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

[kian]

Stop this talk about puppies! **Sigh** I'm getting puppy fever and I didn't think I would with all the puppies I work with. We are thinking this Spring adding another Aussie, a Tri color Female. I already named her..... We will see, it depends on so much right now, I'm glad it's not a puppy I need now.

Benson looks great, love the pic with your roommate. College is fun! I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, it's become a good habit I actually love. I do mostly Turbokick and some Ripped.

Deb I hope you have good time at your mums.

Hi Sher, I'm not here much either.

I'm really proud of my Juvenile Detention kids. One has taught his dogs lots of tricks and when I did a demo with Ice at the center, he loved the tricks so I taught them to him! So now his assignment from me is to put together a show. The other dog, a very young AussieX is coming along nicely. These hardcore criminal youth really do respond well to the dog. I felt so good when I left today, they all look forward to me coming each week. It's a good thing.

Nezza don't see where you posted lately, hope all is well.

I was given tons of apples! I have been busy dehydrating them and tonight made a Apple Pie, smells good! I love Fall, it's so pretty, but not looking forward to old man Winter. Brrrrrr......

[nezza]

Hello everyone!!! A lot of time has passed since i've last posted here. Thanks for inquiring of me, Kian. I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest

I'm so far behind!

Kian, it's so wonderful to hear that your work with the juveniles is going so well!!! It's always amazing to see how people respond to animals. Animals are magical!

Fall is everywhere around us right now! Leaves are starting to change and we are planning another trip to Pigeon Forge this weekend. There are a few "fall festival and craft" shows going on that we want to attend. My OH has also planned a special scenic drive through the Great Smoky's...to see the leaves with the top down in "Sabrina"! OOOHHH!!!! I can't wait!!!!

So, we do have one neighbor who lives across the street (3/4 mile away) I've talked about this neighbor before....but, as a recap, she has the roosters that we can hear at 3 AM every morning!!! She has a small pig farm, dogs, chickens, cats and a couple horses. Anyway....her female cat had a recent litter about 6 months ago, and wouldn't you know it....we now have a cat! He just showed up behind the house one day and has never left. It's only been about a week. He's super cute, super sweet, super cuddly and loves the chickens!!! (Since he was born with chickens all around him, anyway). I have named him "Persie" which is short for "persistent" because he refused to go back "home". He's an orange tabby. Waffles DOES NOT like a cat on the property...but we're working on that. He loves to be pet and loves to curl up on my lap!!!! I have fallen in love...






and i made him his own little "safe spot" on the porch...with his own bowl of food/water and his own "bed" with a nice fluffy towel inside

[kian]

I love Orange Tabbys! He is beautiful, nice addition. I will be on PInterest this weekend, I haven't had much time and getting on there isn't for a short time.

LOL...Our Rooster starts crowing at 4am! I would like to yell at him "The sun isn't up yet!" I actually love to hear him crow, don't know about the neighbours!

The Smokey's in the Fall would be beautiful. I have seen them in the Summertime, I can't imaging how colorful they would be this time of the year. The leaves are starting to fall here, my girls are eating them up! I need more goats to stay caught up on the fall leaves, soon there will be way to much, even for them.

Sad story with a good ending. Lady comes to me asking if I know anyone selling a GSD, we talk and we get on the subject of puppy abuse. She relates recent incident in which her and her friend were walking the River Trail. She got side tracked and the friend notice a couple (evil people-e.p.) getting ready to toss a 8 week old puppy in the river. She went up to them and was told by the E.P., the puppy had pooped on the floor and they didn't want it. Friend proceeds to give them the "what for" and the "berating" then the friend takes puppy, finds nice home. The end.

I'm always shocked at the Idiots in this world!!! Our job as dog and animal lovers is educate the idiots and know in the end, they will get thier just reward. Rant over......

[nezza]

Thanks so much, Kian! I am a HUGE cat lover. My ex-husband and I had three kitty cats when we were together. Only since moving here to TN, did i go back to having dogs. "Percie" has about 3 other litter mates that i've seen around the neighbors driveway. I guess, he was just smart enough to find me

I do enjoy the crow of the roosters...even when i just wanna sleep and not be disturbed. The weather has been so nice and cool at night that we leave the windows open, otherwise, we would never hear them with the windows closed. My "ladies" have been bulking up for the winter....they have been scouring for bugs and not laying so many eggs anymore (they don't really lay at all in winter months).

We went to Pigeon Forge last year at this time and the fall colors were AMAZING!! I'm hoping to get great pics this year and i will post them for everyone to see!

I am so happy that your "Evil People" story had a good outcome for that little pup. I really HATE people like that. I wish someone would tie them up and toss them into a river I seriously mean that. Thank God, someone came along to rescue that poor, sweet soul.

I love fresh baked apple pie, Kian!!! I'm sure is going to be DELICIOUS!!!!!

[kian]

The pie turned out great, it was one of my best crust. OH hate half of it in one sitting, it's all gone now. I might make another tomorrow.

We are going to put a light in the coop to keep them laying for a bit. Then we will give the hens a rest.

Today was such a fun day, we had a Dog Play Day for our Dog Club. Ice won the Obstacle course, the Frisbree throw, almost won the Hot Dog eating contest in the pool, but lost when a POM ate two than he did in one minute....oh the humilation! Then we did a Obedience contest, he almost nailed that one to...guess who he lost to.......yup the POM! He was cruising through the contest and had to do a figure 8, but no, he had to pull to smell something and wanted to say hi to the POM! Oh the humilation....all in fun!

Allie tied for first in the Musical Mats and for the friendliest dog. (Ice wasn't in her contests). She won for the most Waggin Tail and our team with, Allie as my sidekick, won the Tic Tac Toe contest.

It was a great day! I just wish some of my DP friends could come and join in the fun. We planned our next ASCA Event for the Spring, lots of work to do there!

Now I have two passed out dogs, one that got oversprayed on the face by the evil B&W creature....that would be Ice. It isn't too bad, not enough to have to wash it out.

[nezza]

Kian, it sounds like you had a really fun day at the Dog Play Day!!! I wish i could have been there. I could bring Waffles, even though he doesn't know much other than sit, stay, lay and come...he does LOVE to play with other dogs. Congrats to both Ice and Allie! Funny that a little Pom beat Ice on the hot dog eating contest! Those little dogs can really wolf some food down Too bad about that B&W kitty, though. Glad it's not too bad. STINKY

Seems like your OH loves apple pie like mine does! No pie is safe for too long around here, either. And i love it when it's still warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. My favorite is blueberry pie. My OH made one a couple weeks ago and it was gone quickly. A great pie really is so much about the crust!

We're getting a cold front moving through. Unseasonably cool i don't like it. It should be back in the 70's next week, but for me, it's not soon enough. I don't like to be cold and poor Waffles is shivering!!! He doesn't enjoy the cold either. I wrap him up in a blanket when he's laying on the couch. Poor little guy. I'm going to have to buy him a sweater.

Persie is now so comfortable with me, that he likes to climb into my lap and curl up for a petting! He just purrs and purrs Waffles does not share my affection toward kitty

[kian]

Blueberry Pie is my favorite! I did make another Apple Pie, smells good. I love Real Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, it's the only Vanilla I like. It is beautiful here, a perfect Fall Day to bake.

I would like another cat, not until the Barn is built. I would love a Barn Cat, not one that lives off mice, one that will be loved and fed.

Dogs do not need to know much for fun days, that is what makes it fun! When you move to Pigeon Forge, perhaps you can find a club to join. I love mine, lots of good friends and dogs. We laugh and have a good time. A few of us have decided to shut down the Puppy Mill in town, we are going to do our best. One of the members lives next to the Mill and has reported it over and over, no luck. So with women power, we going to do our best.

I'm watching the Mastiff again for another 2 weeks while his owner and new wife are Honeymooning. She struggles with her, wants to walk her but she pulls so bad. I bought a Halti for her and have been working with her, today I walked her to my house to play, she loved it. Then I walked her home (about a half mile), she walked perfect! Her new mom isn't much of a dog person, her husband is hoping I can change her mind. I will do my best!! She hates the slobber, so when I'm with them, I showed her how much I can love her and not let the slobber bother me. Hope by example as well will win her over to the dog side.

[nezza]

Well, woke up with a sore throat this morning. I'm still tired and would love to have slept in, but Waffles gets up every morning between 5:30 and 6:30 I feel like crap, it's raining and cold outside. Meanwhile, Waffles is back to sleep on the couch

Kian, the OH and I were thinking of finding a "Dog Day" type thing to do with Waffles when we get out to Pigeon Forge. There are a few and it's a great way to make friends...for both us and Waffles.

Trying to convert a non dog lover is hard enough...but trying to do it with a Mastiff sounds like a challenge for sure...with the slobbering and just their strength! I'm sure if anyone can do it...it's you

Blech! I just feel so miserable today...I think i need a "Hot Toddy"

[kian]

I hope you feel better soon, seems the cold and flu season is early this year. I already had a cold, but it felt more like the flu. I 'm still coughing from it, my energy level has returned which is good.

We had the Daily Leopard....ugh. Some child trying to pose as a owner of two of them, I hope she does not return. Children!

Today I cleaned out my pantry and scrubbed the floor. It looks so good again, I have to get organized before the Winter weather hits. This morning it was 55 in the house, the coldest so far. I went to the Gym and by the time I got back it had warmed up and didn't need to fire up the Pellet. OH's youngest daugher and her 3 kids are coming to visit this weekend, she will be cold. We will have the stove going when were home. We plan on being in Durango a lot, lots to do there.

[nezza]

Kian, i sure would love a piece of your apple pie this morning!!!

I'm actually feeling better this morning, but my throat still hurts. I'm starting to think that the drastic change in the weather is what is affecting me and not the flu. It's supposed to be warmer here today and back in the upper 70's later in the week. We should have beautiful weather for our Pigeon Forge trip next week....keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't change

It was 59 in the house this morning. Out here, everyone uses propane to heat their houses. We did when we first moved up here...but it has gotten SO expensive. We haven't used it in the past few years. We have a beautiful fireplace in the living room that we use...and it gets the house up to 80! We also have a kerosene heater and three other small electric space heaters for when we are not using the fireplace. The house does have central AC but not heat so, i'm actually really looking forward to central heat when we move

Well, Persie and the chickens seem to have become friends. They hang out together all afternoon. Little Red is funny, though. If Persie gets too close to her, she pecks at him! I guess she's trying to show him who's boss

[princelover]

Vanessa, I love the Tabby and Persie must be very smart to know a good home when he finds one. He looks so comfy and cosy. I have always put out food and water for our 'passerbys' but have never had one take up residence. I do have several neighbors who use a BB gun to discourage them so I feel that is why they don't linger long. I have had some very lovely guests who have spent the night on my patio.

I have always been a dog/cat; any animal person. People actually look at me very strangely when I talk to them but I have made some very good friends with even birds. Much friendlier than a lot of people.

I once rescued a tiny bird, who had fallen from its nest, and placed it gently (without touching it) in a shady place. At the time, I was being scolded severely by its mom. Later, after the babe was safely back in the nest, mama came back and thanked me for putting it into a shady place, out of the direct sun. She knew and she actually was thanking me. All animals are much smarter than we humans give them credit for.

I am sorry to hear you have been ill. Hope you are feeling better very soon. It is the time of the year for all the yucky flu and colds. Since I had such a bad reaction to the flu shot last year, I refused to take one this year, much to my doctor's chiding. Time will tell, I guess. I do know my sinuses and allergies have been giving me a fit.

Kian, your pie sounds heavenly. I love fall apples and all the delicious things you can do with them. There is nothing quite as good as a fresh homemade warm piece of apple pie, straight from the oven. Yum.

[nezza]

Hi Sher!!

Glad you liked the pictures of little Persie He is a super sweet kitty cat. It's funny how they tend to "pick" their homes. The house where he came from always has cats. He was born there in the most recent litter. They have a lot of animals and for a while, we knew Persie was wandering over here in the middle of the night because the trash would be torn open and there were little kitty paw prints on the car. One day, i heard meowing as i was standing behind the house with the chickens. And, after much looking, i was able to pick him out amongst the leaves and trees. He kinda blended in because of his orange color. I thought, at the time, that he just hadn't gone back home yet, because we have never seen him during the day before. But, as night time came, he was still sitting in the same area. The next morning, he was STILL there. That's when i knew he wasn't going anywhere. So, then came out the food and water, and before i knew it, i was setting up a little bed area for him.... He has become so friendly in such a short period of time. He already curls up in my lap, purring, loving to be pet. He, however is deathly afraid of umbrella's and broom's! Sometimes, we leave the back door open, and he will come inside and lay in the back hallway. He won't stay in the house though. Probably because he has never been in one. But, i'm working on that

Sher, i don't think you're strange for talking to animals. I do it all the time. And, you're right, they are friendlier than people and they are MUCH smarter than humans give them credit for. Animals are incredible. I'm really hoping to find a job in an animal hospital again...once we move to Pigeon Forge. I miss working with them so very much.

I'm feeling much better today. I think it's this crazy weather lately, that was making me feel ill. It would be wonderful to make it through winter without getting sick, wouldn't it?

[JaymeK]

Orange tabbies are always the cuddliest. My parents and I have had a long string of unfriendly cats, except for one. They were all strays (except for the friendly one). It's weird for me to have cats that actually want to sit on me now, I'm still getting used to it!

Speaking of pies (yum) my mom made two pumpkin pies for our thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie is my absolutely favourite, especially with lots of cool whip, so I was super excited. She made one with real pumpkin puree and the other with pumpkin pie mix. I like the pumpkin pie mix better, I just think it has more of that warm, spicy taste than the puree recipe. Of course everyone else liked the REAL pumpkin pie. haha. I'll probably have to fight to get my pie made next year.

We didn't do up a whole turkey since it's just the four of us and my sister is a vegetarian. My mom brought some big turkey breasts and cooked those up. There was still lots left over for turkey sandwiches the next day. But alas, there will be no turkey soup this year:( That's probably my favourite part of thanksgiving!

I came back late last night and found that two litter boxes being scooped once a day was apparently not enough for the cats. They had tried to pee on the sides of the litter box (don't know what that's about...) and some of the newspaper I keep around the box was yellow with pee! They had also shredded the paper with their claws.

I'm a little upset the cat sitter didn't mention it, I asked her numerous times to text me when she went (so I knew she was going and that everything was fine) but she only did it one of three times. We won't be using her again. It was almost $40 for her to come three times for a 15 minute visit.

It took me a good 20 minutes to clean all the litter off the carpet, get new paper under the boxes etc. I just ended up vacuuming the whole upstairs, it was pretty gross.

Midterms are coming up! I'll probably be awol for awhile as I haven't started studying and my first one is on friday, oops!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

[nezza]

Aww, Jayme, sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Simply because, it's just about family getting together and eating, laughing, and telling stories. It's so UN-materialistic! I LOVE pumpkin pie. And, turkey breast is a GREAT way to go, when you don't really need a whole turkey. The breast is large enough and still succulent!!!

Sounds like your cat-sitter didn't too such a great job Cats like to be clean, so, when they are not happy with their "conditions", they will let you know! I know it's a chore to clean up after cats make such a "mess".

At the animal hospital, our clients preferred to come to us for "pet sitting" jobs because they preferred our animal background. I had one client, she actually wanted me to come and live in her guest house (which was in a very wealthy neighborhood and very large) just to watch her pets. My rent was free, cable, water and electric....all in exchange for taking care of her horses, cats, and dogs!!! I would have jumped at it, but it was right before i was to move here to TN.

Good luck on your midterms!!! I'm sure you'll do well!!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Jayme, it sounds like you had a lovely Thanksgiving. My "baby" Brother had all of us over to his place this year, and oh my did he make a lot of food. I say he, as his wife doesn't cook. She made the carrots, and they were boring old carrots, despite her claims of honey and dill. They were also raw, which I like, but not when they are supposed to be cooked! Tender crisp please...not so hard as to break my teeth on them.

My Brother did a whole huge Turkey, as well as a Ham. He also made these delicious mashed sweet potatoes/regular potatoes that tasted fantastic. We had something similar last year that his MIL made when he wasn't there (at my Mum's) and all that tasted like was orange mashed potatoes. The ones he made had garlic in them and a few other things that were yummy. They had tons of different veggies, really good stuffing, gravy and homemade cranberry sauce. I was expecting cold cuts and hors d'oeuvres!

There was only my sister and I there, with our children. I was minus one son who had tremendous amounts of assignments due so it was just Elliot and I. It felt rather odd coming from a family of six children. My Mum was there of course, as well as my brothers "Out Laws" (his MIL and FIL).

I had also gone to see Neil Young on Saturday night with RJM and her husband. They came to "Sleepy Town, Ontario" and we had a BLAST!!!!

Sorry I haven't been posting very much lately on the Forums. There have been a gaggle of young girls playing "Barbie for Dogs" all over the front page so by the time I come to the Forums, I look for Trolls and then I've had about enough. I do read everything though, even if I don't always post.

I'll be back to my usual chatty self in no time. Don't everyone cringe at the same time.