Preparing for Spring

It's hard to believe winter is already (well, almost) past us. I so enjoyed this winter. It was nice to have a winter at all since Virginia doesn't have what I'd consider a real winter season. (This coming from a native Central New Yorker.)

We had plenty of snow accumulation, but now starts the little know fifth season - mud. We live in a river valley, and you know what happens in river valleys? Rain collects there. And that makes mud.

Otherwise I've been gearing up towards planting my garden. I still have to prepare the soil (and buy/gather mulch). And order seeds. I can't believe how long it's been since January, when I was actually ready to order. Mom contributed $75 towards the seed order, so I'm waiting on a check from her to order. I did buy organic (but not heirloom) cantaloupe seeds, but am trying to think of a place to plant them since the proposed garden space certainly isn't sunny enough for melons. I'm thinking the top of the front bank, which would get sun all day except right before sunset.

I've also been talking to a local breeder about getting a Miniature Australian Shepherd dog from her early next year. I'm waiting on an email back so mom and I can go visit them. I've been reading a lot about them and the current contention between Australian Shepherd/Miniature Australian Shepherd/Miniature American Shepherd people. My chosen breeder maintains that her dogs are just slightly smaller than average Australian Shepherds, instead of the Papillion x Aussie crosses Miniature American Shepherds seem to be descended from. Australian Shepherd people are mad because "there is no height division within the breed," which is true. I want an Aussie, but can't have a larger dog right now, so this is an excellent solution for my situation.


I'm so in love with this breed! Who could resist a face like that?

Also on the dog front, I've been training mom's Miniature Long-Haired Dachshund, Bailey in basic obedience. He is smarter than I believed and I am truly enjoying working with him. It's nice to work with a dog again!

Our computer crashed a little while ago, but it up and running after a through cleaning and a hard drive replacement, so that was exciting. iPods are difficult to browse the internet on when you vehemently want to use the computer for it's FULL keyboard!

So, ONWARD TOWARD SPRING!

Photo from Madaise on Flickr.

Max Moves On

I recently wrote about Max, the Sheltie that I had taken in a few months prior. I came to the conclusion that he and I both deserved better. He deserves a home that understands him and wants him and can help him. I deserve a dog that is everything I want. So I got in contact with a breed rescue and we spent a few phone conversations discussing the program and what they could offer for Max.

And, the thing is, I liked how it sounded.


I was very skeptical. I have never done anything like this before, but I desperately wanted help for Max. After back and forth-ing on it, I came to the conclusion that I was happy with what they could offer, and they were willing to place him with one of their foster homes.

So last Friday, that's exactly what happened.

He's in his new place now, and I hope happy. I'm waiting until Monday before asking about him, to give everyone (including myself) time to adjust.


I miss him, and I know he doesn't understand. He was shaking in the crate in the back of the car that came to pick him up, and that breaks my heart. Then again, I know it's best for him.

That doesn't stop me from feeling bad.

Garden Renewal

The garden space I am planning on using is 30' x 5' and located on the side of the house with a fairly Western facing. It was a flower garden for awhile, but it has been barren for a few years save the giant Yucca bush and the yearly milkweeds. Not barren in the sense that it won't grow, but barren in the sense that we haven't actively planted it in awhile.

Unfortunately my Grandmother constantly insists that, "We don't have a farm." Bull-hooey I say. It's only 1.6 acres and includes the main house and two apartments with attached garage, but I say that's enough to get started. I want the skills now, the land can come when the time is right. Anyway, she wouldn't let me dig a garden in the yard in a proper place, so I'm going to go ahead and use the existing garden space until I can prove to Gramma that I can and will grow a garden.

So far I have two volunteers to help dig the rocks from the soil and turn it into a garden plot. Both I know from work and both are trustworthy. I plan on not paying them, but asking mom to cook her famous grilled chicken and macaroni salad as payment to whosoever I can round up to help. Many hands make light work.

Mom's idea was that I spend this season dedicated to my garden and then maybe, maybe, maybe I can have chickens. Dedication and hard work go far to impressing your willingness and trustworthiness on others.

It seems like a long road, but it'll seem a short one a year from now.

Hey, Rattler.

I'm quite enamored by this:

All the World's Frustrations

We had a written assignment for Psychology due today (Sunday). The first question was along the lines of violence in the media and how it correlates with childhood aggression. While writing I was getting more and more angry, so I guess I found where a passionate subject of mine lies. I thought I'd post it.

Violence in media, meaning the often bloody, gory, painful, or otherwise harmful injuries and assaults endured by characters of television programs and video games, can be a touchy subject to many people. Some believe that the sole cause of the rise in aggression of the youth population is the fact that they are desensitized to violence because they have seen it on television, or are causing it in video games. There are also those who believe that the two don't correlate at all. When a person is desensitized to something, it no longer appears threatening or frightening; it matters very little.

Aggression can be defined as "hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront", or as "the action of attacking without provocation" (dictionary.com). A child constantly bombarded with the fictional deaths on television and video games, is more apt to be aggressive, especially if he/she isn't able to express anger effectively with age-appropriate peers. Children, I believe, need to play and run and have arguments with each other relatively free of close parental supervision. Children allowed so to work out disagreements from a young age, begin to understand how to interact with others. Problem-solving becomes familiar. With the advent of both parents working, daycare, and the general disinterest or distrust of neighbors that has become commonplace in America, children have almost nothing to do but sit around playing games and watching television.

Is it then so strange that our children become frustrated with what the world has to offer them? Hardly more than temporary entertainment and fleeting fun. Lasting, lifelong friendships become rare treasures. Is it any wonder that people have mental disorders? Our lives are so far removed now from physical labor, is it any wonder we have trouble sleeping? Frustrations build and the people don't know why. Frustrations can build to the point that violence is seen as inevitable, but we are taught to not get involved, to back off, and so we let troubling signs slip by us until someone explodes. Then we look back and say, "What a tragedy."

Yes, there is a definite link between what a child watches and ultimately what he does, but more of the responsibility lies with parents and guardians. Children need to do what children have always needed to do: laugh and scream and play, and most importantly, learn.