Abby's New Friend

After Buddy died, Abby was sad in the extreme. I walked her every day and we put her on doggy Prosac, but she really needed another dog to be with her when I was working or we were out. Buddy left us in September and, by Christmas, I couldn't watch Abby be sad any more.

We tried looking for a couple of older dogs. Pocono was  a 6 1/2 year old boy with glowing reviews on Petfinder.com. We traveled a fair distance with Abby in tow to meet this dog. He had horrible manners and we left him right where he was.

Next, Paula, one of my college roommates, told me about a dog her brother had fostered for a while. We applied to get Gunner, a 2 1/2 year old lab mix. Our application was well received, but the foster family decided to keep Gunner.

Finally, I popped into the library to check the paper for any possible "free to good home" dogs. My supervisor asked if I had checked with one of our local shelters. She pulled up the page on facebook and clicked on photos.

There across the top of the page were four pictures of labbish looking puppies - three blondes and a black boy. We called the lady who was fostering the dogs and saw the black puppy the same evening.  Abby was uncertain about having a baby dog in her back yard and in her house, but she tolerated him pretty well. We arranged to adopt the baby after his puppy shots were finished.




We call him Bear. He learns everything the first time we tell him. I'm astounded at how smart he is. Abby loves him.

Looking at this picture and comparing him with the  dog currently sleeping on the dog bed, I think he's about one and a half this size. He's grown like a weed in the last couple of weeks. I've had to loosen his collar a little over an inch. He hasn't had an accident in the house for about 5 days. He walks on a leash like a champ - although we are still working on which side he should trot. He and Abby wrestle and spar and love each other already. I keep leather chewies scattered around so he won't eat the furniture. He loves to snuggle with his humans whenever they get down to his level.




I'm sure he'll be posted several more times in the future.

Thanks for visiting with me,

Kathi

Too Much Winter

Winters in southern Indiana are usually moderate. Two years ago, we had thirteen snows. As recall, the schools didn't have a whole week of school for two months. Here, a couple of inches of snow will cancel school.

This year, it's been both snowy and very cold. The polar vortex managed to creep all the way down here. We lost a pipe and had to turn off the water for two days. I discovered that I am able to wash my hair with about a quart of water when necessary. Hopefully, I won't have to do that too often.

One of our Illinois friends slipped on the ice during the deep cold, hit his head, and was dead by the end of the day. It makes me angry that the ice only lasts a few days, but dead is forever.

Last Thursday, most of the snow was gone. I put on my comfy walking shoes (for which read "no tread") and set out for a walk with the dogs. The operative word in that last sentence is "almost". I skidded in a patch of slushy snow and was on the ground before I could think twice. I should have landed on my behind, but I twisted and ended up with my right hand bent under me. It was only sprained, but not having the full use of one's right hand is annoying to be kind about it. Les had to help me with my socks for a couple of days. I couldn't crochet at all for over a week and typing was slow using only my left hand. It was boring not being able to fill my time in my usual ways.

Anyway, I'm nearly back to full use of my right hand. It aches a little when I overuse it or poke at it. It's nice to be back.

This winter can be over anytime soon. I borrow a picture that has been going around on facebook:

Thanks for visiting with me,

Kathi