First and foremost, let me say thank you to all the blog readers for taking the time to leave a comment on my Friday post. To say I have been 'moved' by these kind comments would be an understatement. I purposely didn't read any comments until Sunday morning. I pondered each comment carefully, and the general consensus was clear. Don't give up the blog, perhaps shorten it, and don't worry about writing a post 'every day.' All good advice, and I am in agreement with what has been said because, truly, inside, I do not want to give it up, and I would do well to listen to what readers have said and suggested. The outpouring of concern in all the comments has re-strengthened the pilot light that had all but wavered and flickered out again. If it weren't for the reassurance of readers, I would have given up my hobbies of blogging, photography, and traveling a long time ago. I have readers to thank for enabling me and giving me a purpose to share these hobbies of mine in a helpful and meaningful way. A sincere thank you to everyone for your care. Following your suggestions, I will try to trim some fat off my blog and get myself into the habit of not blogging every day.
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| THIS SOYBEAN FIELD IS PROBABLY ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING HARVESTED,,,,AND HOW DID I KNOW THEY WERE SOY BEANS?? MY iPHONE TOLD ME SO |
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| ANOTHER BEANFIELD CLOSE TO ITS HARVEST DATE |
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| TALL DANDELION-LIKE FLOWERS IN THE DITCH ALONGSIDE MY WALKING ROAD |
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| THIS IS JEWEL WEED, AND A CLINTON DOCTOR ONCE TOLD ME TO RUB IT ON MYSELF AFTER I HAD A NASTY ENCOUNTER WITH A PATCH OF POISON IVY YEARS AGO |
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| A FAINT MOON IN THE MORNING SKY EARLIER TODAY |
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| THE MOON WASN'T THE ONLY THING IN THE MORNING SKY |
There were also a number of comments about 'getting a dog'. I have been trying, but I'm frustrated with the half dozen area rescue dog sites and Humane Societies. I have mentioned this before, but I will touch on it again. It seems gone are the days when one could simply walk into a Humane Society and walk out with a new best Pal. Yes, I do understand the importance of protecting the pet from unscrupulous people, but everything being 'online' now, with applications to fill out, interviews, and reams of questions, it seems things have kind of gone sideways somewhere. One dog rescue site had a price list for the 'rescued dogs'. Puppies -$800, Adult-$500, and Senior dogs-$250. Maybe I'm off the mark here, or I am not understanding something. Anyway, I'm definitely looking, folks.
.jfif) |
| SORRY ABOUT ANOTHER iPHONE SELFIE FOLKS BUT WOODSY INSISTED I PUT THIS ONE IN AFTER I SENT IT TO HER IN STRATFORD LAST WEEK...I AM AT MY COMMUNICATION TOWER HILL STARGAZING |
Al's Music Box:)) At Last by Etta James.
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| A COUPLE OF HEAVY MACHINES HAVE MOVED INTO THE PARK...CHANGES MAY BE AFOOT |
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| A NEW MOBILE HOME IS COMING IN TO BE SET ON THIS CEMENT PAD IN A FEW DAYS |
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A little guy gets on a plane and sits next to the window. A few minutes later, a big, heavy, mean-looking guy plops down in the seat next to him and immediately falls asleep. The little guy starts to feel a little airsick, but he's afraid to wake the big guy up to ask if he can go to the bathroom. He knows he can't climb over him, and so the little guy sits there, looking at the big guy, trying to decide what to do. Suddenly, the plane hits an air pocket and an uncontrollable wave of nausea passes over the little guy. He can't hold it in any longer and he throws up all over the big guy's chest. About five minutes later the big guy wakes up, looks down, and sees the vomit all over him. "So," says the little guy: "are you feeling better now?-----------------------------------------------
Bless you for being so honest, I’m thankful you are continuing the blog and will be praying that you find that perfect companion.
ReplyDeleteMy last dog came from the want ads in newspaper - PUPPIES!!
ReplyDeleteI would ask the vet. or dog groomer if they know of any customers with puppies!
I too would miss reading your blog every day. Thank you!
I am so glad you're not giving it up! I know how you feel, sometimes my days just seem the same old same old, and I am just writing about the weather again, especially because 14 of the kids have grown up and left home...but I just write when I can, and when I feel like it. You can do that too, don't feel pressured to write more than you feel like. I enjoy visiting you here though, and am glad you'll still be around!!!
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ReplyDeleteI know it must seem frustrating to you seeing the prices for adoption of animals.The shelter I am involved with receives no government funding whatsoever, and costs approximately $30,000 per month to operate.. The adoption fees help offset the cost associated with animal care. Some really needy animals require expensive dental care, vaccinations, spay/neuter etc…As always, the important thing is to find the right fit with dog and potential owner…..sometimes an older dog rather than a puppy is a good match for a senior . There is a group in Peterborough called Elder Dog…it helps elderly owners who find it difficult to walk their dogs by providing dog walkers, and quite often are also looking for new homes for some of the dogs…They are also in some other towns…Maybe check Goderich for Elder Dog or London…..I don’t think there is a large fee for the dog…
Al, I'm so happy ' U'r keeping the blog' it's very much appreciated from my side.The world seems extra upside down & extra ugly lately we need the beauty of your pages to sort of counter off the daily bad news.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you are going to continue your blog.🤗
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DeleteGeorge
Good. You can see how it goes with blogging or no,and feel freer. Geez. Canadians must take good care of dogs. Where I live (TX), there is NO shortage.
ReplyDeleteThat "dandelion like flower" looks like it is hawkweed, a very invasive weed here in the state of Washington - it is futile to try to control it here. I now have more hawkweed in my yard than grass
ReplyDeleteAnonymous echoes my thoughts. Your blog is the ray of sunshine we so desperately need. I am breathing much better knowing you will continue.
ReplyDeleteI sure do wish you weren't so far! Here in North Texas we are inundated with dogs of all breeds. Posts on Next Door show 5 or 6 dogs that will be put down if they aren't adopted within a week or so. The shelters are full and refusing to accept more. It is a real problem when somebody finds a stray dog----- and, every day there are several!----because if the finder already has dogs, cats, he or she can't keep the stray. A neighbor was telling me yesterday. A chihuahua was spotted on our street last week. Stayed there for hours. She was able to get the dog and take her to a vet. Poor baby had been lying in an ant bed all day after maybe being hit by a car. Dog will recover. Is chipped, but no reponse from owner. So now my neighbor has a third dog! Dogs are being dumped because owners can't afford food, or had to move where dogs are not allowed.
If you can manage to fill out the online application (which I have done several times and I agree, they are annoying but necessary), you will end up with a great dog. I look at the application as a screening tool to see if you are really serious about getting a dog. It's a small hurtle and I hope you will give it a go. And $500 for an adult dog, spayed/neutered and all shots is a bargain actually.
ReplyDeleteAl, great news that all will be right in the blog world. Enjoyed the photos tonight and will say a little prayer that the right pup will find you. Take care/
ReplyDeleteHey! How come your post tonight was so short? :)) Just kidding! I love it! I totally support a new version and on less days. The prices you mentioned are extremely high. Don't you have local shelters around the area. They are typically a lot more reasonable that more private facilities. Nowadays, they sometimes want you to have it spayed/neutered and shots before taking the dog home but that shouldn't costs that much and you should do it anyway. Our public one even gives free medical care and shots for life with older dogs adopted out because sometimes older dogs are more difficult to adopt out. We have an awesome one here in Arizona and the adoptable dogs are socialized by volunteers before adopting them out ... taking them for walks and even overnight home visits in order to notice any adverse issues in the dog. Quite often, dogs are given up because of various things like barking constantly, uneasy with strangers, etc. Put your name in with some public agencies in various towns around you and you'll find the perfect one for you. Yes, nowadays they want to know something about YOU, also, to match the dog with you. Looking forward to your shortened blogs and pics of the new pup!
ReplyDeleteI would like to echo all comments - so happy you will continue whether or not it’s daily. Whatever fits your routine and feels right will be welcomed by all. My personal interest is your photography skills, (my hobby for many years is photography, I drive a Subaru as well, ha). You have such a knack to make a mundane subject a very striking photo, a wonderful talent to have. Don’t give up your search for a dog to adopt, you will find the right one.
ReplyDeleteThe bean field sunset picture you sent to Lorraine the other night was so beautiful. You caught it just right and the beans, even tho already yellowing, were enhanced by the sunset. Beautiful. So see, even a beanfield photo was appreciated and enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteAnd today, throw in some Etta James. Nice. Thanks, Al. BarbinFL
Al, would hate to see you disappear from the online world, but understand completely your feelings. Please, just stay in touch, even with just a "Hello!". You'll find the right pet for you, I know, and that sight of a friendly tail wagging will lift your spirits often. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've decided to continue to blog in some form. It's just like adjusting to your Iphone- we are all adjusting every day! The world we live in now has too many people adopting dogs just to mistreat or resell for profit- it's hard to understand the motivation but unfortunately we all pay the price for these awful people. We are just trying to be grateful for each day and to find some joy especially in the US and spend as much time in nature as possible- Ron and Mary Lou in TN
ReplyDeleteAl, we got our current dog (a lab mix) from a shelter 6 hours away! We were taking a short vacation to the Eastern Sierra Nevada and this shelter was on the way up. We had just lost our previous lab and I'd been noticing all the good looking dogs on their website. So, we stopped there on our way up to our cabin of 4 nights. Hubby picked him out...a 6 month lab mix, same color as our previous dog! I cried a bucket full of tears because he looked so much like her! They held him for the 4 days we had our cabin, neutered him, gave him his 1st shot, dewormed him, and gave him a flea & tick bath....ALL FOR ... $65.00!!!!! YES! This was 2018. He slept on hubby's lap the entire way home and we still have him. By the way, he is now an "uncle" to the newborn kitten HE found on our side porch. They would sleep together if they could! BEST DOG we've ever had!
ReplyDeleteHave you looked into Elder Dog Canada INC? The rehome senior dogs with senior humans. A gal I know volunteers with them in Toronto.
ReplyDeleteLove this - glad to know about them!
DeleteThank you for opening the door again. You belong in blog land. Your photos look extra sharp in this post. I think getting a new dog in your life is a wonderful idea. However do you think you and Woodsy might have travel in your future that might involve air travel rather than RV travel? If so, a pet might be a problem for you. Contessa
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the boost you needed - pays to reach out with your honest thoughts :-) Like everything else, costs are rising for shelters just to exist. If more folks adopted they wouldn't need to charge so much for each one. Without volunteers they'd be unable to continue the generous work they do now. Here in AZ the prices vary, but gone are the $50 adoptions. Rehoming from owners can be an option for families or elders that find themselves unable to keep a loved pet. It's heartbreaking for them to go to a shelter, and they often post in craigslist and FB Market Place and other similar online sites. I agree checking with vet offices, assisted living facilities, and local bulletin boards. You could also post something at these places to let people know you're looking for a new pal. Good luck :-)))
ReplyDeleteI too am very glad you are going to continue your blog!!! You have a very special way to write and express y
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