respublica

My favorite story of the week

Park County Colorado authorities were on the look-out for what was thought to be a pack of wolves on the prowl. The animals were filmed on a phone camera some distance away and there was sound of howling and growling.

But after investigators arrived, they learned the wild animals turned out to be five St. Bernards who had gotten loose from their owners home. It seems they were good escape artists who often left home.

What I wouldn't give to run into a pack of St. Bernards! I love those big guys. When I was in high school we had a neighbor across the street who owned a St. Bernard they named Blossom. This guy was a hoot and if he saw us in our yard, here he would come to visit. We played and took him home later. As it happened I frequently babysat for the kids in Blossom's house and got to be with him more often.

They are big cuddly duddlies.

Groceries and Dogs

A study was made recently asking people what was their favorite online grocery store. I suppose the popularity of online grocery shopping is due to the lasting affects of the Covid shutdown. So many got used to the ease of ordering their food online and either having it delivered or set out for drive up pick-up. The many Insta-cart personal shoppers crowding the grocery stores is evident of this. In any event here is the result of that survey.

1. Walmart was the overwhelming choice

Now onto dogs. This topic interests me on days when I really really want another dog, but am unsure I want to go through all the necessary training. So along comes this: The 8 easiest dog breeds to train.

1. Border Collie
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
3. Poodle
4. Golden Retriever
5. Miniature Schnauzer
6. German Shepherd
7. Shetland Sheepdog
8. Labrador Retriever

Our porch visitor

Yesterday our neighbor let his cat out to do whatever cats do outside. This one usually wanders around the block, probably looking for mice or birds. But it was cold yesterday and when I looked out the front window I saw Max.

Now this is for the birds

A Detroit animal shelter was shocked when more than 800 parakeets were brought to them by the son of the owner. They came in two batches, the first had 497 birds crammed in 2 cages. Most likely two cages held the rest the next day.

If this isn't crazy I don't know what is. Who on earth has 800 parakeets? The rescue group's director, told the Detroit Free Press that the son said his father had initially planned to breed only a handful of birds, but had ended up spending $1,200 a month on them.

"They were barely moving. We had to get them out and into different cages," she said.

I've heard many hoarding stories, but never one about parakeets.

Spoil Dogs much?

This is a pretty crazy invention. Dog Leggings. I can't even imagine the effort it would take to get these onto a dog.

One of my favorite seasonal pictures

This photo was taken in 2012 while we were at Ted Drewes getting our Christmas tree. Back in those days we always took Ferdie along. This year we stopped by Drewes and they were almost sold completely out except for some very small which felt weird. So this picture makes me smile.

A funny memory

Seven years ago our next door neighbor sent me this photo on Facebook.

If you know our backyard history here in Collinsville you know we've had raccoons for years, plus a Golden Retriever. Our Retriever is now gone, but raccoons are still here, doggone it. The back of the photo looks similar to our deck as well.

Getting kind of tired of this

Almost every morning around 6:30 two raccoons come bursting into our backyard and play for at least half an hour. Where they go when they realize it's time for daytime sleeping is what we do not know. But it must be close by.

These two are even more bold than the raccoons we had a few years ago. In that time we had constant raccoon activity, so much so that our next door neighbors bought us a stuffed raccoon and put it on our front porch. It's been there long enough that the toy is faded from gray/black to gray tan. They also got such a kick out of this that one December they brought us a wood yard decor.

Even the stuffed raccoon is weary of this.

We've just decided to stay out of our backyard in the early morning.

Raccoons at play

When I woke up this morning Dale called me from the deck and said, "you have to see this." The "this" turned out to be two young raccoons playing with each other like puppies. Their games went on and on and on. It did not bother them that we were watching and laughing and our neighbor coming by to watch didn't matter to them either. All over the yard they tumbled, stopping to chew on a bush or sniff a flower now and then.

But, where I drew the line was when they ventured over to our cantaloupe vines. I have been baby-ing one last, green, cantaloupe and did not want them messing with it. It isn't big yet, but grows a lot each day. And of course one of them found it after being tackled by the other one. He pawed at it and sniffed it. This is when I shouted at them to get away. They stared at me for a long moment and went right on wrestling. I guess the melon is still ok, too unripe for them for now.

They played long after we thought they should have headed for whatever bed they sleep in during the day.

Funs over, go away.

And we will soon be off

We are heading out to our daughter Katie's today with an overnight stop at Dale's mother's in Paris, Illinois. We have not been to Katie's place since the summer of 2019 and we are nothing if not overdue. The Covid put a complete stop to these family visits and we are interested in how things look in Maryland. Things which include the two grandsons, the yard and the two cuddly Aussiedoodles.

I love dogs, miss having a dog, and so am kind of thrilled to see these two girls. They are actual sisters, but born 18 months apart to the same parents. First came Sidney who we have met and last year came Dottie who we haven't met. They also have a cute rabbit named Snowball.