Donate Donate

Anyone remember Joe, who married me and John? He's working for a non-profit place now, and looking for donations for an AIDS walk. Please take a look and donate something to him if you are so inclined. I already did. Anything to support education about and prevention of exposure to that damn HIV virus is fine with me. Those two together at least. I'm pro education on pretty much everything. Joe's AIDS Walk page is here.

Walk a dog -

Big exciting dog news today. Logan and I took Cosmo and Andy out for a walk. Andy actually seemed happy to be out once we were out there. He followed Cosmo, sniffed holes in the ground, and acted half way interested in the chickens and goats. Logan also walked him all the way around the yard and kept herself, him and the leash disentangled.

Whoops, so much for timely. That was yesterday, Tuesday. I'll try to actually finish and get this posted today, Wednesday.


Andy in his computer area cave.

Today Andy walked outside all on his own while I was working on the deck, strolled around, sniffed the flowers before choosing one to pee on, and then came back in. He also approached the stairs and might have considered climbing them if Peaty hadn't jumped out and swiped at his nose. Big Bad Cat wins again.

Cosmo and I haven't been managing our daily walks because of my cough/cold/bronchitis/whatever the diagnosis was. With luck we'll start again pretty soon now. I'm not coughing constantly any more, which is something positive. But I haven't taken any new pictures of Cosmo, so you just get another of Andy for now. I'll see about taking some more dog pictures when we walk tomorrow.


The clever angle's at the nose end of the picture, are my legs as I sit at the computer desk.

Saturday both dogs go to meet the vet and have a basic get to know you visit. Plus a good heart listen for Andy, just to be sure, and a dose or two of worm remover for him, since I was able to see he needed worming on a walk this week. And I think Andy's fostering folks are due to check back with us soon.

Andy made a very brief attempt to get Cosmo to play this afternoon. I'm not sure Cosmo even noticed, but it was a big step for the corner dog. Cosmo is all for playing, he responds a lot to a person bringing their hands down on to their legs in a similar gesture to the doggy let's play body language. I've tried to toss treats and a ball for him, with no luck yet. He watches where the treats fall, and then gets them. The ball bounced in front of him and then hit him on the nose. He may never want to play with one again at this rate. We'll try Andy with a ball if he keeps up his mobility.

Doggy Education

No pictures this time, but a few dog notes.

Cosmo is a gentleman on a leash, hardly pulls, follows voice suggestions, comes along agreeably. Off leash he becomes deaf and has to stretch his legs. He'll be on leash for a while before we try off again.

Andy still doesn't understand why we insist that he go outside three or four times a day, but is willing to lift his leg on something at least a couple of those times.

Neither dog seems particularly excited about dry kibble, but will eat it eventually. They eat it much sooner if it's souped up with warm water and something meat like (chicken jerky treats, moist dog food, table scraps).

Cosmo is very attentive to what's going on inside. He spent a couple hours upstairs supervising Logan while she slept later than me or John this morning. He will get on to a couch when we're not home, but looks at us suspiciously if we try to invite him up to sit with us.

Andy explored on his own one night and discovered a "cave" to hide in under the computer desk. He spent that night there warming my feet. Yesterday and this morning he's been back to his corners by one of the doors. This morning he is paying attention to where people go though, so that's something.

We brushed both dogs and got enough undercoat off Andy to stuff something small. Cosmo had much less, having been groomed last week, but settled down leaning happily on a wall while Logan brushed him.

Either the dogs are training us or we are training them. We're all getting along, which is a good beginning. Andy is a puzzle, but a very undemanding one. And if sleeping on the couch is the extent of what Cosmo wants to get in to when no one is home, somehow we'll cope without having to pick up a ton strewn around trash.;

How Much Is That Doggy...

So we have now added Cosmo and Andy to our household. Andy is settled in to one of the only corners in the house, right beside the front door. Cosmo has been reporting on this with a blow by blow account of when Andy changes position at all. Andy is relaxing now that the house is quiet for a bit while John and Logan go for feed. Cosmo is a little concerned that the only others in the house are pretty much sitting still, in different places, and not doing anything exciting or interesting. At least that's all my interpretation.


Blue eyed Cosmo

With other people home Cosmo is content to settle down and snooze. Evidently he likes a bit of activity. Andy has remained in his corner, although he is willing to point his head out of it, as long as people aren't coming too close to him. He doesn't do much to let us know he'd rather be left along, just turns away and tolerates whatever has to be done. And he's arranged himself so that the toys and a couple of bigger treats he hasn't chosen to eat yet are protected under him or between him and the wall.


Andy in his second hidey-hole

We took the dogs out for a good walk down the driveway - Cosmo had plenty of energy but didn't pull. Andy was willing to walk along, but his speed decreased almost continuously. And his starting speed wasn't very fast. We're still debating whether his energy level is a result of preferring to be still, or a health problem. I may have to take him in and have Dr Mary, the vet, listen well to his heart and get her opinion on him. He's hardly disagreeable at all, just reluctant.


Ready to go to bed now.

After the walk, both dogs sacked out. They were interested when we ate dinner, and Andy even came out of his corner to see if there was food on the kitchen floor. Cosmo's build is a fairly typical dog one. Andy looks as if he has a German Shepherd body, that's been chopped off at the knees. Neither appears inclined to jump up.


You can begin to get an idea of Andy's size from this photo
that Terri, his foster person, took yesterday.

Today I'll take Cosmo for a good long walk, and we'll let Andy have a stroll around the yard.


Cosmo showing off his fine figure.

For Cheryl Anne's Birthday

Curry, born April of 1995 with kid from 2005.

Logan The Bat

Taken this morning, especially for Grandma Cam, Grandma Wilma and Cousin Erin, who appreciate Batty Logan.


In mid swing


Just before flipping down to land.

John says being a bat isn't just for two year olds. And he plans to still be able to do this when she's ten. Logan says she'll be too big by then.

And just because I can, I'll include a decent one of me. It's from the first day of the Spring Fair when Logan and I both got our faces painted. Then John remembered when I was about to go for a shower that I'd wanted a picture of the pretty flower on my face.


This is much better than I think of myself looking right now. I can see the resemblance to Cheryl though.

One Dog, Two Dog

So last week we inquired about a few dogs listed on Petfinder.com. Over the weekend we met both of them.

On Saturday we drove north for a couple hours and met Andy-dog, who is very quiet and timid, and polite. He really wanted to be hiding under the deck at his foster people's place, but was agreeable once he was out. He liked Logan best of all of us, accepting a treat from her after refusing it from John.


Andy's petfinder mug shot

Then Sunday a pet rescue person with Fluffy Paws Rescue brought Cosmo-dog to our house to visit, along with his entourage of two smaller back up dogs. Cosmo was a little unsure of being in a strange place, but was also very polite. He took treats from all of us (as did Andy eventually) but very carefully. He consented to lie down on the towel Logan put out for him. He romped with the other two dogs that came with him in our tall grass (which almost hid the Lassa Apso)


Cosmo's picture taken with Wende's cell phone!

We've done applications for both rescue groups, and made sure they both know that we're considering two dogs. Now we're set for Andy to come for a visit on Saturday, and if all goes well stay with us then. And on Sunday we go to Springfield and collect Cosmo. With luck two timid low impact dogs will be as much company and less annoyance than Sunny managed. Logan and I have happily collected new dog toys, although not a duck like Sunny had, because as much as I liked that toy, I'd feel sad seeing another one. I still need to find out what kind of food Andy eats, and whether there will be a couple of days worth of it with him, or whether I should pick some up ahead of time. Cosmo comes with bowls and some food, and then I just have to remember which store carries the right brand.

Logan was a little disappointed that neither dog was going to be with us as of this weekend, but seemed to be happy that she had a vote in whether each was the right dog for us. She's already planning that Andy (or both dogs) can sleep in her room, and that she can walk at least one of them. If we can manage the car space, they'll get to go places with us until the weather gets too warm.

From Valentines day

Logan dressed up for valentines day. Apple Pie-Eater didn't want to.

Posting today's picture late. Again. I keep forgetting at night.

Today we go to meet Andy-dog, who might end up coming to live with us. Tomorrow Cosmo-dog comes to meet us, but even if we all like each other, he has to finish getting his shots, so he wouldn't come for another week.

Logan's still asleep, and I need to go shower. I officially hate all pollen. And my nose and throat do too. So there.

All in a row

I didn't arrange them or anything!

I ment to post this last night, and then lost the idea between being on the computer and going to bed. Oops.