Bogieblog

Third Shoe, Waiting for the Drop

Just in case anyone was wondering, we probably won't be taking that long overdue vacation, that we been planning, this year either. We will be replacing the heating system in the house instead.

The current heater is pumping water out at an awe-inspiring rate . . . all over the floor. The water is running into the den, where it has soaked two bookcases and a cedar chest. Who knows when this started, but it was found yesterday afternoon by accident (and the suspicious smell of mold). Can't shut off the water becasue then we have no heat (or hot water), so we have to let it continue pumping. We also need to replace the water tank as it is way past its life expectancy and we don't need it letting go in another couple of months.

Since we have a high deductible, there probably isn't enough damage for insurance to help out unless they decide the carpet needs to be replaced (yeah, right).

We also seem to have a leaky roof. This is the roof that we replaced just 7 years ago. There is a massive colony of mold growing in the attic which is also affecting the ceilings of some of the upstairs rooms. I am assuming that not only will we have to come up with the deductible, but we will have to come up with at least 1/3 of the cost too (pro-rated for life-expectancy of the shingles).

I'm just waiting for number 3 to happen.

Safe Pet Foods

I finally found a list of pet foods that aren't on recall:

Wet cat food that is safe.

Wet dog food that is safe.

Pet Food Recall Update

They have added more pet foods to the list since I wrote the previous update post.

A couple of dog foods have been added (I don't know which ones). There were 46 the first time I posted, there were 48 or 49 when I originally posted the first update piece, and now it is up to 53. I am unsure if they have added cat foods to the list. Keep checking the website!

Red Latern Award 2007

The Iditarod's Red Latern award has been received by Ellen Halverson. Donald Smidt reached his goal of finishing the race with all 16 of his Siberian Huskies - crossing the finish line about 15 minutes before Ellen. Donald wasn't the only musher to bring in all 16 dogs, Kelly Williams accomplished that feat too.

Congrats to all the teams and I'm looking forward to following your progress next year!

One More Award To Go

All but one award for the Iditarod have been handed out; The Red Latern Award (last Musher in is still in contention. Ed Iten got the coveted Seppela Humanitarian Award for best care of dogs. Tollef Monson received the Sportsmanship Award, for the second year in a row - while finishing 10th and improving by 34 places from last year's finish. Eagle Island Checkpoint received the Golden Clipboard Award for trying to make the desolate place a little more welcoming for mushers and their teams (I had actually read about their efforts last week and thought they were pretty special).

Savory?

A couple of months ago I wrote about how earthworms are bad for the ecosystem in my part of the world. Hanna has come up with a solution. Anyone know a chef that they could convice to take this on?

New Neighbors

So, the neighbors (they of the Security System), have moved out and DC wants to know the scoop. First, new readers should probably go read that link I provided in the 1st sentence. Next, go read this entry. Alright, maybe everyone should go re-read those posts to refresh memories.

Anyway, it has been 3 1/2 years since the Meet the Neighbors part (where does time go?). At that point, there were 8 new neighbors on Tubbs Hill (all new houses), plus the Security System people in R&J's old house.

In that 3 1/2 years, about half the people have moved out. One guy used that it was a long drive from here to Amherst (where he works) for an excuse. I will grant that it is a longish drive - about 45 minutes (I know, I used to work in the same industrial park). However, he was working in Amherst before they moved here. He didn't know that it would be that long a drive? Give me a break - he and/or she couldn't do the country scene (which is fine - just admit it).

Of the other couples who moved from the Tubbs Hill gang, we don't know exactly why they moved, but do know that it didn't have anything to do with forclosures or forced sales.

They of the Security System are a different story (actually, I am unsure if they actually put in a system because I don't know a single person that actually talked to them since the Greet the Neighbor party). The only thing we know is that 2 years ago she claimed bankruptcy (it was in the local paper). Then, about 6 months after that, they got divorced. She stayed in the house, but it was up for sale forever (at least 1 year). I wasn't even sure that anyone was in the house - I rarely saw lights on or vehicles in the driveway. WS assures me that she was there though.

About a month ago the house was finally sold, she moved out and new people moved in. It was big talk here at the Bogie household because we have nothing better to do than gossip about the neighbors I commented that I had seen vehicles in the driveway. Then we saw a guy at the top of the road digging thru the snowbank one Saturday morning. We figured out that new people were moving in and that the guy was looking for the "House For Sale" sign that had been at the corner of the road. A moving van that showed up later helped in the diagnosis.

I'll have to talk to Mocha's people and get them to have another Greet the Neighbor party. There are several new people in the houses on Tubbs Hill (at least 4 houses worth) and 2 other houses up the hill from us have been sold recently, so we really need a get-together to sort everyone out. Oh, and the trailer jsut down the hill and across the street from us is up for sale - she is going back to Texas.

It just seems odd that we have been in our house longer than all but one other homeowner on Dickey Hill!

More on Pet Food Recall

I about had a heart attack when I heard that Iams and Eukanuba foods were also affected (they weren't on the list when I had first looked - they were added later). I bought a bag of dry Eukanuba for the dogs yesterday and had already fed some to our dogs by the time I heard it on the evening news (I know, only "wet" food was affected, but I really prefer to play it safe).

After consulting Eukanuba's website this morning, I feel much better. They explained that the dry food is not manufactured by Menu Foods. The dogs' canned food is Kibbles and Bits, so we're okay there.

The cats, fortunately, prefer Purina One dry food and Friskies canned food, so they are okay (and cheaper to feed). Lastly, the food I get for leaving in the cathouse is 9 Lives, so any other cats that come over for a free meal are all set.

14 Days and Counting

There are still 12 teams running in the Iditarod. Don Smidt, with an all Siberian Husky team, still has all 16 dogs, which was part of his goal. The teams in the race are still making good headway - officials will pull anyone who is not meeting the definition of "racing".

Karen Ramstead, who quit the race when her lead dog Snickers died (and who runs an all Siberian Husky team also), wrote a moving letter and also has a tribute to Snickers up on her website (the video is awesome, if you choose to click on that link, just wait for the ad to finish). To finish up your tour of Karen's site, click on the "Dogs" section and gaze at all her Pretty Dogs.

Various Things

I saw a cardinal at the platform feeder this morning. Good thing I had emptied out all the snow and added a seed mixture because the Juncos have been using it a lot the last coupel of days (usually, it is for peanuts, bread crumbs and cracked corn).

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Almost all the seed that I planted last week have sprouted. Of course the peppers haven't (they go about 14 dyas) and a couple of the flowers, but the rest are up. I was surprised when I checked them on Wednesday night that I had a bunch up already. Now, as long as I remember to water them on a regular basis, I'll be good to go.

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We haven't seen the local feral cat, Fuzzy, for about 6 weeks. There for a while, the food in the cat house wasn't being eaten either. About 2 weeks ago, our cats were having a growlfest at the slider so I looked to see what was irritating them so badly (I figured it was Sammy, from across the street). There was a black cat out there, eating away.

I don't know if it is a cat that belongs to people that just moved into the house where Mr. Security used to live, or if it is another feral cat, but I have seen him at the food dish a couple of times now. Even when I haven't seen him, I have seen his prints in the eatrly morning (Sammy is only out during the day, so I know it wasn't him). If he keeps hanging around, I guess I'll have to come up with a fitting name. Meanwhile, I am saddened that Fuzzy is no longer here, he was a nice looking cat that I enjoyed watching as he sunbathed on the garden's retaining wall, rested on the deck railing, and who left me presents of mice on occasion.

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That is the news from the Bogie houshold, where WS has finished snowblowing the rest of the driveway, I need to finish shoveling the deck, and the cats haven't expressed any interest in going out at all today.