Random 5 for April 16, 2023 – Dogs, smoking, yard work, decisions, quiet

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Big and slobbery! – This morning on my way back from Starbucks, I encountered an older couple walking three dogs. I stopped my car as if I was at a train crossing. These weren’t ordinary dogs. They were ginormous slobbery ones. They looked like Newfies to me complete with a gallon of slobber on each. They were well mannered and walking great. They had the power to run the walkers into the ground, but they didn’t. Just plodding away and drooling all the way. They were a gorgeous crew but over 400 pounds of dog (not counting the peeps). Then I came home to my whiney cats. I couldn’t feed Gus fast enough, Sasha was complaining about the food selection and Gracie wasn’t hungry but wanted the option of eating in 20 minutes (just when I would be involved in something else). I told them about the dogs and threatened to trade them in but they laughed.

Being judgey – We all say we are not judgmental, but we are. Can’t help it.  My local Starbucks employs young adults. Most are in school or waiting for a job in their field. Today one of the baristas was taking a smoke break. I wanted to explain how it contributes to cancer. My generation worked hard to quit smoking. Given the information that is available today, smoking is a bad choice. I don’t get it. It’s not cool.

Geez Louise! – Our weather did a 30 degree climb this week. Just as we needed to get outside to do yard work, Mother Nature made it interesting by jacking up the heat. Oy vay! Not really complaining (but sort of). Everything is beautiful. The trees leafed out and spring stuff is blooming. If it wasn’t for yard work looming over me, it would be a perfect time. Reminds of my old house. I dreaded cleaning the pond. It only took three hours, but it was work. No matter where you live there is stuff you dread.

Decisions, decisions – This week marked another week of decisions. Carpets and vinyl flooring choices. All stuff that will be with us forever. Should I stay neutral or pick a “neutral” color? The older I get the more difficult decision-making is. When we built our last house, it took three months to pick the siding color but 30 minutes to pick the upstairs carpet. Siding color is with you much longer than carpets and unless you can see it on another house, you can’t visualize the impact of a very large expanse of color.

A quiet week? – Maybe, but every time I think we’ll have a quiet week, something happens. Fingers crossed that it doesn’t this time. No sick cats, no medical issues, just a pleasant spring week!

So how was your week?

63 thoughts on “Random 5 for April 16, 2023 – Dogs, smoking, yard work, decisions, quiet”

  2. So the cats didn’t take you seriously about the dogs being “better” pets, huh? After all the work you’ve done on your beautiful home it is likely the cats figured out 400 pounds of slobbering dog wouldn’t really fit in well with the decor! Hope you’re having that quiet week, Kate. 😉

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  3. My former handyman can no longer work so he has handed me off to his son-in-law and every time I see him, he is vaping. It was the first time for me seeing anyone vaping (I don’t really know any young people) and I wanted to tell him to listen to the PSAs about the dangers of vaping. I was in a 5K charity walk for a large no-kill shelter and the event was called the Mutt Strut as people were encouraged to bring their dogs … there was a Bullmastiff there and as I took pics of it, it shook its head and slobber went flying everywhere – thankfully not on the camera or me! I had to ask what it was as I didn’t recognize the breed and it was 130 pounds per the owner. I turned around to see a pair of Alaskan Malamutes, another dog breed I’d heard of but not seen. I wouldn’t want to feed any of them.

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  4. I really miss working outside and gardening this year due to my broken arm. Spring is my favorite season and I am totally missing it. As far as carpeting, I would stick to neutrals. Put your color in furniture or accessories that are easier to change if you get tired of your selections.

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  5. Those are Landseer Newfies. And yes they are quite slobbery. But lovely dogs. I met a woman over the weekend who owns 6 (yes, S-I-X) mastiffs. Plus she’s fostering two more dogs. The Mastiffs alone are 1100 lbs. of canine. Talk about intimidation. Hope they never react toward seeing squirrels.

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  6. I love all dogs, but would not want a Newfie for the very reason you stated. Drool. But after this weekend with a major doggy behavioral problem that occurred, I might be trading mine in for any other dog. 😕

    Last week was 84 degrees here. On Friday and Saturday I got sun tanned. Today, it’s 42 and it’s snowing! Snowing!! Of course, it’s been too warm to stick, so I’m not complaining (but sort of). I’m not a person who enjoys heat and would prefer temps lower than the 80s. However, no more snow please. I’m ready for spring.

    Enjoy your nice weather. Here’s to a quiet week. I could use one, too. 🤞

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    • Even cats have bad weekends so don’t give up! I had a cat with IBS. The kinds with explosive diarrhea. She had a bad episode that ended with me steam cleaning an entire carpeted room. I knew no one else would have put up with it (it wasn’t really her fault, she just couldn’t make it) but I had my moments. She died young from an abdominal tumor. I’ve often wondered to what extent the tumor was the issue and not IBS. Poor kitty.

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      • Aww, sad about the kitty. I’d wonder about the IBS vs. tumor thing, too. My dog’s issues are behavioral instead of physical. Two years now, and I’m still struggling with getting things under control. 😕

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  7. Here’s to some worry/problem/decision-free time this week – Spring is springing but it seems to be having a little problem (at least here) with STAYING. Weather is still up and down – I think it’s the new normal which I’m not all that crazy about!

    Hugs, Pam

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  9. I loved choosing all the details when I remodeled the kitchen. But choosing the siding color was hard. For one thing, no house color is absolutely gorgeous. For another thing, the color changes in different lights. I had my house painted a shade blue called Blustery Sky. I guess it’s all right.

    Dogs can be awfully sweet, but I prefer cats. I like their grace. Plus you don’t have to take them for a walk every single day.

    Have a good week, Kate.

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    • I worked my entire life so a dog would have been tough. It would have spent too much time alone and that wouldn’t be fair to it. Cats can entertain themselves (or mostly sleep) and I tried to have multiples so they had company. Now I spend what seems like my entire day catering to their every wim! Maybe it’s payback!

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  10. Glad your cats know they would never be traded for drooly dogs. 🙂 I don’t know how anyone starts smoking with all the information out there about the dangers. Plus, it is just so smelly.

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  11. When I was a kid we had collies. They didn’t drool much but they sure did shed. There was always hair floating around. Always had a brush at the door…for people to use before they left the house. Two of my cats are grey and they don’t shed much but Jack is white and he sheds a lot.

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  12. We’ve always had a pet, but with the last move we don’t, and I have to say there are some pluses with that. Drool and hair balls would be two. 🙂 I don’t get smoking with cancer rates and prices the way they are. I need to purchase a couple of large ticket items and keep putting it off so I wish you all the best on your decision making process.

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  14. Cats are better than dogs, but I did have a cat that drooled sometimes when she was petted and happy. I don’t understand why young people smoke today either. Let’s hope you made all the right decisions on the floors. Have a good week.

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  15. Re: the pond cleaning at your old house. “ It only took three hours.” That would be an incredibly long time for me! 😆 My wife’s 32 year old daughter and her 38 year old boyfriend both smoke like chimneys. I just don’t get it. – Marty

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  17. My friend had Newfies and she’s hand you a small towel the second you walked into her house. I love big dogs, but I am partial to the ones without hair and slobber. Akitas have no slobber but so much fur. Danes mixed with bully breeds are probably the best.

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  18. I wanted to breed newfies when I was a child. Maggie used to play with three mastiffs in the park (slobberRus in buckets) and the day she met them was also the day she met three black newfies on the way back to the car. She was in and out of their legs, playing chase the tail, and all the while they let her, a young pup of about 4 months just recently allowed out in the big world after her final jabs. It was a wonderful day for all of us.
    My boss’s friends had a St Bernard who absolutely adored him. When he visited once, the dog got so excited, he launched himself and the front door and frame was reduced to matchwood. Luckily the boss was OK, just being slobbered over by 180lbs of happy dog. Maya currently weighs in around 36 kgs (about 80lbs)

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  19. Even as a dog lover, I find it hard to appreciate a slobbery dog.

    Decision fatigue – it can worse than doing physical labour, I find. I tend to go for neutrals with big (and big ticket) pieces like sofas and use pops of colour for smaller things, like cushions and curtains. Makes it easier to switch things up when I get tired of a colour scheme and want to go in another direction.

    Deb

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  22. Good luck making all of the right choices. Realtors will tell you to go neutral so that it’s easier to sell when you sell. I’m not sure that’s relevant to you since I’m under the impression that this is your last home. And, gosh, but I hate slobbery dogs. My niece had one (RIP Bailey) and it seems like she was forever wiping drool away!

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  24. Newfies are beautiful dogs, but ohhhh that slobber. I couldn’t live with it We had a client who had one newfie and another who had five of them. You have to carry a rag around with you all the time.

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