Ready To Go (Anywhere)

We are official!

Today was my first visit as a therapy animal team. I was to meet another team at a local nursing home.  On this visit Courage was going to stay home so I could concentrate on observing the experienced team.  That way I could kind of learn the ropes a bit before Courage and I went out on our own.  I got all ready and put on my nifty badge (apparently you do need a "stinking badges" when you want to take a yetti to visit the old peeps) and drove to the nursing home.  The first thing I see, and I'm not making this up or exaggerating even though it seems so cliche that I must be making it up, was a little old man in a wheel chair, sort of wedged in right next to the front door.  He was as close as it was possible to be to the door with his face pressed up on the glass window above him.  It was cute and heartbreaking all at once.  I couldn't tell if he were waiting for visitors or planning to make a break for it. I said hello, and he said hello and I walked on in to look for my contact.

Alas, the nursing home had cancelled the pet therapy visit for today, but no one had remembered to let me know.  I was kind of let down and dejected.  I considered going and sitting down with the guy in the wheel chair at the front door in sort of "dejection solidarity," but there wasn't any room so I just went on home.  We are going to try again next week.  Courage is anxious to start so I hope it works out this next time.  I really want to do something for someone besides myself.  Frankly I'm tired of constantly thinking about me.  Me, me, me.  It would be nice to be of use to somebody and do something, however small, to make the world a little nicer place.

My new (old) drawing table.

B refinished and straightened all the original pieces.

Speaking of doing nice things for people.  Here are some pics of the drawing table B refinished for me.  They don't really do it justice unfortunately.  I found this old drawing table at an estate sale for 20 bucks.  B took it into his workshop and carefully took it all apart and cleaned, sanded, straightened, oiled and restored it. He even carved and painted new adjustment wheels to replace the old ones that had completely worn out.  He was a little tetchy when I wouldn't let him repaint the base, but I liked the rustic look of it in combination with his gorgeous restoration work.  B. put a new surface on the main part of the board and waxed it.  It works beautifully now. 

Fall

Fall was gorgeous this year, Brain.  The warm weather lasted until this week.  Long enough that the leaves actually had a chance to turn colors before a freeze killed them all off and turned them brown and crunchy.

Leopard Moth Caterpillar 

I found this leopard moth caterpillar outside the back door, all huddled up on the bricks.  The temps were going to get down to the low twenties last night so I scooped this guy up, brought him in and put him in the big glass jar I have decided to call "the incubator."  I expect he will spend the coldest months in there as my guest and maybe finish up his transformation when it starts to get a bit warmer.    He seemed perfectly happy to stay outside I should note.  He had already made it through two nights of below freezing temperatures, but I'll feel better if he is indoors and warm.  Besides the cat has a tendency to play with things like him and not in a gentle, friendly way.

Eeeek!

Of course no one may be safe in my house now.  The lamp appears to have suddenly become possessed.  I want to note that I didn't move it or anything and it has never done that before.  Hmmmmmmm...

Well I guess that's about it for today.  I have this niggling feeling I've forgotten to mention something important, but there is always tomorrow for that, Brain.