THAT TIME. SO SEEMS LIKE FATE WE WERE MEANT TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER 10 YEARS LATER. NOT SURE WHAT GOD WAS/IS UP TO WITH THAT MEETING BUT I’M SURE IT IS SOMETHING! WE CHATTED FOR QUITE A WHILE ABOUT FINN, THE CASE AND EVE’S DX. JUST CRAZY- I DON’T HAVE THE WORDS TO TRULY EXPRESS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS “MEETING”. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT HAD/HAS A PURPOSE- MAYBE JUST FOR SOME CLOSURE FOR HER- NOT SO MUCH ME AS SHE DIDN’T REALLY TELL ME ANYTHING I DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW. I KNEW THEY BELIEVED US BEFORE THIS....OK - I’M RAMBLING NOW - BUT ONE MORE THING- EVE WAS ASKING HER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT BEING A DETECTIVE AND THEN EVE STATED SHE WANTS TO BE A DETECTIVE WHEN SHE GROWS UP. AT WHICH POINT SHE TELLS EVE. “IF YOU BECOME A DETECTIVE I WANT YOU TO CALL ME BECAUSE I WANT TO BE THE ONE TO PIN THAT BADGE ON YOU!!”

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN! 

APR  18 2018

I WISH I KNEW HOW TO INCLUDE PICTURES/JPEGS -- I GET SOME GOOD ONES... 

FIRSTLY- A SENIOR'S VIEW OF FACEBOOK-- ABOUT WALKING DOWN THE STREET TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE COFFEE THEY HAD, OR THAT THEY HAD WATERED THEIR LAWN..  SHOWING PICTURES OF A PLANT IN THEIR WINDOW... ETC.. AND HOW TEHY NOW  HAD 4 NEW FRIENDS FOLLOWING -- FROM THIS ACTIVITY  - 2 POLICEMEN, AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AND A PSYCHIATRIST.

****

SECONDLY.. SIFDE BY SIDE WALL STREET JOURNALS-- SAME DATE.. SAME PICTURE DIFFERENT HEADLINE.. ONE  SLANTED TO TRUMP ONE SLANTED AWAY- TEH ASSUMPTION WAS FOR SALE IN DIFFERENT MARKETS... --- COULD BE TRUE... BUT DON'T I REMEMBER DIFFERENT EDITIONS???  LATE EDITIONS?? THE FACT THAT WE  SUSPECT  MANIPULATION OF MARKETS IS TEH CRIMINAL PART.

***

THE PASSING OF BARBARA BUSH...-- MY NIECE-- DEBBIE-- KNEW THE BUSH FAMILY MOSTLY BECAUSE SHE PLAYED TENNIS WITH GEORGE SENIOR... AND SHE DECLARED LONG AGO THAT BARBARA WAS THE  MOST CLASSY PERSON SHE KNEW. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LEAVES MY SISTER AND I ... HOWEVER....

*** 

SO FAR I HAVE 2 REPORTS ON WATER BUCKETS-- DEVLIN AND LAURA-- INTERESTING... WHEN I GET A FEW MORE WE CAN DISCUSS THEM -- LAURA'S IMMEDIATE REACTION IS WHY?    MY ANSWER.. MENTAL EXERCISE..--  IN SCHOOL TEHY HAVE TO WRITE PAPERS ON  WHO WROTE TEH CONSTITUTION-- A NORMAL SORT OF THING THAT PROVES THEY CAN  LOOK UP FACTS  AND COPY IT --  HAVEING THEM WRITE WHY IT WAS WRITTEN MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY MORE CREATIVE-  BUT  I AM LOOKING FOR TEH  OUT OF THE BOX CREATIVE...

HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ALL SEEN TEH   --- TED LECTURE-- BY KEN ROBERTSON-- EXTREMEL;Y FUNNY BUT ALSO CRITICAL...

AND AFTER YOU SEE THAT LECTURE  , TRY MIKE ROWE- CASTRATING SHEEP...  THAT'LL JAR YOU.

**********

SO BACK TO THE INTERRNS---  FIRST LESSON WILL BE  HAY BALE STRING CUTTING...-- HAY STRING HAS PLAYED A LARGE PART IN MY LIFE...  THE STORY STARTS WITH THE PROPER PREPARATION BY CUTTING THE STRING NEXT TO THE KNOT-  IF YOU THEN   MAKE A SIMPLE LOOP IN THE END WITH THE KNOT, SHOVE IT IN YOUR POCKET, I GUARENTEE BEFORE TH EDAYS END YOU WILL HAVE SOLVED SOME PROBLEM OR ANOTHER. YESTERDAY  TOM AND I WENT TO THE COMPOST IN G COMPANY -- AND WITH DIFFICULTY TIED AND UNTIED THE 8 PIECES OF HAY STRING HOLDING TOGETHER TEH TARP--  IT WAS TERRIBLE....I WAS EMBARASSED AS WE ENTERTAINED A BUNCH OF MEN WITH THE   FLAPPING TARP THAT WAS 6 FEET TOO BIG,  HAY STRING WITH KNOTS IN TEH WRONG PLACES----- I COULD HEAR THEM...DO THEY  NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THIS???-- WELL WE KNOW-- WE JUST HAVE NOT GOT ORGANIZED PROPERLY.-- YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT IN  MORE GROMMETS,  YOU COULOD TAKE A SMALL STONE  UNDER THE TARP, NOOSE TEH STRING AROUND IT AND TIE IT DOWN-- AND THEN THERE IS THE  LOOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROPE/STRING   TO ALLOW YOU  TO PULL  THE  THING TIGHT.  I THINK IN BOATING IT IS A ?SPRINGER?--- IF WE ONLY USED THOSE COUPLE THINGS  WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS ENTERTAINING...

IT WAS ALMOST AS EMBARASSING AS THE DAY I DROVE MY CAR NOSE DOWN  INTO A SINK HOLE AND HAD TO GET THE GUY WITH THE BIGGER THAN HUGE MACHINE TO LIFT ME OUT... AND I HAD TOASK HIM "PLEASE PUT IT  DOWN WITH THE WHEELS ON THE GROUND."   THAT WAS 20 YEArs ago at bentley warren   -- and they still kid me...

**

I DON'T KNOW WHY  THOSE THINGS ARE A MAN THING... WITH ALL THE HYDROLICS THEY ARE EASIER TO RUN THAN A SEWING MACHINE....

****

here's another  WIERDO----abotu a senior home that has started having a CHICKEN COOP--- 

**

  Anyway, here are more chickens for you. I am completely convinced that having contact with animals is directly related to mental and physical well being.

https://www.facebook.com/WeNeedThisbyattn/videos/198209047347635/UzpfSTU2ODg1Njk5MDoxMDE1NTA3NzA5NDA1Njk5MQ/ 

Barb J

**

PIXIE UPDATE

SHE DID A GREAT JOB FLYING HOME. WE JUST LANDED IN COLD CT. I THINK PIXIE SAID MOM WHAT WHERE YOU THINKING.
SHE WAS SUCH A SHINING STAR  NOTHING BUT COMPLIMENTS ON HER BEHAVIOR. SHE JUST LAID THERE AND SNOOZED AWAY MOST OF THE FLIGHT. I SAT NEAR 2 SWEET LADIES CAUSE IT WAS A FULL FLIGHT SO THEY DIDN’T MIND PIXIE HOGGING THE WHOLE FLOOR AND SPRAWL OUT AS IF IT WHERE BED. SHE SURE DID MAKE HERSELF COZY.. WE HAD SOME GOOD LAUGHS IT WAS NICE SITTING NEAR SUCH NICE UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE. 

I EXPLAINED OUR STORY AND ALL ABOUT PIXIE ALONG WITH OUR NEW JOURNEY OF GETTING PIXIE BETTER.

WELL PIXIE IS ALMOST HOME AND I’M ALL SAFE AND SOUND.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRAYERS 

MY MIRACLE GIRL

APRIL 17 2018

EVERY TIME I THINK I HAVE HEARD IT ALL..... ?MOIST WATER?  TO TAKE OFF MAKEUP?  -- WHAT AM I MISSING... THERE IS NOT MOIST WATER SOMEWHERE?  THAT WAS NOT A FUNNY NEWS SIDELINE-- IT WAS A TV  AD THAT WAS PAID FOR...  IF IT WAS A SIDELINE IT  WOULD BE AMUSING... LIKE OUR SALE OF PUPPY BREATH--- OR THAT GUY  AROUND HERE WHO WAS SELLING BOTTLES OF SNOW IN  LAST YEAR'S BLIZZARD--  WHAT TERRIFIES ME IS THAT THERE IS A POPULATION  THAT NEVER QUESTIONS MOIST WATER...

I AM NOT  INNOCENT-- I HAD TO GO BUY A POWER TOOTHBRUSH WHERE THE BRISTLES WENT IN CIRCLES INSTEAD OF UP AND DOWN...I  JUST HAD TO DO THAT ONE DAY--I WAS TRAINED...- I WAS FURIOUS WHEN I GOT HOME AND SAW TEH TV AD THAT  TRAINED ME TO DO THAT....- TEH STUDY OF MANIPULATING  THE PUBLIC STARTED LONG AGO "HIDDEN PERSUADERS"  HAS GOT WAY OUT OF HAND.....

I REMEMBER......1940'S  ?  IT WAS NOT TOO HIGH ON TH E LIST OF "HOT TOPICS" AROUND TEH DINNER TABLE, BUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION ABOUT  THE EDITOR-- OF OUR LOCAL NEWBURGH NEWS, TEH HERALD TRIBUNE AND NY TIMES- AT THE TENDER AGE OF MAYBE 8 I ALWAYS  FIGURED EDITORS  WERE SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE POPE- AS BEING  ULTIMATE JUDGES OF THE TRUTH... WHO WOULD NEVER ALLOW FALSEHOODS TO BE IN THEIR  NEWSPAPERS UNLESS PROPERLY LABELED  OP-ED.  MY MOTHER WAS BIG ON  " THE PRINTED WORD" IN MANY PLACES-- SHE  WAS THE TYPE THAT COULD SPELL-- HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLE FORSEE "FACEBOOK"- AND OUR NEWSPAPERS BECOMING  A GLORIFIED FORM OF THE GAME OF "GOSSIP"?-

WHERE IS THE PRESTIGE OF "TEH  EDITOR".. THE JOURNALIST.. THE NEWS ANCHOR  -- THE ONLY PLACE I CAN THINK OF WHERE THEIR IMPORTANCE IS RECOGNIZED AND STILL GIVEN  SOME OF THE PROPER RESPECT... IS IN  T HE VArious  WAR ZONES WHERE THE NEWS PEOPLE ARE  USUALLY ARE NOT SHOT AT. 

A PRESS BADGE GOT YOU INTO PLACES SO YOU COULD  REPORT ON "THE NEWS" ... WHAT HAPPENS  AFTER THAT ---TO THE "NEWS" YOU HAVE RISKED YOUR LIFE TO REPORT-- HAS GONE ASUNDER. 

THE LACK OF A  RELIABLE NEWS SYSTEM  COULD BE TEH ACHILLES HEEL OF ORGANIZED SOCIETY IN GENERAL.. "IT'S IN THE NEWS"  IS  ABOTU THE SAME AS   "IT'S ON  THE INTERNET".   

COUPLE THAT WITH THE  THRILL SEEKING NAY SAYERS WHO JUST CAN NOT WAIT TO PASS ON DEVASTATING INFORMATION WHETHER CORRECT OR INCORRECT- VIA FACEBOOK INTERNET AND  IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE ALMOST ANYON'E LIFE ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE.   L;IKE.... 

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT  TEHY FINALLY PROVED THAT DRINKING COFFEE  WILL CAUSE  AN  INCREASE IN ALZIEMERS WHICH WILL MAKE YOU A BURDEN TO YOUR FAMILY  --- FURTHEREMORE  FUNERALS NOW COST  OVER $8000 .

MEANING THAT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED-- AND ARE ADDICTED TO THAT MORNING CUPPA ARE STILL GOING TO DRINK IT, BUT  ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO ENJOY IT ---BECAUSE  OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN..

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT CONCEPT.---

**

ANOTEHR BIT OF SHOCKING NEWS AROUND HERE YESTERDAY WAS... WATER WILL RUN DOWNHILL-- TANNER HAD A GREAT PIPE SYSTEM GOING SO PEOPLE SCOOTER KAREN?   COULD GET  TO THE DONKEY FENCE-- AND HE WAS SO PLEASED TO TELL ME  WATER RAN THRU THE PIPE REALLY WELL..-- AND YOU COULD GET TO THE FENCE.... THAT IS UNTIL WE HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER AND THE ENTIRE AREA WAS 4" UNDERWATER.-- WELL... MOST OF TEH TIME IT WILL BE FINE...  BUT 2 INCHES OF WATER OFF THAT ARENA IS GONG TO DO WHATEVER IT WANTS TO DO- SO BETTER MAKE OTHER  PLANS ON A VERY RAINY DAY.

***

ERICA ASHER

WE'RE JUST POPPING IN TO SAY THAT WE'RE ALIVE AND WELL, JUST BUSY, AND ONLY A LITTLE EXCITED TODAY THAT WE'RE DONE WITH OUR FINAL BRIEF OF 1L YEAR.  JUST SIX DAYS PLUS FOUR FINAL EXAMS TO GO AND WE'LL BE 2L LAW STUDENTS!!

ASHER HAS BEEN NO MORE THAN A FOOT AWAY FROM ME AT ALL TIMES THESE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AS I'VE BEEN WORKING AWAY ON BRIEFING OR STUDYING FOR OUR FOUR OTHER CLASSES, USUALLY TRYING TO GET COMFY ON THE HARD FLOOR OVER OUR COMFY BED IN THE NEXT ROOM. POOR GUY PROBABLY THINKS I HAVE SEASONAL DEPRESSION - OTHER THAN CLASSES, WE HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING OUT MUCH! BUT ASHER IS, AS ALWAYS, WONDERFUL COMPANY AND THE BEST LOVE BUG WHEN I NEED A SNUGGLE BREAK.

WE HAVE A FUN EVENING PLANNED TOMORROW - WE'RE HEADED TO PROVIDENCE TO LEND A PAW TO THE JWU PLAYERS AT MY ALMA MATER... MORE ON THAT LATER, BUT LET'S HOPE ASHER LIKES THE STAGE!  

WE'LL BE STAYING BURIED IN BOOKS MOST OF THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND MAY 11TH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND A FEW FUN THINGS TO SCATTER AMONG THE STUDYING!

april 16 2018

all kids......INTERNS AND ALL----.UNDER THE AGE OF 20-----HERE'S YOUR ASSIGNMENT...

it may look simple to run this joint...  but  that is where you should be learning. 

 your very first lesson of the summer should  be -- why anything  set up a specific  way-- what are the good and bad aspects...

first  assignment.. tell me what yo know about the water buckets... a one page study..

and i don't want all you kids to talk about water buckets to each other  -- i want to see what each of you will  come up with..

maybe it is something  on which we could improve..  one page... by friday...

**** 

it is very tough dealing with very bright teens-  i think the problem is they are accustomed to being the smartest in the room-

****

VANCE -- i wish i had oput the mic on for donna's discriptioon of a sick puppy... vance---in 25 words or less... neutered.gastroplexy on wednesday-- she babysat him 24 hours til sat night asunday moren 2am  he was sick..vomigt.. temp 104 off to george's at 7am to meet the staff as they came in-  and george was there too... question simple abcess or is it in the abdomen?? ?? surgery??? , on sunday...  that is 24 hour place in woburn---

$6000 deposit on cc  to walk in the door..( hopefully some refunds).tests cul;tures you name it and by 9pm he was sewn back up with  a more minor abcess thatn it could have been. ( not in the inside)  probably coming home todya.

good news.... donna took out insurance on him that went into effect 4/11  and his bellyache started 4/15  so she has coverage.  it will be interesting to hear teh final totals...  apparently  the ins is $90 per month./

******

BELLA

CAN I JUST SAY I AM SO PROUD OF MY GIRL! TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE DECEMBER SHE WALKED INTO A RESTAURANT WITH GEORGE! NO WALKER AND NO WHEELCHAIR!! SHE IS GETTING STRONGER EVERYDAY. IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG ROAD THAT IS FOR SURE BUT SHE IS GETTING THERE. WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SMALL IMPROVEMENTS DAILY. SHE IS SLEEPING MUCH BETTER WITH HER SMALL BRACE ONE AND SHE CAN STOP WEARING THE BIG ONE ON THURSDAY! SO CLOSE. THEN SHE WILL BE IN THE NECK BRACE FOR A WHILE BUT WE KEEP GETTING LIGHTER AND SMALLER WHICH IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 

OFF TO BED BUT WANTED TO SHARE MY EXCITEMENT FOR HER TODAY. OF COURSE SHE DIDN’T WANT ME TO TAKE A PICTURE OF HER BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT WE WILL NEXT TIME. LOVE BELLA AND GEORGE

*****

Pixie had another great night. She sure is my Miracle Girl and I’m just blessed that she has so much will to fight. 

I again want to thank you and everyone for everything I just can’t thank you all enough that has been done for us. ❤️ 

Yesterday her doctor said she can start going out as tolerated which I knew Pixie would absolutely love. She loves to takes car rides, go on adventures and see well the outside world other then the house. I’m sure she was getting bored on bed rest. She gave her permission to even go to the beach, if she wanted while finishing her recovery time here in Florida. It’s one of Pixies favorite places to go here and watch the waves, etc. 

So yesterday I took her for a little walk then she came back for a nice nap. We then decided to go out for dinner as a family as my boys are heading back home today and Pixie and I will be staying in Florida for her to have her last check here and clearance for travel. 

We should be returning on April 26th if all keeps going well. 

Pixie enjoyed her outing. I put her in her vest. She wagged her tail like no tomorrow. She sure does miss work. I did explain to her that she is working light duty. She is accepting this concept at this time. She is standing at my Side and learning to watch others help me along. Good girl Pixie. She was on her A game at dinner and every staff member couldn’t believe how well mannered she was and once again I told them all about the most amazing place she came from. They complimented you and all the staff on an amazing job on training. 

I was so super proud of cause well u know how that prednisone makes these poor babies hungry not even a sniff at dinner. She is truly the most amazing girl ever. 

I think last night was Pixies favorite night here I’d have to say. She loves Florida. 

Pixie and Stacy 

**** 

sup[posed to have huge rain today==  to watcdh all my new topsoil wash into the pond???

APRIL 15 2018

we have an amazing bunch of volunteers- our purple shirters ( 500 hours) are teh backbone of SDP  

-we seem to be inundateed with students who want to volunteer over the summer-- 

THISbrings up a problem...volunteers are  too often distractiong to those who are on the payroll... so we need to have a discussion with those who "draw a paycheck" ----  there are job descriptions.. and that is what you are supposed to do  so that when payday comes you get money.  i find........ volunteers are great fun to talk to  and too many staff don't think a thing of takeng 1/2 hour to  visit with friendly folk... allow me to point out that  if you are paid to work  then you aare expected to do just that... if you want to socialize... fine... just punch out... otherwise you are taking money you have not earned... i am not sure why i get to be the SOB to clamp down..  except  i totally object to  trying to meet an undeserved  payroll. THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY TIMES I SHOULD EVER SEE 2 PEOPLE RIDING AROUND IN A GOLF CART--  UNLESS I AM ONE OF THEM.

******

 i can not believe we could ever have too many== expecially now that we have teh walking traILS TO MAINTAIN...-- AND IF I EVER GET IN STEP WITH TAKING MANURE TO BRICK END AND BRING BACK TOPSOIL, WE COU D HAVE SOME NIMCE "AREAS " OF PLANTINGS.-- IT ALL SOUNDS WONDERFUL;-- THE PART THAT MOST DON'T REALIZE IS  IT TAKE ONLY ABOUT A MONTH FOR TEH FOREST TO RECLAIM ANY TERRITORY YOU ONCE INTENDED BE "ORGANIZED"   AS IN "LAWN" 

REALLY MAKES YOU BELIEVE IN GOATS-- WELL--- AROUND HERE IT IS SHEEP-  GOATS ARE TOO ACTIVE AND JUMP FENCES..  THERE IS SOME "LAW" ABOTU MOWING AROUND WATER/ SWAMPS  BUT YOU CAN PASTURE ANIMALS-- DEFINE A NEED AND FILL IT... LAST I KNEW THERE WAS A GUy AROUND HERE WITHS SIGNIFICANT HERD OF SHEEP, 2 BIG WHITE FLUFFY DOGS TO GUARD THEM- TTHAT LIVES WITH THEM... AND THE N A WONDERFULLY TRAINED HERDING DOG TO MOVE THEM AROUND.  WHOEVER'S LAND THEY WERE "EATING"  PAID  HIM FOR CLEARING IT..

HE WOUDL SHOW UP TWICE A DAY WITH A TRAILER OF DRINKING WATER - TEH HERDNG DOG WOULD BRING THEM TO THE TRAILER-- IT WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED...-- I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GOAts-- they are prone to wander and are skilled jumpers.  donkeys aren't bad... but they don't eat everything.. just maybe 90%

***

on the topic of eating thnings.. i think we need to get more guuinea hens--- it will not be simple...  they don't hatch them til may-june  and then we would have to deal with the babies until they learn to fly and get away from dogs.. i do think their diet of bugs and ticks is  a good thing.-- i have not picked a tick off me since we have had  those hens...

and they are amusing...

*****

today sleet/snow and things like that.. we may move mo to t he g tent to let the otheras in her stall/.- the video of the new baby jumping over mom as she tries to  lie down a dn take a nap is priceless..

****

Hi Carlene!

We are writing from Myrtle Beach, where it's sunny and warm today! We drove down from Maine. Wendy doesn't mind driving, I think she had the most room in the car. So far everyone has been very welcoming. She has been doing great at school and we went on a field trip to Lowell with my 6th grade class last week. We kept her out of the automatic loom room because it was super loud and was a little  nervous on the school bus on the way there, but otherwise she was a super star like usual. We were spotted by someone who volunteers at SDP, but weren't able to say hi.

Sorry to hear about Perry....he was a great boy.

Love

Hunter and Wendy

*******

Dear Carlene, 

Pixie had a good night again. No bleeding such a good feeling. She didn’t even wet herself that’s great to. We limited her her water at night time to help her with this part to. She woke up w a smile 😊 so that’s was a beautiful sight to see. I’m sure with how she feels having accidents doesn’t help her any. 

I fed her 4xs yesterday and that was a better meal plan for her. I did as you said to make it equal to her old eating habits. With the dry going to straight wet can 4 cans makes it equal. Thank you for the wonderful advice. She loves the meatballs that I roll up for her. You have some amazing ideas. Not to make people flood you with questions and ideas but, my personal opinion is that you have raised these sweet angels and know so much when in doubt ask you. As I said before I will take all your advice and Pixie wants you part of care decision making your part of us❤️❤️

Well today is the day we go back for a recheck and labs I will let you know all they said as soon as I get the reports. 

I’m sure Pixie is going to enjoy her car ride, she loves the car and getting out I can’t imagine how hard bedrest is for my sweet girl. 

Thank you for everything. 

Pixie and Stacy 

This picture was from last night. We where having a talk about taking a ride today and keeping up the good fight along with how much I love her. 

Yes I talk to pixie as if she one of and and well we love talking with each other. 

Sent from my iPhone