Reassessing...

my blog and it's purpose here.  I have shamelessly hammered you with endless photos of birds and filled my posts with senseless uses of junk.  The purpose in that was...I don't know.  My comments on other blogs have become lackadaisical to say the least.  I apologize.

When almost eight-five pound Bonnie lumbered toward the meter reader today, I was horrified (at her exuberance) and I think the meter reader was too!   I yelled, "She's okay!"  I ran toward them as he was aiming his pepper spray.

Bonnie was only greeting our visitor with the enthusiasm she greets each new thing or person...with curiosity, friendliness and an mind open to a new adventure.

Thankfully, the man heard me, knew dogs and read the signs that Bonnie, although a "Big Bad Pit Bull" was not dangerous at all.  During our conversation I learned our house had been marked "Bad Dog-Use Spray".  Bonnie delightfully danced around our young meter reader with the joy and abandonment of a child in a toy store.

Anyway, happy ending...except when the next new meter reader comes.  Because of one man in the past who feared dogs, we are forever branded as "Bad Dog-Use Spray".  It wasn't even because of Bonnie.  My other dogs do their job and bark to announce visitors.  They greet them.  They don't jump up.  They don't growl.  They don't bite.  They just check out the visitors.  And this has left us forever labeled.

I said all that, I think, to say this.  The quality of my posts are suffering for some unknown reason. Volume does not a blog make.  I want you to be entertained by what I write.  I want you to ENJOY the visit.  I can't expect that of every post because every person is different but at least once a week I would like to write a post that touches YOU or makes you think from a different angle or even just makes you smile.  That is why I write.  I've lost sight of that by imposing quantity requirements I've pulled from my butt thin air.

My followers have thinned. Comments have decreased.  Jumping through hoops to entertain is not something I've ever been good at doing. Creating on demand is fun but I feel I have lost quality and part of myself in doing that.

As a rabid reader of Insecure Writer's Support Group and with their great encouragement I can finally admit I Am A Writer.  Sometimes I'm a good writer, other times, not so much.

I intend to work on that and might not be here every day.  My three thousandth posting I just celebrated will grow smaller as I thin.

In doing this I hope to mirror Bonnie's enthusiasm by greeting the day with curiosity, friendliness and an open mind ready for a new adventure.

Going For A Ride

Yes, I wanna go!

Who's driving?

What's the problem?

Just start the darn motor, won't you?

Big Bad Pit Bull

meets a crawdad.

Bonnie is not impressed.

She and Lizzy discuss the solution while Bonnie tries to get the crawdad off her paw.

Bonnie Friendly Water Garden

In a valley with all kinds of water sometimes it's just easier to stick close to home.  I have made the gardens pet friendly where all can drink and cool.  The Koi don't seem to mind.

Fish?

I didn't know that!

Not Every Dog (May be too graphic for some)

has her own chaise lounge.

Bonnie began her training in a crate and still goes there when we leave the house.  She graduated to and outgrew the old recliner.  She now claims the chaise lounge which usually holds what Hubby throws on it.

As much as we love dogs they are also needed on a farm.  Varmint control, guardians of our farm animals and of our place are just a few of the important jobs they do.

Just shy of eighty-five pounds and fourteen months old, Bonnie is very much a part of our life and our working team here.  Bonnie can sprint at twenty MPH but can maintain a solid fourteen for an indefinite period of time.  Yes, Hubby has clocked her.

This summer Bonnie trained with the other members of our working farm team:  Lil, Ki-Anne, Squigs, JR and Lizzy (all outside dogs). Each have their own job and work well as a team.  They've herded cattle and have kept our area clear of poisonous snakes and animals that could harm our live stock.

This summer Bonnie "alerted" us to a Copperhead but really has mostly stood back and observed. We thought maybe she's not gonna catch on to the job requirements here.

Yesterday Bonnie showed us she was paying attention.  She caught her first armadillo all by herself. At least a quarter from the house and proudly carried it all the way home.

Armadillos can reach a speed of thirty miles an hour but Bonnie exceeded this one's speed.  Hubby did not clock the chase but was very pleased with Bonnie's performance.

It's a fact of farm life.  Some critters just can't co-exist on a farm.  This is one critter of which we have tried to control the population.  Their burrows can break livestock's legs, they tend to dig in the garden because the ground is softer, and they do kill many plants.  On the good side they eat lots of insects and worms and are good to eat  (recipes here) although we've never tried one.

The other members come to check the prize.

Bonnie has reason to be proud.

She shows off her catch.

After her good girl praises

she drinks and chills.

When the wild hogs come

we may have a chance!

We're Not Bad Dogs...

Bonnie wanted me to let y'all know she's through the trauma of having her puppy factory removed. We did not want to bring more misunderstood dogs into this world especially when a name can generate such fear and hate.  We know it's not true and not just because of Bonnie.  We have owned many American Pit Bulls in our married life.  Not one bad dog in the bunch!

Bonnie always goes next door to check on Marcy as part of her morning rounds.  She really likes Marcy but I suspect it may have a little to do with checking the cat food supply.

She has such a soulful look you can't refuse her snacks.

If you have none, she will find her own.

She loves when Jake comes,

is very gentle with Zander

and hogs the bed with Andrew.

She wants to play with the cats so badly. They don't like to play. They line up and just stare at her. I'm not sure who is more intimidated but they do tolerate each other.

One more poor pitiful starving look in Marcy's door before Bonnie returns home again.

I suspect with her eighty-three pound weigh in she's not starving.

There are no bad dogs just uneducated owners.  Pit Bull Power!!!  May the breed survive.

And Then There's Bonnie...

She found that turtle shell again!

Bonnie had it half way home and something distracted her.  Next trip, I'm sure the transport will be successful.

The Back Forty and Weekly News...

Marcy and I ate out on doctor day.

Our nephew, Toni, met us at the doctor's office.

Stormi, Toni's daughter joined Aunt Marcy (cancer free), Toni and me for lunch.

Zander, my youngest grandson, graduated Kindergarten the 22nd. He's headed to Big School for Big Kids.

Hubby found me an amazing rock and delivered it to my water/rock garden.  That guy knows the way to my heart!

Bonnie, the pit bull and Sir Loin, the meat giver, have become fast friends.  They are now exchanging licks! They say never name an animal you are going to eat but, alas, we did.  Marcy carries him fresh clover and we all pet this bull calf.  I will remember to thank Sir Loin for his gift to us when I bite into that first meat.

My other sister, Beverly, and I keep on working every day at the shop. The farm keeps us busy, too.   I wondered what happened to retirement??

Bumming With Bonnie...

Bonnie is a busy girl.

She loves potting my plants for me.

Brings them right to the back door.

She observes the cats

and has made a new best friend.

Bonnie is very curious.

She brings us gifts of turtles,

water lily pots,

and large logs

all arranged nicely by the back door.

She plays well with others.

Bonnie never passes a water hole

without enjoying the beauty of it.

Bonnie will be six months old soon.

I fear we have much growing to do.

Bug-Eyed Bonnie

On the master's lap you can tell Bonnie has grown.

You want me to take a picture the way you are dressed?

I refuse to cooperate!

If you want me to pose the leg warmers must go!

Note:  The blue is the light.  Bonnie's eyes are golden.

The Mag 190

My name keeps me locked
Behind an inescapable fence
Every one fears my breed
It doesn't make sense

I'm like every other dog
I act how I am trained
I sadly watch as people pass
I needn't be restrained

Look into my baby blues
I am a dog
Like any other
Just a different hue

Join The Mag 190 prompt from Magpie Tales.