Nibbles.

 Nibbles.

 

These dogs are really something else. Love them to pieces, but never know what to expect. Bought some dadgummed expensive dog food that they refused to touch. Now Sylvia thinks it is the greatest when it is put inside her green alligator treat toy. And Thompson does not want it in a bowl, thank you very much. Just hand him some right in front of him on the floor to be crunched up. That means the floor will need to be mopped tomorrow. Oh well. It needed to be mopped anyway. Finally got one of their feed bowls and put some in it. Nope! Not what she wanted! It has to be special and in her alligator!

 

Did you know that fourteen hens molting at the same time produces a feathered storm when the wind blows just right? Getting the coop cleaned out next time should prove quite colorful wherever the stuff is spread. Black and white checked feathers are pretty anyway.

 

Put the new spray nozzle on the hose out back. The old spray nozzle was metal and gave up the ghost—or the ability to concentrate the spray. Cleaned out the black trough this evening so it would not have oodles of green growing all over the bottom and sides. The dogs like to stand in it to cool off and drink out of it. Got the water bill. Seems the more you use, the cheaper the rate. Does that make any sense? Patty said her bill was ten dollars more than usual since her hot water heater had been draining into the floor drain in the basement for however long. She was ok with that, however. And to tell you the truth, the old woman is not going to gripe about the water bill when the hens and dogs need that water to keep cool.

 

Do you remember that song about the guy loading up Noah’s ark? “You’ve got your green alligators, the long-necked geese, the humpty-backed camels, and your chimpanzees, etc.” until he says, “But Lord I’m so forlorn, I just couldn’t find a unicorn!” For some reason—it’s probably Sylvia’s fault with her green alligator—that song has been going round and round in my head. It seems there is always some kind of music in my head, but it is just there, for some reason.

 

Lance texted this morning to let us know that Aussie, his dog, died last night. The little guy was restless during the night and wanted outside, so Lance let him out for a bit and then checked back to see if he was ready to come in. He would not come in, so Lance let him stay out. He went to check on him this morning and found him dead as if he had died in his sleep. Know he and his family will miss the critter. He at least got to say hello to the daughter when she returned from her trip yesterday. It would have been even more sad if he has passed before she got home.

 

Not sure if it is the heat or maybe just the recovery process continuing, but it seems to me that the old woman is so tired all the time. Seventy-four does not seem all that old to me, but then, it is easy to realize that nineteen was a long time ago. That is about where my brain stuck, it seems. Sitting down to play with Lance in the dirt when he was little always reminded me of looking for fairies in the flowers beside my parents’ house. And then building dams and lakes while digging with big spoons reminded me of making little houses for toads. Imagine the surprise one day returning from school when we found a tarantula had taken up residence in one of my little “houses” made of mud. That was so funny. Well, it is now. Probably would have caused a warm-water hemorrhage back then! Ah, memories.

 

A woman named Karen S. has a special needs son whose comfort dog died. If she accepts the invitation, she may be on here soon. Please know that she uses words that we hear sometimes, but it is understandable why she feels so frustrated with the situations caused by her lack of real support from others. We can at least listen with love.

 

The floods in Kentucky and eastern Tennessee are just beyond comprehension. It is too much for those folks. Storms like tornadoes and floods on top of that. We need to pray for them while we are praying for rain. Maybe we need to be specific as to where the rains are needed desperately. And then there are the fires—more and more of them. God keep our firefighters safe!

 

So much in this world can be depressing, but let me tell you, the sun rises and the sun sets. (Just look at Keith’s photos!) The birds still sing in the morning, and the grasshoppers are still foolish enough to enter hen territory! We know who has our lives in His hands. So, keep on keeping on with faith and love. Rest often, drink water or G2, and know: you are loved.