Start a New Novel

I have started reading Winter's Bone: A Novel by Daniel Woodrell.  This novel has grabbed me from page one.  The movie came out recently and is forecast to receive Oscar nods.  I prefer to read the book first.  I usually find movies do not depict the story as well as the novel.  For example how could you ever expect a movie to pull off The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Neffenegger.  I saw the movie and who could have followed it without having read the book.  Another example is White Oleander by Janet Fitch.  That movie did not at all come across well.  The novel was so good, but there is no way a movie could detail the life of Astrid who's mother was imprisoned for murder and she bounced from foster home to foster home.  Such a gripping novel.

I have yet to watch the movie, The Lovely Bones.

But I have heard good reviews about the movie Winter's Bone, although still have to read the novel first.

Regina

Raccoons

There are raccoons in our neighborhood.  A few years ago, I had issues with them getting into the bird food I stored in containers on the back patio and upper deck.  Needless to say, I now keep my birdfood in the garage.  Recently I changed a bird feeder from an open mouth feeder to little slots for the birds access to the food.   I had seen the squirrels and grackles eating all my bird seed so wanted to change it just for the finches.

Shortly after I changed the feeder, I noticed a plant had been trampled.  I didn't pay it much attention just figuring the birds had been using it for landing.  I moved the plant.  Then about a week later I found a pile of poop by my sliding glass door.  I had stepped right over it and sat down on my chair to enjoy a nice early morning cup of coffee.  My dog, Sadie, immediately picked up the scent and followed the path of something on the deck that lead to the pile.  This was not the pile from a little squirrel.  At first I was confused about how and what had happened.     There are no stairs leading to the deck and it is at least 10 feet off the ground.  I knew raccoons and squirrels could get on the deck.   Then a week or so later I found the cushion on my lounge chair destroyed.

I felt so violated.  I cannot prove it was raccoons but can't figure out what else it would have destroyed the cushion.  Would a squirrel be able to do this?  

Regina

Dog-N-Jog

Sadie and I went to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City Dog-n-Jog this morning.  We used her new Easy Walk Harness and love, love, love it.  Since the D-ring to attach to lease is on the dogs chest they cannot pull.  Every time Sadie got ahead of me or tried to pull, she was turned toward me.  She still received plenty of opportunity to sniff and visit dogs and people but it was so much easier for me and welcoming for others.  We start personalized training next Saturday.

Regina

It is June - humidity, art festivals and my Golden Retriever-

Summer is here, the heat and humidity of Kansas City, not my favorite time of year.  I grew up in the desert southwest and have been in KC for 15 years.  I am still  adjusting to the humidity, but still hate it.


I went to the  first annual Liberty Arts Squared last Saturday, June 5th.  It was so humid, standing in the shade, sweat was rolling into my eyes and burning.  But I am happy to support a local art festival in my neighborhood.  I saw some great pieces of art, one of my favs was Cinderelish, a potter, who I visited with and found out she has a blog.  I love her pottery and could see pieces that I believe my daughter-in-law would love.


My dog Sadie, is a stubborn, overly friendly Golden Retriever.  She is always so eager to see people, I cannot control her, she pulls, wags ferociously and stretches out to sniff and lick them.    In the last two weeks I have been hurt as a result of her antics.  The first I was walking her and friend Newton in St Louis, and two little dogs were barking disturbingly at a fence as we approached.  Sadie pulled to get to them.  I braces to hold her back.  I was doing pretty good until I felt my left foot slip and my big toe hit the front of my shoe.    I did get Sadie past the little dogs and finished our mile walk.  An hour or so later, I felt my big toe hurting like my shoe had been too tight.  Upon further analysis, I found toe swollen, unable to bend and very sore.   I still don't know exactly what happened.  Toe is slightly better, but still not too flexible.  That was two weeks ago.


Last weekend, I took a two mile walk with Sadie and as I approached a man on the sidewalk, I deliberated about whether to step into street or hold bring Sadie to my side and secure her.  I did the later, and that rotten little cute girl leaped out to see sniff the man.  I stepped off the sidewalk to control her and stepped right into a hole and fell, twisted my knee and scrapped and bruised my elbow.  This has got to stop!!!!

I have tried the Gentle Leader, but Sadie walks around with her head to the ground in shame.  I talked to my friend Laura, a dog trainer and owner of  the The Dog's Spot, she recommended a product by Premier the Easy Walk Harness.  It did take me a bit to fit her, but this morning she walked right beside me.  I am also going to take some classes from Laura to isolate Sadie's people social skills.  Sadie loves Laura and taking classes at The Dog's Spot.  


Has anyone else had the same trouble like Sadie?


Regina