Weather reports, dogs, Becky’s bathroom, Brittany’s wedding

It is really difficult to know any more just how much faith to put in the weather reports we have been getting. There were predictions of very heavy rain for the Bowie area. We had some but it is not turning out to be as much as predicted. There were predictions of snow and rain for the Amarillo area. We got nothing. Now the weather forecasters are saying the storm will come in late today into tonight. We’ll get up tomorrow and see.


As far as delaying the planting of our meadows, it was probably a good decision to wait through yesterday. Whether or not we should wait any longer is another question. One forecast is calling for an 80% chance of rain Saturday and Sunday while another is predicting a far less chance. One report is predicting more rain Wednesday through next Saturday. Another is calling for very little chance of rain on those days. I will leave it up to Grandpa. It is really too much information.

Our Great Pyrenees female was operated on yesterday. She has been fixed so we will not have to worry about any unexpected pups being born. The dog is only about six or seven months old, but Mama insisted it was the correct time to do this. We will do the male also as a precaution against him breeding any wandering females. At least our dog population will be under control.

Mama and Victoria are still talking about breeding mini Dachshunds. From my current perspective, there is no pleasant way for me to avoid that. Rosie is showing signs of age and Mama’s little companion may not be here for her much longer. Dodger is definitely not a replacement, neither are the large dogs, so I suppose that breeding stock will be the next canine purchase. As long as we do not have a place of our own to live in while staying in Bowie, it will be problematic. Grandma is opposed to any dog in the house. She tolerates Rosie, but that acclimation has happened over years. Any new dog will have to earn her acceptance – which has proven difficult.

Dodger has been all but barred from the house. He really is more of an outside dog but Victoria likes to have him close. She will keep him in her bedroom to avoid the scolding about how bad he smells, how dirty he is, how Victoria is probably sick because of allergies to him, how he touches Grandma’s leg with his cold nose, how he is always in the way, etc. The pup is pretty much house broken. He has very few accidents any more, but he has learned that all food originates at the stove and all treats are dispensed as we sit at the table, so when the stove is lit, he camps out underfoot – which Grandma also finds annoying.

Victoria tolerates it. Grandpa sits back and watches. There is really not the extreme danger that Grandma superimposes on keeping the dog in the house, namely, the germ infestations and the tripping hazard, but they are both things to consider. It will all work out soon enough.

Becky called yesterday to announce that they were about to complete an additional bathroom in their house. Her father-in-law is there to help Charles put the sheetrock up and set the fixtures. Her choice of colors for the small room are true Becky; yellow, green, some other color with gold hardware. Her idea is that since she lives in a predominately Latino area, the color scheme will add to the resale potential when that time comes. Interesting thought.

Mama tells me Brittany’s wedding plans are coming together. All I know for almost sure is the date – June 22. I think that’s right. I will be in the general area around that time so I should be able to get to the wedding on time even if I have the date wrong. What I remember is that it was moved from Thursday to Friday of that week for reasons I am not sure I was ever told and if I was I do not remember. I have full confidence Mama will get me there on time.

In case you have not noticed, when Mama is on the farm she is somewhat disconnected from her normal thought processes. She is more distracted than usual, more occupied than usual. So, if any of you need to tell her anything particularly important, you should wait until she is back in Amarillo. If you need to tell he something that needs to be relayed to me, it is better if you call me to tell me directly.

Just make sure I write it down.