Worst shower ever

 

I showered with this stinky boy last night in the small, stand-up shower off the mud room after he'd been sprayed by a skunk, or rolled in it, no telling, each possibility as plausible as the other.  There was no other option, it was all or nothing.  We were locked in together, in a tiny, steamy, coffin-like sauna of brewing stench that made my eyes water, he just panted and tried to bust out.

 

The things we do for our pets.  Or maybe I did it for me.  He could care less if he stinks.

 

I know, I know, you'll tell me there are fool-proof remedies and I know there are but I wasn't about to get out of my pajamas at nine o'clock to go pick up 3% hydrogen peroxide on a Sunday night so I could give him yet another dousing.  No, this would have to be good enough and good enough it was.

 

Now we've bonded in a new way, one I hope never to repeat only somehow, I feel certain we will.

The state of things

I've come to realize that we're the kind of family who sees the good in things other people might not. You have an old farmhouse kitchen island that needs some TLC and a new home? We're just the ones to take it in. Don't want your old riding lawnmower that won't run? Go Kart that needs serious repairs? Minibike? Generator? '57 Chevy? Oh yes, we have all of those rejects, the last ones of course go straight to my husband and somehow in very short order are running and functioning probably better than ever before. Well, all except for the car, that's still in a million pieces in the barn, but if I know my husband it will run one day.

But the biggest surprise so far, hands down, is this exceptional, fantastic, smart-as-a-whip border collie we were given. They didn't want him. He didn't fit their family, he had a few little quirks, needed a little structure, a schedule, a fence, walks on a leash, a buddy and a family to love him no matter what. He found us, pure and simple and things are better than ever.

And when you hear the old cliche that opposites attract, I give you proof in the form of dogs.

First, we have Sunny. While she looks quite regal in this next photo, just about everything she does reminds me of the first dog encountered in the movie, "UP". Have you seen it? Well, there's this slightly dense and goofy dog in the movie who is nothing but a wiggly, jiggly, perpetually happy mess.

Sunny: "You have ball? You want me to chase? I chase ball, I bring you ball. (wiggling) You have ball? You want me to chase? (runs into me) I chase ball, I bring you ball, I lick you all over face. I love you. You have ball?"

You get the picture.

And then we have Quill who sits gently at your feet, looks straight up into your eyes with deep concentration and attention.

Quill: "Would you like me to reorganize your kitchen cabinets for you? I'd be happy to. You say your checking account needs balancing? I'm your man."



Goofy and the guard dog.

The licker and the listener.

Puppy and Prince.

Luckily, opposites attract.

And even highly trained dogs can let loose every once in a while. With the proper incentive.





A match made in heaven for sure.

As fate allows

This is the story of a boy,

and a girl.

He loved her from the start.

She loved him right back but there was a problem.

There was a fence between them.

Still he came to see her, the 1/2 mile jaunt through the woods from his house to hers as often as he could muster.

And he would stay.

She would revel in every minute.

And wait for him to come back.

Until one day,

he finally became a part of the family.

Meet Quill, the best little adoptee anyone could hope for.

Meet the boyfriend

I'm not quite sure who's more smitten, me...

or Sunny.

When Quill showed up a few months ago I secretly hoped he was in need of a home and found out that he's just in need of a home with a little more going on. I worked hard on tracking down his owner and (unfortunately) did. Not that the owner is a problem, but rather I was really thinking he would be the perfect addition to the family and a fantastic playmate for Sunny, but kidnapping someone else's dog is not my style. We just borrow him.

He comes to visit whenever he can, traveling about a half mile through the woods and fields from his home, our distant neighbor. I'm pretty sure he smelled poultry and was on the prowl for some female companionship and hit the jackpot.

He plays with the kids, practically falling over to be petted and loved when they approach. He goes for jaunts in the backyard with Sunny and sleeps on our porch. He used to terrify the chickens but after just one scolding he now keeps his distance. So smart. Except he smells like skunk just about every other visit.

He had a brief encounter with the lawnmower, trying to attack it so we put him in the fence when there's cutting going on, the kids would be scarred for life if he were to have an accident. I have dreams that his owners will for some unforseen circumstance need to find him a home, our home. But for now I'll have to be content with him helping me take pictures of peonies.