sept 7 2014

highlights??

? THE STORM? we were   wet but fine after dinner was finished 

....the country club about 2 air miles frm here was damaged---

but the funny part...  Goldie ( ghost of the lefthand drawer)  came to the festivities yesterday-- as the   accapella group finished their performance with  over the rainbow .

BIRDS FLY OVER THE RAINBOW WHY OH WHY CAN'T I?  in perfect timing was a strike of thunder as loud as i have ever heard.

it was like  "I'LL TELL YOU WHY YOU CAN NOT FLY, IT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE VASTLY INFERIOR TO ME"

....

And then there was bailey-- steve danced with theresa  no problem  --- and then he and earlene got up.. except bailey did not approve... she danced around them snapping at steve-- and finally bit him...  no blood-- but a definite bite.

 it was just another  reminder of who exactly is in controll here.. cerrtainly not we mortals...

people enjoyed  themselves wandering around the different episodes... even in the heat... numbers got painted-- which we can distribute today..

we went thru 18 cans of shaving cream in the "beat the poo" table...

and i am going torun off now ... to ride around in the golf cart and dry my hair----and  to see what else is going to happen..

SEPT  6 2014

THE BIG DAY--

(AND MY TEEPEE IS AGAIN WHITE)

THE SIGN IS BEAUTIFUL--- AND A VIDEO OF THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION WAS MADE...

MARK "HOVERED"  CAPTURING MOMENTS COMICAL AND OTHERWISE..

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE ALREADY-- 

 SOME CAME TO HELP GET READY--- AND THEY SURE DID..

LAUNDRY IS CAUGHT UP GIVING GRACE A BREAK--...

 PAINTING OF THE LAUNDRY BUILDING HAS STARTED

PICK UP IN GENERAL

PRACTICE PARKING-- BY MEGAN

PUPS WERE PATTED  AND PREPARED FOR PERHAPS THIER FIRST "MEGAN MARCH "TODAY

WASP NESTS WERE ANNIHILATED AND RETURNING WASPS VACUUMED AT THE GREAT DELIGHT OF SPECTATORS 

WE WOULD PROBABLY BE TOTALLY READY FOR DOG FEST SOMETIME IN TH EMIDDLE OF NOVEMBER.... IF THEN

I WAS CONSIDERABLY RELIEVED TO HAVE ONE CP  MAKE NOTE OF A MISSING OBJECT BY SAYING SHE WAS GLAD--- CRAZY ACRES WOULD NOT BE AS INTERESTING IF EVERYTHING ON THE PROPERTY WAS PERFECT..

BUT ALOT IS PRETTY NEAR... INCLUDING SOME  UNBELIEVABLE  POSTERS MADE BY JULIET - ILLUSTRATING THE SDP FAMILY TREE-- BY SIRES-- AND THEN ONE WITH THE FEMALE LINES BEING THE DOMINANT THEME...  THEN ONE WITH THE LITTERS BY LITTER NAME AND PHOTOS...  ALOT OF WORK...  THEY WILL BE IN THE ARENA-- AND CAN BE  PURCHASED.

SHEILA STARTED A RAFFLE FOR $1  BE SECRETARY OR VANNA WHITE AT MAIL CALL

AND APPARENTLY THEY HAD A PARTY AT THE HOTEL LAST NIGHT----

I AM GOING TO GET NO WHERE   I JUST PUT THE MIC ON WITH PUPPY S LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST  ... WHAT A WAY TO WAKE EVERYONE TODAY...PUPPY YAPPING...

SEPT 5 2014

BUSY DAY STARTING EARLY

PEOPLE ARRIVING

 

I HAVE A DR. APT THAT I COULD NOT CHANGE  AT 8:30 THIS MORNING-- I WILL BE BACK AS SOON AS I CAN AFTER IT...

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

So, our first day on the job was amazing! Wicked is such a great partner. As you 
may remember, I'm working with veterans and some other uniformed service people 
(police officers, corrections officers, etc) who are struggling with mental 
health issues (frequently related to the stress of their jobs, combat and so 
on). We had someone new come to the program today who was really not sure they 
wanted to stay. No one could really make the connection with him that was needed 
to make him feel comfortable. No one except Wicked that is! He saw her, asked if 
he could say hello to her, and immediately connected. The three of us had lunch 
together, and he's decided to give the program a try. 
  For men and women who are suffering and feel alone, the decision to stay and 
get help can be life-altering, even life-saving. Wicked has been such a blessing 
to me, and seeing her, on her first day, have that impact on someone else was 
really amazing. 
Feeling blessed,
Bethany & Wicked

sept 4 2014

people are around doing things  that were never on my list to do---so i am reduced to being  entertained by it all-- my list ?    sign holes done--portapotties ordered-done ---and clambake ordered- done.. so i am home free--

i decided having our tests of competency would be too hard to score-- so  i am just highly suggesting each festor  try each one  ...  besides watching everyone will be intertaining...

 our only serious problem-- which may be solved  is the wasps under the teepee-- ttoday we are to remove the contents and spray-- big time..

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

and then there is hunter and wendy----

everybody got shaken up-- and it ultimately is my fault....

hunter wrapped his leash around his hand-- then when the entire school came running toward them when the were let out for recess, wendy ran about 30 feet dragging hunter-- hunter has only a few scratches  but... the school is  in disaster mode... and want megan and i to come up NOW  AND FIX IT

I saw this coming- and talked to megan and the parents constantly-- but i did not insist on dealing with it.

so here is my letter to the principal?????

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

we all see the accident  in a different light--

i see it as an  extremely fortunate lesson. 

the fault is mine- because i saw this problem and mentioned it many times,  but did not follow thru.

you never wrap a rope around any part of yourself-- especially if the other end is attached to something that can move.. dog --bicycle--- car --or  horse.

the "lesson of the rope" taught to me by my grandfather, was far more evident in days of horses and carriages... it has evolved to not wearing loose clothing around machinery - but the concept is a very valuable lesson..   you might use  hunter's event to  teach the entire school..

i had seen hunter wrap that leash around his hand many times-- and  i stopped  him and explained to both hunter and his parents-- i even made a shorter leash- without a hand loop..... specially for him so he could not do that.  but that became an issue because of the way hunter moves his arms when he walks.  he needs a longer leash for that.

i let them talk me out of insisting on  another solution.  last time i was at the school with megan, as we left, i fussed about that longer "normal " leash..  

the next thing i would try is to make a breakaway point- namely an elastic between wendy's collar and the leash,..  until we figure out what weight elastic would break when we needed it to and not break when we did not want it to...there might be several  times when  wendy would get loose which might  be inconvenient-- .but  she is bonded to hunter and basically loves kids in general.

 they make official "break away"  devices... i have one around my neck at the moment with my life alert button--- but a plain elastic works as well--  

i am happy to come up and talk to anyone-- but i know from here- if hunter was not connected to that leash we would be talking about better treats in hunter's pocket.  

experience comes from bad experiences... 

SINCERELY  ETC,....

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

i get accused of going overboard on wierd topics-- like earthquakes in calif--- or high water in new orleans.--  having things around my neck is one of those deep seated life lessons drummed into me as a kid.

my life alert has the breakaway--- i cut  the string to my "neck wallet" which has my phone and put in an elastic ... i even have a very heavy gold necklace (heavy +_ gold= expensive)  in the bottom of some shoebox because it is so strong i could easily be strangled by it.... SO i never wear it...

the joke--- how can you trust men's judgement when the first thing they do every morning is to tie a noose around their neck?.... 

there must be some history of that  bit about the tie-- which is done in such a way that it tightens if pulled.

and ---  the modern style--- i would NEVER wear one of those stylish long skarves where you fold double  and put the end thru ... making a noose with 3 feet of skarf blowing in th ebreezes... i can see that getting stuck in some subway or bus door...   II CRINGE WHEN I SEE ONE...

SO THERE

****

i can tell you right now tracy came in with a leash drapped around her neck--- but it is not in noose style  I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY

********

Bethany and Wicked

So, we've been working a ton here in Western Mass! Tomorrow is a big day for us 
though, we have our first day of working with veterans. We are ready and excited 
to start this next chapter in our educational careers. Keep you posted, but I 
know we are going to rock.

PS. We miss you all so much--unfortunately I'm working Saturdays and Sundays, 
making it really hard to come out. Hope to get a break soon to come visit.

sept 3 2014
i am late because tina is  here already--- and we  talked  far too long---

but the rest are up and functioning...
i even curled my hair for the occasion..

my obtuse observation for the day  is pain...,
2 days ago  i had a very bad tummy--- i accused megan of trying to poison me with some pasta salad with mayonase  but i could no't sell that because of the 10 people eating it ... i was th eonly one... ( it was good..."suddenly salad" ) but the belly ache all of a sudden disappeared and the lack of pain was   noticeably  intoxicating..   i think it has something to do with  endorphins.i remember tommy nugent talking about endorphins  when he just started being a doctor.. 

it comes to  mind because  i just heard of a male friend who is battling kidney stones--- which i am told by males  can approach pain of childbirth. 

i can just hear all th e women  making nasty remarks..and then there is the broadway song about  men...." remember it is he who has the fun and you the baby"
****big days  ---lots to do --- biggest excitement  will be th e portapottys whinc should arrive today or tomorrow
along with the freezer-- which will be in pieces to be put together...
and the first thing i will do is go and buy 2  5 gal containers of ice cream  and a bunch of spoons...to celebrate--- even if it is  for the dog's beef..
*****
i have  some  sdp  games to set up--- and i had thought we coudl keep track and have a "winner"  but that got too complicated  so they will just be for playing with...

 competitive poop  picking
yardstick reflexes
tossing of the poo bags
nail hammering

stuff we do everyday around here

and then the painting of the numbers-- i have squares of several sizes so you all can paint numbers on them  to hang on every door/gatee/kennel
we had  "door 40" on the chicken coop at one point...

there is a historical refer3ence ...  BC... (before costco) here was leechmere-- and when you bought somethign large, you went round to "door 9" to pick it up  --- there were no doors 1 to 8,  just door 9,
the kennel numbers will be sequencial-- but the rest of the door/gates  just any 2 digit number of your choice...
*****
i just remembered.... when i went to a military base and asked directions, the information  desk was in building 61--- and there were buildings 1 to 60..
i always wondered why the information  desk was not in building 1 instead of the other end...
******
more arrivals
maybe i will get all of them to write a sentance for the dd friday sat sunday

sept 2 2014
i went back  to bed.... and forgot...

after 10 years of  dd's how could i???    

there are a bunch of things i have to get done for  the weekend...

and i think some are coming earlly

must refill the first aid kits !!!!

and things like that...

sept 1 2014
august is gone..... for those of you who need reminding--

wow---  and i can certainly appreciate all the people  trying to get us organized for dogfest, but all of you coming  have  told me you want the full crazy acre  experience--  so i have planned to let you enjoy all the potholes in the driveway-- or  potholes in our general management..

hey---  we are what we are...

besides it is  easier.  there are a few people making a huge effort to get us organized...  i am just watching...

there are 4 things i plan to do in prep---4 ground wasp nests to deal with-- 

 **one is where the teepee meets th e ground so you can watch me try and deal on camera...--  the entrance hole is hidden in the various parts of the canvas teepee  so it is not a simple thing.  and it is where people stand and watch puppy hill  - gotta go.

 **and then the one in the stump by the house-- which cp's will not have seen, but  the stump has the gate opener remote hanging off it-- and the added complication is there are a few  small snakes that live in it too..  i don't like snakes- but i  resist the marketing scheme to make me believe they are evil--starting with the adam and eve and the serpent stuff...  i have known  those snakes have been there for years and i imagine it could be alarming if you stuck your hand in the hollow stump  so i have never done that-- except now i have to do something about the flying stingers  whatever they are.

** third is on the island-  that attacked steve when he weed whipped their  frront door.....easier to deal with-- pour some lighter fluid in the hole and toss a match.

** fourth is in th e old donkey trailer  which is -- at the moment housing alot of grace's craft materials

the way things happen around here--   

i almost was looking at the "why now?" aspect of grace moving-- she has an incredible amt of craft making materials which could stand to be sorted a bit-- but then it has to go up to the hay loft...

To give you a perspective, grace personally  managed to produce 30 pvc dogs for someone's bar mitzva without batting an eye.

what better time than to have all these cp's help lift it up there...  if it is not too hot---- 

better lift up a fan first...... no problem for me-- the tractor cab is airconditioned..

**********

now for the stroke of brilliance department-- 

and this is a real one...

people come here wanting dogs for balance-- and they all have been told by their neurologist they need a cane-- or walker-  or wheelchair...  but i have discovered..... along about the time 57 was getting teal... that a much better way for people to move around is to hold the back pocket of anyone going in their direction...  husband/wife/ other/ whatever...

i can hear  you all chortling away-- except---  it works

#1  it enables the person to stand up[ straighter/ normally

#2  there is no interuption in thier movement as they lift and place the cane/walker to advance. arm holding is not secure enough.... backsides are... blue jeans highly recommended.

#3. and no hardware to clutter up the car or restaurant

#4  many times it is faster/ more normal speed.

#5 it plain looks better.

if you insist on having a cane with you , it should be carried by the person wearing the pocket... to give  you a chance to move correctly...

of course if you fall you might pull the pants off whoever---   but that has not happened yet.

i have had notes from several neurologists commenting on the back pocket success.  

we had a pair of  new people here yesterday-- and mark's camera  caught them  in action..... it works..

******

and then...

we are approaching 11 and a half million views...   and we do have many new BB'S ( BRICK BUYERS) 

 BUT.......

i am shocked to know that so many people have not heard of our  major means of support-- the chicken bricks--  we literally would be gone without the support of all those $10 donations.. that basically buys the dog food and pays for the spay neuter costs..

 so many of the  cp's who are addicted to the cameras have never heard of-- or participated in the chicken brick  shatupon society  program.  

so......  i am calling on all the old timers to fix that ... by helping the newcommers to  find  their way thru the  clicks  -- and please do not  push anyone beyond their means-- if $10 is beyond them, tell them about the $1 fun fund---- which is supporting the  AI insemination of opal... 

There are soooo many cp's- that it should not put any pressure on the regulars who have been supporting us for the past years---   we need to get more of the camera people involved in  that support..   

 believe me - we really appreciate everyone's help-- but it costs alot to run this place.. l

the nitty gritty????  i want to donate  my money  to fun fund ideas.... i get very worried when i need to cover the electric bill.

there are soooo many that have not heard--    get the word out...                       

i hope opal  is pregnant with 4 pups--- but if she delivers 11, i am going to go in panic mode-   the spay neuter  alone on 11 pups is easily 1/2 the  "brick money"  and we already have cookie's 11.

we have applicants so it is a mixed bag to hope she has fewer than 11 pups...

i dream of having sell outs every 2 weeks by just getting the word out that $10 a month is critical to us.

instead of saying  "oh no".... lets see if we can make that happen. 

 2 years ago camera mark  remembered thinking i was nuts to try and run one every month --- 

but  pure numbers??? 

spring of 2012 we had a 350 brick wall selling 50%  -- before  explore cameras...

spring of  2013 we had  1225 brick wall selling  100% ( camera people--250 people at mail call)

spring of 2014  we still have 1225 brick wall  and we have 600 camera people at mail call...

so pass the word around...

and lets pray opal does not have 11 pups.

******

it is time for merlow to go home with lynn-- she goes in with the pups only when she gets too full of milk-- but as we feed more gruel, milk production goes down-- so lynn-- come get her--  she will be thrilled.. job well done -- 4 lovely pups.

*****

cant tell about opal yet--- i thought i detected an increased appetite- but shelia poo poo'd that one as opal loves her food anyway

*****

obit notice---

 willow' partner   lynn emerson's-- father passed away yesterday (calamityjane12@icloud.com)

******

other than that.....

 we are off and running...