The Empty Chair

It has taken me almost 2 months to be able to post about the passing of our beloved bratty bichon Sparky.  On the morning of July 9th I dug his grave, and that was probably the only thing I've done in the last 11 years that he didn't help me with.  He was in the house barely able to walk suffering from kidney failure.  Despite our efforts, IV's, trips to the vet his kidneys shut down and we had no choice but put our buddy ot of his agony.  He took his last ride in our SUV just like his first.  On my lap.  I stayed with him till the end.  Wrapped him in a blanket with the 2 toys he loved the most and brought him home and laid him to rest in the shade under our river birch next to the boat that he loved so  much.  Peggy is trying to write the story of his life, but being a man of fewer words I think what I will miss the most is his company.  The brat was always my constant companion.

Just sitting by the fire pit. 

The porch swing.

Napping in my recliner after a Saints game.

From planting our garden boxes.

To harvesting them he was there.

Picking fruit

Wiring the computer

Riding around in my jeep.

Having a few glasses of homemade wine, or

Begging for BBQed asparagus (go figure)

 

The thing I will miss the most is my fishing buddy.  Soon as the cork would bounce he was woofing some times even before I saw it.

As long as I live I will never look at an empty chair with out wishing he was in it.  I pray that in heaven there is a shady bayou bank with a couple chairs by it.  I will be there some day sitting with the brat while Peggy tries to get him outa her chair.

  

Wasp Stings

I go years between wasp stings. I aint afraid of ém, and we do not disturb them when they nest in our yard. Since honey bees are very scarse these days the wasp take up the slack and help with pollination. If ya don't freak out and go to swatting at them they don't bother ya. Every once and a while though while working in the yard I'll get stung. Usually because I trap a wasp in a fold of clothes or accidently pinch one in my hand while weeding or mucking out the jungle that is our yard. That's what happened yesterday while I was trimming back the wisteria that covers our door. A big red wasp landed on my back and got mashed between my shirt and overall strap. he stung me good before I could reach back and get him out from under the strap. It stung like fire so I immediately went to my favorite home remedy, while hollering for peg I dug in my pocket and found a old tarnished penny. walked in the house took off my shirt exposing an already angry red swelling sting. Peg pressed the penny over the sting and stuck it in place with a piece of tape, A bandaid works too. in a few minutes the stinging was gone and a couple hours later se removed the peny for me and there was no swelling and no discomfort. I don't know why this works and neither did my grandpa who taught this trick to me(he usta keep bees) but it does and das all I need to know.