Lost and Found

Funniest thing, when you all of a sudden have two computers to work with, remembering which one you downloaded pictures to can become a part of the learning curve.   These were on the net book. ( old system)


                                 

                                           Buddie in an extra small PFD. It fits perfectly.

 Saw this on the cabin sole. Any idea what kind of bug this is? Looks like a cockroach except it has spots.

On the more boring aspects of life, I have given up on fighting with the shocks, I decided to just go with the same brand of shocks that were in place. My mechanic is going to get them installed and I'm going to focus on things that do not make me stark raving insane, like  getting ready to blow this pop stand of a town and head for blue water. I'm not getting my hopes up BUT if all goes well, based on an earlier phone, call I may actually get out of here this month!  I will know more in about an hour or so.
Got the pics of the street pipe break flooding my yard. I'm so glad we were all here when it happened. At least it did not get to the foundation this time.

That's all for now, Sail safe but SAIL!

It's A Tough Life Being a Boat Dog!

To those who know me personally I have made it clear I WAS NOT as in ABSOLUTELY NO WAY getting another dog for a while.  I have had MY MIND firmly MADE UP THAT ANY CRITTER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I HAD MY BIG BOAT. If my followers remember, I tried it a while back but the poor thing simply could not grasp the concept of doing her business alone.  It was working just fine too. I have been foot loose and fancy free for what a little bit over a year now. NO CHILDREN! NO MEN! NO PETS! NO PROBLEMS! Life has been GREAT!
I would have gotten by with it too. I was doing just fine then I made a really BIG Muistake! I met the new renters DOGS! Now Keeshee is your average Chihuahua cross. Nice but no bells going off. Cloie is a black short hair dachshund and while cute, nothing spectacular.   Everything was just fine til I met the "baby".  His name was Bruce and he is a 3 month old long hair black dachshund.,  He took my heart at the start but still it was their dog and I was "safe" or so I thought.  Some times you and a pup are just a mismatch no matter how hard you try.  " Bruce" was just such a mismatch. Finally he and his owner came to a meeting of the minds,. It was time to rehome him.  Now me and my big mouth, thinking I was safe from being adopted by a pup especially one that is not completely house broke opened my big mouth being silly. I made the comment I'd take him in a heart beat and turn him into a boat dog. Hey he is trained to puppy pads what can I say. Sure I meant it, but I never thought any one would take me up on it! Well life being what it is, one evening this last week my renter came out and asked me if I was serious. " Bruce" had tested her patience once to often. Me being me and already attached said yes. Meet " Buddie" ( the name Bruce had to go.)  Here he is trying on PFD's at Petmart.  The x-small fits him perfectly. I don't know why but that pic is gone . This was the small size which he has much room to grow in. I decided to wait to see how big he gets in the next few weeks between me being in blue water before I actually buy one.

Van is almost ready.So far I have replaced the tie rod ends, pitman arm, back brake shoes, corrected the back brake adjuster, changed anything that is fluid, including but not limited to the differential oil, replaced spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor and  front bearings. Other then the power steering pump squealing I THINK I have it under control and might actually get out of this land locked area some time this month.  Needless to say the PO lied about how well it had been maintained. Oh well, such is life. It will do what I need it to do and that is all that counts. The good news is the engine runs GREAT and after doing all of this, I should have a trouble free trip.  .


Was finishing the front shocks when the water pipe in the street busted. Wouldn't you know it chose to flood the area exactly under the van where I was working.  It was really weird. I was under the van ,  went to go get a tool and came back to a flood, so we caught it in time to prevent foundation damage to house. The city got out here and put a clamp on it. ( Their way to save money )  So instead of that while I am waiting  for the mud under the van to dry out, I'm catching up on my blog and internet activities. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. LOL

 Had an early morning visitor the other day . I think I will call him Fred.

Not a lot else going on.
Sail safe but what ever you do SAIL!

FunBites and Other Dog Treat review and Sit

If you have been following this blog, you know I recently adopted two sweet girls named Sandy, a dachshund mix  and Abbey a Schnauzer mix. They are very good girl even with the serious need to get them trained for boat life.
I got the girls and went out to wally world to get the basics. You know the drill if you have pets; food, collars, treats etc. Found some decent prices on stuff so I can't complain. It was cheaper then I  thought that part would be. No great buyers shock or heart failure at the prices for what I bought.

One thing I will not be purchasing again is the FunBites raw hide strips! They are supposedly packed with calcium which is good. They come in a resealable red plastic bag. That's not why I bought them. I bought them becasue dogs need something to chew on besides furniture and this looked like a reasonable  cost effective solution for a month supply or a least a few week worth.  I get paid once a month like many folks. When I go to get supplies, I look at over all cost very seriously.  Getting enough of the regular style  raw hide chews was more then I wanted to spend what with all the other start up cost of shots  and flea and tick stuff.

The lady I got them from had thought she had found them a home but it didn't work out. They send Sandy back, then Abbey started chewing furniture so they sent her back. Logic said she was missing Sandy even though there were other dogs in house, so I got both girls.  Every thing was fine on that end until recently. Dogs and raw hide are, in my opinion. just like air and sunshine. The two go together. Hence the chew sticks.  Bottom line is they just do not last. Abbey is a very exploratory dog. If she does not have something appropriate to chew on she will find something to satisfy the craving. The FunBites just do not last. Long story short, I'm going to the butcher and get them some beef bones.

One of the items I bought to get the girls started was these Ol'Roy treats. 25 oz for less then 5.00 bucks is, IMO a good deal. I got beef and chicken and they absolutely love them. Poor Abbey, as much as she loves then especially the chicken ones, they don't like her so much, If I give her to many at one shot in a training session they come back up. It does not stop her from wanting them but, well you know how it is. Payday I get to go try something else to go with them.  Variety is good so its not a big deal. It's also a good reason or mare variety in treats. I don't want them to get spoilt to one thing for times I may not be able to get them.


Another item I bought that has mixed results is the Ol'Roy lamb and rice flavored bone shaped biscuits. Sandy will eat them. Abbey buries them in her blanket.  So much for saving money  on that one. The lady I got the girls from said they were used to milk bone brand so I guess that is what I'm going to be replacing these with.
 The good news is since I want to save the grilled strips for training and since they girls were spoilt into begging which is not something I put up with. I put a couple of the  chew strips and lamb biscuits out for them while I'm eating. They are happily busy and I dot have that "please feed me" look staring at me while I'm eating. Every one is happy.


My son  had a  good idea the training to sit part of things. He has his dog  get in his lap and tells him to sit. After the dog sits he gives him affection and every time the dog gets up he  repeats the process. Me, I add treats to this off and on. Then there is the idea I got from pet finders. com. Scroll down for link for sit.  Once you have their attention and they are standing in front of you,  slowly  take your hand with the treat in it backwards over their head until the butt is on the ground  then say yes, and praise them while your giving then a treat. On  Abbey that is starting to work!
 With Sandy  I have to take a different approach. She needs assistance getting into  position. Once she is there I say yes, praise her and give her the treat.

 Yesterday Sandy finally got the point which she displayed in a rather interesting way. I still have to help her into position but she finally gets it! The fumy part is once she is in position she will continue to sit with that look on her face that says OK I'm sitting , do I get another treat ? She will stay sitting until I tell her no more treat. At which time she is obviously not happy.


Looking at dog beds.
When I adopted the girls I knew beds were gong to have to wait but that's OK. I wanted to research this  plus at that time we thought Abbey might stil have grow left in her since we thought she was less the a year old. As it turns out she is a Sept dog so that is not an issue but still I wanted to look around. Reviews is something I pay attention to.  If I'm going to fork out 20.00 bucks or more per animal I want to know if the product is worth  it. Results were I was just not impressed with what I saw  on beds in my price range. I've beem playing around with the idea of pillows and pillow cases. Yes, primitive but it would work. 
Decision is made pillows are just not large enough so on to idea 2. Make something. I was at walmart looking for remnants in what passes  for a fabric department. Remnants no longer exist at our local walmart. I was walking by the pattern books and believe it or not  the simplicity book was opened to pet patterns. Yes, I never thought of that ideas but it was sitting there staring at me like Providence had opened the page just for me to see. You know I had to stop and look. I won't tease pet lovers with  the details but if your not impressed with pet stuff like clothes, toys, beds etc, go look at simplicity patterns.
Long story short, Simplicity has  patterns for a no sew pet bed.  It's cute. It's designed to work with polar fleece. Now if I can just  find fleece in a color that I not only like but that won't show the dirt so much we are good to go. I'm thinking about seeing if that fabric protector spray works on polar fleece If it does the problem is solved. In the mean time I think I'm going to cover a couple of old  over sized pillows with the  old flannel sheets  they are using now. It will work.
 A cool snap has set in so working out side is now an option while it last. That's good . Maybe I can get hat fiberglass done I've been thinking about 
Not a lot else going on.
Sail safe but sail!
 .

Boat Dogs

Well after a couple of month of something feeling just "not right" around here I figured out what it is. My son took his dogs with him and its just to danged quiet. We have had dogs ever since I can remember with only short periods of no dogs usually associated with grieving the lose of an animal.  So with no further adue here's the girls. 

This one is called Abbie. She's a Schnauzer mix. Very playful and a good candidate for using future boat facilities. She really prefers carpet to going out side. LOL

Sandy, Dachshund mix. quiet. who ever had her did not play apparently but she is coming around.

I got blessed. Got on walmart.com and looked up dog stuff. Big 25 ounce bags of treats for about 5.00  online. At the local store the were about the same or less. The chicken rawhide strips were a joke. They crumble in your hand if you put any pressure on them so not sure how long the bag of 60 will last but what the heck, Live and learn NOT to do that one again! Went to vet to get anti flea and tick stuff. I about had a heart attack at the price. Need to contact manufacture and see if pet smart sells same stuff as vet. I do NOT do walmart for flea and tick drops.  it is just not worth the money.

Was looking at petfinder.com.  GREAT selection of training videos so thats now part of life.  Bought a lot of treats for training.
Why did I do this? It was time.
So what does all his have to do with boats? Its called BOAT DOGS!

Sail safe but sail!