During the last drought we had a problem where a bobcat would come around almost every day and eat a chicken. As time went on he or she got more brazen and he was coming by the dining room window while we were having dinner. So we got 2 big Great Pyrenees farm dogs to protect the farm and everything was better. Two years ago Brutus got bone cancer and we had to put him down and unfortunately SoSo got lung cancer and we had to put him down Monday. Then tonight we are making dinner when Ricky says there is a dog by the deck. I look out and there is a coyote running off with one of our chickens. It has only been 5 days, how did the coyote know. I am beginning to think my idea of the wildlife having their own internet may actually be true.
Jul 25 - 31
I think veterinarians take a course in humor. I think their job is difficult and so to help them cope they play practical jokes on their patients owners. Like for instance, when my vet comes out and gives me a vial and tells me to bring back a urine sample form my 100 lb dog. Then the next day she calls me and says she needs my dogs temperature. There is only one place you can get that. Then there are the prescriptions. The series of pills that are so large that the dog constantly spits them out. Of course by this time the dog just hides whereever he can to avoid all of this. If you do find him, he just plants his feet so you have to drag him. I wonder sometimes if they don’t put a hidden camera on the dogs just to watch you try all these fun things. Anyway, I think there really should be a vet sitcom called “Prank the Owners”.
People, our costs have gotten to a point it is difficult to not lose money. Six years ago our two largest expenses, food cost and labor were 50%. This last month those two areas reached over 70%. That leaves only 30% for 25 other expense categories including rent, insurance, and payroll taxes. I hate raising prices so I will bring the discount for email customers down to 5% on the week days with no discount on the weekends.
Thank you for understanding.
Jul 18 - 24
So we are down here in Aptos for the weekend, just below Santa Cruz. I drove the electric Mustang down and found a free charge station at the state park down the street, provided I pay $10.00 for a day at the park. Ten dollars is not bad for a 180 mile drive. So I am in the house we are staying at when I here screams from my 3 daughters to come outside. They are yelling that I need to go next door to save a Monarch Butterfly caught in a spider web. Ok, understand the house we are staying at is on the cliff, which means the house next door is on the cliff, so that is something for me to consider as I am scaling the neighbors fence. Fortunately, for the butterfly, their house was being tented for termites, so I wasn't too concerned that someone would shoot me for being in their back yard. Ok, being on the cliff, the fence dividing the properties is only about 3 feet tall. So I carefully plant my foot uphill on the other side and run to the rescue. This spider had a very sticky web, but I was able to get the butterfly out. I did have to pull the web off its wings but it flew away much to the happiness of my daughters.
Jul 11 - 17
Ok, well last week I inferred I had bad luck. Well after travelling to Sutter Creek and watching everyone deal with the fire near Jackson, I realize how lucky we all are down here.
So we went and stayed the night at a nice bed and breakfast up there. The fire had started the previous day and the poor manager of the B & B had told us how she had to help her mother evacuate just that morning. It was after lunch and we felt very bad for her and of course could do nothing for her. We saw fire trucks constantly go by, oddly enough, both ways. Then we went to Cavana’s pub for dinner. It was the only restaurant open. We noticed things were a little crazy and the place looked understaffed. When our server was bringing our food she apologized, and explained half the staff were out either evacuating or helping family evacuate. They literally closed while we were there. By the way it is a very good and well run restaurant. Anyway I think we are pretty lucky and I will try not to complain anymore.
Oh, and I got my fully electric Mustang. I ordered it in December and finally got it. They wanted to add $10,000 to the sticker price but I started crying and made a big scene and they finally agreed to only add $3000. I previously had a plug in Honda Hybrid that had a problem and I could never get Capital City Honda to ever take the time to find the problem let alone fix it. Anyway the Ford is a dream. It has this button you push that says “unbridled” (I guess because it is a Mustang). OMG, be ready, if you touch it, because it will accelerate like nothing you have ever experienced.