The Watchers

Do you think

they may be simply

watching the last rose of Autumn?

Something From Nothing

I decided it was time to clear a stack of scrap lumber before it all ruined.  Since the snake was killed under the lodge back in June the dogs have been sleeping under the house. Making a door where I had removed the siding was on my list. I'm finally catching up.

I used scrap lumber, two old odd hinges, an old door knob and a flip latch.

I love power tools.

I began construction of dog houses.

This is the smallest and many scraps were used.

Lizzy decided she wanted this one.

She dines on top...her idea not mine.

Painted and roofed

with a foam cushion and cozy blanket, Lizzy now is ready for winter.

I added a partial piece across the door to keep weather out.

Not perfect because I'm not a carpenter but they will do.

One crawl space door complete.

One dog house down and four to go!

Never Alone

Seems I'm never alone,

full sun nor shade.

 They gather to the pack leader

 or the one who feeds them...that's my guess.

They inspect my work

and keep a careful watch over me.

That paint bucket could have a hidden treat.  

You never know.

Finished outdoor table for zeroing sights with denim sandbags ready to use.

Rifle season is soon.

Not Worth A Load of Seed Ticks

It was a cooler day this morning but I was feeling a little under the weather.  I guess I got too hot the day before.  So I decided to stay in or rather Hubby TOLD me to stay in and rest.  He took off on the tractor.

He has been busy planting food plots for wildlife this winter.  He also wanted to bush hog (mow) the pastured land so the new grass would have a good start before winter.

I did some paper work after my head stopped hurting and my stomach settled.  I called the internet server to fix my wireless extender that they messed up (a complete story by itself). When that was resolved I decided to take Hubby a cool drink.

The dogs and I headed out.  Lizzy riding shotgun with me in the Gator and the others running free.  We could not hear the tractor anywhere.  So I drove and they ran with a joy only dogs can show.

We traveled up and down hills stopping to listen now and then.

We stopped to cool and get a drink at every watering hole while listening and looking for the Tractor Man.

It was warmer than we thought

 and the water saved us all.

All this trouble to take Tractor Man a cold drink! (Persimmon on top of can) I went places I haven't driven following the mowed brush. I headed down one hill and decided, nope, no way, not going down there cause I have to drive out. Stopped at the next pond to let the dogs cool again. Walked down to look at the water and felt something crawling on me...seed ticks!!!!  Too tiny even for a macro lens!!!  I tried to wash them off, swept some away with a cedar branch and headed home. Still no tractor sound.  Stopped at the creek and by this time my imagination had seed ticks all over me!  Tried once more to wash them off.

Went to the house. Took a shower and heard the tractor pulling in.

Where had he been??  That hill that I would not drive down has a dry pond at the bottom. He was down there removing grass seed from his radiator grill with the tractor turned off.

Hubby's not worth the misery of seed ticks. He laughed but now his imagination is feeling the crawl! 

Good Fences on a Hot Summer Day

Far from fresh water the dogs followed me

Here's the fence I crawled under to help find water...

in a dry creek.

Lil, the oldest in this pack, not counting me,

 thought the water should be here.

Lil was walking where water used to be.

I'm not sure she trusted me to find water.

but I did!!! It was a short walk for me...a long run for them.

Every dog was thrilled.

We celebrated and thanked God for leaving us such a treasure.

We headed home.  The pack leader (me) knew some secrets the dogs didn't know. These "dry" creeks carry the run off from rain and wet weather springs but are empty when it gets really dry.  We're not REALLY dry... yet.

Joining TexWisGirl for Good Fences.

Surprise!

I Like Dogs!

You may remember when Ki-Anne joined the family as an abandoned pup.  Ki took a few days to name herself and it was full steam ahead.  Never knew what she was, just a blessing I thought.  Then, due to my over site, she was bred before I had her spayed.  Bad me, but then we kept Junior and found good homes for the others.

After Marcy's ENT check up ("Come back in five years, cancer free!") we went to Salvation Army.  Always an outing we enjoy.

Walking by the second shelf a man asked me "Are you familiar with Mountain Curs?"  I answered, yes and the flood gates open.  I saw pictures of his pups, heard tales of all his dogs, and then we moved on to Bowie Knives (He was a blade smith), his son's military service, The Alamo and back to Mountain Curs again.

I ran through the store quickly and apologized to Marcy for taking so long.  Not a problem, gave her time to see every thing.

First I wondered...do I smell like a dog?  How did the man know I was a dog lover?  Had he asked every one that came in the same question?  It was an enjoyable educational day.

I remember reading the Compton's Encyclopedia and studying each breed of dog. Trouble was they showed only AKC.  I now have books on multiple dog breeds.  Call me weird, I like dogs.  I wanted to be a vet. Life happens so now I just have an eerie fascination with all animals along with an obsessive thirst for learning...and I love dogs.

I think I have discovered the mysterious breed in the lineage of Ki-Anne and Junior.  The facts fit!  How could I be so unaware?  Being a Mountain Cur (UKC breed and mainly an American dog)  is what makes both of these dogs a valuable farm pair.  They are the main poison snake committee, the watchers of the family yet always ready for a "Good dog!" or a pat on the head.

This fits the pair to a T.  http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/mountaincur.htm  I thoroughly enjoyed the temperament, origin, and description of the breed.

This link http://aboutdogmountaincur.blogspot.com/2013/01/basics-of-mountain-cur-training.html has an almost twin to Ki-Anne.

Now I know why she named herself after a hot pepper.  Ki-Anne, my undaunting, protective, intelligent, loving, useful farm dog.  It was a lucky day indeed when she was carried into my place of business.

Catching Up

seems to be something I'm not doing very well lately.  I did, finally in the month of June, change the top bed cover to something lighter.

I've almost finished with painting the outside of the house.  The paper wasps have delayed me.  I painted one as it emerged from a crack between wood and rock at the top of the chimney.  It fell but another followed it. I decided to stop painting until I get wasp spray. I'm allergic or I would just try and work around them.  

Between the rains and up and down the ladder, I've weeded and picked up limbs and moved rocks from the water garden so I could fit the ladder next to the house.  I've become braver and more trusting of my ladder placement judgement.  I have very few spots left to paint, just the trim.  Almost done!!!  The high spots will be done from the tractor bucket.  All with a two inch brush, too.  I'm kinda proud of my work.

It is hot and dry now.  A couple of afternoons were triple digits. Some that weren't felt that way with the humidity.  My painting follows the shade and in between I've picked cucumbers and onions, sprayed the hungry bugs with hot pepper/mint/Dawn tea, and moved things from my sister's house she sold.  Along with my regular "chores" I've stayed busy.

The old doe with a fawn thinks the garden is hers.  She likes the bean tops and the lettuce best.  The dogs were keeping her out but she convinced them to stay away the day they sniffed out her fawn.  The deer gave them a good stomping.  No one was harmed but the dogs let her graze in the garden now.

I've mentioned Pit Vipers or poisonous snakes have a smell.  Well, let me tell you something (the way Mom always started a wild story) I've been smelling something strange in our tool closet.  Told Hubby we either had a Copperhead or a skunk under the floor.  He said, Naw, the dogs would have gotten either.  They did one day...tore up jack shit as some would say.  I couldn't tell what was going on.  Had to take a piece of siding off to see under the floor.  There it was...a monster of a Cottonmouth snake.  The dogs did good.  Sad part is I think it got one of my Koi....and to think I've been moving those rocks, digging around, standing barefooted, never having my mind on a poisonous WATER snake.  Well, I'm thinking and watching now!

At night when I sit with ice packs on aching muscles and joints I try to read.  My latest book was A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would like to share a line that struck a chord with me "That's all anybody can ask for, if you think about it-to have somebody love you and depend on you and take care of you when you're sick, and mourn over your casket when you die."

So, just like a letter from home, I've caught up through the times I've failed to post.

Happy Father's Day and may the rest of June be wonderful to you.

The Perpetual Game Of Stick

Sorry for the butt shot but you can't miss these natural bob tails!

They always steal poor Lil's stick. I try to sneak Lil a stick of her own.  A fun game for a bunch of miss matched farm dogs.

It's A Dog's Life

A Few Years Ago

I  found a wonderful blog called Going Gently.  I was immediately hooked!  Another country, another lifestyle, a blogger with humor, kindness, adventures and animals.

John pulled me in with his village flower show and his colorful descriptions of his neighbors in the small village of Trelawnlyd,  He and The Prof have dogs and one cat and other animals, too. I'm a sucker for dogs!

You never know what the subject will be but he is a straight-shooting tell it like it is man with a heart the size of Alaska or maybe bigger.  You will laugh.  You will cry.  You will never be bored.

His current dream is to reach 1000 followers.  He's close.  If you've never been by to visit, drop in, snoop around and follow if you so desire.  You will not be disappointed.

Frosty morning At The Farm

Chasing Beaver

What's that doing here?

Paddling hard we can't get near

 Almost there!  Get that rat...

How's he make his tail do that?

The message Go Away was very clear.

A limerick for Senior Adventures

Chasing Beaver

What's that doing here?

Paddling hard we can't get near

Almost there.  Get that rat!

How's he make his tail do that?

The message Go Away was very clear