Welcome to Mockingbird Hill Cottage, chicken wire capital of the world.
Working with chicken wire is not one of my favorite things to do. But that’s what we did yesterday when we took advantage of warmer temperatures to construct a temporary corral for Scout. We’ve worked with chicken wire before – the large corral is also made out of chicken wire and stakes.
But we must have been younger when we put that together. About nine years younger.
And now we have even more chicken wire on the property.
My patience was put to the test. Unrolling the chicken wire was a feat in itself. But gradually we found a kind of rhythm and work progressed, along with muddy jeans and misplaced tools. Why can’t I keep track of screwdrivers and wire cutters? Same thing with my scissors when I’m sewing.
Many curse words, of course. That’s a given.
Finito. It ain’t a beauty but who cares?
Don is helping Scout get acclimated. She’s curious about it and clearly is wondering what the heck her wacky parents are up to now. We’ve decided that when the snow and ice accumulate, we’ll close off the entrance to the corral with a garden bench that can be easily moved into place. We’ve moved the little gate to a new position and now, when she can’t get to the big corral, she will have to go to the right to do her business. On flat ground. We can still exit from the side door via the gate. We’re not blocking the oil delivery path.
Roger. Over and out.
It’s small, but it will do. We can keep it snow and ice free. It’s doable. And that, my friends, is a huge relief. Because that means life will be easier for our girl.
Those benches are covering my newish hydrangea and rose bush. They serve as a reminder not to dump too much snow on the plants, as well as protection from winter winds.
Scout has also developed a fascination for cards.
Very grainy – captured with my iPhone at night – but you get the picture. She loves watching Don shuffle the cards.
And yes, those are Mallomars, one of man’s greatest inventions, in the background.
Let’s close with a recent sunset. This beauty happened the night before the Nor’easter. I just now noticed that little sliver of the moon on the left.
Winter sunsets are spectacular. Maybe it’s Mother Nature’s way of helping us through the cold and snow and ice and dark skies at 4 pm. It’s the least she can do.
Happy Tuesday.
Yay for the little corral! I know this will make winter easier for Scout! and there for you!! The photo of her watching Don shuffle the cards is so sweet. It’s been pretty here this week so far but more cold is coming.
hugs,
Linda
That’s what Don said this morning. So far, it’s much colder than yesterday. Ah, well.
I had to laugh as I read about your frustrations in misplacing tools to be followed by certain expletives because I do the very same thing. It is amazing how I can be sitting in one place, never move, and still lose things. And yes, its the scissors over and over. I have said it before and am quite certain I do not mistake the matter, that scissors do in fact, have legs!
The winter sunsets can be so beautiful and I agree, nature’s gift during what can be a cold and forbidding season. We have only to look and that is why I try to take a walk at that time of day. For some it feels so very lonesome but I find solace in the “settling” of the land.
Oh, I so agree, Chris. I love taking a walk at that time of the day. I find magic and solace and beauty in it, as well.
Like you said, it might not be pretty but it will be so much easier on Scout (and yourselves) which is more important. We need to do all we can for our fur babies as they age. They give us so much comfort and we have to love them for as long as they are with us. We lost our Lucy (15 years old) Saturday before Thanksgiving. Please give Scout a big ole hug for me!
Oh, Nancy, I am so sorry about the loss of your sweet Lucy. My thoughts are with you and yours as you navigate life without her. It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet. I will give Scout a hug from you and from Lucy, too. xoxo
What we don’t do for our furry friends….Last snowy winter Woody shoveled a path that looked like a maze in the backyard for the dogs. Looked a bit silly but they loved being able to get around better.
I need one of those little tool aprons to wear at all times. I bet it would save hours of searching for something I had in my hand two minutes ago.
Love you,
Eileen
Gosh darn it! I believe I have one of those little aprons, Eileen. Now I just have to remember to wear it. xoxo
I love the picture of Scout watching the cards; so sweet.
She’s a doll, Sue.
Loved watching Scout watch Don shuffle the cards. Almost like he won money from her last week when she wasn’t paying attention. And cookies. Mallomars are great. I have cut way back on my sweets, so not making many cookies this year. But I am still thinking of making a batch of my peanut butter,chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies. Everything I love in one cookie. But I must take my will power into consideration. They may remain in the recipe book this year.
I must admit, Tana, I’ve been bad lately. My sugar stoppage of last year is but a distant memory. I’ll get through the holidays and then I’ll get back on track.
Great photos today. A peek into your life. I am very touched by your devotion to Scout. And I totally get it.
Thanks, Sandra. I can’t imagine not being devoted to her or to any pet. I must confess; I don’t understand people who aren’t that way….
How fortunate you are to own your property and be able to control/create spaces for little Miss Sweetie!! I swear, in the photo she looks to be counting cards :-) And as for the cookies, we all need a little something special. If sugar is your only indulgence can that be so bad? It is my only “bad habit’ and I have NO plans to ever give it up. The sunset photo is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Well, it does put on the pounds, Jeannine! But gosh, it’s so much fun!
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Scout was counting cards. She’s pretty smart.
I hope Scout appreciates all the trouble you go to…She’s worth every bit..Winter sun sets and sunrises are spectacular..Chicken wire is definitely not user friendly..Enjoy your day..
I don’t know if she appreciates it, Missy. But she will when she’s no longer slipping on icy surfaces!
Who cares if the new corral isn’t pretty…as long as it works. You could always hang a wreath on it…with bows? I’m sure Scout will appreciate it at any rate, decorated or not! You know…I’ve never had a Mallomar. I’ll have to look for them, and try one out. Cute pic of Scout with the cards…she does seem rather fixated…like she’s trying to figure out how Don won the last hand! ;)
Oh, if you like marshmallow, you’ll like Mallomars, Donna. Give them a try!
Ahhhhh, Mallomars…wonderful! Gorgeous sunset with the sliver of moon showing. And Dame Scout — lucky girl to have a new place to go in the foul weather. Speaking of which, yesterday was in the 60’s…today it hasn’t gotten over 30 and we are having some type of “wet weather” going on outside. Tiresome isn’t it?
Extremely tiresome, Vera!
Hey if it works… What we do for our kids!!! Luckily the weather cleared up enough for you to be able to get out there. I wonder if Scout likes the sound of the cards being shuffled. Too funny!
I think that might be it – it’s a very sharp sound, and for a girl who is hard of hearing, it must be fun to hear.
Scout, watching the card-shuffling: “What sorcery is this?!”
Exactly!
Safety first! Fingers crossed that Scout doesn’t slip this winter.
I bought a pair of those Ugg boots last winter hoping for warmer feet and better traction, but I don’t like them at all. They feel very clumsy and I’ve already fallen twice. Maybe I should just wrap tire chains around my feet and be done with it.
Perhaps Scout would like to join us on a winter junket to Las Vegas – she looks as though she would be a formidable card player.
I’ve never worn Uggs, but they do look a little clumsy to me!
What ever is best for Scout is good with me..how cute she looks watching the cards shuffle..I bet Dad does a few extra shuffles just to entertain her..It is 32 degrees here and we have an ice storm on it’s way here in about 30 minutes..Oh please don’t let the power go out..Take care..
Oh, stay safe, Nancy!
Bravo! Chicken wire does the trick as I mentioned in some overly-lengthy replies a few posts back from my own experience with pets when you need to create borders. Do what you need to do to keep Scout and yourselves safer and out of that snow. Also as I’d said in a previous comment, I did feel worry for you last winter when you were alone and trying to help Scout in the snow; your words were coming out thick with concern and I just wished I could reach out and give you a hug but instead your blog was flooded with tips for various winter blues, many of which I noted for my own self, about how to keep things cheery and chin-up (I immediately went out and bought a single-setting of bright yellow dishes for tea and cookies). I would think, “oh, do take your cell phone with you if you slip and there’s no one there to check on you.” This happened to a widowed uncle of mine a decade ago; he fainted on the porch before he could get back in the house and spent many hours of exposure on the Texas prairie there before ‘coming to’ and crawling back in thru the door; a miracle he didn’t die out there in the frigid night. It was something to do with his heart.
Anyway, you two are really in a productive streak/phase; very project-oriented and getting things done! Guess what, I’m in SoCal AND WE HAVE RAIN; GLORIOUS RAIN IN ABUNDANCE. Haven’t seen it in so, so long, not like this. Water anew for wildlife, for plants, for lakes and rivers and, oh my, I’m a bit excited about all of this but, understand, we are so drought-stricken and it’s been hell. Everything looks clean and bright; we’ve been muted-colors with dust and grime, not able by law to even wash off your house to prep it for painting. So, buildings, leaves, you name it…have had a bath now. Feels like…renewal!
I had a friend, and Don, too, who kept reminding me to take my cell phone with me when I was shoveling and raking the roof. I must admit I sometimes forgot to do that.
I’m so glad you have rain! Everyone in Southern California must be dancing right now! Yay!
Chicken wire and country living go hand-in-hand for temporary fixes! No matter what it looks like, keeping Scout safe and giving you and Don peace of mind, make your “snowy weather dog corral” a thing of beauty!! I always enjoyed seeing “what we do” through a doggie mind – LOVE the shot of Scout watching Don shuffle the cards :)
She looks like she wants to play, doesn’t she?
Scout will love her new run when it becomes slippery out, She won’t even doubt that it was made with her in mind.
I have heard of Mallomars, but have never had one. I don’t think I have ever seen them in MInnesota.
I am forever losing my scissors. I finally crocheted a chain long enough for around my neck and to use the scissors, and tied the scissors to it. My husband really laughs now when I can’t find them. One time I forgot I had them one and went to dinner with my son to an upscale restaurant. He didn’t tell me, and when asked why he didn’t he replied that it just seemed like something I would wear. Oh bother!
I love sunset photos. They are so colorful.
Mallomars originated in the NYC area and they are only available in the cooler months. Once it gets warm, they stay off the shelves.
Sweet Scout with a new little “run”. Perfect!! Glad you had a warmer day in which to work on it!
Loved Trudy’s comment above about wearing the scissors out to dinner w/ her son & he just thought it was something she’d wear. Too funny!!
Hope you can find your little Carpenter’s Apron to use. Somehow I would still misplace everything I was using, and then I would wear it out to dinner… and no one would tell me because, they would whisper aside,,,,, “she is just a bit odd.”
Hope Scout wins at cards tonight!!
I loved Trudy’s comment, too. So funny!
I have a carpenter’s apron, but I never remember to get it out and wear it. Typical!
We’ve had our fights with chicken wire and tools too – gets the job done even if it isn’t pretty.
Yes, it does. And it’s inexpensive!
Hi Claudia, You may have the Chicken Wire Capital of the World, but we must be a close second or tie! A week ago Miss Bella found a hole in the back chicken wire (has been there for years and years and years) and went to visit the neighbors’ dog (each had their ball in their mouths)! My neighbors came out and we both ran to our respective stashes of more to patch it up!! My neighbor promises to put up NEW (wowza) wire this spring!
Ours (in the main corral) has definitely seen better days. Scout is no longer capable of wiggling under the fence, so we’re okay for now!
I admit chicken wire gets used for a lot of temporary fixes around here and it never looks blog pretty. I’m kind of glad to find out someone else has as much trouble working with the stuff as I do. Anyway, it should do the trick and keep Scout safe for the winter.