Blogging, Ants & Doghouse

Cowboy here.

Feels like it's my blog. Seem to be posting regularly now. Never would have thought that would happen.

You know it's spring when insects show up. In Washington we have minute spiders, the occasional large one gets in the house, also ants about 1/8th inch in length. Sar is ok about small bugs, turns into warrior woman when it's a large spider. Those times I'm home I can hear her screaming at it to die. I generally remove the interloper before my wife can massacre it. Here in Quebec, haven't seen any spiders but there are ants about half an inch long. To hear Sar tell it, they're a foot long. Sar does not like ants; they die a tortuous death around her. I'm grateful we don't have palmetto bugs – had them in Florida – my wife went ballistic when she spotted one. Should have set the Mastiff on them; the dog's drool is lethal.

The imp had a bout of stomach flu - 1 of those 24-hour flu bugs – intestinal stuff, nasty business. Was pretty much bed ridden for 24 hours. When she's feeling unwell, the animals stay close. The Rott leans his head close to Sar's head on the bed – make a soft growling purr, meant to be a comfort. The Mastiff whines continuously. The cat sleeps at her shoulder, the purrs have a chirp in it, a concerned sound.

I walk in the room and the atmosphere changes. I tell the dogs to "back up." The Rott goes to the far side of the room and growls low – a less than comforting sound. The animal is positive Sar's bout of flu is my fault. The Mastiff howls, yodels, makes a nuisance until he can come back near the bed. The cat stays where he is, raises his head, hisses and spits at me. The cat would bet his life it's my fault the imp is feeling poorly. A day later, the flu is gone, Sar has had a good night's rest. Wakes up, says she's mad at me.

I ask why she's mad at me. The imp doesn't remember why— just knows I did something that made her mad. Was it something recent I ask? Was it something I did a long time ago? She can't remember but says I better not do that again. I can't help it – I laugh. This makes the imp glare at me. I figure I'm already in the doghouse so I ought to spank her so she has a legitimate reason to be mad. She sets the dogs on me.

I promise to make cream cheese omelets or waffles with ice cream if she'll stop being mad. Sar suggests I forsake peaches for a month to atone for whatever it was I did. That is too much to ask. I flip the imp over to apply a swat or 2. The imp giggles. The band played on.

We'll be in Nova Scotia in June, Cape Breton to be exact. There's a time share we've stayed in before – on the water. From there I'm hoping to reserve a room at the Von Trapp lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Then we'll head for home. Sar loves the Von Trapp lodge – a huge buffet at every meal. They stock Twinkies just for her.

Cowboy