all around the place

I got some comments... maybe not enough to know that everyone looks in here, but I guess you do. So I'll put up some more videos. For a lot of these guys, this is their last gallop here before we head back to the city this afternoon.

This is the folder with all the videos. Blogger isn't letting me embed the videos today.

I went for a swim with Cassidy, Cozy, Gordon and Tango. Cassidy and Cozy are the sweetest pair. They sit side by side in the sun, picking each other out of the crowd for companionship. It's a very quiet, sweet relationship. And Gordon and Tango look alike, I guess both the same breed, and they act alike and play nicely. Both Cozy and Gordon are doing great. Not nervous... getting comfortable. We went for a swim and then they went tearing around the hay field but my battery died... so none of that is recorded. I will work on getting Cozy and Cassidy snuggling. Here's us at the pond.

I also wanted to get Rosie, Pipi, Gracie, and Muri in on a little dog group shot (the other little dogs need leashes). They wouldn't really cooperate and give me a nice cute picture. Here they are. And here are some more.

This one is pretty long. Cleo, Freya, WIlly, Simon and Cali go on a trip past the tomatoes, through the hay field, then Willy finds the swamp. He needs a swim. We see the tomatoes in their infant state and I begin to dream of the succulent delicious bounty of late summer, when I have bowls and bowls and buckets of these delicious (did I say that?) gorgeous tomatoes. Mike, the farmer, lets me pick all the ones with spots. That's 90%. He only harvests and markets 10% of the crop because 90% have splits in the top or spots or won't transport well because they are too ripe. I am not joking: 90% is wasted, because I can only eat and freeze about .5% of that 90%.

And 90% percent of the herbicides, pesticides and fungicides (including the ones allowed according to organic standards, like copper) are applied for aesthetics. If there were a way to get people to eat produce with spots and cracks, this world would be much cleaner, our food would taste much better and be much healthier and I wouldn't be worrying about all those chemicals next to my house... although Mike is pretty responsible even if he isn't organic. I wish he were organic though.

And I bet he wishes I wouldn't let my dogs run through his baby tomato plants. In the later summer, he would welcome my dogs to impress deer and ground hogs, but now, they can tear up a little plant.

One of the themes of today is cleanliness. You'll see some blankets hanging from the fence, for example. Cleaning the blankets is a terrible job but not so bad when it's so nice and sunny. Here is the main yard with a lot of dogs. I will let the little ones have the main yard and put the big ones inside later on. Helmut is messing with my blankets.

If you look at this video you will see most of the dogs and we will go from the dog yard, through the dog house, out down the lane toward the horse, then get diverted to the house. So the whole place in one video. Most of them are in here but Jackson and Shiela come with me.

I have tried dog beds: they don't work. I want only stuff made of biodegradable material, all cotton, all wool. Otherwise when the rip is up, and they will, sometimes within 30 minutes of unsupervised access to a new bed, I can dump it with the other matter in a big pit and let it decay. If some artificial material gets mixed into the wood shaving and other waste, then the whole thing becomes non-biodegradable and it has to go to the dump, filling up land fill instead of slowly (very slowly) turning back into dirt.

So, if you have any old blankets you want to get rid of, but not stuffed dog beds, I'll take them. And tennis balls. Otherwise, I think I have everything I need.

The other thing is the car. It can really smell. I tried to put sheets in but they get ripped up, and I seem to be doing as much cleaning as before or more, since I still have to clean the car. I figure sunshine and wind is one of the best ways to make it smell a little better so I leave the windows open in weather like this. Simon took full advantage of the open window to get himself some peace and quiet. He's asleep in the car as I write this. I just got it all clean... it used to be our family car but now I only use it for dogs. I can get quite a few in there and it gets 28 MPG, which is pretty important when you drive 600 miles a week (2 trips to the city) although the van is okay too (about 18 MPG although it should do better). Lot of money.

Well, all that is more than you need to know and I didn't catch all the dogs in the videos today... see you later.

spring

Don't forget our dogs for adoption. Here. We've got more of wonderful Duke here. I like him, I tell you, nice dog.

To see all the movies, go here.

This is the video of the yard with Bill wrestling and all the others of course.

Maddox, Finn, Misui and someone else out for a toot. Here.

Some notes on our current residents first: Luna still hates me. Well, she at least doesn't like me. She doesn't, apparently like men in general, but that is hardly an excuse. I have to get Ollie, my son, who she likes just fine, to take her out for a photo shoot this morning (no school) so her people can see her not looking scared, which she does when I'm around. Although she's getting better.

Misui: I didn't trust him because he's a husky but his owner swore I could let him off the leash. As you can see in the videos below I did. What you can't see is that he proceeded to run off down the driveway and disappear. I put everyone else away, jumped in the car, headed to the road, called him. I heard some ice cracking on the pond and thought he might be out there. No luck. I stood around trying to decide what to do next when he appeared in the middle of the road only a few feet from me. I don't know how he did that. He was as happy to jump in the car and as happy to join the other dogs as he had been to run off.

I think roaming a mile or two is not running off to a husky. I think they have a bigger range mapped onto their heads than most dogs and that they don't mean to run off, just establish a range suitable to their aspirations. Unfortunately for their aspirations, their brain-map includes a range with streets, cars, neighbors, horses, cows, tractors, chickens and other stuff that they are not allowed to inspect.

Breed discrimination confirmed. No more huskies off leash. There is another dog camp that I saw online that doesn't take huskies. That's for fighting I think. That hasn't been a problem for me.

You know, I never read a book about dogs. I keep getting books for Christmas and birthday and so on... but the last thing I want to read about, frankly, is a dog. And the books are either 1) about dog behavior, kind of assuming you have to deal with them one or two at at time (not 20), or 2) about the dog business. The dog business books tell me I can't do stuff I want to do (leave them together or pick them up in the car with the others and expect them to behave) or talk about a lot of things I'm not interested in (bleach, concrete, etc.). I'm doing it all wrong. I can't do what I do. So I solve the problem by not reading!

But honestly, no one seems to do what I do, at least locally (free pick up and all that). Or do they? Anyway, there are 1.5 million dogs in my pick up area and I can handle a maximum of 50 so I think I will survive the coming long and awful depression. Keep on traveling folks!

And then if the dog thing doesn't work out, there is always... what's a good business to be in during a depression? Portfollio manager? Dairy farmer? I know: mailman.

And anyway, when it comes to pack management, their is no substitute for experience. I made a lot of mistakes over the years. I will definitely make some more. But I'm better. I haven't figured out how to train someone else, which would be the next step.

But I don't really know anything. My instincts are better. And I know most of the dogs.

And I still have 10 fingers.

Okay, more on the dogs here. Duke is still for adoption. He's a real winner. I like him a lot.

Betty Lou: she's not crazy about me either. We're getting better and I'm going to try some chicken on her this morning. We'll see if that finally makes her my friend.

Maggie Blue: She repeatedly dropped her tennis ball in the hole between the wood and the chain link fence and could not get it out. So she tried to eat the offending wire. I think wire should go nicely with that sock she ate the other day. The four basic Maggie food groups: socks, wire, drywall, and plywood. She's a healthy girl.

Bill: I'm worried he'll turn nice play into a fight. But he's having a ball wrestling with Gustov, I just have to let them go. The more they do it, the less likely it'll go bad... and they're having a ball.

All fine: Finn, Daisy, Maddox... good moods. Because it's srping. Unless it's me in a good mood imagining they are.

So Spring. It's early Spring, but it's Spring. For the first time I can remember, certainly since we've lived up here, I will miss something of winter. I think it's that I've been taking pictures and thinking about taking pictures in the winter and it is DYNAMITE for that. I mean winter. It looks great. The red barn look tremendous when there is no other real color around. And people look good in the winter, they stand out of the landscape. And sound: no birds. No bugs. Austere and only occasionally harsh.

But Spring is better. Ollie was not convinced by my color and sound argument. Here.

perfect day

Scroll down and consider the dog for adoption below. Check out the skating video, which will not be available until noon EST. Schedule for dog pick up coming soon.

The full moon and eclipse were great. What a clear, beautiful night. The other day I went out to the wood shed at night, must have been a week ago, and got a load of wood, picking up some logs, when I heard, "Grrrrr..."

It was low. Kind of deep. The way it resonated, it was something bigger than a dog, or about that size.

You know what it was? No? Me either. I dropped the wood and high-tailed it back to the house and turned on the oil-furnace for the night. I don't like to send my money to Hugo Chavez or the King of Saudi Arabia to the extent I can avoid it but I also don't want to mess with some large-growling creature hiding somewhere in the wood pile.

I mean, it took 60 million years to make that oil but I only have two hands and need both of them. I picked the lesser of two evils.

Anyway, the moon. With the moon last night, I could confidently go out in the middle of the night and get some wood. It was like day, in Sweden in the winter anyway, with strong moon shadows and clear light.

And now today the birds are chirping, the sun is shining. The ice is still solid. The dogs are all in a good mood and have figured each other out and are down with the system, everything is going smoothly. The baby is sleeping in her crib now, my son seems to like math. A German magazine just bought a domain I registered in 1997 (and paid $15 a year since) for $5000.

Yikes, I'm about to jinx something.

John McCain can't keep his girlfriends out of the NYT. See, Barack can keep things quiet. He'd better, Michelle seems like a tough cookie. And they say he doesn't have experience! McCain is an amateur compaired to Barack. If he can't manage his extra-marital affairs, how can he deal with Iran?

On to the dogs.

Cedar, Boon, Daisy and Molly went skating. Here.

Bear didn't come... jumped in a car and sat there until we got back. Princess (1 and 2), Moki, Petra, Fletcher... anyone else? Here.

Here is old Dusty with the horses. Hear the birds?

Malachi: he goes for a walk every day and I might let him in general cirrculation... or not. We'll see. And he's a little skinny these days, maybe staying outside so much, as he likes to do, so he get's extra breakfast. Here.

birds here, looking for spots already, even if there isn't much to eat

Today's story lines: Chachi (in the small dogs group) and Boon (in the big dogs) seemed out of sorts, kind of down or something. Chachi didn't leap off her bed and make it to the door first in the morning. She went back to bed. And Boon didn't follow me around like usual. So I decided those two need a little extra attention and they are now next to the house and spent a lot of time with people this morning...

Everyone else seemed fine. And both of my special cases seem to like things as they are now... they needed a break from the pack for awhile maybe.

Here are most or maybe all of the big dogs. Lulu was in a particularly good mood. Fletcher was up for some fetch. Then I wander in the house to check on Boon (and see above...)

More inside, big dogs. Here.

Now little dogs. Here. Jasper has to protect his little charge. Birds are back, even if there is nothing to eat yet.

Here's a good video:

Now Chachi and Boon and Dusty. Gustov takes Boon for a walk. Pretty funny, you should see this. Also, horses, lay of the property, my son banging on the window saying "Wolf!" meaning Boon looked like a wolf to him. Dusty is 15, blind and deaf. But he's doing great this week. Amazing.

And here are the laggards enjoying the sun, birds, and barking at the horses.

That's it for dogs. Now here are my kids. We let Ollie watch movies, but only these old Swedish versions of Astrud Lingrid stories dubbed into German. They are slow, long shots, quiet and in German. So much better that this trash Hollywood churns out. I could go on with the poison they dump on us but I will spare you. Anyway, Ollie likes to get Lotta to enjoy the movies with him, some company. And here they are again.

ice skating, maybe for the last time this winter

It's about 9:15 AM EST and the videos will be up in a few hours... if the links don't work by noon EST let me know. Also, you can go to the main folder:

http://glencadia.com/videos/08feb16/

Look for previous entries if your dog isn't here. Also, you can always post a comment, like WHERE IS MY DOG? Then I'll make sure to get yours in the next one... worked for Scout's people. I like to know who's looking.

Hey guys, leave the poor old horse alone. Here.

Ducks or dogs? In this area by the pond. I could order a couple ducks online.

Cedar, Lucky, Princess (x2), Scout, Molly, Remy, ice skating, finding some dead stuff, eating manure... it's a party. Here.



Hay bales. Rocky, Boone (make a reservation in the system if you want your dog back one day! I have no info on you... nothing, not a phone number, nothing), Misui, Trouble, Fletcher, Sally. Here and here.

coyotes

If you can't see quicktime and need something else (another format) let me know. If the links are broken try the main folder:
http://glencadia.com/videos/08feb16/

And leave a little comment at some point. Thanks to those that did.

I took some video this afternoon then forgot the camera in the barn. After getting the baby to sleep, I ran back out to get it and managed to get in and out of the barn without waking up the dogs, who were all quiet. I stepped out of the barn and heard a racket, all the dogs waking up and howling and barking. Damn, they didn't hear me come in but they must have heard the barn door on the way out. Then I noticed that a lot of the noise was coming from somewhere else. Some dogs across the field in the village? All the dogs in the village? Sounds like a lot. No, it was from the opposite direction, the woods. Coyotes. A lot. Yipping. Now that I had a chance to listen, it didn't sound like dogs at all. That's what riled up the dogs, or the dogs riled up the coyotes.

We're not in a real wilderness here. I think that is the second time in 4 years I heard that. I've seen the odd coyote --saw one walking in broad daylight by a farm south of here driving by, not far from the house too. Kind of cheeky. And my neighbor hunts them. I don't know what she does with them but there is a dead one in the back of her truck from time to time.

Anyway, 40 dogs and about the same in coyotes had a little shouting contest tonight.

Then my cat, who lives in the barn, high-tailed it to the house. She never wants to come in the house, has to be much colder than this. I think she didn't like the sound of those coyotes.

Now, comments. I got only two. If I don't get more comments, I will assume no one reads this and give up for awhile... up to you.

Jasper and Chippy reunion here. Miles, Macey, Teddy, Cloud, Wellington in here too.

Same as above plus Jake. Here.

In the house here. Yikes: what a pile of dogs. Cedar, Scuba, Princess, Moki, Molly, Jasper, Rocky, Misiu, Trouble.

Fletcher, Lucky, Princess, Molly, Trouble, Moki, maybe some more here.

Ollie and some cats. Here.

Chachi, Cloud, Teddy, Jake, Wellington, Chippy in a coat with Ollie at breakfast. Here. Jake growls at Ollie, it's okay.

Same bunch of little ones. Picked Teddy up and got scratched. This is turning into a disaster! Here.

Chirrpy and Ollie skating. Here. Horse watching. More here.

So many GOLDEN RETRIEVERS I can't keep them straight. Plus Remy, Misui, Scout, Edith, Norman, Molly, Ruby, More Goldens. Some fetch and then run in the house.

Cloud, Moses, Macey, Jake, Trouble, Harley, Miles, Chachi, Chirrpy, Teddy, Sawyer. Here.

that was quite a valentine's day

Anyway, we made it home. Safe and sound, all.

In case of broken links try: http://glencadia.com/videos/08feb15/

Report not being able to see stuff. Leave comments so I know you were here. Thanks.

Princess, Sally, Scuba, Scout here. And here.

Remy, Lucky, Misiu, Molly here.

Combination of the above two groups featuring Misiu here.

Molly, Sally, Scout, Remy sitting nicely here.

Dogs do some nasty stuff. Gustov and Scout intimate while Remy and Sally roll in manure. Here.

Fletcher, Winston, Lulu, Rocky and Cedar here. And here. Cloud too maybe.

Ruby and Jasper with some horses here.

Boone, Norman, Princess, Ruby, Moki, Malachi and then a group of geese.

Cloud, Wellington, Chachi, Teddy, Jake the little fluffy guys here.

Chipper and Cloud. Here.

Harley, Miles, Macey, Sawyer here.

Geriatric division: Emma, Dusty and Moses. Here.

Come again tomorrow afternoon EST. Thanks. Comments!