A crazy week...

[LadyKestrel]

The dogs escaped into our neighbors' yard two more times today by digging under the fence, and the little one got out of their yard and nearly to the main highway before we got her. I spent the afternoon hauling rocks and paving stones to block the soft spots, and this is after moving books for most of the morning and having to haul my indoor doormat outside to be cleaned because one of them got sick eating grass again. I'm so frustrated and tired that I could cry right now. If I can't stop this behavior, then I'm going to have to put up our old run again. It's days like this that I really miss my husband.

[draclvr]

How awful... I know what you mean. When I was living alone, it seemed like things like this happened all the time. Have you thought about one of those electrical fences and collars?

[mbday630]

oh LadyK, I feel your pain and your frustration. Chin up. Are your dogs acting up because of your hubby gone? Or just wanting to get out and cause mischief? But whatever, please know that your dogs love you and this too shall pass.

on a separate note, I have been talking about moving to Florida during the winter to be with my daughter and my hubby told me tonight that I can't take any dogs. I told him that my little dachshund would love the warm weather in Florida and he said that there are snakes there and he wouldn't be safe. so, we are fighting over an imaginary/possible move already about who the dogs should live with. dogs are so precious and I think give us a link to the ones that we love, even if they aren't with us anymore.

[draclvr]

Ummm... there are snakes everywhere. Here in Missouri we probably have more venomous snakes than Florida does. And here out in the country we actually see them! Yet, our dogs are fine here - even little ones. The chances of your little Dachshund running into a dangerous snake are infinitesimal. Keep him on a leash and you would be fine. Sounds to me like hubby wants you to stay with him during the winter!

[LadyKestrel]

When Zork first came to us, he jumped the fence several times, so we had him on a run until Dave installed a zap wire running along the top of the fence. That worked fine until Zork realized he could push out parts of the fence bottom enough to squeeze through, so we secured the bottom of the fence to railroad ties in those weak spots. When he started digging, we added paving stones and/or big rocks in those area. Zork never tried to dig where there was grass growing, but when Radar came, she showed him how to do it, so Dave installed a 6"-high zap wire in that section. The system stopped working about a year ago, but it was still a good deterrent until recently. I guess I could get an electrician in to fix the wire, but for now I hope the rocks will hold them. Both dogs have ID chips if they get lost, but Route 9 is only 7 houses and a store west of us, which worries me.

[Diat60]

I think Drac's idea of an electrical fence is a good one, if your yard isn't too big. My daughter installed one for her two dogs and it's worked great, it's just a matter of putting the special collars on and making sure the batteries are good.

[Rosaboobie]

LadyK, I can also sympathise with your frustration. Living alone for many years now, I get totally frustrated on a daily basis at what I cant do on my own any longer.

I wonder why it is that some dogs are Houdinis? And that highway is way too close to you for an escapee to be running loose - I just hope that you can get this problem sorted. If you are anything like me, when my dogs are out I am always nervous of them escaping and I am always totally on my guard. The only time that mine would get out is if they saw another animal outside the gate!

And how is the great room coming along now?

[LadyKestrel]

Aside from some closet knobs that are on order and the front doorsill that needs replacing, the renovation of my dining room, hallway, and spare bedroom are finished. Most of the furniture is where I want it, and now it's just a matter of alphabetizing my books, hanging my pictures and curtains, and putting my decorative items back. I have boxes that are going to Goodwill and some stuff that will end up in my storage locker. As soon as this lot is cleared out, I want to tackle the garage, which I will eventually use for storage.

I don't want to jinx it, but the shored up area along the fence seems to be holding for now. Zork was nosing around there a little while ago but couldn't seem to do anything. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Rosaboobie]

Wow, you have made great progress with your house renovations.

And I am keeping everything crossed that the fence holds up lol!

[Kickaha]

You sort your books alphabetically by author Lady K? This may sound a silly question (why would anyone do it differently) but when Virginia had finished putting the books on shelves here I found them sorted by size and shape.

[LadyKestrel]

Yes, my fiction is grouped by author, and my non-fiction is arranged by subject and author. If I sorted by size and shape, I'd never find anything, although I do have some separate shelves for authors I have only in paperback.

[draclvr]

I was wondering the same thing - how would you ever find anything!

[Val]

Well done Lady K! Looking forward to some photos.

Being a librarian, I am used to sorting out books by author! Although, to be honest, I sort mine at home by size. They look neater in the home. Mind you I have reduced the size of my book library a lot over the past few years as I mainly read e-books these days.

[draclvr]

Much as I like to turn real pages, I've also gone to e-books. I just have nowhere to go with more books - they are starting to pile up. Plus, I must guiltily admit that I like the "instant gratification" of deciding to read a book and having it on my Surface tablet immediately! Plus, hubby and I can be reading the same book at the same time with him on the Kindle Fire.

[Val]

Drac I still find pleasure in turning real pages, but now I indulge in coffee table type books which I cannot really afford on a regular basis, but borrow them from the library to peruse. Glossy pages which are amazing and satisfying and I can return them when I am done. I am not a reader who reads 'repeat' books - never have been. Once I have enjoyed that is it like most of the games I have played, but there are exceptions and those are the few I have kept.
What fun to share the same book at the same time!!