Blog Archives
A Nor’easter blows through
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Nor’easter shmoreaster it’s friggin cold, windy, wet, and plain old miserable. Wouldn’t you know I’d have to go out in all this muck to shop? I hate shopping. I hate it even more when it’s nasty outside.
There’s nothing like wrestling a forty pound bag of dog food out of a cart and slinging it into the back of the van with rain pounding down around you. That is except schlepping bags from a fully loaded shopping cart of groceries into said vehicle on the same trip. At which time there was the bonus of large snowflakes added to the downpour. (Lee if you’re reading this, you can stop laughing now it didn’t stick to the ground.)
Oh, joy, the first snow of the season, blecch! Mother Nature isn’t finished with us yet, she’s ordered another Nor’easter to come through here right behind this one. Gee, thanks Ma.
The dogs and Dear Hubby were all snug in the house. I was not. I was carrying things into the house. Rain soaked, windblown, and cold I dragged the last bag in. DH told me he was going upstairs to take a nap. And people wonder why I write murder mysteries…
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, Uncategorized
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, weather, Writer, Writing
You woke me for this?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
All day long, the dogs wanted to go out, come in, go out, come in…well, you get the idea. If it weren’t for the fact that I never let the dogs out without one of us with them I’d put in a damned doggie door. As usual, around seven tonight, they both conked out.
The rest of evening, they snored their heads off. That is until it began to rain around eleven and Gavin decided he needed to go again. I do think he regretted the whole idea when I opened the door and he saw it was pouring outside. He backed up and headed towards the kitchen door.
“No, no, no you wanted to go out so now you will go.” I gently booted him out. He sighed, dashed outside, squatted (yes, he still squats half the time) and then he dashed back in to his crate and waited for a cookie. Within minutes, he was sound asleep again.
Since I took one out, I figured the other should go too. I opened the door on Patty’s crate. She did not open her eyes, lift her head, or twitch an ear, or anything else. She was zonked. I wasn’t going to give up I shook her. She lifted her head and gave me the look. The ‘what the hell do you want?’ look.
“Come on. Time to go out.”
She sloooowly climbed to her feet, stretched the back end, and then stretched the front end. Patty doesn’t hurry unless she wants to.
I walked her to the back door, opened it, and she gave me a look that would wither any normal person in their tracks. I never said I was normal.
“Out. Go pee.”
If she were taller, had hands, and could talk I think I would’ve been grabbed by the shirt collar as she said, “You woke me for this?”
I have a sneaking feeling that she’ll appear on my bed early in the morning to bounce around and wake me, ‘just for ‘cause.’
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Fall is here
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Fall has arrived. The leaves are rapidly changing colors and dropping to the ground. I need to get the netting up over the pond soon or I’ll have another huge mess to clean up next spring. I went through it this year and I don’t want to do it again. We do have to raise the netting a bit, so we don’t have the frogs snagging themselves.
I have some PVC pipe to use to construct a framework that I can drape the net over and clip it leaving a 3 to 4 inch space between the bottom of the netting and the ground. That should keep most of the leaves out of the pond and give the frogs free access for as long as they need it.
I took Gavin outside today the air was brisk, the wind moderate, and he was full of himself. The fact is, he was full of himself he didn’t smell, see, notice, or find the dead frog. He walked right past it. No, it wasn’t Goliath. It was a rather large bullfrog but not as big as the worm moocher, Goliath.
However, at the time I didn’t know it wasn’t Goliath because these frogs are seldom active until dusk. Later, I went out to check the pond and quite happily discovered Goliath sitting on the bench rock waiting for me to serve up some worms.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Baby, it’s cold outside
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s barely over forty degrees outside tonight and my furnace kicked on early this evening. The dogs love this weather. They’ve been total idiots for the last few days. My bruises are proof of that. With every wild romp around the yard or huckle butt in the house, I’m home base. There’s nothing like having two 65 lb dogs land in your lap at the same time.
The trees have begun to dress themselves in their fall finery, and at this rate, I’ll soon have to start raking the yard. That means another bout of insanity with the dogs. They are worse than kids are or I am when it comes to jumping into leaf piles. Gavin and Patty beat me to them every time.
We had such a wet summer we didn’t get to enjoy sitting outside in the evenings as often as we would have liked. I’d sit outside now if I could do so comfortably. But baby, it’s cold outside and I miss summer already.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
I peeled myself from the ceiling
Posted by doggonedmysteries
So there I was working away on my book when a loud BANG shook the house. It sounded as if a mortar had gone off in our driveway. After I peeled myself from the ceiling, I cussed a bit because with the BANG, the power went out. I looked at my computer monitor’s black screen, shrugged, and thought, “so much for writing.”
It was a few minutes before five and the dogs were hungry. So was I. Oh, great. At least they could eat I don’t have to cook their food. I fed the dogs while Dear Hubby called the power company—we were the 28th call in the few minutes after the BANG. DH lit all the kerosene lamps. I went out to talk to the neighbors who were gathering out on the sidewalks. We all tried to figure out what had exploded.
I saw G come home and went over to her house. SHE HAD POWER. First thing I said to her when she came to the door was “KMA, woman! You have power.” She laughed. They always seem to have power when ours goes out. They are less than a half block away from us but they are on another line. However, I got the last laugh. She was cooking their dinner. Dear Hubby was ordering pizza.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Healthy dog and no oven light
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As we begin a new week, I’m happy to note that Gavin seems to be back to 100%. There is no swelling in his face or neck and he’s been full of himself all day with this cooler weather. He’s felt so good that he completely wound up Patty. I’m lucky to have a stick left standing in the house. What a pair of loons.
The light in my oven blew tonight. The original light that came with the oven several years back. The oven is a wall oven and the light is in the back, I’m short I can’t reach it without a ladder. Hell, I can’t reach it WITH a ladder.
Dear Hubby decided to come to the rescue. He removed the light cover and went to remove the bulb. The bulb broke at the base. No, the potato trick wouldn’t work. We can’t get the base of the light out. It is well and truly stuck, and now quite a mess, since he tried to remove it with tools. He tried pliers, needle nosed pliers, even a friggin’ chisel for heaven’s sake. I have no light in my oven. I have a mangled, completely stuck, base of a light bulb, but no light.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Gnasty gnats
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The last couple of weeks we have a plague of gnats. They swarm and bite not just the dogs but us too. When I ran the trimmer around the pond, the gardens, and along the fence those nasty bugs were biting the heck out of my ears. They drew blood and were worse than the mosquitoes. It’s a darned shame the bull frogs consider them too small to be an appetizer.
No, our frogs want to eat birds and nightcrawlers. One of the frogs, probably Goliath, has the mourning doves on heightened patrol at the waterfall. The birds have begun to use a lookout when they come in to drink. I haven’t seen any starlings stop by for quite a while.
When I sit on the little bench by the back door, I can see a dozen or so gold finches feasting on my coneflowers’ seeds. They arrive every afternoon around five and aren’t as skittish now as they were this summer. The cat bird joins them. From the far side of the cemetery I can hear the red tailed hawk yelling at the mowers. I can’t stay outside and enjoy the birds for long because the gnats discover me again.
Posted in Dog related, hobbies, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, bird watching, Birds, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Return of the klutz
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I fell the other day. Stepping off the back porch steps, I hit that uneven bit of sidewalk again, the same place where I sprained both ankles last summer. Down I went, this time my ankles were spared, but not my right butt cheek, my hand, and shoulder. I landed on my butt, broke a vein in the palm of my hand (it’s quite a lovely shade of purple now), and I jounced my shoulder.
I’m certain I was quite a sight for my neighbors as I landed splat on my backside. I was taking Gavin out at the time. Delighted to have me on his level, he raced over, began to lick my face, and tried to crawl into my lap. I went into a fit of the giggles. Gavin took that as a good sign and he scoured my face with more enthusiasm. By then I was so weak from the giggles I couldn’t push him off me so we ended up rolling around on the grass.
The neighbors are probably convinced that I’m certifiable.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Gavin, Lee Lofland, Castle, and more
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Gavin’s face look less swollen today and he actually stole a Nylabone from Patty to chew on it for a bit. She was very sweet and let him take it. I think she’s as glad as we are that he’s feeling better.
I adore Lee Lofland’s site, The Graveyard Shift. Heck, I adore Lee. I met him at a Pennwriters conference. Last TV season Lee ran a critique of Castle every week—one of my favorite new shows. He’s started doing a critique of it again this season. I enjoy his insights and those of the others who comment there. Having a retired cop in the house, I see (or have them pointed out to me) most of the blips in the crime shows.
I’ve begun the fall cleaning cycle in my house. I tackled my desk yesterday and cleared it of an over abundance of crap paper work, magazines, and reference books that I put back in their proper places in the bookcase. I then dusted and cleaned the entire desk. Wow, I can see under my monitor now and the glass desk top gleams. Tomorrow I’ll work on the rest of the living room.
Posted in Dog related, Favorite TV shows, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Castle, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Favorite TV shows, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, TV, Writer, Writing
Fun at the vet or Chicken Dog has a bad day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Another sleep deprived day. Dear Hubby woke me early to say that Gavin’s face was still swollen but not quite as much as last night. I had him call the vet while I showered and dressed. We had the choice of going in around 11 a.m. to see a vet who hasn’t seen our dogs nor does he know us, or wait until 2:45 to see our favorite vet. We chose the 2:45 appointment. Gavin doesn’t care who it is he sees he doesn’t want to be there anyway.
Gavin loves to ride in the car, but he hates going to the vet’s office. I thank my lucky stars that he doesn’t have to go often. When we arrive, he’ll hop out of the car, mark the porch steps, walk inside, sit on the scale long enough to give a paw and have his weight checked, and all is hunky dory until I begin to walk him to an exam room. He puts on the brakes and drops to the floor. You can offer him all the cookies in the world and he won’t get to his feet and walk.
If you’ve ever wondered why a vet’s office has slippery floors, it’s for chicken dogs. They slide along rather nicely. Of course, one looks like a cruel person while one drags a flattened, floor hugging, 65 pound dog across the waiting room. The only time he’ll get to his feet is when you cross the threshold of the exam room and he decides it’s time to leave. DH has learned to close the door fast. (Now you know why I drag DH along.)
While we wait for the vet to come in, Gavin tries to hide under the chair DH is sitting on. Heck, he even tried to crawl under my purse. When the vet came in, I was sitting on the floor with 65 pounds of shaking, shedding, white dog on my lap. He shed enough fur to knit another dog in the few minutes we waited. I’ve never had a vet phobic dog before so bear with me. Gavin won’t look our vet in the face even when bribed with the tastiest of treats.
The vet wanted to look in Gavin’s mouth—well, let’s say he wanted to, tried to, but then broke down into the giggles and asked if we had a jack. I suggested a crow bar. Gavin was NOT going to open his mouth. The scenario is that we all hope it’s a bee sting or something to that effect. However, in case it is an infection the vet decided he had to do something.
One antibiotic shot and a couple of prescriptions later we were out off there. Gavin hauled ass to get out of the building, and pile into the car. I’m to call them every day to let them know how Chicken Dog is and if the swelling doesn’t go down and Gavin isn’t back to his old self in a few days we’ll go back. They will sedate him to take a good look in his mouth. {Sigh} Since the day he arrived, this dog has never been ‘easy.’
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Healthcare, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A very long and hectic day indeed
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a mere three hours of sleep, I woke to Dear Hubby telling me we had to be at the oral surgeon’s office at 11 a.m. So tell me, why was he waking me at 8? It doesn’t take me three hours to get dressed and toss back a cup of coffee or two. Ack. I tried to go back to sleep for a bit but that didn’t work. I dragged my butt downstairs, foraged for coffee, and told him, “Do not speak to me until I’ve had a second cup or you won’t need to go to a surgeon to have those teeth removed.” Have I mentioned I had only three hours of sleep and I am NOT a morning person?
We arrived on time. They gave him some paperwork to fill out and took him back to check the damaged teeth. Meanwhile, I sat in the waiting room and watched salt water fish swim around in a huge tank. They were lovely, the music was gentle old time jazz, and I almost dozed off. That’s not easy to do in those hard plastic chairs with low backs.
Dear Hubby goes back October 13th. They will knock him out—they have to or he’ll flip out. I think this time I’ll grab a book to read and, hopefully, will have slept a few hours longer than I did last night. No, I didn’t get a nap after we got home.
Then tonight Gavin was acting out of sorts. He even had trouble eating his dinner. I went to look at his mouth to see what was wrong and he yipped when I touched his lower lip. That’s when I noticed that the right side of his face was swollen. That’s something not easy to spot on a BT by the way. I’m praying it’s a bee sting and will be gone by morning. However, Dear Hubby has instructions that if it’s still bothering Gavin in the morning he’s to call the vet and wake me. Geez, I hope it’s just a bee sting and will be gone by morning I’m not up to another hectic day.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Writer, Writing
Weekend wrap
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I added two new pictures to the Bull Pen the other night. They are of Madison a little Bull Terrier gal who walks her human past our house. She’s not a mini bull she’s a very small standard, cute as a button and a real sweetie. When she sees me out in the yard, she drags her human to the gate so she can have some water and cookies. I always have some for her. Today she met the little Papillion, Spot who lives next door to me.
I ordered my Halloween costume. It will be a change from the old one and might come in handy if they do another costume party at the writer’s conference.
The night time temperatures have dropped from the mid sixties to the mid fifties and below. We’ve been in the seventies during the day. The pups do enjoy the cooler temperatures. Both of them are becoming quite spunky.
The rewrite on Doggoned Dead is going slow but I think the book is stronger and has a better flow. I can’t believe how killing off a lackluster character causes so many small changes.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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