Misc. Idle Chit Chat - Part II (The Sequel)

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Jayme, we were awfully spoiled from last Winter! Poor Benson...perhaps you should invest in some booties for him as we still have quite a bit of winter ahead, unless your Dad can mail the booties to you.

I know housing is Premium in Guelph! It is such a pretty City, but with the biggest industry basically being the University, there is a lot of movement, which keeps the housing prices relatively high. Also, it is within reasonable proximity to Toronto, and one can catch the GO Bus into Toronto, so there are commuters living there as well. It's a shame you can't find a place with a fenced yard. Are you buying or renting? If you're buying, perhaps you could put up a fence.

It's going to warm up over the next few days, so there will be a thaw and some rain, which will ultimately freeze making things rather tricky indeed, and then we're back into the deep freeze! I don't like -25!!!! It's TOO cold. At least out west, they have the Chinooks come through so there is a reprieve in the middle of it all.

I hope everyone else is well! I am still hoping to get away this winter and go down south for a week to 10 days. We'll see. I'll know more by the end of this coming week.

[Nileska]

Jaymei,I had friends who lived just a little north of Guelph..They were Keeshond breeders and professional handlers...I believe that property for rent or purchase was a bit less expensive than in Guelph.( I also live in a College town and real estate prices are much more than in the surrounding aerea.) Folks who want to live in this town are willing to pay higher taxes and real estate prices cheerfully for the privilege...Dogs and children are especially welcome here,

[kian]

Elizabeth I have lots of experience getting those critters! They don't live in my house long, they become fair game if they dare enter. Stay warm!

Jayme are you buying? I love to watch House Hunters and have seen the prices where you are, they are so high. Having a fenced yard is wonderful, hope you can find a home with one.


Richard how is your OH? She must be anxious to get home. How soon is the other surgery?

Nezza must be on vacation, hope your having lots of fun!

I took the dogs for a fun run and they got so muddy, they each got a bath and I love my new dog dyer!

We had a few days of rain and better temps, all the snow melted away. It's snowing today... Deb there would be no question for me about going down south. Warmth, beach, sun.....yup no question!

[JaymeK]

Yes we are buying. It's pretty common nowadays for parents to buy a house and rent it to their kid and their friends to avoid paying rent! Then you sell it when they leave and (hopefully) make a bit of money!

Unfortunately that house fell through, I spoke too soon! It sold before we could get any kind of offer in on it. Have a few more lined up to go see tomorrow, I think most have fenced yards, which would be lovely! It's difficult for us to act quickly because my dad lives so far away, so it's a pain in the butt for him to come up to see houses, but the properties move so fast it's insane! We're looking a bit further from the university than you normally would to help keep the prices down. It does have to be on a direct bus route for my roommates though!

Deb, hope you made it through the freezing rain okay! It was so icky and slushy today. Supposed to go up to 11 sometime this week, so that will be nice and muddy!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

My friends' daughter attended Guelph and they seriously considered buying, but ultimately did not. I think it's a good idea as property there moves! You're smart to look early. Now is a good time for that. Fortunately with Fax Machines, and the internet, it shouldn't matter too much how far away your Father is. I did long distance buying and selling in the 90's when technology wasn't quite as advanced.

Looking a bit further afield is a great idea. As you said, as long as you are on a major bus route (or two, as Guelph isn't that big), you should do alright. That's exciting!!!

I've been avoiding driving in the inclement weather. Last night it was snowing like crazy, and by this morning the temps had risen so much, that everything turned to ice. Many of the schools were closed, despite the fact that the High School Exams just started. Sadly, Elliot didn't catch that break today, and he has to write again tomorrow morning.

Give Benson a big hug from me. Stay warm and safe as the cold is going move back in by the weekend.

[nezza]

Hey Everyone! I know, i've been out of the loop recently. I do hope everyone has been staying warm and safe this winter. We've had an awful lot of rain the past couple weeks but no snow. I was really hoping to get at least one hearty snow fall this year...but, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Last week, we did have an ice storm move in and the OH insisted i not go to work, so i didn't. Too risky for a 30 mile drive in an ice storm. Today we're expecting a high of almost 70 That's unheard of for January but, hey, i'll take it! Thinking about our move to Pigeon Forge is overwhelming....the packing, the hauling, the moving...it seems like A LOT of work. The OH and I have decided to get a storage unit when we go out there in April and start moving the stuff we don't necessarily use but want to keep, a couple trips at a time. (BIG sigh) Anyway....

Speaking of mice. Normally we have to deal with these critters every year, especially in the winter. Well, since we've had Persie we haven't had not one single mouse this year. You want to keep mice away? Get a cat!

Our little "Roo" is still coming for his daily visits to my ladies. It's just too cute.

I've been up since 4:30 this morning because my alarm clock (Waffles) went off too early. Usually, it's between 5:30 and 6! He was waaaay off today

Just got a new book from the library yesterday, so i'm hoping to read it on the porch today and take complete advantage of our 70 degree weather. I love a good book. I have a tablet...but i just don't like reading a book on it. A book should be something you hold, with pages you turn. Maybe it's just me, but that's how i like it.

[kian]

Nezza I saw last night where you nice weather is changing, it looked like a very bad storm cell heading your way. Did it make it there? I too prefer a book over a tablet, guess we just like the "old" ways! I hope moving goes well, I'm sure we have at least one more move in our future.

Jayme I have seen where parents are buying a home or condo for thier college kids, we never did that. I wanted to, but OH did not. It is nice of parents to do that for thier children, hope you can snag something perfect!

I hate Ice storms, N. Utah had a bad one. We had a small one here, it didn't take long for the roads to clear. I'm just hating the wind, it's bitter cold and I'm hating being inside. I want to play! This Saturday is "Snowdays" in Durango and there is a dog event there as well. If the weather is good, you bet I'm going with Ice boy.

[JaymeK]

EDIT: Sorry, working on resizing the photos. Hopefully they're all okay by the time you guys see this!

Nezza, 4:30am? Oh man. That's early! Speaking of alarm clocks I got myself a "Clocky" because I never wake up on time. It's an alarm clock on wheels and when it goes off it flies off your bedside table and goes to hide somewhere! It scared the crap out of me and went directly under my bed. I was on my hands and knees trying to find it but I was still disoriented in the dark! But hey, I got up on time for the first time in two weeks!

The wind is insane today. Last I checked it was holding steady at 40km/h. I took Benson on a hike because it's more covered. This is our second time on this trail, he loves it! It's definitely more 'hiking' than the other ones we've been on. Lots of ups and downs! Here's some pics if you're interested, and yes, I instagrammed every single one! hhaha. Ignore the filters!
(Sorry for the quality, they were all taken with my phone! I didn't want to lug my big camera on an hour hike! Maybe another day when it is sunnier.)

This part of the trail reminds me of the maze in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire




And of course one of Benson!


This is the only one with no filter!

[nezza]

Hi everyone!!! Happy Groundhog's Day!!! Which, by the way, is also one of my favorite movies!

Kian, we did have that horrible storm pass through here. Not too terribly bad for us, but all of our surrounding mountain towns got hit. I'm a big scaredy cat when it comes to wind. So, thankfully, it wasn't too rough. We didn't even really get a lot of rain...but, our creek! EEK! The run off comes from one of our neighboring mountain towns and they got DUMPED with LOTS and LOTS of rain. So, Wednesday morning i left for work and when i leave work i always call the OH to let him know i'm on my way. Well, i couldn't go home Wednesday night The creek was just running too rapidly and there was no crossing it. I ended up having to stay with our friends (Mike and Jen) for the night. This is the first time in the four years that we've lived here that we have ever been stuck on the other side of the creek. Needless to say, i was grateful for our friends' hospitality, but i was pretty unhappy that i couldn't go home. I finally got to home the next morning around 7...even though the creek was still running, i crossed it in "Hondie". I have to say, at this point, the creek has lost its novelty aspect....

So, it's been super cold here the past few days. And i'm really hoping that the groundhog does NOT see his shadow today

I hope you get to make it to "Snow Days" with Ice! Sounds like a lot of fun

Jayme, love the pics. And, i have heard of the "Clocky". Hilarious! I love hiking. I'm sure Benson was having a great time.

[Deerie me]

I had a similar problem last week, Nezza. I work Mondays and Tuesdays about 40 miles away but it is across open moorland and we had snow so the roads across the moor were blocked. I didn't get home until Thursday afternoon. The hounds were so excited to see me. I think they missed me far more than the rest of the family.

[kian]

Being stranded outside of home isn't fun! I would hate that, don't mind being stranded in home. There were times when we had go over the mountain and always kept a change of clothes in the winter as the mountain pass could get bad. It happened to the OH once and he had to stay in a motel. Glad you and Tracy made it home after a night!

Tracy is it normal to get that much snow there?

Early Spring according to the groundhog! The oversized rodent better be right.

Beautiful hiking area Jayme!

Snowdogs was so fun! Ice aced nearly every station. It was only a competition against yourself except for Simon Says, we got that one! We came home with lots of treats. We went to the Dog Park in Durango, it is a great place to play. It is bordered by the river and is 25 acres of free roam land. I let Ice off and he hung with us and his girlfriend for awhile and played with her. We threw sticks, snowballs and he had a blast. It is very hilly and we had hiked up to a rock to enjoy the view. Ice left a few times to play and would come back, even responded to his whistle a few times.
He buddied up with a dog whose owner hiked over the hill, I could not see him and hiked down in the snow to get to him.
While I could not see him, he could see me as he came running as fast as could when he saw me hiking down the slope. I was proud of him today!

Not so proud of Jackson. He slipped the door and took off, we have working recall, however he is not ready to be off leash around the property. He took off after the horses and I feared he would be trampled as I could not go fast enough in the deep mud. He spied some cows and took off after them, he could not get through the fence and he finally gave up. Both of us were muddy! I had laid down in the mud to entice him in my good jacket and jeans, whatever it took! He is fine, had a bath and now asleep after his bout with freedom....Terriers!

[nezza]

EARLY SPRING!!!!

I don't know about everyone else...but I'm ready!!!

Tracy, does that happen often to you? The OH was very upset that i couldn't get home. The next morning when i finally crossed the creek, Waffles was over joyed to see me. It was a nice feeling.

Kian, glad to hear you had fun at the Snowdogs event As i was reading about Jackson, i was thinking to myself...typical terrier...and then you said it

It's a super sunny Superbowl Sunday here. We're not football fans, but love the idea of Superbowl parties and Superbowl commercials.

[Deerie me]

We got snowed in the year before last. We get a lot of snow drifts across Exmoor because it is so exposed and we are a relatively isolated community so although we don't get much snow in the village because we are coastal we can't get out due to the snow and the extreme hills. We have to drive up or down a 1:4 (25%) gradient whichever way we go. It wasn't all bad. I worked almost two days overtime. My boss said as I was there if I wanted to work I could. There were some employees who hadn't made it in.

Naughty terrier, Jackson. Kian, I can see Jackson being a bit more of a challenge than the obliging Aussies. It's a good job you are equal to that challenge.

My friend's Wolfhound had puppies on Friday night. She had thirteen altogether but two were stillborn and two have since faded away. I helped as midwife and have been round a lot to help because my friend is feeling a bit out of his depth. The owner of the stud has been there a lot too. We are supplementing mum's milk with puppy formula so that we know they are all getting fed. A couple of the pups are a good size but three are a bit small. They were a few days early. Fingers crossed that they all make it now.

[kian]

I hope the Wolfies do well! I met two different ones here in the past few months, they are magnificent! No Deerhounds to be seen yet, always on the lookout. Tracy are you still planning on breeding Loki and Idun? It can't be fun when she is in heat. Sounds like you live in a hilly area, hills and snow don't mix well. Sounds like your getting a lot of work, do you enjoy working there much better than the old one where you lived before?


We watched the Superbowl, honestly, if it was just me I wouldn't watch it. The best commercial was "God made a farmer".

I'm ready for Spring, the last week hasn't been bad. I'm ready for the mud to dry up so we can till and replant. I just sunk getting the tenacious terrier.

[Nileska]

Kian,a nurse where I go for dialysis has a darling new puppy ( she brings it in to visit now and then ) It looks like a Border Terrier but no ones sure.He has been.quite calm when I have seen him but "mom" is allways snuggling him and he has no desire to misbehave...I looked up that breed and they are typical Terriers,headstrong and very busy..Of course this is not news to you..Good luck with your little beastie,you will need it....Upward and onward,once more into the breech,etc.

My OH grew up with JRTs,I have not had a Terrier since I was a kid (my first 2 dogs). I am now dogless since Maggie Mae,my last dog left for the Rainbow Bridge a few weeks ago.My OH is stashed in the local Nurseing home awaiting further hip surgery so I am on my own here for the time being...We have a son who lives a few blocks away so we DO have some support...

ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL... bill Shakespeare