We’re a week out from Christmas Eve. A white Christmas is highly probable to almost certain. I still need to decide what the dogs are getting for Christmas. Last year Harry the beagle’s big present was moving into his furever home with us. It’s hard to believe he was a shy, retiring, timid, little hound a year ago. Now he thinks he runs the place as long as no one makes loud, unusual noises. Harry and SiSi are getting along at least as well as my sister and I used to when we lived in the same house.
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| SiSi reassuring a pensive Harry in his new home
Photo by J. Harrington
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This morning I began to get concerned about the prospect of strong winds taking down the snow encrusted branches. Then I started thinking about whether the weight of leaves was more or less than the weight of the snow. Then I remembered that, either way, I can’t do anything about it except wait and watch. The odds are very high that the snow will come down before the leaves come out but, this being Minnesota, we can’t be certain unless we’re willing to risk being wrong.
If you look back over the postings of the past few days, you’ll find a couple of mentions of a pileated woodpecker. We now believe the bird is a young female: unfamiliar with a suet feeder; no red streak on her cheek (no mustache). Her latest strategy at feeding from the “squirrel-buster” feeder is to perch on the deck railing balusters and reach into a feeding port with her bill. If it weren’t for the birds, there’d be little evidence of life in the fields and woods behind the house. Even tracks have been missing the past few days, probably getting filled in almost as soon as they were made.
I’m looking forward to Christmas Eve and a sense of peace and quiet. Some year’s that sense is missing as someone in the family is heard to be muttering “Now, where did I hide that damn present so no one would stumble into it?” May we all be blessed this year with everyone and everything being just where they should be, home for the holidays.
A Rescue Dog’s Christmas Poem
‘Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
Every shelter is full – we are lost but not found.
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
We hope every minute that someone will care.
They’ll come to adopt us and give us the call,
“Come here, Max and Sparkie – come fetch your new ball!”
But now we sit here and think of the days…
We were treated so fondly – we had cute, baby ways.
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew
Now we’re no longer young and we’re no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
They reacted so quickly – why were they so rash?
We “jump on the children,” “don’t come when they call,”
We “bark when they leave us,” “climb over the wall.”
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
Now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they’d trained us, if only we knew…
We’d have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse – let to roam –
Now we’re tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye…
“Maybe someone else will give you a try.”
So now here we are, all confused and alone…
In a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
With so many to care for, they can’t stay to chat.
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer…
We know that they wonder how long we’ll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads…
Of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears-
Our friends filled with emptiness, worry and fear.
If you can’t adopt us and there’s no room at the Inn-
Could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year-
Can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat…
And help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
And more of us will, if more people will give.
This Christmas, donate to your local shelter and make a shelter dog’s dreams come true.
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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.
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