Remembering Candace

It was time to let Candace go. She's been having increasing difficulty getting around and even getting up the two steps to get into the house. Although she could still get around pretty well outdoors, inside she would fall and be unable to get her legs under her to get up. She was a tough old girl with amazing survival skills, but it was time. Clay went with me for the trip to the vet this afternoon and I was grateful for that. 

Candace wasn't the most personable dog we've ever had. She was very independent, cat-like in a way. She got along with all the other dogs, even those that didn't generally get along with other dogs. Everyone was ok with Candace, she did her own thing and everyone left her to it. She wasn't one to come up to you for petting or attention, but she did like to be in on whatever was going on. She liked to go outdoors and liked to explore the pasture. She would follow me and the other dogs out there and then do her own thing, but sometimes she would follow me around. She had a very stiff-legged gait, due to an old injury apparently, but she still managed to run when she wanted to. 

She wasn't a smiley, animated dog, so she was difficult to read, but I hope we gave her some good times in her final years. 

Sunset mowing

The heat and humidity have been positively stupid around here this week. I haven't been venturing outside until the sun goes down if I can possibly avoid it. I have about a half hour after sunset that I go out and mow until it's too dark to see. That's really the only time of day it's even halfway decent outside. 

Woody seems to be doing well in his new home, which makes me very happy. He still has a lot to learn but he's happy to be someone's dog at last. 

Bailey may be bored without him, but she's by my side constantly and has even taken to sleeping in bed recently. She goes wherever I go but she's not fond of the heat either. When we are outside she pretty quickly finds a spot to lie down and wait until I come to my senses and go back indoors. I successfully trimmed her nails the other day but there's still some training I need to do with her to get her ready for the transition to city dog. 

Final foster, final boarder

It's summer Solstice and I think it's safe to say and it's the first one we've had without a shepherd in many years. We are without a shepherd because I took Woody to a new home yesterday. It's still technically a foster home, but they want him and they seem to have what it will take to make it work. And the news so far is good from this experienced foster home - he's just a typical young shepherd. Fingers and paws crossed still, but hopefully Woody has a home. At the very least he has a new, well equipped and experienced foster home who can give him what he needs.

We have Daisy (former foster) back with us but just for a couple of days. She will go home again on Saturday. I have declined any requests to board dogs from this point forward because we've got work going on in the house and our time here is growing very short. We took Daisy over to Green Dogs this evening for a meet and greet because she may be boarding there in the future. She did very well.

She was a little mouthy taking treats by hand but was a real champ at catching them.

Bailey is not just sleeping in the bedroom, she is also now in the bed for at least part of the night, and she hops up again in the morning.

Kansas trip

I'm back from a quick trip to Kansas. I visited friends and family and generally had a look around. I don't want to say "last look" but I don't know when the next occasion for such a visit will arise. 

Rather uncharacteristically for me, I'm not going to say much about it except that I'm glad I went and I'm glad I'm back. Bailey is very glad I'm back too.

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas, but purple poppy mallow is my pick for the prettiest prairie wildflower.

Above and below, views of the Kansas Flint Hills

Below:  I was lucky that the wheat hadn't yet been harvested. 

I used to post pictures of Maya looking very content after I returned from a trip. Now it's Bailey.

Memories of high school

When I was a senior in high school I quit all school activities. I quit the band, I quit theater, I was over it all and just wanted out. I was finished with high school, with adolescence, with my home town, and just wanted to move on. I wanted out of Salina, I wanted out of the house. I wanted to go to college, feel independent, get on with my life. I did not have a bad childhood at all, I was very lucky in many ways, but I was over it and was ready to move on. I was anxious. 

I feel much the same way now, mixed with a level of panic and anxiety, not about moving to France, but about getting everything done around here, and especially about the house. The time is getting perilously short, barely a month and a half, but there is still much to do. Much like my move from my hometown to my college town some 49 (?!) years ago, it's not that I've been unhappy here, it's just that I'm ready to move on and I want to get on with it.

Hired someone to remove the ivy from the house, that job will be finished tomorrow but it's just the start of what needs to be done. Sold a bunch more stuff to someone off Marketplace, and it's likely that he'll buy more. Scattered TJ's ashes on a twilight walk with Bailey. I hit the road tomorrow morning for a quick trip to Kansas and back. 

Our walk was during the bunny hour, just before sunset.

They were everywhere.

"Listening" with eyes, ears, and nose.

A bunny just ran in there.