- Published on
"A skunk is better company than a person who prides himself on being frank." - Robert A. Heinlein
We had a beautiful Christmas dinner party for close friends and their visiting family. Everything was perfect! The meal was delicious, the wine flowed, dessert was delightful. After dinner, in the holiday spirit, everyone gathered around the piano, singing Christmas Carols. The scene was marvelous - straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting or a Hallmark Christmas movie!
Then what to my wandering eyes should appear - certainly not Santa and reindeer. I spotted Grace, our Border Collie, on the back porch. (She was supposed to be inside!) I opened the door. Gracie dashed through the house, running right past the piano. Moments later instead of caroling, I heard yelling and shrieking. "What is that smell?" "Ewwww..."
Then what to my wandering eyes should appear - certainly not Santa and reindeer. I spotted Grace, our Border Collie, on the back porch. (She was supposed to be inside!) I opened the door. Gracie dashed through the house, running right past the piano. Moments later instead of caroling, I heard yelling and shrieking. "What is that smell?" "Ewwww..."
Yep, an unexpected guest for our Christmas dinner party had arrived. Last name: Skunk!! Gracie had been skunked. She must have mistaken the skunk for our outdoor cat, Sissy, whom she kisses frequently. No amount of pine boughs or Christmas candles could compete with Gracie's stench.
Party entertainment quickly switched to watching my husband bathe Gracie outside, near the front porch. The men all sat on the porch and watched, while we women (smart creatures that we are) sat indoors out of the way and drank large amounts of wine.
Party entertainment quickly switched to watching my husband bathe Gracie outside, near the front porch. The men all sat on the porch and watched, while we women (smart creatures that we are) sat indoors out of the way and drank large amounts of wine.
- Published on
"Dear Santa—All I want for Christmas is blue water, soft sand and warm weather." - Gracie
We started a new tradition last Christmas Day - going to the beach! It's summer in Uruguay and doesn't feel very Christmasy. However, give me a handsome guy, a furry Border Collie, some sand, and the ocean and I'm over snow and stockings.
Our Border Collie, Gracie, loves the beach and loves playing fetch in the water. She's no spring chicken, but the water seems to make her young in spirit. Sam, our Border boy, HATES all things beach. He walks in the sand like he's avoiding land mines. We just leave him at home...
Still no Christmas tree for me. That is a tragedy. I am a world-class lover of all Christmas decorations, but our fake Christmas tree remains buried somewhere in the barn loft. One year...
Our Border Collie, Gracie, loves the beach and loves playing fetch in the water. She's no spring chicken, but the water seems to make her young in spirit. Sam, our Border boy, HATES all things beach. He walks in the sand like he's avoiding land mines. We just leave him at home...
Still no Christmas tree for me. That is a tragedy. I am a world-class lover of all Christmas decorations, but our fake Christmas tree remains buried somewhere in the barn loft. One year...
- Published on
“One cat just leads to another.” – Ernest Hemingway
Sophie, our indoor cat, adopted us in June. Now I'll introduce Sissy! She wandered up onto our porch one day and was so snuggly and friendly. We planned to bring her inside - she's the half-sister of Sophie. There is a Mama cat and a Tom cat the neighborhood, producing litters. No one can catch them for spay and neuter.
Shortly after Sissy appeared on the porch, we decided to bring her to the vet for a spay and then indoors with Sophie. The same day as her vet appointment, we saw her going under a pile of scrap plywood from our construction.
Shortly after Sissy appeared on the porch, we decided to bring her to the vet for a spay and then indoors with Sophie. The same day as her vet appointment, we saw her going under a pile of scrap plywood from our construction.
Wouldn't you know it? She emerged from the woodpile with 4 kittens following her. They looked to be about 1 month old, but at first wouldn't show themselves long enough for me to snap a photo. Oh my, the joys of living in the countryside. We now have 6 cats.
