Frankenstorm

Most of the time I think the general reporting of news is over hyped. However with the regards of  Sandy the Frankenstorm I will err on the side of caution. Given the havoc the last few storms have caused as far inland as Ohio I think we should take a minute to review our emergency preparations which I talked about previously HERE.

There is no need to panic and go willy nilly buying everything you can get your hands on. Otherwise you are gonna end up with a dozen packages of underwear that is 3 sizes to small, a pantry full of pickled beets or sardines and be out of your hard earned money.

.Just remember you need water, food, fuel, some cash, pack a bag and make a plan. I will highlight a few of the topics:

• Sanitation and Hygiene
• 1 gallon per day per person for drinking , cooking and sanitation. Don't forget water for your pets!
• Fill some old milk jugs, coolers etc w/ tap water and add a little bit of bleach (1/2 tsp per gallon) to use for flushing toilets. 
• Designate a fresh gallon (or 2) depending on the size of your family for brushing teeth
• Stock up of wet wipes/ baby wipes and instant shampoo. These items will allow you to save water for drinking and cooking.
• Food for you and your pets. 
• As far as human food goes, ready to eat type food and snacks are great for those who lose power and don't have a generator. Such as granola bars, peanut butter, crackers,dried fruit and jerky --no refrigeration or cooking needed.!
• Do NOT expect restaurants and stores will accommodate you.
• Stash an extra bag of food for your pets
• Get some fuel
• Fill the tank of your car
• If you have a generator, fill it and have an extra 5 gallon can of gas
• Have an extra propane tank (or 2)
• If you have a wood/pellet stove, make sure you have firewood/pellets
• Get some cash
• Even if it is $50, don't assume banks will be open and ATM's or credit card machines are operational
• Pack a BOB (Bug Out Bag)
• If it s bad enough you may need to evacuate
• Make sure you have items ready to go for you and your family (including pets)
• Change of clothes (or 2),a blanket, medications, first aid kit,  personal toiletries, weather radio, flashlight, pack of batteries, and car cell phone charger.
• Make a plan
• Where will you go if you need to evacuate?
• Do you have all valuable items secured?
• What about important documents-birth certificates, passports, bank books, etc..?
• Do have arrangements made for your pets?
• Don't assume you can leave them in their crates or turn them loose and they will be ok (Think Katrina)

Click on the link I provided which provides a direct to the government emergency preparedness sites for a more detailed plan. 

I am not trying to be the voice of doom and gloom; however, it is better to be over prepared than under prepared!

Be safe my friends!

When pets attack

It  has been a rough couple of days around My Cozy Little Farmhouse.

Wednesday evening two of my dogs got into a fight. A very very bad fight.

Tovah (age 5 yrs, 30 lbs)

Chubbs (age 10 yrs, 78 lbs)

We don't know what provoked the fight. Or who started it. All we know it was an unfair fight. Chubbs (aptly named) outweighs Tovah by almost 50 lbs.. Tovah is 5 years younger than Chubbs and much faster but it didn't help her this time. Tovah needed surgery to repair the lacerations and punctures, poor little girl.

Not sure if any of you have ever had to use an after hours emergency pet hospital, but they are crazy expensive. You are already emotionally vulnerable because your pet is sick --or in my case, injured--and it is akin to being shook down mafia style. You have to pay up front for the estimated cost before they will treat your pet. I had to pay them nearly a $1000 up front before they would help her. Not that I really had the money. It resulted in 2 credit cards and effectively killing any remaining balances on either. 

The worst part was after calling in 4x through the night and being reassured she was next for surgery, was calling in at 6:30 in the morning to find she had laid their for 12 hours without the surgery. Sure she had pain meds and antibiotics, but they let her lay there covered in blood, with matted fur, in cold steel cage--PETRIFIED--for 12 hrs. Had I KNOWN that what they would do (basically nothing!) I would have brought her home and kept vigil with her during the night until our regular vet's office opened.

So I flew out of the house and picked her up. I took her to our vet, who assessed her immediately and put her in surgery. In less than 2 hours with our vet she was treated and comfortable. As for the other place, they "refunded" $440 on one of my cards and it is unknown when I will actually see it. So I paid $540 for an overnight stay with antibiotics and pain meds. Then an additional $380 for the regular vet. And here is why I love my vet office. They might be slightly more expensive than some other vet practices but they do amazing work. They told me pay $50 and I could make payments on the balance ($330) because in their words--"Since you were worked over by the emergency vet hospital".  That is why I have stayed with this practice for nearly 20 years.

The good news is Tovah will make a full recovery. She looks kinda rough with all of the bald patches and sutures on her neck and chest. But her sweet little demeanor is returning. It was a rough 2 days without her here. I didn't have her as my shadow--following me around the house; or climbing into my lap the second I sit down, and she wasn't here to take up the bed then grunt when I make her move over. 

The vet said I need to keep them apart  so she went to my daughter's house to stay for a night but is grieving pretty hard and on edge.  I am bringing her home. I will figure out the logistics. Tovah is actually my "grand-puppy". She was/ is my daughter's dog, but I have had "custody" of her for nearly 4 years. 

I will be getting 2 additional cages. All 3 dogs will be caged when we are not home--for their safety and the sanctity of my pocket book. Chubbs will wear a muzzle when out of the cage. They will all be supervised very closely!  He is definitely going to the vet for an evaluation. I will continue to monitor Chubbs, if he continues to show aggression towards any of the animals or people--then I will have a very difficult decision to make.

All I know is I love my fur-kids and I have been an emotional wreck the last few days. The hubbs isn't very happy about anything right now--not that I can fault him. I am also looking into pet insurance--well  because financially we can't take another hit like this.

This dogfight has had a physical,emotional and financial impact.  Let's hope peace soon resumes and it will be My Cozy Little Farmhouse again!

She let out a sigh and you could see her visibly relax, poor little girl

Wacky weather

I think Mother Nature is confused.

The last few days we have had temperatures in the upper 70's °F  and today we broke 80°F. 

Trust me I am not complaining that I don't need to turn the furnace on--although my energy provider is probably having a fit, hehe-- or I can open the windows and I can go outside without a jacket.

What I am concerned about are my plants "greening" up again only to be killed when the hard  frost comes rolling in.

Flowering Sage

Flowering Rosemary

Flowering Tarragon

I think this is Endless Summer, not certain

False Sunflower

I am at least going to take advantage of it to clear some of the garden of debris and mulch with straw.  I really wish I had time to move some of the bigger plants around. Oh well,  those can be on my to do list for Spring.