At home and away, Part 2

Here's some more pictures from Kansas, mostly taken on my walks around town. There's a flood control system of levees that encircles the town of Salina. The Smokey Hill River was straightened and routed around the town instead of through it. They have now made a nice walking trail on the levee. I've also included a few pictures of some of our dogs back in Virginia. I'll be heading back there on Saturday.

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas. I'm not sure which variety. 

They grow freely in ditches, along the roadways, and anywhere they can.

This is a small grove of cottonwood trees. It is the state tree of Kansas and one of the things

I miss the most from this state. The leaves are shaped like aspens and they make a wonderful 

rustling sound in the ever present Kansas wind.

This is a view of the hiking trail along the flood control levee.

This is one of the many oxbows that were formed when the river was re-routed.

Most have been drained and filled, this one still has water in it.

A few of the straightened Smoky Hill river.

There is generally farm land on the outside of the levee and housing on the inside.

Another cottonwood tree.

They usually grow in groups, often near the water.

This was the route of a 10 mile hike I did one day.

A beautiful picture of the stately Della from back home.

My little girl Maya

The Smoky Hill is always muddy, this isn't from recent rain.

This was a 7 mile walk I took yesterday.

A Senior Shepherd

I can't do much for this guy other than share his story. He's 10 years old, neutered, said to be up to date on vaccines. He's still with the owner who is moving to an apartment. 

Bruno is a 10 year old German Shepherd Dog who has spent most of his life outside. He is good with dogs of all sizes, cats, and kids. He is neutered and said to be up to date on all vaccines. His family is moving to an apartment that will only allow one small dog so he needs to find a new home. 

I have not met the dog and have no first-hand information about him. If you are interested, let me know and I can put you in touch with the owner.

At home and away

I'm still in Kansas. Here are some pics of my mother's pug, Jake, and our dogs from home. I miss being at home, of course, but the weather is better here. I was very, very sick of the rain, and mud, and bugs, etc.

My mother, Shirley, and my sister Kate, sitting on one of the benches around the pond.

The Koi pond at Eaglecrest is a lot of fun. We feed them daily.

Jake checking out a fire hydrant.

This is Theo back home in the Great Dismal Swamp that is Virginia.

Max standing in the muddy dog yard with Theo.

Della

Maya's stitches are out and she seems to be all healed up.

I'm sure that Arby is in no hurry for me to return. He really only likes Clay.

Della and Serena

Della trying to get Clay to go outside to play.

My mother and I had an outing one day to another pond in a nearby park.

This one had ducks.

Feeding the koi is a lot of fun.

Serena and Della playing in the front yard at home.

Sleeping positions tend to vary when I'm out of town. Maya takes my spot and my pillow.

Della started getting into bed too, which is unusual. Clay said that she sprawled and ended up

pushing on him during the night. Now he's making sure that Maya gets the spot by the pillow,

which is rightfully hers anyway. Della has more room to sprawl if she sleeps at the bottom of the bed.

Clay's dog addiction

I've been out of town for just over a week and had gotten our numbers down before I left. Apparently Clay was feeling lonely because he took in a new dog today. I think he may have a dog addiction problem, I'm just sayin'. 

Actually the story of Beastie began back earlier this summer. Stacey, the Queen of HOWS, contacted me about this rottie mix that belonged to one of their clients. They had been trying make arrangements for her if and when the owner decided to surrender the dog. It nearly happened a month ago but didn't. I had agreed to take the dog anytime they could negotiate a surrender. Yesterday I received a message that the owner was finally prepared to surrender the dog and it did finally happen today. 

I'm out of town still but Clay is home and we have plenty of space out in Daneland for a rottweiler. Journey has been out there by himself and is wanting a playmate. He immediately tried to make friends with her but she wasn't quite ready for him yet. She has already learned use the dog door into the puppy shed and seems to have staked out her territory. Journey is a good-natured dog and he will give her some time to come around. I'm really hopeful that they will become buddies and keep each other company.

Beastie has been living on a chain so Daneland is a big upgrade to her standard of living. Any vetting that she's had was done by HOWS. I'll have to find out what it was and what she still needs. In the meantime, can anyone recommend a 12-step program for Clay?

This was Beastie in her prior home. 

She seems happy to be leaving.

Beastie meeting Clay today.

That's a nice rottie smile. You can see Journey partly behind the tree in the background.

He wants to be her friend and I hope she will soon feel the same.

Tales from the Home Front

Friday is Clay's day off and he called me early in the morning which is not his habit. He called to say that he had found Della outside our fence this morning after the morning feeding. She often jumps the rear fence into the pasture and goes hunting, but that's usually a nighttime thing. She had never before jumped the front fence along the road and left the property as she did today. 

Clay went out to investigate and found the scene of the crime, a board that she had broken and knocked down on her way over the fence. It's only a four foot fence, rather poorly constructed (by the prior owner) and not in good repair. A four foot fence will not contain her if she doesn't wish to be contained, but she had never heretofore gone over it. 

She and Serena often charge out to the fence when they spot something on the other side. I've always been worried that if there were deer on the other side Della might feel the need to give chase. It might have been deer, could have been a rabbit, maybe just a wild hair up her ass, but I hope it doesn't happen again.

The fence has random length spans, but Clay made a trip to Lowe's and got a 10" board to fill the 9'1" span. It's not pretty, but it wasn't before either. Della will require closer watching when she's outside from now on. I hope she doesn't become impossible to contain like Maya.

There is 2"x4" wire inside the fence, but the total height is only 4 feet.

She probably broke the top board when kicking off from it after going over the top.

This is Della telling Clay it's time for dinner.

This is Maya reinforcing the message about dinner.

The entire front fence really needs to be rebuilt, but I hope this will contain her for now.