Ann's Weblog

Above is a picture of Lady (our dog) playing with a much-loved guest, Colleen. The dogs are well matched as playmates; they know each other and neither gets the "upper hand". On the right is a wonderful little dog "Teenie", who sits patiently for her Christmas grooming, expressing no objection EVEN to toe-nail clipping! Click on either picture to enlarge.

These are busy days. I had the "blues" yesterday such that I didn't even feel like blogging. My feelings had been hurt by someone in my beloved "Chat" room, and then by someone I like and admire in "real life".

Ah well, other people have busy, stressful days and therefore are more inclined to be rude or abrupt; I am feeling more sensitive as Christmas approaches. C'est la vie.

Today has been just fine, all around. I had a fellow from Prince George cancel his dog boarding, because he had just come to realize that our kennel is not on the route he wanted to take to Vancouver. I didn't say it, but thought, "I hope you get a map in your Christmas stocking". I had ASKED this gentleman if he knew where our town is, and he'd said yes, but his relatives had impressed on him that it was too far out of his way. And do you know the result of all this? Because the kennels in Prince George are all FULL, the man is staying HOME with his dog for the holidays! I just can't see how this makes sense, especially since I've had customers cheerfully drive to our place one day, back to Prince George, and take the route south to Vancouver the next.

I had some other potential customers who discovered that they'll be unable to get away for Christmas. This is okay, as people are still phoning and so far I haven't had to turn anyone (any dog or cat) away.

If this is the last time you check in with me before Monday:

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

~Love, Ann

Here are pictures of our Christmas tree, finally as decorated as it's going to be, and two of our "day care" guests. If you click on these thumbnails, you'll see the bigger and more complete image.

I finished trimming the tree today with not so many "blue" feelings. Started my day, after Gary left on a trip for the weekend, by phoning the dear Aunt who I alluded to yesterday. We cried and we laughed and reminisced.

The puppies pictured above came just for the day, as they have a few days this week. They are Morag and Foxy. Having these youngsters around has been so fun and interesting, as they tumble around exploring our place. Our dog, Lady, who who've met in previous posts, has been quite maternal with the pups, and very patient as they pounce on her and lick her face.

It seems like the day passed very quickly; I had lunch with a friend and then coffee with another friend, came home and baked some cookies... then just chatted online and now I'm talking to you good folks. I'm fading, though, so am going to "turn in" soon". Thank you for reading my blog.

~Ann

Oh, that would be me.

I have a vague recollection of having put away the strings of lights in loose coils at the end of the last Season. It seems to me that they were also all FUNCTIONAL; they were "lit" while on the tree. Today I stared stupidly at the tangled webs of wires and wondered WHY, when I plugged them in, they didn't LIGHT. None of them. Of seven strands, none would work.

Earlier this week, I rediscoved (in a Christmas ornament box) a gizmo that I believe I purchased last year at Walmart (evil giant store, I know... different story). The sticker read $5.97, and I don't know if I paid the full price or found it at a discount. THIS is a "Mini Bulb Tester". I thought to myself "I could've bought a lot of replacement BULBS for $5.97!". At any rate, I opened this, and read the package, felt no wiser, then read the sheet of instructions. It finally dawned on me that this thingy doesn't work until you install BATTERIES ... not one but TWO watch-style batteries. Hmmm... WHERE to buy in my little town?

I hated to take something which I'd bought at Walmart to our local hardware store, as I'm usually diligent about shopping locally. Nonetheless, I was on a mission, and took all the packaging and the gadget and asked one of the capable clerks, who very quickly found the right batteries (batteries which had on their package some TINY print which indicated they would "substitute" for the ones called for in TINY print on the bulb tester packaging). The price for EACH battery? $4.49! Abort the mission? Naw, that's not like me. The dear girl installed the batteries to test the tester, and then I was "set".

So at home today, I was beginning to think that I should NOT have bought a tree, that I was not in a mood to trim it, and certainly NOT in a mood to sort out the mess of mini lights. However, I made some tea, put Christmas music on iTunes, and sat down. After briefly reviewing the instructions on the tester, I set about to diagnose and cure.

I know it's too late to make a long story short, but I got through the job. I discovered that I could use the "current tester" feature to see which bulb was so faulty that it was making the whole string refuse to light... and this was not as simple as having a burned out bulb. There can be any number of burned out bulbs and the string will light... it's the interruption of the current, I guess, that causes the big problem. I was puzzled a few times too, at times when I started testing at the end of a string of lights that was NOT even plugged in! No wonder THOSE wouldn't light. D'oh!

I ended up with six strings of mini lights which WORK, and I used bulbs from another string to replace burned out ones as I went along. I will deal with the donor string later, if I remember to buy some replacement bulbs.

There were times that I was pretty weepy during this whole procedure including putting the lights on the tree. The combination of sight and smell of Christmas tree and the music of the season evoked many memories: the tears had nothing to do with frustration over mini lights. I miss my mother, and one of the silliest Christmas songs ever, "Six White Boomers", reminded me of an evening with her while I was a child. That, too, is another story. At this time of year, I dwell on regrets that I have about my behaviour and my decisions, and I also have some bottled up resentments and hurt. Still, I'm well able to count my blessings, and other than feeling that TIME is going by dreadfully fast, I revel in the happy life I have today.

I have a dear Aunt, mother's sister, who reminds me, "Guilt and regret, dear, are useless. It does no good to dwell on things that you cannot change." She has experience; I know she has had to tell herself this sage wisdom for decades.

The tree, a cultured fir, looks beautiful with its twinkly lights; I'll put baubles on it this weekend and try to post a picture. We have lots of dogs coming to board over the holidays, so I'll be sticking quite close to home (except for a couple of Christmas parties). I'm also joyfully looking forward to visits from two of my daughters, and it is my prerogative to worry about Susan, who is travelling in Argentina. Okay, okay, I worry about all three, and Gary's daughter also.

I know that I've rambled quite awkwardly in this post, but it's late and I just wanted to "touch base" with you fine people.

Thanks for stopping in. ~Ann

I keep apologizing for not keeping up with my weblog. I just have no reasonable excuse; life is NOT very hectic these days.

Still, life is satisfying as it is. Today I groomed "Buddy" who is a Fox Terrier cross, and tiny "Mouse" who is a toy poodle.

Starting tomorrow, the boarding business will get busy again right until after Christmas. I have a motley assortment of pets who have "reservations" at the Pet Hostel. I'll try to take some pictures and post them, as some have particularly interesting stories.

I haven't been interested in doing any sewing or crafts this year, and luckily I haven't taken any money or definite "orders" for Raggedy Ann or Andy dolls. I'm just willing to wait and see if the incentive returns on its own!

I've been reading in my spare time... mostly reading or rereading Ann Rule books (got through her newest one in about 4 days), and gardening catalogs and magazines. How DO the days go by so quickly?

One day soon I'll have to drag the Christmas decorations up from the basement, as, a few days ago, I BOUGHT a Christmas tree from the local grocery store! It might not seem to make sense, as we live in a heavily forested area, but now we don't have to go out and "chop" our own tree... and it is absolutely beautiful, too. It's a very lush and almost perfectly symmetrical FIR, which is not common in our Valley anyway. It fills  the house with natural scent.

~We'll talk again soon!