We Need a New Name

I think we need a new name for this month.  It used to be that October was a chilly time,  unique in its crisp, colorful way.  With temps now a good 15-20 degrees above normal, it is more like August. The plants have come back to life.  The bees are active and cranky.  The humans still wear beach-style clothing.  No, I think we should call this month Augtober.  It seems more fitting.

Honey bee climbing on clover.

Cranky bees.

Violet blooming in Fall.

Flowers think it is Spring.

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If there is anything you would like to buy from my store, checkout will be easier now than in a month.  Unfortunately business has not been good this year, so I am having to downgrade to a more cumbersome, two step checkout method. The shop is Needful Things of Salem.  I have a little something for everyone!

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Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Poopiter!

Bitey Dog and Toby in POOPITER

Available at Amazon.

 

 

 

The Trash Man Cometh Not

Cairn terrier turns his head away from the camera.

Phew!  I am turning my head away from that smell.

It seems that every day there is another story on the news about bear sightings.  At the close of each one, the helpful reporter reminds people not to leave food outdoors and to keep their trash cans secured.

Last year a new sanitation company put in a bid to take over services for our area.   The municipality declared that all residents now must use this particular company.  They provide recycling and trash collection for a good price, so it seemed like a win/win situation….except for holidays as it turns out.

For some reason, this company cannot keep to its schedule if there is a holiday.  If they know they cannot pick up on trash day during a holiday week, you would think they would notify everyone of a policy of putting their cans out X number of days later.  Instead we have tons of cans and trash bags sitting on the curb for four to five days until the collection company comes around. It was over 90 degrees last week.  You can imagine how ripe that smell must be for animals with acute senses of smell.

In the mornings now, I am worried about walking my dogs.  I don’t know if I am going to find a bear going through the trash or coyotes or raccoons or any one of a number of other dangerous animals.

Notice I didn’t name any names or call anyone out.  I don’t want to find a horse’s head in my bed.  However, if you run a sanitation company, please set a schedule and keep to it.  It will keep everyone safer including your employees.

No Dignity When It’s Hot

Cairn terrier sleeping upside down in undignified pose.

I have seen pictures of “cat thermometers” where the more the kitty is stretched out, the hotter the temperature.  If you have a pup, the more absurd the sleeping position, the hotter it is.  As you can see, we clearly were having unreasonably warm weather this day.

The mercury in the window thermometer reached over 120 in the sun.  It is rare even in August for that to happen.

Dog Days of Summer – A Poem by Geordie the Dog

Dog Days of Summer

Be careful when you close that
big white fridge door.
I’m lying quite near
on the cool kitchen floor.
I don’t want you dropping
stuff on my poor head.
I’m really alive
though I look like I’m dead.
I’m missing the ice and the snow
and the slush
of Winter as you scoot me around by my tush.
I think that this Summer,
I’ve paid my “heat dues”
Now how ’bout we go on an
Alaskan cruise!!!

Hot Dog 2 (800x600)