Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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I love living where I can wear shorts all March. Another glorious spring day, with bluebonnets galore, and more and more wildflowers as far as the eye can see. Texas has the nicest looking ditches in the country. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Solo was across the fence a while ago, snorting like mad and beating his nose with a hind foot. No idea what he got into to make him snort/sneeze like that, but he was pretty uncomfortable for quite a while. Hope it's not serious.
WLToo is pretty sure the main body of hummingbirds hasn't arrived yet. We only have one occasional visitor to the feeder for now.
The resident roadrunner stood out in the meadow and blew raspberries at us on the porch yesterday. It was pretty funny, watching Spot try to sneak down the slope, as the roadrunner watched his every move and said "Pbbbbt!" periodically. He finally strolled away, just as Spot started the butt wiggle o' doom (not that Spot had any chance at all of catching the roadrunner).
Right now, Spot the intrepid bug hunter is stalking a beetle alongside the pool. Alex is doing his impression of Monorail Kitteh on my chair arm.
Ah, Dancing With The Stars elimination is on. Later, y'all.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Czarny, black cat
Rainbow Bridge: Spotacus, Alexander the Grrreat, and so very many more
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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Joined: 08/19/2006
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Have you been back to the heart doc for a check up? I hope everything is going well there.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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I was scheduled to visit the heart doc this Friday, but he was badly injured in a wreck, so I'll visit one of his colleagues next week instead. I'm ok, myself.
Quiet morning. Had several rain showers, and it's still a touch foggy, but the birds are singing, and I just saw a yellow butterfly. We have antelope stew in the crockpot, and we'll have burritos for lunch (oh, it's lunchtime already!), so I made some pico de gallo to go with the frijoles.
Alex and Spot are still asleep, after their morning breakfast and patrol. Spot spent the whole night either between my calves, or up against one as I turned over. He was happy; I was hot. Alex slept in his usual spot between his two humans.
Past time for human lunch and kitty treats. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Last night, we heard Spot bouncing all around the house, obviously playing with something. He finally bopped it into the big room, and it was a giant red-headed centipede, about 3" long. Creepy buggers. Unfortunately, it got away from him, right around my favorite chair.
After losing the centipede, Spot found and started playing with a spider. When the spider started running toward Spot, I smacked it with the ol' flip flop of doom. Then I saw another spider beside my chair, and WLToo did the same. Unfortunately, it was a momma spider, with a snootful of babies riding on top. WLToo goes smack, babies go everywhere. Now picture two humans in flip flops, doing a Fred Astaire tap dance wherever we see movement.
Spot gave up and went to bed in his chair. I sat on the other side of the room the rest of the evening...
No sign of more baby spiders or the centipede this morning. The Roomba swept up the remains, and WLToo got out the whole house bug repellent and sprayed every opening. Luckily, we've not yet seen a scorpion, although they're out -- a friend found six dead ones in her house already, having died due to six cats who really like to play with them. She dispatched a seventh with her flip flop (the standard footwear around here).
The pool's uncovered, clean, and in the mid-70s. Two and a half days and a wake up, and I'm in the pool!
Mama Doe has run everyone out of the meadow, even Solo. She still doesn't look pregnant, but since she normally drops fawn(s) in late May or early June, she's got time to grow. The meadow is filled with wildflowers and assorted other deer delights, so while she still comes to the house, she's not staring into the windows and making it clear she really, really wants a handout.
Time to get back outside and clear more Mexican hat dead stalks. Later, y'all.
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Dashonthedash
PA
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Joined: 06/03/2003
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I think it's easy to understand why dogs chose to associate with humans but, as for cats, I believe it's because we provide them with easy entertainment.
Gary Shapiro
Shadow - 7-year-old Greyhound (aka Shadow Ninja)
Hannah - 4-year-old GSD rescue (aka the Canine Tornado)
Max, Dash (GSDs), Willow, Dot, Allan, Lily (Greyhounds), and Molly(GSD Mix), at the Bridge and in my heart forever
2011 G'town 280DS Class A
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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We also provide easy food, clean water, and warm places to sleep. Cats are very smart; they know a good deal.
Today's a bit gray, with thunderstorms possible. Alex and Spot are sleeping on the north porch, where they can watch and chitter at the barn swallows and the two hummingbirds who visit the feeder.
Learned another lesson this morning: don't take the medications first, and then eat, but do the reverse. Very queasy right now. Bleah.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Today was the first day I could swim. WLToo did not join me, as the pool temp was 79, and he thinks that's too cold. Since I give off about 15000 btu normally, it felt wonderful.
But not content with merely swimming laps, I had my first weight training session this afternoon. Well, first in too many years. I'll be doing weight training three times per week and swimming every day, so by the end of the summer, I fully expect to look and feel considerably better... I'll mention the workouts to the cardiologist tomorrow, in case he has any concerns, but I doubt he will. I found out I was a whole lot stronger than I thought, so I should be into some heavier weights very soon. Probably never gonna be a six-pack again, but at least I'll stop being a keg...![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
Spot is sitting by the juniper next to the pool deck. He's been trying to get a mockingbird that lands there and taunts him. But the first few months we had him, Spot ran straight off the deck, trying to get a bird in the tree, so he's not repeating that 6' drop again.
One of last year's hummingbirds is here. Flew directly to where the feeder was last year, looked around, saw it in the new location, and seems happy with it.
Mama Doe joined us for an evening snack. We ate the bananas, she ate the peels.
I'm feeling some muscles right now -- time for a cool water treatment... Back to the pool!
Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Today, we're all sitting by the pool, watching the new pool cleaner do its thing. It climbs up the wall, stops right past the waterline, then slowly goes back down, sucking up all the dust and leaves. In a couple hours, no more dust on the bottom; just in a bag for us to clean out.
Spot is following it as it goes from one side to another. Alex looked once, but is more interested in a nap. Of course, us humans are fascinated -- it's more fun than watching the breadmaker....
WLToo got buzzed by a hummingbird a few minutes ago, and we realized it wanted us to refill the feeder. He hardly got it hung before two were right there.
Cardiologist was very happy with my heart, but because I've never had one, scheduled me for a stress test later this month.
WLToo woke up this morning to a chorus of deer snorts. Not sure why they're so snorty lately, but it's making Alex very nervous. Snorting deer scare the fur right off him -- he's traumatized by having had several of those huge rat things chase him when we first got here.
Time to go back out and watch the pool cleaner. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Had family here for Easter. Alex hid under the pool ledge. Spot went on extended patrols, then realized our nephew was here, the one he likes so much, so he had some quality kitty time with nephew.
Was a lovely, quiet day, right up until the shrieks began. Horrible, grinding, fire alarm loud shrieks. It was the pool pumping equipment again. It's running on low, but on high sounds like it's trying to tear itself apart. I don't think this will be a cheap fix. Good thing we got the pool cleaner when we did. At least we can keep the pool clean while waiting on whatever parts the repairman will need.
This morning I heard our neighbor clapping her hands and calling the deer to come for their morning fruit and veggies. Mama Doe immediately jumped the fence, leaving two young deer in our meadow--one I'm sure is Solo, but the other? Don't know for sure. Even though the gate is open, they couldn't figure out how to get out, and kept running up and down the fence line, never quite getting down to the gate. So they missed out on neighbor's morning treat.
We only have six barn swallows nesting, and they're not eating near enough bugs. Having to keep the door closed to keep the mosquitoes out. I sure hope they all have huge broods -- the more barn swallows, the fewer mosquitoes.
Time to go spray the yard for grass burrs -- they're nastily prolific right now. Later, y'all.
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