Warm Summer Rains

I love a soft summer rain.  Everything seems clean and refreshed.  The plants, grass, shrubs and trees finally get a good dose of Mother Nature's sweet nectar.  The air is cool, and the rains are warm.  A perfect time to be outside, or a relaxing time to read or watch a movie.  Life seems to slow down a pace or two.

Being from the great Pacific Northwest, I love the rain.  It's in my blood.  The fiber of my being.  I love the dripping of the rain from my gutters.  I love the slosh of tires on the streets.  I love watching the soft droplets fall against a street light.  I love the smell of rain hitting hot summer pavement.  I love the feel of the rain on my face and in my hair.  I love the smell of wet, warm, steaming barkdust mixed in with the sweet smell of roses.

Not to mention the love that I will have for my much lighter than usual water bill.

Thank you Mother Nature!

A Dog's Life

I have often wondered why it is that my dogs (AKA the girls) find it necessary to eliminate their body waste on my gravel walkway. On more than one occasion I have found myself walking to the gate only to realize, with an audible groan, that I am standing knee deep (well, not that bad of course) in poo. Of course I clean up after them when I know it's there, but when I haven't actually spotted the perpetrator doing her nasty deed I am sometimes the recipient of it - or at least the bottom of my shoe is. Funny how those little "things" can disguise themselves to look just like the rocks they are laying on. Of course the girls NEVER step in poo. They don't even run through it when chasing each other. They have some hidden radar that detects the location so they are able to side step it at the last possible moment. The lucky little wretches!

Just another observation while living a dog's life.

The Blood Of Our Heros

We are nearing the 3rd anniversary of September 11th, and I want to share with you a website that my cousin sent me today.  Every American should take a few minutes out of their busy day to view it, read it, ponder it and pray for those who lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, and above all pray for our military men and women both here at home and abroad.

God Bless this great country, and her fearless leader George W. Bush!

Be sure to click on the tiny "info" button at the end of the presentation.  It gives more insight into the meaning behind the website.

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/Heroes/heroes.htm

PLEASE READ AND PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO OWN PETS

YOU CAN FIND THIS AND OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT PETS AT:  http://www.tailwagginsbakery.com/bakerynews.htm

 

In many states, laws have been passed which make it illegal for people to leave their pets unattended in parked vehicles. And in the throes of summer, particularly here in the south, it's hard to imagine a more dangerous place for your dog or cat to be. Besides being a handy source of transportation, cars (and trucks) are also very efficient solar collectors. On sunny days when the outside temperature may be only 85°F, the inside of a parked car can exceed 100° in just 10 minutes! If you're caught in line at the bank for a half hour, that temperature can easily climb to 120°. And, if your errand takes you around the block, your pet could be trapped in a 160° slow-cooker. Don't make the mistake of thinking your pet is safe as long as he's not locked in a hot car. A dog in the backyard without adequate shade and drinking water is still susceptible to heatstroke. Be sensitive to your dog's surroundings... a yard with little grass and landscaping rock and concrete is a much hotter place than one filled with lush grass. Make sure your dog has adequate ventilated shade, (A poorly ventilated doghouse can quickly become a solar oven in the summer sun.) and plenty of clean drinking water. Heatstroke is a life-threatening state of extreme hyperthermia. All mammals have the ability to regulate their internal body temperature. For cats and dogs "normal" is around 101° - 103°. But the body's ability to self-regulate can be compromised by high ambient temperatures. In a closed car, a dog or cat's temperature regulating system will quickly be out of control, and their internal or core body temperature will start to rise. Once it climbs to the neighborhood of 104.9° - 109.4°, then heatstroke has occurred. Heatstroke will affect your pet's entire body. His cardiovascular system will experience an increased metabolic rate, and oxygen consumption will likewise increase. The respiratory system will show signs of hyperventilation which will affect the acid balance of his entire body. Your pet will go into acute respiratory failure, muscle tissue will begin to break down, the coagulation system will begin to fail and fluid will accumulate in the brain. Once his core temperature reaches 109°, there are only a few minutes before tissue damage occurs. The early signs of heatstroke are rapid panting accompanied by a fast heartbeat and general confusion. The dogs gums and tongue may be red and dry. As the condition progresses the symptoms worsen, and the dog may experience depression. The gums and tongue may now appear grayish, and the animal may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Beyond this stage, there will be seizures, coma, and eventually death. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke, get medical attention immediately. Quick response is necessary to prevent possible internal organ damage. If you are unable to get to a vet or clinic quickly, observe the following guidelines; 1)  Remove your pet from the source of heat and get them to a cooler area. 2) Soak his fur with cool (not cold) water starting with the paws, legs and neck, and then the rest of his body. Place him in front of a fan to maximize evaporative cooling. 3) Check his temperature frequently, and stop cooling when it reaches 103° (Excessive cooling can cause hypothermia, and shock.) 4) As soon as possible, get your pet to a vet for evaluation. The doctor will determine if fluid therapy is necessary to combat dehydration, and will determine whether or not additional treatment is required for organ damage.

The key to your dog's safe and happy summer depends on you. Please take every precaution with your precious pet during the hot season. Know the symptoms of heatstroke, and how to provide emergency treatment if necessary. Only you can ensure that your dog or cat does not become one of this summer's tragic statistics.

Daily Affirmation

Animals have these
advantages over man: they
never hear the clock strike,
they die without any idea of
death, they have no
theologians to
instruct them,
their last moments are not
disturbed by
unwelcome and
unpleasant ceremonies, their
funerals cost them nothing,
and no one starts lawsuits
over their wills.
Voltaire 
 

Announcing Kennedy Lauren

My great niece, Kennedy Lauren was born 8/12/04 at 12:22am.  She bounced into this world weighing 7lbs. 11oz. and 22 inches long.  She has strawberry blonde hair and Kim says she is a living doll.  Mom and baby are expected home any minute.  Both are doing great!

Please welcome this latest addition to the human race!  Pictures to follow as soon as I receive them via email.

Hugs to all,

Robyn

Daily Affirmation

To help yourself, help others.
Whatever good you do
travels a circle and returns to
you many times over - but
remember, life isn't about
what you get, it's about what
you become.
Gaskill, Dennis

Remember there's no
such thing as a small act
of kindness. Every act
creates a ripple with
no logical end.
Adams, Scott

Neither fire nor wind,
birth nor death can erase
our good deeds
Buddha
 

The Critters

Folks,

With all this hot weather, I hope that some of you (if not all) are keeping plenty of fresh water out for the animals, whether they are yours or a stray that may be passing through.  If some of us with good hearts don't look out for them, who will?

Also, it's time to feed the critters again!  I post THE ANIMAL RESCUE website address from time to time in hopes that you will take a couple seconds out of your day to go here and click for free.  It's a worthwhile cause and one that we must remember to do.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa

On the Lookout For One Baby Girl In The Phoenix Area.......

This is the email I received this morning from Kim:  (the "moon" thing is a personal joke that I may share in the future)

I miss you too. Still no baby, she got "geled" yesterday which produced a lot of cramping but nothing became of it. SO, tomorrow she will go in and be hooked up to the potocin so will probably have results from that, hopefully any way!   It's soooo hot here, you would hate it. A person has to get up at 5am to get anything done before the sun comes up. Air conditioning is a must have here and it runs 24/7, there is no cool down, it's like 95 to 100 degree's at midnight! If I lived here I would be a hermit.   Well better go take a shower and get ready for the day.   I haven't read your journal yet but will.   Love ya Moon

Phoenix

My sister Kim is leaving for Phoenix Arizona this morning to be with her daughter, Stacie when she is induced into labor with her baby girl.  I sure will miss her. 

Kim and I are really close and depend on each to some extent like sisters who are close do.  I can't imagine life without her.  We are like best friends - but closer.  There isn't anything that she can't tell me, or me her.  In fact, because we are sisters with that unbreakable bond, we would protect each other to the death.  Funny thing, I never thought about it before quite like that. 

There are nearly four years between us, so when I was sixteen and running around thinking that the universe revolved around me, she was this 12 year old kid who to some extent thought I was the cat's meow.  Of course, she would never have let me know that then.  Instead, she retaliated in sheer hostility which was her way of coping with our parent's divorce and basically not getting some of her needs met.  It's too bad that I didn't have the insight back then to reach out to her.  Back then there seemed like such a gap in our ages, and besides I was a teenager and life was all about me - remember?  I was driving a car and she was still playing with dolls; I was dating and she was annoying like kid sisters are. 

As we have gotten older and truly come of age, that gap has become non-existant and so has the hostility.  Maturity and understanding has replaced self doubt, low self esteem and bitterness - on both our parts.     

Today, my sister's well-being and happiness is just as important to me as my own.  And I don't know if I recognized that before either, or just took it for granted. 

Regardless, she is leaving for a week and that's a long time when you are used to talking to each other daily on our commute home from work, and stopping for coffee on occasion, or meeting at a local store to shop together.  It all sounds so trivial, but that is what life is made up of; trivial little moments shared with loved ones.  Some of those moments will be remembered consciously, while others are stored unconsiously in memory banks, but each one an important molecule in a relationship.  

Enough of the deep thought!  Two things are for sure:  37 years ago I would never have believed that I'd be missing Kim before she has even left; and my cell phone bill is sure going to be cheaper!  Thank God for email!