The humans opened the pool this week! It wasn’t its usual black algae color. That is probably thanks to a new cleaning crew.
We found a little bird egg on our walk that fell from its nest but Mom could not see the nest high in the elm tree, so she had to leave it. At least it wasn’t a baby bird yet.
The cherries are starting to turn red. That means pie soon.
Jolie was sick with some strange unknown stomach thing and got so dehydrated that she had to go to the vet for fluids. Mini had some tummy thing too. And then the humans got sick. (Are all these things related? We don’t know but it wasn’t fun around here.)
Because of scary climate change, and since we live on a peninsula on the Magothy River (a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay) and often lose power, we now have a whole house generator. Mom says it will keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter, even if we lose power. I am not sure what all that means, but if Mom thinks it is good, it must be.
This was Navy Commissioning Week at the US Naval Academy (which is here in Annapolis, MD). That means the Blue Angels, the US Navy flight demonstration squadron, flew over the house during their air show for 2 days. It is always very loud but amazing.
Mom did not make that Cat Pizza, but she thought it was cool and wanted everyone to see it.
We have so much to be thankful for. Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend. Remember those who paid the ultimate price so that we can be free.
You may not be able to tell, but we are bored. Mommy works too much and we always have to ‘hang out.’ We want to play more, run more, eat more, do more things, but nooooooo. We have to wait. Life as a dog can be very boring.
But we forget all about being bored when Mom finally takes us for a walk.
Did you ever notice how everyone wants a piece of Mom’s lap? It is hard to get any space to get comfortable. Don’t they know that she is mine and I should have priority?
Mini Cooper is so rude. She has the nerve to sit on me because she wants the whole lap to herself. Cats can be so pushy, don’t you think?
Sometimes, Bearnard doesn’t mind being close to Mini Cooper as long as she lets him stay on Mom’s lap. I don’t know about you but she looks scary to me.
I give up. I am going to go into my kennel and let Bearnard and Mini Cooper figure it out. Nite Nite – Jolie Olie
Over the years Big Tree, the giant maple in the backyard, has seen many animals. It watched the kids grow up. It shadowed many a pool party. Now it has a new group of protectors.
Jolie and Bearnard are the keepers of the watch in 2024.
Sofie & big tree 2010
Louise & big tree 2009
The Trio 2019
Sofie & big tree 2014
Lulu & big tree 2009
Squash & Louise big tree 2011
Squash E Bear 2007
Charles & big tree 2022
Nikkolette 2001
In 2023, it was Charles and Jolie.
In 2022, it was Charles, Louise, and Sofie.
In 2013, it was Louise and Sofie.
In 2012, it was Squash and Louise.
In 2011, it was just Squash.
In 2002, it was Nikki and Squash.
They have seen a lot of squirrels come and go and think about all those birds. There was a year (about 3 years ago) that the Cedar Waxwings stayed in Big Tree for a month.
Stella is going to be 13 in September. She is a wonderful cat (as long as she isn’t with other cats). She likes the dogs when they come to visit and Bearnard and her seem to have a thing going on lately.
Sadly, we just found out that Stella has Feline lymphoma. It is affecting her gut. The feline lymphatic system is a complex network of components that transport all those life-sustaining substances throughout a cat’s body and help prevent the circulation of harmful agents. Among these components are the spleen, bone marrow, and what veterinarians call “gut-associated” lymphoid tissue, which lines the surfaces of various areas of a cat’s body and prevents its exposure to infectious agents. It mostly shows up in cats around 10-12 years old.
Dr. Sims, Stella’s Vet, said a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy of the intestinal tract. We are not going to put little Stella through that at her age and weight (7 lbs). We are treating her at home with a steroid (prednisolone) and another drug to assist with peristalsis. The x-ray shows that she has considerable thickening of the intestinal tract. We are hoping with the medication and our love and care she could continue on for many months.
Stella does not know that she has cancer and it does not appear to hurt her much (if you don’t touch her belly).
Lymphoma is the most common cancer in cats. You can learn more about it here. Hug your furbabies a little closer tonight. They are such a gift, each and every one of them.
Did you know that today was LEAP DAY? That means it only happens once every 4 years. That is strange for sure.
It all has to do with how much time it takes the Earth to complete its orbit around the Sun. It is supposed to be 365 days but it actually takes the Earth, 365.25 days. So ABOUT every 4 years, they (who are they anyway?) add a leap day. Some calendars, we use one called the Gregorian calendar, actually have a leap month.
People, like Ptolemy III in the 3rd century BC, have been trying to fix this problem forever. In 46 BCE the Julian calendar introduced a leap day every four years, but a problem with the measurement that was used led to a mounting discrepancy throughout several centuries. The Gregorian calendar reformed the concept in 1582 by eliminating leap years in the century years that weren’t exactly divisible by 400. This is why the years 1600 and 2000 were leap years but 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not. And why 2400 will be a leap year but 2100, 2200, and 2300 will not.
My goodness, these humans make things really complicated sometimes.
While the dogs were out for a walk, Mini Cooper was happily resting in the sunspot on the stairs.
But, then we came home.
And poor little Mini Cooper was rudely pushed out of her spot by the dogs.
Sometimes life is just not fair. But Mini can get up by the windows if she wants and the fluffballs can’t, so I guess it all works out in the end. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
DogDaz Zoo 