SHARED CUSTODY OF A FARM DOG

In other breaking news...we might have (of sorts) a dog!?!  We know, you are probably going whaaaaat?

So backing up...a couple of months ago, "J" from 2nd Family saw a dog wandering down the road.  She said it was very thin and limping.  She tried her best to catch it but of course, being a possibly injured and a stray dog, you have to be careful.  She ended up putting some food and water by our mailboxes.

It took a couple of days but eventually there was trust and she was able to get the dog to come down the long driveway to her house.  It stayed under her carport for a couple more days and then slowly came up to her porch.  She's a female, and besides being really thin, her pads were bloody, from probably walking and/or going through brambles and such.  She took her to the vet, no chip, had her vaccinated just to be safe and got some medication for her pads.  She has been nursing her back to health.  Her pads healed up and now she's ready for her closeup, ha.

Introducing, Maggie!

"J" was hoping to get her adopted, she called a local rescue, but they are too full right now.  Then, she posted on Nextdoor, but no one recognized her.  Not sure if this is what you would call a foster fail or she just changed her mind but she's now going to be a permanent member of the property.

She's a great guard dog and barks at everything (might need to work on that, ha) and howls when the coyotes howl.  Then again, I think most dogs would do that, ha.

At first she was nervous when I came around to see her but the other day, for the first time, she rolled over and I gave her belly rubs!  Now, she runs around and is just a happy, silly dog who is super friendly.  We have to get her adapted to 2nd Man as well.

She named her "Maggie" (I'll have to ask how she came up with that name).  When we go out there, we take a big bag of food to help with the expense.  "J" wasn't planning on having a big dog but the Universe had other plans, ha.  2nd Man and I said we'd be glad to have her as a property dog, she can come stay down by us whenever she wants, or roam back and forth.

2nd Family had a big dog named "Blue" (he has since passed on) that some blog readers might remember, and while he was their dog and lived with them of course, he always came to visit me in the garden or lay on our porch while I was working.  I'll have to admit, it was nice having a canine companion nearby.

We're not sure her breed (2nd Man and I want to order a genetic test kit for her once we get out there) but the vet said she almost surely has some Anatolian Shepherd breed in her makeup.

*Not Maggie, image via wikicommons

We looked up that breed and here is an actual Anatolian Shepherd.  Indeed, there is a strong similarity.  They are very protective and loyal once they bond, they are herding dogs by nature and they are good at protecting livestock from predators, hence their protective nature.

"J" is keeping her up there and in her very large fenced in area so she is safe from the construction workers vehicles coming and going.  For now, we're happy that she found her way to the right new home and once we get out there, we'll be OK with having the added security of a dog on the property and...coparenting her!

It takes a village!

SAD NEWS

We got some sad news from 2nd Family last night...

They lost Geraldine the baby goat last week.  "J" was vague on details because she said she wasn't ready to talk about it and we didn't want to push it of course.  Apparently she was sick and took a turn for the worse.  The vet came to the house but wasn't able to save her.  

They think she had a congenital defect that was undetected.  Perhaps that's the reason she was found abandoned, maybe Mama knew there was something  wrong and left her.  We'll never know. 

She was a "look at me" personality out there and we always stopped to visit when we could.  

We will all miss her...

 

BABY GOAT LOVE

Is it possible to spend almost two hours, doing nothing except watching a baby goat bounce around?  YEP IT SURE IS!

Geraldine the baby goat

We're in love with Geraldine, the baby goat that 2nd Family recently rescued and then adopted.

Look at that face!!!!

Bottle feeding a baby goat

Bottle feeding time!

I got a text from "J" and she said they were about to bottle feed her, did I want to come do it.  I about fell off the porch to get there, ha!

She is just so sassy!

Bouncing goat

And filled with bursts of bouncing energy...

...ears flying about as she hops around.  

She was sampling some grass, working on her grazing skills, and I swear from the back, with her hooves in the grass, she looks like a dog.  

This is one of their dogs, Alice.

Related?  

Little goat

Nope, she's a goat for sure.  A really cute goat.  

Her fur was softer than I figured it would be.  And her ears are like bunny ears.  Soft and velvety.  She makes the cutest little noise too.  

"R" brought some logs for her and stacked them up. She checked them out a bit and... 

...was up on them in no time. 

Baby goat on logs

"Queen" of the hill, that's for sure.

Hey baby goat

Look at that face.  I mean seriously.  We literally stood around for almost two hours just talking and catching up while watching a baby goat run around.  We can't think of a better way to spend the time.

WE HAVE LOST BRISBANE

Tears flow from both of us as I type this post.  Our absence the last few days is because our beloved Brisbane has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  We had to make that most difficult of all decisions to do what was fair for him.  As selfish as we want to be and keep him here with us, his quality of life had diminished rapidly in recent days and we made the decision to let him go. 

We took him to our vet Saturday and they agreed, he was starting to shut down.  They said they could do some tests and perhaps prolong his life another few months but there was just something we could see in the way he looked at us that he was trying to tell us he was tired and he was ready.  We think he has been ready for a while.  So we made that hard choice and we stayed with him beyond the end.  It was peaceful and gentle and through the tears, we told him how much we loved him and how thankful we were for him being our lives. 

Watching him the day and night before, knowing what we had planned for him the next day but him not understanding that everything he did was his last, was perhaps the most difficult part.  His last dinner.  His last time on the couch.  He last snack before bed.  His last night sleeping between us. His last time being with Hobart.  His last time in the carrier.  His last time at the apartment.  His last car ride.  Sigh.  It was a difficult couple of days with moments of terrible sadness.  Now we begin to adapt to life without him and give extra love to our remaining kitty, Hobart. 

Brisbane came to us in our back yard in June of 2000 as a stray, abandoned by his mother at 2 weeks old. His eyes had just opened and he had to be bottle fed every few hours.  2nd Man did that (he was working from home at the time).  It was a bond that remained, he was always 2nd Man's baby.  

We just have to share this picture with all of you:

Is it not THE most adorable kitten face ever? 

Now you can see why we fell in love with him!

This was literally the first photo we took of him, after we brought him into the house and put him in a makeshift box with a towel and he looked up at us like "OK, I'm home".  We'll share more pics at another time, when it's easier to go through them all.

It was taken almost 18 years ago.  2nd Man and I have been together almost 19 years, so Brisbane has been with us since the beginning.  He was part of us.  A part of our life.   

He lived a wonderful life.  
A good, long life.

But we already miss him terribly.

We know the tears will stop eventually, they did after we lost Sydney a few years ago.  But it takes time.  We thought blog posting would get back to normal this week, but it may take a few days to get our mojo back and get back to replying to comments, putting up new posts, etc.  Hang in there with us. 

This poem, as difficult as it is to read, helped...

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then will you do what must be done,

For this — the last battle — can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,

But don't let grief then stay your hand,

For on this day, more than the rest,

Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,

You wouldn't want me to suffer so.

When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,

Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree

It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you

Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close — we two — these years,

Don't let your heart hold any tears.

— Unknown





Goodbye sweet Brisbane...

You are already missed so very much!

SUNDAY IS A LAZY DAY

It's a lazy day today.  Yesterday I got stuff done at the farm, today it's things to do in town.  It's still in the 90's here.  Well, upper 80's with brief periods at 90 or 91.  Ugh.  I can't plant some of what we wanted in the garden because it's still too warm.  

Breakfast casserole

2nd man made this wonderful breakfast casserole we've been eating on and off all weekend so far.  

It's eggs, biscuits, sausage and cheese.  Breakfast (and lunch and snack) of champions, right?  

Texas shaped cookie cutter

I found this cool Texas cookie cutter for 2nd Man.  He wants to make some shortbread cookies and I figured "why not Texas shaped?".  

Hobart sleeping

And the cats are lazy day napping too.  Here is Hobart, sleeping on one of the pillows they love. 

Brisbane sleeping

And here is Brisbane, much better now, and also sleeping on one the other pillows.  Side note, these used to be pillows in our window seat at the house, now they are cat beds, ha.  

Hope you all are having a good weekend!

KITTEN FELINE FRIDAY

We have kittens!

OK, before everyone gets too excited, I say "we" because this little girl and guy were born somewhere on our property.  I've never seen them but then again, I'm sure a large, loud mower on the property every week is not conducive to curious kittens.

"J" from 2nd Family saw them a couple of weeks ago and has been going out daily with food and water to try to tame them and bring them in. 

Yesterday, she succeeded! 

This is "Abby". 

According to "J", she's a sweet little girl who after only one day and night inside is already snuggling up for some loving...

And this is "Garth".  

He's still a bit shy but she said he runs and plays until he just falls over asleep...

Alas, we can't have them since we aren't living out there but 2nd Family is most likely going to keep them if they don't go to J's brother (he's been wanting a cat and is OK with two). Whatever happens, they will not be separated, they managed to survive together out there in the brush, in this heat, with predators creeping and flying around, so they deserve a home together. 

I can't wait to see them in person this weekend! 

Must. Resist. Kitten. Love.

SLEEPING KITTIES FELINE FRIDAY

Haven't had any Friday kitty pictures lately (and several of you have noticed, ha).  

So without further ado, here is...

Brisbane, sacked out in his bed, with the sun shining on him (so he can recharge his batteries I'm sure).  So content...

And Hobart, sleeping on the rug in front of the window...in the same sunshine shining through...

And of course, what are WE doing while THEY are sleeping like this?  Working of course. To make money, to keep them in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed, LOL!

A DOG STORY IN PICTURES

This is Blue (on the left) and Ruben (on the right).  

Blue and Ruben

They belong to 2nd Family but come visit on a regular basis...kind of like having grandkids, you get to visit and play and then when you're done you can send them home, LOL!  

I had this long cardboard tube I was going to throw away.  I tossed it into the yard and the rest is pictorial history...

"Give it to me!"

"I said give it to me!"

"NO!  It's mine!"

"I want this tube!"

"HA!  
GOT IT!"

"Bye!"

 That little dot near the middle of the photo is Ruben running with the rest of the tube into 2nd Family's back pasture and all the way to their house.  

"Whaaaaaa...
That other dog took my toy!"

J from 2nd Family called later and said "Um, Ruben just brought a long cardboard tube home, do you want it back?"

COLD DAY WARM KITTY

Hobart found a spot of sun, on an afghan, next to the comforter, while we were trying to make the bed.  

The apartment is warm (you wouldn't even really know it's cold outside) but somehow they know and get all snuggy and seek out the warmth.

It's been a good weekend, spent yesterday at the farm but still getting over my cold, and 2nd Man was not wanting to get one so we didn't spend the night.  The farmhouse is still a bit cool.  It was 59 inside when we got there.  It never goes much lower than that, I think 52 once when it was freezing outside.  That's without heat, we don't have central heat so we use space heaters.  We don't spend a lot nights out there in the coldest parts of Winter  We'll have to work on that for the future.  It certainly is great weather for warm socks and flannel sheets, but not when you don't feel good already, ha. 

Hope your weekend has been snuggly warm!

THE GREAT BRIEF CHASE

We always try to post something animal related on Friday's, and so I thought we'd share this moment from a couple of weekends ago...

This is 2nd Family's dog Ruben and of course the now blog famous horse Artax.  She was grazing in the back pasture and Ruben decided to chase this "cow bird" (horse bird? LOL).  I wish I had the 'after' photo for this moment but I was walking back toward the house when it happened. 

The bird landed on the ground beside Artax.  Ruben ran after it and then it flew off and landed in a small tree.  Ruben ran after it again but this time, the bird flew back toward him and he took off running....IN THE OPPOSITE direction.  That bird scared him enough that for the rest of he day, he just sat by the fence and watched.  Lesson learned I suppose...

NATIONAL LOVE YOUR HORSE DAY

We would be remiss if we forgot to post this.  It was National I Love Horses Day!   (or Love Your Horse Day as it's also known)  Who knew??  Well I bet horse lovers knew. We don't own a horse of course (insert Mr. Ed song here, LOL), but luckily for us, 2nd Family has Artax, the horse member of their family for about the last 15 years...

We love to see her in their back pasture (they rotate her from their front to their back) because that makes her in OUR front yard, ha.  

So today I stopped at the store and got her some carrots. I had to call her up to our end, but she came...

This is "her corner" where Ma, the former owner of our house and land, used to give her snacks.  She knew that I would have something...

"And where is it?"  

She seemed to be asking...

I cut them up and scattered them around on the ground just like Ma used to do in the same spot...

Can a horse smile?  

Because we sure think this one is!

HAPPY LOVE YOUR HORSE DAY!