Logistics is an art

Leo with his red rubber bone.

Don't believe a word she says about me. I embrace all dog breeds--there are just some who need to be shown who is boss.

Leo took me for a walk downtown yesterday. Oddly, he steered me right to the yarn store where he knows he is loved, wanted and fed unlimited treats. The store, ...have you any Wool?, is a small shop, but has an impressive inventory for its size. We bought some mohair so that I can knit a curtain for a rather odd window in the living room. I'm planning something in stockinette with the same felting treatment I did for that scarf last year. Anyways, back to Leo. He's pleasant enough with the people who are in there when he arrives, even the cat people, but when anyone new walks through the door, he barks and acts like he owns the joint.

This dog is incredibly strong and when he sees something else with a tail and 4 legs, I have all I can do to keep him under control. I woke up with sore shoulders today and I know it's because of the pitbull who lives two blocks down and 3 blocks over. Oddly, the little Dachshund that lives across the street from the pit did not elicit the same response from Leo: snarling, growling, barking and frothing at the mouth with a touch of madness thrown in for good measure. Squirrels and rabbits make my dog insane, but it's only the pitbulls that throw him over the edge and my town is filthy with pits. It seems every other house is a refuge to a rescued dog of mixed heritage and mapping out a walk where we won't encounter this breed of dog is difficult, if not impossible.

Isaac, a mixed dog with dominant pit lives behind us. He seems like a sweet boy, but I can no longer pet him over the fence as this simple and friendly act would make Leo go bonkers. For the first month, these two dogs would yap and bark at the dividing line between our yards. Now they stalk each other silently and only bark when one of their humans is in the yard at the same time. We considered putting up a privacy fence for a little peace and quiet, but frankly, I'd rather spend my money on something else. Leo and Isaac are just going to have to get along. Besides, I don't want to be the first person in the neighborhood to block my neighbors out. All of these homes have fences with gates linking all the yards that allow neighbors to go back and forth through them. Who am I to disturb such a friendly dynamic?


While we're on the subject of neighbors, it won't be long until the robins are forced to move. I was wrong when I told you there are three of them. Indeed, there are four and they're quickly running out of room. According to my next door neighbor, robins nest in that particular spot every year and have done so for 5 years in a row, now. This is only the second time they've had 4 wee ones and for the life of me, I can't figure out how they're managing with such limited space. I need to take some logistics lessons from them. This week, my oldest child will be moving back in with us. You know the story...economy, economy, economy. She's been gone from the nest for a long time and feels badly about having to come back. My husband has tried to tell her that even his 50 year old friends at work are moving back in with their 80 year old parents and that it'll all work out in the end.

Like our neighbors, I'm sure we'll find a way to make do with what we have.