Life Goes On

 

Nana and her favorite toy

 

Nana and I are learning to travel light, though she does a better job than I do. Her needs are simple, food, someone to throw her toy and then play tug a war with her, a hissy toy or two (the second favorite toy) and someone to watch over.  I could do without the hissy toys however.

 

Me on the other hand am having a tougher time of it.  I have definitely learned one does not need a lot of things.  It is amazing how few clothes one actually needs.  Caring for my father has taught me a few things - like what I really need to make me happy.

 

I learned I don't need cats.

They bring gophers in the house and then devour them on the floor only to puke it back up later.

They leave bits and pieces of intestine of mice, gophers, moles, etc out the back door which become covered in ants.

They can't manage to hit the cat box, or maybe they can and just want to make me nuts. They decide that 5am is a wonderful time to get up and smack you upside the head to make sure you get up.

Cat boxes reek, and yes I clean them regularly. 

 They vomit hair balls just because they can. 

 

I need my Staub cast iron pots.

 

I have discovered you can cook, bake, grill and boil in these things.  I have never cooked with better.  Pricey yes, but worth every penny.  Buy them if you can, they truly are a joy.  You can also buy whimsical knobs: pig, rooster, snail and I am currently on the hunt for the rabbit.  Yes, caregiving can make you crazy. 

 

I need to garden.

I need to work with fiber, whether that is to knit, spin, or weave

I need books to read

I need dreams and friends.

 

And most of all I need Nana; funny, silly, loyal and such a clumsy dufus.

 

Grooming The Briard

The Briard is a long haired dog. I am often asked if the shed. My response is always the same: They don't shed- they mat. It's not that she doesn't shed hair, but she tends to hold the hair in the coat and this soft undercoat mats.  I am always shocked how much hair I manage to get out after a grooming session.  It has taken two and a half years later, and minus the puppy coat to finally have a handle on the grooming thing - well sort off.  Their coat is definitely high maintenance and requires daily grooming.  I generally groom until I get a double handful of hair out and call it quits for the day.  I also decide which section I want to focus on, legs, face or body.  I have also found certain tools are a must:

The rake
Mars (or Orvis) Coat King Mat strippers in medium course (2)

       One extra wide
        One narrower
Wire curry

Do not buy a Furminator for a Briard.  It just rips the hair out.  It works well on short haired dogs but not on the long haired breeds - I don't care what the label says.

I also take Nana to a Master dog groomer about every 4-5 weeks.  Briards have black toenails which makes it very hard to see where the quick is.  They also have double dew claws in back, a breed requirement.  She gets a good shampoo and blowout, something I am not prepared or equipped to do at home.   I stay for the entire grooming, including helping with the comb out and have learned a lot which has made my life easier between visits.  In the beginning, when I was trying to find a groomer I didn't stay with Nan and one groomer shaved her face making her look like a weird afghan hound. There were also a number of other unpleasant discoveries.  I have come to the conclusion that I would never drop and pick up my dog from any grooming salon.  If they won't let you stay - find someone else.

And if all else fails - you can body clip the entire dog.  Been there, done that too.

I'm dreading summer and all the burrs that come with it.