Farm Journal - 2025

[Hopalong]

Enjoy your brief solitude, you've earned it over and over!

The happy art hunt caught my attention because when I was selling everything I could to increase my down payment, one thing was a very old edition of a book illustrated by Rackham, with those loose (except at one end) color plates in it.

I have in my bedroom a limited edition Sendak print that he inscribed for me and signed when he visited the University for something. That was exciting. It's the lion indoors near a door, looking back over his shoulder at the viewer with a small white dog by his side. From Where the Wild Things are. I also got a wonderful kitchen scene with chefs and tools he did but believe my ex wound up with it.

That bathroom sounds beautiful. Maybe except for skulls, but I lack the happy associations with those that tattoo artists understand. And what a cool thing to create with Hol in mind.

Enjoy the kid-free, other-people free time, and those fabulous kitties. Kuckles too. Wish I knew what he looks like, since I am dawg obsessed.

hugs
Hop

[sKePTiKal]

Knuckles is white with pink skin; tannish brown spots - like a beagle almost. And under the white hair which is really thin, he has grayish black spots - like a dalmation. Big ole pitbull head & pretty broad chest - but he's really a medium sized dog compare to Kiri. She has the height and size of her setter & pyrenees parents. A formidable guardian dog - pyrenees have killed wolves & coyotes to protect their flocks, herds or children charges. Knuckles is just everyone's friend and playful and cuddly. He hasn't faired too well trying to make friends with wildlife...

A friend of Hol's found him as a puppy living on the street in Baltimore. It had been about a year since she lost her border collie and Ghengis - another lovable but giant pitbull. So I've watched Knucks grow up, he is the epitome of the gentleman ambassador for the canine species! Hol went out of her way to train him to verbal commands and to make him feel safe... so except for a little food aggression/protectiveness he's become a sweetheart. When he was in his running/chasing phase as a puppy, I'd call him back with an old Swiss cowbell - it rings loud and clear and a pretty high tone. Now, I just have to call him.

He has highly developed empathic ability for a dog. And will ask when he needs snuggles too. No trouble at all for me to take care of while she's out gallivanting - and given the improvement in her mental state, attitude, and emotional stability lately I think she's dropping some of the "over" part of over-responsibility. We're both happier as a result.

[Hopalong]

Awwww, wish I could hug him. A pitbull prince--I've watched a zillion pitbull rescue stories (Pitbulls and Parolees for one). Howdy, Knuckles! Lucky boy.
And y'all are superb at dog-naming, btw. GENGHIS? Hilarious.

Pup's name basically means, "I'm bigger than you think I am." Makes people laugh. He arrived as Thor so the rescue lady had major ambitions for him, I think. Hey, 14 pounds is very respectable and when he does his Rin Tin Tin imitation on my knees, I sure feel it!

The freaking autocorrect typed "pitfalls" instead of "pitBULLs." Wrong wrong wrong! I know most of them are perfect nannies, love bugs and goofballs. Exactly perfect. And I love the way you describe and appreciate him.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

I'd much rather have the instinctive cooperation of an animal, than teach it only to repond to commands. Yeah, sometimes it's necessary...

Hol doesn't see things that way. It's OK. Between the two approaches he's become well rounded. I don't do too well with names - Hol named her buddies. One of her kitties is "Sassafras" - and she is a ferocious one! B named Pickles, after I flailed around trying on different monikers. Lucy was easy... Stinker was self-naming - LOL.

Wish me well - today's challenge is hanging wallpaper in the studio powder room. I claimed "knowing how to do this" and Hol stepped back and said "it's all yours!" LOLOLOL. It's too fiddly for her, I think. I want to get it done, so she doesn't watch me paste myself in the process.... a person need 8 hands unless they're amazingly lucky.

[Hopalong]

We'll, it'll be interesting for B to come home and find you mummified in gorgeous wallpaper...

GOOD LUCK!

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

I'm getting the steamer out....removing wallpaper.  Good luck with putting it up, Amber.

Did you guys feel that earthquake?

[Hopalong]

NO, but if I was asleep it prolly wouldn't awaken me.
Years back we had a significant one...it shook the building I was in and made little waves in the parking lot. Really scary sensation to stand on gently rolling pavement but although a few buildings collapsed in a little town east of here, no deaths thankfully.

One reason that although I love visiting California, I'd skip living there.

What does a mountain feel like in an earthquake? Any trees down?

hugs
Hops
PS Agnostic thought of the day: If there is a heaven, it's probably a private club I can't afford.