Tag Archives: nature

Dog Buddies

Posted on July 9, 2013 | Leave a comment

For the past year, I’ve run in to this older couple with their two dogs, always on a walk. For some reason I was drawn to them and ask how they’re doing from time to time.

Over the past year we’ve run into each other 8-10 times and something was familiar. I found out today that they were neighbors 30 years ago. The story gets better than that but I need to introduce myself first and see how it goes from there.

Many things change over 30 years. I grew up and got older. They were already grown-ups but I recognized them from home. I didn’t piece it together until today because I knew (or thought) they lived elsewhere. Let’s see what happens. Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , , ,

Bad Dog!

Posted on April 25, 2013 | 1 comment

Our Zoe is nine years old now. As a pup she had severe hip dysplasia and we had to have her hips amputated at six and nine months of age. After aquatic therapy (my husband sneaked her into the community pool every evening) and much walking she got better. She’s small so they don’t design titanium hips for dogs under 50 lbs. and she had to grow her own.

A couple of years later I took a serious steak and marinated it overnight. We ate half of it, at 1.5 lbs. Later I thanked my husband for putting the rest in the frig (he’s not allowed in my kitchen save getting ice, water or Dr. Pepper.

We both looked at dear Zoe, with a smile on her face and licking her paws as she had just eaten 3/4 lbs. of prime steak.

Now, we think it’s cute that she takes Jim’s towel when he’s done eating breakfast at the “bar.” This morning she placed her paws up on his chair and started licking eggs over medium off his plate. She was not in my good graces for a long while this morning.

I ran into a woman with a gorgeous dog yesterday and she was so afraid he would jump on me if I even looked at him. My dog was not there at the time. I said that while our dog is nine, we never had to train her not to jump up on people because her hips were so bad.

Live and learn! I think I need higher counter tops! Cheers, Dee

ps Feels like Spring! Finally.

1 Comment

Posted in Editorial, Pet

Tagged , ,

Squirrels

Posted on March 18, 2013 | 1 comment

Shhhhhh, I think she can even hear me typing this word. In the winter we see their nests.  Apparently they have multiple “apartments” they use to raise their young, store food and keep safe from predators.

Yes, my dog is good, she’s killed a couple mice in another state, but there is no way she is going to catch a squirrel.

First of all, she’s on something called a leash. And yes, there are free bags around but we buy our own and I always have a roll in my pocket. We would love more dog-friendly parks here but normally they’re about a 30 minute drive away so that doesn’t work for us.

When spring and summer finally enter our world we’ll never see the squirrel nests but for me, it’s a wonderful sight to see in the bare winter trees. Zoe will continue to watch and chase squirrels but that population is safe, at least from her.

We know that life is coming back. There are more geese, and we always know about the weather from the seagulls.

I think that when we retire, many years from now, we may be………. that’s a few chapters on, dear reader. It’s late and I must retire for the evening. As always, Dee

1 Comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Spring Days?

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

It’s very cold but all the students et al are on the annual St. Patrick Day pub crawl. We got to the grocery store early and were sure of enough goods to be laid out on the dinner table after I tackled a refrigerator with one science experiment I never want to re-do. Mold on my spaghetti and homemade meatballs…..

We did not want to be out on the streets in a car or on foot during the pub crawl so made sure we had everything we needed to stay in except taking out the dog.

It was easy for me to fall back into sleep during the day and the NCIS Lucky Ducky Marathon. Now it’s the middle of the night and I can’t sleep and don’t drink coffee so that’s the way it is.

Other than that, it’s incredible that our dog is as smart as she is, and I regret it took both of us nine years to get there. The lesson is that she doesn’t need more food, she needs more of a challenge so we will try to do that.

We see all the dogs, even squirrels from here and all of us love a good walk. Seeing buds on the local lilac bush is promising. Right now the wind is blowing like crazy and the temp is 29 but with a forecast of a top of 26 later on, with snow. Guess my husband will be taking my car to work because my snow tires are still on. I have the gear to walk anywhere.

Spring is different along the Lakes. Geese and Seagulls fly by. The lake is frozen, then thawed. An ice fisherman did take my hand to stand on the Lake a few weeks ago. He was a sweetheart but I would love some warmer weather.

The dog has gone out for the last time, perhaps there are no more leprechauns or drunken students out in a few hours when I take her out again. Happy St. Pat’s, Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , ,

Kindergarten Chic

Posted on March 5, 2013 | 2 comments

Early this morning after I took the dog out, twice as always, I went on an errand a few blocks away for my husband. En route it started snowing softly, and now big-time. Winds are whistling and it’s snowing sideways and raining straight down, if one can imagine that.

I was supposed to complete this errand Monday but they’d not processed it. This morning I walked about eight blocks to get there for pickup.

Perhaps you remember, especially if you grew up in the NE or mid-west your mother making you mittens with a string that went through your coat. I’ve one better, My Auntie L made woolen balaclavas that only showed our eyes and we could pull it up over our noses.

To walk eight blocks I wore, bottom up, Sketchers suede shoes with great traction on the ice, SmartWool socks (new ones with pattern that are very comfortable), nylon workout pants, Pipeline plaid ski pants to go with…

a cotton camisole, a polar tec anorak from Tiso bought in Scotland when we were there, an 800 fill Marmot ski jacket and a polar tec vest atop that. Plus wool cap (thanks Doug in Park City) and microfiber gloves, orangy-red, to go with cap, scarf (made by Auntie L in pinks and orangy-reds and gloves). It is not that cold or I would’ve gone with the fur Cossack hat and waterproof gloves and perhaps snow boots. I don’t know, living in the cold has allowed us to expand our repertoire to include everything from rain to snow to ice and beyond. Think Buzz Lightyear. To Infinity……… and Beyond!

When I arrived there I was about to say that if our order was not ready yet again, I would cancel it or they would have to deliver. For fun, I brought the new signature Gucci Museo bag from my father in which to carry my wallet and other items. It was my little inside joke to myself being dressed as a kindergartner off on the first snowy day.

Then, I didn’t want to dress for it. Now it takes time, especially when the dog takes me out multiple times a day but I know how to stay warm, and dry. When I grew up it was all wool. Now I check the weather online and find out temperature and wind speed and instantly know what high tech layers to don.

We do not yet have the leather face masks they use in the arctic to prevent noses from freezing and falling off, but will do so if we ever go there. Stay warm and dry and watch those winds. Cheers! Dee

2 Comments

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , , ,

The Napping Dog Press

Posted on February 11, 2013 | 1 comment

Yes, hello, and welcome to this week’s Napping Dog Press. I am Sir Nigel Davenport, Cat-caster at Large, roving the world to see how animals living indoors with humans are faring in our world today.

I am in a very cold city by a great lake today in the Colonies, sorry, chap, the United States with Zoe, a nine-year old Australian Shepherd mix.

NIGEL: So, Zoe, I came here to see how you are faring. I understand you just had a birthday. Nine years, I believe. How did life start for you?

ZOE: I barely remember Mama and who knows who Papa was, but I was brought to a city shelter at five weeks and they did surgery on me to keep me from having puppies.

NIGEL: Oh, my!

ZOE: Yes, but the day after I met my new humans and they have had me this entire time. They took my hips but everything is OK now.

NIGEL: They took your hips? My word, lass. You should have sued them then and there!

ZOE: No, I forgave them and even my surgeon Val the Vet because I’ve felt better ever since. A neighborhood stray cat helped me out, Meow Meow. We walked together at least five times a day. She came to call or just slept in front of my door.

NIGEL: That’s amazing, that you like cats. Do you eat people food?

ZOE: Not really. They tried to make me eat all kinds of exotic dry food tarted up by eggs, bologna or hot dogs but I put my paw down. Only frozen raw lamb or duck for me. Or beef or bison.

NIGEL: Really?

ZOE: Yes, the Food Wench buys it for me. She also takes me out. The Fun Guy plays with me and takes me out late at night for a last pee.

It’s a difficult life, though. I have to whine to be lifted back onto their bed after I jump down to drink water and look out the window. Like this morning at 4:30. They should just be waiting for my return and do their “Otis” duties.

NIGEL: Anything else you’d like to tell us?

ZOE: Well, they won’t let me get a squirrel. I bagged a couple of mice at the last place we lived but Fun Guy made me drop them before I could eat them and vomit on the bed.

Otherwise, don’t pack suitcases to go away for the weekend. Don’t pack boxes to go away for good. Moving is very stressful. I’d have to meet all new dogs, cats and squirrels and it’s a tedious chore.

NIGEL: Thanks,. Zoe, for your insights.

ZOE: Thank you, Nigel. Prepare to be chased by a dog. Ready? GO!!!

ZOE Aside: All in all, it’s good to be head of my human pack because I can keep everything under control, until Food Wench made me get shots a couple of weeks ago.

1 Comment

Posted in Editorial, Pet

Tagged ,

Saviors

Posted on January 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

I think all of us have them, we just may not know it. As a child I thought I challenged boundaries and survived to tell the tales. As a little kid I walked off the dock at a lake in Michigan. The water was over my head. I stood on the sand and looked up and saw the sun. I didn’t swim. Dad ran out on the dock and pulled me out. Savior.

When my brother was 16 I had him come visit for his birthday. We went up into the Adirondacks at 3:00 a.m. and donned wet wetsuits for 40 degree water and went down Class V rapids.

We hit a rock and I was bumped out of the raft and immediately placed my feet downstream and my paddle across my chest. After they rescued me, we got into an eddy and were all almost sucked under. Of course my brother was now in another raft.

I was cool as a cucumber and didn’t think anything of it until I heard the guides, 20 minutes later as we were safely ensconced on an island for lunch and the best chicken broth I’ve ever eaten, that by rescuing me we all almost died.

It was then my entire body started shaking and I realized what peril I placed us in. The afternoon was warm and sunny and we all dried out and paddled some calm waters before a steak and baked potato feast. All in all, I think my brother had a memorable birthday. I had a savior and don’t even know his name.

We do not live a life of danger, cliff-climbing, mountaineering. But things happen every day that change our lives and some leave. I mean leave life because of scary things, and choose to take their own, sometimes taking others.

We will never do that. We will fight for our family and probably not go into Class V rapids again, though we did do Class IV a few years ago together with a guide. Luckily we didn’t bring the dog and the guide did most of the paddling. The river we were on usually takes 5 hours to traverse. Our trip took two. That’s how fast the water was.

Cheers and y’all have a great day and think about the teachers, mentors, parents and others who’ve saved you. Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , ,

Gingerbread Town

Posted on December 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Yesterday started with a barrage of hard rain, which later in the afternoon turned to snow. Fat, wet snow propelled by high winds and an angry lake.

All in all, I think we got about an inch of the white stuff, just enough to coat the grass and parks and nearby rooftops. While it is still wet and windy, it does look pretty for the holidays though I heard more sirens yesterday than in any day here.

In our neighborhood, it’s nearly impossible to park on the street. Even if one does get a space, it usually must be vacated in an hour or two and the parking police are nothing short of vigilant. While I’ve thought paying to park two cars underground for a tidy sum is outrageous, I’m beginning to see the beauty of it. I can get in my car, park underground for free at the local grocery store, and never shovel or scrape the windshield or get my feet wet. Nifty!

Are there any new ideas out there for holiday menus? I’m thinking of a couple of pepper-crusted steaks, baked potatoes and perhaps brussels sprout gratin. Mincemeat tarts, to bring friends who are having us over for dessert. Now all I have to do is brave the weather to clean the grill.

OK, ladies. After tomorrow my husband is off work until next year! Any projects you can think of? We’ll definitely try a couple of museums, and get his snow tires put on, maybe take a day trip or two. Any ideas? Thanks, Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , ,

Creative Meteorology

Posted on November 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

This morning, the serious Storm Team 4 weather news called for “Filtered Sunshine.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but where I come from, those are called “Clouds.” It’s a cloudy day here in the Great Lakes, high in the mid-forties. Back to you, Laura.

Perhaps we can get into Investigative Meteorology (who is filtering that sun and how many times?) or Forensic Meteorology (it appears that the sun was poisoned by arsenic in its iced tea, which caused cloudiness in the sky).

Veterinary Meteorology (we’re awaiting cats and dogs falling from the sky but not for a few days. Today it’s just cloudy.)

Culinary Meteorology (It’s definitely a soup day today, French Onion to be exact, Julia Child’s version of course, overcast with highs in the mid-forties).

Nerd Meteorology (autmated tests have failed leading to a glitch between SIT and UAT and feature creep is on the rise. Expect clouds and a high of 44 degrees).

Cheers, I’m feeling silly today. Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , , ,

Looking Up

Posted on August 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

A couple of weeks ago our nearly nine year-old rescue dog looked up for the first time. She realized that when tree branches rattle there may be a squirrel.

No, she’s never caught one but she’s a grounder and has gotten a couple of mice in mud season which were tossed into the Preserve for the birds and foxes et al.

We’re always looking up to new possibilities. Granted, we’ve been looking down recently with the economy but now are looking up. There might be a squirrel out there with our names on it, and Zoe’s. No, we don’t let her eat them. Dee

Leave a comment

Posted in Editorial

Tagged , , , , ,