The Never-ending Song

  With Edgar it seems just when I think he is getting it, he has a relapse.  Poor Susie cat, who spends her days hiding in the closet and nights (happily) on the bed with me, began to think just maybe she could make friends with this dog.  So she began sitting on the very edge of the bed in the morning, overlooking Edgar's bed.  I watched as Edgar took notice of Susie and they very gently touched noses.  Edgar did not have his usual "Ahha --a cat" look.  A bit later w hen Edgar was lying quietly beside me as I worked at the computer, Susie slowly ventured out to the living room.  Edgar leaped up growling and barking and went after the cat.  I tried to grab his harness, missed.  Sue flew around the room then dodged back into the bedroom and into the closet.  At one point he actually seemed to have had his mouth on her shoulders.  I thought he would surely break her neck.  He never once looked at me so there was no way I could signal any correction to him.  Not sure he woul

Jon Katz and his wife, Maria Wulf, began their new radio program today called Katz and Wulf on Animals.  Great beginning, and I bet it will lead to going to a two hour show.  Maria has so many animals to talk about that are not the usual dog and cat tales.  I hope she will tell more about her fascination with snails. Jon introduced the topic that so many of us are concerned with-barking dogs.  He had some new ideas as well as ones we had spoken about in last week's program.  Two ladies called in, one with an update on her two dogs and the second lady telling about a dog she is attempting to rehome.   I called in during the final quarter hour.  Since the subject of barking had been the primary topic, I could not wait to tell about Edgar's most recent interpretation of "bark training".  In case you missed the show, here it is again.  My daughter was visiting Saturday evening.  Edgar saw something outside the window.  It was getting dark and I had not yet closed the blin

Edgar and I have been spending hours just sitting outside my apartment.  Spring weather has graced us here in this part of Virginia.  My early blooming Narcissus, Daffodils, and Crocus have gone to seed.  The rather strong winds that have passed through during the nights have stripped the early flowering trees of their finery.  The ground is a carpet of pink and white petals.  This past week the Evergreens on the hillside have cast their golden pollen to the winds.  My black SUV has a yellowish caste.  The pollen is so thick that it actually rolls in mini waves down the asphalt parking lot when pushed by the  easterly gusts.  It also makes both Edgar and I sneeze!   Edgar's nose is always working, twitching, pointing up into the wind, pressing close to the grass and sidewalk as he reads the news.  The book Jon gave me on deaf dogs speaks of "deafies" other senses becoming  enhanced.  This certainly seems to be the case with Edgar.  He also sees so many wee things moving i

Jon Katz's radio show will be on air at WBTNAM.org or 1370 on your radio dial this afternoon at 2:00pm.  Maria, his wife, will be first to call, then I believe a lady will talk about a dog who is in need of a home. I will call in after them to give updates on Edgar's training and to ask Jon's advice  with something new Edgar has come up with. Our lovely weather is disintegrating.  Sunny this morning, fading into clouds now with rain predicted for later.  Well it is April after all!  Every  shower brings a new burst of green on the hillside.  One of my neighbors has Iris which you can almost see growing taller as you watch.  Those Iris are over 10 inches tall--illegal here.  Speaking of "illegal" , we are having an inspection tomorrow.  In some ways this is a good thing for if you have an issue with an appliance performance or a dripping faucet, now is the chance to have it noted.  Of course there is always the picky things you can be "written up" for--cl

  Porches used to be a required part of every house, whether you dwelt in the suburbs or far out in the country.  The farm house where I grew up had a huge front porch, so big we had cots out there and loved sleeping on the porch on warm summer nights. The little cottage where I lived in No. Carolina before coming here to Joseph's Dream had a big front porch too.  A swing at each end, several chairs and a full sized picnic table. No screens, just waist high white railing-topped posts.  On one end the porch was secreted in a group of flowering trees.  At the other end, a large Dogwood tree where the Mockingbirds often sat and conversed with each other and even me.  The front of the porch was adorned with Azaleas.  This time of year that old sharecropper's cottage was postcard pretty.  Purple Finches often built their nests just inside on the eave.  Little green lizards were  seen sitting on the railing, and once a bold little chap took over the swing.  When I spoke to him he ble

Nell and Sherry came back today bringing with them  take-out fried catfish dinners from our favorite Friday lunch spot.  Fisher's Restaurant in Bedford, a small family  owned and run breakfast and lunch spot next to the railroad tracks, makes the best catfish ever.  When my son used to come often (before Covid restrictions), he always had to have breakfast there.  Sean says he has had grits in almost every place in the South   and none come close to the perfection of those at Fisher's.  Nell, Sherry and I made it a habit to go there on Fridays.  Fisher's has survived Covid when so many small restaurants have not, so that says something.  What a treat to sit down at my own table today with two good friends and once again enjoy that special meal. When we three got together it was always tale and laugh time.  Some of the same today.  Not sure how this came up, but I recalled the time I moved from my farm to a small house on a hillside in Hebron, NY.  Two barn cats came with me

This morning I tried Jon's suggestion of hand feeding Edgar.  He watched me fixing his breakfast of kibble with a bit of canned dog food mixed in.  Then instead of dropping the bowl in front of him, I held it in my lap.  I took a few kibbles in my palm and, fully expecting a growl at the least, I offered it to him.  He very gently lifted the pieces from my hand with his tongue.  We repeated this several times before I placed the bowl down in front of him keeping my hand on the rim as he ate the first few bites.  No growl--! All day he has been such a good dog.  Once he went to the window and barked when a truck went past.  I just ignored him.  He came to me expecting the treat and I did not even look at him. He lay down next to me.  Never barked at a thing outside or from the window all day.  Just now we went out for his last long outing of the day.  That black stray Tom cat was sitting impudently right at the end of my walk.  Edgar saw him, whined a bit, the cat never moved.  I ma

These have been a few very busy days.  After such a long "dry" spell of isolation, I have had lots of company.  Meg and Lily, my daughter and granddaughter from upstate New York arrived Tuesday.  Such a wonderful visit catching up on their doings.  My granddaughter graduated from Cornell -4.0--and has completed her Masters now.  She had applied for teaching positions and right away two schools wanted her.  So she chose one just before she came to visit us.  She has worked and received many scholarships . A beautiful girl in face and spirit.  She has a friend studying at Liberty University in nearby Lynchburg who came and picked her up.  This left my daughter and I to spend the afternoon together.  She brought photos of her family holidays and the beautiful home she and her husband have built.  Meg does landscaping/gardening for private homes and her own gardens are show pieces.  Terry joined us later in the evening for late supper.  The time went too fast.  It had been 5 year

Terry and I each made part of the dinner.  We both said no Easter baskets this year.  At 86, I might be in my 2nd childhood, but at her age (which I will not expose), she is definitely too old.  Knowing how much value Terry places on holidays, I knew she would not stick to our agreement.  So I colored a couple of boiled eggs, got a Dove chocolate rabbit and a tiny stuffed bunny and put them in a fake grass nest in a small basket.  As I expected, she arrived and expressed surprise that there was a basket for her--and as I also anticipated, she had one for me.  Filled with my favorite German chocolates shaped and "dressed" as little chicks.  She made me a lovely Easter card with flowers and the most adorable little yellow chickie.  She is so talented and so very thoughtful. Edgar was very much a part of the day, claiming as he now does, his place in my home and heart.  He showed off his new good manners by going to his pillow and staying there while we ate our dinner.  His nose

We could not have asked for more perfect weather!  Edgar and I went out early to watch the Easter sunrise.  I remember when I lived in Corinth, NY, going to sunrise service at the tiny town beach on the river.  Afterwards we went to a local church which put on a breakfast. Everyone laughing and such jolly good socializing.  I guess that did not happen this year. But I remembered too, one very special Easter Monday, when my last child was born.  I had guests for Easter dinner, my in-laws , which meant much house cleaning beforehand.  A few hours before dinner my inlaws arrived.  An hour later in drove mybrother-in-law, his wife, and new baby arriving-UNEXPECTEDLY. I had to add some canned sweet potatoes to the casserole of sweets I had prepared.  Good thing I had purchased that really big ham.  It was just a misunderstanding.  My mother-in-law thought when I invited them it meant the whole family.  So she of course passed on the invite to my brother and sister-in law.  We did have a ver

  Yesterday evening right after the brief evening news at 6:00pm on radio station WBTNAM   1370 on the dial, and streaming live on the station's website, WBTNAM.org,  Jon Katz introduced his new show, Katz on Dogs.  I would hail it as a success even though the word has not yet gotten out.  Those who called had good topics and the e-mails Jon received gave him lots to talk about.  I was excited to be a part of it, talking about Edgar, my newly adopted deaf dog.  If any of you heard the program or have been reading my blog, you may know I would love to hear from anyone with experience in training hearing impaired dogs.  My e-mail address is story_teller_34@yahoo.com. This is a wonderful way for all pet people to share info and thoughts and stories.  As social distancing and isolation become a way of life for us now, this program can make neighbors and friends of those both near and far---very far as the live streaming goes international!  I know how much I enjoyed participating in ra