Welcome Sandy/Sweetheart/Jessie

We really didn't plan on getting another dog so soon after Woody left us, it just kind of happened. We are blaming Dr. Julie for sending us a video of a hound at the shelter (where she works) just after she guided us through a very bad week with Woody.

That was too soon, although we did go meet Ms Sylvie just because we could.

And then, later the next week, this young lady reappeared at the shelter after being adopted out for 12 days and getting returned.

Her daddy was a bluetick coonhound, just like the WoodMan. Her mama was a mutt who must be responsible for that Sophie-colored face. I think Sophie and Woody got together in doggie heaven to send "Sandy" to us.

She is very nervous here too. Drooling, panting, refusing to eat dog cookies (and her food) but after 3 days she stopped hiding on the big red dog bed in the dining room. She just figured out that there are other dog beds around the house, and she is getting better at eating as long as we put lots of wet food in her dish.

Cyrus is still trying to figure out what happened here. You can see him reflected in the woodstove watching her every move. So far he has learned she does not like him biting her head like he did with Woody.

This is only her third day. She is much improved, but still needs to work on a few things—like going outside and then actually coming back in—when it is 20° and I am freezing with my 2 coats and gloves on at 4 am. When the sun finally came up, I found I could trap her in the little garden fence and then bring her in on the leash.

We will get there. And she also is learning that her new name is Jessie. Husband needs to work on that too—he keeps calling her Sweetheart. :)

At peace

Of all the animals in the house, Cyrus seems to be missing Woody the most. His days were pretty much scheduled around the WoodMan's activities. Wake in the morning and go out even if it was still dark. Go outside to do their business together even though Cyrus didn't really need to go out 10 times a day. Beg for food before, during, and after dinner time. The list goes on...

Just when I think Cyrus has settled in and understands that Woody isn't coming back, I came downstairs this morning, and he did his bouncy playful let-me-go-wake-up-Woody dance for just a second or 2. Then he realized he wasn't there.

MonkeyCat is missing his buddy too. He would frequently guide Woody around the house, cutting him off and trying to redirect him just for fun. They also spent a lot of time on the big red dog bed together snoozing.

No one has used the big red dog bed since Monday.

Woody is at peace, but everyone else is still looking to find their own peace.

A hound howling in heaven

Rest in peace, WoodMan

Our handsome hound boy joined Lester and Sophie in dog heaven today. He and his huge personality will be welcomed up there I am sure.

Woody was a constant source of entertainment in this house and he will be greatly missed by all of us—animal and human. 

I will post a few more photos on FB for your entertainment as well.

We love you WoodMan!

The driveway and the creek

These somewhat recently planted red maples were a welcome sight as the rest of the landscape went from green to brown too fast.

I was down in the creek again yesterday doing my water testing for the OCCA. I was almost sitting down in the cold (52°F) creek because my access point is through a nest of old willow tree roots pulling up out of the ground. My balance isn't what it used to be. (dying willow in both pics)

This seated position just on the edge was perfect for taking some photos.

Welcome Otis

Otis might not feel lucky, but we are lucky to have captured and neutered him. He has been coming around for a few months, and just like Zelda, was crossing Route 28 a few times a day to hang with the barn cats on the other side.

Zelda mostly stays here now with a bed and litter box in the garage. Maybe Otis will stick around as well. Or maybe he will be less than pleased with what we have done and move on. Poor guy!

The visitors and a warm Willie

Nice sunny clean deck on Monday!

We had our first frost the night before the visitors came, so I had to bring in the other 2 flower pots. We probably wouldn't have spent much time outside on the poop deck (Woody's spot for you know what) anyway. It was gray and cloudy most of the weekend.

While they were in the house though, they did get a nice warm Willie in their laps for company.

The clouds are back again today. I had a warm Willie and a big Cyrus in my lap for the morning. MonkeyCat was looking for a way in. No room in the lap. Sorry, Monkey.

Fast Friends in Fall

Thanks to Roberta for the photo!

There's still some green, but not a lot of leaf color left here—all the color is in the sky. 

Fast Friends had a gig at Willy's Cider Mill yesterday, a blustery, chilly gray day. Just after we finished it rained for a bit, and then a beautiful double rainbow closed out the show.

It was better than a standing ovation. 

We had a few sitting ovations which were pretty nice too. :)

Fall and pigs in the car

The goldenrod goes brown, and the leaves get prettier this time of year. We might have a less colorful year than usual, but it still looks pretty darn pretty.

The two little piggies, Lauren and Matt, made their way from Richfield to their new home in Schuyler Lake in the back of the Kia—otherwise known as the farm transport vehicle. I had stupidly imagined that the truck would be used for such messy excursions, but hey, what's a little hay in your back seat? 

 

Donut head and some apples

Cyrus says better a donut head than a cone head!

It's nice that I was able to get a donut that brings out the blue in his one blue eye. Never a big fan of the plastic cones, I splurged and bought him a pretty blue inflatable collar. It was the only way to stop him from biting at a hot spot on his back leg. Bitter apple spray only inspired him to do more damage.

Some other apples... We had a fair amount on our many apple trees this year, maybe more than most people in the area. I contacted a lady from Uncommon Kin Cidery to take some in return for a bottle of their hard cider in the spring. A lot of local apples were killed by an early frost, and they were looking for places to come and pick.

Of course I had to save enough to make apple butter and sauce. Note to self: this amount x2 makes 7 pints of apple butter and 2 pints of apple sauce.

Change in the weather

The cats have found that it is warmer to snooze together. It's that time of year when I turn the heater on, and off, and on again. Just this afternoon I fired up the woodstove because it would warm me up sooner than the radiant heat. So much for my warm September!

Last week we received our passports in the mail. Now I just have to find someone to care for all these spoiled rotten animals when we go to visit cousins Tony and Rose in Ireland. Hoping for spring, but then they would also have to milk the goats.