Children and everlasting pets

Creativity on a rainy day

State Park Fun

Everyone who has been blessed with children and pets knows the pattern----children may grow up and leave, their pets remain with you forever. Not only that, but often when your dear ones acquire independence and a new pet, that pet comes to live with you eventually. This has happened to my sister twice, with Peter the cat and Ellie Mae the dog. Ellie Mae came from an even stranger route than usual, but the final result is Patty's youngest child came driving in her driveway with Ellie Mae. The dog is friendly and enthusiastic whose main past time seems to be sitting in the middle of their busy street. I think she just wants to make new friends. However, we all find it somewhat amazing that she is still alive and not the relative thickness of pancake. People stop, honk, curse and the police have even turned on a siren trying to encourage her to move. This dangerous trait, plus her frequent night barking, finally drove my brother-in-law to a desperate plan. I went to their home last weekend, and there in the yard was a large homemade sign with the words FREE DOG printed on it. Now we all laughed at this idea---who would stop, on a whim, to take a dog. He reasoned that anything they have put out for the garbage, that was remotely useful, got taken by someone. We still laughed, we were sure no one would stop. We were wrong---someone stopped. To be fair they did not take the dog, but someone stopped! Maybe this week Ellie Mae will be someone else's headache. Meanwhile, I have two cats who need a new home, I think I need a sign----TWO FREE CATS--TAKE ONE OR BOTH.

My other animal encounter this week was with a small frog which is now deceased. It was getting cooler so I attempted to shut my front casement window. I wound it shut only to have it stop short of shut. Since the windows are as old as the house, I was concerned this one was truly broken. I was already calculating the budget for a new one. Then I cranked it open just to try again, and a three inch bloody frog dropped from the top of the window. Briefly a small foot clung to the window sill then dropped with a slight thud on the ground. It was creepy. I was afraid to go outside to look in case frog parts were everywhere. When I finally did look the next morning, all I could see in the vines was a belly up frog. Eccccc!

The leaves are turning, the air is clear and almost crisp. My favorite time of the year. Today we have had a whole day of rain and slight thunder. A most pleasant day, since I had no school and two of my grandchildren here to play. I just hope the unwanted creatures of the world stay outside and off my window, and give me a chance to enjoy all the beauty of autumn. (Yes, and does anyone want two cats---one or both? And yes these two cats came via my children!)