New Tricks

Toby has developed new ways of communicating in his old age. He can't really bark any more and he's not willing to wait for someone to let him back inside, especially when it's cold out. He has discovered that putting his front paws on the screen door gets our attention, particularly if the inside door has been left open. We find it annoying, but it is rather difficult to reason with a dog who can't hear.

Toby has also discovered the snow is high enough so he can look into the living room window in the evenings when we're watching television. The first time he did that gave us quite a start, I can tell you!

One snowy morning before we had gotten out of bed, there was this terrible racket going on at our bedroom window, waking us. Toby, soaking wet, was attacking the screen on the window - having found the snow level with the window sill - and making it perfectly clear that he wanted in, NOW. He'd had enough of the snow and rain and wanted his morning treats, pronto.

If all that weren't bizarre enough, Cupcake has also learned the screen door trick.

Years ago, when we slept upstairs, the snow in winter would get high enough to reach the porch roof and Toby and the cats would appear at the bedroom window early in the morning to make sure we were up and moving.

After living with pets for a time, one wonders who owns whom.

Cupcake and the Fox

Living in an A-frame, our windows all have wide sills, perfect for cats to bird watch or bask in the sun. The other evening Cupcake, one of our cats, started running from window to window. Of course we had to see what she was fussing about. It turned out that a small red fox was visiting and wandering all around outside the house.

Cupcake wanted desperately to go outside and confront the intruder, although I'm sure the outcome wouldn't have been as nice as it is in storybooks. She was quite frantic about it. Cupcake has run off German Shepherds, Beagles, and other assorted canines in the past, but she's getting on in years and isn't as fast as she thinks she is.

Toby, our dog, isn't as sharp as he once. He's 15 years old, deaf, although he manages to know when one of us is in the kitchen, and doesn't see very well either. He didn't add to the commotion this time simply because he didn't know it was going on.

On a previous occasion, Cupcake and Toby confronted a fox over the compost pile. It turned out to be a stand-off, as neither side would give in. The fox tried to lure Toby out on a chase, but Toby wouldn't leave Cupcake behind. After quite some time, the fox gave up, smiling, and went on his merry way. One wonders who actually won that round.

Guest Blogger

Today I was a guest blogger for The life and times of a Redneck Woman.  What fun to write for someone else's blog!  Check it out!

It was actually above zero here this morning, although it sure feels colder.  Guess my internal temperature gauge isn't working quite right.  Winter in Wyoming this time of year does seem to get pretty cold.  The ice fishermen like it because it freezes the lakes, but don't know if the rest of us appreciate it quite so much. 

One of my cats has extended her terriority to cover the chair I posted about yesterday.  Rather odd, since she doesn't much like things that move, but she definitely likes that chair. 

A rather odd thing has been happening at my house.  My husband has decided he wants to do the cooking - he plans his menus and brings food up from the freezer, usually once I've already started cooking.  He doesn't say anything ahead of time, but then he wants me to incorporate his ingredients into what I'm making.  That doesn't always work too well.  The odd thing about it, is when I cook, it tastes so much better than his cooking, there are no leftovers.  Oh well.... Just one of life's mysteries, I guess.

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!