Nature Reserve

Thankfully, Tony hasn't had to wrangle any more snakes.  He plugged up a hole in the foundation near the lanai that he thinks is the way the snake got in, so we are pretty much snakeless at this point.  I'm happy about that!

But, Monday when we picked up Dixie from the vet after her oral surgery, she was laying on the back of Tony's chair like she does in the morning and all of a sudden, she started to bark her head off.  It was a different bark from the typical, "hey get off of my sidewalk," kind of bark that she does when people walk by.   This was a "don't worry, Daddy, I'll protect you," kind of bark. 

Sure enough, I looked out of the window where she was and I saw the biggest turtle I have ever seen down here, just sitting on the front porch in the sun, under the windows.   The claws on it looked like it could really do some damage if it got annoyed. 

Tony, ever the animal wrangler, went outside and moved it to the back yard where it was closer to the wetlands.  We haven't seen it since. 

So, with the tree frogs, anoles, rabbits, birds, snakes and turtles, I swear we have moved into a nature reserve.  Most of the time, that's nice--sometimes it's not. 

Dixie is recovering well from her oral surgery.  It was more complicated than originally thought, as it involved two roots and a cyst that had grown up under her left eye.  Tony was trying to give her medicine the other day and must have hurt her, as she bit him and drew blood--something I never thought I'd see.   She is eating better and today she retrieved her chew toy when I threw it.   We take her back in 10 days for a check up.

We are dealing with being self quarantined, but cheated a bit last week.  A neighbor of ours was having open heart surgery so we had his wife over for appetizers and wine the day after his surgery since she could not be in the hospital with him.  We face timed with him and he looked really good.  On Tuesday, when he was released, Tony went over to help him get out of the car and into the house.  

As summer approaches, we have plans to be with family.  I hope the virus situation allows us to do that. 

Here's a few pictures of "Tommy!"

Here's Tommy looking at Tony.  Check out the claws!

He pulled his head in, so Tony couldn't see him

Tony put an old sandal next to Tommy to measure him

The Snake Wrangler and Special Day

There are so many advantages to living in North Carolina.  We don't have to deal with mounds of snow in the winter, it's a slower life style, our favorite ocean beach is just 30 minutes away, it's just a nice place to live.

Of course, as with all "nice" places, there are some issues.  Yesterday, when Tony was grilling hot dogs, he opened the grill to turn on the propane tank and found a snake curled up the bottom of it.  

We have a bird's nest in the large bush near the grill and we think that the snake had discovered a potential food source.  It left the grill and climbed up into the bush to attack the baby Thrushes in the nest.  Well, Mother and Papa bird weren't having any of that--the snake suddenly dropped to the ground and was chased back to the wetlands by 3 adult Thrushes and a Cardinal.  They pecked at it and harassed it until was out of sight.  I didn't realize that birds would challenge a snake, but parenthood is parenthood and they were serious about protecting the nest.  

And so, it all ended well.   Until this morning.

My phone woke me up and as I was speaking to a doctor's office, Tony came in and seemed rather agitated.  I hung up and he told me to get dressed and come to the lanai.

That's not the usual greeting I get from Tony when I get up.

When I got there, Tony said, "the snake is back.  He's on the lanai."  OMG!   I looked out of the door from the house to the lanai and there it was...up near the ceiling, resting on my twinkle lights.   That's just rude!

Tony moved the lanai furniture around and got a broom.  The snake just stayed quiet and not moving; tangled in the lights.  Tony brushed it with the broom and it seemed to wake up.  As Tony poked it, the snake started to move forward, still hanging onto the lights.  It curled up and faced Tony as if to say, "hey, I'm sleeping here."  

Tony continued to poke it with the broom handle until it fell with a thud onto the floor.  Tony literally swept it out on to the patio and stayed with it until it reached the grass.  The last time we saw it, the snake was headed toward the Zeno's house, next door,  which is fine with me.

We checked our "snake guide" and found it was a non  poisonous kind, but just the sight of it invading our space was enough to freak me out.  

Tony has dubbed himself, "The Snake Wrangler."   I know there are people out there who like snakes, I, however, am not one of them.  Tony is also the "Kindness" Wrangler--he refuses to kill the damn thing if it comes back.  My plan is, if the snake returns and Tony is not home, I'm going next door to the ex-Policeman who has a gun.   I'm guessing that will fix the snake problem.  I've always said Tony is nicer than I am!!

There are many animals here that I would love to have as visitors--little brown bunnies, Cardinals, the Thrushes, Humming birds, Mocking birds--all kinds of pretty things.  Snakes is where I draw the line.  There are over 1,000 homes in this community--they can visit someone else!

In other news, and this is so much better than the snake,  this is our 31st wedding anniversary.  We will be celebrating with a nice steak dinner and spending time together.  The "kids" got us some memories from many years ago when we went on vacation--circa 1991 or 1992, not sure.

Enjoy the photos:

There it is, just hanging around

David made us a poster from vacation--he named Tony, "Mr. February!"

Was I ever that young?

Picnic and Puppy News

Tony and I have been trying to have a weekly picnic just to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

On Friday, we went to a park close to Compass Pointe where we could see water and dramatic skies.  Like last time, we ordered food from our favorite wine place and spent the next hour, watching birds looking for a handout and a group of people sitting in lawn chairs in the park parking lot, practicing social distancing but enjoying the company. 

Tony and I feel like we are nearing the end of this virus mess and hope to get back to normal soon.  We have been staying connected to Tony Jr., and David via portal, but we don't have any information on Jenna, Jon and the kids.  We hope they are well. 

Dixie has been under the weather and has a vet appointment for Monday.  This morning, I was semi-sleeping when I felt her use her "doggie steps" to climb up on the foot of the bed.  I let her lay there for a few minutes and then decided to get up.  When I sat up in bed, I saw blood all over the bottom of the bedspread.  I tried to see where she was bleeding from, but she just growled at me and put her head back down.   

She let Tony wash her face and look in her mouth.  It looks like she had some sort of abscess in her mouth that must have broken open.  That would explain her lack of appetite and energy of late.  We can't wait to take her to the vet, but we will be unable to go in with her, so I hope she lets the staff examine and treat her.  

Other than that bit of excitement, we wait like the rest of the world for doctors and scientists to find a cure to the corona virus.  We also wait for November so we can tell the Donald to take a hike. 

Here are some picnic pictures:

Although it's dead, this tree is still beautiful.  Not sure why I can't center this one.  

Tony called this stand of trees, "Four Sisters"

Look at the sky

I saw this "hole" in the greenery and knew

 it would be a great picture

The view from the bridge

Alarm Clock

I don't think I've ever met a dog owner who didn't think that their dog was the cutest or the smartest. That being said, Dixie is, of course, the cutest and the smartest dog ever!

Early this morning, and I mean dark kind of early, she went to Tony's side of the bed and made her "harump" noise, indicating that she was finished sleeping on the floor and wanted to come up and sleep on the bed.  As always, Tony picked her up and she immediately found a comfortable spot and went to sleep.  

At around 7:00 a.m., Dixie decided that she had slept enough and was ready to challenge the day, so she walked up to Tony and put her face in his back and started to scratch at the covers. Her message was clear....it was time to rock and roll, get her "day" treat, have breakfast,  bark at things and get a belly rub.   Tony, being the excellent dog owner that he is, got up and got things ready for her. 

In no time at all, she had her treat and her breakfast, barked at people walking on her sidewalk and got her belly rub.  After that, she ran up to the top of Tony's chair, curled herself around his head, took over his pillow and promptly fell asleep.  

Dixie's real name is Dixie Arian Sing Sierra.  I think we should have named her Alarm Clock (Pain In The Ass was already taken!)

Sleeping on Daddy's Chair....at least she isn't barking!

The Writing Class, Dixie and The Keeper

The online writing class I "attended" was yesterday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  I learned so much!  It was well worth the money and even though I wanted to attend in person (in Charlotte) the online video sessions worked well.  The moderator kept things moving and there were 6 or more literary agents giving us some really important information.  Not "fru-fru" stuff, but facts and figures, writing lessons, critiques and the ability to speak with them on a one-on-one basis.  

One of the best sessions was an agent explaining the verbiage in a reject letter.  They said that so often, an editor will use phrases like, "the voice in your piece isn't strong enough."  Or, "your point of view doesn't come through."  It sounds like both statements are saying the same thing, but they aren't.  They are specific to two different areas of writing.  So, we got information pertinent to writing, revising and getting a sense for the things that editors are seeking in a manuscript.  

Another positive is that the entire seminar was videotaped and will be mailed to those of us who attended so we can go over it on our own time and focus on the sessions that best address our individual weaknesses. 

The seminar woke up the soul in the writer that I am, or will become,  and that's an exciting feeling. 

It was also good to be focused on something other than the virus, social distancing or eating (I swear I'm eating every six minutes!)  

So now my mind is racing on how I can put the information I have into place--that is so important to me. 

Dixie is my other news.  Both Dixie and I have missed our spa appointments and look like shaggy dogs.  Well, Tony trimmed my hair two weeks ago and did a pretty good job.   I gave him a trim--it was OK, but one side burn was shorter than the other and one came to a point while the other one was squared off.  It's a good look for him though!

Tony tackled Dixie's grooming today.  Not only did she get a haircut, but a bath too.  She behaved very well and I think it's because she is used to the noise of the trimmers.  But, we had some rain and thunderstorms and that set her off.  She was shaking and hiding, but she was trimmed and clean.  

This is Dixie after a Spa Day

Here's Dixie hiding under the spa table; she knows something is up

This is Dixie and her stylist

And so,  our lives go on in this odd mess that we are in.  Somethings are close to normal and others are not.  Tony bought me a lovely gift this morning.  He's given me diamonds, pearls, Vera Wang bracelets and lots of beautiful things.  But this was from the heart...or maybe a little lower!

Yes, he gifted me with toilet paper--12 rolls.  Ultra strong, no less.  As my sister, Fritz, said, "now there's a keeper!"  

An Odd Easter

When Jenna was small, Easter was one of my favorite holidays.  I would buy her a pretty dress and hat and off we would go to church and then dinner at my parents.  One year, a teenager belonging to one of the church pious told me that dressing Jenna up was not what Easter was all about and that at his house, they didn't get new clothes or Easter baskets.  I remember thinking that I didn't realize that Easter was a day for teenagers to be disrespectful and mouthy either, but that's the way he was raised and looking at his parents, I felt sorry for him more than anything else.    I was annoyed and angry, but sorry for him nonetheless.

But this Easter is an odd Easter.  Churches are empty and we are worshiping on-line or in our cars.  Grandparents are sending Easter messages to their grandchildren via Facebook and we hope to portal with the Charlotte and Lakeland Swegle's later today.  This is a social media Easter.  

Our development had another golf cart parade yesterday and many people decorated their carts with Easter bunnies and baskets.  It was another fun day--six feet away from people. 

I am excited for this week to come.  I will be attending a writing seminar, again, on-line, and I have been contacting various colleges regarding on-line writing classes.  On Monday, I have a call with Florida State University and hope to speak to Ohio University, Tony Jr.'s school,  about their program.  I'm not looking to get a degree, just attend writing classes if the price is right. 

Who knows when the world will be back to "normal," but I hope it is soon.  Until then, I, too, will rely heavily on social media to stay connected.

Here are some highlights from the parade:

A beautiful day, Dixie and I wait for the carts!

Tony and his new goatee!

And, here they come...

Dixie had fun; people were waving at her and children 

were calling her a cute little puppy!

Here's that crazy golf cart again!!

Dixie is shaggy...can't wait for the groomers to re-open...for both of us!

Doesn't this just scream, "Born in the USA?!!"

No, this isn't a small Easter bunny...it's Charlie, Dixie's friend

Here's the "real" Easter Bunny!!

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, STAY SAFE!

Facebook

I have only recently set up a page on Facebook.   I never thought I would put anything on Facebook.  I have this blog and people that I want to know about us, know about the blog.  When I worked at the hospital, people would ask if I was on Facebook and would give me strange looks when I said, no, I wasn't.   It was like I was saying I wasn't an American, or I only spoke Klingon.  

When we got Lynn a Grandpad for Christmas, my sister, Fritz and I  had to set up a Facebook page, so I did.  

I find it no less than amazing who I have connected and reconnect with on Facebook.  I am talking to a person I went to elementary school with (and right up through high school), my cousins in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, people I knew at my church, Denison UCC, before I got married to Bill in 1973, people I worked with years ago and neighbors, just across the street in Compass Pointe.   

I have been entertained, amused, moved, annoyed and upset by things I have seen posted on Facebook (usually about t-Rump.)  But, in these times, I am seeing more random acts of kindness than I have in the past in any arena and I am so glad.  My cousin in Tennessee couldn't get his lawn mower started, so his neighbor came over and cut the front and back grass while my cousin did the "weed eating" for both yards.   I saw a father and daughter singing a beautiful duet because she couldn't go to choir practice, so he put their performance on Facebook for others to enjoy.  His daughter said that singing with him was a memory she will cherish forever.   I have seen people paying for food for other people, sports giants and big companies donating their resources and a quiet  "kindness" revolution spreading across the world.   

When we get through this, and we will, I hope that church leaders recall these acts of kindness from the pulpit and encourage them to go on. 

Maybe kindness is a medicine that will get us through this more than testing and treatment.  Maybe not, but what if?