We have a huge hole in the ground back of our house. The building of our new barn is officially started! The guys came with their big toys and for the past 3 days have been digging and scooping out the dirt and shale. It took three days instead of the one they had figured because they found a stream of water that had to be diverted thataway. The hole had filled up some with water. Wet dirt is harder to move than dry dirt. But they persevered and the concrete should be poured today.

I keep finding muddy little paw prints everywhere around the house. And some boot prints…

We also found out last week that our oldest cat, Gus, is diabetic, so he now has to have 2 shots of insulin a day. Thankfully, Devon was here and showed us a couple of times how to give the shots so we wouldn’t accidentally kill Gus with an air bubble or something. Neither Ned nor I have had much experience with giving shots. Getting pills down critters’ throats, draining abscesses and dressing wounds, yes. Shots, no. I don’t like needles. Never have.

Then one of the dogs decided to slice off one of the pads on her foot. Now this I knew how to deal with.

In the meantime, Devon dropped off her two kittens to stay with us while she gets settled in at Ft Belvoir. Our three cats are not amused by these little interlopers at all. There has been much hissing and growling and gnashing of teeth. Feeding time has become quite an adventure as the new additions to the household don’t understand that they can’t eat out of everyone else’s bowl. More hissing and growling and gnashing of teeth.

Give shot, dress wound, keep kittens from being killed. Get kittens off the table. Put back things back kittens have knocked off any and all flat surfaces in the house. Get kittens off the counters. Stop kittens from climbing the curtains. Separate angry, spitting cats from kittens. Put bandage on hand. Get kittens off the table. Shoo everyone outside.

And ~ there is a pair of Canada Geese that have decided to nest on one of the islands in our pond. Apparently, this pair have been nesting on the island for the past 8 years.  I named them Hank and Gladys. We have a rule in our home that if it has a name, it can’t be killed. Ned does not like the geese ~ they poop in his yard. At least there are only two now. When we got here, there were around twelve or so, just having a grand time, pooping wherever they dang well pleased. Joey, the other dog, took care of that!  They’re more fun to chase than seagulls!

Well, the day before last, we were out watching our hole in the ground back of our house get bigger and we heard quite the commotion coming from the pond. Goose Fight!! A strange goose had invaded the pond and was going after Hank trying to get to Gladys. It was just like a National Geographic special happening right there in our pond. Water splashing, feathers flying, wings flapping, and a lot of honking going on. Gladys was not going to let that stranger near her nest and she came out swinging! This went on for more than an hour. We were watching closely, just to make sure that they could take care of the other goose and nothing happened to our pair. Finally, Ned had had enough and he threw a rock at the enemy goose and beaned it good. After the surprise wore off, it decided that maybe it should just fly away. Hasn’t been back either.

The days are warming up and the apple blossoms are starting to bloom. Soon it will be porch-sitting time. I had forgotten how much one appreciates the warm, green Spring after the cold, brown Winter.

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