Re: [gardeners] Saturday in the garden
Alan Zelhart (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 12 Feb 2001 12:27:18 -0700
Laugh! You reminded me of another incident. One afternoon Chip and I were sitting in our
front yard relaxing. This 12-13 year old girl was skating by on the other side of the
street with her new BIG puppy on a leash. When the puppy saw Chip, of course he
immediately wanted to come over and investigate. The girl fell flat on her ass. I asked
her if she was OK, but she did not respond and skated off in a huff. Chip remained at my
side...I thought nothing of it. A little later this man drives buy very slowly, I think
to myself...that's odd. Then he turns around at the end of the block, gets out of his
car, and asks me; "Is that your dog". "Yes, this is my dog" I reply, still not certain
about what's going. He says, "Well your dog made my daughter fall!" I said "Oh, no, no,
no, my dog did not make your daughter fall. He remained right here in his yard sitting
next to me. It was your dog who made her fall, when he was trying to get across the
street! My dog is trained not to leave his yard!" Meanwhile I'm looking at Chip, who
doesn't realize this person is angry, and is wagging his tail, wanting to run over and say
hi to the stranger. I pray to myself that he stays in his yard like I just said he does.
You know, he did stay in his yard, he did not go to the stranger at all. The man stutters
and says..."well, well, you should have you dog on a leash." I said, "My dog was sitting
next to me, even if he had been on a leash, your dog still would have attempted to run
across the street, and pulled her down!" I was getting mad now! He left in the huff...
I was annoyed because I tired to be nice to the little girl, and ask if she was all right,
and then she went back and blamed me for the incident. Anyways....I still laugh when I
think of that day. She was not hurt, I think her pride was hurt, but she was not hurt.
I'm sorry I called Sleepy a he, please ask her forgiveness! I apologize profusely! ;)
Alan Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13
http://members.home.net/gizmoaz/~gizmoaz.htm
Over 145 Rose Bushes Planted! 75 Different varieties! Never a dull moment!!
"Shirley, George" wrote:
> Sleepy would be insulted, he's a she. <VBG> Actually she thinks she's a people
> and I'm not to sure she doesn't think I'm her puppy. She comes in after I've
> showered and am drying off and starts drying an ankle if I let her. In the
> morning she wakes me up by cleaning either my face or my hand, whichever is
> closest and then I have to rub her belly and scratch her butt and then we fight
> awhile or she's not happy. Her idea of total relaxation is having her belly
> rubbed. When I get home from work she always greets me by peeing on my foot or
> real close to it and then runs all over the yard showing me that she has kept
> the boogers out while I was gone. Yep, I feel the same way about my dog as you
> do yours. Luckily she's only 5 years old and is already smarter than my kids
> were at that age, she doesn't cross the street without permission, doesn't take
> food from strangers, and doesn't chase cars. I think my two kids did that when
> they were five. <BSEG> Since they're in their late thirties it's hard to
> remember, for which they are probably forever grateful.
>
> George
>
> Alan Zelhart wrote:
> >
> > Hehehe...that is funny how dogs learn that. My dog, Chip won't step in my rose beds
> > either. If he does by accident, because of an excited moment or whatever, he
> > immediatly looks at me with that expression, please don't yell at me, I didn't mean
> > to. Dogs are such incredible animals, so very smart, I don't think we give them the
> > credit they deserve so often.
> >
> > Last week I had to take Chip to the vet. He had not eaten in 2 days, even when he
> > tried the smell of the food would make him turn his head away, even though some of
> > the foods offered were his favorite. I knew something was wrong. The vet said he
> > must have ate something bad and had a touch of colonitis. She could not find any
> > parasites. A wonderful vet, I really like her. My old vet retired, I hated taking
> > him to a new vet. But she was very nice, a beautiful blond from Brazil. Very good
> > with the animals.
> >
> > He's doing much better now, and eating as good as ever. But it scares me...Chip is
> > like a child to me, if something happened to him, I would be a wreck. What
> > surprised me even more was the support of my boss, when I told him this. He said we
> > should be given bereavement days for pets, just like we are when a family member
> > passess away. I agreed 100% of course. Being single, Chip is my child, and his
> > companion Happy, who passed away 2 years ago was my Daughter. I'm sorry I'm
> > rambling...but I just love animal stories, like the ones you tell of Sleepy. I can
> > tell by your stories that he is a very important part of your life. That he is
> > loved incredibly. You always mention him, I think that is very special.
> >
> > Alan Chandler, Arizona Sunset Zone: 13
> >
> > http://members.home.net/gizmoaz/~gizmoaz.htm
> > Over 145 Rose Bushes Planted! 75 Different varieties! Never a dull moment!!
> >
> > "Shirley, George" wrote:
> >
> > > We live and garden in SW Louisiana, about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and
> > > only about 10 miles from a saltwater estuary. Our normal climate is USDA zone
> > > 9b, last year was closer to zone 10, and this year closer to zone 8. Sleepy
> > > likes green beans too and she waits for veggies to be picked for her.
> > > Boysenberries, raspberries, and blueberries are a different story. Finally
> > > caught her snarfing berries last year. I had been wondering who was getting the
> > > low growing ones and was blaming the mocking birds. Nope, Miss Sleepy Dawg was
> > > strolling down the row and sniffing out the very best ripe berries for herself.
> > > Figured what the heck, she keeps the birds out of them so maybe that's her pay.
> > > Tried to feed her cauliflower yesterday and she sorta liked it raw so have
> > > encouraged her to enter the garden and eat the cauliflower. She won't do it of
> > > course as she knows the raised bed gardens are out of bounds for her. The flower
> > > beds are too as Miz Anne has raised her voice a few times when Sleepy was in hot
> > > pursuit of a squirrel.
> > >
> > > George, glad to be inside on a dreary day with heavy rains forecast
> > >
> > > Chuck Hall wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi George,
> > > >
> > > > It is always a spiritual lift to listen in to this group. I normally
> > > > just "lurk 'n' learn" from the experienced gardeners and cooks here. Your
> > > > comments about spring coming to your area is heartwarming. I have been
> > > > listening in here for a long time, but I can't remember where you are
> > > > located.
> > > >
> > > > Here in sunny Iowa, we have our original 18" to 2 feet of snow that came
> > > > in early Dec. plus regular additions that seem to come quite often. Our
> > > > perennials are securely insulated and should come through the winter in
> > > > great shape. The deer in this part of the state are being stressed to the
> > > > max and our shrubs are paying the price. We have a resident w.t. deer pop.
> > > > of from 25 to 150 depending on the hunting seasons and the weather. We have
> > > > resorted to a baited electric fence around our entire yard so that our
> > > > flower and veg. gardens can survive. The single electrified wire is placed
> > > > 30" above the ground and has kept the deer at bay for over 4 years now. But
> > > > this year the snow is over the fence in several places. The snow also
> > > > insulates the deer from grounding themselves, so they have the run of the
> > > > place. Our 15 year old white cedar shrub row is now transparent as high as
> > > > the deer can reach and our spruce tree line has a poodle cut.
> > > >
> > > > Your comments about Sleepy's fondness for carrots reminds me of my
> > > > cockers, Sammy and Boomer. They sit outside our garden fence when we are
> > > > working there and beg for green beans.
> > > >
> > > > Sorry to hear about Miz Anne's ankle. Hope she gets better soon.
> > > >
> > > > Chuck Hall
> > > > Shivering in Iowa (-8 today) and envious of your 'nasty head of cauliflower'