I've lived in this house for 25 years and don't remember ever seeing a bobcat. So it was quite a surprise when I looked out the window and saw this.
Then it watched me watching it from my kitchen window and stared back before leaping up the wall and leaving.
Vets always say you should brush your dog's teeth. Before Moana, I never managed to get a process in place.
Toothbrushes were awkward. I hated those finger brushes. Trying to get the dog to hold still was a nightmare.
I did try with Moana. I found a nice soft human toothbrush. I put it and her toothpaste in a glass on the kitchen counter near where I prep her food. But most days I would forget.
UNTIL -
I decided to put the glass in the bathroom near my toothbrush. I started brushing her teeth when I finished with mine.
And it became a routine!
A routine that Moana herself has adopted.
I brush my teeth with an electric toothbrush. Turn the brush off. Take her brush out of the glass, usually accidently clinking it against the side of the glass.
I put toothpaste on the brush.
Moana appears by my side ready for her teeth brushing.
Now - the rule is that I MUST pet her first. No reaching for her mouth without petting. Oh, and no doing her teeth before I do mine. If she shows up early, I'm supposed to ignore her.
Left back teeth. Right back teeth. Upper front teeth. Lower front teeth. Kiss on the forehead. And we're done.
I haven't missed a day in 4 months. At her last vet visit, the vet said her teeth look really good.
I got Moana at Thanksgiving, 2020. It was the best thing that happened that year. Happily her rescue paperwork included her birthdate. So today she turns 6.
Like people, some dogs gray early, some late, some never. My beautiful girl is graying quite a lot.
This is her when I got her compared to today. She is now a "dignified" older lady. And still a goof ball.
I do a lot of paint and wine classes, sans wine. Sometimes a painting will look okay when I leave class but later I will realize it's not quite what I wanted. This is one of the reasons I have paints at home.
For example, we did this mermaid tail at our last class. Not bad, but for one thing, the littlest starfish blends in with the tail. And the shells don't look right.
It's been just over 10 years since I posted There is no dark at my house. Had you asked me then if the problem would get worse or better, I would have probably guessed "better". As in fewer lights.
And I would have been wrong.
In my prior post, I listed everything by room. Not going to do that this time. But suffice to say, for every thing I eliminated that had a light, I added two that lighted up.
The Roomba charging light. At least it's not on all the time.
There is a strip of white light on my replacement printer that stays lit all the time. "They" tell you a printer works best if left on. So this light is always on.
Working from home now so add a work computer with a little red light.
Replacement cameras, still with lights. Added smart plugs, with lights. Phone charger, NO light. Yay!
No more cable so the lights on the receiver are gone. There are small lights on the streaming devices, but they are hidden behind the TV. So they probably don't count?
Add to that, my neighbors have gone all out with the exterior lights. There were some decorations stolen this past Christmas, so I don't blame them.
But of my 10 closest neighbors, 6 have exterior lights on all the time. Another two have motion sensitive lights. And we're not talking one porch light. Most have porch lights plus lights on either end of the garages.
Another neighbor in the back across the retention basin installed an LED light outside that shines right into my bedroom. Luckily, they turn it off at a reasonable hour. Usually.
What is my point? Not sure I have one. It would be nice to sit out on the patio and see the stars. I can understand why astronomers complain about light pollution.
But on the plus side, I don't have to worry about stumbling over any furniture in the middle of the night.
And when Moana and I walk in the early winter mornings, there is plenty of light to see our way.
If the next ten years follows this same pattern, I think dark (at least in urban areas) is going to be as rare as quiet.
But that's a tale for another day.
It's been almost a year since I adopted Moana. She's gotten more confident and sadly, less cuddly. Although I'm not sure that isn't because it's been hot.
She still wants a lot of attention and interrupts my work. But she doesn't lay on the couch with her head on my lap hardly at all.
Like Bogie, she will lay on the floor with me nearby petting her. But I'd be more comfortable if I could get her onto the couch.
She has decided it's her job to guard the house. She sits in the upstairs window and watches the street. Barking at people and dogs going by. I have managed to get her to stop barking once I acknowledge she is doing her job.
However, there are a few things that make her bark extra crazy. A specific German Shepherd she's never met but has taken a dislike to. Ditto a small dog that is frequently walked by our house by a woman in a wheel chair.
Recently we had some nasty weather. More rain that usual. And Moana particularly objects to people standing on roofs. At least 4 of the houses in her eye range have been inspected. And no amount of assurance will calm her down until the people are off the roof.
She sleeps in the bed with me. Sometimes I make her move if she takes my spot. Most often I find alternate open space on the bed. At least she doesn't kick in her sleep - very often.
Our daily walks are calmer. She doesn't freak out when she sees unknown people. But she still barks at them, as she is walking up to be petted. Everyone we've met has been wonderful with her. And that has helped build her trust.
Overall, she's a great companion, pushing me enough to get up and around. Keeping me company.
Driving me crazy. :-)
 |