Time Passes At Peaceful Forest Homestead

Our backyard!

Today, was three weeks ago that my little girl, Nikita passed away. It is also seven months ago today, that my father passed away. Both are missed and thought of every day. My father of course, did not live with me. When he was in the hospital dying, I did not have the time to properly grieve for him. I was the one making all the decisions for him and trying to do the right thing by him. My niece was causing me so many problems, as was her boyfriend too. So I spent my energy on senseless problems. Instead of what mattered.

The horses playing in the snow!

Animals basically live their life only focused on today. Not what might happen tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. Maybe they are living for the moment or maybe not? We see the birds planning ahead when they first arrive back to our home in the spring. They are expected any day. They will rest those first few days back. Often we spot the first robins resting in the tree tops around our homestead. Singing their familiar song, which is what usually alerts us to the fact that they are back home. Soon they are onto family planning and building nests.

Hobo hanging out last summer in a planter!

Our cats here live the way they want. They come and go all day long. In and out, in and out. Push me toward their food dish, even if it isn't empty, which it never is. Get on a lap if possible. Sleep all day. Go outside if they feel like it. If it is cold, they might go out to go potty and then come back in. Or they can use the indoor litter box if they so choose, which Callie does. Their whole world is right here. They are not wanderers and stay close here. They are all older cats now, Callie and Patches are both 13 this year. Hobo is younger, but I am not sure exactly what her age is.

My husband on Dark Shadow, in 2003. Nikita was never far behind!

Just like a garden, our life passes by too. It is important to pay attention to each and every member of your family. Including your precious pets. Their lives are so short. Take lots of pictures and tell everyone what you want them to know. I have no regrets there. Nikita spent almost every hour of her day with me. I talked to her all the time. She understood me perfectly. My husband was "her" person. She loved him so much and showed him constantly, just how much. He, and my son, both. gave her a lot of attention. Maybe she was an "old lady" in dog years, but she was dearly loved and knew it. Now life goes on..........

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2013  Kathleen G. Lupole

Winter Has Another Month And A Half To Go!

Forty-six days until Spring. This month is usually our worst month here in New York state. January was pretty bad this year, compared to last year which was a pretty easy winter. Our winter this year has had two different January thaws! Below zero temperatures usually don't affect us that much. I think it bothers you more as you get older. Both my husband and I now, have some arthritis and that is a major reason for the cold being worst. At least that is what I think.

The funny thing about animals though, is that except for the cats, our other animals love the cold weather and hate summer. Nikita, our dog, as some of my readers know, had some health issues this year. This year she turned fifteen years old and is lame, but able to get around. I think she also has Cushings and she has had three seizures this year. But other than that, in the winter she acts like a puppy! She can't run, but when she is feeling good she hops around like she is happy. Even in below zero temperatures, she would go outside and lay in the snow! She loved it!

Our horses too, are all older now and have slowed down quite a bit. But they are playful in the winter. They are outside in the daytime often. In the summer, they don't come out of the barn until evening. I love looking out and seeing them running and bucking like fillies! Maybe they do that to keep warm up. If the sun is out, they will nap in the sunlight. I guess I should try that myself!

Here is a link to my new blog, Raised Beds Can Be Built Cheaply, Quickly And Easy!

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

The Critters That I Love

My critters are all individuals. They each have their own idiosyncrasies and routines. We all know what to expect from each of them every morning and through out the day. Patches, has always been a little strange. I brought her home from my parents' home back in 2000. She came to their house with her mother, an all white cat. My father said every time Patches, who was a kitten at the time, would try to eat out of the dish of scraps he put out for all the stray cats, her mother would strike at her, and not let her eat. A few times she had gotten in my car. Then one time my mother told me my niece was going to take her home with her the next time she came up. That was all I had to hear! This cat was not going to live stuck in a city apartment with smokers and not being able to go outside. After all, she was a country cat! She is a wonderful cat and does all kinds of strange little things around here. I hate to think of life without Patches!

Callie is the "alpha" cat in our house. She maintains that position by never being afraid of anyone or anything. I don't think it even occurs to her to be afraid of someone, be it human, or beast. Our horse trampled her on purpose. And I still had to watch that she did not go back in there at another time. She was born in a horse barn and has no fear of them or dogs. In fact, she will chase the biggest dog right off our property. The thing is that most cats run when a dog chases it, and she does not. She confuses them. At twelve years of age, she spends most of her time sleeping or eating, inside the house. I guess she decided she'd rather be inside now.

Hobo is our littlest cat, but she is a tough little girl. She hunts in the paddock and the horses don't mess with her. She is a very good hunter and is always bringing her catch back. She came to live with us in 2003 when she showed up on our porch looking for a handout. Nikita chased her into the woods, but she came right back. I fed her and it was dark so I didn't see that she was bleeding and had a big hole in her skull. We believe she was thrown off the bridge. We heard someone stop on the bridge, and it looked like they threw something from the bridge. We never dreamed it was a cat, or I'd have tried to see the car and report them! Anyway, I nursed her back to health with a little Essiac tea.

Spots is our newest cat and the only boy here. He moved in and stayed. He is not an indoor cat, and kind of freaked out when he came in the door and I didn't know he came in. I guess he thought he was trapped. He will sit on your lap outside if you are sitting down, but he doesn't really like to be picked up. We had a man stop and ask about him because he looked like the cat that lived at their house a year and a half ago. Then one day he was just gone. They saw him in our yard driving by and stopped to ask when he came here. Of course, once the man stopped and was talking to my husband, we couldn't find him anywhere! Soon as the guy left, he came out from under the ramp! My son has become very fond of him, so I hope he doesn't just leave us one day like he did that man. But he is free to do what he wants. I won't make a prison for him. He is good, but loves to eat as much as Callie does. He has increased our cat food bill, that's for sure!

Nikita at fourteen years old, is old for a big dog. Every year, I say its her last. If she gets through the summer, I figure she will probably get through the winter. Winter is her season! She loves snow and cold. When she goes outside in the morning, after it has snowed, she rolls and rolls in it. Nikita is extremely intelligent and even other people notice that once they get to know her. Way too smart for an animal!  For me, she has been the only dog I ever owned since I grew up. I was always a "cat person" and would not even consider a dog. I am glad I did as she is more like a sister than a pet. I love her dearly, and she will be the only dog I will ever own.

Our horses, Tawny, Georgie Girl and Dark Shadow, like to lay down in the paddock. They will lay down for hours. I have written so much about them, some of my readers seem to know these little girls. Georgie Girl was a race horse and was banned from the track because she was super fast on the "breezes" (test runs) but on race day, she said "no way!" Anyway, she is mine, and I love her and Dark Shadow and Tawny. They all came from the same horse farm, which Callie came from also.

Jeff and Spots

That is all the critters we have and will not get anymore, even though I said that before Spots moved in. I mean it this time!

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

Nikita's Fourteenth Birthday!

Nikita Blackwolf Lupole - January 7, 1998

Nikita Blackwolf is our dog who is celebrating her fourteenth birthday today. I thought for sure she would not make it to this birthday. Though she is in good shape, healthy looking, despite being overweight (an issue we are presently working on), and having some weird lumps and bumps on various parts of her body. For the most part she is a very happy girl even after having had to give up some of her favorite activities as she got older.

In the yard

One being sleeping upstairs in the bedroom. Once the stairs became too much for her, some years back, we had to move her bed downstairs for good. She adapted well to this change. But I know she misses being up there. She used to come to my husband when he was in bed and tell him good night. If he went to bed without telling her good night, she'd get up and come to him.

July 2011, hanging out!

In 2003, we bought our truck which has a big step to get in and a teeny space for the back seat. She was able to get in and out very cautiously, but soon could not go with us anymore. I was very sad over this, as I missed her attention to things she'd see along the road. She loved going to the grocery store with me and would be watching for me to come out. In fact, I know that is how she understands where we get the food from. Her favorite thing was to see a cat or another dog along the road. She'd growl and bark and act like she wanted to tear them apart.......but in reality, she is a very gentle girl and loves cats. I always hoped I'd be able to get another car for her and me to go in. I haven't been able to do that. Now, I don't think it will be possible before she is gone.

Winter 2011, loving the snow!

One of her most favorite things she used to do was to go on horseback rides. She would go for miles and never tire or have a problem. Trotting right alongside the horses. Riding past other homes, with other dogs in the yard did not deter her from sticking with the horses. One time I remember she went with my husband up the road. Soon my horse, Georgie Girl, was standing riderless out front with Nikita standing right beside her. I didn't know what had happened. Soon my husband was walking in the driveway, mad because he had gotten off Georgie Girl to fasten a gate, and she took off and left him behind. Nikita though, chose to stay with the horse.

In 2000, the area that became the paddock!

My husband and Nikita hiked all the trails through out the state forest around us. They'd be gone for hours. Investigating areas that were so deep in the forest that even the hunters hadn't discovered them. Nikita loved doing that! My husband has said many times that he really misses those walks. They were a team!  He hardly ever hikes anywhere anymore without her. It just is not the same.

In 1998

It is sad to see her activities change, but it happens to all of us. People, horses, cats and dogs. Life goes on and you can't dwell on that part of it. Instead seek out other activities that you can do. For an animal it is different since they can't take up a hobby or other activity. All I can do is to encourage her to go outside and take a walk in the woods with me. Give her all the love and attention I can at this time in her life. She is a very pampered girl and we cherish each and every day with her.

Callie sleeping with Nikita!

One thing I have noticed as she had become older is that now she seems very wise. She observes things you wouldn't think a dog would understand. Her knowledge as she got older, became so apparent to us. Like somehow, she passed us by, and was now the one who was taking care of us. She has many conversations with us by staring into our eyes, and I can feel her words through those meaningful looks.

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

Our Dog Hates Dog Food!

 Home canned meat can be fed to your dog!

This is the instructions for feeding dogs on our can of dog food.

"Daily Feeding Guide (An individual dog's requirements may differ from this guide. Adjust quantities appropriately for your dog. Puppies can be fed up to 1-1/2 times the highest amount listed in their category): Weight of Dog Toy Up to 10 lbs: 1/3 to 3/4 cans per day; Small 10 to 25 lbs: 3/4 to 1 2/3 cans per day; Medium 25 to 50 lbs: 1 2/3 to 2 3/4 cans per day; Large 50 to 75 lbs: 2 3/4 to 3 3/4 cans per day; Large/Giant 75 to 150 lbs: 3 3/4 to 6 1/3 cans per day. Mixing with Dry? Replace 1/4 can for each 1/3 cup of dry food. (1 can = 13.2 oz, 1 cup = 8 oz measuring cup.) Storage & Care: Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate unused portion (up to 3 days). Always ensure your dog has an adequate supply of fresh water."

Do people really feed their dogs this much dog food?  Our dog doesn't really like any dog food. She tolerates it if she must. But 2 3/4 to 3 3/4 cans of dog food for a large dog? That seems pretty excessive to me. Of course it is good for the dog food manufacturer to put that on the can to encourage everyone to feed their dog as much as that processed food as possible.

I buy it for her just to have it on hand when I can't give her meat. She is not one to eat leftovers such as spaghetti or vegetables. Nikita is very fussy and will only eat what she wants. Don't tell me to not feed her until she will eat the processed stuff..........she will let it sit. Besides would you want to be forced to eat food that you cannot stand? No? Neither would I.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
 

Another Happy Birthday To Nikita Blackwolf!

Nikita's 13th birthday is today! 

Nikita doesn't understand what we are talking about. That is unusual in itself, as she is extremely intelligent and we are careful about what we say in front of her. She understands things you wouldn't expect a dog to know. I wrote about her in My Memories Of Life - Nikita in November. In that post I told of how we got her and her puppy years. She was so frisky as a puppy! Now of course, she has slowed down much. Just like we have.

I keep thinking each year would be her last year. Two years ago she was having so much trouble walking and was limping. Now for some reason that limp is gone. She gained weight do to less exercise. Now this year she is going out into the woods again. Just yesterday, my husband was way out in the woods and she kept watching for him. Pretty soon she went outside and then I noticed she was gone. I knew she probably went to find him. She tracked him because he was pretty far out. So now, I don't know. She is still overweight and she is not a big eater at all. Very fussy. She hates dog food. And she won't eat most of our people food unless it is plain meat, and if it is raw..........that is even better. She likes the BARF diet the best.

So I am happy to have her. She is my best buddy, not really like a pet at all, but more like a person in a dog's body. Kind of like the Shaggy DA, I guess (it was a movie, long ago). Today I will do my best to spoil and pamper her, though I guess I do that every single day of the year. She loves snow and must be that why we had so much this morning. Have a good homesteading day all!

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

Memories Of My Life - Chapter Six - Nikita

Nikita loves snow!

Before we moved here to our Peaceful Forest Homestead, we rented a house on a farm in Bainbridge, N.Y. It was at the very end of a dead end road. In fact, if you went to the end of the road you would be in our driveway. It was on 150 acres and our back yard was a huge hay field and acres of woods. It was a good place to live while we were trying to figure out how we could find the type of place we were looking for. But that is another chapter of my life..............I felt I could finally get my own dog. I had never had one of my own since I was a child of ten.

Nikita prowling around the yard

My husband was driving a truck at this time for a living. Not an over-the-road truck this time, but through New York state. So now he could be home a couple nights during the week and every week-end. In our Pennysaver, there was an ad for a puppy that seemed just right for us. It said the puppies were part Lab, Keeshond and wolf and looked like little bears. So when he came home we went to see them.

Nikita was the runt, out of the four puppies. I had intended on getting a male, but when she crawled up the front of me out of the box, she was our's! A few weeks later when I went to bring her home, she howled like a wolf the whole ride home. I thought she would always howl like that........no, never again.

She's a hunter!

We used to walk all over the fields and the woods on this property. It was great for a little puppy. Especially a Lab. They are very energetic puppies and I'll tell you in those early months she often tried my patience! I had to get a book from the library to see if it was hopeless or not. The book said if you can get through the puppy period..........you would have a great dog. Well, that book was indeed correct. Nikita grew to be an awesome and extremely intelligent dog.

Always curious!

She was potty trained within three weeks of bringing her home. She learned things so quickly and I had fun teaching her when she wasn't attacking me. It wasn't that she was a bad puppy, it was just that she felt like her and me were equals and she would pick on me and my stepdaughter, Hollie. Not on my husband at all. She watched for that truck to drive in the drive way! She became devoted to him immediately and he was afraid that she wouldn't be that close to him because he was gone most of the time. Not at all! And she has been that way with him her whole life.

Learned about horses right away!

The horses on the property next to us became a favorite of Nikita's right away. She loved walking over to see them every day. The colt especially liked playing with her. Maybe because they were both babies. It was a good thing because eventually my husband went on to training horses. And we got our own, so she knew how to behave around them. Many dogs cause horses to go after them because they do not know how to be around them. Of course, Nikita never was or has been a barker. She has never had to be leashed or tied up at home. So she has been lucky that we have lived in the places we have where there was no need for that.

Bailey was her mentor!

Our landlords' dog, Bailey became her teacher. Bailey taught her whatever it is that other dogs teach young dogs. Bailey was a wanderer and tried to get Nikita to wander from home, but Nikita has always been afraid to do that. Even back then, she'd come in and watch out the window for Bailey to come back. In her whole life, she has never done that. Always stayed at home and her dog friends will try to get her to go with them but she never would.

Nikita LOVES water!

There was a pond on this property and we left her on the shore and went out in the row boat, then all of a sudden there she was in the water trying to get to us! We had to quickly row to her and get her in the boat. She could never stand to be left behind! Plus, she loved water. It is only now in her later years that she doesn't get in water anymore. I kind of miss that about her.

She never chewed anything but a piece of firewood. She did that all on her own. We had the firewood stacked in our front room where the wood stove and her kennel was, and she would just go to the pile and pick one out. Chew on it for hours. Until she was potty trained we kept the front room with a little gate over the door so she couldn't come in the rest of the house. She could not wait for the day when we put a bed for her in our room! If I told her "stay" she would stay put for hours. Still to this day she will mind me. If I just motion to her to get out of the road or somewhere, she knows what I mean. If I tell her her treats are on the coffee table without motioning toward it, she will glance at it or go to it. She truly understands whatever we say. We don't talk baby talk to her, she actually knows what our words mean. 

One night when my husband was working, the field next door caught fire and she woke me up. I would have never even known about it if it hadn't been for her. I called the landlord and he already had the fire trucks on the way. Whew! I was impressed by my puppy greatly after that night. 

Nikita at twelve, has slowed down.

Now she is twelve years old and is still as smart and lovable as she was as a pup. I value every day with her as I know dogs don't live a long time after they get to be about ten or so. She has spoiled me as far as dogs go. But I will never get another one as it is too heart breaking knowing you only have them for a short time. Our horses are 14 and 15 years of age and seem frisky and lively at that age. She has given us so much in return that I could never explain it in this blog. I will probably write again about her as she is one of my favorite subjects!

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2018

All Photographs Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

Nikita Blackwolf's Twelfth Birthday

Today is our dog, Nikita's birthday. She is twelve years old today. Seems like only yesterday that I brought our little puppy home in my cat carrier. She howled like a wolf all the way home so I thought she would be a noisy little thing and be howling pretty regular. Her grandmother was a wolf so I figured she'd sound like one too. Nope. Our little girl is a pretty quiet girl. She does have a rough growl and bark. Doesn't bark very often at all. In fact, I can't remember the last time she barked.......and we had a workman here this week. She loves the element of surprise.....being black, she can surprise intruders pretty easily at night. All of a sudden there she is......and they fumble and run rather than face this very big dog.

I know most of my friends and people I know from the homesteading forums, like Homesteading Today, think that dogs are a natural enemy of chickens. When I had my pet hen, Lil' Red, Nikita and her were quite close. Nikita would protect her from other visting dogs. I remember one time she wanted to play with a dog that was here but felt like she could not leave Lil' Red's side until I brought her inside and put her in her kennel. Then she ran off to play with the dog. When Nikita was chewing on a bone, Lil' Red would stay right beside her and pick up the little bits of bone and marrow that would fall on the ground right under Nikita's face. Nikita would growl and sometimes do a sharp bark at her. But never even a nip at her, she was safer with her than our smallest horse who tried to kill her once! To tell you the truth, Nikita liked Lil' Red to do that and would get her bone and settle down near Lil" Red to chew on the bone.

Our cat Callie has a special attachment to Nikita also. When she was born my husband worked at a farm training race horses. Callie was born in the barn with two other kittens. Nikita and I went to work with my husband every day. Nikita loved those newborn kittens! She would just stare at them for the longest time. As they grew, the mother moved them into the main barn where the horses were stabled. Nikita would take her place laying in the hay with the three kittens snuggled up against her. She would just stay there till the mother cat came back. So when we ended up taking Callie home with us, she just turned to Nikita as if she was her mother. To this day, nine years later, Callie and Nikita have a very strong bond. It is nothing to see them sharing a dish of food or a bed. Or seeing Callie wash Nikita's ears or face........Nikita will just stay very still as she enjoys that very much.

Every morning at the horse farm where my husband worked Nikita would get excited at the prospect of chasing all the barn cats. She loved to chase them even if she did not hurt or do anything to them. So one morning she ran into the barn ready to chase them, when this one gray cat we called "Sawdust" did not run. She ran toward him and he held his ground. Then the other cats did the same.........then they turned and ran toward her! She did not know what to do then! Later in the week, we found her in a stall with the cats around her! So they learned how to handle that chasing business. After that they were all on equal ground.

Nikita is the type of dog that has never needed to be leashed, chained, locked up or constricted in any way.If she is in the road for any reason and I do not want her there, I can just motion with a quick wave toward the yard and she will get out of the road. She never leaves our property and goes off on her own or with another dog. One dog that used to be her friend would try his best to get her to leave with him, not Nikita. She would sit and wait for him to come back and many times he brought her a deer bone he found along the way. Male dogs were really attracted to her so we figured in the dog world she must be considered very beautiful.

The only times she has ever ventured away is when hunters have gutted a deer by the creek near our house. She will sneak away, just down the road a tiny bit, and get some of that and bring it back. Many times I already knew what she intended to do as she would stand out front in the yard and keep looking toward the creek and then look at me to see if I was watching. So I would pretend I wasn't watching and next thing I knew she was scurrying away across the road toward the creek. Then pretty soon here she was dragging part of the deer back.

She used to be so happy to travel along on horse rides leading the way, sniffing the area around the road as she traveled. But it has been a few years now since she was able to do that. Her legs won't carry her that far or for that long. She has to take it easy and can't even go for the long hikes her and my husband used to enjoy. He is pretty sad about that and doesn't go either now since it is just not the same. It is sad that a dog doesn't live as long a horse. Seems their lives are pretty short compared to many other animals. Doesn't seem fair. She will be the only dog we will ever have as we just do not want to go through this emotional thing over and over again. She has given us many, many happy memories.

Thoughts From Peaceful Forest Homestead

Chicken and biscuits or dumplings is VERY popular at my house. So I try to make that often. We are not big pasta eaters, but do eat it occasionally. So the ground beef, which I try to can and have on hand, usually will be used in one of those type of dishes. This year, I did not get many tomatoes, as we had way too much rain to be productive for tomatoes. I do not buy very many processed foods, so making my own sauce and canning it, is something I do every year. So this year, I didn't do any. I don't think my husband will miss it anyway.

My raised beds have been shut down for the winter. They are mostly covered with leaves due to the fact that I live in the forest. It has been the most beautiful fall that we have had in a long time. Usually the rain and the wind has blown the leaves off the trees, before they even turn color anymore. So this year, we were very lucky. But now, we are getting our rain for the fall. Last year, we had 13 days of rain straight in a row in October. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that we are getting so much rain. It doesn't bother me too much, as now, our beautiful horses have a barn to keep dry in. But their paddock is a big mud pit. I keep getting stuck in it.

I don't know if I had mentioned this before or not. My husband has a gift with horses and most animals in general. Most animals, will seek him out of a crowd to come to him. One time at the state fair in Syracuse, this one big Clydesdale, kept catching his eye. If you really know anything about animals or have spent any real time with them, you will learn to communicate with them through their eye contact. And anyone who makes the statement that animals don't feel or think like a human, do not really know animals either. They usually say that, to justify their treatment of their animals, whether they are for food or pets. Animals have very strong feels and attachments. I know.

My dog, Nikita, is a very intelligent dog. She knows what you are saying in your conversations and will react on it. Sometimes, we have mentioned one of her siblings, such as our cat, Nutmeg, in the conversation we are having, and she will look directly at her. Like she knew what we said about her. Which of course, she did. She has feelings, and her feelings can get hurt very easily, just by what you might say to someone else, if it is about her. Most of time, she is a very happy girl. She has never had to live in a city or a town. She can go outside whenever she pleases - even in the middle of the night, if she wishes.

I have learned though, that people are the worst judge of animals, and what they think about taking care of them, or how they think a animal is feeling. My feelings as of right now, is to stay away from the human species as much as possible and you won't get hurt or mad. And I intend to do both!

Have a great day!

Unwelcome Visitor At Peaceful Forest Homestead

Another one of those rainy, gloomy days here in upstate New York. It just reminds us that winter in on the way. My house is in need of more insulation and winterizing. So many things, but never enough money to cover it all. I guess now I can understand why my own grandmother, who did not have much money at all, had newspapers stuffed in her windows! When I was a child that was something I always wondered about.

Today, a hunting dog has wandered onto our Peaceful Forest Homestead. It would not be so bad, except that he is a boy, and all they want to do is to pee all over our outside things! We have a well with a pitcher pump, and male dogs always want to christian it. Makes my husband very very angry!!!!! All our animals are female, as I have mentioned on here many times. So they just look at these males as if they came from outer space! Our dog, Nikita, was spade when a puppy, and has no interest in that kind of stuff. She never has been a wanderer, or a barker, and I suppose it makes me hard on other dogs who do all that. So now we have to wait all day for these people to respond to the message left on their answering machine.

Our horses for the most part like dogs. As long as they are not barkers, or the kind that want to chase them. Or, we have had some come here who want to bite their noses! Those are the dogs with a death wish!!! Our horses are very spirited mares. They are friendly, but don't mistake that for being passive. My stepson had a dog that used to bark at them when we were out feeding them. Our girls did not appreciate that fact. Dark Shadow, my husband's horse, would leave her feed dish and come to the fence, and seemed to say, "Come on Jake, come in here with us! We'll take care of your barking problem!" And she meant it!!!!!


Of course, animals have ways of dealing with problems much easier than people seem to. Course, this little hunting dog is just out looking for a girlfriend. But he is at the WRONG HOUSE! And today is not a day that I want to deal with it. I also have three cats, and they don't appreciate uninvited dogs coming over for the day. Callie, one of my cats, is very friendly to dogs. She'll even lick their faces! But she will also put a claw in them if she doesn't want them around. I have seen her many times chase a big stray dog down the road!

Another Holiday Week-End

I hope everyone is having a nice holiday week-end. It is good weather here in New York state for all those summer time activities. I know I should be outside doing some of those things. But I usually end up working on my computer for a good share of the day. My friend has invited us up to her new house for a cook out and fishing. But I do need to get some work done. And with the price of gas, being what it is, I have to try to conserve those trips.

I have noticed that my animals seem to sleep all day when the weather is nice. I have a cat or two that goes out hunting in the woods, but I think they might spend some of that time sleeping in a cozy spot in the woods. Our horses don't leave the barn. Maybe they go out and grab a mouthful of hay and come back. But in the cool weather or even in the winter, they are outside. Our horses run and play in the snow. Our dog loves to race around in the snow. She is so content when there is snow on the ground. She lays down to chew a bone, while my husband shovels us out. The cats though, don't go out much in the winter.

Animals are like that. They know not to get hot and sweaty unless we make them do something like go for a ride. The know they bugs are outside and attracted to their sweat. So they try to control it. They hate the bugs more than we do. Course, we can come in the house but the horses can't. I guess it would be something if we could sleep all day like they do.....maybe some people do. Not us though! We are busy always doing something.

Have a great day! 

Copyright © 2005  Kathleen G. Lupole