…OK, serious question – How the hell do you lose a MacBook??? Only me I guess. I finally found it. Underneath a box of mail-order hard cider-making equipment. Of course. Right where I thought I’d find it. Thank God I did because I don’t feel like spending three hours trying to touch-type all this up on my iPad.
So the power went out this morning, for some unknown reason; and it’s hotter than balls out there in that hayfield. The thermometer on the wall says 80, but I know damn well it’s every bit of 90 out there. The kitchen in this old farmhouse is already heating up pretty fast, and I’m sitting here about half-naked as I recover from our walk. (No, that is not an invitation to send your drones… my shotgun will take care of them.)
The power did come back on before too long; but by the time I could get into the barn to walk the huskies, it was later and hotter than I wanted it to be. They all have super thick coats and get a little draggy in the heat, but Rosalie has been lagging behind the past few days and I’m a little concerned. Her blind eye has been infected, and last week the vet said it needs to go. Probably not a good surgery to have to schedule six weeks out, but she’s the only vet in the area and it’s a royal pain to go elsewhere. We are on the waitlist, but until we get in, it’s a twice-daily fight to get the ointment IN her eye – and I know it bothers her as she rubs it fairly often.
Vet also said they ALL have Lyme disease. (WTF?!) Ticks are out of control this year, and I find those microscopic bitches on me at least once a week… a couple of them have even been (barely) attached. At least the cats don’t get Lyme (THANK GOD because we only have about 60!!!), but I figure this must be a hotspot or something, which does NOT make me excited to go outside. Like, ever. Especially not in this heat.
In cooler months, dog walks are my favorite part of the day. But now I gotta keep them out of the weeds and poison ivy, I always come back with some sort of shit on my shoe, and the huskies like to eat AAALLLLL the cat shit they can find and pant like crazy as I follow behind and gag. (Well, at least I got some pictures of mutt butts along the way.)
And lately Jasper has been trying really hard to get in the house every chance he gets. I don’t know if it’s due to the heat or because he needs more attention. Regardless, the other day he bolted to the door instead of going back into the kennel. This morning was no exception. As we came back by the front door of the house, he turned and strained against his leash to get up the porch steps. Of course this was the one day I didn’t bring the gentle leaders and so he pulled with all he had. And he’s kinda like a bear. – OK, fine, a baby polar bear, missing the snow; but still a bear. He even sounds like one. Rosalie sounds like a cow, and Kota sounds like a pig. It’s pretty hilarious.
In this heat I caved and let them all in. Cat shit breath and all. Thank God they went straight for the water bowl. Especially now because Jasper just came up and shoved his nose under my foot and reached up and licked my leg when I bent down to scratch his head. Awwwww. Then Rosalie chimed in from the side and nudged my arm. I gave her a little squeeze, and she gave me a little lick too. I love their little drive-by licks. They are the best. Huggin’ my huskies!!
Was interesting trying to keep them away from Squeaky, our sweet little black kitten who kept running in the door as well. I worry that he is so small and trusting that he will be in trouble with these guys. They are usually OK with the cats, but they still love to chase down anything that runs – and let me tell you what, I am OVER losing my cats. WAAYYYY over it.
After a big game of musical animals, I eventually got everyone settled. I threw my shitty shoes over the chair-propped baby gate and through the living room to mat at the front door. Gah. *Siiigggghhhh.* I miss winter so much. Snow on my shoes; dogsled dreams and frozen streams; dress to your comfort… Sounds like heaven right about now. Kinda like my travel plans….
I have had these huge dreams of taking all the dogs on the road since I got the huskies back ten years after my divorce. They are older, and I don’t know how long I have with them. I just want to take them hiking, explore and travel everywhere we can, go places it’s more conducive to having a good time. Cooler places. Mountains and forests. Lakes and rivers… Less cat shit. Definitely less cat shit.
We all went to Colorado last fall, and it was a total blast. Dipped their toes in the Mississippi River, toured the Rockies, and had a blast at the dog park near where my daughter lives. Kota was so excited the second trip out that he hardly slept for a whole week while we were driving – even when we drove a lot of the night – and crashed the whole last two days going home!! He is so smart – it would totally not surprise me if he was like, OK, I’ve seen this already – I’m out!!!!!!!
The thought of a repeat sounds so wonderful right now, especially since I haven’t left the farm much at all the past COVID year and a half. Lots of talking to lots of cats. And dancing and singing and making up funny farm songs and all that other stuff. People would think I was nuts if they saw me. (I mean I kinda am and I think the cats know it, but they actually seem to enjoy it, and it is pretty obvious that they love me anyway, so I don’t care.)
And I have decided I don’t care who knows that I am kinda a hot mess, because it is really pretty entertaining. I always said if at the end of my life my sole net worth is entertainment value, it will have been a life well-lived. And I meant it. My Leo moon shining through, haha. 🙂
And so I have been dreaming of putting together a blog about our adventures and life on the farm and the road for a year now. I have been making a lot of people smile every time time I get my fur babies out there, online or in real life, and I know it will give ME a good excuse to get out there and actually live my dreams. So…. Here goes nothing.
Here’s to traveling, doggie dreams and running streams, mountains, lakes and “un-leashed” outtakes.. Mutt butts and cat sluts. Viva le blog. Our dog blog.
Mutt Butts 