Thank You

Samson and Faith last month.

Thank you, my friends, for your kind and caring comments on my Samson post. 

You are the best, always there in times of trouble. 

After Errol died, the three of us, Samson, Faith and I, struggled, but moved on and slowly healed together from our loss. 

We were a team, the three of us. Now, Faith and I will be that team. 

We have a strong bond, we will be fine. 

Thank you, sending lots of love to all of you from Faith and me.

Summer's Last Hurrah?

As I write this at 2 pm on Monday, it's 106 in the shade on my patio and 114 at Joyce's house. I hope this is summer's last hurrah as far as heat goes. 

I swear, I will not buy any more stuff until Chrismas! I've just had a need to spoil myself and my dogs, but too much online shopping equals too many cardboard boxes that you then need to dispose of. I'm driving away from the dump's recycle place in the photo, which I took the other day.  

I'm wearing a mask because of the smoke.

 This is our road, Joyce's and mine.

Today, the smoke is better and my mind is on my relatives in New Orleans, Errol's aunt and uncle, now both close to 90 years old. The uncle is suffering with Parkinson's. As hurricane Ida  approached, I'm sure they evacuated to their daughter's house in Houston, but still, at their age. But good they have a place to go. 

I'm supposed to take care of some business relating to my trust today. I need to call a woman in Bakersfield to find out if she will be the backup trustee for my living trust. The trustee is onboard, but a backup is also needed. 

I will do it tomorrow, Tuesday. Even when I'm inside the house with the portable a/c unit blasting cool air, the heat still seems to affect me. Lazy typing for my blog seems to be all I can manage today. 

The other day, sitting in my bed, I had quite the scare: Something was moving under my bed. Something pretty big. Then this head popped out:

Usually, my dogs have just put their heads underneath the bed to escape the heat. I guess Faith figured a whole-body experience would be more beneficial. 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Smoky Dog Days Of Summer

Woke up to a very smoky morning. Fires are burning everywhere, it's scary and will get worse tomorrow and Wednesday because the wind will pick up. 

Samson has needed a bath for a long time, so this morning, smoky or not, I just had to get it done. It's not easy when you have to bend over him and your back gives out and begins to hurt. I think it's fair to say I got about half of him clean.

I took him in the house to dry him off a bit and brush out some of his fur. Then it struck me again, what a wonderful, patient, loving dog he is. So I just had to:

Hug him and kiss his furry forehead. I feel so bad, I no longer have the energy to take care of him. No, I do take care of him, it's just his fur that's so hard and I can't take him to the groomers because of he virus situation.

Then I remembered I have to drive the Jeep around for a while to keep the battery going until Wednesday when it's going to the shop, so I put on a mask and went outside. Faith saw an opportunity for some attention, so she snuck out.

And I let her run, while I drove the Jeep. I know this is not the smartest thing to do, because she may well believe that all cars are as nice as the Jeep and will definitely keep an eye on where she is and make sure to stop if needed. But there she was, free again, she seemed to say, after being cooped up due to the smoke. And with Samson getting all the attention this morning. 

As I drove around, I came upon the first Rabbit Brush in bloom. So happy! Fall definitely cannot be far behind. Or can it?

Happy Labor Day!

My Dogs And Me

Faith: See, I have such a pretty pink ball. Please play catch with me, mommy. Could you just throw the ball? Please.....

Me: I'm tired, Faith, let me rest and we'll play in the morning.

  
Faith: You know guys, my mommy, much as I love her, but this is the thing: She's kind of old. She falls down and hurts herself, then she can't play with me. Far as I'm concerned old folks should have four legs just like us dogs. Phew, I guess I just have to play by myself. First I chew.



Then I push it with my nose, see how far it goes. Hmm, not very far, this is sooo boring. I should go and live with some kids, then we could play all the time. 

Me: I bet you'd miss me if you ran away from home.

Faith: Yes, mommy, you know I would so I will just lie down here and guard my pink ball. Samson wouldnt' dare to grab it.

Samson Says: I couldn't care less about your stupid ball. I'm out here catching the last of the snow of the season. By the time mommy posts this, it will be hot outside. 

Me: So true. almost 80 degrees now, what a difference a week makes.

Faith: Mommy has been complaining. Her camera broke, she doesn't like her phone pictures (us dogs like the phone pictures because they don't startle us with lightning), then this came in the mail. Mommy says, it's awfully pretty but it scares her. So many new things to figure out! 

Samson Says: If it scares you why did you buy it then? It's red OK, but, as far as red goes, I prefer my carrots. This thing you can't eat it, so what good is it? 

Me: To take your picture, to take pictures of the hills, the junipers, the rabbits.....

Faith:  Much more fun to chase the rabbits, you should try it, mommy. But then, you only have two legs, so better not.

So this is how we live, me and my dogs. I feel guilty when I can't play with them, when I can't brush Samson, when Faith is itching to play catch or chase rabbits, and I get too busy or too tired. 

But feeling better now, we stared to play catch and walk again. For the first time in years, we saw bear tracks this morning. Samson got very excited and started digging where the large paw prints dented the earth. 

Life is good, I will learn the camera, Faith will run for her ball and Samson will soon find out where his main nemesis, the pocket gopher lives. I have seen a mound or  two, Samson has missed them, so far......

The Adventures of Samson and Faith

Faith: Come on Samson, we're supposed to have an adventure! 

Samson: Says who?

Faith: Mommy says up above. It's our new Co-Blogger headline. Come on you big old fluffy thing, let's play!

Samson: Ouch! What are you doing?!

Faith: I'm cleaning by your eyes. Mommy spills half your eyedrops all the time. Will she ever learn?

Faith: OK, now you're clean and handsome again. Let the adventure begin!

Samson: It's too hot for adventures. Can I sleep now, please? All I want is to sleep and dream of Siberia, where us Samoyeds come from. Where the snow is white, the ice is cold, and a dog can enjoy himself.

Faith: There you go again with your snow and ice. Sounds pretty cold and miserable to me.

Samson: That's because you don't have any fur.
Faith: I do so too, black and beautiful, that's me!
Samson: Hmmmm.........

Faith: I have a big mouth too, you wanna see?

Samson: OK, OK, I believe you. Now, can an old dog get some peace around here?

Faith: OK, go dream about your snow. Whatever that is. Supposed to come in the winter and be a big deal. Well, I lived one whole winter and never saw any snow. Maybe you're making it up.....

Samson: I'm not, good night!

Faith: It's in the middle of the day and we didn't have any adventures at all. Zero! Boring, boring, maybe I go and mess with mommy for a while, heh, heh.......

Have a Nice Day, Everyone!

Samson & Faith

Samson Plays Dentist

Samson: OK now, I'm just going to check your teeth and clean them. Open wide, please.

Faith: I'm scared, will it hurt?

Samson: Only if I find a cavity. Then I may have to pull your tooth. 

Faith: Ouch! 
Samson: Let me just get in there and clean your molars.

Faith: I eat a lot of manure, you know from the cows. Won't that make my teeth healthy?
Samson: Manure is for plants. All it does for you is give you a stinky mouth. 

Samson: OK, we are done now. You did very well and all your teeth are white and healthy.

Faith: Are they pretty?

Samson: Yes, they are.

Samson: Maybe now you can get a boyfriend and stop bugging me so.

Faith: I attacked Judah, he'll never speak to me again. 

Samson: Better not attack him if he comes back. You're supposed to be nice to your neighbors. 

To himself: The way she tried to beat that poor pup up, I'll be stuck with her forever........

Samson & Faith

Samson Says:

Earlier, I complained about neglect turning beautiful white dog into common looking beige one. Remember? Now, like most dogs, I'm not fond of baths, but I like my fur white, its silvery tips glittering in the sun. I mean who wouldn't, if they looked like me? Heh, heh, this was just a joke, I'm not vain, I'm just kidding. 

But who likes to be dirty, who likes to bother old and sickly persons, asking for a brush-out at least? So when the rains came and the downpour started, I had an idea:  I'll lay down on my table and let the rain do the work. And it did! My fur color went from beige to snowy, sparkly white, just like it's supposed to look. The tips glitter in the sun and my fur is so soft, silky even. Oh, how I wish my Gracie could see me now! 

All I need now is a good brushing ~ hello, anyone hear me? Then I have to tell you about Faith. First she goes with mommy in the car and then mommy comes home, the car comes home, groceries show up, but no Faith. What the @#$%^, I thought, but I didn't let on. Just pretended not to care. Next day she came home. Wearing the dreaded cone!

Mommy: Faith has been fixed. She's got stitches and you can't play with her.

Me: (Fixed??!! As far as I'm concerned, she was just fine the way she was, but then, no one asks me around here.)  Can I just sniff her a little? 

Mommy: Just her face, you can give her a lick on her nose, but nowhere else.

Me: OK. And I did, then I, being a dog and all, just couldn't help myself, I just had to sniff her you know where.

Mommy: Samson! I just told you, BAD DOG!

Then she snatches Faith away and ever since we've been kept apart. Doors open, doors close, we don't get to see each other. Between you and me, I think mommy's overdoing it a bit. I mean, what can a little sniff hurt?

Mommy, who doesn't know what I just wrote, just asked me to let you all know that Faith is doing great. The vet man said she was in a weird heat (whatever that means) but not a real one, something half-way, and not that unusual when it's the first time. (Well, I could have told them that. Being a dog, I don't need to be a doctor to tell if a girl is in heat or not. Humans!)

Yesterday, after she came home, she was confused, then she fell asleep on the couch. But this morning, she was back to her usual self. Mommy took her for a short walk on a leash. Mommy said "heel," and Faith walked heel like a pro. I thought she might have forgotten, 'cause she always runs loose, but no. She's a smart one, that's for sure. Me, I forget all the time........

Her stitches come out around the 15th, and then we can play and be normal again.

Have a nice day, everyone!

Posted by Samson, the Samoyed Dog

P.S. 

Auntie Feral Woman: I'm very glad you got Ranger. He's a fine dog and that picture of the two of you in the corner of your blog is very special. I know he's a lucky dog. Hope you will come by and read this. ~ Your Samson