PIT BULLS: SHOULD YOU HAVE ONE?

We are aware of the horror stories about Pit Bulls but we are finding these "Staffordshire Terriers", if they were called by their true name would live up to the ideal their proper name implies. (Staffordshire China is a very fine English Bone china.)
 

Our dumped dog, despite his uncertain beginnings, has adjusted to family life and thrived under the gentle touch.  We have recorded his stories here:  http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

The ownership of any dog should not be taken lightly.  No matter what their size, they are an investment.  They should not be an impulse acquisition.  I strongly suggest dogs shouldn't be a gift.  Getting a dog is a personal decision.  If you want to gift a dog, take the person you are gifting with you,  to choose their own pet.  I have found the pet chooses you as much as you choose them.  Any pet loves wonderful care but a bond happens when you are choosing a pet.  What is cute to you may not be as cute to someone else. Not only will you be giving a gift of love but you will be sharing a really special moment with the person you are gifting.

When "Boychik" was dumped we didn't choose him.  He chose us first.  He didn't run away.  He was there to greet us.  He listened to everything we said.  He gave us time to decide to choose him.  Believe me when I tell you we did everything we could to find his owners or to find a home.  He was everything we thought we didn't want in a dog.  He was too big, he had short hair, people who came to our house would be put off by him, we weren't wanting a dog, and the list of excuses not to own him goes on.  My hunny was the hard one to get to even think about another dog.  When he saw the pit bull he said we needed to take him to the shelter.  He said, "You know the reputation these dogs have."  Now he and the dog are best friends.  If someone desired to have him part of their family they would be grilled and placed under as much scrutiny as if they were adopting a child before he would part with him.

You'll need skills to take care of a pit bull.  If they're already grown you will need the additional skill of being a psychologist.  I am not saying this in jest, I am  saying it because they will have already established who they thought they were and how they thought they fit into the Human world.  Most of the times you will have to ferret out by hook or crook what they know or don't know.  The best way to do that is to begin with what you want from them.  As you teach them the routines of your house hold there will be moments where you realize the dog is exhibiting a learned behavior you don't like.  The time to take care of it is the moment it happens.  You need to reinforce the accepted behavior.  BTW,  Our pit bull did not need a treat reinforcement, he just wanted to please us.  We did give treats but saved them just for loving time.  I am not a dog trainer so I don't know if this method is right but for us it works.  The treat we offer when he does what we want, is hugs and loving and praise.

There is a book which can be extremely helpful in establishing your position as head honcho.  "Second Hand Dog" by Carol lea Benjamin.  This is an extremely simple book to follow.  The instructions are explicit.  If you follow them you can have a peaceful transition from his old life to his new one.  Yes, if he is mentally in bad shape you will have to work a little harder and be a little more diligent in your training. 

When I see our "boy" dreaming.  You can tell when he is dreaming of his past life.  We may never be able to eradicate the dreams but we can make his waking moments dreamy.  When we watch him dream we know dogs can have PTSS too.  Be wary of any dog exhibiting symptoms, no matter how loyal he seems he may not be able to control his reactions.

Questions you should ask yourself: 

First: are you a family who likes big dogs?  These dogs get large.  It is said they are 50-60 pounds.  Boychik when he weighed in for his "Altering" was 77.4 pounds.  The vet puts his age at just barely one year old.  (He is not over weight, yet!) This dog is tremendously strong.  When he leans against you, with love, he could knock you over if you are small or light weight.  They do not intend to use their weight against you, they truly do not know their own strength.  They need a place to run and use those muscles.  The pent up energy expresses itself in the way he acts in the home.  He needs to move.  When he can't, he gets bored and starts to look for things to do. This translates into another, what can be an annoying habit, chewing.

Pit Bulls love to chew, mouth, use their flubber lips to touch everything.  They are like their fingers.   They like to use those massive teeth to crunch.  You know how you like to have something to eat just for the crunch.  They are the same way.  They derive pleasure in the feel of the crunch.  We provided ours with those huge knuckle bones of  cows.  He needs to chew, he demolished those in two days, that gets to be expensive at 4-5 dollars a piece.  (This is not a puppy thing, it seems they never grow out of the urge to chew).

We searched for something he would enjoy.  It has turned out to be logs.(There have been suggestions to get a product called a "Kong", but we haven't been by a store where they are.) We have to look for logs which are dried dead wood and are a hard wood.  other wise they end up a pile of splinters.  He has his favorite logs, are about 3 inches in diameter and about 18 inches long.  He carries them to wherever he is sleeping.  He has been known to drag a split oak log to his lair in the woods and chew the bark off it.

This chewing things also extends to other textures.  Do not let them chew on anything you don't want them to chew on where the equivalent of that would be something good or treasured.  I.E. an empty toilet paper roll is the same texture as a file folder.  (They will self serve out of an open drawer). 

Stuffed animals have been a G-d send.  Be prepared if you have small children with "animals " they need to be trained to keep their babies out of the reach of your Pit Bull.  The Pit bulls adore the soft squishy things.  I remove the eyes and nose and any hard parts from the stuffed animals I give him.  He will crunch those and possibly swallow them.  boychik pulls all the stuffing out of them.  Then he carries the unstuffed toy around with him.  He places them where ever he sleeps.  He knows they are his and treasures them.

Secondly:  Can you be a strict disciplinarian.  You can't be a pit bull owner if you are going to be wishy washy about their training.  They need consistent rules.  They are not a dog you can rough house with.  Not because they are mean but because they are that strong.  What they do in play can be very dangerous to you.

A 20 pound puppy is not a threat to you but if he is doing the same thing at 60 pounds he can do a lot of damage.  Example:  The other day I played a tug of war with Boycix, for just a few seconds.  It was the first time.  He had a log he loves and I pulled on it laughing saying for him to give it too me (tugging and pulling at it). I then let him have it.  On the way back to the porch I picked up a wind fall branch to put on the pile.  All of a sudden I was hit in the side with a full body block.  He thought I picked up the branch to play with him and he was trying to grab it out of my hands.  It took me ten minutes to get him to understand he couldn't have the stick unless I gave it to him.  If I had been a small child I would have been knocked over and when he was trying to get the stick from me he might have bitten me.  He would not have done it intentionally.  He would have been thinking I was the stick to be grabbed.

Tug of war is one of the things which should never  be introduced to a pit bull.  It is a natural instinct for them, it is what they would do in the wild if they were fighting for food.

Biting anything for fun is a prescription for disaster.

If your dog has not been taught to listen when you say a command and respond immediately, you are setting the stage for bad things to happen. 

Boychix has never shown signs of aggression, no matter what the situation.  He has never had to be reproached for making a move which would or could be considered of violent kind.   Mild manners and the need to please us, is all we see.  Just because of our wonderful experience doesn't mean you will have an equal experience with yours.  Be mindful of any second hand dog and be very consistent in their training.  (This rule is very important for any puppy you bring home.)

Thirdly:  This breed of dog seems to be needier of attention than any other dog we've raised.  He wants to do anything to please but at the same time he wants validation and notice from you that he did good.  In my opinion they are not a dog, which will do good if they are left for several hours each day.

Fourth:  If you do not like hound dog smell.  Bassets, dachunds, beagles, hound dogs, They all have a peculiar smell that long haired dogs do not have.  I call it "that doggie Smell."  We have bathed Boychix and he still smells.  It is not as strong as some short hair varieties but it is there.  I haven't gotten used to the "doggie" smell of a short haired dog.  Or to the heavy shedding  he does, with all those teeny tiny hairs. (Regular brushing doesn't seem to help). So if you are particular about smells and fur on stuff, you do not want a pit bull. 

Would I recommend you run out and get your own pit bull.  The answer to that is no.  He does have his limitations.  We have to constantly go over his education of commands needed.  We have to be very vigilant about not leaving chewables down where he is (they are a very mouthy dog, but they are only slobbery right after they drink. Other wise they have a dry mouth).  So far we have to have a strict routine, he doesn't like changes.  He also needs constant attention when you are in his vicinity.  If you have an apartment this is not the dog for you.  This dog reminds me of an extroverted person.  He is always on the go, constantly needing input, always wanting to show off, showing you he loves you in a very demonstrative way.  If you want a passive dog, this is not it.  BTW, When he gets quiet he does that in a big way too......He snores.

This reminds me, our pit bull is not a barker.  If he barks we know something needs attention.  He is also not a watch dog, yet.  Everyone who drives up is either ignored or they are the best friend he never met.

There are other pros and cons I could list.  It is the same with any dog you get.  Remember when you acquire a dog, size does matter.

A Pit Bull is not for everyone, neither is a Gray Hound or a Jack Russell terrier but there is a dog out there to fit your needs and needs you. 

Other blog sites by me:

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup who has become a hidden treasure.

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

FATHER'S DAY

People in the USA, celebrate this day,

It's set aside for one who means so much,

Even those who can't be with their Dad,

Find a way to keep in touch.

 

All week, in preparation of this day,

On the media you heard,

What does your Dad mean to you?

That question, many memories stirred.

 

I remember seeing the world so big,

On his shoulders I did sit,

An oak tree fallen in the storm,

The roots, to the sky did lift.

 

I remember feeling very scared,

Crossing a creek on an old oak tree,

He was in the bed below,

Arms held up, ready to catch me.

 

Gathering pecans on a blustery fall day,

Smelling burning leaves, roasting hot dogs,

The day was almost gone,

Toasty warm, sitting on downed logs.

 

Fourth of July, friends from Mexico,

Shared with us the best tamales,

Dad cranked the ice cream maker,

Telling us when to add salt and ice.

 

Sparklers that night did not compare,

With the fireflies nature did supply,

Happily, he walked us home,

Awed by the bright stars in the sky.

 

What does my Dad mean to me,

All the memories I have stored,

The times when he was needed,

And there are so many, many more.

 

Thank you Dad, for all you gave to me,

Not the bicycle, not the ice skates,

Not the fancy dress for prom,

For letting me  make my own mistakes.

 

Thank you for letting me marry my man,

Fifty years he's cared for me,

From the sidelines you did watch,

There were times you'd disagree.

 

Thank you for your tutelage,

For all your helpful hints,

Thanks for understanding,

When you really wanted to flinch.

 

What 's Dad mean to me,

Without my Dad, would I be?

I wouldn't be me.

 

 

Other blog sites by me:

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup who has become a hidden treasure.

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONSIBILITY? DUMPED DOG!

SHESHE(tippy)

One of these dogs was dumped.  Can you tell which one?  One of these dogs "lived" 9 months, beaten so badly, she only walked backwards when a human was around.  Cowered, even when you spoke sweetly to her.

 

She was dumped by some kind soul who couldn't stand to see her abused.  They chained her to a 50 pound bag of dog food and left her at a gate to a farm.  She was only 9 months old.  They had no idea the farmer didn't live at the farm.  No idea he had already done his chores for the day and wouldn't be back till 10 AM the next day. 

 

It was the middle of December.  It had been very mild month. It was more like spring than fall or even winter.  About 5 PM it  started to rain.  She was sitting in the rain.  It rained even harder and the temperature began dropping. The rain turned to ice and it kept coming.  She was sitting in it, not able to leave to get to shelter.  Ice accumulated on her, the bag of dog food and her entire world.  The temperature dropped even more and the winds picked up and the ice was topped with 13 inches of snow. 

 

The next morning when the farmer got out of his truck to open the gate he saw the mound of snow blocking the gate. She was frozen but still alive.  He put her in the back of the truck and took her to the hog barn.  He had lots of mama pigs and their heat lamps.  He put her on a mat with a lamp.  By the time he finished the chores the icy miracle was following him around. 

 

When I came to pick up hay a month later I commented when did he get his new dog.  He said, she's not  mine she was dumped here and then he told me her story.   She was so friendly, I played with her a while then left with my hay.  When I got home I called my Hunny and told him about her and asked him if he knew of anyone who would want wonderful spaniel mixed pup.  He said, no, but he would ask around.

 

Later on that day he called and said he would be home early. BTW..this is before cell phones.  When he came home he sat out in the car.  I wondered why he was staying in the car and went out to see why.  When I approached the car I saw why.  He had gone over and retrieved the dog.  I asked him why? (We had 2 dogs).  He said, if we get her socialized she'll have a chance finding a home.  Seventeen years later she still needed a home!

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HONEY

Why would you dump this dog?  Would you beat her?  Mother's day fifteen years ago Hunny went to retrieve the mail (we had been gone till late in the evening and did not pick up the mail).  He was gone longer than it takes to drive to the gate.  When he returned he sat in the car.  He called and asked me to come give him a hand.  I went out to ask him what he needed.  Geesh, a dog, a tiny dog.  I said, "Where did you get that?"

 

He said he thought she was tied to the gate, she was so traumatized, she was pressed up to the gate and didn't move.  She was so tiny only about 18 lbs.  We had 3 dogs with heads bigger than her. (The above two and a coyote).  I said we could put her in our bedroom and put out a sign, so if she was lost her parents could find her.  At the end of a week it was evident this poor, three year old, dog had been abandoned not lost.

 

She was not dirty when we found her.  She still smelled like perfume.  (It had been raining for a week and we live in the country.)  We realized quickly she was afraid of any hand movement.  She was afraid she was going to get hit.  We were afraid our big dogs would have her for lunch when we integrated her in the main house.  Not the case she was the alpha dog for the next 13 years. 

 

She endeared herself to all who came to the house, unless you were under 6 years old.  We had to watch her around that age group.  She was so loved, even by our Daughter, despite the fact she stalked and snapped at the grands, didn't ask us to remove her. The dog was absolutely crazy about our son,  the navy man,  who she saw only once a year for a couple of days.

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BOYCHIK

Starved, beaten, gouges in his skin, He is left at my gate.  Way too thin for his age.  Filled with ticks afraid to even approach me.  He's laying in the leaves at the base of the tree.  I extended my hand with the palm down, he cowered.  I turned my hand over with the palm up as if it was holding something.  He very cautiously leaned forward to sniff.   The tail began to tap the leaves.  I asked him what he was doing here.  I tried to get him to stand up and he wouldn't budge.  I took off my belt and he cowered flat to the ground.  I cooed to him and told him I was just going to use it like a leash.

 

When I put it around his neck you could feel him stiffening up.  I was worried I was going to get bit.  That wasn't the case he was afraid of what was happening.  When I got him up he moved like he was in severe pain.  We needed to walk 20 feet to the car.  That was the slowest long walk.  He was limping.  His rear leg was hurting him in the hip area. 

 

Loading him in the back of the car was very difficult but he laid down immediately.  In the two minutes it takes to get to the house he was sound asleep.  The picture was taken 1 hour after I picked him up.    His story is here:

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

 

The purpose of this article is:  Whose responsibility is it for "dumped" animals. Above are 3 of the animals we rescued. 

 

Here are more we have rescued:

 

We had a coyote/dog cross we found who had been hit by a vehicle and was left for dead.  We put her back together and she spent the next 17 years with us.. 

 

We had "Brownie" a happy go lucky hound dumped by the gate.

 

Not 4 weeks later we had a beagle dumped, luckily we had a friend with a big farm.  The dog happily rehomed with him.

 

We had a lab mix dumped at the gate with a broken rear leg which had been left unattended for weeks.  He had separation anxiety real bad.  We couldn't help him.  After 3 weeks I had to take him to the humane society.  Beside the things he destroyed, the privilege had become ours to pay 30 dollars to surrender him even though he was not our dog.  Even with his problems and the costs, there is no way we could dump him on the side of the road.  At the same time we weren't able to keep him.  It had become "Our" responsibility. 

 

The vet had a 9 month puppy brought in to be euthanized.  Why, because the people didn't want him and could care less if he had a home.  The vet called and asked if we could take him for the weekend till He found a home for him.  First night with us he ran away.  We put out a sign and within 3 hours he was "home".  Yep, we were his new home.  His Name was "Little guy"  because he was the littlest guy on the place.

 

There were other dogs and other homes we had to find for them.

He was not the last and since we have gotten "Boychick", when we thought there would be no more dogs in our future, it isn't over yet.

 

I know the people this message needs to reach are not reading my blog.  Hopefully I can prevent an animal from being in a situation where they are abused or dumped.  If you are contemplating getting a dog, please know your limits and pick a dog suited to your environment. 

 

Don't pick a Great Dane if you have a 500 sq. ft. apartment.  Don't pick a Jack Russell Terrier if you are a person who has no idea how to set limits. Don't have a dog if you are quick to temper.  Dogs, no matter what their size, are going to try men's souls and do the unthinkable (very much like children).  Remember a dog can be anywhere from a 10 year to a 20 year commitment.  That means first and foremost a love commitment,  don't forget the  bills. 

 

Don't get a puppy because he is cute.  Cute wears thin when he has torn up your favorite magazine or your shoes, or ate something that made him sick and you have that emergency trip to the vet.

 

Get a puppy because you want a friend and are ready to maintain the friendship for the years you will be needed.  He will be your friend forever He won't care if you are fat or skinny, or if you are rich or poor, but if you are sick or scared or sad, he will be there for you to lean on.  He will be there to play with you and to enjoy walks or car rides.  He will be there when you need him and when you don't.

 

Remember you will be feeding that dog for that length of time.  Dog food is not cheap (even the cheap brand is not that cheap)  The larger the dog the larger the daily bill is.  It is a fact of life dogs get sick.  They also get injured.  Taking the dog to the vet is expensive.  You have the yearly array of shots.  Then there are the incidentals like toys, bedding, food dishes, leashes and collars, heart worm preventative; the list is extensive.

 

Read all you can on how to work with your new friend.  Learn how you can be a dog owner whose pet  trusts you and knows you will be there for him.  Your attention to detail will be returned in copious amounts of love!

 

Acquiring a dog should not be an impulsive decision.  I have found dogs can be dumped because of aggression, they don't mind, they get too big, they have problems with their plumbing and so many other problems.  I have a question, is this the dogs problem or is it their environment?

 

Boychik has overcome all his fears and his plumbing problems(even though Internet sites said pit bulls are hard to potty train).  It has only taken us 6 weeks and we have a dog I would trust in any situation.  It was work and we had to be constantly vigilant. It still is a work in progress with constant reinforcement.  New obstacles surface as the honeymoon is coming to an end.

 

He is so loyal to us he comes running from where ever he is the minute he hears our voices.  All he wants to do is please us.  Now all we need to do is out-live his chewing...he is improving.  If he picks up something new he looks at us to see if what he has in his mouth is kosher.  If we say drop it, he releases it immediately.  If we follow with "No" he doesn't go to that type object again.

 

Yes, we have assumed this responsibility at a time in our golden years, when it is a possibility he may outlive us.  When our pocket books have become smaller.  We look forward to lots of unconditional love.
 

Other blog sites by me:

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup who has become a hidden treasure.

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

COPPERHEAD SNAKE: A CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Since I joined the world of the internet I have entertained the members of my groups with my encounters with snakes.  I don't know if they believed any of the stories, or maybe even thought I was exaggerating them.  I have never had proof of the encounters.  Now it is the digital age and my camera is never very far from me.

 

I now have proof.  Seeing is believing.

COPPERHEAD SNAKE WITHOUT HIS/HER HEAD

Today has been one of those days where lots of different things have happened.
The first thing was our new dog decided he would use the wading pool we had filled for him 3 days ago.  If I had the camera I wouldn't have been able to use it.  He was flinging water every where.  He was putting his head under water and blowing bubbles.  He flipped on his back trying to get totally under the water.  We had hoped it would work to keep him from taking his mud bath.  Looks like it might.  This is the story of his mud baths.
http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/2014/06/spa-day-at-farm.html

When he came in he was running around with his nose to the floor and started yapping.  Since he has been here the cats haven't had the run of the house.  They are still hiding, rarely coming out.  Looks like when the cat's away the mice will play.  He had a mouse cornered.  He wanted to play with it.  He was not going to harm it.

I looked out tonight to see if it was a full moon, because strange happenings and the close encounter with the slithering kind.  For those of you not versed in herpetology, the above snake can be a very nervous snake and is poisonous. 

For years the only snakes I have seen close to the barn are the garter snakes, black snakes and prairie king snakes.  The later two snakes eat copperhead snakes.  The last encounter I had with a copperhead was about 3 years ago, in the pasture, when I was mowing I had one wrap itself around the mower blades and stall the mower.  I backed up thinking it was a grass plug.  I figured I would knock it loose (normally I climb off the mower and put my hand under the cowl to pull the weed mass out.)  Instead out crawled a copperhead, who was well over 3 feet and was at least an inch fatter than the above snake.  I turned the mower on and mowed him/her into a zillion pieces.  Nothing left to get the camera for.

Tonight I hurried down to feed the chickens.  It was getting dark.  It was still light enough to see the path but not to distinguish anything.  I opened the door to the coop, the snake was 3 feet inside the door to the left.  It was in the shadow of the feed buckets.  If it hadn't been gyrating I would not have seen it against the brown dirt of the floor (we have clay floors in the coop).  It was gyrating because it was working on getting down a mouse it had caught. 

I grabbed the cell phone and didn't move.  The snake was watching me and I didn't want it crawling off  under the pallets the feed buckets were on.  I dialed Hunny and get this message.  I hang up and try again and he answers.  It was like he didn't believe me.  I told him I couldn't get past the snake to grab the shovel he needed to bring the 22 down and get down here fast. (Geesh, he even asked me if I was sure it was a copperhead.) 

My heart is beating really hard at this point.  There is an old wives tale that copperheads travel in pairs.  I would like to say, those tales have their basis in peoples experiences.   Previously I have had a slithering engagement with a pair of them, in the same place at the same time. 

 I am standing on a pallet outside the door with the weeds all around me and it's dark enough now, you can't see your feet.  Can you spell nervous, I'm thinking about them traveling in pairs.  I know I can't move, I am only reassured I am safe because the snake's mouth is full.   I am sure it was only 2 minutes before Hunny showed up, but it seemed like forever.  When he came around the corner with the gun I moved aside and he went in, and he couldn't see the snake.  I hollered, "Its on your left on the dirt".  At that time the snake perceived the threat and literally turned tail and ran. 

Hunny shot two shots at the tail, he couldn't get a visual of the head.   The "D" snake disappeared under the pallet with the feed buckets on it.  We had to lift everything off and hope it hadn't escaped through the wall.  I used the pitchfork to pry up the pallet.  The adrenalin surge and nerves are making me nauseous. Hunny hollers, "Hold Still."  and fires 3 shots completely destroying the head and the mouse hanging out of it. 

We put the snake in a Breyers Ice cream container to bring it up to take the picture.  We recycle ice cream containers for scoops and for picking cocktail tomatoes in.  Needless to say that carton is now trashed.  After the picture was taken, we put the snake on the back porch to see if the raccoons would like an appetizer.  I looked out thirty minutes later and the snake was gone.

Copperheads have a distinct smell.  Previously in some of my encounters I have smelled them, but this is a chicken coop, there are plenty aromas to mask the snake's smell.

I'm glad it is bedtime and I don't have to have anymore encounters.  Well, that might not be true,  I just remembered the live bluetail skink my cat brought in and was under my pillow.  Normally I don't fluff the pillow when I get in bed.  That night though I wanted to sit up and read.  I needed the pillow vertical to lean against.  Now it is a routine to fluff the pillow every night!

Tomorrow is my birthday, I hope I don't get anymore surprises.  

Other blog sites by me:

http://pitbulladog.blogspot.com/

Chronicling our adventures with a dumped Pit Bull Pup who has become a hidden treasure.

  

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

 http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

 



THE GOOD EGG

I had to share this with you.  I love to cook and this labor saver, which was saved from the recycle bin, is great.  Especially when you make an angel food cake and have to separate approximately  13 eggs.  The soft water bottles are filling up our dumps.  Each one saved or repurposed is one less in the dump  Take a peek at this:

 

How to separate the yoke from the white of an egg.  http://www.youtube.com/embed/iAp8pEaWB1Y
<http://www.youtube.com/embed/iAp8pEaWB1Y>  

 

This week I stumbled on another use for the soft water bottles.  Maybe someone else has announced it but I figured it out on my own.  I use them with the close spout torn off.  I put oils in them.  They allow me to squirt just a tiny bit of oil in the pan, not drowning  my food in oil.  Saving me calories.

 

Have fun, discovering how you can rescue a water bottle.

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

Quilt BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

I am hosting a mystery for my guild.  Find the clues here:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

 

 



PARTNERS FOR LIFE

June 8, 2011, Our wedding anniversary,

I wrote a blog about our beginning.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-day-of-rest-of-our-lives.html

Our wedding day.  These are 4 of my 5 Siblings.  The youngest was asleep so not in the picture. 

 

Last week with the demise of my personal computer I found a document I didn't know was there.   We had a guru retrieve the files.  Thank goodness they weren't lost.  You see I am not very savvy with these machines and I have never learned how to back-up.  Since then I have been dumping and reorganizing files and found this document.  Evidently my husband was awake late at night and sat at the most convenient computer and typed his thoughts.  It seems it is another view of the blog I wrote.  I couldn't have said it better.  I to, Thank the angels for introducing us.

He must have written it on the occasion of our 40th wedding anniversary. 

We are to be married 51 years this June.

These are his thoughts:

 

Mud, water, stalactites and mites, glowing campfires among friends totally exhausted.

evenings with peers sitting with pencils and pens and paper and typewriters trying to organize something called Choteau Grotto.

Raft assembling parties, siphons and photographs within a Devil’s Icebox covered in mud through a carbide lights flickering hue.

Rappelling, folk singing, countless miles traveled together all to end in a case of toilet paper under a University Tower.

When Mr. Joe swept her off to the car after the wedding I would never have believed what this, our “Lady Jo” would do to me.

They both graduated in June, normally, while I lingered until the following January to quietly leave, with degree in hand to go look for a teaching position in mid-semester.

I ended up at the Museum of Science and Natural History of St. Louis and worked for almost a year seeing our two friends infrequently.  Then came September 1962.

Lady Jo wondered if I could bring my guitar to class and sing some folk songs.  On Monday the Museum was closed so I went to her High School.  I had prepared a program entitled  “Folk Singing as a means of communication through the years” and had a fun time all day in various English and Speech classes Jo taught. 

I received 5 nice thank you letters from young ladies that enjoyed my program and brought them to Jo.  She picked out one of the letters and said, “This girl you should meet.”

She was right.  Unerringly she had picked my soul mate.  That was forty years ago.

What do you say to a friend like this?

 Although we are apart, we are together.  Lady Jo, Wherever and whenever you are, you are very special to me.

 

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

Quilt "BLOCK OF THE MONTH" BLOGS

 

I am hosting a mystery quilt for my guild.  Find the clues here:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

 



PODIATRIST VISIT

Forty-five years ago I had need of a podiatrist.  I visited two different "Doctors".  I figured maybe it was just my luck I got two doctors which I thought were only in the profession because of a foot fetish.  To me they were no better than the reputation Chiropractors had.  They seemed like Quacks.  [BTW we had a family Chiropractor at the time and were always trying to convince others they needed one]

 

Eighteen months ago a problem started developing. 

I  put it off making an appointment, using as an excuse my traveling.  It was true I was gone a lot.  The pain finally got to the point I couldn't put it off any longer, the appointment was made. 

 

I chose my Doctor by an ad in the local paper.  Their office was nice, in a great location and their office help seemed efficient.   There were two doctors sharing the office. I took the one they suggested. It was a very good first impression. 

 

Now that I have been to the doctor, I looked up the definition of what a podiatrist is.  The following are three of the definitions in Google.  There were lots others but they all repeated these:

 

chiropodist: a specialist in care for the feet

po·di·a·try  (p-d-tr) n.

The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the human foot. Also called chiropody.

 

podiatry noun  

  

Medical specialty dealing with the foot. Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot diseases, disabilities, and deformities by means of physical medicine and rehabilitation, special shoes and other mechanical devices, drugs, and minor surgery.

 

I wanted to make sure I understood what I should have expected from a foot doctor.  Maybe I expect too much.  I paid a generous co-pay of 35 dollars.  I have no idea what the office charge is or how much the insurance pays.  I would like to find out.  I really wonder if I am getting my money's worth.

 

The first fault I can say in this office's routine, was with the glorified physician's Assistant.  I don't think she was a nurse.   She did not introduce herself when she came in.  I had to ask her.  I said, "Are you the doctor?"  She answered, "No, I am the PA".  No name, no warmth, nothing.  She asked all these inane questions which I knew the doctor was going to re ask.  She said, "Take off your shoes and socks."  I told her, "My husband does this for me since I lost range of motion in my leg from dropping a garden tractor on my leg."

 

She didn't even volunteer to help.  She watched me struggling rubbing one foot against the other working to scoot the sock down over the heel. 

 

The following is a blog on the incident:

 http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2011/04/hidden-in-grass.html

 

She left the room with out even saying, "The Doctor will be with you in a moment."

 

I sat there, the room was very chilly due to being on an outside, north corner wall and it was literally Zero degrees outside.  There was nothing to cover my feet with.  They were getting very cold.

 

After 15 minutes a lady came in.  She was dressed in a collard Tee and scrubs.  She said, "Hi, What are you here for?" 

 

I said, "Are you the Doctor?"  She responded yes, not even introducing herself.  I told her what I was there for and that I hadn't been to a Podiatrist in 45 years. 

 

She gave the problem a cursive look and sliced it with an Exacto knife looking thing.  Then she put on a pad and said, "See you in a month".  There was just a little discussion about the situation.  She knew I hadn't seen a foot doctor  in recent years and she did not look over my feet to see if there was an impending problem.  I am now in the geriatric population at 69 years old.  I am also part of the overweight problem in the United states.   Both conditions which are known to contribute to feet problems which contribute to back problems.

 

I wonder, am I being too critical, am I expecting too much from my doctors?  The Doctor saw me for approximately 15 minutes, did I get my money's worth.  Did she earn the compensation from the insurance company.

 

I will probably cancel the appointment coming up in Twenty days.

 

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

Quilt BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

I am hosting a mystery for my guild.  Find the clues here:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.