Chessie Talk

The Streetcars, Part 2

2013-09-26T17:12:00.004-07:00

The crowding of the streetcar at rush hour time was something you did not want to look forward to.
If you lived far away from downtown you could usually get an early morning seat, but the closer you were to your desination, the more crowded the trolley became. Sometimes it was standing room only. When the car came to a jerky stop, you would be knocked a little off balance, and try to hold on even tighter to the strap above your head or the pole infront of you.

Usually, if you went shopping downtown, you and your packages boarded the street car for home. The chances for finding a seat and resting the packages on your lap were almost impossible if it was 'rush hour time'. If you stood, you had packages in one arm and the other arm was holding onto the strap or the steel poles. Sometimes a kindly person sitting in front of you would ask if they could hold your packages for you?

If you were fortunate to see an acquaintance you knew; you engaged them in conversation and before you knew it, the time passed so quickly; the next stop coming up was yours.

The floor of the cars reminded me of treadmill floors. Some of the seats had cushioning. Later on, the seats were not always so comfortable. There were spaces for advertising around the upper perimeter of the car which city merchants used to promote their products.

The streetcars were so convenient for the average person to use. During the holidays you could ride down town to look at the beautiful displays in the department store windows. If you had to visit someone in the hospital;you hopped a streetcar and departed at a stop near the hosptial. There were the County Fairs and people took advantage of the streetcars to get them there. You didn't have to worry about parking your car and walking some distance to get to fairs and holiday shopping.

I think Streetcars were a great way to travel. You had time to reflect while you were riding. Many people got caught up on their reading while riding to and from work. Neighbors and friends chatted with each other. Some of us had a chance to get caught up on our sleep!

There are many streetcar enthusiasts around today who collect various memorabilia of those wonderful cars of yesteryear.

The Streetcars, Part I

2013-09-12T13:45:00.003-07:00

If you were a child of the 50's and lived in Pittsburgh, you can reminisce with me about the cities wonderful streetcars, and your experience of riding those red and white cars of yesteryear.

Streetcars also known as trolleys, were our main source of transportation. The family car was used for family activities.

In the fifties there were not as many cars on the road as there are today. For most people, the streetcars were used to travel to and from work. There were plenty of streetcar stops where you waited to board your ride for your destination. The stops and tracks would be on be on both sides of the street. Sometimes it would take almost an hour to get to work, thirty minutes more than by car, because of all the stops the trolley had to make along the way.

The long ride home from work could easily hypnotize you to dozing off into a light sleep, but I would usually awaken suddenly, almost miraculously, two stops before I had to get off the car.

The fee to ride the trolleys was minimal, and affordable. It sure beat paying for a taxi! Since the trolleys had tracks all over the city, and sometimes there were tracks that rode to the edges of the suburbs, where the buses would take over transportation. If you were going across town into another borough, you could purchase a transfer ticket for a small extra fee to transfer to another trolley to continue on to another borough.

In those days trolleys did not have air conditioning. In the mornings, it was usually a lot cooler than the afternoon. In winter, you could feel the heating surrounding the car’s baseboard, as you stepped up on the platform to enter the car. It felt so good to come in our of the cold to a warm and toasty car.

Saturday and Sunday at the Movies, Part 2

2013-08-31T11:34:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning's schedule always included going to church. We would leave the house at 9:30 a.m. , walk the six blocks to church, stopping at the drugstore along the way for a vanilla or chocolate coke. Arriving at church,we headed to the basement, and changed into our choir robes. We rehearsed our chosen anthem for that Sunday, standing around the piano and then headed upstairs to the back of the church to line up for the walk down the aisle to the sanctuary choir loft as the Sunday service began.

After church, we walked the six blocks back home. This walk, back and forth, from church and home was done in all kinds of weather, season after season. We didn't really notice the cold or heat because we were always singing and harmonizing church songs, so time flew quickly.

We joined the long line for the Sunday movie, brought our tickets and chose our seats to sit in. Sometime, for fun, we would sit in the balcony(called Peanut Heaven) behind the front row seats for a change of scenery. The boys down below us in the floor seats would yell, "Watch out for a nose bleed", because we were seated up higher than the regular audience seats we usually sat in.

Two features usually played on Sundays. We saw many technicolor musicals. To us they were magical with their colored costumes and lavish dance numbers. We would put on plays in our yards later on during the week, and use the same songs that were in the movie. If you didn't know all the words, maybe the local drugstore had sheet music of a particular song to help you learn the words and music?

When the features were coming to an end, the aisles on both sides of the theater were lined up with couples waiting their turn to see the movies. We knew it was time to go. Sure enough, the theater clock,on the stage, showed the time was 5:00 p.m. We left the theater and saw it was dark outside. We walked back to our homes, singing some of the songs from the movies and commenting on the various costumes. It was the end of a great weekend.

Saturday and Sunday at the Movies, Part1

2013-08-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Televisions and computers are our main entertainment today. Practically every family has a tv or computer. This was not the case for the senior citizen generation of today. Come, see what it was like in the 1950's....

We attended the movie theater practically every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, unless we were sick or grounded for bad behavior at home .Speaking of bad behavior. Sassing parents or elders was not allowed. Designated grounding consisted of priviledges being taken away from you like: no movies, not playing outside for a couple days. Lord help us if the school sent a note home for "bad behavior", not only did you have truancy (staying after school for punshment) you got extra demerits at home for the school bad behavior. Parents always reminded us to "mind the teacher and do what she tells you". In some homes if you were late for supper more than once you got offered only a bowl of cereal to eat. Our folks meant business, they didn't have time to cater to you unless you were sick.

Even back in the fifties women were very busy. They did not have the household conveniences we have today. So, even though very few mothers worked outside the home, they spent many hours completing their daily household chores.

Come Saturday morning....If your chores were not done, you could not plan on going to the movies. If no chores were accomplished, you stayed home, hearing the dreaded sentence, "Maybe next week you will remember to have your chores done."

With all tasks completed you were on your way to two hours or more of an escape into a world of the weekly Chapter (or series) which continued every Saturday. Some theaters even had a Kiddie Talent Show which was on radio the same time it ran live at the theater. The audience participated in voting for the person with the most talent. So, in this order was: The Kiddie Show, 17 Cartoons (with all your favorite looney tune characters), and finally the double feature.

We brought our lunches with us and maybe some change to buy candy. There always seemed to be a lot of candy wrappers on the floor where eveyone sat.

Around 5:00 P.M. the show ended, we left the theater and headed for home.

Summers Of The Past, Part 2

2013-08-17T08:08:00.001-07:00

Running to the Midway, we headed to our traditional first stop, The Penny Arcade. The arcade was a building with an old wooden floor, with overhead brightly colored, flashing light bulbs. We had to use"kid power" to operate the various machines ourselves. Today all the machines are electronic. When we had our fill of games we decided to go to the fun house.

The fun house was anything but fun. You were always in the dark throughout the walk. It could be creepy. Stairs that rocked and moved under your feet. Mirrors where you could appear to be fat or skinny. Most frightening were three doors that you had to choose from to find your way out of the house. Of course, my sister and I chose the wrong door and a scarey figure jumped out at us. It was more fun to leave the fun house than to be in it.

It was time for the afternoon high-wire act. We stood around the lagoon and watched the act. The boats with the rowers in the lagoon came to a stop. All our heads were looking up at the graceful trapee artists

The twin roller coasters, called "The Racer" were next on the agenda. One car was blue and the other green. You never knew which car would win. After the excitement we calmed down a little and went our separate ways the rest of the afternoon. I headed to the Swings. You could swing in an inidividual seat, accompanied by the music of the nearby merry-go-round. There was nothing like whizzing by, feeling carefree. It was a pleasant world of make believe.

Evening came too quickly. Walking past Danceland, we saw the couples, dressed up, waiting in line with their tickets to dance to the dance band, already assembled and playing.

I headed for the silver planes for a ride right next to the evening act that was about to start. It was a repeat of the same act that performed in the afternoon, but somehow seemed more exciting when performed in the darkness of night with the lights surrounding the lagoon.

Another hour to go until the park closed for the day. Soon it dwindled down to the last half hour before closing. We helped pack up and made our traditional stop at the concession stand that sold french fries with malted vinegar (no catsup for us).

Fifteen minutes left to go before our return home when our street car stopped at the entrance to the park. The street car pulled up in front of the benches. We stepped on the street car and found a seat. While the street car made the turn to leave the park, we waved at the bright lights of the Midway, and breathing a relaxed sigh, closed our eyes and went to sleep for the return trip home

Summers Of The Past, Part 1

2013-08-12T13:25:00.001-07:00

I started to think about what summers of the past were like. My first recall was the grade school picnic at the Amusement Park. Travel was so much different in those days, in the 1950's. There was very little traffic. Not everyone owned an automobile. We either walked or rode the street cars to our destinations. To walk a mile a day from school or church wasn't a big deal.

Our grade school picnic was always near the end of June, after school was out. We could hardly sleep the night before because we were restless with excitement and anticipation of the next day.

At around 10:00 a.m everyone would be at the street car stop infront of the school to get ready to load up for the hours ride to the amusement park. Our mothers and grandmothers each packed a large picnic basket to carry on the streetcar. Most people could not afford to eat out. We had some money we saved for amusement park snacks.

We loaded onto the special streetcar that was an hours ride away from the amusement park. What was special about this streetcar was the tracks were switched only once a year for the school picnic.
Off we went, windows open and the breeze blowing in our faces. Someone would start singing a song and everyone joined in. (It seems there was a lot of singing in those days)

"What are you going to ride first"? "I 'm going on the Racer Roller Coaster" - "Haunted House", someone yelled. "Let's ride the horses"!

The clickity-clack of the trolley lulled us into a hypnotic trance for a few miles. You could smell the smoke of the steel mills and see the train tracks. Ahead of us were lots of green trees; the entrance to the park.

The trolley pulled to a stop. The doors opened and out we went. It was a short distance to the cafeteria. We stopped with grandmother and her heavy picnic basket to rest on a park bench. Then,
we helped carry the basket up the cafeteria steps. After saying goodbye to our folks, we headed down the steps, out the door, towards the Midway.

Going The Other Way

2013-07-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

Did anyone notice that the evenings are getting darker a slight bit earlier? Yes, our longer days are starting to shorten. Let's see, the ruby-throated hummingbird will start to prepare for her long trek back to crossing the Gulf of Mexico in about six more weeks. In a couple of weeks she will start to double up on her feeding of sugar water.

Summer's heat always seems stifling but we seem to forget it when the colder weather is here. The crickets are singing 'full blast'. I haven't seen too many bees. Last year there was one caught in the hummer's feed and I got stung cleaning it out! This time of the year there is always a summer breeze blowing. I always think of the 'trade winds'.

TV is a little boring without the regular programs, but surfing the channels lets you view some good nature programs you may have missed the first time around.

I cannot wait until October. Last year I was amazed by the 'Harvest Moon' shining in my bedroom window. I hope I have a repeat performance. It reminds me of the movie, "Moonstruck". The brightness was overwhelming!

The dogs are enjoying the outdoors and the birds do not even seem to notice them around. I suppose they are used to seeing them. It's just the old regulars coming to the feeders. Doves, Cardinals,Sparrows, and a family of red-winged blackbirds. The rest of the blackbirds must have moved on.

One of my neighbors have moved and taken their outdoor cat with them. Now I have to contend with the bunny eating my flowers. The cat did a good job of keeping the bunnies away. At least the rabbit cannot get into the window boxes

.

Heat Wave

2013-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's only the beginning of July and we are really sweltering. The air conditioners are going full blast!
The dogs are shortening their outdoor playtime. They are coming in every 15 minutes to lap up water.

Today is the end of the July 4th, Independence Day weekend. This always means that summer is really here. The next holiday to look forward to is Labor Day and the beginning of the school year.

We have had lots of rain and humidity. The mosquitoes are back in full force. My beautiful ruby-throated hummingbird is busy drinking her 4 ounces of sugar water daily. Who knows how many flowers and other feeders she travels to in one day?

This morning our power went out for an hour. (Thankfully, it didn't occur later in the day) You could feel the heat going up to over 70 inside the house. I thought we would not be able to enjoy a cooked breakfast of pancakes and slice of ham but everything turned out to be as we had planned after the power came on.

Well, its almost time for a light snack. Perhaps a tuna sandwhich. Play with the dogs and watch some Sunday Night TV.

Welcoming Me Back!

2013-06-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

Gee, its been a few months since I have posted anything.

Well, I made it through the spring rain which has over-done its early welcome in April and continued off and on through the month of June. I think we have seen the end of it. Really....Summer is the end of this week!!

The dogs are enjoying the outdoors. Now they can take their wrestling outside. It's great to be able to groom their coats outside. The birds have been using the disgarded dog hair for their nests.

The heat will be on its way at the end of the week. We literally had to turn on the furnace to warm up the dampness. I am not looking forward to "Jungle Maddness". That's what I always called the sticky humidity). Thank god, for air conditioning. You really need the air conditioning at least for four months in the summer.

All the TV shows have run their yearly episodes and we will have to adjust to what is on for the summer months.

We are changing our menu too. Lighter foods. Lots of salads and "corn on the cob".

Yipee!! My ruby-throated hummingbird is back.(She arrived the first week in June) She is a big tubular gal with wings. Much larger than the male. I have so much respect for these little birds. They are truly amazing. I really miss her leaving in September and get sentimental to see her go for the season.

I planted some "busy lizzies" (Impatients) in the window boxes and on the ground. They are great thrivers and live the cooler shade of the front garden. Such lovely pastel colors.

Looking forward to the July Holiday next month.

See you here then.

Spring Rain

2013-04-12T13:53:00.002-07:00

It has been raining the past few days. The yard is saturated with mud and rain. There is a dampness in the air that you can feel in your body. This is the time of year when you will be hovering between dampness and spring-like days. I only fed the birds out front today because I did not have to walk in the mud. Out back is a different story. I'll check the ground tomorrow and if it doesn't rain I will fill the feeder out back.

The dogs do not like the heavy rain and do not ask to go out as often as they would when the days are nicer.

It's doggie paw print time on the floors. I have to block off the kitchen and keep the dogs in the den until their paws dry off.

Spring Cleaning: Today was a dark day to try to clean, but I shampooed a couch in the living room with the lamps on and the curtains open for light to see what I was doing.

Before you know it planting time will be here. Some of the annual plants have sprung up already outside. A welcome sight to encourage the feeling that there will be brighter, sunnier days ahead.

It's Still Snowing

2013-03-23T13:34:00.001-07:00

Can you believe, it's still snowing!! Yes. Nothing to complain about because the snow doesn't stay on the ground at this time of the year.

The red-winged blackbirds have returned with their flocks of starlings and grackles. They are raiding the feeder and swarming around like vulutres. They just flew in this week. There is more vocal activity outside now with the birds trying to settle in from their long trip. Soon they will be ready to attract the females and begin nest building, but that will not be for a month.

Easter will be here next Sunday. A sure sign that spring is here.

The dogs are shedding some of their winter coat, getting ready for a light one. So it means daily brushing to keep up with the shedding.

All the TV shows are back along with some newer ones. So something to look forward to in the evening.

It is much brighter outside. Its time to get busy on cleaning the house. There is so much to be done.

Daylight Savings Time

2013-03-03T13:53:00.001-08:00

In a few days we will be observing a change in time. Daylight Savings Time will be telling us that spring is on its way. Instead of getting up at 7:00 a.m., it will be 6:00 a.m. Oh, no, I go to bed at 12 midnight! Let's see how the dogs react to the new time. I know the cat will go 'bonkers', she always does when theres a time change.

I think the animals know because the change will be a longer day. There will be more daylight.
There will also be more noise outside. The birds will be start to arrive and present their daily 'dawn chorus' of song. Daylight does have quite an effect on nature.

The weather is somewhat snowy and damp. Soon we will be having our spring rain to wash away all the dirt and feed the annual flowers to bloom.

Still Snowing...

2013-02-21T13:49:00.004-08:00

Valentine's Day and President's Day has come and gone but it is still snowing!!
I know a change will be coming for the woodpecker's are in the woods working on the trees, gathering sap. This always happens towards the end of February.

The group of bully birds had flown in earlier in the month to raid the feeder. The group consists of: Starlings (showing their spotted coat), grackles, brown headed cowbirds and black birds. The squirrels are the first at the feeder and drop food down to the ground so the smaller birds can eat
their share. The chickadee flys back and forth to gather just one seed at a time.

My dogs carry their bones and kongs outside to chew on and then leave them there to become frozen. A few days of warmer weather always loosens them from the icy snow.

I received a rose bush plant for Valentine's Day. I hope it survives the season without a lot of sunlight. I sat the plant on the dining room table to get an eastern exposure of light for at least ten hours a day. Some buds are beginning to open up.

The evenings are great for watching tv. I will curl up with my blanket and hot chocolate and settle in for the night.

February Observances

2013-02-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

February is a busy month with a number of holidays to observe and look forward to:

Ground Hogs Day
Super Bowl Sunday
Madi Gras
Ash Wednesday
Valentine's Day
President's Day

No doubt the month of February will pass quickly and easily into the following month ahead causing me not to mind the winter weather.

The dogs still enjoy the snow and the birds are glad to be served their daily supply of seeds.
I'm sure the hawks and falcons will be observing the traffic at the feeder. Life is hard for wildlife during the winter season.

Somehow looking at nature and observing its daily struggle creates a bond between nature and myself.

Nature rocks!!

Winter Return

2013-02-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

Wow!...It's been quite a while since I posted.

Weather-wise we are experiencing a cold-snowy spell. It's nice being indoors where it is warmer.
I get my daily invigorated blast of winter when I venture out everday to feed the wildlife and go to the mailbox. I know the birds will appreciate the blackoil sunflower seeds added to their feeding. I hope it gives them more energy to withstand the cold.

The weather does not seem to bother either of the dogs. They run around the yard like its a spring day. Infact, Chelsea, the Chessie, is acting as vibrant as she always did. Even though she will be ten years old this month. Rory will be two years old in June. He was a very quiet puppy until he "found his voice.", and what a voice it is. He has a regular dog bark and a loud hound bay when he is alerting the family as to what is happening outside. The first time we heard it, it sounded so "funny" coming from a dog who hardly ever barked.

I have to laugh at all my boots I own. High Boots for trudging in the snow outback. Low boots to get the mail out front. Boots for going out to pick up dog droppings out back. Rain boots and mud
boots. Larger and wider boots when my feet are aching with gout. By the time I get my outside gear on and complete my outdoor chore I'm ready for a hot chocolate and a nap.

A Touch of Fall

2012-09-25T07:31:00.003-07:00

Well, we are in for some changes. Already, we have had rain, wind and a chilly drop in temperature.
The nights have been cooler, but some of the days have been quite sunny and comfortable.

Fall makes me want to whet my appetite and plan more heartier meals for dinner.. The summer heat can dissipate your appetite, but fall gets me thinking about adding seasonal spices to my foods and casseroles.

The dogs are waking up from the few months of summer heat. They seem to be more invigorated by the weather now that it is cooler. Soon the leaves will be gone from the woods and they can have a better view of the wild animals beyond their own fence. I will have to keep my eye on Rory (red setter) for he has a tendency to wander. Wherefore, my Chessie never leaves the premises.

Right now, the township is putting in drains to rectify the pooling of water in front of the driveway.
It is very treacherous in the winter to walk across ice to get to the mailbox. When it rains in the summer and spring, the water pools so that you sink down into the ground when walking across it.
You have a choice to either jump across the water or walk on the side to the mailbox, on the grass. Anyway, today is the long-awaited day for drain installtion.

The Merrie Month of May

2012-05-28T17:09:00.002-07:00

May was an interesting month. Weather wise, we had mostly cooler days until the very last of the month. The heat crept in Memorial Day weekend. We hit a ninety-nine degrees heat with some thunder showers.

The dogs and cat are acclimated to their monthly flea medicine. The grass in growing profusely and needs a weekly cut. It seems to taper off in growth after the fourth of July when the humid hot weather makes its appearance. I still haven't gotten any flowers planted or purchased a hanging plant.

Rory, my red setter is busy like a mad scientist checking out the flies, june bugs and moths. He likes to catch them and eat them. Soon the outdoor cats will be on patrol at night. They are very territorial and like to challenge each other. My indoor cat goes "bonkers" at the basement and front windows over the outside intruder cats.

I hung a new lighthouse hummingbird feeder out front and it seems the ruby-throated hummer seems to not accept it. I had a old red tube one there before when I saw him for the first couple times. So, I may have to put the tube feeder back up. Maybe he does not like to share a larger feeding station with other hummers. It had three feeding dispensers. The tube feeder only has one. I hope he decides what he wants to do for I enjoy sitting outside towards evening and watching him come to the feeder.

The streets come alive in the summer. Lots of activity. Many couples walking their dogs and pushing children in carriages, and kids riding bikes. Neighbors chatting over fences catching up on each others news.

It's Spring?

2012-04-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

Two more days until the "merry month of May". The temperature has been down to 30 degrees at night. The weather has been damp. My sciatica is in full bloom!

In a couple of weeks the hummingbirds should be making their appearance. I hope it warms up for them.

Well, finally, Rory has been neutered. Poor thing. Finally had some funds to get him taken care of.
He has been resting in his cage for the past couple days. His stitches look good. I think I'll let him get back to being his rambunctious self again on Monday.

The spring grass pollen is doing a number on the dogs and myself. I started the dogs with their flea medication today. Chelsea has been on an anti itch medication everyday. I'm bracing myself for the heat next month when April's chill will only be a memory.

Innkeeper

2012-04-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Innkeeper

Guest post written by my buddy Royce Heath

Being an innkeeper was nothing I ever had in mind for myself to tell you the truth. I was an accountant all my life and I figured if I could keep that up I’d be able to make a steady income and retire at a decent age, you know, the American dream. But the real estate bug bit me a couple of years ago and when I came across this place on my Satellite Internet Amery I just couldn’t pass it up. The bones of the house and the income potential were just out of this world so I knew what I needed was to dive in head first. I quit my job and I’ve been slowly draining my savings into this place…that’s been the scariest part by far. I love having so many options but sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking about how all the decisions are mine to make. I think it’s important to note I’ve never even STAYED in a bed and breakfast – that’s on my immediate list!

Spring

2012-03-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

Well, Spring is definitely in the air. The blackbirds have returned to raid the feeders. The grass is coming up already. My daffodils are poking up from their winter sleep.

How invigorating the sun is when the heat comes through the front window and shines on the living room carpet.

The dogs are adjusting to the weather change. Rory has been sitting outside, sniffing the air and watching the wildlife. Chelsea is still protecting her feeding spot under the tree from the squirrels. (Our neighbor feeds the squirrels and leaves biscuits for her, too.)

I been having a cleaning spree. Just cleaned living room and dining room curtains and shampooed the living room rug.

The hummingbirds will be here in another month and it will be time to begin planting some flowers.

Spring is the beginning of plans for summer and enjoying nature at its finest.

Time Out

2012-02-21T12:02:00.000-08:00

Well, it was bound to happen! After years of being cold and flu free, I finally had to slow down.

It was six days of pure bliss. How can you say pure bliss when you are sneezing and your nose is running?
I attributed it bliss when my my routine came to a halt and I could "just rest" more often. This was a treat! Things were put on hold. What was most surprising was only the necessities "got done" without any fanfare.

The dogs and cat were taken care of. Although there was less meal preparation for us adults. We ate lots of soup, drank gingerale and snoozed more. I still feel a little light-headed and need about ten more days of pampering myself before I feel like me again.

Funny how a head cold can make you care less about what needs to be done! Natures way of slowing down. It couldn't happen at a better time.

A Brighter February

2012-02-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

Its already February.

The weather in January was warmer than usual. I look to February to be colder with more snow., although the days appear to be much brighter with some sun.

We just got our new dog cage set up. Now the cat can walk freely while both dogs are in their cages.
There will be more daylight with some brighter days, so she can sun herself more often.

Yesterday was the super bowl and now we are looking forward to President's Day and Valentines Day.

With more sunlight around I can see how the house needs a good cleaning. Just don't venture into the garage for cleaning supplies - brrrrr!

Soon the "bully birds" will be invading the feeder. The starlings and red-wing blackbirds will be heading here, some time in March?

Just think the hummingbirds will start to move up north in a couple of months! Can't wait!

Clean Snow

2012-01-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well, January is almost gone. Can you believe Christmas was 30 days ago? We have had some sunshine this month,along with intermitent dismal days. I cannot wait until the next snow fall to cover the bleak looking scenery and make things pure and cozy looking again.

The only downside of more snow is you have to wait until it melts to find all the dog droppings! Ugh!

The birds are always at the feeders now. Especially when there has been a cold, freezing day. The cold weather is a tough time for them. I love feeding them but on cold and slippery days I have to bundle up and put my yak traks on. I worry about them having enough to eat, so I make my daily trek outside.

Rory (Shepherd-mix) is so much fun. My son said his ears are like the "flying monkeys" from "The Wizard of Oz". He is a little red headed houligan. Chelsie (Chessie) is still a sweet old girl. My companion and protector.

It's Winter!

2012-01-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

Well, winter is here! Fortunately, Rory has mitten-like paws. (It must be a non-shepherd part in his breeding)He is an outdoor dog and the extra hair on his paws will keep him warmer. Rory decided to be an outdoor dog the first day he arrived at my home. He is well equipped to do so.

Nothing drives Chelsie (Chesapeake Bay Retriever) outside like the neighbor leaving biscuits for her under the pine trees. Both dogs like to eat the seed that drops from the birdfeeder. The squirrels like to scoot the seed they do not want out of the feeder. This is a great accommodation for the ground feeding birds.

I will have to put my yak traks on my boots to make feeder deliveries.
I dread facing the icy ground. Even with traction on your boots you could lose your balance. But I like helping the birds to get through a harsh winter.

Thankfully, it is warm and cozy inside. Nice to view the birds eating from your den and front windows.

New Year Resolutions for Dogs

2011-12-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

Now that I have two dogs to care for, I decided to set some new resolutions in effect for 2012

Of course, life is easier with just one dog; especially an older dog. Chelsea will be 9 years old in February. She knows the routine around here and we are both creatures of habit. Rory, on the otherhand will have to "learn the ropes"

I have to admit both of them sharing the same cage individually is tough in that I have to direct traffic to reroute them to different places to take a cage time break. My #1 priority resolution will be to add on another cage. This will work out well for my aging cat so she can stay upstairs and not be down the basement most of the day.

#2 priority would be more hands on training time for Rory. I feel the more time he spends with me the better he will bond.

#3 priority will be to bring both dogs together inside the house. They play and romp outside together but Rory tends to "bug" Chelsea inside. He will be neutered in a couple months, so I'll try to incorporate territory together in a couple months.