Monday Mischief

We've mentioned previously how blind Hiker is a hoarder uh, I mean a hunter-gatherer. Whatever she can get a hold of, she'll take it into her crate. Socks, shoes, Nylabones, plastic of any sort, etc.

She found something that she couldn't get into her crate.

Hiker was very happy and proud of herself (see the blurry tail wagging) for finding this hanger but somewhat disappointed that it wouldn't fit in her crate.

For a while, we were hanging with the Hikes!

One more barn cat?

A few days ago I was out in the barn.  I filled the two cat food dishes and then went in and fed the hens. As I exited the hen's "house", out of the corner of my eye I saw what I initially thought was one of our barn cats having her breakfast. 

A quick second look and I realized that it was not one of our barn cats. (In my defense, it is a very poorly lit barn and we do have a black and white barn cat.)

I left the barn, went to the house, got the camera and came back. It was still eating.  Over the past few days it has settled in nicely and the cats have accepted it to the point where they all eat together now.

Many people have said "get rid of it". That was considered but as a Natural Resources person pointed out, removing the skunk (we'd relocate not kill) isn't solving the problem. Something else will take the place of it. Whatever is attracting it must be removed. Well, that is the cat food so that is not an option. For now, we'll leave it.

Not to worry, the dogs are not allowed in the barn so there is no real concern about them encountering it.  

Tasty Tuesday

Our small flock of hens continue to lay eggs every day and now that we have a total of ten hens we gather eight to ten eggs each day.  Even with that, there are not enough eggs to supply all the people that want to buy them.  Perhaps there might be enough if our customers were the priority but of course, they aren't.

Two hard cooked eggs shared among five dogs doesn't give them much but they sure do appreciate the occasional something special in their dinner. 

The paying customers will have to wait another day for their dozen eggs.

Wordless Wednesday

Ready To Go!

It seems as though there might be some travel in our future. Plans are apparently being made. 

Hiker has her travel mug ready.

Trail has some "money". It is actually Canadian Tire money but hey, money is money, right?

We aren't actually going anywhere. It is just Hiker being her usual self, grabbing things and taking them into her crate. Trail has a love of paper and will grab whatever he can.

But I can't help but wonder if they are trying to suggest that maybe we should go somewhere.

Critter Watch - Summer Edition

You may recall last winter when we had a critter watch going on.

Bill, Molly and Hiker and pigeons

We've recently had a summer edition, featuring Hiker.

Yes, you're right, Hiker is blind and not really watching anything but she sure knows that there is something over there outside the barn in that enclosure.  She can hear them. There is landscape fabric around the enclosure that has been gradually pulled back to get the dogs used to seeing the critters.

This is what Hiker is hearing -

Kramer, Priscilla and Priscilla

The rooster was named when we adopted him, all three brown hens are named Priscilla because they look identical and there is a fourth hen, a smallish white one named Belle. 

Not only is it fun to watch them, we get these -

With three to four eggs being laid a day, there are enough to sell once in a while for $3.00 a dozen. I was surprised that once word got around, people were asking me for eggs. We need some more hens!

Wordless Wednesday

How We Do Things

Recently there was a comment from our blogville friend Melon regarding Callie on laundry day. Melon wondered if Callie could ever be in the same room with the others.  Well, the answer is not really. 

When it comes time for Callie to go outside or come inside, she is separated from the others for everyone's safety.  

We use an exercise pen that is unfolded.  There is lots of sniffing and tail wagging between the dogs but no actual contact.  Just in case you're wondering if maybe they could be together....there was one evening a few months back where I had thought that Trail had gone into the living room after coming inside but he didn't. He was by the back door and I didn't see him.  I arranged things for Callie to go out and she pounced on Trail and had him into the corner, biting him within a second of seeing him.  Luckily, nobody was hurt but it sure scared the you-know-what out of me and Trail too.

If you've been following us for a long time, you may recall seeing pictures of Callie and some of the other members of the pack and some foster dogs too.

Over the past few years, Callie's tolerance of others has diminished.  She has always been quick to "discipline" others and as she ages, she is more cranky.  Way back when Hiker was first adopted, Callie was responsible for breaking Bill's leg.  While Hiker and Bill were playing, Callie seemed to think they were getting a bit too rowdy and she got between them and bit Bill, resulting in his front leg being broken.

Bill's orange cast.

It wasn't an aggression action, just Callie taking charge.

Fast forward a few years and rather than take chances, it is just easier for Callie to have her own space.  She can see the kitchen where we spend most of our time and gets the most one-on-one time of all the pack. Bonus - she never has to share her toys!