Disposal puppy

Song of the day: “Relax” by…I’m not entirely sure, actually. I better look that up…
Now that’s an oldie. I think that it’s even before my keep-track-of-the-top-40 days. *sigh* The good old days, eh?

The most prominent event of the past couple of days would definitely be the puppy. Nope, not one of ours, but the cute little golden retriever mix that we saw at the garbage bin last night while we were on our way home from our jog. We tried to harden our hearts, we really did. We dug through the garbage bin for food, fed him, left him some water, and then, with much difficulty left him there. He was so sweet. Not too scared yet, and let himself be picked up and everything. This doesn’t happen often with abandoned dogs. Usually they’re so scared , they’ll run off as son as you so much as look at them. But anyway, this one didn’t and he wasn’t too skinny yet.

Though we left him, this morning we were too bothered with the image and drove back to the garbage bin to see if it was still there. It was. Lying the shade of the big bin, and bounding toward us the moment I made kissy noises. No hesitation this time, he practically leapt into my arms, and I swear, if I didn’t have six dogs in my own pack already, I would have let myself be sold that very instant. But I do have six dogs that deserve attention as well, and what with at least eighteen of our dogs already getting on in age (and therefore getting an iffy immune system) it really isn’t a risk to take.

So we drove to the village, to our vet, and explained the situation. It is not an unfamiliar story for them there, and they of course understood that we couldn’t take it, so the little fluff is in a small cage now, waiting for the local shelter to come pick him up. I have little doubt that they’ll find a home for the little one. He’s adorable, fluffy, and looks like a golden retriever, so there really is no reason for me to feel bad about the entire thing…but of course I do. I was raised to care about little puppies, and feeling responsible for them, feeling their pain and wanting the best. Sometimes it’s a curse, and sometimes…well. No matter. I can only change the world one step at a time, right?

But alright. Back to the normal routine, shall we? Yesterday. What the heck did I do yesterday?
Well, the first part would be easy if there was only the normal routines, but nope, after laundry, chores and dog food, big brother and I went to the village to pay the latest humongous dog bill at the vet’s. With that done, we went to the vegetable distribution center, where we picked up the vegetables that folks over there can’t sell due to damage and such. Grandpa has formed a nice relationship with the fellas over there, and they give the stuff to him for free. Really good, that, now that we make our own food.

The usual boring morning chores followed. Then the dog food, and before you know it, it was time to head on down to the basin terrace and start on the book. Had some pretty heated conversations going, partly due to the fact that we sometimes have different tastes, have our imaginations head into different directions. Gawd it got heated. In fact I was seriously miffed at times and was once again battling the urge to conk big brother one. Grrr. The problem is, we are trying a different technique here. For the past twenty years or so I have been writing a particular way. I think of a character, start writing and then slowly discover where that very character takes me. Now, the characters are going to be secondary to the plot. First we’re writing an outline of the plot, then we’re going to put together a chapter by chapter outline, and only then the writing will actually start. Aaaargh. Sooooo frustrating. I like change, but I also hate it at times. *sigh*

Watered the plants, of course, cooked supper (white endive with oat patties on the side) and then went back into the yard to harvest the first batch of basil for drying in Grandpa’s new drying cupboard. It’s beautiful, by the way. I’ll have to take a pic and show you someday soon. Hah.

That done, dog food had to be cut while big brother worked on the finances. It was a bit of a rush job on both our parts because we wanted to go out on that jog I mentioned at the start of the blog. Managed to do about half a mile before some bug went down my throat making me almost chuck up my meal in an attempt to get it out. Seriously, the jog was going pretty darn well, and then suddenly all the fun drained right outta it. Next time better, eh? Then there was the puppy incident, followed by a rather late night.

Strangely enough I forgot to set my alarm, meaning that I didn’t wake until ten when big brother phoned me to inform me of the time. *sigh* I was running behind most of the day, and since we had to go out for the pup, it didn’t get any better. As soon as I got back home, I had to go out again because cousin Ed was out with the Opel, and Sally had to be driven to her doctor’s appointment. That meant I was out until one in the afternoon, darn it.

When I got back I came home to a mess. Big brother and grandpa had sawed down two small trees and a dead one. The latter for firewood, the others for new support beams down by the terrace. Now that the little fence has been fixed in place, and the open paths blocked, we’re taking the dogs with us to the terrace while we’re working on the computers there. They love it, in particular the part where they’re constantly in our way. *sigh*

But anyway, after doing dishes (including canning pots) and putting the washed pots in the pan for cooking them clean. We’re having a rather big harvest of zucchini this year, and since the freezer is already pretty full, I’ve decided to can them instead. Got fourteen bottle done today, seeing as we cut them during plot-lining, then cooked them, and put them in pots before the afternoon was over. Didn’t actually see tenant today, since she was out this morning, and afterward I was down the garden all day.

Did manage to cook dinner (fresh beets with potatoes) after which we headed down into the yard to water, and put stick sticks with the young pepper plants. The poor darlings are going so fast they’re getting too big to be able to stand on their own. Since grandpa took the time to cut about sixty sticks, we actually managed to support them all. Yay.
The wind by then was downright nippy. In particular since the sun disappeared. No matter, tough, by the time I got up to my cabin, I changed into sweats and warmed up really fast.

Now, I gotta hurry a little, seeing as I have to go out AGAIN tomorrow to pay for the Opel insurance, darn it. We’re hoping we’re back ‘round one so we can work on the books again, but seriously stuff like that has a tendency to take more time than planned. Well, gotta go.