Hidden Treasures and Beirut

 My house is looking like Christmas now and we have Carols playing all day. I particularly like The Little Drummer Boy. you know the part where Mary nods and the Ox and Lambs keep time. I can see them humming along....

Mom had to go out for a short while yesterday and DOD had a meeting ...so...Me and Lacey decided to get to the bottom of our treat and toy basket in case Mom had hidden any of our presents in such an obvious place! Wow! I had forgotten so much of the stuff we had in there...parts of chewed stuffed toys and old biscuits and treats...a bone I had put aside for a late-night nosh....a sock,some underwear (yuk).  No presents. Of course I didn't really think she would be so daft as to put them there. And then...when we had checked it out thoroughly we tipped the basket over and ran around the house playing pull-tag and singing Jingle Bells at the top of our voices!

How were we supposed to know it was full of crumbs and debris???

Obviously Mom is not a good housekeeper!

So Mom came back a bit early ....and she said she could hear us clear across the street before she even opened the car door. When she came into the kitchen she said ..'OMD' ...this place looks like down-town Beirut, something must have exploded'!!!

Well I have never seen down town Beirut but I don't think they have exploding toy baskets there. Mom is often prone to exaggeration.

We helped clean up and put all the stuff back except for the sock, underwear and crumbs. And now we are sniffing out the next best hiding place. They have to go to Nogales on Wednesday that sounds like a good time for more detective work!

And the Stress Got Worse

Mom and DOD had to go back across the Border a couple of days ago to get their last bits and pieces of teeth. As usual they left Me and Lacey behind. Okay they left treats and water and treats and Mom took us for a long walk before they left...but there we were...home alone.

So, Luis the Mexican fellow who looks after our house in the summer came by and he had stuff to drop off for DOD....and he has a key to our house ...so he opened the door and put said stuff in our garage.
What he did NOT see was Lacey behind him in the garage and he came out and locked her in!!!! YUP, he did!

Now anyone who knows Lacey knows she suffers from separation anxiety in the worst way. And when she is stressed she chews up whatever she can find. I barked and barked and told her not to worry ...I told her I was in the next room and that Mom and DOD would be back VERY soon. I told her to go to sleep.

She didnt listen.

 I barked so much that the neighbours came over to see if I was okay. They let me out to pee and then I raced back in and barked at the kitchen door to the garage.....they followed me to the door but they don't understand Dog and they thought Lacey was hiding somewhere (which she often does) and they left! ....EEK!

By this time Lacey had torn up all of our full bags of dried dog food...over fifty pounds ...(Mom likes to prepare for all catastrophes) and spread it evenly around the garage. She topped the food off with Mom's laundry and some Christmas decorations she found behind the hamper. And then she set about trying to tunnel through the door!

I heard the garage door open open. I heard Mom say What The Hell!. I heard Dad say way worse than that!

Lacey was SOOOOO glad to see them....

They sort of slid into the kitchen on the dry food. I was happy to see them too. Mom kept saying, 'Robbie  what happened'.? 

Well now you know the whole story.

Cross-Border Stress!

We had a tense weekend after DOD lost his tooth on Friday evening. It didn't hurt or anything but he was embarrassed with his gap-tooth smile and it didn't help that it was Halloween weekend and lots of people were trying to look just like him! When he smiled they all waved back and gave him the 'thumbs-up' sign.

So they went to a Dentist on the other side of the border today in Nogales, Mexico. Mom checked them all out and they looked just fine...lots of positive reviews etc...and she chose the best one. I wasn't happy that Me and Lacey had to stay home.....I mean we have all heard about how dangerous it is in Mexico and to think of those two heading off without MY protection made me feel quite ill.

It didn't make me feel any better when I heard Mom tell DOD to leave a door unlocked in case they didn't make it home early and she had to phone Frances and Cathy to let Me and Lacey out! I think she was scared they would not get back alive!

Me and Lacey paced back and forth while they were gone. We ran around and savaged our toys...ate all our stash of treats...checked Mom's crochet stash and re-arranged it... and I peed on the upstairs carpet to warn off any and all predators that this was not a burglar friendly home.

We were rather surprised when they arrived home after only three hours...one of which they had spent having lunch at Wisdom's Cafe in Tumacacori.  They had NOT been abducted OR kidnapped OR shot... DOD's tooth  was back in his mouth and it looked just great. They did NOT bring treats.

I ask you, wouldn't you have been just as worried as Me and Lacey? Is this any way to treat your fur kids?

Anyway, I think they were impressed with the evidence of our concern.

AZ Nights

I have noticed that things happen here after dark. All seems quiet during the day and I get the feeling that it is a safe and calm place...and then...in the middle of the night all hell breaks loose!

Take last night for instance....the Coyote gang went crazy! What started as a normal Coyote party turned into bash of epic proportions. A roaming alien Fox Gang crashed the party and they all went at it tooth and nail....literally!  There was so much squealing and yelping and carrying on that Me and Lacey thought all the Banshees in Arizona were after us. Then I think the Javelina Gang big guns showed up. Javelina teeth are on the outside you know and they are BIG and SHARP.....the big guys threw themselves at the FOX and Coyote party- animals and the noise got louder and louder with grunts and snorts added to the other noises and a few curse words thrown in. It was a full-blown riot!

DOD woke up and went out onto the balcony to check out what was happening. He said they were probably high on Peyote juice or something. Me and Lacey cautioned him in case any of them were high enough to fly in through the windows...but he said they were all on the ground having a Donnybrook (I think that is an animal RAVE). The fight went on for a long time and then all went dead quiet and we were able to settle down and go back to sleep.

Where was Mom you ask? Well she slept through it!  She said she hears worse than that almost every night in our bedroom and she is immune!  Ha Ha Ha. I will ignore that remark.

It sure make a few Raccoons and Otters seem pretty tame! I will keep you posted

Snakes and Close Shaves

You know how Mom is always going on about rattlesnakes and how we have to be so careful here. Well two nights ago when I looked out of the door there was a rattlesnake! I'm not kidding!

DOD said to just leave it and it might go away....Mom said 'don't be silly, we have to get rid of it'. So then they had one of their discussions about who was going to sweep it away....DOD would not let Mom do it...so he put on his cowboy boots and got the broom.

I think the poor thing was half frozen because it did not put up much of a fight and DOD whisked it over the bank. Well of course now I am watched every minute .....even for my private things...I can't take much more of this torture!

It turns out that people are not supposed to deal with snakes, they are supposed to phone the fire department and the firefighters will come and capture them and take them to a safer place. So now we know in case we get another visitor.

On another almost equally as terrifying note...I got shipped off to the groomers. I mean I look better and that is good....I smell better too...but I don't think a mature dog should have to put up with the indignities! She even shaved my you-know-what.

I made a new friend named Alfie. He is a good sort...not mature and sophisticated like Me...but I tell him about my Island and he likes my stories. Alfie has never seen an Otter or had the pleasure of a roll....I think he would like to visit me next year.

For those of you who care, Lacey is doing well. She had a sore leg....pulled a muscle trying to execute some intricate dance step...I think she was trying to Twerk....but she is okay now. 

Bye for now friends. Send me notes telling me about YOU!

Period of Adjustment

You know it is hard to write about day-to-day life here in Tubac. Yes, I hear Coyotes howling and yes, I smell Javelina pooh but that is hardly the stuff that Blogs are made of.
The weather is HOT. Everyone here says it is cool... but man they don't know from cool...I need a pool or a shower of some kind.
Mom will not let us off our leashes. She says Rattlesnakes are lurking. Let me tell you, as a Mature Dog this pees me off. I need freedom....
I get dirty faster than at home....too much dust. So that means more baths...arggh.
We are not allowed in the car 'cos they have a law here about dogs being left in a car....and Mom won't leave us outside in case a Coyote jumps the fence.
I am not a complaining dog but you can see that life here is not quite what I want or need...sigh.
On the plus side ..I love the sun and the people are so friendly. Everyone knows Me and Lacey and they stop us and tell us how cute we are. I sit outside most of the day and even until it is almost dark.
I think I am going through a period of adjustment...when I am here, I want to be there...and when I am there I want to be here!
Is this normal

Day 4

We are at the Best Western in Kingman AZ.

What a start we had this morning. First of all I HATE continental breakfast! I am not a muffin and cream cheese sort of dog. Lacey will of course eat anything!

Then we went out....OMD it was -2C. Do you know what it is like to have to look macho for all the girl dogs at the motel on a morning like that?? Mature dogs worry about the shrink factor too, you know! Anyway, I think I pulled off the macho look with my usual withit-ness. And then we hit the road.

Well it did start to warm up a bit after a while...but then the wind picked up.

Mom insisted we stop at a wild-life refuge area so we could have a decent walk. Sometimes I think she is clueless! She wouldn't listen to DOD ...no, she dragged us off and left him at the car (one of their little tiffs) but when we heard a grunting sort of noise in the bushes let me tell you she ran like hell! DOD was on his way ...bringing the car around to rescue us and we jumped in before Me and Lacey became some animals brunch! I ask you..do I need this?

So by now the wind was really howling. Wind warnings posted all over the highway. Trucks not allowed to travel at Hoover Dam.

We pulled into the Welcome Centre at Boulder City all ready for a walk in the wind when a truck pulled up with TWO pitbulls in the back....AND ...the owner let them out of the truck without a leash!  Mom freaked and had to race again to save us...we hadn't even peed!

Anyway, as I mentioned we are in Kingman AZ. The wind is still howling. I have a bit of an upset stomach from all the excitement. Mom is drinking white wine and DOD is reading his Kindle. Things are back to normal.

Tomorrow...yes oh yes...we should be at home in Tubac!

Day 3

We are safely in the Best Western in Eureka, Nevada. It is COLD only 7C. Mom is drinking wine (she is back to a plastic cup thank heavens...I do have standards) and DOD is reading his Kindle and making moaning noises over the state of the world.

We had a good night in Baker City and a very good breakfast. Lots of dogs staying at the Inn...none of them had ever heard of Saturna or Tubac. I find that odd as the two places are at the center of the Universe.

Today we drove through snow and hail and wind....unfortunately Me and Lacey had to make a pit stop in the worst of the howling wind and snow.... but so did DOD!  In my opinion the family that pees together outdoors is a more bonded family....Mom declined, what a wuss! She had to suffer for two more hours!

I managed to be better behaved today and earned a 'good dog'...Lacey is still the star though as she never makes a sound.

Tomorrow we will be in Arizona! My friends tell me it is warm there...if they are tricking me they will be sorry when I bite them!

Day 2

Here we are at the Best western Inn in Baker City. Mom is drinking wine out of a paper cup and DOD is reading his paper and watching American news. Is a paper wine cup less than a plastic cup? I do hope we are not going down hill!

This morning we were all up at 5.00am...I know, I know...it was difficult.. but I felt someone had to get them going early. Anyway, the weather was Biblical ....It was pouring...teeming...drenching..tipping. We could hardly see. I wondered about the Ark and the animals chosen...do you think Me and Lacey qualify as a two-by-two couple? And how about Mom and DOD would they be allowed on the Ark being past child-bearing age and all. It was very upsetting to me.

The border was not too bad ..considering. The fellow did not want to see all of My certificates....but he did want to know how Mom and DOD were going to support themselves in Tubac!!!  Really!  So DOD said they had pensions and relied on government to send cheques  every month!! Not! This was not a good time to be mentioning these Government things....I had to intervene and say that I \Me\ Lacey would find a way to make sure they did not starve and no matter what, that we would make sure they got home to Saturna.

Then we drove until the weather cleared up although it stayed very cold.

I have taken to singing on the back seat...Mom says I am whining but she has always had a tin ear!

Tomorrow we head for Eureka, Nevada. In the meantime DOD brought us Prime Rib for an after dinner treat. Life is good. 

Day 1

Well I started off in a good mood this morning. I was all packed and ready to go...and then I heard Mom tell DOD I smelled and looked awful and that the Immigration people would probably deny me entry! Of course He bought it and threw me into the shower! I mean cleanliness or lack of it is not a condition of entry....why the heck doesn't he check the facts!

So everybody came to say goodbye and then WE went to say goodbye to other people....Dear Dog I was exhausted (and still a bit damp).

It started to rain.

It got colder.

Mom and DOD hustled upstairs on the Ferry and left Me and Lacey cold and starving to death on the car deck. Of course they left a few cookies and some snacks to tempt us but I told Lacey not to fall for their trap! They were impressed and gave HER all the credit.

So we got off the Ferry and it was worse than when we got on. I think Summer has been abducted by terrorists and Winter rules! Tomorrow the forecast is not much better all the way to Baker City.

We finally got dinner and actually it was pretty good. Left over stew and lamb meatballs....I am more relaxed after dinner.

Mom is having a glass of wine in a plastic cup...DOD is reading the paper....Our beds are made up...things are not  bad in my world. .

More tomorrow.

Just Sayin

We are down to ONE week now until we leave. I know I sound happy about leaving...and I am...but that does not mean that I will not miss you and Saturna.

I will miss walking on the Farm and running free. I will miss going to the store with DOD. I will miss friends and neighbours who come to visit and to have meals with us. I will miss seeing the little ferry slip by my bedroom window and the fog horns that announce her coming. I will miss mornings at 5.30am and waiting for the ferry to take us to town.... I will miss the naps in the car on the trip home. I will miss all my critters and I know they will miss me. I will miss moss and wet leaves and mushrooms everywhere. I will miss helping Mom at the Rec Centre....and the gang that hang outside.I will miss Halloween and all the kids ...the Christmas Concert... the Candlelight Dinner.....The Cafe and the Pub....

And most of all I will miss YOU.


Just sayin.....

Not many Days and Nights Now

We are caught up in a flurry of activity to prepare for our long drive south.

Both Me and Lacey have been to the Vet for a check-up and booster shots. Our Vet is a very nice Lady and I like her but she really does not give a mature Dog the privacy he deserves. I mean she checks every orifice I have AND she does it with Lacey and Mom and DOD in the room. I just about died of embarrassment!
Well it turns out we (Me and Lacey) are both just fine. She did mention Lacey's weight but Mom would have none of it....she told the Vet that Lacey is big-boned and well muscled! HAH! The Vet snorted at that but let it pass.

We got new beds and they look great but DOD says they take up too much room in the car...so we just have the cushion from the middle. I can't say I like the idea of sleeping on a cushion....Lacey rolls off her cushion and onto mine all through the night. I ended up on the carpet which is not the way it should be for a mature dog.

DOD has had the car checked over for the trip....by the sounds of things the cost of the car check-up and the check-up for Me and Lacey was about the same. He says we are going to the Poor House whatever that means. I really don't think there are Poor-Houses anymore but just in case he is right I hope they take Dogs and have a decent supply of food and treats. I wonder why DOD doesn't get a bigger car?? One that would fit our new beds! I will ask him tomorrow.

Mom spends her time planning what clothes she will take and getting things turned on and off. What is turned OFF here has to be turned ON there. She has been a bit unfocused lately so I hope she gets it right.

I am trying to keep our leaving a secret from the critters here on the property. I think they are getting wise to it though....today the Deer laughed when I told them to hit the road and one little Fawn actually blew me a Raspberry.

Until next time....

3 Weeks today

Mom told me that 3 weeks today we will be leaving for Tubac. I can only count to three so it is good to hear that number. I have Googled week and there are many definitions...this is what I found:

 (wk)

n.

1.

a. A period of seven days: a week of rain.

b. Abbr. wk. A seven-day calendar period, especially one starting with Sunday and continuing through Saturday: this week.

2.

a. A week designated by an event or holiday occurring within it: commencement week.

b. A week dedicated to a particular cause or institution: Home Safety Week.

3. The part of a calendar week devoted to work, school, or business: working a three-day week.

4.

a. One week from a specified day: I'll see you Friday week.

b. One week ago from a specified day: It was Friday week that we last met.

 

A week can be a very important and different time depending on what you want in it. 

 

1.a.Wow! This is really confusing! I don't want a week of rain and the weather person says we are going to have lots of sunny days so who is right about a week?.

1.b.. Sunday to Saturday sounds backwards to me. On my Island we go from Saturday to Sunday...is that a week?

2.a.. We could be having a 'commencement week' if we commence our trip to Tubac ...that could be right.

    b. I like the idea of Home Safety Week. I will secure my house against Otter gangs and other unruly sorts for when we are gone. 

3. Working a Three Day work week! I knew all along that Mom and DOD were taking advantage of my good nature and making me work 7 days a week!

 

4. a & b.  Yes, I can meet you Friday week (I think) but I don't think we met Friday week...I think we met Tuesday week. I must remember that a week can be a day....I think I will have nothing but Sunday weeks from now on.

Bottom-line I still don't know when we are leaving exactly ....but I do know more about weeks.

25 days and counting....

The weather has turned here on my Island and with the smell of Fall in the air and leaves starting to twirl down onto the trails I think it is time to think of leaving.

We went for a walk in the meadows today and the earth smelled of damp and mushrooms. An army of snails greeted us on the road...black and beige and camouflage colours. They never have much to say even though I sniff at them ...still they are not aggressive and allow us to pass without a problem. Spider webs cross the paths and stick to my fur...diamond rain droplets shine on leaves and trees....the grass is green again and flattened.  Our flowers are hanging and sort of finished looking...our tomatoes have split from too much moisture. It thundered and lightened last night and today ....All these are signs for a mature dog to think of leaving.

Mom says the damp moisture is good for her skin but I feel the damp in my mature bones and I think of the warmth of the Tubac sun. DOD says his bones don't like the change in weather either (he also has mature bones).

I want to take Margaret and Tansy with me because I think they would like the sun and warmth as much as I do. ....We will have adventures together......I must devise a plan.

Winding Down

It is only a month until we leave Saturna Island and head to our house in Tubac, Arizona. Me and Lacey know the drill and have become seasoned and mature car travelers. We know about days in the car and strange Motels, about rest stops and gas stations. We know about i-pods and GPS's...we know about good weather and bad weather and boredom. But Mom and DOD sing and we join in....We like Old MacDonald Had a Farm and Lacey does a great Oink Oink her and Oink Oink there, here an Oink, there an Oink....you know...

We have to stay in Dog-Friendly places and I tell you ...some of the messages those girl dogs leave...well, their Mom's would be scandalized if they only knew!

We stop early every evening and DOD brings in our beds and food. This means we are staying. Then they take us for a walk...but we have to be on a leash....Mom goes on and on about us getting lost. That dimwit sister of mine may get lost but ME? NOT! Still it is no use me protesting. The only resistance I have is walking as slow as possible...and that is SLOW. I know how to dig my paws into the ground so that I am virtually immovable (smile)

Sometimes the place we stay has a buffet breakfast and DOD brings us a treat of sausage and bacon. Mom won't let us eat much in case we get sick in the car. (Are you beginning to see that Mom is a spoil-sport??) Then a walk and back into the car.

First, we have to go to the Vet and have check-ups and shots and nasty stuff. We hate that.

I will keep you posted....and maybe Lacey will post too.