From Skilled Hands » Dogs

My Town Monday: Musings on a Spring Morning

fromskilledhands — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:43:46 +0000

It is spring in my town, the Village of Peninsula, population 601. The beauty of spring is attended by the things that have waited all winter long.

Gardens need preparation and planting; trees that fell victim to winter and early spring’s storms and high winds have to be cleaned up. Lawns need to be mowed. Dandelions and violets dot the yard and field, their bright yellow and purple blossoms bring sunshine on this cloudy morning. The chickens will be happy; dandelions and other weeds from the gardens go into a bucket to be taken to the chicken yard.

The Village is busting with energy. People emerging from the cocoons of their houses, glad to be out. Spring Stroll will be May 23, with activities and exhibits throughout the Village. Many folks are featuring fairy houses this year. I have a collection of materials ready to create these tiny magical environments. Check back for photos.

What’s new in your neck of the woods? Post a comment on one of this week’s posts, and I will enter your name into another high tech drawing (where I draw names from a hat). You will have a chance to win a wonderful book that has amazing pictures of the Cuyahoga Valley.

As always, My Town Monday is brought to you by the chief cook, bottle washer and fisherman, Travis Erwin. Travis has, literally, gone fishing this week. The talented Erica Orloff is guest blogging at Travis’ place this week. Check out the links. You’ll travel all over this fine blue planet we call home.

I am sitting in a coffee shop, waiting while Winston (the wonder dog) is at the vet having surgery for a mass on his gum. The vet said that he didn’t feel good about this. If you are so inclined, send good thoughts our way. DOGGIE UPDATE: Winston is fine! He had a cyst or a tumor that the vet think got infected. So it has been removed, his teeth cleaned, and he should have sweet doggie breath.

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Gratitude: Musings on My 200th Post

fromskilledhands — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:53:34 +0000

Somehow it seems rather fitting that this is my 200th post. I have so much for which to be grateful, and my awareness is acute on this day.

It is Spring. The birds singing; the quality of the light; buds swelling on the old apple tree outside my kitchen window—-all these things are reminders that there is a cyclical nature to our lives and the lives around us. The goldfinches are sporting yellow feathers; each breeding male hoping each female will see his coat as the one for her. The cats are losing their winter coats and bulk. This was a long winter, and they needed it all.

The chickens. Bless the chickens and the eggs they are giving us, and the manure that will help our garden grow. I am grateful for their clucks and sounds that let me know they are there.

Two of the dogs have had their Spring grooming. No more winter dirty dog smell. Lily the Toy Poodle will be next—when the weather warms up a bit. Lily is really a farm dog. She has no idea she is small, tipping the scales at 8 pounds. She has herded the chickens and taken on the cats.Then she curls up in a little ball and goes to sleep.

And #1 daughter has been home this week, gracing our lives with her presence. It has been a good week, full of conversation and relaxation. We’ll be leaving for the airport soon. It is a bittersweet time for both of us.

Seeing my children grow and spread their wings reminds me that we, as parents, are really gardeners. We create as rich an environment as we can, providing love and care. We place the seedlings in what we hope is the best place, letting them harden off before we put them outside to grow on their own. We do the very best we can with the tools and information we have at any given time. But we don’t make them grow. They do that all by themselves. It is an amazing process to share. And for that, too, I am grateful.

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Some Nights Are Like That

fromskilledhands — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:13:20 +0000

Q: What’s worse than being awakened at 1:30 AM because the dog needs to go out?

A: Being awakened at 2:00 AM because the other dogs are freaking out during a
thunderstorm AND then again at 4:12 AM (gotta love digital clocks) by the telephone
ringing because the alarm has gone off at the Studio. And then finding out that there was
a power failure and alarms were going off all over the place.

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Frozen in Northeast Ohio

fromskilledhands — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:10:34 +0000

Snow. And more snow. And more is coming; Friday is expected to bring another 4-7 inches to top off the 18 inches we already have. I felt like I stepped through the back of the Wardrobe into Narnia yesterday morning.

Walking the dogs was interesting. Snow up to my knees. A Tibetan Terrier, a Shepherd Sheltie mix and……… a toy poodle.
Lily tips the scales at 8.3 pounds but she doesn’t know that she’s small. She waited for me to go first, clearing a bit of a path as I trudged through the woods. She reminded me of a cross between a kangaroo, a rabbit, and a ballerina as she navigated the terrain, stopping to clear her face after she inhaled the cold white stuff. Snow angels for puppies!

When we returned to this old house, I placed her in tepid water to melt the snow balls that clung to every curl on her body. She shook, sprinkling the entire kitchen (and me, too); then she looked at me as if to say, “Can we go out again, Mom.”
Funny little dog.

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