Terrible Towels

I know some pro football team has something to do with the phrase "terrible towels".  Is it the Steelers?  Anyway, I mean real towels.  I have never used and washed so many towels until, you guessed it, Ralph came.  Our back yard has a stream and a soft, marshy area that Ralph delights in running through every morning and in the cool of the evening.  And, since it has been rather rainy lately, that little spot is extremely muddy.  Fortunately, he is a good boy and doesn't mind being rinsed or bathed in the bathtub.  I could plant a garden from all the soil I've washed off of him.  So, as one might guess, I use and wash lots of towels.  Lots and lots of  towels.  Filthy, muddy towels that have dried off one filthy, muddy scottie.  (Sometimes Eleanor is just as muddy as Ralph.  Not Franklin. He doesn't like to get his feet wet.)

When the wash cycle is finished, it plays a little tune.

Then, disaster struck.  Our old washing machine died.  Chris immediately went to Lowe's and ordered us a new one.  I was in awe of the new machine.  It took me a week to get up the nerve to use it.  FANCY STUFF.  Buttons, and dials, and indicators, and pockets for detergent, bleach, and fabric softener.  It is the kind with no agitator, and it "senses" the load, plus I can be really picky now about how I want a load washed.  After reading the manual, I got brave and washed my first load of......towels.  On the BULKY setting, I might add.  Let me tell, you I have never had so much fun using a washing machine in my life.  I find joy in the simple things in life.

SpragWags

If I were to turn my hobby of making dog collars into a business, that's what I would call it...SpragWags.  Clever, huh?  My husband gave me a sewing machine for Christmas.  And thanks to the miracles of Pinterest and Google, I began to try my luck at making dog collars.  When my kids were young, I made many of their clothes, until it wasn't cool to wear "clothes your mother made."  I quit sewing for myself long ago, but I wanted to try something different.  (Plus, I don't have grandkids yet...just wait.).  I am quite pleased with the way they look, and I have cheerfully shared what I've made with friends.  One non-dog owner saw them and said these collars made her want to get a dog just so it could wear one of my collars!!!  Now, I know that is not a valid reason for wanting a dog, but I did take it as a compliment.  Right now, I have way more collars than dogs to wear them.  Franklin, Eleanor, and Ralph can all have a different collar of the week....Next up, collars for the Fourth of July.

Chiz photo bombs my layout!!!

Silent Summer

         During the school year, my day usually begins around 4:00 a.m.  I know, that's early, but I've come to like it. I get stuff done, and have time to explore Pinterest or Facebook before I actually begin getting ready for school.  Now that it is summer, my day usually begins around 4:30 a.m.  I am letting myself sleep later....HA.  Really, the dogs wake me up to go out, then I just stay up.  One thing I have enjoyed is the quiet of the mornings.  I open up the screen on the front door, and just take in the silence.  Then, the birds all over the neighborhood begin their morning songs.  For the first week I was out, my husband was still in school, so I decided to not even turn on the television until two o'clock, when General Hospital comes on.  Now, I'm in that habit, no noise until two.  (And the way that story is going, sometimes I think I have wasted a perfectly good hour on a bunch of ridiculous noise.)  So, trying to convince my husband to not turn on the tube until later has not been too much of a struggle.  He wants to watch Gunsmoke and Bonanza on TVLand.  And, I'm okay with that....no TV until two is the plan.  You know, I have not missed it one bit.  The quiet is so intoxicating.
           I often wondered what the dogs did all day while we were gone.  If the past two weeks are any indication, they do nothing!!!!  Their schedule is to go out first thing for about an hour to do squirrel and possum patrol.  Ralph and Eleanor run through the stream and the peppermint growing back there, and though they come in absolutely filthy sometimes, they smell real good.  Franklin will go off the deck steps, do his business, then come back to the deck and just chill awhile.   They all come back in, sit at the front windows, and bark at real or imagined things they see in our yard or across the street.  Then, about nine o'clock, they settle down for the day.  Franklin has been my shadow.  Where I go, he goes.  He is my baby.
             So. lets see how long I can keep the summer of silence going.  So far, so good.  Peace.

Top right, Ralph is wearing the Snoopy collar I made for him.
Bottom, the daily routine...nothing.

Rotten Ralph

In children's literature, Rotten Ralph is a naughty, but lovable cat created by Jack Gantos.  Here, at the Spragzoo, our own version is a naughty Scottish terrier.  And naughty is not quite accurate enough.   This Ralph experience is a new one for me.  He is totally different from Franklin and Eleanor.  They came here as puppies, and are so laid back.  I had seen other Scotties snarl and bare their teeth at other dogs, and would say a silent prayer of thanks that my two weren't like that at all. THEN WE GOT RALPH.  He came to us at 4 years old, unneutered, heartworm positive, and with a cataract in his right eye.  He fought with all our dogs at first.  Once he was neutered, and got adjusted to this new pack, he and the other dogs became buddies.  I did obedience classes with him, which also was a big help.  Poor little guy, at first, he was afraid to come in the house.  He had spent much of the last year as an outside dog. Gradually, he has learned he is welcome to come inside, and has made himself right at home.  He loves his crate, and wrestling with Eleanor every morning.  So now, our problem is, he won't let anyone, I mean anyone, other than Chris or me, in our house. My kids can't come over without calling to say, "Mom, I'm coming over. Put Ralph up."  Once again, Carolyn at The Developing Canine has come to our rescue.  She says he still feels he must guard everything, which is not good.  She gave me advice on what to do, and hopefully, she can work with him again in August.  In the meantime, if you want to come over, call first!!!  I will have to put Ralph up.