Pupdate

We went to the vets yesterday, just for a quick looksee.  Little no-name did fantastic - she really does have the sweetest temperament!  The vet said other than her weight, she's in perfect condition - good eyes, ears, heart, lungs and patellas.  And everyone at the vets was loving on her, and could not believe she was a stray that no one claimed.

I find that odd too.  She is very well behaved - house-trained, great with people and other dogs, sweetsweetsweet, playful.  Twice now, people have come to the door (mail and newspaper).  No barking at all.  In fact, I didn't realize the mailman delivered a package yesterday until I opened the door to go to the vets and tripped over it (ahem, canines in my life?  A *little* barking is not a bad thing, kthanx).  She apparently doesn't know any "obedience" commands, or at least the words for them, but has already learned to sit while getting her leash on.  She is a total sweetheart - I know I keep repeating this, but I can't convey how fantastic she is.

This morning though, she broke my heart.  Kip was outside, so she and I were playing inside.  I called her to me, and raised my arms (not thinking, since this is something I do with Kip all the time), and she stopped on a dime, dropped, and rolled over, showing me her belly. 

Sigh.

I keep trying to figure out what her story is.  Sweetest little dog, but somewhat afraid (abused?  Inappropriate discipline?  Just a soft temperament??).  Very well trained in some areas, not at all in others.  Over-fed, but found as a matted stray.

Owner death?  Family moved and lost her?  New living arrangements that made her expendable?  I try not to judge others, and if she was surrendered to TAS, I wouldn't be.  But to have come in as a stray - her, and hundreds of others like her - that I don't get.  Even here, in little Fort Erie, dogs are found as strays (most with collars on, but no tags), and no one claims them.

That I find unforgivable.

If you don't want/can't keep your dog anymore, don't just let it go.  It is still your responsibility to arrange for proper care, which means taking it to a shelter, rescue or pound.  Yeah, it might hurt your pride/cause you to feel ashamed/make you sad/whatever, but I don't give a fuck.  It's not about you - it's about the dog who has no choice in the matter.

To little no-name's previous owners, and others like them - while I thank you for the opportunity to have a fantastic little dog (spayed and microchipped, all for the grand total of $140 and change, thank you TAS!), a happy ending doesn't excuse your irresponsibility.  Not at all.

And since I can't help myself, here are some more pics - happy dogs!

  I kill the fox


 
Sharing schnauzer secrets
 
 
Tired happy dogs

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I forgot to give a hat tip to Fred's blog yesterday, which is the only reason I have such a great little dog now.  If you are looking for a dog, anywhere near Toronto, have a look at One Bark at a Time - and make sure you read "Stuck", but don't have any fluids in your mouth while you do.  Fred won't reimburse you for any ruined computer parts :)

Original "Dotty" pictures here and here

Just because I'm not busy enough...

 

  
 


This is "The dog formerly known as Dotty", adopted last night from Toronto Animal Services (yes, I drove to Toronto to get a dog.  It's less than 1/2 the distance I drove to get Kip.  This is what Crazy Dog Ladies do).  No new name yet... I'm terrible at naming, and we might just keep "Dotty" - we'll wait and see what feels right.  She and Kip are getting along great - playing, playing and more playing.  Last night went great and so far today, things are good.  We just had a romp in the snow, and will go for a walk a bit later, once I'm fully caffeinated.

Oh yeah.  Also got the mortgage this week!!  So let the renos begin...

Drowning in choices

I've been busy lately.

Trying to decide which vegetables to grow this year.

The problem?  Too many choices.  Way too many.

But I finally bit the bullet, and placed two orders yesterday, from Stokes and Richters.

From Richters:

Seeds:
Salad Burnet, Garlic Chives, Lovage, Watercress, Sorrel, Lemon Balm, Chervil, Chives, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Savory, Basil, Thyme, German Chamomile, Cilantro,

Plants:   
Horseradish, Lemon Verbena, English Mint, Applemint, Peppermint, Rosemary, French Tarragon

Shipping and Handling                                15.75
Sales Tax                                                      7.64
Grand Total in Canadian Dollars                 66.39

Yeah.  $66.  Yikes.  But wait, it gets worse...

From Stokes:

Beans (Kentucky Wonder Green, Blue Lake, Roma II), Brussels sprouts, Swiss Chard, Beets (Mona Lisa and Chioggia), Broccoli, Cabbage (Red Dynasty, Winner, Tenderheart (Napa)), Tsoi Sim, Pak Choi, Celeriac,  Carrots, Cucumbers (slicers and pickling), Kale, Lettuce (green and red looseleaf and Buttercrunch), Bunching (or green) onions, Peas (snow and shell), Peppers (green, red, yellow, cayenne and jalapeno), Radish (winter, red and Valentine, a green and white variety - couldn't resist!),  Rutabaga and turnip, Spinach, New Zealand Spinach (perennial variety), Squash (epic fail in this category - green and yellow zucchini, pattypan, spaghetti, acorn, mini Hubbard and butternut - can you tell I heart squash?), Watermelon (sugar Baby, a small variety), and the Tomatoes (Brandywine, Basket Vee, Roma, and Sweet 100 (cherry)).

Along with some growing medium, trays, cell pack, domes, a soil test kit and 6" mesh for trellises.  

And a "free" Mini Seeder.

Shipping and Handling                                 0.00
Sales Tax                                                      22.23
Grand Total in Canadian Dollars                251.17

Holy Hannah.  That's over $300!!  And doesn't include onion sets, potatoes (not sure if I'm growing these or not),  Lemon thyme (seeds not available), and a few others I'm sure to want once I get going.  Or row cover, shade cloth, wood for the raised beds, soil, amendments....

That also doesn't include asparagus, rhubarb, or any of the soft fruits I want (raspberries, strawberries, currants, cranberries and blueberries, to start).   Or grapes.  Or fruit trees - in theory, I can grow apples, pears, plums, and possibly peaches and other related stone fruits.  Or nut trees.  Or gooseberries, quince, seabuckthorn, roses (for hips), and kiwi (yes, we can grow kiwi vines in Canada!!).

Oh my.  Drowning in choices indeed.

But at least the vast majority of the seed order is in.  Now I just have to figure out where everything is going.  And to start the seeds that require starting.  And and and...

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