Dog Sitter/Treat Lady

 My baby brother and his bride had a day of Doctor appointments. 

Good thing their dogs love me...I am a good substitute ball player treat giver.

Baxter

And his delinquent sister.

 Smudge

She has to twirl while waiting for you to throw her ball. 

The treats I give out are Cherrios which are almost no calories. 

They are good about doing their business and staying near me outside.

Dogs are a good distraction for me.  

Minnesota weather: It turned cool.  High 59F or 15C   Low was 44F or  7C.

What's Cooking:  Hobo Dinners one night...my favorite, Far Guy not so much.  Ribs and French Fries with peaches for dessert last night.

How I make the Hobo Dinner...on a piece of foil stack a hamburger patty, cover with sliced potatoes and carrots...enclose in the foil  I put the packets on a cookie sheet just in case one leaks then bake about 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees...when they are done top with your favorite cheese.  You can add onions, different meat, veggies what ever floats your boat.  It is an easy meal with easy clean up!

Far Side

Gone to the dogs:)

 I ran over to let Baxter and Smudge out...their masters were stuck in town longer than they thought.

It was a windy cool day...

"Treat Lady lets go inside, I am nearly frozen and there are no balls out here!"

A good game of fetch may have been played inside!

On the way home I stopped by a Pin Cherry Bush.

Then a Chokecherry bush.

This Chokecherry even has flower buds! 

It was so windy I had a hard time with photos and I only had my phone for a camera. 

Minnesota weather:  High 60F  or 16C Low 37F or 3C.  The wind chill was in the low 40's.

Whats cooking?   Steak and salad:)

Far Side

Baxter and Smudge

 Baxter and Smudge are back from their Winter in Oregon!  Yes they remembered me. 

I got to give them treats and play ball with Smudge while petting Baxter.

After they took a potty break I took them in for a drink of water. 

Smudge wanted to play ball for a long long time. 

Throw the ball already!  She is a good ball player and drops it very near .

I think I tired her out. 

It was a fun break in my morning. 

Far Guy and I met a fellow in Osage as I sold some more "stuff".

Back at home I gave the bathroom a really good cleaning.   I can scrub the floor again on my hands and knees or sliding along on my butt!  

What's cooking? Toward evening we made pork chops, fried potatoes and corn for supper.

Minnesota weather: High 63F or 17C  Low was 37F or 3C and we had a red flag warning all day...windy and low humidity makes for dangerous fire conditions. 

Far Side

Lawn Care and Self Care

 We are very fortunate that my baby brother has taken over mowing and trimming the lawn. 

It looks really good! We have gotten lots of rain so it is really growing! 

Yesterday I tried the shower upstairs...it worked great, but the shower chair is very upright so I ordered a different one.  I have to remember to take my picker-upper with me as I dropped the shampoo and then the bath soap. I wash my hair in the shower...good thing Jen gave me a hair cut and thinned it all out! 

I washed a load of laundry and got it in the dryer...again the picker-upper came in handy.  Not being able to bend over to pick stuff up is a pain in the butt.  I put some "stuff" away properly and had a good long nap.  

Far Guy is still feeling rotten from the Cancer meds. 

My baby brother and his bride, Baxter and Smudge came by to visit outdoors in the afternoon! 

Far Side

Busy Days

 Friday was a busy day.  I cleaned the bathroom, did a few loads of towels etc, straightened up a bit and then went to my baby brother and his brides home for a quilting /crafting day.  There I had good visits with a couple of my cousins...got to give them hugs and support when we learned of our cousin Kathy's death.  So sad...she never really recovered from the stroke that she had years ago and slipped further and further away every day.  Kathy gave the best hugs...we will all miss her.   It doesn't seem real that she is no longer with us. 

I spoiled Baxter and Smudge...I tell ya Smudge is pretty cute!

I worked on some crochet scrubbies...I sell them at a shop in Grand Forks ND.  Everyone else there was sewing...they are all working on quilts...maybe I will take some photos as I will head over there today with my camera and some wild rice soup that I have ready to go together right away in the morning and some sauerkraut and sausages that we will have for lunch.  

Yesterday we had chili and a wonderful cabbage salad, sourdough bread and cookies!

Far Side

I have 45 ( I make it 46) cousins on my Dad's side of the family.  Kathy is the 9th to die. Kathy was 75 years old she was just 16 days shy of her 76th birthday. 

Smudge and the treat lady

 I could interview Smudge for you today.  I am not quite certain of her voice yet but will give it a whirl. 

"Smudge how old are you now?"  

Arf Arf  ...4 months plus a week or two

"Is it true that you encountered the electric fence around the garden?"

Yippp Yippp

"Did you try and eat a Wooly Bear Caterpillar?"  Note that she has a pointing action going on.

Yes but the treat lady told me NO.

"Was it a solid black Wooly Bear, that could mean no Winter or the worst Winter ever?" 

All I know is it smelled bad so I didn't eat it.

"Smudge did you terrorize Snapping Turtle babies today?"

Yes, I gave them the what for ...for a long time...did you hear me barking at your place?

"Smudge who is your favorite treat lady?"

Well you would be #1 but all you have is the lousy Cheerios that are a low calorie treat for my fat brother. 

:)

Baxter and Smudge

 Baxter turned four the end of August.   He still likes me...possibly because I have treats (Cheerios). 

Here is Baxter enjoying the pontoon ride one night this week.  My baby brother and his bride have a pontoon. 

Smudge can run faster than Baxter now.  Far Guy and I were at the end of the dock waiting...and they came running! 

It was a nice night to be out on the lake. 

It was getting close to sunset before we came off the lake.  When we docked Smudge took off ninety miles an hour...happy to be off the pontoon. 

Far Side

Sunset, a wash and a visit

 Sunset was fairly orange on Monday night, lots of particulate in the air.  

I took this photo on the way over to my baby brothers to visit  Baxter and Smudge...I had not seen them in about a week.  They love me...cause I have Cheerios for treats! Smudge grew a bit and she knows sit and down now...I think she is a smart little dog.  

On Tuesday morning Far Guy took all the extra hoses out and we washed the house.  In accordance with our 10 year warranty on the exterior finish on the house...it must be washed once a year in late Summer.  This blog serves as a record of the washings. 

Check it off the list.

It was a very warm day...but between both of us we got it done...plus we cleaned up the air conditioner part that sits outside.   Check something else off our list.  I was tired...Far Guy lured me into taking a ride into town for a visit and lupper at A & W.

We had a very enjoyable visit with Far Guy's cousins Bonnie, Wayne and Scott! 

Fra Side

Dog Days

 August is here bringing in the dog days of summer. 

The dogs next door were skunked...visiting Border Collies that tried to best a skunk.  We sent over two "skunk kits" that I keep on hand for skunk emergencies...peroxide, baking soda, softsoap and rubber gloves.   

This is Gus...his brother Monte got the worst of the skunking and was mostly asleep when we visited. 

Luckily Smudge and Baxter escaped...we heard Baxter went into the woods and barked but Smudge stayed right on the road and barked! 

Smudge is growing a bit taller...here she is biting Baxters front foot to get his attention. 

If you live in or near the woods sooner or later there will be a skunking.  Just a matter of time. 

Far Side

Skunk Kit:

1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide

1/4 cup baking soda

1 teaspoon soft soap or dish soap like dawn

Rubber gloves 

Mix in a bucket and apply to the dog...it may bleach the hair of your dog.  You can repeat treatments then rinse well and then bathe the dog with shampoo.  

Smudge

 I babysat Smudge one morning this week...what a horrible job...she was bored with me and sleepy. 

She is growing!  She is learning the sit command and her name.  She is a very nice little puppy.

Far Side

New in the neighborhood

 We have a new friend in the neighborhood.  

Her name is Smudge and Baxter is her big brother. 

My baby brother and his bride rescued Smudge from Northwest Aussie Rescue. 

She is 1/2 toy Aussie, 1/4 Pug and 1/4 Beagle.  She won't get real big.  She has Beagle ears and tail.

She is pretty cute!

Far Side