Rut-Row- the rain is neverending....

I don't know about the rest of the country but here in Houston-town the rain keeps coming down. The yard keeps growing like an uncontrollable field of weeds, and the four-legged's are getting stir-crazy. The thunder starts rolling like a freight train seemingly never ending and terrifying the Bentman. Luckily, I am out of school for 6-weeks and have been at home when the storms come through. We made it through the 4th of July somewhat peaceably with a tiny bit of  freakishness but it was much milder than usual. But the crazy storms are making up for it. Since the Bentman has had some issues with various alternative therapies I just try to play the TV really loud and act silly to get his mind off of the thunder. Usually helps. I guess if I was scared of thunder the sight of my 2-legged acting the fool dancing and jumping around the house singing nonsensical songs to me I'd be distracted from what ailed me too. Thank doG no one is videoing me secretly because I'd win the stupidest video in America contest. Still waiting on some results from Bentleys blood-work. Long story but nothing really set off any bells and whistles when it came back from the local Vet. so it is being reviewed by a lady in California along with previous test results from the past. I had to request copies from previous years and it took awhile to get all of it since we don't live there anymore and I couldn't find all my files. Anyway, he is still doing weirdness this summer. For the first time in his life he has decided he can go into Roux's crate and hang out in there. He hates crating with a passion but whatever floats his boat. I imagine if I closed the door on the crate he wouldn't be very happy but I'm not going to push the issue. He has had 2 hot spots this Summer- something he has never suffered from. But I am monitoring them daily and haven't had to resort to the cone-head thing yet. He is not happy with the medicinal spray but will tolerate the chilled witch hazel and fresh aloe-vera juice I keep refrigerated because it soothes.And I have convinced him to eat fresh carrots. Roux and Bridgette adore them and since he can't stand to see them eating something without him he has decided he likes them too. Will wonders never cease?

The other Mama and I are going to the New England area on Thursday and Miss Phyllis will be coming to stay with all the 4-leggeds for awhile. She has strict instructions to alternate cookies with carrots because it never fails that when Kris and I are gone for more than a week the 4-legged's have gained a few pounds. I have found that if Miss Phyllis decided they are running low on cookies she will go purchase more because she thinks they are poor little darlings that are going to starve. Aagghhh. I know one of them has convinced her of this somehow even though they have begun to look like a Twinkie with toothpicks for legs at that point. Anyway, we had a talk. I lied. I said the Vet said they were all fat and had to go on a diet. I think God will forgive me.

Back to the New England trip for a moment. We are going to tour Boston, stay in Salem, get married, drive the coast to Bar Harbor and stay there for a few days and wander around the Acadia National Park, and then go to Vermont. We will check out Cabot Cheese Creamery, an apple orchard- cider place, Ben and Jerry's factory, and finish with a tour at King Arthur's in Norwich. I am soooooooo excited. I really wanted to climb a bunch of lighthouses in the New England area but it appears they are not so much like the ones down in Florida. So I will just view them and take photos. I will eat lots of lobster and clams. And whatever else I find that is indigenous to the area. We decided we will have to go back to check out Nova Scotia and Newfoundland another time. Ten days goes by really fast.

I will miss my 4-legged's tremendously but I am sure they will enjoy their time with Miss Phyllis. I may have to lock down the laptop before I leave. The Bentman and Roux just may decide to post while I'm gone. Never know what those two will do. Anyway, ya'll take care and I'll be sure to post pictures of our trip when we get back.

Happy trails,
Karen Raye

Art of an Airedale!

A friend sent this to me.

She found it in an art gallery in Lubbock, Texas.

Tan would be beige, huh?

Have a great weekend!

Happy 4th of July anyway.....

We're not big fans of this particular holiday around here due to the stress caused by the big booms and whistling noises caused by the fireworks our fellow Americans love to set off. The Bentman is terrified of firecrackers, guns, and crazy sounding thunder. Firecrackers are the worst though. Since he reacts negatively to most types of homeopathic calming therapies and Benedryl just makes him more agitated, I will try to get some lavender oil on him that I bought a few weeks ago in the Texas Hill country at the Lavender Run/ Walk we participated in. Problem is- he hates the way it smells. I think he knows what the bottle looks like or else he can read my mind. Actually, I know it is my body language but dear goD help me, I can't help it. He starts pacing after he hears the first loud noise and then it escalates into major pawing at whatever body part he can touch. Then if you are laying down, he will climb on top of your head and paw some more.

One year I made the mistake of staying out in Spring after work one 4th instead of driving all the way home because I had two days of 12 hour grooming shop duty. My friends home was close and it seemed like a good idea to not drive 65 miles home on a major party holiday night.  But no- no- No. Every 2-legged in that area that could set off fireworks from 9pm till 3am that night did. It started when I was driving Bentley and I to the friends house about 9:15pm after work that Saturday night going down the road. He went freako in the car and by the time we got to the house, he was in full phobic mode. I couldn't get the TV turned up load enough nor any amount of ignoring, soothing, Benedryl was going to help. I enclosed he and I in the bedroom with two different TV's going full blast and two pillows on my body, long sleeves and pants for protection from his pawing. He made permanent grooves in the door facing. These are very dear friends and I was able to apologize and repair the damage but still....not a fun night- about 3 hours? maybe of sleep before it was time to go back to the grooming shop for a Sunday day of hell. Not really complaining but that is another story in itself for another day!

Anyway, I am planning for a long night since Mother Nature decided to let up on the Texas flood and give us a rain free 4th of July.

Dammit.

I know a lot of you have very similar issues with the 4th NOISE and how it affects your 4-leggeds so I decided to offer a sacrifice to Mother Nature in the hopes of some more rain tonight. I will give up cheeseburgers for two weeks. Do you think it will work?  I do so hate to rain on anyones parade but I am going to be selfish on this one. I want rain and lots of it for tonight!

Anyway- best wishes to all. I'm going to see if I can chase down the Bentman and make him smell like lavender. The worst that can happen is that the lavender will calm me down. Right?    

Karen Raye
and the Bentman