Showing posts with label Willow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willow. Show all posts

Friday, January 22, 2010

Nature Girl Takes a Walk

We got a bit of new fallen snow on Wednesday, so I took the camera when Willow and I went for our afternoon walk on Thursday to document what fresh tracks we could see. We saw mouse tracks.
And more mouse tracks.
And Willow tracks.
Not to be confused with coyote tracks. We saw lots of those. These side by side tracks were the first sign that we had more than one though. There have been a couple media reports about coyote attacks recently, so we carry a large stick on our walks and I never let Willow get too far away. I'm not sure if this is for my protection or hers.
We also saw pheasant tracks.
And a pretty nice view.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

New Year's Lists

New Year is an artificial time when everyone tried to renew themselves with resolutions. I don't make resolutions but I find I make lists of things I should be doing, in hopes I will be better at getting those things done. I have a tendency to let things slide. I also seem to think better at night than in the morning, because it is usually just before bedtime that I remember what I had decided to accomplish that day, only to realize I had only 30 minutes left to do it all before bed. But the next morning, those items go right out of my head and I continue to accomplish nothing. So night time is for lists, and then my memory is there on paper in front of me, spurring me on to get those things done.
January 4 was New Year this year. It was the first Monday after the New Year, and so became the back to school, back to work norm for all. This is the list I made on Monday, only 4 days ago. In only 24 hours this was the long list of TO DO's for me to try and accomplish soon. Some are small, like water proof my new winter boots. But if I didn't write it down, it wouldn't get done, and then my new winter boots would look like hell by February. Most items should be done by the end of the first week or two, certainly they should be done before the end of the month. Two of these things, the sewing machine and the fix jewelry items, have been on the list for years. The problem with lists is that they get longer and can go on for ever so there is a finite amount of time that the momentum can be maintained before the system fall apart and I go back to accomplishing nothing. As you can see from the crossed off items, I have made a start. (yay me) But since taking this picture, I have added two more items to the list. (Woe is me)

It is important to note that this list does not include any of the regular To Do items that I have to accomplish all the time. There is no laundry, groceries, meal prep, dishes, house work, renovation work, school work, work work or pottery on this list. This is the list of stuff that needs doing outside all the normal daily stuff. It is no wonder the system falls apart by the third week of January.

On another topic, it occurs to me that New New Cat has aquired apermanent name, Fleur, which was not on the previous list of possible monikers. For those of you wondering how she and Willow are getting along I submit this:
Willow and Fleur in their favourite spots by the fire. Willow in the prime spot that Atticus vacated, and Fleur on the dog blanket. To prove that I didn't just snap the photo while she was stretching, I submit the others from various angles. I doesn't look comfortable, but it must have been because she stayed that way for a long time.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

Day 6 of unemployment. Well sort of. The Community College did not go on strike so I still have classes to prep for and teach. Which means that today seems to be the first free time day in nearly a week where I get to do what I want.
As always I have a list of things to do that include cleaning up and organizing the studio and the greenhouse after months of ignoring those chores. There are still garden remains to deal with too. I'm not even going to think about the disaster zone in the garage.
Willow is settling in nicely, she is still a little reserved and we are trying hard to make her more out going and silly. Unlike Jake, she is very difficult to wind up, almost impossible in the house. Which I know is a good thing but we like our dog to be the zany entertainment and so far she continues to be a calm well mannered young lady. WTF?
We were warned that she didn't get along with the other dog at her other home, but she has met three friend's dogs so far and acted very well. We did a Sunday walk with friends and their dog, and we all got along fine until the end. They got into a scuffle but it was probably more traumatizing for the people than it was for the dogs who seemed fine moments later. We were also warned she can sometimes be incontinent as a result of her being spayed. She did have an accident yesterday and seemed mortified when she realized, so we are researching ways to help this.
Atticus has the tendency to eat too quickly and then barf up his food. So we have a barfing cat and a peeing dog. (Atticus, however, never appears embarrassed by his accidents, and the problem is mostly solved by putting a ping pong ball in his food to stop him gobbling it so fast.)
Perversely I like Willow more for this flaw than when I though she was a perfect well behaved dog. Let's face it, a well behaved Golden Retriever is just too suburban middle class for me. It also appears I am allergic to her, so this of course adds to her appeal.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Meet Willow



This is Willow, our newest family member. She is a lovely three year old Golden retriever that we adopted this week from a family on the south shore, who happily for us could not keep her anymore.
She is very well behaved but I'm sure after a week or so with us she will learn many bad habits.
Atticus is not completely sure about this new addition, but so far they each seem ok with the other.