Acting Humanely – 40 Days of Thankfulness

I am especially thankful for people and organizations that help take care of animals. The Humane Society Serving Logan County is a wonderful organization focused on helping strays and neglected cats and dogs, as well as educating people on how they should be treating their pets.

This is Fosto, otherwise known as Punkin. He's an Australian Shepherd, Border Collie mix and such a wonderful boy. He is one of the most loving dogs I've ever known and will make someone very happy in a Forever Home. 

Treating pets like part of the family is uncommon here. Most of the time pets seem to be viewed as a tiny step above livestock and therefore don’t get the love they deserve. This is the culture. However, with a little education, these pets can have better lives.

For instance one afternoon during the summer, I was going into the grocery store and saw a Pomeranian locked in a car. He was trying to get through the window and was exhausted from the heat. Another woman in the parking lot was furious and we decided to call the cops. Unfortunately law enforcement is quite taxed with other issues and this call was disregarded. When the woman who owned the vehicle came out, instead of giving her a piece of my mind, we asked her to please think about what is happening to her dog when he’s locked in a car. Her anger toward us swelled and she blurted, “It’s my dog and if I kill him it’s my business.” Education is the key here.

Everyone knows I have a soft spot for Pugs and any Pug mix, and that makes this little lady Bugsy one of my favorites. On our first walk she wouldn't look at me and was incredibly apprehensive about me petting her. By the end of that walk we were playing and she was jumping all over the place with her puggy tail wagging like crazy. 

I am thankful that I have the time to volunteer at the Humane Society and share all the extra love I have with these wonderful creatures. Most of my afternoons are spent walking all kinds of pooches and once in a while cuddling with playful kitties. Life is pretty good.

If you’re an animal lover, please take a moment to consider volunteering or donating to your local non-profit animal-care facility. These organizations run off of donations and the hard work of volunteers, and they really need your help.

Thank you.

My Letter Home – April 10

Aren't I just the cutest thing you ever did see?

The big news for this week is that Doctor Who is back on! Really this is big news for Paul and I who are so excited about the new companion, Clara and the final season of Matt Smith (David Tennant is coming back). Now that I got that out of the way, let’s move on.

This is a short letter home since I was sick most of the week with a cold and then a nose infection. I spent most of my time resting and knitting watching mind-numbing TV and so disappointed that True Blood on Demand was only for one week – Damn HBO.

Paul's Chicken Pie - perfect to nurse a cold.

And it’s no wonder I am getting sick so often since the weather here is very Sybil-like with 75 degrees one day and the next never reaching above 40. We had a couple of warm days allowing me to sit on the front porch and enjoy the spring air, but it wasn’t warm enough for this Florida girl to break out the shorts. They say next week should be warmer and I can get to work in the garden, though I have been warned to not plant until Mother’s Day.

On the upside, I sold my house this week with only 3 months on the market saving me some cash and releasing me from homeowner responsibility. I also got to spend some more time with baby goats, which always makes me happy. Paul and I are trying to set up an opportunity for some of the kids at Adriel to spend time on the farm with the baby goats to show them how a farm works (which I would love to learn) and to see where their food comes from – the farm also has chickens for eggs and lots of goat’s milk for cheese and ice cream.

Thanks for reading and I miss you very much!

Thing I Miss Most About My Old Home: I miss my old home where I enjoyed the past 14 years of my life.

Thing I Like Most About My New Home: The anticipation of a beautiful spring. 

My Letter Home – March 5

You can almost hear her snoring, can't you?

They’re predicting up to 7 inches of snow today, the biggest snowfall since I’ve been here. I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about it! We’re not sure what the puppies will make of it, but I am sure they will adapt. The Breaking News here is all about the Winter Weather Advisory. I don’t know if I should be anxious, like during a Hurricane Watch or just be prepared for lots of snow, like a Heavy Thunderstorm Warning. In any case, I don’t plan on leaving the house and hopefully will get to enjoy the pristine white of the snowfall. And I sense there are a couple snow angels and maybe even a snowball fight in my future.

"If you're going to stare at least give me a carrot"

Learning about the wildlife

Each week Paul visits people from the congregation, to get to know them, to spend time with them if they are alone or to check on them if they have been ill or facing hard times. Last week, I went with him to visit a couple that live up the road and got to visit with their horses as well. I also spotted deer on the edge of their property, but they ran before I could wrangle my camera from my pocket. Apparently during the winter, deer wander into town to find food. We’ve even seen their prints in the snow some mornings and weren’t sure if there was anything we should do. The couple assured us that they are peaceful and when the weather gets warmer they usually stay up in the woods on the hill.

Proof of the deer wandering in our front yard

Dublin, OH

From the quaintness of nature to the traffic of the suburbs, we ventured out to Dublin to take in some shopping on Saturday. It was the first time I saw traffic in the past two weeks. For those in St. Pete, think of Christmas time, US19 before the construction and with an accident or two each way. It was that bad. But since we weren’t in hurry, we took it in stride as we drove from store to store (something we had planned to do on foot, but it was just too cold). We visited Blick Art Supply for him, Joann Fabrics for me and Trader Joe’s for both of us.

My finds this time were some beautiful floral prints to make girls’ dresses for our charity project (more to come), some beautiful gray/purple Alpaca yarn for a new hat and animal crackers. Trader Joe’s has the best animal crackers and six of them are only one Weight Watcher (WW) point.

A somber occasion

It was good for us to get away for a day, since last week we had a funeral at the church. I never met the man who passed, but Paul was with him and his family on the night he died. The community really came together for the funeral and the Hospitality Committee at the church had a luncheon afterward for all the people in attendance. The deceased seemed like a very nice man who loved his family, loved farming and loved his goats. At the funeral, there were several references to “Goat People” and it wasn’t used in a derogatory fashion. For generations, this family has been champion goat farmers, something this gentle man passed on to his children and grandchildren. His wife has asked Paul and I to come out next week to see the baby goats that will be born this week and even said I could hold and feed them.

The week was somber, but the love this family has for one another and the way the town came together to help them grieve was amazing and something you could only see in a small town.

Thanks for reading. I miss you all. Please remember to keep me in the loop about what’s going on with you.

Love, Patricia.

One Thing I Miss Most About Home: Being able to take long walks without having my nose feel like it will freeze off.

One Thing I Like Most About Here: The history, both centuries old and living, and the people who are a part of it. 

Pugaliscious

Spending the weekend with my best friends was something I really needed. Oh, I’m not talking about Patty and Tuttie, I’m speaking of the brood – Angus, Duncan, Mayo, Fiona, Polly and Finn. We got them all together and it was such a blast as they played and whined and Mayo begged for the short ones to be taken to the farm. But a picture (or pictures) says it all.

 

Brotherly Love … My Ass!

"A man's soul can be judged by the way he treats his dog."
-Charles Doran

This post is a bit different that my others which encompass my generally optimistic and appreciation of diversity. I ask, what the fuck is wrong with the people of Philadelphia?

With Michael Vick now an Eagle, they have the right to rally and refuse to accept this decision of the team’s management, even refuse to attend or support their home team. But instead, they rally behind the man and show their appreciation of his disturbing behavior. I have been angered for weeks and pushed the thoughts of my disappointment in Philly behind me, but I can’t any more.

I watched Dog Town’s rehabilitation of these poor creatures and must share my two cents. I know I am preaching to the converted since my readers are all animal lovers. But I have to get it out along with the tears. My anger gives me headaches and my heart pulses and points not just to the perpetrator of these horrible atrocities, but to the city that supports him and his deeds.

If Vick was up for being a Tampa Bay Buc, I would be out in full protest, and I believe that there would be such an outroar that the team would make a better decision. We may be seen as backwards and a bit hickish, but the unkind nature of Philly is now more apparent than ever. I once met a bigoted woman who thought Philly was the best town on earth. I had heard about riots and massive racial discrimination, but figured that may only be hype. After getting to know her, and choosing to move on since she lacked any sense of true personality and regard for other humans, (she was cruel to her husband, child and those who came in contact with her) I realized that the negative documentations about this city could be real.

Guy is from Pittsburgh and he agrees that Philly is considered a bit of the heart of darkness. Now I know it is true. How could these people accept this judgment and back it up by backing their team? How could team mates not want to kill this man who is so unkind to those who need our love?

It is atrocious and I am so angry and so sad and bless that this could not, and would not, happen in my town. I may be wrong … but from what I have seen people do to help the disadvantaged locally, I know there would be a show of solidarity and true brotherly and canine love.

I will get off my soapbox now. Love You.

Redo and Recycle

Today's prompt is to take a favorite poem and retitle it and write it to suit the title.

There are many poems I love to recount and reread as time justifies. My heart is open to all kinds of words that spiral in short and long meaning. However, I first poem I completely memorized was “The Duck” by Ogden Nash.

The Pug
Behold the pug,
She’s not a thug,
A cold heart she lacks, she loves.
She is especially cute,
In her fawn fur suit,
And when she runs and plays,
It makes happy days.


Ogden Nash was a very witty rhymer,
Though not much of a social climber.
He punned poems in jest,
About liquor no less,
And was never called a two-timer.

Another one of my favorite Nash poems is
Candy is dandy,
But liquor is quicker.

40 Things I Love About St. Pete - 2. Out of Africa

Though this is not about St. Pete exactly it is about the surrounding area, Tampa to be exact. I know it stretches the title and supposed meaning of this list, but it's my list and I will run it the way I want to. Enjoy!

I live in the land of the amusement park. Florida is considered the happiest place on earth for not only senior citizens and retirees, but those under the age of 12 who adore anything with mouse ears. I am not against the Disney conglomerate, I too like the spinning teacups, the princess paraphernalia and the “Hi Ho Hi Ho” of those seven vertically challenged gentlemen that all live in the same cabin in the woods. For many years I stayed away from the whoopla of not only Disney, but the more available Busch Gardens which is only about 40 minutes from my house (though I can’t see it from my home.)
Friends had talked about meeting up there randomly to drink beer and ride rollercoasters, but I figured there wasn’t much in it for me but aching feet, a lighter wallet and heat stroke. That all changed about a month ago. The McGoverns had planned a day trip to Africa and I tagged along figuring it was for my friends, not for myself that I was going. After being encouraged to get the year pass for just $30 bucks more, though not taking the bait for a ride on Kumba, I went on my fantastical journey.
It had been years since I went to Busch Gardens. It was back in the 80s when the Python rollercoaster was the end-all-be-all. I used to go with my father, who being a single dad through no fault of his own, had limited creativity on how to entertain a preteen child. He was a trooper drinking his free Busch beer and riding with me as a daredevil. It was odd back then for both him and me since we had nothing in common and only seemed to play at this daddy/daughter thing. Back then I wasn’t so interested in the animals or the slow “old-people” rides like the train and the Skyride, but it was a trade off with the old man.

Now that I am one of those “old people” I get more of a kick out of watching the monkeys groom one another, the giraffes prance and the sloths move at less than lightning speed to look back at my inquisitive face. Going with the McGoverns meant that the day would be filled with beer drinking, making snide remarks about each other, catching up on tales about our jobs and significant others, and them telling tales about growing up together.
For those of you who don’t know Busch Gardens and the though of rollercoasters, beer and animals seems a bit random for a theme park, let me give you some less than private history. Busch Gardens Tampa opened in 1959 and was themed as 19th-century Africa, including the wonders of colonialism (not very Joseph Conrad). Eventually they added rides, which surrounded the centerpiece, the Brewery, after all it is Busch as in Busch beer. Divided into quaint renditions of Nairobi, Congo, Stanleyville, Morocco, Egypt and the Serengeti Plain, the park now features four world-class rollercoasters, including the Scorpion which was designed by renown engineer and rollercoaster expert Anton Schwarzkopf.
Though I followed the girls and patiently waited, with my free cup of Shock Top, as they rode the rides, my main focus was to check out the animals. We took the Skyride over the Serengeti Plain which has “free-roaming” Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, bongo, addax, addra gazelle, eland, impala, ostrich, marabou stork, East African crowned crane and sacred ibis. Housed in Nairobi is the nursery with all the cute and cuddly newborns, as well as the nocturnal caves which have my favorites; the bats.
This is when I knew I had made a wise investment for the year. I would be coming back just to hang-out with the swimming hippos and the Bengal tigers. Pictures to be taken popped into my head and I just couldn’t believe how much I loved the day.

There is even a play land for children and from what I heard, some great food as well. The beer house had been changed into a huge sultan’s chamber and the oompa band had been replaced with Middle Eastern tunes when the Brewery was closed and the park went more to being for child amusement.
Though still not a big fan of the Magic Kingdom (how can a place that has a thousand screaming kids and no alcohol be magical?) I can appreciate the draw that tourists and die-hards have found in these wonderlands. But Busch Gardens has more than the norm and you can do as much or as little as you want to do. In fact just a couple weeks later, Patty and I went back, an unplanned trip, and found a great afternoon in just watching the animals all day. And don’t fret, Busch Gardens is known for how it treats its animals. It is a lot better than most zoos and prides itself on its reputation as a conservation organization. I figured my $100 was well spent if it can keep these animals safe, healthy and happy. Or I may just be living in my own Fantasy Land.