Hold the Good Thought

Bessie Anne has had some complications and so spent last night in the veterinary hospital for tests.  She is in good hands.  Dr. Ric is a compassionate doctor and Courtney, the tech, has known and loved Bessie since her first visit for puppy shots.  I should be able to pick up my girl today, and will update the journal tomorrow.  Hold the good thought.

I Was This Close

"Drivers, start your engines!"  Every NASCAR race begins with those words.  I could hear the roar of the crowd as I fired up the little tractor yesterday.  I was thinking Daytona, but given the varied terrain, it was probably Infineon at Sonoma.  Because the mower has a right-hand throw, it was "Left turn, left turn, left turn" in the slowest race ever.  Up and down the driveway, around the obstacle course in the side yard, almost fell into the squirrel pits in the front yard, coming close to the wall in the back yard, heading to the west point and...just as I could see the white flag and the finish line ahead...I ran out of gas and got a DNF (did not finish).  Dang it!  Ah, well, that's racing. 

Honor Guard

The flag snapped in the wind and bright sunshine yesterday, hanging from the flagpole at the corner of the deck.  Memorial Day.  One doesn't wish others a "Happy Memorial Day," as it is a day for reflection and reverence for those who died for their country.  There is a long history of military service in my family.  My great-grandfather's discharge papers from the Army of the Confederacy hang on my living room wall, my father was a soldier in World War I, and many others, including my sons, have served in ensuing conflicts.  We are fortunate in that all of our servicemen came home after their tour of duty.  I fly the flag on Memorial Day with respect for those who did not.

At sundown I went out to bring the flag in, and there in the front pasture were three deer.  I know I tend to read more into the actions of animals than may be there, but these deer faced the flag and stood motionless at attention until it was lowered and folded.  The bugle blowing "Taps" was just in my mind.  The honor guard was real.

Condo Living

All those nest builders in the barn have now become parents.  Where they once flew back and forth bringing building materials, they are now run ragged bringing breakfast for the babies.  The barn used to be a haven of peace and quiet while I milked; not any more.  It's like living in an apartment building with noisy neighbors.  Those babies never shut up!  Their constant yeep, yeep, yeep fills the air, driving the parents and me to distraction.  In relays, mother and father work incessantly to fill those demanding bottomless pits.  I can't think I'm the only one looking forward to "empty nest syndrome."

Bessie Anne is feeling better, enough to want to go outside with me for chores.  Her voice is hoarse and certainly not as effective as she might wish.  The pills she must take are given a half-hour apart morning and night.  After just these few days, when she sees me coming with a treat in one hand and the pill in the other, she gets up to leave the room.  I am relentless.  Four or five more days of this and it may turn her off treats for life.  It's still better than giving a pill to a cat!

Opening the door to let the cats in last night, I was hit in the face with the overpowering scent of skunk.  I don't know where those critters go in winter, but they're back!  I do not, will not, feed skunks (whatever it is they eat).  There is no more room in this inn. 

Cold Day, Hot Dogs

We awoke again to drizzling skies and chill air.  Geared up as if it were January and not almost June, I had just started on the first milker when the rest of the herd, eating breakfast at the corner of the pen, threw up their heads, wheeled as one and thundered back to the barn.  Unbelievably, after what we went through not so many months ago, there were two of my neighbor's dogs again, running at the fence and barking at the goats.  I used my cell phone first for photos and then to call Animal Control.  The dogs eventually ran back to their own property.  Barn chores took longer than usual because the girls were spooked and reluctant to come into a confined space.  Later in the day, I received several hateful, accusatory text messages from my neighbor, who had apparently been hit with a hefty fine from Animal Control.

Bessie Anne is recuperating.  She doesn't care much for the two pills twice a day (and they are big pills), but the extra treats help.  She's also getting a soft diet to help her raw throat.  I could have made do with an extra jacket, but it was a cold day and I thought a fire might make her feel better and she snuggled close to the wood stove to snooze.  She could get used to this invalid routine.

The skies are clear this morning.  I'm hoping for a better day today.

Whew!

Poor old Bessie Anne had a rough day yesterday.  I couldn't get an appointment with the vet for her until late afternoon so we had to wait it out.  She continued to hack and cough, didn't want to go outside, didn't want to eat or drink.  I got more and more worried and started to think of worst-case scenarios.  But then, as so often happens, by the time we drove to town and waited (and waited) our turn, she wasn't coughing anymore.  Dr. Ric always smiles when he sees Bessie; he says she's his only patient with dreadlocks (not matted, it's just the way her hair grows).  After a thorough checkup, it seems that whatever she'd swallowed, probably a foxtail, was gone, but that her throat was terribly inflamed and raw.  She's on a course of antibiotics and soft food.  Bess is so good about taking pills.  I pop one in her mouth and follow it immediately with one of her special treats; gone!  I do like a happy ending.

After a few false starts, it began raining in earnest in the afternoon and it got darned cold.  In a tank top the day before, yesterday I was back in a turtleneck sweater.  There were a few suspicious splats on the windshield, but not enough to qualify as snow on the dogwoods.  The grapes are far enough along that Joel was more worried about hail, which would have been devastating.  Dodged that bullet.

Bessie slept through the night, which meant I did too.  Another happy ending.

Damsels In Distress

The day started out so well.  Good weather, barn chores done early, milk strained and eggs washed.  Ready, set, go!  Kellan arrived first, a bunch of fragrant, beautiful sweet peas in her hand.  They were my brother-in-law's favorite flower and always bring him to mind.  We'd concluded our business, loaded her purchases into her car, and said goodbye.  Back in the house, I looked out and saw that Kellan was still in the driveway, hood up.  Oh dear.  Car would not start.  We tried everything in our limited automotive arsenal to no avail.  Just then, my second customer of the day drove up.  No problems there.  Kellan made arrangements with AAA to come tow the car to her house; a half-hour wait.  In half an hour, AAA called and explained it might be another hour and a half due to multiple calls for assistance and only three drivers.  I'm sure it put a crimp in Kellan's day.  It simply gave me more time to enjoy this young woman's company.  We went out among the hummers to enjoy the flowers and view from the deck and then had time for a snack before the tow truck pulled up.  When he maneuvered her car to hook up, wouldn't you know that the beastly thing started right up?  He had some suggestions as to why it had failed before and then, kind man that he was, said he would follow Kellan through Bucks Bar to her turnoff in case there was a further problem.  That's customer service!

Later, Judy had planned to come pick up some eggs and called to say she was on her way.  And then called back to say she wasn't.  She didn't know that Joel, without realizing, had taken her car to do errands of his own.  No problem, the eggs will be here when she gets here.

My own little lady, Bessie Anne, woke me at two-thirty last night, frantic to go outside.  She'd been coughing earlier in the day and I thought she might have swallowed a foxtail that got caught.  Robe, slippers, hard hat, leash, and we went out so she could self-medicate with grass.  She grazed and retched for two hours in the dark and cold before coming back in to get some sleep.  I fear we'll have to make a trip to the doctor's today, as she's still crying and coughing in between naps.  I'm hoping for the same happy ending as the other damsels had.