Dragonfly Ranch

Betsy’s photo of her creche didn’t come close to doing it justice. Here’s a close-up. Study it and learn. (Click the photo to enlarge.)

Got the tree up this afternoon on the corner of the porch. Arlin and Betsy put the lights and decorations on it.

And Betsy put up her usual crèche.

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Arlin found this on the Minimalists website and, with a new month approaching, and that month encompassing Advent, he suggested we play this little game together here on Dragonfly Ranch:

“Find a friend or family member. Someone who’s willing to get rid of some of their excess stuff. This month, each of you must get rid of one thing on the first day of the month. On the second, two things. Three items on the third. So forth, and so on. Anything can go! Clothes, furniture, electronics, tools, decorations, etc. Donate, sell, or trash. Whatever you do, each material possession must be out of your house—and out of your life—by midnight each day.

It’s an easy game at first. However, it starts getting challenging by week two, when you’re both jettisoning more than a dozen items each day. Whoever can keep it going the longest wins. You both win if you can make it all month. Bonus points if you play with more than two people.”

It has been an interesting challenge for the three of us. Each evening the box for the day must contain the appropriate number of items from each of us. First thing the next morning, the box is emptied into the appropriate container — trash or donate. And we move up one number. So far, we’ve divested ourselves of a total of 63 items over the past six days. We anticipate it may get a little more challenging as we get into the double digits. But then again, considering our pack rat sensibilities…..

We may have to try again for Lent.

I hope Ella isn’t going to turn into another one of my $6000 free dogs. Right after I took her in to the vet for a full exam and senior blood screen last Saturday (ka-ching, ka-ching) because she is an 8 year old puppy with a one page medical history, she started worrying her rear right foot and performing an occasional limp/skip. So yesterday, back to the vet. She had somehow managed to stab or slice the upper inner webbing of her paw pad, probably while playing chase with Chester. I thought his initiating play meant he was beginning to accept her to the family, but maybe his running her around like maniacs had a less benign motivation? After all, Chester has been walking around muttering “alright, she’s been here a week, isn’t it time she went home? o.k., she’s been here two weeks now, isn’t it time she went home?” Anyway, the poor girl is in a cone with a wrapped paw now for three days. She is not amused!

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No)Ella is about eight years old. She had lived since a puppy with a woman who recently died at age 89. She has had little contact with other dogs, spending most of her time in the house or in a smallish yard. I give her major points for taking us all on. She has already learned to negotiate one of those panel screen doors so she can follow the boys in and out, in and out, …… and enjoys having so much room to roam.

She’s a little needy and has already decided I belong to her, but don’t know if that is her nature or the newness of her situation. She didn’t eat the first night, but has been chowing down at meal times since. The nice bed Jamie bought for Callix was appropriated by Kai and seems to have passed down to her. Callix sleeps on a sleeping bag anyway.

She is a real sweetheart and we love her already.

The Meyer lemons are in full flourish

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It’s like a technicolor wand has been waved and the world goes from beige to green overnight.

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