Party girl

It only took 6 weeks and a reduction in the amount of anti-anxiety meds she was getting for Jessie to emerge. I said yesterday that Cyrus was doing a great job of getting her to play with him. Today I think he was surprised by who showed up in the playground.

The party girl is ready to celebrate a new year with her new friend.

Happy New Year to all!

Bluebirds and The Jessie Project

This was supposed to be all about Jessie, but then these 4 bluebirds showed up to check out the housing options late this morning. I do see them every once in awhile, but it is especially rare to see them here at the end of December.

Jessie is working on her posing for the camera. She is doing very well overall, though she is still somewhat fearful of Tim. She barks when he comes in the door, goes down the stairs, coughs... (Did I mention we tested positive for COVID on Wednesday? Both of us are pretty much all better now.)

Jessie is still dragging the long leash outside. Still refusing to come back in no matter the weather or time of day. I can't even catch her with the long leash unless I have Cyrus to help.

Cyrus is doing a great job of getting her to play with him. I think her sweet personality is finally coming through.

Sky writers return and the Birdbuddy

This time there was a single sky writer repeating his lines across the morning sky. I usually see them just before sunset,

After a summer break, the Birdbuddy bird feeder with camera returned in October when the birds might actually need some additional food—and there is less chance of a bear finding it.

Plus we needed a break from the squirrel who was clearing out all the sunflower seed as fast as I could fill it.

Just now there were no birds at the feeder because there was what I think was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk watching carefully. As soon as he took off, within a minute, they all returned.

This is one of the little chickadees that was in both of the photos above.

 

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Not a blue Christmas...a very sunny and beautiful Christmas!

Best wishes one and all!
 

Snow would be better

Our back 40 was drenched overnight. The Herkimer Creek is not normally visible from the house except for little views here and there. This is the third time this moving water took over the whole lower field. In 2011 it backed up into our perimeter drain and flooded the basement. The drain has disapppeared over the years, hopefully covered enough by soil and weeds now that I don't think the water will come in again.

For all those who thought we should build the house closer to the creek, instead of on higher ground where we are, here is our reason. 

This photo was from 7 am. The water is receding. Bring on the cold and the snow, please!

Why do they write in the sky?

There were at least 4 skywriters decorating the sky yesterday afternoon. Fun to watch, but I just don't understand the thought behind it.

This second photo is from before we built the house. A perfect X over what would soon be the chicken coop. Most often it is too windy up there and they just disappear...

One day at a time

It was 1 month ago that we brought this young lady to our home. I really thought she would fit in fairly quickly, like our other rescue dogs, but little nervous Nellie is taking a bit longer.

I am weaning her off of the anti-anxiety drugs that she was on at the shelter. I want to see how she acts as just her normal self. Every day we make progress. One step closer...a few steps back...

She is trying to be Cyrus's best friend, although he is impatient with her progress. Watch the video on Facebook to see how hard he is trying. :)

A week ago she decided to jump up on the sofa to sit with me. You can see she is still not sure she is supposed to be there, but you get credit for being so brave, Jessie!

We are still chasing her several times a day in the backyard fence with the long leash dragging. Yesterday she came up on the porch all by herself to come in, but when I opened the door she ran off again. She decided that same day that she might just be able to fit through the stock panel fence. I don't think her skinny self could fit through, but I bet she could get herself good and stuck!

MonkeyCat misses his buddy Woody. He is waiting for Jessie to befriend him as well, but while he's waiting he wanted to vie for the best poser award by sitting in the mandolin case.

Patience my boys. We're getting there.

Jessie and the kids

Jessie is learning how to be the new best poser. The WoodMan excelled at being the main focus, but Cyrus doesn't care for the spotlight.

This pretty hound girl needs to work on 2 things other than her posing—coming in from outside, and eating her food when it is given to her. In the top pic, you will see her new name tag, ordered because when she is thinking about coming back in to the nice warm house, she is also testing her ability to jump the fence.

The next one shows her lack of interest in eating her food (with meds) no matter how I doctor it up with wet food, cat food, people food...

Even the new poser was bumped from the last post by a surprise appearance of goat kids. A few more were born yesterday: Stella had one, Snow had one, and this last pic is Bridget with her 2 cuties.