Something New

Very big, handsome and smart Vida learned to walk on a narrow teeter-totter  by me using the clicker and  shaping and rewarding every small effort.

I'm teaching a new class in March.  It's called Tricks 'n Clicks.  It will be one hour per week for 7 weeks.  I have to design and write the course syllabus and training manual.  I've been telling my current students that if they have ever wondered how dogs are trained to open a refrigerator door, take out a can of beer, close the door, and carry the beer to their owner, then this class will provide the answers.  There are so many cute behaviors that can be taught like sneezing and having your dog bring a kleenex to you,  dogs pushing shopping carts, playing a piano, turning lights on or off in the house, besides the usual paw tricks or the bang! you're dead trick.  It's all based on operant conditioning using a clicker to mark behaviors and rewarding those behaviors.  It's a lot of work to design the course but it is so much fun to watch owners and their dogs enjoying  and learning something new that it is worth the effort.  I hope enough students sign up for the class so it can run.  I've got so many ideas that the difficult part is deciding what can fit in 7 weeks.    Any cute tricks that your own dogs do that you want to share?

Talking To Ghosts

This is my cutie pie Chevy dressed in her Monsters, Inc. costume for Halloween.  Sorry I do not have any pictures of her in a ghost costume.  She puts up with so much silliness from her mom. 

I just watched a movie "Ghost Town" starring the comic actor Ricky Gervais.  Because of  an accident, a very nasty, unlikable dentist becomes able to see and communicate with ghosts in NYC.  He, of course, wants nothing to do with them or their stories.  The ghosts tell him they have unfinished business that must be concluded before they can go to the light.  I won't tell any more of the movie but I will say that I thought it was a good rental and brought a few tears to my eyes as well as some good laughs.

Would the ability to communicate with the dead be a blessing or a curse?   If  you could help someone to find closure would it be worth the headaches and stress?  I am not the least bit psychic but I like to believe that there are people who have this gift.  Living a regular life seems complicated enough for me and I don't think my heart could take the shock, so I am glad that the only people I see are living, not ghosts.

Ready For Spring

Someplace buried way under all the snowy landscape is the promise of Spring.  I felt like looking at last year's photos taken in May to give myself a mid-winter boost.  Aren't the colors gorgeous and doesn't  my little Lukie look adorable nestled amongst the dandelions on the lawn?  I can almost smell the tulip's sweet fragrance.

Simple Winter Beauty

The sun shining on a bitterly cold day totally uplifts my spirits.  Although we have had record cold and snow, the sun has shone almost every day and there have been almost no windy days, either.  

Dentists - A Love/Hate/Fear Relationship

  This is St. Fiacre.  He is the patron saint of gardeners.    I wish I knew who the patron saint of dentists was.  I would make a shrine for that saint, too.

I'm thinking about dentists today because I have an abscessed tooth - maybe.  I woke up in lots of pain on Saturday  and phoned my dentist.  His wife phoned me back and said he or she would get back to me.  A few hours later, I checked my voice mail and got a message from the wife saying that her husband was very angry at me and that I could go to another dentist if I wished or wait until Monday to contact their office to see if they could fit me in.  She also said that this is what happens when you don't come in on a regular basis.  My dentist may not have great people skills but he has done  thousands of  dollars of excellent work on my teeth.  The area I live in is blest with an overabundance of  other excellent dentists but I have such a hatred of all dentists or should I say fear that it doesn't really matter who  I go to because, to me, they are all the same.  Needles, drills, hands in the mouth, poking, probing, causing pain to lessen pain - YUCK!!  My current dentist can not comprehend that it takes me a year to get over the horror of sitting in the dental chair.   To me, it is like some kind of medieval torture.

I will phone the office tomorrow  to try to schedule an appointment and pray  that  peace and love fill my heart and likewise for everyone in that office.    My prayers for anyone else in the same situation as me.

Mid-Winter Ennui

   

I've never observed a dog having a slump anytime or anywhere.  Gotta figure out their secret!                               

Argh!  Methinks I am trapped in a mid-winter slump.  Lots of longstanding projects to complete  but very little ambition.  Well,  I guess it's time to remember baby steps.  I am going to exercise today.   Although not terribly excited about it, I will do it and find something to enjoy about it.  Sending positive thoughts to anyone else experiencing their own mid-winter slump.

Blessing in Disguise

The beauty of simplicity

The economy downturn has got me thinking and practicing frugality.  Now this is a very good thing but, to be honest, not something that ever took priority in my life before.  My main focus has shifted dramatically from spending sprees to thinking of ways to decrease expenditures.  Feeling calmer is a happy benefit to this new lifestyle I have embraced.  "Stuff" is no longer going to be filling my home - I am aiming for a more austere, less cluttered  life, both  in mind and surroundings.

Cozy Reading Corner

It's minus 14 degrees F outdoors and reading and sipping a cup of delicious hot tea is the perfect winter activity.

Shakespeare for Dinner

My Lovely Portia

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath.  It is twice blest:

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

The merchant of Venice Act 4, scene1 - Shakespeare

I like Shakespeare so much that I named one of my dogs Portia after my favorite female character in The Merchant of Venice.  If I could, I would like to invite Shakespeare to a lovely dinner party.  I hope he would come and dazzle us all with his genius personality.   

Making Changes

Constant dripping hollows out a stone.  - Lucretius

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by too much to do, I am going to think of dear Lucretius and just do it by consisitent baby steps.  Meditation is also something I am beginning this new year.  I believe it will lead to a quieter, more focused and happy mindset.  I have been a happy vegan for one year now  so that resolution became fruitful.  I've read that it takes 30 days to make or break a habit but, for me, more like 6 months before I think it will really stick.

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up!  -  Winston Churchill

Winter Fun

Although it is -10 F, the doggies still enjoy themselves when we go outdoors. Watching them play makes me smile and feel a little bit warmer.  Everything is not as it seems.  Can you spot what I mean?

Feeling Contented

"Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress."   -  Epictetus

Dreaming of Tomatoes

It's bitter cold and snowy but I'm already planning and ordering plants for my gardens this summer.  I will be growing all my vegetables in large pots again this year.  Last year was the first time for this experiment and it worked out beautifully. The photos show some of  the variety of plants that did well in pots for me and also some raised beds that I built and  will be using for the first time this year.

Actor Mickey Rourke accepted a Golden Globe award last night for best actor.  He has been messed up on drugs and washed up as an actor for many years prior to this .  In his acceptance speech, he thanked his dogs, past and present, for always being there and loving him when he had nothing and was all alone.  It was a very touching and humble moment.   Anyone who loves animals can relate to this, I'm sure.

I just got my first comment on my new blog from a nice person in Spain.  Hola and gracias!

Winter Flowers

I love geraniums, especially in the winter.  Their bright colors never fail to lift my spirits on dark, cold winter days.  It is worth every penny I spend on extra heat to keep these beauties alive until they can be moved outdoors for the summer.

This is a snowy shrine to St. Francis of Asissi, outside the barn.  He is the patron saint of animals.  I enjoy religious symbolism and try to represent many different religions here on Good Shepherd Farm.

Day 2 as a blogger newbie.  It's snowing outside, peaceful and quiet, and indoors , cozy and warm.  Lots of chores to do, where to start?  I'm feeling very lazy and sleepy, but after a hot cup of chai tea with unsweetened soy milk, I'll be ready to shovel more snow.

Greetings from Margot,

My friend Deb C. talked me into making my own blog back in November of last year.  Well, a few months later, I have finally decided to post my first entry.  I feel a bit uncomfortable writing because I am such a private person but I wanted to try something new in 2009 and stretch myself a bit.  I have learned so much from reading other blogs regarding many of my interests that I think it will be fun to take a more active part in the blogging community.  I'm not certain how or if anyone will ever read these blogs but I'll give it a try.  I am going to post a few photos of my farm and my beloved poochies.  Hope this works!  Wow, downloading these pix was easy.   Hopefully, I will think of some more interesting topics tomorrow.