Poop

I know that the three of you may feel this post is inappropriate. I was telling my SIL about some of my observations concerning Rudy's poop recently, all the while thinking (but unable to shut up) that "I can't believe I'm talking about this and she already thinks I'm nuts!"

But I've notice something while living in the apartment AND I think Rudy may have issues.

When we lived in the house, I would just let Rudy out the back door and no observations were made. He often didn't poop when we walked back then. When you walk your dog you HAVE to notice how often they poop. Plastic bags are involved, at least in populated areas.  (So it is more eco-friendly to put plastic bags in the landfills than leave my dog's poop in the grass.) (Having said that, I have stepped in poop of big dogs here in the apartment complex that had not been put in a plastic bag and then ended up in a landfill. It is a tricky situation.) (I most likely will not be carrying plastic bags in the country.)

I have noticed that Rudy must have just the right place to poop. AND, if there are a lot of smells, even when it is 40 degrees or pouring rain, he has to smell them all to find just the right place. Even, sometimes, with false starts. "WAIT! OVER HERE!" "NO! THIS SPOT IS BETTER!!" There are a lot of dogs here in the apartment complex. A LOT. So, that means there are a lot of smells. Dog smells. Unfamiliar dog smells.

Did I mention it was a little chilly outside this morning?

Counting My Blessings

I do not want to be here. Rudy doesn't want to be here. He likes the country. I love the country. So, I've been trying to list the good things about apartment living:

1. Easy access to Target.
2. My friends are here.
3. There are lovely trees around our building and the birds in the morning are amazing. (They cover the road noise from 59. Kind of.)
4. Speaking of road noise, we have easy access to 59. 
5. There is fast food close by.
6. I am walking more. Rudy can't just be let out. So, I'm getting in a half dozen mini-walks a day. This is good exercise AND  is calming.
7. Cleaning is a breeze. 3 tiny rooms. 
8. My church of 30 years is here. I look forward to meeting new friends in a new church. BUT, 30 years is a long time! (How many preachers have come and gone??)
9. There is a drainage ditch bayou behind our place and these huge turtles bask on the sides. Cool. There are huge rabbits back there, too. Rudy discovered the rabbits yesterday.
10. I have the Internet....mostly. And TV (although I've discovered I'm not watching it as much)(which is probably a good thing).

There may be more. I'll let you know.

Good News/Bad News

The Bad News is that I'm back in Humble/Kingwood. I left this yesterday after lunch:

The Good News is that I get to pick the Grand Princess up from school today and have her spend the night. AND I get to go scrapping tomorrow. AND I get to shop for various items I need for these:

My new kitchen

My new LIBRARY

Our new yard

Notice it is MY kitchen and Library but OUR yard. Although I think I'll become more exterior...I'm still claiming interior decorating rights.

Rudy is definitely exterior. There is this little stone fence around our house that keeps him contained. Much to his annoyance. He loves the exterior of the exterior. 

This is for Carla and Carrie

Where we live now. Well, not exactly. This is Comanche. Right across from the county courthouse which is not nearly as interesting as this western store on the square. Our new address is actually Dublin. Dr. Pepper Dublin. Or formerly Dr. Pepper Dublin. 

Patience

I have been warned, by my sister-in-law who lives on 100 Acre Ranch in Lamkin, Texas (Google the population of that community!) and our new Dublin neighbor who we met briefly on Friday (more on that in a minute), that living in the country will take a little getting used to. I am prepared to fill the freezer with empty calorie items that can't be delivered to the house. This one thing does have me a bit concerned. I love my delivery.

But I went to HEB yesterday. Here in the traffic. And the masses. And the no school for MLK Day. And I know in the country there will be inconsiderate folk who park their carts right in the middle of the aisle and are oblivious to all behind them. And I know there will be unruly kids there who aren't paying attention to mom telling them to get out of the way. If, in fact, mom was paying attention. And I know there will be sackers who would rather talk to the checker than bag my groceries. AND, I know there will be traffic on the way home who travel at the speed of molasses and don't use their turn signals.

But I just don't think there will be as many of them!

So about our new neighbor. Cuddle Buns and I were walking our new property when we noticed a big white pickup near the gate. The only people coming near our gate should be Army Corp of Engineer people, the owners of the ranch across the easement, or someone we know. So we watched. As we were leaving, the driver of the truck asked if we knew where the smoke was coming from. That was when we noticed quite a plume behind our house toward the lake. Or maybe on the other side of the dam. She was out checking things given the fires of late in Texas. And, she grew up in our house. And now lives on the ranch across the easement part time. (In Denton the rest of the time.) We exchanged phone numbers and she promised the house would be safe, that the Corp had the fire under control. And not to listen to John, the officer at the abstract company who had handled our closing. He had told a story about a party in our house when they were in high school. And she needed to get with him about the reunion.

I don't live there yet, but I love the country.

Rudy's New Playground-For Real This Time

I have hesitated to post anything because of an earlier post where I put pictures of Rudy's new playground...and then the deal fell through. But this deal is signed, sealed, and will be delivered shortly! (We won't have the keys for a few days.) But Rudy and Cuddle Buns and I are making a move to the country. We are beside ourselves!

Hope Yours Were the Best

I was not given permission to post this on Facebook....so here it is for the vast number of my blog readers to view. We had the best Christmas. Hope yours were awesome, too!