Fierce Little Yorkshire Terrior?

My little Yorkie weighs 4 pounds.  That's it - just 4 pounds on a good day.  Yet he creates more trouble than any bigger dog we've ever had.  He fiercely takes on anything that crosses his path, without having any

 idea he's as small as he is. 

I've seen him make many big dogs lay down, and pee when he gets after them.  So what is it about a little dog that makes them have no fear?  Foolishness?  Maybe not so bright?  Or maybe something that just comes natural in the animal world.  The older he gets the grumpier he gets.  And, strangley enough, the younger, bigger dogs show him respect - and get out of his way.

Today he had an encounter with a turtle that wandered into his path.

Now this turtle is pretty good sized, and is a 'snapping' turtle - He Will Bite and Hang On.  Yet I can't get this little dog away from him.  I pick him up and as soon as I put him down again he runs straight back to the danger zone.

He managed to herd the turtle around a bit, and the turtle did retreat (pulled his head in and stayed perfectly still).  Is it possible even this turtle was intimidated by the little dog?

In contrast, we have Pete and the turtle.  Pete is the big goofy dog somebody dropped off at our farm in the middle of the winter the year before last.  Pete is pretty laid back about any intrusion in his world.  But then, Pete is a bit more worldly, since he had to fend for himself for a while.  I'd really love to know all the places Pete had been before we found him (or before he found us).  He still gets the urge to run sometimes, and we won't see him for a day or so.  But he always comes back.  And - Pete also lays down and pees when the little Yorkie gets after him!

I think I need to take a lesson from the Yorkshire Terrior - never be afraid, and make anyone who tries to

intimidate you lay down and pee themselves.

OK - maybe I'm not so bright, either!

I'm Looking Up, and walking with my head in the clouds!

In Texas we all know it's essential (as in, it's absolutely necessary) to look down when ever you're walking in the country.  With several kinds of  poisonous snakes, scorpions, spiders, and other not so friendly things hiding in the tall grass, you need to watch where you walk, especially in the spring and
summer on pasture land.

So I got out of the habit of simply looking up when I was out walking with the dogs - and I was missing some  good stuff!

The summer sky early in the morning is spectacular!  It's still cool outside; the wind is calmer; the birds are soaring, and the sun hits the clouds just right as it's coming up over the trees. We had storms last night and still have some clouds lingering this morning.

Even the flowers take on a different feel when I'm looking up, instead of directly at them. 

 A completely new take on the simple things around me. 

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?  I'm now walking with my head in the clouds - lets just hope there's not a snake at my feet!

Raccoons Have Run Rampant In My Garden!

Here's the thing - living in the country, and especially on a farm with wooded areas, brings some different problems and challenges.  Just when you think you've got one wildlife problem addressed and solved, another one pops up.  It's really been there all the time, you just didn't know about it, yet.

 Like many of you, a few months ago we tilled the garden, fertilized, and planted

 all of our seeds.

Everyday we'd check on it; carefully water it; and pull the weeds.  And wait.  Sometimes we'd even sit by the garden in the evenings, and just simply beam at what a good job we'd done.  You know the kind of conversations I mean - you're just so very pleased with yourself you can't stand it.  Maybe even a little smug? "We're going to have a really great garden this year".  "The 4th of July Bar B Q will be so much better with corn from the garden on the grill."

What Idiots We Are!

Apparently, we have not been the only ones waiting and diligently watching the garden. The raccoons have been scouting it out, especially the corn, and waiting - until just the right time.

This is the corn on the cob we've been dreaming of all these months. 

 Big ears of sweet, juicy corn - ready to be seasoned and put on the grill.

This is the reality. 

The raccoons have stripped all the corn - completely, in one night.

We really should have known better - we've been living in the country for more than 25 years.
I repeat:  We're Idiots!  

Little events like this make me want to stay up all night some time and just see exactly what else lives here I don't know about.  Then again - I may never sleep again if I know everything that's creeping around all night.

Hope your garden is well and thriving - OK, I may be a little jealous if you have great sweet corn. ;)