Canning, Cherries and Holli

I am a bad egg. My life is getting in the way of blogging.

This week I have been canning strawberry and raspberry jam and trying to figure out what to do with 14 gazillion tons of cherries from my back yard cherry tree.

Cherry trees are wonderful things and I love ours. The birds love them too. And the dogs love the cherries that the birds toss on the ground.

Do you know what happens when dogs eat cherries? I will spare you the nitty gritty details and/or pictures. Needless to say poop patrol took on a whole new meaning. I spent a couple of nights up every two hours letting Bonnie and Brynn outside for the Hershey Squirts. This time I was wise enough to NOT let them up on the bed when they came back inside. Nope, I learned my lesson from the last time.

Amidst the canning & cherry fizz we have a new foster dog!

Meet Holli

Brynn's nose is a little bit out of joint. She hasn't been here for foster dogs coming and going. Today she is extra special affectionate. I have had to correct her a few times from resource guarding me from Holli. The little stinker is licking my ankle as I type this. Poor baby is jealous.

Holli is a 13 year old border collie. Holli was dumped at the local shelter by the family that purchased her as a puppy from a breeder. They raised her and gave her a home for thirteen years then brought her to the shelter. The paperwork suggests they were moving and were unable to bring her with them. I am going to refrain from sharing my opinion of this...this is supposed to be a 'G' rated blog.

Holli is not your typical senior dog.

She is energetic and playful. LOVES toys and playing fetch.

She also has the most amazing set of teeth I have ever seen on a dog this age! Check out these choppers! Not a speck of tartar on them!

Holli loves to talk. She expresses her opinion frequently. If you don't feed her quite fast enough, if she needs to go outside, if you are ignoring her, or don't throw the ball fast enough. You know...typical border collie.

Just ask her "Whatcha Think?" and she will bark and bark until you say "Reeeeallllyyyyy!"

Holli LOVES the doggie wading pool.

I am looking forward to taking her down to the river tomorrow morning (when I get all my canning finished). I wonder what she will do when she sees the water for the first time.

Holli came equipped with a special skill. She is a Certified Fence Inspector.

Being recently abandoned Holli is anxious when I am out of her sight. This afternoon I put her in the back yard with the rest of the pack, when she was done doing her business she came to the door and barked a few times. I chose to let her stay in the yard rather than immediately bringing her in.

A few minutes later I saw John was driving down the road so I opened up the front door to greet him...much to my surprise there was Holli laying on on mat.

After some sleuthing John located the back yard escape route. She separated a section of our 6 ft tall wooden fence from the post and shoved her way through. None of the other dogs have ever attempted anything like this. Guess that tells us who is smarter huh?

Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill every time. The nice thing is when Holli escaped she chose to stay on the yard, even with the temptation of kids playing all over our neighborhood. What a good dog.

This morning when we were at Fido's I took her into the pen with the puppy sheep. She was VERY interested in them and wanted to chase them in the worst way. I didn't let her off lead because I didn't want her to get hurt or exhaust herself, but she sure had fun the little bit of time she was near them!

Holli is a happy girl and looking for her true FOREVER home.

Check out Holli's listing on the PNW Border Collie Rescue site.

Let me know if you want any cherries.