Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

This extreme weather in the Northern Hemisphere is a worry. We're seeing lots about it on news broadcasts. Extremely high temps, major flooding and Europe is on fire. We are a country of those extremes anyway, and are enjoying the cool of winter at present but it doesn't bode well for our summer. I think we all have worse to come.
On a lighter note - I'm great at diddly squats!!

I just lost my oldest collie, Katy. It was unexpected, but she passed quietly in her sleep.

The collie in this avatar was her mother, Angel.

Sorry about your fur baby Heidi - always hard.
Have been wondering how all of your animals were coping with the constant heat we hear about.
We are having a very unseasonal day today - 17 C (with a low of 6 C). 11-12 C is more the norm at this time of year with overnight frosts

This month is the hottest in 120,000 years, in the northern hemisphere!!

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/world/july-hottest-month-record-climate/index.html

Well Heidi, I'm not sure I agree with your 120,000 year statement. I don't think the records go back quite that far...

Another opinion (yeah, I know - you don't like FOX - I don't care for CNN, but to each their own...

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/not-climate-change-causing-heat-waves-this-summer-explain

My link is not an opinion. It's actual known facts.

The 2 Keeshond boys have settled in well. They're enjoying farm life a LOT.

“No man is above the law, and no man is below; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked for as a favor.”
- Theodore Roosevelt

I'm spending a nice, quiet day at home today. No running errands or driving friends to appointments. I did walk across the street with my machete and ''steal'' some corn from the 300 acre corn field for my birds. This was corn that would have been wasted, since the county mowers came through yesterday and damaged some corn stalks on the edge of the field. And I just put a home-made blackberry pie in the oven.

Hello all! I'm hoping everyone is enjoying better weather.
Here we had a low of 13C and expect a high od 22C - perfect winter weather for our neck of the woods.
Jewel is settling down better with her puppy valium, even let the vet touch her. But she sleeps a lot, her arthritis makes her movements slower. Poor old girl. To think she was always so frisky and exuberant and to watch her now is sad.

I'm glad you're keeping her comfortable in her old age, CynB.

It's cooled off some, finally. We had a rainy day today with a high of only 77˚F / 25˚C.

Right now, we're under Tornado Watch. That means that conditions are right for tornadoes to form. I hope the day stays boring. I do NOT need another tornado.

The nasty stuff passed to the north. We just got high winds.

We DID have a small earthquake a couple of mights ago, centered 90 miles to the east of me. VERY unusual for Kentucky. No damage, just a little shaking.

It's so quiet on here these days. Sad when you think once we could fill a couple of pages of SA in one day.
I have a routine most days unless I have to go out early. I open FB, Mail, Wordle and Sudoku, which I leave until last because I do the easy and the hard which can take me from a few minutes to 15-20 mins. Too often I get to the stage of having to get things done so I put off coming to SA. I'm sorry about that because it has been such a lifeline for me. It's always been the place I come to talk over things that are troubling me. I suppose we have many ghost readers, even some that have been around for years. I wish they would talk to us.
Anyway, it's time for me to get on with my day. Have a good one Heidi, and anyone ghosting us.

My friend in Wisconsin who owns the 2 Keeshonds that I'm caring for, has just been told by the doctors that she's terminal and has only 1 to 2 months left. She won't be going home, and the dogs won't be going back to Wisconsin. They will live out their lives here. At least they like being on the farm.

That is sad news Heidi - but lucky for the keeshonds that they are being looked after. So many pets are abandonend. Hope your friend is able to see her dogs again.
Also for you CynB - not easy coping with an ageing pet.
Looks like my trip north is being postponed yet again. Broke a molar yesterday and it will need surgery to remove it. Being on blood thinners, steroids etc means something a bit larger than an ordinary tooth out. Hubby will still drive to Sydney next weekend.I will gowhen our tax is all sorted withthe tax office - I am a few years late because of all the hassles we have had and have to catch up before they throw the book at me. Sorting through sooty files from our house fire is no fun.
It is late afternoon here and we are about to have some very heavy rain - sky is all dark grey and it is getting cold. time to stop workng and go and light the fire. I had yesterday afternoon off work so I am paying for it now.
Cheers to everyone (and to the ghosts)

He is gone…
My Buddy
Who is going to share my positive outcomes and help me commiserate over the negatives.
Who am I going to talk to, walk with?
After all, he was - - -
Just A Dog...


From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or “That’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for “Just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “Just a dog.” Many hours have passed with my only company being “Just a dog”, and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by “Just a dog”. In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “Just a dog” provided comfort and Purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “Just a dog”, you will probably understand phrases like “Just a friend”, “Just a sunrise”, or “Just a promise”. “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “Just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it’s not “Just a dog”. It’s an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it’s not “Just a dog”. It’s the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “Just a man or woman”.

So the next time you hear the phrase “Just a dog”, smile, because they “Just Don’t Understand”.
~~ Author: Richard A. Biby


Rest In Peace, Max, your work is done. You’ve been the best companion anyone could have…
Max: 8/17/2012 - 8/11/2023

💔 I am SO sorry, DOrA. There is no such thing as ''just a ...'' when it comes to unconditional love.

My condolences, DOrA. The author of 'Just a Dog' does an excellent job of putting the sentiment into words.Your Max was certainly NOT 'Just aa Dog.'

Heidi, the same holds true for Katy and all of your 4-legged family members!

I apologize to all of the Sudokuaholics regulars.]! I know it has been quite a while since I visited here. Life is a complicated set of circumstances. Life as a senior citizen seems even more complicated.

It's a rare week when I don't have at least 2 doctor appointments. I have been sent to the ER at least 4 times since the beginning of April and admitted to the hospital at least twice. I have had at least one planned surgery and one unplanned surgery and spent at least 12 or 13 days in a Rehab facility. I considered myself to be essentially a fairly healthy person, but I now have begun to have my doubts. The good news is that most of 'what ails me' is really not very major, just mostly annoying or inconvenient.

I hope everyone is well! I will try to get here more often! Take care, Everyone!

Yesterday I helped Robert move back to Louisville. It was eventful. When unloading his stuff and carrying it into the house, be fell backwards down the front steps, hit his head and broke his arm. Fortunately, his father drove him to the hospital.

Hello to all! Nice to see the regulars checking in, although not always with good news.
DorA - so very sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved Max. I know the pain of losing a beloved dog, and now we are facing it again after many years. I hope soon, after your grief has eased that you get another dog. Life is always better with a dog.
Midge, sorry to hear your trip north has been postponed. You don't have much luck. And I don't envy you dealing with the taxman. I had my years of that when we had a business. Now it's straightforward and only Col. I don't earn so I don't pay tax.
Heidi, sorry about your friend's prognosis. But, her worries will be eased knowing her beloved dogs are in safe loving hands. And, Robert! He never has much good luck does he?
Julie, you, too, are being plagued by bad luck these days. I'm pleased to know that 'what ails you' is not too serious. Take care and come back here soon.

We are planning another road trip hopefully in a few weeks time before the weather warms up too much. Just waiting on Col's annual leave to be approved. He really needs this break. We plan to drive around Northern New South Wales looking at Silo Art as well as other places worth visiting like Dubbo Zoo. Then we will head across to the coast and spend a few days relaxing at a beach neach Coffs Harbour. Emily and her partner will look after Jewel.

We're having a serious problem in the neighborhood. There are 2 Great Pyrenees dogs running loose, slaughtering poultry and cats. I have lost several cats and more than half my chickens, and a neighbor lost some of his chickens and couple of cats, one which was killed on his front porch. He saw the dogs leaving the scene of the crime. He followed them over to my property, where they entered one of my barns. I spotted them and tried to shoot them, but they ran off too fast to get close enough for a good shot. All law enforcement and animal control will say is that we have the right to shoot the dogs if they're on our property. So I replied ''What you're saying is that I have to patrol my property, armed, to protect my animals from being murdered by dogs belonging to an irresponsinle person who lets them run loose?'' and they said ''Yes.''. That's bullsh*t. A couple of my alpacas will be giving birth in about 2 weeks, and since the crias weigh the same as a cat, they are in serious danger. I can't spend 24/7 outside with my gun guading all my animals. It's impossible.

DorA - so sorry to hear of your best friend Max. 11 years is a good innings.
Hope the owners of the Pyrenees come forward - they can't be too far away, unless they have been dumped in your area.
Having a fun week - mouth surgery for broken molar, ultrasound today and kidney biopsy on Monday . Hubby's birthday today and he is off to Sydney again on Sunday for the week. Dinner wih friends from Tasmania on Friday night - feel exhausted just thinking about what has to be achieved before Sunday. Feel like an emu.

Good luck with the mouth surgery, Midge.🍀❤️

Wow, quiet on here again!
Hope all is well.
Yesterday I went to a family gathering of cousins from my mother's side of the family. It was lovely to see everyone but sad to find out that 2 of my cousins have also been diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimers. I think I mentioned that my brother has also recently been diagnosed with it. There were 12 of us originally, one died in 2001 at 50 of an auto-immune disease. The rest of us, all over 50 except for a 65yo, have been very healthy until this dreaded disease raised it's ugly head again. It took my mother and her mother and aunt. It will get me, I know it.

Let's hope not, CynB.

I've been a little under the weather with dizziness, body aches and gout issues. It'll pass.

My post above should read 'all over 70' not 50. I need to remember to proof read before submitting.

Feel better soon Heidi.

It's been horribly hot lately, with the heat index ranging from 110˚F to 115˚F all week. The poor Keeshonds were overheating, so I gave them haircuts. They are MUCH happier now. But my friend Ellen, who owns them, was very upset when I told her what I did. She loves their magnificent, thick coats. But I told her that I needed to keep them healthy, and at 12 and 13 years old, they won't be going back into the show ring again. And the coats WILL grow back.
Ellen has been moved to hospice care, so unless there is a miracle, the dogs are with me for life. But as long as Ellen is alive, I'm calling them HER dogs.

Keeshonds are beautiful lookng dogs but their double coat at your temps, would be unbearable Heidi.
CynB - one thng we can always rely on - you hope your lucky number doesn't come up whe the wheel of gene fortune is spun. Looks like my brother and I won the jackpot yet my sister from another mother is going o.k. at 81.
My brain after 8 years decided I have a foreign body and decided to attack it. Now back into hospital for permacath and plasma exchange over a fw weeks to try and slow it down. So holiday delayed yet again. At least we will be in Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final.
Hope you get to go on your road trip CynB.
Julie - hope you are going well and with lots of support.
Cheers for now.

Heidi, those temperatures are so high and the dog needed to feel cooler. I'm glad you helped them. I'm sure your friend will get over it. We've just today had Jewel washed. Our groomer hasn't been able to come near her for weeks but Jewel was OK with her today. However she badly needs clipping and the groomer advised us to get a vet to sedate her and clip her to avoid any stress. I'll do that when we get back.
Midge, I'm so sorry you have another health problem. Life is sometimes very unfair. I hope you get you much-awaited holiday. My granddaughter Hayley and her partner are driving to Melbourne over her school break and they hope to be able to get AFL Final tickets when they are released. But, I suspect, if not, there will be plenty of places (public areas or hotels) where they can watch and cheer with others.
Tomorrow is Road Trip day, we are driving through Narrabri, Dubbo (visiting the Zoo), Quirindi, Tamworth, Armidale and out to Sapphire Beach near Coffs Harbour for the last few days - staying right near the beach, relaxing having a drink, reading a book, going for a barefoot stroll in the sand. Paradise! We'll be back in 10 days or so. I'll keep in touch if and when I can.
Take care everyone.

Nothing much going on here. It's a little cooler right now, but will be back up in the way-too-hot range in another 3 days.
I'm on cria watch. Both London (light rose gray) and Skipper (medium brown) are due in early September, but are within the window now. Both lost their crias last year, so I'm watching them closely. I have them separated from the others in a safe place where they can be helped quickly if needed.

So far no crias.
(This is London in my avatar.)

Life is strange. Thanks to 2 awful stray dogs, I lost most of my chickens. Two days ago, I heard that Feeding America had delivered a couple of palets of eggs in big trays, to our local food pantry. They had no egg cartons to put the eggs in to distribute them to families, so they were upset that they couldn't distribute them. So since I have only a few hens now, I rushed over there with over 100 egg cartons for them. I got a standing ovation and cheers from everyone. Funny how things can work out.

Hi, Everyone! I apologize for being 'missing in action' again. I really don't know where August went. Happy September to all!

Heidi, I'm so sorry to hear about the 2 Great Pyrenees. Why do people have dogs if they don't plan to take care of them and train them? I've read that Great Pyrenees can be difficult to train, but that doesn't mean they should be allowed to roam free. I hope they don't cause any more problems on your farm! I hope all goes well with the cria births!

Donating the egg cartons to the Food Pantry made a huge impact on the many families who were able to get eggs at the Food Pantry/

Midge, I am so sorry so many things get in the way of your 'escape'/holiday. I hope your mouth surgery went well! And I hope the 'taxman' is an understanding one and can read through the soot stains! I hope you won't need to be detained in the hospital for very long. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.

CynB, I hope your road trip goes smoothly and is relaxing for both you and Col!

Condolences to DOrA on the loss of Max, a very good boy!

I'm going to try to hit the hay earlier than usual tonight. I'm just dragging. Sending positive thoughts to everyone! Pleasant dreams!

Hurting. I've neen using my chainsaw to remove trees thar were interfering with the security lights, and I also removed a couple of dead trees, using the tractor and logging chains. My back is killing me. I need some bed time.

I stupidly dropped my cell phone in a bucket of water yesterday. I fished it out fast, dried it off, then shoved it in a bag of instant rice. It's working again!!!!!! I'm so relieved.

I THINK London mught be going into labor. I'm going to be watching her closely.

False alarm. No cria yet. She is SO close that I don't want to leave. Udder is full and the cria has dropped into delivery position.