2010 What a Year (So Far)

I thought it might be time for a new post, since I haven't done so in nine months! 

Where to begin?  2010 has been quite the year so far, with oil spills, floods, excessive heat and so many other happenings in this country and around the world.  Some days I just want to turn the television and the radio off and retreat to the woods.  Sounds like a wonderful idea, except for the ticks who like to leave me with a bulls-eye rash and 21 days of antibiotics. 

We did have a beautiful Spring in Southern Illinois, wish it could have lasted a bit longer.  I did manage to get my two year old gelding going really well under saddle.  I actually rode him in his first parade on the 4th of July.  One never knows how a young horse will deal with all the noise and movement.  I am pleased to say "A.J." did great!  Soon it will be time to take him on our annual "Nine Day Encampment" and following that, the annual Sikeston Ride.  Once these events are over it will be time for me to make the difficult decision to either keep or sell this beautiful boy.

Another happening for our household this year was the addition of a new dog.  This has been quite the experience!  I decided I wanted to adopt/rescue a Boxer, I have always liked Boxers but I didn't really want to start with a puppy.  My daughter and I drove to Evansville, IN to see some shelter dogs found on "Pet Finder", supposedly Boxers.  When we arrived at the first shelter we discovered the youngster I drove there to see was more Pit Bull than Boxer.  Now I personally have nothing against the breed but my husband will not have one anywhere near him or our property.  Sadly, we drove to the next shelter where there was a Boxer mix, probably some Pit here also.  This second one was a BIG dog!  I actually filled out paper work on this one but they turned me down because I don't have any of my 20 country acres fenced for a dog.  So we drove home without a Boxer, my daughter was not happy.  Mind you, she is grown, married and lives in another town but she wanted (me) to bring a dog home that day.  I told her it was just not supposed to happen yet and that when the right dog came along, everything would fall into place.

After this experience I thought I might just forget about the whole idea of getting a new dog.  We had lost one of our dogs to old age a few weeks earlier but we still had Spot.  Both the older dog and Spot were outdoor dogs, only outdoor.  I had no desire to have another indoor dog, especially a large one.  I have never had an indoor dog bigger than 10 pounds.  Addie and I talked about my looking for a Boxer and he said we really didn't need another dog, Spot was enough.  Then our daughter sent a text message saying her husband had found a full blooded Boxer in the shelter at Franklin County!  I wasn't sure what to do!  In the end (long story, short) I picked up my son-in-law and drove to Franklin County Humane Shelter where I met Bobby, a 2 to 3 year old, full Boxer boy.  Bobby was a beautiful, fawn and white, docked tail with un-cropped ears, neutered male who weighs in at 71 pounds.

When Bobby first came to live with us, he was to be an outside dog.  Did I forget to mention that before he came here he was an inside dog?  Did I also fail to mention he's terrified of thunder?!!!
Again, the short version here is, Bobby lives in our house and surprisingly enough, WE have adjusted.  The big boy is very, very well housebroken and very aware of his size in the house.  When outdoors, if it's not thundering, he loves to run and play with Spot.  We have had a couple of problems along the way and at first he was very depressed, looking for his former family.  Now, after almost three months with us, he is at home. 

Shelter dogs rule!!!