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"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too." ~ Samuel Butler
If you read my last post, you'll have met Pake, the visiting Border Collie and you'll have learned how much we respect and adore the breed. Our resident Border pups are shown above with Sam on the left and Gracie on the right.
Sam and Gracie are very special to us, since we've had them since they were both 8 weeks old. They are about as neurotic as they come, but we still love them. Gracie is terrified of loud rain, thunder, and fireworks. Sam goes berserk when hearing a drill, hammer, or tape measure. (He's had a hard time while our house-building progresses!)
They safely made the trip from Texas to Uruguay on United Airlines after months of planning. One doesn't just put pets on the plane - there are loads of forms and physicals to complete, as well as some kennel-training. We had lots of help from www.petrelocation.com out of Austin, Texas. They handle moves in the U.S. and world-wide; we were lucky to have them right on our doorstep to help. Our longtime vet was also fantastically helpful and patient.
After reading dozens of horror stories regarding pet moves, we did prepare our pets with lots of kennel-training, long talks, and weeks of nail-trimming (in case of scratching on the kennel wires). The folks from Pet Relocation provided us with loads of helpful info and walked us through the entire process.
Sam and Gracie flew a week ahead of me in August (yes, August in Texas). United Airlines "Pet Safe" program was wonderful. They emailed pictures of Sam and Gracie along the way, especially in the air-conditioned pet center at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
Sam and Gracie traveled from Austin to Houston to Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires they were picked up by a kennel owner, who took them through Customs and on to his kennel for the night. He emailed pictures and a video of them playing outside! The next day, he took them by Buquebus ferry to Montevideo and through Customs once more. It was a long, expensive journey, but so worth it to have them with us safely.
They've adjusted well to Uruguay and are well-loved by builders, neighbors, and friends. Uruguayans are natural dog-lovers!
Sam and Gracie are very special to us, since we've had them since they were both 8 weeks old. They are about as neurotic as they come, but we still love them. Gracie is terrified of loud rain, thunder, and fireworks. Sam goes berserk when hearing a drill, hammer, or tape measure. (He's had a hard time while our house-building progresses!)
They safely made the trip from Texas to Uruguay on United Airlines after months of planning. One doesn't just put pets on the plane - there are loads of forms and physicals to complete, as well as some kennel-training. We had lots of help from www.petrelocation.com out of Austin, Texas. They handle moves in the U.S. and world-wide; we were lucky to have them right on our doorstep to help. Our longtime vet was also fantastically helpful and patient.
After reading dozens of horror stories regarding pet moves, we did prepare our pets with lots of kennel-training, long talks, and weeks of nail-trimming (in case of scratching on the kennel wires). The folks from Pet Relocation provided us with loads of helpful info and walked us through the entire process.
Sam and Gracie flew a week ahead of me in August (yes, August in Texas). United Airlines "Pet Safe" program was wonderful. They emailed pictures of Sam and Gracie along the way, especially in the air-conditioned pet center at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
Sam and Gracie traveled from Austin to Houston to Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires they were picked up by a kennel owner, who took them through Customs and on to his kennel for the night. He emailed pictures and a video of them playing outside! The next day, he took them by Buquebus ferry to Montevideo and through Customs once more. It was a long, expensive journey, but so worth it to have them with us safely.
They've adjusted well to Uruguay and are well-loved by builders, neighbors, and friends. Uruguayans are natural dog-lovers!
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"It don't care whether I'm good enough. It don't care whether I snore or not. It don't care which God I pray to. There are only three things with that kind of unconditional acceptance: Dogs, donuts, and money." - Other People's Money - Lawrence Garfield (Danny DeVito)
We are in our fifth day of ten in our dog-sitting for Pake, our friends' twelve-year-old Border Collie. Pake has an interesting story, to say the least. Sadly, in Uruguay many sheep and cattle ranchers abandon their herding dogs, as the dogs become too old to work. Pake was one of these older dogs.
In June of 2013, my husband was driving to the market near Portezuelo Beach when he saw a beautiful Border Collie running alongside the highway. The dog looked to be brown, hungry, and dirty, but very noble-looking. This was nearly 20 kilometers from our home.
On the way back from the market, he saw the dog again and pulled over. Said dog wanted nothing to do with my husband! To clarify the context, my husband had been separated from our two Border Collies, Sam and Gracie, for several months and was missing them terribly. He was instantly in love!
On another day, one of our friends saw the same dog, still traveling in the general direction of our chacra, but still about 12 kilometers away.
Lo and behold! Hubs was driving down a different country highway about 7 kilometers from our chacra and there was the same Border Collie in a field, looking as regal as could be. My husband decided right then and there if that Border Collie showed up anywhere nearer, he would be ours! A trip was made to the pet store to stock up on dog food, leash, collar, toys, and shampoo. On the way home, he stopped, took a picture of the dog, and called him to come, but still no luck. Heartbreak...
A week or so later, we heard that “our Border Collie” showed up at the home of friends living at least 10 kilometers away from us. (17 kilometers from the last spotting in the field). When they bathed the dirt from Pake, he turned out to be black and white, not brown. In all, Pake traveled over 35 kilometers from where he was first seen to his new home!
Pake hit the jackpot at the end of his search for a "forever" home. His new home comes complete with a four-year-old Border Collie playmate, Chico, and two loving parents. Pake adores the name our friends chose for him and responds to it every single time. Like his new "parents," Pake is now retired, lives on a 7 hectare chacra, and has lots of time to soak up all the sunshine, love and attention he deserves in his elder years.
We are so honored to have Pake stay with us. Our two Border Collies, Sam and Gracie, are quite jealous, but adjusting. What a great dog Pake is! What stories he could tell! He is brilliant at understanding every command, no matter that we speak English. He and I have started to go on two walks a day; he is teaching me about nature and the patience that should come to us all when growing older. No matter how old I grow, I will never understand how someone could abandon such a noble friend.
We are in our fifth day of ten in our dog-sitting for Pake, our friends' twelve-year-old Border Collie. Pake has an interesting story, to say the least. Sadly, in Uruguay many sheep and cattle ranchers abandon their herding dogs, as the dogs become too old to work. Pake was one of these older dogs.
In June of 2013, my husband was driving to the market near Portezuelo Beach when he saw a beautiful Border Collie running alongside the highway. The dog looked to be brown, hungry, and dirty, but very noble-looking. This was nearly 20 kilometers from our home.
On the way back from the market, he saw the dog again and pulled over. Said dog wanted nothing to do with my husband! To clarify the context, my husband had been separated from our two Border Collies, Sam and Gracie, for several months and was missing them terribly. He was instantly in love!
On another day, one of our friends saw the same dog, still traveling in the general direction of our chacra, but still about 12 kilometers away.
Lo and behold! Hubs was driving down a different country highway about 7 kilometers from our chacra and there was the same Border Collie in a field, looking as regal as could be. My husband decided right then and there if that Border Collie showed up anywhere nearer, he would be ours! A trip was made to the pet store to stock up on dog food, leash, collar, toys, and shampoo. On the way home, he stopped, took a picture of the dog, and called him to come, but still no luck. Heartbreak...
A week or so later, we heard that “our Border Collie” showed up at the home of friends living at least 10 kilometers away from us. (17 kilometers from the last spotting in the field). When they bathed the dirt from Pake, he turned out to be black and white, not brown. In all, Pake traveled over 35 kilometers from where he was first seen to his new home!
Pake hit the jackpot at the end of his search for a "forever" home. His new home comes complete with a four-year-old Border Collie playmate, Chico, and two loving parents. Pake adores the name our friends chose for him and responds to it every single time. Like his new "parents," Pake is now retired, lives on a 7 hectare chacra, and has lots of time to soak up all the sunshine, love and attention he deserves in his elder years.
We are so honored to have Pake stay with us. Our two Border Collies, Sam and Gracie, are quite jealous, but adjusting. What a great dog Pake is! What stories he could tell! He is brilliant at understanding every command, no matter that we speak English. He and I have started to go on two walks a day; he is teaching me about nature and the patience that should come to us all when growing older. No matter how old I grow, I will never understand how someone could abandon such a noble friend.
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"Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind ... and that's what's been changing. That's why I'm glad I'm here; maybe I can do something about it." - Miracle on 34th Street - Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn)
Thundershirts are like doggie blankets that wrap around a dog's midsection. The theory is that dear dog will feel safe and secure during thunderstorms, fireworks, or stress. Thundershirts work for Sam (pictured), but not so much for our girl Border Collie, Gracie.
In Uruguay, Christmas Eve is celebrated at midnight with many very loud and magnificent fireworks displays. Out here in the campo (countryside), I wasn't sure if neighbors would set off fireworks. I was prepared with thundershirts on both dogs, the TV blaring loudly with an old and forgettable U.S movie, and homeopathic relaxation drops for the dogs. Oh yes, and a wee bit of champagne for yours truly. As it turned out, no fireworks were heard, the stars were amazing, and I wound up singing "Silent Night" while star-gazing. My first Christmas Eve without family or friends and I survived! There were a few tears...
Thundershirts are like doggie blankets that wrap around a dog's midsection. The theory is that dear dog will feel safe and secure during thunderstorms, fireworks, or stress. Thundershirts work for Sam (pictured), but not so much for our girl Border Collie, Gracie.
In Uruguay, Christmas Eve is celebrated at midnight with many very loud and magnificent fireworks displays. Out here in the campo (countryside), I wasn't sure if neighbors would set off fireworks. I was prepared with thundershirts on both dogs, the TV blaring loudly with an old and forgettable U.S movie, and homeopathic relaxation drops for the dogs. Oh yes, and a wee bit of champagne for yours truly. As it turned out, no fireworks were heard, the stars were amazing, and I wound up singing "Silent Night" while star-gazing. My first Christmas Eve without family or friends and I survived! There were a few tears...
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“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Ferris (Matthew Broderick)
Every time I get sad and homesick, something wonderful happens. Last night - three fantastic and magical moments happened. We were sitting inside at our little table and watching the sunset - it is like nothing I have every seen - the colors are in layers, like a rainbow, but red, orange, and purple.
As the sun set and it became dark, I turned around in my chair and looked out the window behind me. Eno, our neighbor's horse, was standing right outside the window. We opened the window (no screens yet) and he stuck his head inside to be petted! Sam, our Border Collie, went crazy and stood up on hind legs to see the horse. It was so funny! We fed Eno carrots through the window.
The third moment was later on, right before we went to bed. We went outside and looked at the stars. I have never seen so many (even up in the Rocky Mountains) or seen the Milky Way so clearly.
As the sun set and it became dark, I turned around in my chair and looked out the window behind me. Eno, our neighbor's horse, was standing right outside the window. We opened the window (no screens yet) and he stuck his head inside to be petted! Sam, our Border Collie, went crazy and stood up on hind legs to see the horse. It was so funny! We fed Eno carrots through the window.
The third moment was later on, right before we went to bed. We went outside and looked at the stars. I have never seen so many (even up in the Rocky Mountains) or seen the Milky Way so clearly.
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"There's a Colonial woman on the wing of the plane. There is something they're not telling us. She was out there churning butter! She was churning butter!" Bridesmaids - Annie Walker (Krisen Wiig)
I really am a Colonial or pioneer woman; take your choice of time frames. We left the bed and breakfast two days ago and have spent two nights in our new little house. We FINALLY got electricity, but we neglected to install light fixtures or buy lamps. We rushed out to a light and lamp store, eager to use that electricity. We have no gas yet - so not hot water and no way to cook.
So - good ole thinking dictated that we buy a toaster and a crock pot. I just put an Osso Bucco stew into the crock pot. Our kitchen cabinets were delivered, but we have no countertops or a sink yet. So Pioneer Woman washed veggies in the bathroom, peeled and chopped them (with no cutting board) while sitting at the table. We do have a refrigerator and a wood stove. Just got the wood stove hooked up last night and were finally warm (after we city folks figured out how to start a fire). The night before we bought an electric heater and it broke about 2:00 in the morning, so we froze - it was 34 degrees outside. We got up this morning and found kindling and firewood and made the fire for the winter day. See? Pioneers!
The doggies are settling in. They've had to spend 2 days in the truck, as we had errands to run and their fenced in area by the house was too muddy from torrential rain. They are freaked out by the horses that wander around our property from next door. When the dogs were in the truck waiting for us one day, the horses surrounded the truck and looked in the windows at the Sam and Gracie. Of course, Sam and Gracie went nuts!
The toilet finally works without having to lift the back and manually push things to flush - ha! It's the little things that are so important.
We found a cute table, 4 chairs, and 2 nightstands last thing yesterday afternoon. Now we have a place to sit, besides the mattress. We cannot find a decent shower curtain anywhere. It's like a treasure hunt every time we enter a store - returning the broken heater was like living a sitcom! We were successful, though and everyone is very nice if you at least try a few words of Spanish.
I really am a Colonial or pioneer woman; take your choice of time frames. We left the bed and breakfast two days ago and have spent two nights in our new little house. We FINALLY got electricity, but we neglected to install light fixtures or buy lamps. We rushed out to a light and lamp store, eager to use that electricity. We have no gas yet - so not hot water and no way to cook.
So - good ole thinking dictated that we buy a toaster and a crock pot. I just put an Osso Bucco stew into the crock pot. Our kitchen cabinets were delivered, but we have no countertops or a sink yet. So Pioneer Woman washed veggies in the bathroom, peeled and chopped them (with no cutting board) while sitting at the table. We do have a refrigerator and a wood stove. Just got the wood stove hooked up last night and were finally warm (after we city folks figured out how to start a fire). The night before we bought an electric heater and it broke about 2:00 in the morning, so we froze - it was 34 degrees outside. We got up this morning and found kindling and firewood and made the fire for the winter day. See? Pioneers!
The doggies are settling in. They've had to spend 2 days in the truck, as we had errands to run and their fenced in area by the house was too muddy from torrential rain. They are freaked out by the horses that wander around our property from next door. When the dogs were in the truck waiting for us one day, the horses surrounded the truck and looked in the windows at the Sam and Gracie. Of course, Sam and Gracie went nuts!
The toilet finally works without having to lift the back and manually push things to flush - ha! It's the little things that are so important.
We found a cute table, 4 chairs, and 2 nightstands last thing yesterday afternoon. Now we have a place to sit, besides the mattress. We cannot find a decent shower curtain anywhere. It's like a treasure hunt every time we enter a store - returning the broken heater was like living a sitcom! We were successful, though and everyone is very nice if you at least try a few words of Spanish.
Cooking with no stove isn't so bad when you have a crock pot/slow cooker! Here's a link to my slow cooker recipes at my cooking website MissCookbook.com: