I had already gotten into bed that night and remembered word of a hard freeze. " My garden !" I sprang out of bed, grabbed my lantern off the night stand and some blankets from the hall closet, slipped on my sloggers and out I went to tent my beautiful plants.
I laid down the blankets near the dried corn stalks. With the help of my lantern, I found long sticks and poles to make tents over the plants. The white poles were easy to find as they reflected in the moonlight near the barn. I made the tents so the blankets would not touch the plants as that can cause them to freeze.
It was already 34 degrees and the temperature was dropping fast. I was so concerned about my plants I did not feel the cold. I quickly cut my zinnias and sunflowers to make arrangements for the kitchen table. I put them in a bucket along with some tomatoes and bell peppers. I took in the hanging baskets of coleus and impatiens and put the basket of sweet potato vines in the dog house. Before I left the garden I took a good long look at my tented flowers and plants then went inside. I went to bed knowing I did the best I could. I said a prayer, and snuggled under the warm comforter and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning I lifted the blankets.
The next morning. Tented plants after Jack Frost visited.
The next morning I went out to see my garden. I took the wet frosty blankets off and saw everything had survived.
In the days to come Jack Frosts revisited and finally my garden let go. Some are sleeping underground in the roots and some have transformed into spirits of memories. Such a lovely garden this year I am glad I took photos and videos of it.
Dogs never live as long as we want them to. The years go by so fast. It was Walker's time to leave us. He passed into Spirit 2 months ago. It seems like yesterday, He had an upset stomach and he got up from the lawn trotted over to the apple tree, laid down and he was gone. It was swift and peaceful. Walker was 13 and was diagnosed with Leukemia. You would never know it by looking at him. He was energetic, loving , and h was a beautiful Australian Shepherd.
Our beloved Walker (Windwalker)
The earth is never the same when someone we love passes away. All family members people and animals, big and small, were affected by the absence of Walker. It is a very heavy feeling that most everyone has experienced. When you have 20-16 pets you can come to an acceptance that this is a part of life.
Then came Bandit. Bandit belonged to a family that lived 50 miles away. A friend sent us his photo through an Aussie Rescue and we fell in love. The family who owned him felt it was best for Bandit to go to a loving home where he had more space, more room to frolic.
It was obvious he was loved and well taken care of. We spent time out in the backyard. The ducks and hens quickly retreated into the coop. Kollie, a Border Collie didn't know what to make of this new dog. She growled at first but in a short while she calmed down and herded him around where we were sitting. We talked and we told Bandit's fsmily that we would love to have Bandit.
We got to kept him for a few hours after that first meeting without his family there. The tension between the 2 dogs became calm. Bandit even had dinner with us and that went well. They came to pick him up and we made plans to have Bandit brought to our home in a few days. In this way the whole family would have a chance to say family to say good-bye.
Bandit came to us on Sunday, August 22. We were exited to see him. We all sat in the backyard and talked while the dogs played. The ducks and hens even came out of the coop. It all went well. We all felt the sadness and the gladness.
MEETING THE CATS
Up to this point Bandit had not met the cats. His first glimpse went like the scene in the movie, ET when the little girl opened up the closet and saw the alien. They both screamed. I closed the door of the bedroom where I let him get a peek at the cats and Bandit looked up at me with wild eyes. What the heck was that? That didn't go so well. I was a bit worried how they would be able to live in the same house together.
Paul slept in the living room with the dogs and I slept in the bedroom with the cats, door closed.
The process of desensitizing Bandit and the cats went well. We put a leash on Bandit and let the cats out. Slowly but surely with patience we got him used to their presence. His comfort zone was 20 ft at first. Every time he looked at the cats we directed his attention away and gave him a treat. Little by little with that method we went from 20 ft. to 15 ft. to 10 ft, and finally 5 ft. and less without any concern. There was interest but he never became aggressive, just fearful yapping. Diverting his attention with a treat worked really well.
Black Hawk our youngest cat eventually came to love him. Black Hawk really missed cuddling with Walker and welcomed his new friend, Bandit. Harley McFarley our older cat, was very leery as because in the past he had been attacked by dogs twice and used up 2 lives recuperating. In time, perhaps he will trust his new family member.
Things are going well. We walk Kollie and Bandit almost everyday. We are taking him to obedience training and also have taken him out to our Juniper Forest on leash for a walk.
Little Utah Farm Store is selling this folded card with Bandit on it. Or personalize it by taking Bandit off and put on a picture of your own pet. There is always a discount offered so look for the code and include it at checkout.
