The Front Porch Swing

[enola]

Taking him off if the chain and treating him like a dog was the best thing...........

 

[Triple Willow]

Gotta tell you girls....we really thank God for sending us this new dog, Ben.  He is completely the opposite of what he seemed like at his old home and has done none of the things they said he was prone to do~it's like he's a completely different dog!  He gets along with Jake perfectly, he no longer jumps up on people and he hasn't offered to take one step off this property. 

He acts like this has always been his home and he is learning very quickly the things I'm teaching him.  In just two brief sessions he has learned to sit and to lie down and also to sit and wait for his food.  We've decided not to neuter him and have canceled his appointment for that.  He is not showing any indication that his hormones are affecting his behaviors and he's not riding Jake or trying to hump us either. 

He's doing his specific job perfectly!  He keeps all intruders off the land~be they deer, buzzard, stray cats(Yay!  Our cat isn't getting beat up anymore!), etc.  He doesn't bark loud nor does he bark incessantly.  He doesn't get up on the porches(dogs are not allowed there), doesn't dig, doesn't chase the chickens but will help me round up the meaty chicks to get them into the coop at feeding time.  He's not food aggressive...I can put my hand down into his food bowl, remove his food, play with his food, touch his mouth while he is eating, etc.  He doesn't bark at strangers when we are out there to greet them~that's a personal pet peeve of mine when a dog continues to bark when the owner is present~and he doesn't jump up on strangers but greets them politely.  He's alert and seems to have very little prey drive and I think that's why he doesn't wander off...he's very content to be here, it seems.  I can lead him on the leash very well now and he doesn't pull any longer..acts like he has always walked on a leash. 

On top of all that he is very sweet and friendly~noses you if you stop petting him~ but will cease and desist if I tell him to go lay down.

In short, he's fitting into this family and on this place like he was tailor-made for it.  I wish his former owner could see what kind of good dog he gave away for free and had tied to a logging chain like he was some kind of hooligan.

I think God has a hand in shaping this dog for living with us in this way..it's the only explanation we have for the difference between the wild and woolly, undisciplined dog we picked up and had to drag onto the back of the truck~ and this benevolent Ben we have lying out in the yard.  We really love him already and he seems to like living here with us as well.

I wormed him and have been giving him buttermilk in his food for the last three mornings and it has already changed his stool from the diarrhea he was having and seems to have increased his energy levels already.  He also seems to be filling out a bit...when we got him his spine was bony and I would feel his hip bones but he seems to be putting on some padding already.  

Sorry...didn't mean to ramble on, but we don't get dogs very often in our life.  It's been years upon years since we introduced a new dog into our family, so it's a big deal to take a leap of faith and commit to another dog, especially at this late date in our lives.  We were just thanking God for Ben this morning and it probably won't be the first time.  He's going to be a valuable part of our setup here in the woods.   

That is great news. Isn't it just funny how God works sometimes. lol

 

[Beekissed]

Taking him off if the chain and treating him like a dog was the best thing...........

I think so too. I think those people were afraid of him, to be honest. That guy was amazed that I was able to put him in the back of the truck and lead him on a leash, so I'm thinking they were intimidated by his great size.

That is great news. Isn't it just funny how God works sometimes. lol

I'm always amazed by that! God has worked some wondrous things here in the past 3 years and we are always left shaking our heads in awe and amazement and sort of chuckling over the whole thing. But deeply grateful all the while.

 

[Searsmom]

I tried to stay with heirloom seeds this time as the last garden showed them to be the best and most vigorous producers:

What's everyone else planting this year?

I love heirloom seeds! There are two really good places you can order them from: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Seed Savers Exchange. They have so many options!! I've already got snow and sugar peas coming up. Garlic chives are thriving - I dug some up to share with my daughter and the root system on those things is intense! I'm waiting for all the weeds to go to seed so I can dig them over and then we'll be planting carrots, tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, corn and basil. Those are definite. There are many more up in the air and depending on how much space I have, how the weeds are coming along and how much time I have to weed.

I would like to fly - not ride in a jet - but actually sit in the cockpit and be the pilot.

I'm right there with some of the other - beachcomber. Some sort of job anywhere there's a view of the ocean - except some place cold.

Not a doggone thing! Oh, we have our grapes, apples, pears, rhubarb, cherries, apricots, blueberries, and strawberries, but I'm not planting anything else. We discovered last year that it was just as economical for us to go to the various Farmer's Market's here and select just what we want so the preparation for freezing and canning wasn't so hectic and overwhelming. I hate it when everything is ready at once and has to get done right this second! There's just Ken and me, and of course we share some with the kids, but we ain't getting any younger and it's turning into more hassle than it's worth. The kids also hit the Farmer's Market, and Tam orders Bountiful Baskets as well. Besides, we know most of the people who sell at the FM and have total confidence in the freshness and quality, so why not support them as they try to supplement their incomes?

Bummer, we have very small farmer's markets here and not a lot of variety and more expensive than I can grow.

I'll look in to the clover. I was wanting to plant some for my chickens when I get them.
I love rhubarb. I have a recipe that was my grandpa's for rhubarb pie. It is so good!
I tried the zone 8 rhubarb. It didn't grow very well. Umm, at all. The soil is bad for it here (clay). Maybe I will try it again at this house. I could do a raised bed....

Sooooo pretty! They aren't blooming like that here yet. At least not that I have seen.
Did you see that TAMU developed a red blue bonnet? They now come in red, white and blue. I read that they are going to plant a flag with them.

I think I read an article not long ago that was talking about the kind of rhubarb they grew in Alaska during the gold rush. Uhm, might not be a perennial where you are, but seems like you could mulch extremely well and have it survive. I know my mom learned how to make rhubarb pie when she grew up in New York and I can say with absolute certainty that it is well above zone 8.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I love heirloom seeds! There are two really good places you can order them from: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Seed Savers Exchange. They have so many options!! I've already got snow and sugar peas coming up. Garlic chives are thriving - I dug some up to share with my daughter and the root system on those things is intense! I'm waiting for all the weeds to go to seed so I can dig them over and then we'll be planting carrots, tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, corn and basil. Those are definite. There are many more up in the air and depending on how much space I have, how the weeds are coming along and how much time I have to weed. 

I'm right there with some of the other - beachcomber. Some sort of job anywhere there's a view of the ocean - except some place cold.

Bummer, we have very small farmer's markets here and not a lot of variety and more expensive than I can grow.

I think I read an article not long ago that was talking about the kind of rhubarb they grew in Alaska during the gold rush. Uhm, might not be a perennial where you are, but seems like you could mulch extremely well and have it survive. I know my mom learned how to make rhubarb pie when she grew up in New York and I can say with absolute certainty that it is well above zone 8. 

Rhubarb's one of the most vigorous things I've got growing in the perennial side of the veg garden, along with strawberries and rows of asparagus. And I'm in zone 5 I think.

 

[TexasLisa]

@TexasLisa - Look what I found today while browsing recipes. Now I just need to find some rhubarb!

Mmmmmmmm....and guess what I have in my freezer?? You can find rhubarb at Kroger's and HEB stores.

That's stunning! I've seen pics of these before and I always wonder if these cause car wrecks if they grow close to the road....I'd be gawking and drinking them all in and wreck for sure! Thank you for posting them and welcome to The Porch!

You brought flowers!!!! Pull up a chair and sit a spell, get comfy and eat some good things.

Bee, when the Bluebonnets come out people from all over come to see them. You are going down the road around a curve and you are hit with these beautiful flowers. You get used to people pulling over to the side to take pictures. I have seen the elderly sitting in the midst of them just laughing. Children are running around having a good time. It is a wondrous sight!

Checking in from Texas. It's springtime and the bluebonnets are in full bloom.

Well howdy Balloonjuice! Would you like some Sweet or Unsweetened tea? Pull up a Rocking Chair, hay bale, bucket, or wherever you want to plop down. We have all kinds of goodies over there by Bee. We have several good bakers here and wait till you hear some of the stories.

Where abouts are you from? I am thinking the hill country since you have the bluebonnets. I am from Rosenberg (SW of Houston).

Lisa

 

[lovingmyhens]

OOOOH!!!!! NICE!!!! I want one of those near my house! Maybe a couple chess tables too? And books.... yes - that kind of place should outlaw romance novels - except on the pink couch over in the corner under the poster of Tom Selleck...

absolutely! Big comfy chairs, really nice array of baked goods that Missjellybean will be making, maybe some quiet music, a bell on the door that jingles when a customer comes in...everyone knows everyone by name-

 

[lovingmyhens]

Quote:
Where did you find these???

 

[lovingmyhens]

Checking in from Texas. It's springtime and the bluebonnets are in full bloom.

Hey there!! I'm in Katy, west of Houston. Where did you see these???

 

[lovingmyhens]

Quote:
Where did you find these???

Sorry! I was trying to reply to the actual picture. Lol