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| Skunked! |
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| Fall brilliance |
Then: The First Part of September 2010
September started out nicely enough until the morning of the 2nd when the dogs went out at 4:30 a.m. There was quite a ruckus about 15 minutes later and then there was quite an odor. I opened the front door and there was Jesse, drooling, nose running and eyes closed. Poor baby! He had just got skunked! Then it was, poor ME. I yelled for JB to get up. Hauled Jesse into the tub, and grabbed some dish soap and his regular shampoo. Trying not to breathe, we gave him a long, sudsy bath. When we had rinsed him off, the scent was still pretty strong but at least he could open his eyes a bit and wasn't drooling any more.
I covered the couch with towels for him and we all went back to bed. Later that morning I called Elsie and asked her advice. She recommended a paste made up of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Put it on the worst areas and let it dry, then give him another bath. So we tried that and it got rid of most of the odor. The best soap to use is Dawn because it is such a great grease and oil cutter and the skunk's spray is an oil, but I didn't have any at the time. We had to throw Jesse's collar away, but fortunately I had a couple extras. Even with all the paste and baths, that wonderful scent hung around for several weeks. I certainly hope he has learned his lesson. The next time to town, I brought back two bottles of Dawn.
We continued to cut and split wood brought up from down the driveway. We have been so busy lately that we decided to take off Friday, 9/10, and go to the Chelan County Fair in Cashmere. We always used to go to the State Fair in Puyallup when we lived the other side of the mountains, but that is HUGE. We both prefer the smaller, country fairs. It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Saw a lot of great displays and animals. Ate a lot of yummy, fair food. It was the longest we had ever left the dogs at home, but they did just fine.
On Saturday evening, Larry and Elsie came up and brought a huge box of peaches. We had scheduled this visit, as she was going to help me can for the first time. I had finished taking the four classes, but it was so good to have someone else there who really knew what they were doing. We canned 14 pints that evening. It is really easier than it sounds and looks. It was a good way to spend 9/11 with all its bad memories.
The next day I canned 14 more pints of peaches; limbed three dead-standing trees that JB felled; and split 5 wheel barrow loads of wood. I figure I really earned my "Mountain Mama" Degree that day.
On 9/15 we all went Down There. The dogs needed their annual shots. We shopped at the Farmer's Market, then Costco and the grocery store. On our way back Up There on our dirt road, a small bear ran across the road in front of us. Of course the dogs went nuts. But later that evening on our walk, they got to chase a deer away. They only chase the critters to the fence on the east slope and south ridge, down to the end of the driveway or part way down the west ridge. They know our boundaries and are simply keeping the critters away from our home, not chasing them just for the chase.
The Fall colors are in full bloom now, with more leaves turning each day. I love the brilliance of it all.
Now: July 31, 2011
After this past week we are going to take today off and just relax. We have earned it and our bodies are screaming for it. Yesterday morning we put the second layer of tar paper on top of the deck using the staple hammer and cold tar. Got it done just as the sun caught up to us. After a late lunch, we cleaned out and organized a bit inside the shop. JB decided where he wanted the window, then marked exactly where it would go and cut the 2X4's to frame it. He started cutting the metal, but by them it was just getting too hot and we were getting too tired. So he took a short nap, then got dinner ready - home-made pizza. He makes the best!
When I changed the sheets yesterday (Saturday night, you know), I put on regular sheets instead of flannel ones for the first time this year. The nights are finally warm enough.
I plan to paint the three front posts on Monday. Our warm, dry weather is supposed to hold out until at least Wednesday.
September started out nicely enough until the morning of the 2nd when the dogs went out at 4:30 a.m. There was quite a ruckus about 15 minutes later and then there was quite an odor. I opened the front door and there was Jesse, drooling, nose running and eyes closed. Poor baby! He had just got skunked! Then it was, poor ME. I yelled for JB to get up. Hauled Jesse into the tub, and grabbed some dish soap and his regular shampoo. Trying not to breathe, we gave him a long, sudsy bath. When we had rinsed him off, the scent was still pretty strong but at least he could open his eyes a bit and wasn't drooling any more.
I covered the couch with towels for him and we all went back to bed. Later that morning I called Elsie and asked her advice. She recommended a paste made up of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Put it on the worst areas and let it dry, then give him another bath. So we tried that and it got rid of most of the odor. The best soap to use is Dawn because it is such a great grease and oil cutter and the skunk's spray is an oil, but I didn't have any at the time. We had to throw Jesse's collar away, but fortunately I had a couple extras. Even with all the paste and baths, that wonderful scent hung around for several weeks. I certainly hope he has learned his lesson. The next time to town, I brought back two bottles of Dawn.
We continued to cut and split wood brought up from down the driveway. We have been so busy lately that we decided to take off Friday, 9/10, and go to the Chelan County Fair in Cashmere. We always used to go to the State Fair in Puyallup when we lived the other side of the mountains, but that is HUGE. We both prefer the smaller, country fairs. It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Saw a lot of great displays and animals. Ate a lot of yummy, fair food. It was the longest we had ever left the dogs at home, but they did just fine.
On Saturday evening, Larry and Elsie came up and brought a huge box of peaches. We had scheduled this visit, as she was going to help me can for the first time. I had finished taking the four classes, but it was so good to have someone else there who really knew what they were doing. We canned 14 pints that evening. It is really easier than it sounds and looks. It was a good way to spend 9/11 with all its bad memories.
The next day I canned 14 more pints of peaches; limbed three dead-standing trees that JB felled; and split 5 wheel barrow loads of wood. I figure I really earned my "Mountain Mama" Degree that day.
On 9/15 we all went Down There. The dogs needed their annual shots. We shopped at the Farmer's Market, then Costco and the grocery store. On our way back Up There on our dirt road, a small bear ran across the road in front of us. Of course the dogs went nuts. But later that evening on our walk, they got to chase a deer away. They only chase the critters to the fence on the east slope and south ridge, down to the end of the driveway or part way down the west ridge. They know our boundaries and are simply keeping the critters away from our home, not chasing them just for the chase.
The Fall colors are in full bloom now, with more leaves turning each day. I love the brilliance of it all.
Now: July 31, 2011
After this past week we are going to take today off and just relax. We have earned it and our bodies are screaming for it. Yesterday morning we put the second layer of tar paper on top of the deck using the staple hammer and cold tar. Got it done just as the sun caught up to us. After a late lunch, we cleaned out and organized a bit inside the shop. JB decided where he wanted the window, then marked exactly where it would go and cut the 2X4's to frame it. He started cutting the metal, but by them it was just getting too hot and we were getting too tired. So he took a short nap, then got dinner ready - home-made pizza. He makes the best!
When I changed the sheets yesterday (Saturday night, you know), I put on regular sheets instead of flannel ones for the first time this year. The nights are finally warm enough.
I plan to paint the three front posts on Monday. Our warm, dry weather is supposed to hold out until at least Wednesday.
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