The Never-ending Song

An old adage proves true--March came in like a lamb, lovely sunny day.  Today, March 31st, the month came to an end.  It went out like a lion--rain and very chilly. So one old saying  has been accurate for this year. Not sure about that woodchuck.  Maybe after this week, summer will come in with a roar, and the early heat will bring the COVID-19 to it's knees.  The rainy day did inspire me to do some Spring cleaning.   I hoard magazines.  Just hate to give them up even after reading every article. I always think I might use the pictures for a project.  Anyway I sorted them  into 3 piles.  One pile of Writer's Digest for another lady here who writes, but cannot afford the magazine.  Another pile of  Birds and Blooms and Wildlife magazines.  So many bright photos of animals and flowers and birds which I decided might brighten the days of seniors currently shut in.  My daughter is a Physical Therapist, so she works...

Things are weird here at Joseph's Dream as they are everywhere in the world.  Everyone pretty much staying inside and little or no contact with each other.  (except by phone).  Some of us are very fortunate to have food boxes delivered by the local Christian Ministry.  Those caring volunteers have made certain we have plenty to keep us going for many weeks.   I order food and litter for Hannah, Susie and Ginger from Chewy.  I got extra this past month.  So they are set for the duration.   Very warm weather has been a blessing this week, even though, until today, the sky was gloomy.  Apparently the small wild critters have been coming to life, for Ginger has spent much time off in the field during the day and "guarding" the dumpster at night. The tree frogs have been caroling for several weeks.  Ginger has little interest in them.   Don't misunderstand--Ginger is well fed.  She comes in morning and evening to munch...

Messages were put at our doors today concerning rules for the community during the COVID-19 crisis. The rules concerned smoking, plumbing issues etc. One paragraph referred to the pet policy.  It read as follows: "------all pets must be kept on a leash if outside.  No pet should be allowed to walk around without it's owner.  The exception to this rule is "Ginger"who is a registered stray feral cat on the property.------" So I thank my Vet for helping me to obtain a registry number for Ginger and to Kathryn, our manager, for recognizing and acknowledging Ginger's rights. Let's hope the old girl (Ginger, not Kathryn) leads a long happy life in her forever home.                               Ginger relaxing with a friend.

Did you all have a good St. Patrick's Day?  She did. Jazzi-------French Bulldog -owned by Brian Leahy

We've been disheartened to read reports that some pet parents in areas where the virus is prevalent have made troubling decisions about abandoning their pets out of misinformation about how the coronavirus spreads. Pet parents under no circumstances should be abandoning their pets because of COVID-19. The most important things pet lovers should know today are: According to the CDC, there is currently no known reason to believe that any animals, including pets in the United States, can spread COVID-19 The above was part of a message in my e mail from Petco today. My daughter who lives in upstate new York had told me earlier that many shelters in that area are overflowing  with family pets which have been abandoned there when the families believed their pets were a threat to the family health.  The overcrowded shelters are out of room and food to care for these animals.  They are begging for help.  There could possibly be only one solution to this ...

My son's Boxer, Lazarus, has appeared in some of my previous posts.  This dog continues to amaze all who know both dog and owner.   Lazarus has not had a happy life prior to moving in with Sean just over 2 years ago.  His first owners must have loved him for he was trained when he arrived at the shelter and knew all the basic obedience commands.  He left the shelter multiple times, seemingly adopted, then was returned for various reasons of misbehavior.  The shelter staff liked him a lot.  He was walked daily by an elderly volunteer who was fond of him but not able to adopt him.  Sean brought Laz home just for the holiday two years ago and other than for a visit, Laz has not returned to the shelter. Sean has been astounded at the things Laz will do, things he has apparently learned just from watching and listening to the one person who loves him.  Laz is no saint-dog.  He has misbehaved on occasion.  He does appear to be ashamed...

By now everyone has heard about it--some fact, much exaggeration.  I don't see the point in creating panic.  Maybe fear raises adrenalin  levels in the body and if so, does that increase or decrease the immune response?   I am  not, in any way, saying this virus is not a real threat.  I am saying excess fear will not help. Joseph's Dream is a senior community.  Management sent out a message to every resident telling what we know about this particular virus and what one should do to avoid contracting it.  They installed one of those small units containing hand sanitizer/cleanser inside the door to the community room.  You push a button, receive a blob of foam and rub your palms together.  Does that kill any virus you might be carrying? We are told to wash hands often with soap and water while cheerfully belting out Happy Birthday  twice.  Not a bad idea even if no lurking threat.   I take the stand that us...

Today was March 1st.  An old saying goes " In like a lion, out like a lamb".  Well it was the reverse here as it was a beautiful Spring day. Trees are  budding, flowers peeking out from beneath their winter mulch-little purple and yellow crocus, bright narcissus, and one tiny grape hyacinth. Those rugged, persistent dandelions  have a few  yellow blooms appearing on the lawn which had a light dusting of snow two days ago.   So in like a lamb it was.  Does that mean we are to watch out as March races towards a lion ending? I really enjoy these old sayings.  Like the one about the cat washing over her ear. The cat, as she sits diligently washing her face, raises her leg high and draws her tongue-dampened paw over her ear laying it flat for a moment.  A sign of rain in the near future. I always watch when either Susie or Ginger is grooming.  Truthfully, I think a good clean kitty is always going to clean the backside of her ears...