There is a long (does Sigrun know any other kind?) story behind their arrival at the farm.
I DO NOT LIKE DOGS. No, I really don't like dogs. I value dogs for their capacity to be helpful to us helpless humans: dogs for company, guide dogs, police dogs, drug-bustin' dogs, sheep-herding dogs...... We used to raise pure-bred German Shepherds, and were card-holding members of the Canadian Kennel Club. And then one pooper-scoop, chicken-scatter, and one lamb-eating incident too many, and the bloom was off the rose.
Several years ago, I saw these tiny creatures trying to climb into the sheep pen. I thought they might be baby skunks or some other little varmint. Upon closer examination, I found this tiny, fur-ball-y little pair. Our son 'fessed up. His friends A&M, had plans to move into a house, and had to take the puppies while they were still in the apartment. KMJr. offered to look after them at the farm. Knowing how I felt about dogs, he kept their presence a secret--fed them and played with them in the barn. One day, they went exploring, and that's when I found them. They were precious, adorable, just a bit bigger than a handful, and sooooo precious, and adorable (did I tell you how precious and adorable they were?). So they were out of the "closet", and we openly cared for them, and fell in love with them. Well, A&M did not move to a house, and after the puppies' 2-month spell of farm vacation and freedom, I refused to doom them to apartment-dwelling. So I suggested that A&M give them to us (really, NO $$$ changed hands). KMJr. knew the deal was sealed when he heard me say to them, "Come to Mommy, girls".
They are so clever. They have such personality. Dazey (the black one) is the "Blondest" dog I've ever seen, except I think her "Blond-ness" is a crazy-like-a fox act. Sparky is really intelligent. You can just imagine that she is problem-solving. They love the greenhouse season because everyone adores them and the kids come to visit the dogs, associate dogs with plants, and will probably become plant-lovers in later life.
There are other dogs I can easily put up with: the Grandpuppies. Since the Grandkids are grown up or almost so, I look forward to babysitting the grandpuppies: Toby the Pomeranian, and Tundra the German Shepherd cross (KMJr's dog).
This next part is for all you Orange Kitten fans: our orange kitty --all grown up.
PS: Knitting news; The Honeycomb Sweater #1 is finished. I am not showing it yet, in case I decide to submit it somewhere, then I think I'm not allowed to reveal it ahead of time (I'm not sure about that, though). Still slugging on the bridesmaids' dresses. Will definitely be finished this week (Wedding is on the 8th of Aug.) come H or high water. The tough part isn't the sewing, it's getting together with the girls--we're 50 miles apart.
Garden: half weeded. Had 5 tomatoes ripe off the vines (2 weeks later than usual), the sheep had a feast of swiss chard--I'll get the second cut. Cucumbers next week. Kohlrabi next week. The flower beds that had been weeded, as well as the strawberry bed, all need re-weeding. The other flower beds haven't been touched yet. Also, YEAY!! I managed to kill out 2 major ant hills. Only 4 more to go.
Till next time: Grandmothers are inclined to bring their grandchildren home muddy, sticky, radiant, exhausted and two hours late. Wise mothers say nothing. (Clara Ortega)
