Early Birthday Ruined by Ravenous HuggaMutt

Husband RJ got an early birthday present today when I brought home a new Suncast storage shed for the snowblower. He's always shoveled his way to the garage, two doors down the block. It's been worrying me for years.

We had an impromptu assembly party, right then and there. Starting with removal from the top of the Tracker (That was quite a trip from Big Flats, NY!), we simply got to work and assembled it. No tools needed. Instructions were easy to follow and in no time...

...we found our penultimate part had been chewed useless by the GrandDog, Ellie!! Now the door doesn't swing open. But it doesn't show and we ordered a new piece from Suncast. By the way, that's the GS2500, just right for our two-stage snow blower, which is a must for a corner property. Under $200. Not too much to pay to prevent heart strain during heavy snowstorms.

Made for a pleasant moment of quality time with the Husband.

Update: Got a note from Suncast

" As an animal lover and owner of one aging blue merle Sheltie and four inside cats (a white, a black, a short yellow tiger, and a long-haired yellow tiger), I appreciated your web site and the stories within. I also know how kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs can be! "

They offered to absorb the costs of replacement. Thanks again, Suncast!

pb
Little Pond

SunCast "Snowblower" Shed

Here is the shed, about elbow high on me. Ellie was a little surprised when we locked her out of it. Can't see the damage, and we've already ordered the replacement part.

View of the Hummingbird Feeder

So now we have a place to dry the KittyWalk. Hope the shed doesn't upset our hummers. And Husband RJ can simply exit the back door and take out the snowblower. The garage is in the Upper Right Corner of the photo, and required a shovel just to get there.

RiverDogging Labor Day

Come with Ellie and me to find the elusive Chemung River Fishing Access Site. The original one, of course, down by Dunn Field.

Hurricane Katrina Update: thanks to the Happy Catholic.

pb
Little Pond

Go out and play

Couldn't get into Blogger this morning, so I grabbed the GrandDog and we walked the levee off Brand Park. We were looking for the elusive Chemung River Fishing Access Site. It took hours but we finally found it, right next to Dunn Field, home of Elmira Pioneers baseball.

Need to cull through some fifty snapshots, and will probably open a couple of sites to post them, through WalkElmira in a few days. Results here.

Meantime:

Get updated on the aftermath of Katrina, straight from New Orleans, herself. This fellow rode out the storm and ensuing chaos, blogging all the way. That's the spirit!

I've written this before. The future of Iraq is previewing right now in Afghanistan. Check with the Warrior.

Sick of scenes from Hell? How about Heaven Light? Shelley at BurningBird is winding up her summer. Just a touch of Americana, so appropriate to Labor Day Weekend.

Ferdinand, your host, is waiting for you at the Carnival of the Cats.

And if you've been busily praying for Karen of Scottsdale and Norm, you'll be happy to see those prayers answered.

It's empty-nesting time for Jenny, whose sons are testing their wings. Happening here in Pat's Pond, as well. But I'm not ready to blog it, just yet. I'm such a sap.

Okay, time's up. Turn off the computer and get outside and play!

pb
Little Pond

The Kitty Corraller

Noon, Saturday, and Patches and Bubba are in the KittyWalk; Ellie is on her line. The birds are quiet and the squirrels are not scolding. Everything seems too quiet. So I grabbed my camera. We have numerous requests for more KittyWalk adventures.

Don't know if they were caught gearing up for trouble, or if they are just hams for the camera.

pb
Little Pond

Parallel play occurs when babies (or pets) are content to keep themselves busy alongside their buddies, without interacting. The doggy has a chewie and the cats are birdwatching. 

GrandDog is bored. She quietly sneaks up behind the cats (note the tail to the left) and slips in under the netting. A quick nip! And awaaaay we go! 

Patches responds with a bop to the snout! Then she rolls back to the other side. 

Ellie will come around to rouse Patches. Otherwise, the littlest cat will simply sit and watch the birds feed. Right now, doggy wants some action! 

Come on! I dare you to poke your heads out this side! Ellie gets a reprimand for yanking on the netting--and snapping it back at the cats! 

Bubba wants to take a bat at Ellie, now. If I am watching or shutterbugging, Granddog makes a big, noisy show of it. 

No they don't always play nicely. Who knocked down the doorframe? Ellie or Bubba? And no one's talking... 

The Best We Can Do

Just a note. No time on Fridays to post thoughtfully.

We all can do one more thing: carry on.

Our lives must not change for the worse. Only a healthy nation can overcome tragedy and disgrace. Yes, we must send aid. Yes, we must tighten our belts. And yes, we must pray, or at least keep our thoughts positive and our moods on an even keel.

The rest of America must carry on. The flood victims need a healthy country they can turn to for aid. Otherwise we will all become victims of the hurricane.

Don't Go Online

Please don't go online: Go through your local agencies. The national agencies are overloaded. Your local agencies are better equipped to process your donation.

Please pray. I have separated religion from Pat's Pond. But right now, you can help. You can pray, especially for those who are creating chaos. They are suffering. They are in Hell right now, and are desperate. They cannot see us all trying to help. I believe prayer is the best that many of us can do right now.

Remember, this is a catastrophe. People are dying. The living are desperate. And we may need, as cities, to open our arms to the refuges. To diffuse the tragedy and ease the suffering. We can do this, we are a large nation with a big heart. Keep your eyes and ears open, and pray. We can do the right thing.