Packing, Allie

Mama and I took the evening to pack last night. The suitcases are in the apartment ready to go for the most part. We still have the last few items to stuff into the remaining voids in the luggage but Mama is satisfied that we are very nearly ready to travel.

If we follow past patterns, the well packed suitcases will be bulging at the seams by the time I get to load them into the van for transport to the airport. We still struggle with carryon baggage – what should be in those bags, how big/small they have to be, how much they should weigh, etc. I think we have the properly sized bags to qualify but we will only find out for certain when we check in tomorrow morning.

I offered soon after we got finished packing to take Mama to get Allie from the family in Sherman, TX that had her shacked up with their little male. That way she and Victoria would not have to make the trip today and she could concentrate on getting some of the house chores completed with Victoria’s help. Mama called the home number and left a message and we went about our evening chores on the farm.

About an hour later the husband called to tell Mama that Allie had somehow gotten out of their yard and was last seen by a neighbor heading northward. Since the area where the house is located is near an Interstate Highway and several other major roads, the potential for a good outcome in finding and recovering her is not in the “highly probable” category; but that’s God’s area of expertise.

The family that was keeping her was very troubled by her escape and Mama spent many minutes of conversation trying to reassure them that she completely understood, that she was not angry and that she did not hold them accountable. As a rescue dog Allie has always had her issues but we thought she was getting better – maybe not. If she is found we will definitely want her back, I am just not holding out high hopes of finding her at this point.

Yesterday afternoon Mama got a good picture of her little piggys eating some granola she had tossed out to the chickens. One of the concerns she has with the property we are strongly considering is that one of the restrictions is on pigs. It is specifically stated that no swine are allowed. I understand the restriction but I still do not think it would apply to pot belly pigs, but we do not yet know.

As of very early tomorrow morning all the animals will be left in the care and keeping of Victoria for the time we are away. Grandma and Grandpa may come down sometime in that span of days but we are not sure. Victoria is not looking forward to have all the feeding and watering chores on her shoulders, but that is the only way to get Mama off the farm.

Late breaking news:

Mama just called to tell me that Allie had been found safe and well. A Facebook alert sent out by the family in Sherman had been answered by someone who sent a picture at 11 pm last night to ask if the little dog they had found was her; it was. They will retrieve her today and we will pick her up this evening.

Mama is greatly relieved.