Absquatulate

Sometimes I wish I could do this with her

Lost Dog Found Amherst MA

This grand old dame was wandering around the neighborhood tonight, looking pretty lost and for a little help. She peeked out from the roadside trees when I rounded the corner by Puffer's Pond and I nearly hit her. I stopped, and she approached the car and peered in, very sad like. I got her home and I'm hoping to find her family!

If you know this dog call Amherst MA police. They'll know how to get in touch.

UPDATE: Success! Lying in bed I heard off in the distance someone whistling and calling for a dog. Turns out it was her pack! Everyone was happy, much tailwagging was had. NOW I can go to bed. :)

Observations on Nature

While enjoying the coolest part of the house; the kitchen, at a balmy 80 degrees; I get an unfettered view of the birdfeeder that resides on a cinder block on the porch (because there are no suitable trees from which to hang it.) So far the only visitors to the thing are squirrels, who fight with each other, and one cute, industrious little chipmunk with white spots behind his ears who scampers up to the seeds, stuff AS MANY AS POSSIBLE into those little cheeks as fast as possible, and then scampers away. They will only approach the feeder when the door is closed (which has been often to keep out the heat) and so I've had the pleasure of the following observations:

• The squirrels only eat the sunflower seeds, scattering the rest of the feed over the porch in a wasteful fashion reminiscent of most Americans
• Squirrels are a brutish lot. They chase away the chipmunks.
• The chipmunk is quite industrious, seen make as many as ten trips in one set. I hope they'll eat well this winter.
• Gwen gives the squirrels the evil eye, but will 'chase' the chipmunks as they run across the porch. The squirrels are easily half the size of her, so she seems to know how to pick her fights.
• The squirrels will approach my sandals on the porch with extreme caution, and even then only give them the slightest sniff before giving them a wide bearth.
• The chipmunks however approach the sandals directly and even sit in them for a moment while waiting for the coast to clear. I think that says alot about the difference between squirrels and chipmunks.

Good Thing She's Adorable.

"Ready to watch Creature Comforts?"
"Yeah! Oh I can't wait. New ones from the US. Fantastic!"
"Uh, hm, seems this screen door is open..."
"Oh uh really? GWEN! Here puss puss! Who wants brushin's?... She's not coming, let's search the house..."

And so it began. Rather than collapsing after moving a trunkload of books up two flights of stairs, I recruited Steve and we combed his wooded corner of the neighborhood looking for Gwen at 1am.

Busta' Move

Aha! Caught you!

girlieSleepingBed
Originally uploaded by absquatulate.

To be fair, here's a picture of Gwen enjoying that bed I bought her a few months ago. The trick? A procedural approach: 1. Take cushion out so she has room to move around inside. 2. Sprinkle catnip into bottom, watch her freak out and play. 3. After a few weeks, when she is observed sleeping in the bed, put in the cushion. 4. Hear snoring while she's sleeping twisted like a pretzel.

She's a good girl. Mostly.

You can't see me

I'm not quite sure why Gwen likes camping out under the tree, but she does. Santa and the Snowman are a little confused.