Happy New Year to Me!

I have been derelict with my blog.  Mea culpa.  I will promise to do better, but I wouldn’t hold my breath…

So, by way of filling you in, November I received a called from headquarters in our region to ask if I would go to Ft. Yates, ND, for a month to help out.  Ft. Yates is part of Standing Rock reservation, a large res that spans a good part into SD and up in ND.  Without thinking it through, something I tell my patients to do…healer listen to yourself…I said yes.  Not considering this was entering into winter and I would be driving up north weekly…to come home week-ends.  Also not considering this would take me into the holidays, and Christmas shopping time. 

Well, I packed up the dogs (yes, plural, Quigley is back with me…more on that another time) and the cappuccino maker and off we went.  Quigley fairly immediately got car sick, which he repeated for at least two more trips before he seemed to get his “car legs”.  I will say, because of his propensity to get sick, he is no fan of the car unlike most of his species.

The drive is through countryside, of course what else in SD, driving through a few small towns along the way – very small towns – one of 58 people!  Others “large” communities of a few hundred.  One heralded this beautiful Catholic church:

As I got close to the border, I came to a pretty little town, Mobridge, of about 3000 or so.  Made very pretty by its location on the Missouri River with its big bridge to cross over as you exit town, reminding me of the Oakland bridge in California.  For some reason, I then crossed over again by another bridge, and yet another smaller crossing of the river, making me wonder about the topography in the area.  As I entered ND the area became hillier.  I’m not sure what defines “mountain” vs “hill” but it seemed they may be called “baby mountains”, some with plateaus sporting their flat tops.

One trip I drove the whole way with the vision of a beautiful hoar frost, my favorite winter scene:

I entered Ft. Yates, another little reservation town plopped right down on the Missouri River.  Though winter, I could tell it would be beautiful in the spring and summer seasons.  The hospital there, administered by IHS (Indian Health Service), was right across the street from the river.  Cross the road and down the bank and there you were.

Well, without going on about that, I ended up staying a little longer which took me through the last week in December.  While there, there were many winter gray and/or snowy days.  As I was anticipating my return home, at last, the weather reports concerned me more and more, with snow predicted over the entire New Year’s week-end.  I very much wanted to get home by that time, as you can imagine. 

Sure enough the snow began on the 30^th, preventing me from departure that afternoon.  The pups and I settled in for another night.   The next morning one of the nurses and I were viewing the weather and, though there would be blowing, thought we could trek on out of there.  I must say I have found SD “blowing” is a real hazard as the white out can be so complete you might be better off driving in a snow storm (note:  I did not say blizzard).  I followed her until Mobridge when she went in another direction and I continued on mine.  There was blowing and drifting but none too bad – the first third of the trip.  On a good day the drive is a little more than three hours.  With speeding. 

By the second third the blowing was worsening with more visibility problems when snow started showing it’s little unfriendly face.  Snow turned into blizzard and I was going very slowly and my blood pressure was increasing.  I prayed to get to Hoven, the little town with the church above.  Finally I made it and coasted into the tiny, and only, motel in town grateful that it was there.  I got stuck in the entry driveway and clambered through the snow to the office.  I rang the bell and a cute little blond “Barbie” entered to help.  Whadya know, Barbie in SD???  Well, she was the sweetest thing as she assured me her boyfriend would “unstick” my car when he got back; rang up the bill of $50 for the night (!), and then came to help me unload some of my things while the blizzard blustered around us.

Not much later, Barbie, who I learned was actually Heather, knocked on the door bringing me some leftover casserole, a coffee maker and some coffee, cookies, and a few other things.  Awwww!  How very sweet!  She said, “if my mother was stranded somewhere, I’d want someone to help her!”  Well, I guess a benefit of my aging countenance…  But again, very sweet of her.

This little motel room was clean if not very glamorous.  There were parts of tiles missing in the bathroom, the towels were mismatched and scraggley, the blankets somewhat holey, but it was warm and the TV worked.  There were no phones but surprisingly my cell phone actually had service there!

When it was time to take the dogs out, the door out had such a big drift I would have to carry them across being the little dogs that they were.  One pair of dog boots had broken, so I had one set “to share”.  I would don the coat, boots and carry dog #1 out, and then go back for dog #2 and repeat the process.  Neither dog wanted to be out in that, nor did I, even Quigley who ordinarily loves the snow.  It snowed and snowed and did some more.  Happy New Year’s Eve to me…couldn’t even have a drink!

The next morning the sun came out but we of the motel had to wait until the boyfriend came with his tractor and shoveled everyone out.  I had called my neighbor who indicated the sun was out at home too, so I hoped I could make it.  I already knew that part of the drive to be remote and challenging with winds and drifts.  This was true on the drive home with some parts of the road snow covered but could be travelled.

Finally we got home to our little house on the res…a very happy sight!  Happy New Year all!

Mother Nature's Baaacckkk!

Lordy, lordy.  Winter hasn't arrived yet but it sure feels like it.  The wind has started again - up to 52 mph sez the weather folks.  Tomorrow night it's supposed to drop to 22 degrees.  When Phoebe and I went for our walk, her ears were blown straight back and I could hardly stay upright. 

The wind started last night and hasn't let up yet.  No wonder there's so few trees here - how the ones that are here stay put is a puzzle.   Perhaps their roots go down to China.  All through the night the wind galed and the vents rattled.  It's sure good to be "snug as a bug in a rug",  I'll say.  The dessert tonight was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen.  I guess all this blowing clears the air, and there's nothing to block the vistas here. 

Little Quigley went to a home!  We have a new young pharmacist here on a loan repayment.  She just arrived a couple of months ago, her husband is being deployed overseas somewhere and she wants, and needs, a companion.  Match made in Heaven.  I do wonder a bit...my other neighbor and I were taking the dogs for a walk in the wind and willows and we invited her..."too cold" she says.  Hmmmm, this is October 26th.....

Meanwhile we now have rescue mission #5.  By "we" I mean my neighbor, Johari, and I.  I rather sucked her into this volunteer mission and she's been great.  Anyway, we thought this new pup might be of the litter that two of the others we found came from...but now I wonder.  Kind of wondering if she might be pregnant...  She showed up at the house behind me where Max the white fluffy dog, a Great Pyr, lives.  Max seemed to be watching out for her.  Maybe he's the papa...  We asked the neighbors and, no, wasn't their dog. 

I got worried when I didn't see the new pup greeting us last night or this morning so I asked my neighbor and partner in crime to see if she could round her up, feed her and put her in my garage.  Johari is not currently working, another advantage for me with her as a partner.  I was worried the dog killer, I mean catcher, would get her.  Anyway, now we have her - she was on her own for 4-5 days and she's looking a little too "plump" for the typical starving res dog. 

The plan, I think, is to call the two shelters in Sioux Falls and transport her this week-end.  Unless we luck out and find her a home...but being pregnant, if she is, might make this more challenging.  Well, we do what we can.

Don't have her picture yet, it's hard to get pictures when the gales are blowing everyone off their feet. 

Well, this is all for now.  Gotta love this terrain - everyone should have a stint in South Dakota - it's so hard to describe but it's beautiful and wild, particularly when Mother Nature is ranting and raving!

Signing off from...the little house on the res.

Rescue Mission Number Four

Four you ask?  What happened to one, two and three??? 

OK, so I’m behind in my blog postings…  So I’ll start with #4, and most recent.

By way of background, you may remember I’ve mentioned the “wild dogs” on the reservation.  These are ownerless dogs, some of whom may be injured, unfriendly because of being on their own for some time, or recently on their own.  In fairness to my reservation friends, rumor has it some of these dogs are brought out here and left; others I am sure are left when owners have lost their housing, had to move, or otherwise could not/would not care for them.

Enter this animal lover onto reservation land…

October 10^th two boys were biking down our street with this feisty little black dog running along with them.  I didn’t think much about it but a little later they were back, this time with two dogs in tow, the black and now a tan – both mangy, matted messes.  The boys stopped to talk and I asked about the black one.  Our postal worker had told me about a small black dog that seemed to be on its own, and very fast (which she was/is).  They were going to check around and see if someone claimed her, if not get her to me.  I was pretty sure this was the same little dog – maybe 4-5 pounds, likely a shih tzu from the looks of her.

The tan one, a little bigger, I had seen a couple weeks before at the store.  He was skittish and wouldn’t come although I tossed some treats out for him.  He disappeared into the cornfield and the first I saw of him again was this day.

The boys put the black one in my crate and she stayed around the first time I let her out.  I always feed them which usually secures that they will stay around if they’re homeless.  And she, and he, stayed.  The boys came back, and we put her back in the crate so she wouldn’t follow when they left.  This time when I let her out, she took off, with the little tan one in hot pursuit.

I didn’t see them until a couple of hours later when the little tan one was back.  He stayed right at my house, went with us for our evening walk, played with all the neighborhood dogs and slept on my porch all night.  He was so dirty and stinky I could hardly stand to be near him.  Here he is in his “glory”:

Please excuse the lousy photography...one of these days I'm getting a new camera...meanwhile the cell phone has to do.  Yes, I know, the shadow is the camera's fault...

The next day was Columbus Day – one of the cool things about working for the government, I get banker days!   My neighbor helped me entice him into the crate, we loaded it into my car and I drove him to the vet (windows cracked open) for a stay and flea bath, haircut, bath, shots.  A few days later he was picked up, “naked” but clean.  Here’s “Sir Quigley” as I dubbed him.

They said Quigley was a Lhasa Apso, 13.5 pounds, one year old.  Quigley seems to like being a house dog just fine.  He and Phoebe chase each other in the house, unless they are fighting over food.  He has one of those tiny tennis balls and loves to chase it along with other toys.  He finds the cats quite fun to chase as well.  He has some trouble knowing about outside as the toilet, hence his make-shift “belly band” for in the house.  We are working on that.  He doesn’t like sleeping in the kitchen at night and definitely would like to join Phoebe and I in the bed – ha!  Not going to happen, Sir Quigley.

It is my hope that Quigley finds a good “forever home”.  He’s definitely a little lover dog and will fit right in.

Stay tuned for more “Rescue Missions”…this is all for now from “the little house on the res…”

Combo shopping

I was downtown Pierre the other week.  Downtown Pierre is a real metropolis…it’s a block long.  On both sides!!!

There I have found a cute little coffee shop, as in cappuccino coffee, called Pier 347.  No, there’s no pier…and it’s a couple blocks from the river, so maybe that counts.  On my treks “to town” to do my shopping, for groceries, and get my nails done (of course…there’s only so much roughing it I’m willing to do), I usually stop in for food, drink and some reading.

I had a certificate I wanted to get framed, and thought perhaps there would be a frame place somewhere downtown.  Nope.  But there was a scrapbook store, so I thought I’d ask there.  Nope.  But there is a framing store across the street I was told – inside the bookstore.  Of course…  So now there is not only the pharmacy/coffee shop/dry cleaner-pick-up store; but also the bookstore/frame shop next to Pier 347 which isn’t on a pier.  Sometimes it does feel like I’m in Oz.

Toto's Red Slippers

OK, Toto didn’t wear the slippers, Dorothy did.  And she wore them in Oz, by way of Kansas, not by way of South Dakota.  And Toto was tan, not white, and a boy, not a girl, as in Phoebe the Westie.  And Dorothy was a young girl, not a less-than-young woman…  But aside from all this, it’s a perfect analogy.

In South Dakota there are bunches of these stickers that grow in the grasses.  And they are killer stickers, I will say.  They even hurt to try to touch to pull out.  And they are definitely worse here on the res…which is basically country.  No manicured lawns, no sidewalks.  So not only does Phoebe not appreciate the rough streets we walk on, but she definitely doesn’t like the stickers…nor do I for that matter.   She tries sometimes to get them out and ends up with them embedded in her mustache…

After nearly six months of this, the light bulb finally went off – why not get her some boots?   She used to wear them in Madison, WI, to ward off the sub-zero temperatures and the salt they use to melt the snow – a real paw irritant.  But they were little balloon like boots that she hardly felt…

I got on-line and started a search.  Whatdya know – I guess a lot of hunting dogs actually wear boots too!  So here’s Phoebe in her little red, and silver, boots:

She was pretty hysterical at first, trying to hold all four feet off the ground at once.  But she seems to like them now and is no longer afraid to go in the grass when we walk to the post office, or to go on our regular walks.  Problem solved! 

The winds are starting to return now that it’s cooling off again.  And on the rare occasions the winds blew in the summer, they were of no help.  It’s like blowing the heat from a fire at you when it’s 100 degrees out.   Can hardly wait for these winds to be blowing in the dead of winter…

Sun, Sunflowers and Pow-wows

As summer meanders its way through South Dakota, the heat blasts down at ever higher temperatures.  And the winds have, of course, died down so there is nothing to cool us off.  Although as hot as it has been, it would likely be an unwelcome blast of hot air.  This last week-end was the Crow Creek (Fort Thompson) pow-wow and it was 100 degrees every day.

I now know that a local pow-wow is like a big Native American festival.  There are food stands – Indian tacos, fried bread, walking tacos, regular tacos, smoothies, and on and on.  Locally it is held in the permanent outside pow-wow area about a block from my house.  There was a parade with people on horseback, one I saw on burroback, cars with people in, on and all around them.  Of course, there’s the dancing, drumming and singing.  Women, men and little children in beautiful Native clothing – the style of dress depends on the dance they do – grass, chicken and some others that I don’t recall.  How they could wear all their garb with the temperatures I’ll never know.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way I guess.

There are prayers of thankfulness, honoring of ancestors as well as those who have served in the Armed services.  Multiple tents were pitched alongside some RVs as people settled in for the week-end festivities.  I spent only a brief time there given the 100 degree heat although there were babies, young and old all there to partake who seemed oblivious to the sweltering temperatures.

It seems clear to me that the writer of our national anthem was in the plains during August.  Truly there are amber waves of grain in the multitude of fields in South Dakota.

Recent weeks the sunflowers have come into bloom, fields and fields of them.  What a beautiful sight as their merry little faces follow the sun.  Although someone said they feed cattle with them, I prefer to think they are growing those wonderful seeds we all snack on and add to salads.

I shall try to catch up soon with the rescue missions I’ve been doing here on the res – we’ve rescued four dogs in the past few weeks.  But for now, this is it from the little house on the res….

Amber waves of grain...

I neglected to describe the changing scenery along the river.  From the early spring of silvery sage green, the hills now are mostly "amber waves of grain" - although I don't think it's grain, but grass, but amber waves of grass hardly sounds right.  The beautiful rolling hills range of pale yellow to bright butterscotch.

The cattle seem to be in clumps together, safety in numbers?  Yesterday with the high temperatures over 100 many a cow or steer were seen buried up to their necks in the water pooled in their pasture.  Can't say I blame them - who said cows were dumb?

The streets and grasses in my neighborhood are blooming with little white flowers making my back yard look like I had spent time creating it rather than Mother Nature at work.

Decided to cook today - news flash!  Blueberry scones with lemon curd.  Curd is made and awaiting the scones for later in the day.  Phoebe liked licking the spoon.    I decided my retirement career should be a B&B on a lake in northern Wisconsin or Door County.  I love to cook but not ALL the time and like meeting people.   Sounds loverly anyway.

That's it again from...lil house on the res...