Friday, August 26, 2011

Remembering Ivy "The Queen"



Most of you know that Ivy was our oldest Jack Russell Terrier.  She was good in the show ring, but her real notoriety was as a top-notch working terrier.  She was considered one of the greatest in No. America and the Brits respected her as well.  Mark once bet a million dollars on a hunt that Ivy would find quarry first and in less that five minutes.  She did, but of course Mark never did get the check.  She had a JRTCA Bronze Medallion with four quarry:  Groundhog, Possum, Raccoon and Red Fox.  She was nine pounds, but could suffocate a 25 pound coon or hog no problem.  She had lived more than nine lives, that's for sure.  Her nose was crooked from being taken off by a groundhog and had to be glued on.

Ivy was her own dog.  She hated being penned with a passion and would escape whenever there was an opportunity.  Many a time we had to track her down, usually with Karma, the idiot JRT who just joins in.  As a puppy we were told by our vet she had a substantial heart murmur and she would likely not live long, especially if worked or stressed.  Well, she was both and also had two litters of puppies, but would've been 16 years old this November.



Mark called her a "fickly little dog" because she would only mind if it suited her and she could be impossible to catch or corner.  She was much more clever than most dogs in that respect.  However, she had one achilles heel and that was being terrified of thunderstorms.  She would panic in advance and crawl under the laundry closet overhang in the garage or sneak into the house and get under our bed.  You couldn't get her out.  Only Taylor had that magic power.  She loved him and was only a few weeks younger than him.

The last several years she was pretty crippled in the rear (nobody told her she had straight stifles and she would run anyway.)  So, she gradually was allowed to sleep in nice weather on our front porch loveseat.  We always left the garage door up a foot for her.  She would spend her days there, except for when she had her "chores" ("Must visit UPS guy, mailman, FedEx drivers for they have cookies.  Must run laps around trapped dogs in fenced yard to show them I'm special.  Must circle chicken pen to let them know who rules the roost.  Must greet everyone by making them stop halfway up the drive, then not really moving out from in front of the car.  Must race to end of driveway when I hear dad's diesel truck and beat him back to the garage--only cheat and cut the corner.")



The weird thing is we've had several dog fights involving the JRTs, but none involving Ivy.  Don't know how she did it, she was the weakest physically, but nobody ever messed with her.  She was a wiley critter.  She hated getting groomed and mostly got away with it.  Her microchip must've made her sore.  Her neck was always tender.

I say this in the past tense, because Mark came home Tuesday and by Tuesday night we couldn't find her.  Have looked everywhere and turned her in to the dog warden and shelter.  We've always been able to go to her haunts, but not this time.  There was a big storm that night and another the next night.  Mark thinks she went off to die.  I think she panicked in the storm and took off when nobody had put the door up after letting in Tucker.  Then I think she either got lost, stuck or something got her like a coyote.  Maybe someone took her in, but they didn't report it.  She's cute and little, so it's possible.



But though we keep looking, it doesn't look good.  We have to assume the worst this time.  It's really hard without closure, but we have to accept it.

Happy Hunting Ivy, we miss you!


(Here are a few more favorite photos.)






Saturday, August 20, 2011

There's No Place Like Home: Scenes From My "Hood" Part One

Greetings,

Though I grew up in Zanesville, OH, I really think of myself as more of a "city" gal.  I lived in Los Angeles a few years and then returned to Columbus, OH living in several spots.  But Mark and I really do like "wide open spaces" so we bought a smallish house so we could get some land.  (I took to heart Katie Scarlett's father's speech where he proclaims that "land is the only thing worth living for... or dying for."  At least I think he's the one who said it.)

When we moved here, we had a nearly done house plopped on dirt with the foundation visible, no sidewalks or patio, not much of a drive and many huge dead trees that were planted in August, then not watered.  Long story why, but the gist of it is we spent the first several years just concentrating on finishing this place.  I was just glad school, work, gas and Krogers were only 5 minutes away.

A few years ago, Mark got his Harley and we went for rides.  We are really lucky to live where the countryside is beautiful, yet close to everything.  Our county has a covered bridge tour and all are 3-15 mins from home.  My profile pic is the Big Darby Creek Bridge, just remodeled and just up the road a bit.

BIG DARBY CREEK:


Here are some others:

SPAIN CREEK:



POTTERSBURG (OLD):


CULBERTSON:



BIG DARBY CREEK (OLD):

BIGELOW:


There is an iron bridge on the tour, but I'm not sure why.  I hope to get by there soon for a pic as it's also just a few minutes away.

About 20 minutes away is Ohio Caverns and around the corner from there are the two Piatt Castles Mac-A-Chee and Mac-A-Cheek.  They are supposed to be identical and they are only at most a 1/4 mile apart.  Some Scottish guy built them.  Audra thinks there should be another one called Mac-N-Cheese!

Near there is Mad River Mountain Ski Resort (more of a hill, but the best we've got), the fancy Mad River Trout Club and Marmon Valley Farm which is a horse trail riding and lesson camp.  We have had several hot air balloons land in neighbor's yards from the annual festival.  From our front porch one can often see (and hear) the aerobatics competition at the airport.

That's enough for now.  Until next time, take care and pray for rain.  My yard is brown!
Gale

Saturday, August 6, 2011

"Cheep" Thrills: There's a Duck in my Shower!

Hello!

Well, the "Dog Days" of summer are here, but frankly, my dogs hate them.  They have to be shoved out the door to potty, then stand on the top step 30 seconds later begging to come in.  

Thursday Audra and I made a bizarre trip to pick up $12 worth of poultry, spending 3 hours traveling there and 45 mins. coming home.  Long boring story of multiple bad directions, non-working internet phone and 181.2 miles of driving.  I wish I would've taken my Jeep with navigation, but instead, trying to save gas took Audra's Escape.  We hadn't signed up for the navigation yet.  Didn't think I needed it.  Go figure.

If I hadn't promised someone I'd bring them home some hens, I would've skipped the whole thing.  It's the end of the season and some breeds of chicks are as scarce as hen's teeth...didn't want to risk it.  When Olga turned into James Brown he found a vegetarian home, but it left me short on hens.

I am slowly getting over the whole thing and trying to just enjoy the new girls.  Mark had asked me why I hadn't gotten Barred Rocks or some other "normal" chickens like he raised as a kid.  So I decided to get one of some heritage breeds he "liked" and then came the duck...never take kids with you to shop.  Will I ever learn?  Even worse is Mark said he liked White Rocks not Barred...Audra said he loved Rhode Island Reds and he denied that.  You can please some of the people some of the time... he was especially NOT thrilled with the duck.

From L-R are our new girls:  Rocks Anne (Plymouth Barred Rock), Daisy Aflac (Pekin Duck), Emma (Buff Orphington) and Sophie (Rhode Island Red.)  This completes the coop--NO MORE!
They are doing great, though the duck is going to take some getting used to.



I've been reading quite a lot of Chick Lit lately and now I find out that ducklings can be raised with chicks as long as you use different bedding and eventually different food.  They are also messy eaters.  This isn't real practical if you only have one heat lamp and only want to clean one pen.  They are living in my soon to be gutted master bathroom shower.  I've been wanting a tub in there forever and so we really didn't use that room except for whelping litters.  The shower works great.  Hung the heat lamp on the showerhead and put newspaper on floor.  Added a baby gate and bingo, a washable pen!

Olga/James Brown- Gone, but not forgotten.


As for the older gals, we miss Olga/James Brown, but I don't think they do.  He is doing great at a friend's mini-farm.  Gloria the Maran seems to have taken charge here.  Here are some pics of our nearly finished "Crazy Coop."  Mark and Taylor did a great job.  Audra and I are the decorators.



Note:  Girls are watching "The Young & Roosterless" on a Phony TV--I'm installing a satellite shortly with Main-Dish Network!  Audra did all of the figure painting--I just did the walls, TV and stenciling.  The curtains are sitting in the house because I bought the wrong rod.

Isabella coming in to visit.  The nesting boxes have yet to be installed.

Well, that about does it!  Stop by anytime!  Talk to you in a few days!