Tour time!

My annual kindergarten tour was today - a BIG class of 6 children! We actually had lots of fun. Started out with Candy my dog in an exam room. Of course everyone wanted to pet her at the same time, but she handled it all fine. In fact she soaked it up! From there we went to look at digital xrays of Uli's foot. Thewn to the microscope to look at cool icky stuff - a swine louse, a horse biting louse, and a live, wriggling ear mite. FANTASTIC! Actually they really did like it. But of course the questions started "I want to see cats,"When do we get to see more animals?" "Are we doing something else?" That was the girls talking of course, the boys were all standing in line to get another look at the creepy crawlies...
Some cool things in bottles (roundworms, whip worms, horse teeth, ticks, bladder stones...the usual), xrays of things in stomachs like fishing weights and earrings, broken and pinned legs, buckshot in a dogs legs....
then on to the boarding kennels to see the dogs ( and rev them up a bit, the noise was deafening). Finally, a stop back in the exam room to get a bag full of goodies like coloring books and animal crackers. Success!

Listening to John Denver on Public Television. Ahhhh, I've missed his music. I know all these songs by heart - unlike the ones now.
Birds are coming back. Yesterday was the bright goldfinch. Holly told me at work the orioles are back so today I rushed back to  put out my grape jelly. I saw 2 male rose breasted grosbeaks in the maple tree. I hope they stay. The red headed woodpecker has been flying back and forth to the bottom pasture and the flickers have been fighting over territory. I think Spring is finally here!



Finally, I have a temporary singing partner who has been enjoying John Denver songs with me. I said yes to boarding a cockatiel for 11 days. We have boarded this clients birds - about 5 years ago. But my kennel assistant has no bird experience and there's no time to teach her before the weekend so I brought "Rudy" home. He's safe in Emma's room so the cats don't get too friendly with him.Wish I could have him out with us. At least he can hear John and chirp along with him!

Ahh shades of Connecticut when I listened to John Denver. I miss those times - walking in the woods behind the house, picnicing by the lakes, visiting the shore, riding my bike past acres of trees. Special times. "Sunshine On My Shoulders Makes Me Happy..."




John Denver's Rocky Mountains