Bon Voyage, almost

I had a busy week getting ready for my three week cruise. I had to go through an unexpected root canal last Monday. I'm going on the cruise with a temporary crown. They are usually expected to last two weeks. This one needs to last three weeks.

I am now at the Houston Airport, after a smooth flight from Phoenix. I'm waiting for my connecting flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Another hour and I'll be up at 40,000 feet again.

I'll be in Ft. Lauderdale until Monday, so I hope to log on again before I ship out. Once out on the ship I'm not sure when or if I'll be back on line until I return back to Arizona on Nov. 21st.

Happy Halloween and don't forget to turn your clocks BACK tonight, if your state participates in Day Light Savings.

Keeping busy!!

Since I don't have a totally functioning camera right now (Diana, the big view screen on the Minolta isn't working, so the only way to see pictures is to load them into the computer) I have no pictures to share. I was going to take pictures of all my new cruise wear outfits, but that's on hold. Hopefully I'll have time to do that after my new camera arrives early this coming week.
So, all I've been doing is shopping, mostly at local thrift shops, for my cruise wear outfits and shoes, fretting over and hopefully successfully fixing my leaky sprinkler line, going to dentist and doctor appointments, doggie groomer appointments, getting a hair trim and a manicure, washing, ironing and organizing my suitcases, going on a motorcycle ride now and then, taking a friend to the airport, and counting down the days until I join 1800 of my closest friends on Holland America's Oosterdam cruise ship. 6 days!! = )

Home Sweet Home

Here's a sample of what I've been doing since I returned home to my cute little house in Sun City......




There used to be another big bushy bush here....


...here's the bush waiting for the trash truck to haul it away, along with bags of leaves I raked up in the backyard.



This tree used be hanging over the sidewalk, but I trimmed it..


.......here's the trimmings waiting for the trash truck to haul it away.



Here's the cute dual wheel wheel barrow I bought at Lowe's, put together and used to haul all the cuttings and bags from the back and side yard to the curb.


Here's my next project - a leaky sprinkler line. There isn't much room between the elbow and a coupling, so it's taking lots of contemplating before I start hacking off the leaky middle section of pipe.

Down at the Bullfrog Docks

On my lst day of pet sitting I went down to the marina to watch the houseboaters coming in to the dock.

Here's a picture of the Happy Boat heading in to the dock.



Diana, Molly's Mom, is sitting on the forward deck anxiously waiting for a Pet Report.


The big fish entertained me while waiting for the houseboats.



The kayaks were stored on the upper deck and to remove them, they were lowered down, very carefully.

The Canine and Feline line-up

This is Little Miss Molly, a West Highland White Terrier. She's quite the lady at 15 years old. I've known her since she was 4 or 5. She's aged a bit, but her mom sure hasn't!!


Sweet Shadow. I'm not sure what breed Shadow is. She still gets so excited and amazed that I know her name.



This is Mellow Yellow. I'm not sure if Yellow is a girl or boy, but Yellow started talking to me Friday morning. I'm not sure what it all means.



One dark evening I entered her motor home and I couldn't find Mitzi, the Shih Tzu, anywhere. I looked under and behind every chair, nook and cranny. I called her and rattled her favorite treat package, but to no avail. I was beginning to think I left her in the wrong motor home. But I finally found her in her crate. She opens and closes the crate door all by herself.



This is Koda, a Springer Spaniel. He's a good boy and the only one I let off the leash during walks. He doesn't stand still long enough for me to get a good picture. He loves his Milk Bones!!



This is Mr. Hobbs, a Boston Terrier. He doesn't like to pose for pictures. He likes going for walks though, and wonders why he's the only one parked in the campground while everyone else is in the parking lot. (His motor home won't start and can't be moved)




Pepper the Doodle (Dachshund and Poodle mix), is very shy with other people when his mommy, Dottie, is around, but just like Dottie told me, when she isn't around, I am now Pepper's new best friend. Pepper is a little shy when I first enter his motor home, but as soon as he gets outside on the leash, he's so happy and, well, Peppy!!! Yep, Peppy Pepper the Puppy!! Say that really fast three times !



Peaches lurks by the front door with the hopes of making a Great Escape.


I captured a rare sighting of Moxxie, aka The Mexican Woman. She's usually hiding somewhere in the bedroom, but the last few times I entered, there she was, on the floor by the driver's seat.





Star, a Deer Chihuahua, was one of the best posers. I guess she really likes having her picture taken. She's still wondering what I did with her daddy, Austin.




Pebble is a PBGV, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeena. She loves getting out of the motor home for walks and I try to walk her with other dogs, mainly to tire her out so she won't be so sad when she has to go back into her home. She doesn't seem to like being left along and gets a bit vocal for awhile about her displeasure with the situation. But she's a sweetie!!



After a hard day walking and feeding 8 dogs, and feeding and scooping for 3 cats, IT'S MOOSE DROOL TIME with my favorite guy, Dan.
What time is it?

Bullfrogs, dogs and cats

I arrived at Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell about 4 days early for my Pet Sitting job. I was interviewed and was selected to take care of 8 dogs and 3 cats while 36 RV friends spend a week on 3 houseboats. That's 12 people on each boat. I like my arrangement better - me and 11 furry friends.
We had 4 days of very sunny, calm and HOT weather. Everyone was a bit concerned about which windows, shades and vents to leave opened or closed, and if fans should be left on or off in their RVs for their pets. Well, on the 4Th day the wind came up and blew for over a day. The Houseboaters where supposed to set sail on Wednesday after being briefed on the houseboat and the powerboat, but no one was allowed to leave the marina due to the high winds and rough seas (or lake in this case). So, their departure was delayed until Thursday morning. The winds also brought the end of summer. Thursday the early morning temperature was 26 degrees cooler than the morning before. BRRRRRRRR!!


I'm not sure this is actually one of their houseboats, but they would have looked like this anyway. I later saw 3 houseboats cruise by pretty close together and figured that was probably really them, but I didn't get a picture.



Speaking of pictures, I lost my camera almost a week ago, but my friend Diana lent me a camera to use. When I remember to remove the lens cap I'm able to take OK pictures. If they aren't good, it's not the camera's fault!
The delay in the Houseboaters departure gave me an extra day to become familiar with most of the pets and figure out my routine. Walking 8 dogs after dark, and walking and feeding 8 dogs and feeding 3 cats in the morning takes a bit of organization. I'm trying to figure out which dogs I can walk together so some don't have to wait too long in the morning for that first, very important walk. And now that the weather has cooled, I'll have to rethink some of the windows and vents.
Oh, and the keys. Keeping them all labeled and learning the quirkiness of some of the doors can be challenging. And entering the dark RVs the first night brought a new challenge. I envisioned switching a switch and suddenly finding I activated the slide out. I finally went back to my trailer and got a flashlight.
I hope to take and post pictures of all the temporarily orphaned babies. I just hope I can bring a little love and comfort to them during this trying time. Actually, most seem to be adjusting very well.