(Dogs 32)
We were riding home. It was happening all over again -- this rapt happiness in a new dog. We were bringing home someone new, someone warm and cuddly, someone as yet a stranger but soon to be a memboer of the family.
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
September 21, 2013
July 7, 2013
Cricket
(1911?)
Last night [in 1980] when I had counted quite enough sheep, I got to thinking about the dogs in my life. First of all I can remember coming home from school one afternoon and finding my mother sitting down, laughing, and holding her apron down on all three sides as well as she could, trying to keep something underneath, someone who, trying to escape, was making quite a lively job of it, squirming, fighting. "Guess! Guess!" ske kept saying. But I could only stand there staring, until finally she let him out and I took him to my heart. This was Cricket, a small Black & Tan Terrier.
Last night [in 1980] when I had counted quite enough sheep, I got to thinking about the dogs in my life. First of all I can remember coming home from school one afternoon and finding my mother sitting down, laughing, and holding her apron down on all three sides as well as she could, trying to keep something underneath, someone who, trying to escape, was making quite a lively job of it, squirming, fighting. "Guess! Guess!" ske kept saying. But I could only stand there staring, until finally she let him out and I took him to my heart. This was Cricket, a small Black & Tan Terrier.
June 25, 2013
Bump in the night
(1931?)
The bedroom windows, like the others [in the Beaumont Avenue house], were casements that opened out. One night a thump on my bed woke me and, startled, I called Lorin softly. He found a shoe in the dark, ready to defend himself, before turning on his bedside light. The monster proved to be a large grey and white house cat who came in from the cold. I believe we had this cat for some time before taking it to the zoo, where we put it in with many other unwanted cats.
The bedroom windows, like the others [in the Beaumont Avenue house], were casements that opened out. One night a thump on my bed woke me and, startled, I called Lorin softly. He found a shoe in the dark, ready to defend himself, before turning on his bedside light. The monster proved to be a large grey and white house cat who came in from the cold. I believe we had this cat for some time before taking it to the zoo, where we put it in with many other unwanted cats.
February 9, 2013
Begonias and geraniums
(1980 memoirs)
Against the window [in Frankie's kitchen] wasa long sturdy unvarnished table bearing up well under a variety of old worn out plants such as geraniums and begonias. But who could bear to throw them out?
Against the window [in Frankie's kitchen] wasa long sturdy unvarnished table bearing up well under a variety of old worn out plants such as geraniums and begonias. But who could bear to throw them out?
December 31, 2012
One smart cat
(1980 memoirs)
Frankie told me years ago she had such a smart cat. When half grown she taught it to play ball with her. When I asked what happened to it, I think she would say no nore than it died. And when I asked if she ever had another, "No."
Frankie told me years ago she had such a smart cat. When half grown she taught it to play ball with her. When I asked what happened to it, I think she would say no nore than it died. And when I asked if she ever had another, "No."
August 18, 2012
Warm pyjamas
(1967 February 27)
Sad to say I was stricken again with this rheumatism I had before, and on top of it have a heavy head cold. ... I haven't been fully dressed since Valentine's Day. I could, but I am warmer and more relaxed in warm pajamas and robe; besides it is easier to go on like this when I alternate work with rest periods. I have help twice a week and my family helps too. Dee lets me know when we are getting oil or groceries and Penelope [cat] gives me lots of love. So I wait for my cold to go away and Spring to come and then I'll be fine.
Sad to say I was stricken again with this rheumatism I had before, and on top of it have a heavy head cold. ... I haven't been fully dressed since Valentine's Day. I could, but I am warmer and more relaxed in warm pajamas and robe; besides it is easier to go on like this when I alternate work with rest periods. I have help twice a week and my family helps too. Dee lets me know when we are getting oil or groceries and Penelope [cat] gives me lots of love. So I wait for my cold to go away and Spring to come and then I'll be fine.
May 20, 2012
Black cocker
(1994 January 8)
A woman here often brings her black cocker, perfectly trained. She pays no attention to him but he heels when she turns and never sits unless bid. She doen't bring him all the time.
A woman here often brings her black cocker, perfectly trained. She pays no attention to him but he heels when she turns and never sits unless bid. She doen't bring him all the time.
February 8, 2011
Latino respect
(1986 November 12)
Monday Suzy [next-door neighbor] is coming to spend a few days, but she will leave her pet rabbit home. She doesn't see eye to eye with the South American girl, the runner, who brot her scrap book. Eugenia scolds Suzy if Suzy says anything edgy to her mother, which is none of her affair. In South America the mother is highly thot of, I'm told. So Suzy needs to cool off.
Monday Suzy [next-door neighbor] is coming to spend a few days, but she will leave her pet rabbit home. She doesn't see eye to eye with the South American girl, the runner, who brot her scrap book. Eugenia scolds Suzy if Suzy says anything edgy to her mother, which is none of her affair. In South America the mother is highly thot of, I'm told. So Suzy needs to cool off.
October 7, 2010
Welcome home
(1974 January 20)
[When I got back from Madison, visiting MM], Dee was spinning around in happiness to see me and days later doesn't want me out of his sight. Before unpacking, I mopped the kitchen. Chris had tended him well, but had kept him in a lot due to rain and - you know Dee.
[When I got back from Madison, visiting MM], Dee was spinning around in happiness to see me and days later doesn't want me out of his sight. Before unpacking, I mopped the kitchen. Chris had tended him well, but had kept him in a lot due to rain and - you know Dee.
August 26, 2010
Portant papers
(1965? March 13, Friday)
I hope this day was not unlucky for you, but just a last school day of the week day with family and kittens at the latter end. Miryam wrote about your not minding if yours bothered you when you were reading. Well, I can tell you one time Daddy nearly cleaned house on ours when we lived on the Hill. At that time his study was just off the kitchen and as we had kittens in the kitchen, we likewise had kittens in the study. As you know, he always had piles of papers on the floor and stamps to be soaked off and so on. One night I heard a virulent swearing coming from his room, and when I at last got him calm enough to speak a few English words, I learned the kits had been pooing on his papers. Oh, such a time. When you were three, you used to say "'portant papers." We used to say that a lot, even now.
I hope this day was not unlucky for you, but just a last school day of the week day with family and kittens at the latter end. Miryam wrote about your not minding if yours bothered you when you were reading. Well, I can tell you one time Daddy nearly cleaned house on ours when we lived on the Hill. At that time his study was just off the kitchen and as we had kittens in the kitchen, we likewise had kittens in the study. As you know, he always had piles of papers on the floor and stamps to be soaked off and so on. One night I heard a virulent swearing coming from his room, and when I at last got him calm enough to speak a few English words, I learned the kits had been pooing on his papers. Oh, such a time. When you were three, you used to say "'portant papers." We used to say that a lot, even now.
March 30, 2010
Grooming
(1963 September 22)
Yesterday I got Dee one of those wire brushes as Vica [Skip's dog] had. Hers was all moth eaten and beyond recall. He winces but tries to be brave. Getting pretty matted and attention needed. The leaves those two pets drag in now!
Yesterday I got Dee one of those wire brushes as Vica [Skip's dog] had. Hers was all moth eaten and beyond recall. He winces but tries to be brave. Getting pretty matted and attention needed. The leaves those two pets drag in now!
March 25, 2010
Dutch elm disease
(1963 July 2)
Miss Barnes [next door] is having an old elm tree cut down. This is a beautiful big elm in her back yard with about 4 huge trunks fused into one. It has some disease and she fears it will fall on her house. So for two days a man is there with ladder and tackle, and a tractor is down below to pull on an attached rope to guide it, and the old saw is a-humming and a-buzzing and causing poor Dee to bark.
Miss Barnes [next door] is having an old elm tree cut down. This is a beautiful big elm in her back yard with about 4 huge trunks fused into one. It has some disease and she fears it will fall on her house. So for two days a man is there with ladder and tackle, and a tractor is down below to pull on an attached rope to guide it, and the old saw is a-humming and a-buzzing and causing poor Dee to bark.
March 23, 2010
Backyard report
(1963 June 20)
Dee is now to be relied enough to be free and go with me to the clothesline where I have just hung up a mess of rags used for cleaning during the week. With my new soft water these old rags are cleaner than my towels used to get! Meanwhile Dee finds the bone from last Sunday's roast and chews away on that as a Mother Squirrel and 2 babies venture from their nest. Hidden from sight are birds teasing me by singing or quoking away (I wish I could identify them!). - Oh, it is so pleasnt in our back yard! Of course there are certain dark objects here and there in the grass, not far from Dee's tie-out rope - but a new Puppy-Scoop ordered from Penny's should be here today and that problem if not solved, made more pleasant!
Dee is now to be relied enough to be free and go with me to the clothesline where I have just hung up a mess of rags used for cleaning during the week. With my new soft water these old rags are cleaner than my towels used to get! Meanwhile Dee finds the bone from last Sunday's roast and chews away on that as a Mother Squirrel and 2 babies venture from their nest. Hidden from sight are birds teasing me by singing or quoking away (I wish I could identify them!). - Oh, it is so pleasnt in our back yard! Of course there are certain dark objects here and there in the grass, not far from Dee's tie-out rope - but a new Puppy-Scoop ordered from Penny's should be here today and that problem if not solved, made more pleasant!
March 20, 2010
Big bone
(1963 January 8)
Joke: I made pea soup with ham again this morning and had a big bone for Dee [her little dog]. I called him and held it up and said Sit up, but he slunk away into his bed. At first I was stunned, then realized he was afraid of it - probably thot it was a club of some kind. He is outside enjoing it now tho.
Joke: I made pea soup with ham again this morning and had a big bone for Dee [her little dog]. I called him and held it up and said Sit up, but he slunk away into his bed. At first I was stunned, then realized he was afraid of it - probably thot it was a club of some kind. He is outside enjoing it now tho.
March 13, 2010
Not a bad dog
(1962 September 9)
Well, our dog is really a darling. I have known dogs but never one so understanding as this one. He never cries if staked out or locked up in garage or laundry. He always seems to be trying to read my mind so he can mind me better. We laugh about reactions to newspapers. To the cat, the rattle of a paper means FOOD - that I am putting one on the floor and am about to feed her. To the dog it means get in your bed or you'll get a swat over the tail, and one day when I read the paper at the kitchen table, he was constantly in dread. Every time I turned a page, he jumped into his bed.
Well, our dog is really a darling. I have known dogs but never one so understanding as this one. He never cries if staked out or locked up in garage or laundry. He always seems to be trying to read my mind so he can mind me better. We laugh about reactions to newspapers. To the cat, the rattle of a paper means FOOD - that I am putting one on the floor and am about to feed her. To the dog it means get in your bed or you'll get a swat over the tail, and one day when I read the paper at the kitchen table, he was constantly in dread. Every time I turned a page, he jumped into his bed.
March 6, 2010
Animated gifts
(1962 March 28)
I am still dickering with Animated Gift people over my gift. They sent me shrimp eggs to be raised for food for the [sea] horses. I wrote it was too much trouble and I would like a refund. They said no dice and sent me a catalog to choose another gift like an alligator or monkey, starfish, or eels. I'm thinking it over.
I am still dickering with Animated Gift people over my gift. They sent me shrimp eggs to be raised for food for the [sea] horses. I wrote it was too much trouble and I would like a refund. They said no dice and sent me a catalog to choose another gift like an alligator or monkey, starfish, or eels. I'm thinking it over.
February 14, 2010
Pet news
(1961 April 25)
Last night Sam took guinea pigs and vicious hare home with him. Penelope [cat] looked all over and cried before she slept. MM is pleased they are gone. Had enough. Pet Shop, Elizabeth Watson, just called and said they would buy guinea pigs!
Last night Sam took guinea pigs and vicious hare home with him. Penelope [cat] looked all over and cried before she slept. MM is pleased they are gone. Had enough. Pet Shop, Elizabeth Watson, just called and said they would buy guinea pigs!
February 11, 2010
Science project
(1960 November)
Well, Meg [= MM, high school sophomore] has this bee in her bonnet. I called Mildred Griswold [biology teacher] last night to discuss it and she said she tried to talk her out of it, but would order what they asked her to. Said a pair of hamsters would be $5 and express $4 - run her $9-10. Now she started an incubator project with virus and has spend $1 on penecillin and hasn't tried to write it up at all nor gone on with it. She doesn't know what she is trying to prove. No idea. Also same with the hamsters. Just a thing to do. No scientific viewpoint sincerely. M. Griswold said she first wanted to order a monkey. MM says she wants to grow hamsters to dissect them. M. Griswold says if so she can buy them pickled much cheaper. MM says she will not have it. LL says by March 1 (Science Fair) she will have 100000000 hamsters and should try to work something out with plants. She screams she will not. -- Well, I said she could do it. If things get too bad, I'll let the cat loose.
Well, Meg [= MM, high school sophomore] has this bee in her bonnet. I called Mildred Griswold [biology teacher] last night to discuss it and she said she tried to talk her out of it, but would order what they asked her to. Said a pair of hamsters would be $5 and express $4 - run her $9-10. Now she started an incubator project with virus and has spend $1 on penecillin and hasn't tried to write it up at all nor gone on with it. She doesn't know what she is trying to prove. No idea. Also same with the hamsters. Just a thing to do. No scientific viewpoint sincerely. M. Griswold said she first wanted to order a monkey. MM says she wants to grow hamsters to dissect them. M. Griswold says if so she can buy them pickled much cheaper. MM says she will not have it. LL says by March 1 (Science Fair) she will have 100000000 hamsters and should try to work something out with plants. She screams she will not. -- Well, I said she could do it. If things get too bad, I'll let the cat loose.
December 17, 2009
Katzenjammer
Well, you should have been here last night to see us all in action. After a quiet evening of reading, sewing, TV, baths, etc., MM said goodnight and not to forget to let Penel [= the cat Penelope] in. Before I got to it, L said there was a terrible caterwaling in the apple tree. Finally I got out there in old winter coat and scarf and here was our cat at the top of a branch and 3 tom cats in tree, on ground lurking and more coming. Calling was in vain. Then I came in and got M to jump in her jeans and jacket, shoes on bare feet, and help. "Here, Kitty Kitty" was a waste of words. M climbed the tree and I went in the basement and grabbed a kitten, wrapped it well up, and took it out to lure her down. Nothing doing. I said to M, "If it would only cry." "Pinch it" says she in the tree in the high cold wind. Then I put it back as all P would do was stare out from her perch for possible lurking toms. Then we decided to get the big ladder from the garage, so we did and M got up higher. Then L came out and helped us and I got a wall brush to whack her. She woldn't budge for M and so I climbed up and then she came part way. At last M went up to the top of the ladder, a thing both of us were afraid to do before, and got her. Then cold but triumphant we came in after putting all the stuff away. L was so cold he had to have coffee and a chicken sandwich. Que cosa!
December 9, 2009
Fair days
(1957 September, Sunday)
Saturday was a big day around here with the Fair on and all. Mary M <12> is going with another farmer, Sam Anderson, who lives beyond Premo's Orchard. He phoned me he had, with a friend Denny Coppernall, fixed up an old surrey and would call for her at 9:30 to take her to the Fair. Also call for D's girlfriend K.D. About 10:30 they pulled in the drive, the surrey drawn by a team of gigantic white work horses. Behind was tied Dolly, Sam's beautiful brown riding horse. Well, I took a lot of pictures. She was covered with confusion, poor girl. It took Sam 2 hours to go from home to fair [about 2 miles]. Daddy and I also went to the fair - in our car - and sat in the grandstand for as long as we could take it. Saw the stock auction, the 4-H club parade. Many of MM's farmer friends in this, some girls leading monster bulls, Sam on Dolly, leaders in surrey, kids with projects. Then M and friends rode back to farm where they borrowed surrey and now returned it, 2 hours. Sam and MM doubled on Dolly to Andersons. Then Sam brot her back in his car, old Ford. Today she is highly indignant because she has to spend a quiet day at home. Nearly kills her. Also Friday she was all day at fair with other friends and spent nearly $5.
Saturday was a big day around here with the Fair on and all. Mary M <12> is going with another farmer, Sam Anderson, who lives beyond Premo's Orchard. He phoned me he had, with a friend Denny Coppernall, fixed up an old surrey and would call for her at 9:30 to take her to the Fair. Also call for D's girlfriend K.D. About 10:30 they pulled in the drive, the surrey drawn by a team of gigantic white work horses. Behind was tied Dolly, Sam's beautiful brown riding horse. Well, I took a lot of pictures. She was covered with confusion, poor girl. It took Sam 2 hours to go from home to fair [about 2 miles]. Daddy and I also went to the fair - in our car - and sat in the grandstand for as long as we could take it. Saw the stock auction, the 4-H club parade. Many of MM's farmer friends in this, some girls leading monster bulls, Sam on Dolly, leaders in surrey, kids with projects. Then M and friends rode back to farm where they borrowed surrey and now returned it, 2 hours. Sam and MM doubled on Dolly to Andersons. Then Sam brot her back in his car, old Ford. Today she is highly indignant because she has to spend a quiet day at home. Nearly kills her. Also Friday she was all day at fair with other friends and spent nearly $5.
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