Visit To The Vet

Yesterday we took Chance to the Veterinarian for his yearly checkup. If you have a pet, responsible pet ownership includes yearly checkups and immunizations. You wouldn't want your beloved pet to be at risk of death from something preventable.
Our Vet, Dr. Paul Fredrick treats us and our dog with kindness and compassion. I have called him at his home on weekends and at night. He has always put our fears to rest or met us at his office. He has cried with us, when we have all come to the realization that there is no hope and we must do what is best for a pet. He has joined us in the celebration of getting a new puppy. When we got Chance I called for an appointment for our new puppy..I would not divulge his breed over the phone. The Vet and his assistant were guessing all weekend what kind of puppy we got. They were betting on a Sheltie, but were quick to point out .."That Border Collie is smarter than you guys!"
Chance is doing well, he weighs about the same as he did last Fall..52 pounds. A year ago he weighed 44 pounds. I think he is done growing! His heart and lungs sound great. He received his immunizations without even a whimper. I got rave reviews of his pearly white teeth..yes I clean Chance's teeth. Chance is just a little spoiled:)

Posted by: farsideoffifty on 5/9/2008 at 9:46 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Young Reader

I have always liked to read.  Growing up on a farm, without a nearby library was the pits.  When I was in third grade my Dad was working in Iowa for the summer, the cows had been sold ..so we went to a little town called Stewart, Iowa for the summer.  It was one of the best summers of my entire life..we lived in town and they had a Library..and  I had my own library card..I was in reading heaven.
I will read just about anything..including ingredients on containers.  Stuck in a car..I will read the Owners manual.  As a youngster I read my Dads magazines about soldiers and wars that he kept tucked under the seat of the car.
 I usually always have a book with me..just in case...when we lived in Moorhead..I always had a book in the car, because you could never tell how long you may be stopped at a Rail Road Crossing.
Well back to the Farm...choices for reading was slim..The Bible..An old Veterinary manual..True Grit which I devoured from cover to cover....Nursery Rhymes/Fairy Tales...   So I saved what little money I had and bought Trixie Belden, Donna Parker and Nancy Drew books usually at the dime store in Detroit Lakes.  I read those books over and over again.  My brother bought comic books..he was a reader also.  Our Sears and Roebuck catalogue was other fine reading.
Now I hoard books...I buy them constantly..I love the garage sales and thrift stores. I have quite a selection, I will probably never read them all in my lifetime..:)

 What did you read when you were a kid?

Posted by: farsideoffifty on 5/8/2008 at 7:30 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink

Loony Bin

I have been doing some reading about Common Loons (Gavia immer) ..I just love those scientific names! 
Imagine yourself a Male Loon...you have had a foot loose, fancy free winter in the south. One day something says fly north...something draws you to the nesting site you had last year.  Finally the ice is out and you use your magical calls to establish your territory.  Then you wait for your mate, when she finally shows up..you are really happy to see her.. "Hiya Toots"...lets get on with the laying of the eggs! You are both tireless parents, taking turns on the nest..then spending most of the summer rearing and protecting the chicks.  One day you say, "Time to go junior or juniorette...hope you have a good loony life."  You and your mate take off to gather with friends, and head south.  You might see your mate over the winter, you might not, you may be 100 to 1,000 miles apart.."See ya at the lake in the spring Toots."
Such is the life of a Loon..fascinating creatures!
 A number of springs  ago, a Loon was calling...and calling..he called all evening..all throughout the night.  Every time I woke up..he was calling.  He called most of the next day and was finally silent. He had called so much that even the teenage girls noticed...we decided that it was a male loon and his mate was late in arriving.
The ice went off of the lake yesterday...so spring may officially be here!
I have an interesting test for you to take, it is called The Minnesota Quiz.   Thank you to Floyd for sharing!
The Live Loon Cam is not up yet..we have to be patient a little longer, it will be worth the wait:)

Posted by: farsideoffifty on 5/7/2008 at 10:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink

Pansy 'Purple Rain'

Viola X wittrockiana 'Purple Rain' is a trailing Pansy. One plant will fill an 8 inch basket in no time at all. Pansys like the cool temperatures of early spring, and fall. They kind of poop out in the hot days of summer. You may enjoy "Purple Rain" in a mixed basket or trailing and mounding in a cooler spot in your garden. Typically they like well drained soil, part sun to part shade. A mature plant will be 12 inches tall, and 12 to 18 inches wide.

A new variety was introduced this year 'Frosty Rain'. I absolutely adore the deep purple color of 'Purple Rain' ...so unless this new introduction is fabulous... 

 'Purple Rain' is usually sold as an annual, if you have a nice warm micro-climate that doesn't get colder than 10 degrees below zero..it may overwinter for you!

I am more than happy to give you my two cents worth on plants anytime...just leave me a comment:)

Last night I heard the Loons calling!!

Posted by: farsideoffifty on 5/6/2008 at 7:00 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Deer Ticks

Growing up in Minnesota, we have always had Wood Ticks or Dog Ticks. They usually appear in April or May and are  gone by  mid July.  They are easily spotted on your clothing.  When I was a kid it was my job to pick them off of the dogs, I did so happily as we didn't want our dogs to die of "Tick Fever"..when I was really little... probably four or five years old we had a dog that died of the fever.  I must have really taken it to heart..because I was on tick watch from then on.  I used to sit on the front step and pick them off and smash them with a rock, the really big ones you could step on and burst them wide open..making all kinds of bloody spots on the cement.  When we went visiting..I would also rid any dog of his ticks. Luckily I was never bitten..
Now we have not only the normal Wood Ticks but also the Deer Ticks or Blacklegged Ticks. Times have changed...I have lived in this two square mile area of Minnesota for 38 years of my life...one of these days I might be referred to as an "Old Timer."  I blame the increased Deer population on this Deer Tick problem.  Deer ticks are really tiny..they are the size of a pin head or a speck of pepper.  They are also here much longer...March to November.
I just "love" all the city people's solutions...wear light colored clothing..wear long sleeves..wear white socks and tuck your pants legs into your socks. Yes, these things may help you to see the tick before they have the opportunity to sink into your skin...before they have the opportunity to travel to a warm area of your body..your groin, scalp, skin folds or your under arm pits.  Once they have taken a hold ...don't panic..our Granddaughter Paige used to scream..screaming does not help.  Ticks are rarely persuaded to leave by hollering "Get it off me, it's biting me..I can't stand it, it's sucking the blood out of me."
Tick removal..grab the tick as close to your skin as possible..either with a tweezers or your finger nail..GENTLY pull outward. If the tick does not detach..you can try to drown them with a bit of rubbing alcohol..then try again.  You should inspect the tick..especially the mouth parts..getting a small piece of your skin with the tick is a good thing.
My Mother had a tick that even a Doctor had a hard time removing..the doctor had to make a small incision to remove the tick.
One day our phone rang...someone had a big problem with tick removal.  He said "I got a problem, I have a stuck tick" I said "Just yank it out" He said "I tried"  I said "Well, you want me to come over and take it out for you?" He said "NO"  I said " Really? It's not a problem..I can have a look see"  He said "NO, you can't have a look see"  I started to giggle... seen one..seen em all..and said "Well.. we could cut it off" and then I gave the phone to Far Guy:)

Far Guy here: I can fill in the conversation after Far Side gave me the phone.  While I was laughing my butt off, I could also appreciate the seriousness of the situation.  I like my neighbor, he's a cool guy but friendship only goes so far.  His being on the local Fire and Rescue Squad I did suggest calling 911 so the rest of the Fire Dept could see.  Thinking back on it. I could have suggested more manly things like using a hammer and screwdriver, a vise grip pliers, or even a cutting torch.  I did assist in keeping him from a panic mode and he is still alive today but unfortunately the swelling did eventually leave.  I would like to mention his name but he is a really good "Hunter" and may hunt me down.

Posted by: farsideoffifty on 5/5/2008 at 12:00 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink