Texas! Soup. More Painting and Sorting.

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas ...

"If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas ;
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas ;
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas ;
If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas ;
If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas ;
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas ;
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas ;
If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas ;
If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' you may live in Texas ;
If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas .. "

To embellish Jeff Foxworthy's byline a bit, "there are rednecks and other senseless people everywhere, even in campgrounds".

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .

1.  Beaumont to El Paso : 837 miles  (Acutally it is more from LA border to NM border).

2..Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles

          3... El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

4... World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.

5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. Destroyed by Hurricane Ike -2008!

6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston .

7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America

8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.

9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

10. The worst natural disaster in U.S.... history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane, in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .

11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20,1969, was " Houston ," but the space center was actually in Clear Lake City at the time.

12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island ..

13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43' in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July of 1979...

14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union ) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.

15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper..

          18. Texas has had six capital cities: Washington -on- the Brazos, Harrisburg , Galveston ,Velasco,     West Columbia and Austin ...

19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington DC (by 7 feet).

20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free standing monument in the world and it is taller than the Washington monument.

21. The name ' Texas ' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas ..

22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo (an interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females.).

23. The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston

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Cowboy's Ten Commandments
(Posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas)
1) Just one God.

(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.
Y'all git all that?

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Today:

Ray knew he was going to be tackling the trim and door in the kitchen, so I left him here, while Paco the little Chihuahua, and I went to get Jay in the Puddle Jumper.  I just use it in this big subdivision. (I use it like a golf cart, but it will haul more, and has sides for when it is raining!)

On their fenced porch, Paco played with little Maddie, their Yorkie.  If I had known, I would have taken my camera.  Very different from stand-offish Sparky, (the Long Coat Chihuahua that I took care of for two weeks).

Paco just sat still in the car, and behaved, even when we stopped at the community mailboxes to get our mail.  Sparky would have been up in the front seat and would have tried to jump out, when the doors opened.  When we got back he just got in his bed and watched Ray sand and paint.

Jay and his mother, Claudia had had enough of one of those Sam's Club pre-cooked chickens, so gave it to me.  I took the one remaining breast half off, and stored it, as that is only part I will eat.  I even had some for lunch.  Of course, I had cats and a dog at my feet, begging, while I was dismantling it, so they each got a little, too.  Spoiled bratkins!

Then I put the rest of it in my electric pressure cooker with some low sodium chicken bouillon, and let it simmer under pressure for an hour, until the bones were SOFT.  That is very important, as bones can surely hurt an animal's innards.  This will then be strained, and the broth put in something to let the fat settle to the top, solidify and be thrown away.  Or the fat might be frozen to make suet for the birds next winter, I will have to research whether birds should eat poultry fat, sounds like cannibalism to me!  
The broth should be great for making a good soup base for whatever, and the rest will make a good addition to their pet food. So nothing is wasted.

Jay and I were attacking the stuff for sale in my Hall.  It is the only place in the house where no animals live, a precaution for buyers who have allergies.  So that is where it get shoved.  We boxed up the things can be offered in a yard sale and took them up to the storeroom attic.  I don't go up and down stairs when I am on my own, so that is why the 'stuff' had built up a bit.

I am trying to make that Hall area, on top of the low bookcase, just for computers, monitors, keyboards, etc. for sale. They can't be in the non climate controlled storeroom, and I am tired of them taking up space in the bottom of closets.
We took the mini blinds down and washed them.  We lay them out on an outside table, spray them with diluted 4-1 SuperClean from WM Auto Dept., lightly brush with soft brush, then hose them down.   We stand them up against something, on the ends of their fins, to dry, so it doesn't take very long.  I had already washed the drapes the other day.

Ray had done a little touch up paint in the Hall, so we didn't vacuum the windows sills, etc, but tomorrow is another day.

Wayzalot Wrecked. Adoption Day.

The famous Wayzalot, as seen in many TV shows and articles, met it's doom on the 11th. May 2010:





"A handmade wooden trailer named 'Wayzalot' sits wrecked on I-65 southbound after wrecking to avoid hitting a semi. Hardy Evans says the trailer has been featured on RV Crazy and has been featured 100 times on the Travel Channel. (By Amber Sigman, special to The Courier-Journal) May 11, 2010"
Here is where it was featured: http://www.wayzalot.com/as%20seen%20on%202.html
More at: http://www.wayzalot.com/

In it's heyday:


This is a picture from Tin Can Tourists.

Added later.      Here is the obituaty of the Wayzalot:
http://www.wayzalot.com/end%20of%20wayzalot.html
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Just in case you are interested in vintage trailers.   Here is a picture of my 53 Silver Streak Clipper, the one with the alien eyes:

http://www.tincantourists.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2131
Sold through Jim Patterson: http://tompatterson.com/index.html
http://tompatterson.com/Silverstreak/Pictures/195322ftclipper/Clipper22.php



And my 47 Westwood Coronado, a 'Before' picture.
By a strange set of events, I owned this one 3 times between 1968 and 2009. In 2009 the frame was just as good as it was in 1947.   Sold through Tin Can Tourists Classified.
Those were the oldest ones that I worked on.
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Jay said he would go with me to help me with the animals for Adoption Day.   So I put Patches and Prime in their traveling cages, and led Sparky out to the car and crated him for the trip.  Jay got the cat cages loaded in the van, but Patches was so mad at having to go to Adoption Day that she held her blankie with her feet,  and tore shreds off it with her teeth, on the way.  Jay unloaded them for me when we got there, while I led Sparky in.   I got them settled in their display cages, and left.

It was drizzling while Jay and I went down to The Woodlands.  Jay wanted to go to a warehouse type thrift shop there on Budde Road, where we used to pick up all sorts of bargains.  They didn't have anything we wanted this time, and I doubt if we will go there again. 
We stopped at one more thrift shop and then headed back to Conroe.  We had stopped at Pancho's Mexican Restaurant, but they had changed the menu, so we boogied on up to China Buffet.  I had a very nice meal, but Jay complained about everything, as usual.  But he would complain even if he was getting hung with a new rope!

They had a very slow Adoption Day, no applications on any of the animals.  As my Bobcat clearly feels that Sparky has usurped her house, I asked my SPCA boss to take him back for a while.  Both her parents are now out of the hospital, so she is not chasing around quite as much.  She said that he was a different dog since I took care of him, and showed well, whereas the other time he was there he growled and snapped at nearly everyone. 
I didn't like to do this to him, but my pet comes first.  She is 15 years old and it is her house.  She only came out of my bathroom twice the whole two weeks that Sparky was here.  She should not have to live under stress like that in her old age.

So I am again dogless today.

Lack of $500.000 Switch. Doctor Today.

So many people will be out of work, and countless animals will die, all over the lack of an Acoustic Switch. These switches cost the same as the daily lease payment on the rig.

Talk about 'false economy'!!
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"The accident has led to one of the largest ever oil spills in U.S. water and the loss of 11 lives. On Wednesday federal investigators said the disaster is now releasing 5,000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf, up from original estimates of 1,000 barrels a day.

U.S. regulators don't mandate use of the remote-control device on offshore rigs, and the Deepwater Horizon, hired by oil giant BP PLC, didn't have one.

With the remote control, a crew can attempt to trigger an underwater valve that shuts down the well even if the oil rig itself is damaged or evacuated.

When wells do surge out of control, the primary shut-off systems almost always work. Remote control systems such as the acoustic switch, which have been tested in simulations, are intended as a last resort.

Nevertheless, regulators in two major oil-producing countries, Norway and Brazil, in effect require them. Norway has had acoustic triggers on almost every offshore rig since 1993. "
More at : http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423504575212031417936798.html
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A doctor's appointment this morning didn't really answer any questions, or solve anything.  This blocked sinus due to cysts, is still giving me trouble.  I still can't blow my nose, so I get post nasal drip, and that wakes me up choking, in the night.

He gave me a prescription for some eye drops containing Benadryl, as my eyes always itch.  Jay went with me and we also quickly trolled through four thrift shops, but I just caught a soft cube cat bed, and an enamel bowl.

We stopped at Krogers and dropped off my prescription, and hung around there for half an hour, waiting for it.   We picked up a few bargains there, but not the prescription.  Apparently my health plan doesn't cover that medicine and it was $126.00.  I don't think so!

My SPCA boss had told me to put Sparky in a big cage in the grooming room while I was gone.  So Bobcat had the run of the house, and there was no repeat of Sparky scattering cat litter all over my bathroom today.

Cats Are Carnivores, Treat Them Like One! Sparky.

Cat's Teeth:

As is typical of carnivores, the teeth of the cat are appropriately modified for grasping, puncturing, and tearing (cutting), rather than for true mastication.
With the exception of "crunching" dry food, cats do little, if any, actual chewing.  The hinging of the lower jaw can only be moved up and down and possesses no ability for a lateral chewing motion. 

The cat has no first premolars and no lower (inferior) first or second premolars; the molars consist of a single upper and lower tooth on  each side. When the mouth is closed, the upper sectorial tooth (P4) slides across the vestibular surface of the lower sectorial tooth (Ml), 
producing an effective scissor-like cutting action, rather than a chewing action.
Thus the dental benefits of feeding dry food are grossly overrated.  The arrangement and spacing of the cat's teeth will more likely trap small, slaiva-moistened pieces of dry food.
Carbohydrate based dry cat foods also leaves a starchy coating which promotes plaque.
Nothing replaces professional dental care.
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Cats Need Animal-Based Protein
"The protein in dry food, which is often heavily plant-based, is not equal in quality to the protein in canned food, which is meat-based.  The protein in dry food, therefore, earns a lower biological value score.
Because plant proteins are cheaper than meat proteins, pet food companies will have a higher profit margin when using corn, wheat, soy, rice, etc.

Humans and dogs can take the pieces of the puzzle in the plant protein and, from those, make the missing pieces.  Cats cannot do this.  This is why humans and dogs can live on a vegetarian diet but cats cannot.  (Note that I do not recommend vegetarian diets for dogs.)

Taurine is one of the most important amino acids that is present in meat but is missing from plants.  Taurine deficiency will cause blindness and heart problems in cats. (Taurine is in muscle meats)

Cats are obligate (strict) carnivores and are very different from dogs in their nutritional needs. What does it mean to be an ‘obligate carnivore’?  It means that your cat was built by Mother Nature to get her nutritional needs met by the consumption of a large amount of animal-based proteins (meat/organs) and derives much less nutritional support from plant-based proteins (grains/vegetables). It means that cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins.
It is very important to remember that not all proteins are created equal.

Proteins derived from animal tissues have a complete amino acid profile.  (Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.  Think of them as pieces of a puzzle.)  Plant-based proteins do not contain the full compliment (puzzle pieces) of the critical amino acids required by an obligate carnivore.  The quality and composition of a protein (are all of the puzzle pieces present?) is also referred to as its biological value. "  More at: http://www.catinfo.org/#Cats_Need_Animal-Based_Protein_
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A lesson learned by Rvers, Dan and Sandy :
"Further research on line has led to a decision to stop or severely cut back on dry kibble type cat food, and feed mainly canned meats.  It will cost a bit more, but should lead to healthier cats and potentially much lower vet bills and laundry bills for our bedding.  Just a few links of research on cat foods:  http://www.catinfo.org/ and http://www.catinfo.org/commercialcannedfoods.htm "
From: http://2toomanycats.blogspot.com/2010/04/rough-start-to-leaving-westport_25.html
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I learned the lesson, many years ago, when my Bobcat developed painful crystals in her bladder.  I had been feeding her the 'teeth cleaning' kind of dry food, and her twice day canned food.  The sand or what ever they put in there to clean the cat's teeth, made the crystals develop.  But cats are not like dogs.
  
Now I feed her a special diet listed with the right PH, as another of my cats got a urinary tract infection, (common in cats), and it was due to a well advertised food not having the right PH for cats. 
When I got in touch with the company, all they said was "We sell a lot of it".  Yes, because they have got it covered in chicken fat or something that cats love, to disguise the bad, and inadequate ingredients. That is why some dry cat foods go rancid after a while.
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I didn't know if Sparky had got into Bobcat's box yesterday, but it earned him a bath. 
He was nervous about having his shower, but as soon as he realized that I wasn't going to get water in his nose, he calmed down, relaxed and enjoyed it.  He looks so fluffy now, since he was brush dried with a blow dryer.
As soon as he went outside that prompted him to roll in the dirt to get the 'clean' off!

This is his webpage: http://www.spcaofmc.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=2408231

Oh dear, what a dog's day!

Daily Clicks. Squash & Tomatoes. Sparky.

 
 

Click to Help & Shop to Help More!

"When you click, we display ads from our site sponsors. 100% of the money from these advertisers goes to our charity partners , who fund programs to protect and preserve rainforest habitat.
Our store gives a portion of every purchase to our charity partners.
Please tell your friends!"
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Did you see that?  "In the last 10 years, your clicks have saved over 70,500 acres of rainforest."   Everyone's clicks counts.
So many of our medicines comes from plants in the rain forests, and maybe there is a cure for cancer in there somewhere.
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Last night I had tomatoes and yellow squash which needed to eaten up, so I made:

Roasted Summer Squash with Tomatoes

"I love those quick and easy side dishes that take maybe 5 minutes to prep, and then all you do is pop it in the oven and forget about it.

I sliced up 3 good sized summer squash into half moons, and threw those into a baking dish along with 3 diced plum tomatoes, a couple cloves of chopped garlic, a handful of chopped parsley (if I would have had fresh thyme, that would have been my first choice), some olive oil and some balsamic vinegar (S&P too!). I tossed it all together and put it into a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Halfway through, I took it out for a little stir and put it right back in.

This is a nice light summer dish, and you could easily substitute zucchini and basil instead of the yellow squash with parsley! "
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I like these "absentee" dishes, as you can just walk away and do something else, (until the smoke alarm goes off, because you forgot about it!)
It was good, but it took longer than indicated in the oven, so I wished that I had done it in a pan kind of like the next recipe:
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"When served with chicken fried steak, fried okra, and pecan pie, a side of stewed squash and tomatoes rounds out Oklahoma's official state meal. Use tiny yellow and green pattypan squash and fresh tomatoes for the best results.
This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #111

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 lb. small green and yellow pattypan squash, cut into 1" wedges
11/2 tsp. kosher salt
3 medium tomatoes, cored and cut into eighths
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp. butter
8 leaves basil, thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Heat olive oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add squash and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash begins to soften and brown, about 15 minutes.
2. Add 1 cup water, tomatoes, and garlic to the skillet; stir to combine. Cook until liquid has reduced by a half and the squash is cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Stir in butter and basil and season with pepper to taste."    SERVES 4
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This morning, I just took it easy. I knew Ray wouldn't be here as he had put his back out, and was walking around bent over like some 90 year old.

Jay had called and said something was leaking in his mother's sink plumbing and garbage disposal. 

I went down there to shove some NutriCal down Maddie, the little Yorkie, as she still isn't eating right. Also it was time for her heartworm/flea meds.

Apparently, Jay needed a longer tailpiece for the sink plumbing, so as I had to go to the next town anyway, we took off.

At Lowe's, Jay bought what he needed, and loaded my minivan up with 2x4s, cedar boards, deck stain, and outdoor Spar Varnish.  We did stop at one thrift shop, Jay bought a shirt, and I bought a summer dress, and a Drylon shower curtain for my RV.

After a stop at Krogers, we came home.   Jay unloaded the 2x4s here, as he wants to rip them with my table saw.  I stopped here first, before taking Jay home, as I wanted to let Sparky, my foster dog out, and let him ride down there with me.  

That little rascal must have had some kind of run in with Bobcat, as there were shampoo and conditioner bottles, etc and cat litter strewn all over my bathroom.  So now I am going to have to put up a baby gate to keep him out of there.

My SPCA boss said I might have to start putting him in one of the big cages in my grooming room, when I leave.

Just as I was starting to trust him today!

Migrating Birds Could Use a Helping Hand. Please Help The Pigeons. Rocking Birds Video.

10 Ways People Can Protect Birds This Spring

Birds migrating. Photo: © FWS
(Washington, D.C., March 31, 2010) "As warmer temperatures begin to arrive and we spend more time outdoors, we hear the many, familiar sounds of spring, including the songs of our returning migrant birds. At this time of year, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) often gets asked how people can help birds. Toward that end, ABC has identified the top ten things people can do to aid or protect declining birds in their homes and yards."
More at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/stories/100331.html
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Tell Animal Planet Not to Air Cruel and Illegal Pigeon Races

"The photo on the cover of PETA's recent Annual Review shows how loving and devoted pigeons are.
In fact, they could teach the "Moral Majority" a thing or two: They mate for life, and both parents share in the care and nurturing of their young. It's not their fault that they were stolen from the cliffs where they lived peacefully and plunked down in the U.S. They are symbols of peace, after all.

Pigeons are among the most maligned urban wildlife, and it's hard to understand why anyone can find fault with these beautiful, fascinating birds. People trap them, poison them, and even force them into endurance races so that the humans involved can win prizes and purses-as Mike Tyson will showcase in an upcoming TV program on Animal Planet called Taking on Tyson.

Pigeons who are penned up for racing-on rooftops or in backyards coops, as viewers will witness in Taking on Tyson-are deliberately put at risk. Taken hundreds of miles from their pens, the birds often struggle to survive in all weather extremes and often fall prey to both wild predators, such as raptors, and cruel humans who shoot or trap them.

I once found a racing pigeon who had crossed the English Channel in a fierce storm, exhausted, no longer able to fly, and almost frozen on the ground. He made it to land from his release point, but others can only have perished, never to see their mates again. And for what? For wagers, that's what, and for trophies. Bets are usually placed on the outcome, which not only violates many state gambling laws but also can mean a grim fate for "losers."

Since pride and profit are often the compelling factors in pigeon racing, owners have little use for pigeons who can't or don't win. "Wring his neck" is what people so often hear when they report a starving or injured banded pigeon. So much for love and respect."
More at: http://animals.change.org/blog/view/standing_with_pigeons_against_mike_tyson

Tell Animal Planet Not to Air Cruel and Illegal Pigeon Races

Take Action   Please sign, thank you.

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More about birding: http://www.abcbirds.org/

We all know that birds rock, now here's a video to prove it... http://www.youtube.com/abcbirds

Go birding, save species!
"Please enjoy this one minute YouTube video and forward the link to your friends. Can you identify all of these spectacular birds? See the YouTube page for the full species list.
The video was made to promote http://www.conservationbirding.org/ 
American Bird Conservancy's new website that enables birders to find birding routes and lodges that support habitat protection."
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Jay and I went into the next town just to pick up a couple of things. 

My SPCA boss had left a case of canned dog food for Sparky at Petco.

Then we went to the Habitat for Humanity store, (open Fri. and Sat. only), as I still hadn't picked up the big deep drawer that I wanted to install under my small dishwasher.  Jay bought some window screens for his house there.  We had gone armed with the sizes he needed.

I like the Danby dishwasher so much better than my regular size one as I don't have to bend down to load or empty it. Also when the door is open it doesn't take up all the aisle. It uses so much less water, too.

Once we get the pergola finished, maybe we can concentrate on that drawer.

I finally let both foster cats out of the grooming room to see their reaction to Sparky. 

Prime just stayed under the dining table and glowered, but didn't attack.  Sparky barked at her one time and went into my bedroom.  Patches didn't want anything to do with him, and went back in the grooming room.  Prime decided that was a good place to be, and followed her after about 15 minutes.

So the first Prime/Sparky meeting is safely over today.

Dual Mother's Day Cards. Green Pug.

These cards have a dual purpose:

Protect Mother Earth--FREE!

(Sorry it is blurry, but I enlarged it, as I thought the animals and waterfall could been seen better. That's what I get for doing my own thinking!)

The cards say your Mother's Day Greetings, and each one sent helps this Mother Earth of ours, saving it for our kids and their kids.

http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/trs/composeecard/ecard-TRS-motherEarth-incented/ETE_050610_MDayEcard_8

Or pick a different card and contribute even more clicks: http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/trs/ecardcategory/mothersDay/

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It would be great if more people were as conscientious as this little dog about recycling!

It would save a lot of time, money and space at the landfills.
"If you're not recycling, you are throwing it all away".
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Bobcat came down from her padded seat at my bathroom window last night, and slept on my bed.  This is a first since Sparky arrived, as he sleeps on my bed, too.  They slept on opposite ends of the bed.

Ray was painting more of the pergola today.  Most of it he painted with a small roller, now he was doing all the cutting in with a brush.  Jay stayed at home, as he hates anything to do with painting.

Jay is taller so he doesn't mind reaching to things off a ladder, but Ray and I feel better with something bigger and more solid under us:




So the minivan came to the rescue.







I always know when it is getting hotter, as I can hear the faint sound of the attic fan going when I am in the kitchen.  It was quite nice this morning, but supposed to go up to 90°.

It is 87° F, and 46% humidity at 2.30 PM today.

Latest Dangers of Oil Spill.

Bird Group Warns that Oiled Birds Found Onshore May Be a Fraction
of the Total Toll on Birds From Gulf Spill

(Washington, D.C. - May 4, 2010)
“While the weather is restricting rescue efforts, I know that rescue groups are prepared to do  everything humanly possible to capture and save as many oiled birds as they can find, but there are problems well beyond our abilities to mitigate or even count.  In addition to the potential catastrophic losses to shorebirds that we know to be at risk on their breeding grounds and in the wetlands around the gulf, the oil spill poses a serious threat to seabirds,” Fenwick said. 
“ Luckily, in this case, most of the adult gannets have already headed north to their breeding grounds, so the juveniles are the ones that are likely to get affected in the Gulf right now.  In addition to these plunge-diving birds, surface foragers such as terns and gulls that alight on the water are vulnerable, particularly this time of year,” he said.
“Further, what is difficult to measure is the loss of future generations of birds when birds fail to lay eggs or when eggs fail to hatch.  Many of the birds are incubating eggs right now, and we know that even small amounts of oil on the parent’s feathers will kill the young,” he said.
“And bird prey bases are also impacted. The very fisheries that sustain the economy of the region also sustain the seabirds along the coast.  The impacts to fish stocks may have substantial, long-lasting effects on seabird,” he said. "
More at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/100504.html
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Oil spill's human impact: Oil and fish define south Louisiana's working life

Whether it's fish and shrimp or oil and gas, working on the water is a way of life for many people. But that life could change now with the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

• 

Charter and commercial fishermen listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator Jane Lubchenco, not pictured, in Venice, La., Friday. Local fishermen are worried about how their industry will withstand a growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana.
Article at: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0501/Oil-spill-s-human-impact-Oil-and-fish-define-south-Louisiana-s-working-life
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Ray painted some more of the pergola lattice while Jay and I went into the next town.

We stopped at a couple of thrift shops on the way to that town's Post Office.  It is closer to Houston, so I hoped that my parcels would get to their destinations quicker than if I mailed them in our little town. 

We hardly ever visit St. Marks Thrift Shop without buying something, their prices are so great, and today Jay bought a belt, shirt, and some fabric to recover his barstools, and I bought two pairs of pants.
 
Sparky is so good when I leave, and he is overjoyed to see me when I get back.  Some dogs tear stuff up or scrape at doors, when left alone, but he doesn't.  Even if I had a seat-belt harness for him, I can't take him shopping, as the van gets too hot.  But I take him in the little station wagon when I pick up Jay in the mornings, so he gets to ride around in the subdivision then.  He doesn't care much for Maddie, the Yorkie, she is too much of a flibbertigibbet.  But he doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with any other animals, anyway.

The weather is definitely getting more like summer, so we had to run the AC today.

Arizona Hype! Pergola. Sparky.

"The enactment of S.B. 1070 underscores the need for the federal government to secure the border and enforce our laws throughout the nation.
If the Obama administration had been doing its job protecting the interests and security of Arizonans, there would have been no need for the law.

Additional police powers.  
Despite the furor of the illegal immigrant advocacy network, SB 1070 doesn't give police officers any additional power to stop or pull someone over.

Police will still need to abide by lawful contact as they do now. Law enforcement still needs a legitimate reason -- the commission of another infraction such as speeding -- to justify a stop.


It does not mean that police will immediately ask for immigration papers (something resident immigrants are already required to carry under federal law).

As they do now, officers will go through a mechanical and lawful process of asking for identification. Only after a thorough process of following protocol will a police officer be required to ask about immigration status and then only if he or she has reasonable suspicion the person may be an illegal immigrant.
Even then, the law prohibits law enforcement from considering race, color or national origin as part of reasonable suspicion."
From: http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-dont-by-the-hype-about-arizonas-law/19458030
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I don't know why there is all this furor, it was a law anyway. 
If illegals don't want to get deported, then don't come, don't drive, or don't get stopped!
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Jay and Ray hoisted the new beam up in the pergola.


Yes, I know they should have used my taller ladders, but they are both stubborn!  It must be a macho thing.
Then Jay screwed back all the angled cross pieces, while Ray painted the lattice that goes back up there.













Sparky  was 'work dog', watching work, safely from inside the screen porch.  Bobcat was out there with him.  They ignore each other.
He never makes a sound, but he followed me to the washer in the garage last night, and Patches, my foster cat, had sneaked in there, too.  He barked at her twice, so she hid for an hour before she would come out of there.  She is such a scaredy-cat! 

The three items I had listed on eBay were paid for today, so I spent the afternoon packing them up.  I "play-it-forward" with Styrofoam peanuts, I hate the things.   If get them, they go out in the next parcel.  Of course the cats love them!
My hands are getting too old to struggle with boxes and packing tape.  But I have got to get rid of some of this stuff.

But I didn't take the packages to the Post Office, as I would have got there after they had closed for the day.

Oil Spill. Sparky. Got Lumber.

Click to Help & Shop to Help More!

More info: https://shop.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/item.do?siteId=310&itemId=42416&adId=48849&placementId=128877&origin=ERA_090309_ARS
Vulnerable sea birds and marine life in the Gulf of Mexico need our help.
Please tell your friends!
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(May 3) -- "A BP official says the company has "significantly cut the flow" of a leaking well that has been spewing crude oil from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico for nearly two weeks.
The well continued spilling oil at an unknown rate -- the Coast Guard said about 210,000 gallons per day -- and BP said it was a week away from an experimental attempt at collecting the spewing oil at the bottom of the gulf, 5,000 feet below the water's surface.

Turtles and other sea animals washed up dead along the Gulf Coast as crews tried to use booms to contain the slick that threatens the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Nearly 7,000 square miles of federal fishing areas were closed, shutting down a key Gulf Coast industry just when the spring season should have begun."
From: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/with-gulf-oil-spill-spreading-bp-spreads-blame-to-transocean-ltd/19462326?flv=1  
Including a video of the oil covered turtles.
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I left Sparky alone at home for the first time.  Bobcat just stayed on her big padded window ledge.   Sparky didn't destroy anything, or scrape any doors.  That's a good sign.  But he did jump up to Bobcat's dry cat food and ate it all up.  But he still won't eat dry dog food.  Thank goodness he is a healthy eater and not persnickety like Maddie, the little Yorkie.

Jay and I went into the next town to buy the treated 2"x8"x14' board for my pergola.  Jay had to get in the passenger seat first, and I slid it in through the back of the minivan, along side his seat, and out of his window.   We had taken a little piece of 2x6 with us, exactly the right length so that the big heavy board would not be resting on my mirror, but on the towel wrapped little board, on the armrest inside.  Needless to say, we did the other errands first.

It was hotter, but with the board poking through an open window we didn't run the van AC today.

Don't give your dog a bone. Pergola. Sparky 'Work Dog'. Kids!!

Don't forget "America, the Story of Us" is on History Channel tonight.

"Westward"   Is the second episode:
Pioneers head west, but find the land is already claimed; California gold rush; the steamboat ushers in a new era of commerce; slavery divides the nation; Abraham Lincoln's election as president is a harbinger of Civil War.
 
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Don't give your dog a bone. Really!

"The idea that it’s natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it’s a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. "

“Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death. Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can’t get to them.”
Stamper suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog’s reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. “And pay attention to where your dog’s nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood -- steer him away from any objects lying in the grass,” she says.


Here are 10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

“Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog,” says Stamper. “There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on. Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn’t had before. And always, if your dog ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”

This article is from FDA's Consumer Updates, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

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Pergola. (A pergola is a garden feature forming a shaded walk or passageway of pillars that support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, upon which woody vines are trained.) From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergola

A few days ago I noticed that one of the pergola boards was rotten.  (But my pergola had fake plants which needed replacing, on the lattice.

The pergola goes between the screen porch and the carport where my little station wagon is parked, so it is shady all the way from my house to the guest house. I lightened the picture to show the detail.

Jay had removed some of the lattice, but today we got the rest of it down, and the rotten board.  It is 14' long, so we had to figure out how to carry a new one in the minivan.


Sparky was work-dog.
Work dog's main job is to watch work.













He seemed quite content with his new job description!  He is settling in quite well, but he won't let me out of his sight.   He is not a barker, or squawker, he is very quiet, and laid back.
When I picked up Jay, Sparky met Maddie, the little Yorkie, and Leo's Muffie, but he doesn't care for other animals.  He ignores them.  He is just interested in "hoomans".  He and Patches, one of my foster cats, have been loose in the same room quite happily, no reaction whatsoever. 

Sparky also met my youngest granddaughter, Michelle.  She will be 18 soon, has had a divers license for a couple of months, just got a car, so she came to see me.

 
Then I found out that she had called me while driving.   Kids!!! 
I thought that was illegal, if not, it needs to be.

 A lovely sunny day, but I had to turn on AC today.

My Dog Won't Stop Barking ! My New Foster Dog.

"There are a number of reasons dogs bark. The most common include:

• Alerting behavior, such as when a stranger is at the front door.
• To show excitement, like you would see during an active play session.
• To communicate with you when he wants something, as in, "Let's go outside!"
• To communicate with other dogs when he wants to say hello or something else.
• Separation behavior, such as when dogs bark, bark, bark when their owners are gone.

Some herding breeds, like the Shetland sheepdog, will also bark when something is moving. This can be caused by excitement or a desire to herd the object. You've mentioned several situations that sound like moving objects are an issue, including cars, falling leaves, vacuum cleaners, brooms, snow, and other dogs. "
More at: http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/17/ask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-help-my-dog-wont-stop-barking/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl6|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2010%2F03%2F17%2Fask-the-akc-animal-behaviorist-help-my-dog-wont-stop-barking%2F
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More training tips for barking and growling at strangers:

“He may be protecting you or his territory, or he could be fearful of new people. How do your visitors act when they meet Devon? Sometimes, when a dog begins to bark or growl, the visitor goes out of his or her way to make friends with your dog. Some people will reach to pet the dog and others start talking in gushy baby talk. This is weird to the dog.”
http://www.pawnation.com/2010/04/14/ask-the-akc-behaviorist-help-my-dog-growls-and-barks-at-strang/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl7|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pawnation.com%2F2010%2F04%2F14%2Fask-the-akc-behaviorist-help-my-dog-growls-and-barks-at-strang%2F
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My new foster dog.
I drove to the next town for the third day in a row.  That is very unusual for me.  It was SPCA's Adoption Day, but I wasn't taking my foster cats.  I was going to pick up a dog.  His name is Sparky, and he is a Long Coat Chihuahua.   He looks more like a little fox, so I would have called him "Foxy".


This is his story: 
Five years ago, when he was a year old, his left eye got hurt, and was hanging out of it's socket.  His 'hoomans' wouldn't/couldn't take him to the vet so he was turned over to our SPCA.  By the time they got him, it was too late to save the eye, but he was adopted by a family with a little boy.   He slept with the little boy, and everything was great until a new baby came along.
Once the baby got up on his hind feet, Sparky started nipping at him. The baby was fostered and the family were waiting to adopt him.  If Social Services had got wind of this, even if the family had the time, knowledge and inclination to re-train Sparky, it would be all over.

My SPCA boss has been taking care of Sparky for two weeks, as well as her fosters and personal animals.  But she is kind of snowed under, as her parents are ill in separate hospitals, and her husband is having chemo at a third.  Sparky was scared of her larger dogs, so she would have to take him out separately, and he wouldn't tend to business unless she stayed with him.  Then he wouldn't come back in, so she would have to go get him, and carry him back indoors.   So I am trying to take a little load of her.

He had never been to Adoption day, so he was upset and confused, but he sat on my lap and we got to know each other.  I took him for a walk around Petco, and when he got to the giant bags of dog food on the bottom shelf, I could see his little brain saying  "This isn't such a bad place after all!"

 

When we got to my van, he jumped up in there like he owned the place, but I crated him for safety.   He was very good and quiet on the way home. 

 I took him down the pathway beside the house to the backyard, so he would know where it is, then he came back to the front door, and nervously came in. 

The foster cats were in the grooming room, but Bobbiecat was in a dog bed on my bedroom floor.  She ignored him, and her ignored her.  But somehow he knew that her food was in my bathroom, and ate some of that.

He saw the foster cats looking at him through the glass door, and didn't react at all, but I wouldn't trust Prime around him yet.  She doesn't like most dogs.

Now he is sleeping beside me, and seems content, so it is a good day.