Month: August 2022

And Now I Wait—for Jackpot and Rain

Turkey Tracks: August 5, 2022

And Now I Wait—For Jackpot and Rain

We are meant to get rain today, but the time frame has already been moved from morning to afternoon. What we need is sustained, steady rain for several days, not just a thunderstorm. But we’ll take whatever we can get. I think the strong breeze from the bay is moving these summer storms west of us, away from the coast.

I got some good sewing time yesterday—only stopping at almost 8:30 pm for my salad supper. One border is on the “Wyoming Stars” quilt—which is working really well to contain that busy and interesting center, and I’m making the final pieced border now. Pics to follow when the top is done.

The Sweet Pups transport team has now started a Messenger message connection where all of the people adopting dogs on this trip are connected.  Right now, 6 people so far are meeting the train at the West Gardner (just south of Augusta) hospitality center on 95—about 45 minutes from me. It is truly heart warming to see how excited people are to be getting “their” rescue dogs.  And to see the wonderful work and caring that the folks at the Sanctuary and Rescue organization are doing.  I’ve been following them on their FB page.  

I’m more or less ready for Jackpot doggie’s arrival next Saturday.

I’ve been researching how to feed a puppy real food and how to transition a dog to real food. Feeding puppies is a bit tricky actually—as one needs to carefully balance the nutrients. But I’ve got it now, though I’m still rounding up ingredients, like a high-quality cod liver oil.

I’m a big fan of the vet, Dr. Karen Becker. And I’m learning more about Rodney Habib, who founded Planet Paws. Their new book THE FOREVER DOG is on my dining room table at the moment.

The new dog toys arrived yesterday. They are so cute. I still remember when AC came at 6 months of age and dived into the toy bucket downstairs. I want that joy to happen again.

There is an adorable video of Buster Brown. If the link doesn’t work, you can see it on my FB page or on the Sweet Paws Sanctuary FB page. Buster Brown is Jackpot’s brother (and clearly had a different dad—as is true too for Lace Top, the girl). Buster was too sick to rescue, so the Sanctuary is getting him sorted, and you can see he is doing much better. Recall that the mother dog had been tied to a tree for her whole life, and had her puppies there, but that the owner finally surrendered her.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/5748670998500782?fs=e&s=na

Yesterday I made the most delicious potato salad that I combined with a grilled lamb burger.

I used 4 new red potatoes about 3 inches each—and they cooked (whole) in boiling water to cover them faster than I thought they would—about 25 minutes maybe. I drained them and let them cool while I did other things and then peeled and chopped them into big chunks. I had some homemade really tangy yogurt that I had strained and threw about 1/4 cup of that into a bowl where I put herbs from the garden (chives, basil, tarragon, thyme) and added some dried herbs, like dill and oregano. I added some green peas, some chopped veggies I had on hand (sweet onion, red bell pepper, cucumber) and some grated carrot. I swirled in some of my good olive oil (Organic Roots’ Koroneiki EVOO) and added salt.

It is DELICIOUS!

Jackpot

Turkey Tracks: August 3, 2022

Jackpot

I could not stop looking at his picture.

And when I telling him what a sweet boy he was, I knew I had found the magic again.

But, clearly, I’ve lost my ever-loving mind!  He’s a 3-4 month old PUPPY from Texas, near the Louisiana border:  Sweet Pups Sanctuary and Rescue rescued him.  I’m going to call him Jackpot. He’s the third dog whose picture I fell in love with online—I just knew somehow with both Penny and AC Slater.  And then I couldn’t stop going back to look at their sweet faces.  Ditto with this little guy.

A friend here told me after AC died that in time, “another nose will poke at you, and the magic will begin again.”

Jackpot is very like AC Slater—terrier and hound, a kind of feist dog.  Same coloring.  Same kind of soft gentle eyes.  Longer ears maybe. And may well have AC’s energy.

Jackpot’s mother is a terrier mix and has been tied to a tree for her whole life.  When she went into heat, various male dogs came, and she had this litter (her first?) under that tree.  I think there are three pups:  2 males and a female. Buster Brown is the other male, Lacy Top the girl.  I put pictures below. Jackpot is the biggest of the three. And my Sanctuary contact said that the owner has finally agreed to give up the mother, and she was coming into the shelter that same day.  She’s about 30 pounds, so Jackpot is going to be about the same size as AC Slater, who was 46 pounds, which works well for here in Maine and with my woodsy property that has critters.  AC’s mother was, I think I remember, 35 pounds.

I got AC about this same time in September 2018—and he was 6 months old.  I’m going to have a very busy winter with an active baby puppy.  For sure.  Especially in the Maine winter.  But AC LOVED the snow. I put a video of his first snow storm at the end of this post.

I went back and forth about getting another puppy rather than an older dog, but I’m also sure that putting the time and training into a puppy pays off for many years to come and that the bond between dog and person is even stronger.  And it seems I do want to spend the time loving on and nourishing a creature that will grow up to be another good friend.  I just needed some time—though I’ll never get over losing AC—and to have the picture magic happen. It came close a few times with older dogs, but not strong enough.

Sweet Pups drives the dogs to Maine themselves in the warm weather, and I’ll meet them at the West Gardner big rest stop on highway 95 just south of Augusta—only about 45 minutes from me—on Saturday, August 13th. They deliver all the way up to Bangor and come every 4 to 6 weeks, with 30-40, or more, rescued dogs that already have homes.  My contact said most of their rescues do come to Maine, but their efforts are not limited to Maine. Texas is a kill state.  

And this schedule is another piece of the stars being aligned for this rescue, since this Sweet Pups trip was already scheduled.

So now I’m pulling out of storage the the big (heavy) crate I put in the top of the garage, the dog beds I saved, the car protective covers, dog blankets, leashes, the Furminator and toenail clippers, what’s left of the  dog toys, water bowls, yadda, yadda. I’ve ordered new toys and two new dog beds, and I’m organizing the real food to which I’ll switch Jackpot gradually.

AC was a TERRIBLE chewer—like furniture and base boards when he wanted my attention or was left in a room.  At 4 years I still would not leave him free in the house alone, especially after the covid years when I did not go much beyond grocery stores and was with him all the time. I won’t make that mistake again.  So, I’m ready for Jackpot. He will be with me at all times or in the crate while I shower, etc., until he’s about a year old.  And maybe longer.  As I said, I’ll have a busy winter coming up.

I’ve now paid and signed the contract. So, all is in play.

Here’s a picture of Jackpot’s sister, Lace Up, next to Jackpot. You can see that she is very dainty.

And a picture of his brother, Buster Brown, who is not yet ready for adoption.

Sweet Pups has a FB page and a web site. They are in east Texas, near the Louisiana border. Penny came to me as a rescue from Katrina. She was born near Baton Rouge. AC came from Rock City Rescue in Arkansas in the fall of 2018.

Here’s the video of AC’s first snow, winter 2019

So, now I’m…waiting. And hoping. And…excited.