Benefits!

     Every week the free, ag focused, Farm Forum, known as "The Green Sheet," because the front page is green, is delivered to the OFH. Returning to the OFH the number of accumulated Green Sheets tells me how many weeks I've been absent. There were four waiting for me this time.

  In addition to the large advertising section there's also a news and information section in the Forum. Looking at the July 10, issue I discovered this article: The 'pet effect' and how animal may boost your heath. There were two headlines introducing columns: Improved Physical Health, and Improved Mental Health. Often, in reference to Kaia, and now Odie, Id' remark, "She/he keeps me from being a slug." This is true because of their need for exercise, and in the OFH, going outside to go potty, thus improved physical health.

   How does a pet improve mental health?  A pet is always present no matter what kind of day one has had. They also cause the owner to live in the present moment. They reduce loneliness. After Kaia died, I was lonely in The Little House for the first time. Pets can improve one's mood, Kaia and Odie certainly have for me. Caring for a pet creates healthy routines. Arising at 6:00 every morning, as I have for over 50 years, has been reinforced by the need of the current dog to get outside after a night indoors. For forty+ years I ran with the dog, or dogs, after the 6am arising. Now it's the time for a walk. Neurological studies have found that walking has significant health benefits.

   "A 2022 study published on the NLM found having a pet is associated with better cognitive and brain health in adults, especially dog owners. Some of these benefits include:

    >Better story memory

   >Better processing speed

   >Younger 'brain age'

....Pets teach us many valuable lessons--to love unconditionally, live in the now, and find joy in the little things."

   It's nice to have the benefits enumerated. The one's I was acutely aware of were the loneliness, and the stimulus for physical activity.

Takk for alt,

Al

With thanks to Thor, Bjorn, Kai, Gunnar, Kjell, Trygve, Kaia and Odie, 1976-2026.

Guess where we are?

       Yes, you guessed correctly...we're here! 😀 Where's here you ask? Why, it's the OFH.  Odie's being introduced to the OFH. There's a huge difference between how he entered The Little House and how he entered this apartment. Now, an hour after we entered, he's happily playing with his toy. At the House he was very timidly exploring. Why the difference?  My guess is that he now trusts me; we've bonded. 

      He was reluctant to enter the elevator. Not surprising because it was his first ride. Comfort will come with experience. Because he's reluctant to approach other persons that will make him a good OFH dog. When we return to the prairie, I will gradually let him off leash in controlled situations.

    Let the good times roll!

Takk for alt,

Al

Overheard!

       It was a very small waiting area. There were four chairs, two on each side with just room for a person to walk between. There were three of us. The other two were an elderly mother for whom her daughter was filling out a lengthy form. The daughter's tee shirt proclaimed, GRACELAND MEMPHIS TENNESSE.

    Up wheels an electric wheelchair carrying a woman, perhaps seventy. Addressing the women in the Graceland tee shirt she speaks, "I loved Elvis, I really love Elvis, I so loved Elvis, but you know he isn't dead. The deep state wants you to think so. It wasn't John Kennedy who was shot in Dallas, it was a mannequin. Michael Jackson isn't dead either. I learn a lot from listening to Robert Kennedy, Jr. I learned this from TV. Now write this down, write this down where you can learn all this." The women feints writing it down. With a few more bizarre assertions wheelchair woman finally departs after about ten minutes of monologue. 'Graceland' wrote nothing done and laughs when I say, "Maybe you should be careful where you wear that shirt."

    Wheelchair woman totally ignored me. If she would have addressed me, I was prepared to quote Abraham Lincoln, "Don't believe everything you see on TV." 

Takk for alt,

Al

Some of the grass has been hayed so now I can return to my favorite hobbies, picking rocks and cutting ceders. Odie will have space to run.

A tale (tail?) of two dogs!

     Kaia loved the truck. Open the door and she's bound from the ground to the seat. While the truck rolled, she wriggled and moved with excitement splashing everything with dog slobber. A hand placed on her would calm her a little.

   Then there's Odie. Prior to his coming to me all of his rides had been in a crate in the back of a truck. During his first ride on a truck seat, he was obviously mystified. Mostly he lay anxiously with an occasional peek out the window. Entering required my help. With his front paws on the door sill, I'd boost him up to the seat. After a few rides he evidenced his comfort on the ride settling down to lie contentedly. Today, after completing our daily walk, when I opened the door of the truck he jumped to the floor and up unto the seat.  His face said, "I can do this". From that perch he looked proudly at me as I entered.

Takk for alt,

Al

Rest in peace, good and faithful dog, Kaia.

Things Happen, department.

        A few weeks ago, driving US 14, from the OFH to The Little House, a rock from a gravel truck struck my windshield. It caused a little chip in the lower lefthand corner. That morphed into a crack which eventually became a foot long. Collecting on insurance took some twists and turns, "take four pictures..." the difficulty of which was a weak cell phone connection. Finally, I was directed to the auto body shop of my choice in Brookings. Then a wait ensued while the proper windshield was delivered. Today was to be installation day, 'was' is the operative word here.

     Delivering the car at the appointed 8:00 am hour, I was given keys to a loaner car. Heading for Chicago in the rental car...or Sinai which ever was closer, I settled in to wait for an "all done" call, predicted for mid-afternoon. Windshield replacements now have to be 'calibrated.'  At noon the body shop called to report that the replacement window was defective, thus couldn't be used. Returning from Chicago, or Sinai, a new appointment was scheduled for next Monday...8:00 am of course. This then falls into the category of, THINGS HAPPEN!

   So why suggest heading for Chicago?  While living in Golden Valley, MN., I habited a small, locally owned car repair shop near my work. They had one older car they used as a loaner. Once a customer was given the keys to this loaner. When they called him to report that his car was ready for pick up he replied, "It will take me a little while to get there because I'm in Chicago." This is true and Chicago was 500+ miles away. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Today's random picture is of Joanne with her late sister, Mary, and brother, Mark, at the time of our 50th wedding anniversary.

 

Life In Sinai!

         Odie and I were headed for some exercise. Upon opening the door of the truck, I saw something on the seat. It was a loaf of zucchini bread, fresh from the oven, and a jar of peach/rhubarb jam. Knowing the likely suspect, the rhubarb came from the large rhubarb patch in the backyard of The Little House. She's been given unlimited access to it. She's also the town's quintessential good neighbor. Many other town occupants are frequent recipients of her largess. It adds sweetness to residing here.

    Joanne frequently distributed from her baking to neighbors in each place we lived. New residents in her proximity were treated to a care package from her containing something she'd baked. She certainly lived generously.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

Sunset over the Aegean Sea.

Now what?

         Recent posts have been all about Odie.  Yes, I'm besotted.  Now what? More about Odie, or move on to a new topic? Well...let's stay with Odie. He was sort of leash trained when he came to me. Previous owner, Terry, warned me not to let him off leash too early. He said that Odie might think he'd been kidnapped and head for his old home. That means that our daily walks have been on a short leash.

     Because he wasn't well leashed trained, our walks have been leash training. He's responding so well that when I walked to the truck with him on a retractable leash he stayed right by my side. It won't be long until he can run freely in the field.

   One of these days I'll think of a new topic.

Takk for alt,

Al

In repose near a toy.