Writer at Random

Sometimes it's just one of those days!

This is our dog Gracie. For some reason she likes sleeping with her head under something.

I kind of felt like doing this today. It was the third day to have those handymen hammering away, and I had a splitting headache. But--YAY! --they finished around noon. Now we just have some touchup painting and cleanup to do. Yep, shaping up to be another fun weekend at the Johnson house.

Think maybe I can squeeze in next to Gracie???

Visions of sugarplums?

Ever wonder what dogs dream about?

Chasing squirrels ...

Eating doggy treats ...

Hanging their head out the car window ...

Or a nice, long belly rub.

...

It's a dog's life.

Mice, birdseed, and an expensive trip to the car dealer

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear what sounds like a tiny pebble rolling around above you in your car’s headliner?

Maybe a loose screw? A ball bearing?

The first time I heard it, I figured there were maybe one or two of whatever was up there. A few days later it sounded like a handful.

Then we left for nine days (the RWA conference in Orlando and then a few extra days visiting Disney  attractions), and when we drove the car again, every time we turned a corner it sounded like a mini-avalanche above our heads!

Time to take the car to the shop.

Imagine our surprise to learn the headliner was full of BIRDSEED!!! When my husband called from the dealership to tell me, I immediately checked our birdseed stash in the garage. Sure enough, one of the bags had been decimated.

Obviously, warranty service does not include a rodent invasion. So we had the headliner cleaned out to a tune of over $900. And no guarantee (except the removal of birdseed from the garage) that the varmint won’t return.

So now, if we put out mouse poison, suppose the little critter decides the dark, cozy headliner is a good place to go to die?

Doesn’t bear thinking about.

Oh, and remember that rat snake we found in our garage a few weeks ago?

WHERE IS HE WHEN WE NEED HIM????

Our baby leaves the nest

Well, Sunday apparently was the day our baby wren decided he was strong enough and brave enough to fly away. Here are the last photos I took of him, around noon Sunday. We left for the afternoon, and when we returned, he was nowhere to be found. Praying he found a safe roost somewhere and will grow into a full and happy birdhood!

 

Baby wrens

Last year a pair of wrens made a nest in the ivy plant on our deck, and apparently they liked the location so much that they decided to come back again this year! It's under the shelter of an awning so unless we have a blowing rain, it doesn't get too wet.

There were five eggs that I could see in the nest, but as far as I could tell, only two of the babies hatched and survived. As of today, one has moved on (I can only hope--rather than falling prey to some beast) and one is still trying to decide whether to go or stay.

This baby has hopped out of the planter a couple of times but doesn't get very far. He hasn't seemed to mind too much when I pick him up and put him back. And the parents continue to check in often with wriggly tidbits to feed him.

 
The biggest problem is keeping our dog Shadow from harassing the poor thing. He hears it peeping and tries to see what's going on in the planter. Since he's already caught and killed a rabbit in our backyard, I doubt he'd hesitate to chomp down on a bird if he had the chance. 

Ode to a Vacuum

 I just have to say this: I love-love-love my new vacuum!

I also have to say this: I hate-hate-hate cleaning house.

However, with two very hairy and huggable indoor dogs that I am not about to banish to the netherworld of the backyard, I am doomed to a life of vacuuming up dog fur. (And the occasional flurry of feathers from our annoyed parakeet.)

Dog hair is, I have learned, very hard on a vacuum cleaner. It tangles in the beater brush. It works its way into the wheel wells. It clogs hoses. When our two best vacuums gave up the ghost, we were forced to look elsewhere.

And where else would we look beyond one name that says it all: the Dyson Animal!

We opted for the one with the rollerball. Very cool. And there is something uniquely fascinating--not to  mention satisfying--about watching all that dust and pet hair swirl around in the clear acrylic catch bin! Possibly our old vacuums picked up just as much in their prime, but disposing of a sealed bag filter just doesn’t give you the same satisfaction.

On the other hand, my carpet has never looked so fresh or felt so good under my bare feet, so I’m of the mind that this really is a more efficient, more effective vacuum.

And anything that helps me enjoy housecleaning is worth the price!

Poor Puppy!

Feeling sorry for Gracie, my sweet, klutzy Lab mix. About a month ago she had a large cyst removed from her hip. It wasn’t healing as it should. Hence another trip to the vet yesterday. She came home with this collar, which is supposed to keep her from licking and irritating the incision. Doesn’t keep her from barking at the kids coming home from school, though.

Skidboot the Dog

A heart-warming segment from Texas Country Reporter, with Bob Phillips. For more information visit www.TexasCountryReporter.com or www.skidboot.com

Baby Doves!

  I really don't have time to be blogging, but I had to share these pics of the baby doves. I'm so glad they hatched before we moved! Sad to say, I've been so busy that I hadn't even checked the nest since taking the pictures of the eggs. Then I looked out the other day and saw these two nearly grown babies! They had a wild ride last evening during a torrential downpour and golf-ball-sized-hail storm but seem to have come through it unscathed. (Unlike my sister-in-law's patio skylight!)

The next time you hear from me at this website, we'll be in our new home! It's scary but exciting,  and I'm really looking forward to settling in, making new friends, and getting even better acquainted with our dear friends around the corner. Most of all, I can't wait to set up my new home office and get back to writing!

She's Baaaack!!

I can't be sure it's the same dove, but since the nest is in the exact same place it was last year, I think maybe it could be. Look closely and you'll see two shiny white eggs in the nest. Last year we watched two little babies hatch and grow until they were big enough to fly away on their own. I wonder if we'll be here to see the miracle again.