~ Mountain Lotion Potions ~

Anti-Itch potions....

With soap to accompany it..

All wrapped up for Spring...

Lavender and Oatmeal

with

Herbs

&

Essential Oils

My Mom has been having troubles with itching lately,

so much so,

 She ended up at the Doctors.

He's running test,

I came up with a remedy!

Hope it works,

at least it's pretty..and smells good.

Bet it's cheaper too..

Tisha

~ Head Count.... 8.....~

Just sayin'

We're at 8 now...

8 traps,

have lovingly been deposited, at the back door,

waiting for Little Man to return home from school and rid them of their gifted prey.

I've come to learn that Tucker is the Thoughtful Giver!

or the Grim Reaper as Molly refers to her...

I personally think we work well together.

I originally thought the cats could solve this issue,

but Tucker has chosen the path of least resistance,

I kill and she presents the loot and gets the praise...

I'll live with it,

 considering, I don't have to go crawl around in the shed and retrieve the traps from under the shelving,

I prefer to look at it as a co-op!

and go figure, the Boy's would leave the dirty work to to girls!

I thought, maybe, everyone would like to meet the Girls...

I must apologize in advance for the pictures,

it's very hard to get pictures when you have dinner in your hands!

This is Molly,

aka.

Good Golly Miss Molly!

Molly is five years old and has lived here since she was eleven weeks old.

She loves babies (all babies, even mice) and rolling around with Little Man.

She has Elbow Displaysia and is limited in her mobility.

I will admit, up front, she's very spoiled...

Very Spoiled!

This is Miss Lovie,

aka..

Lovie-licious,

Lov-a-lot...

Lovie is around three and has lived here at

Loafer Mountain Retreat for a year now..

Lovies story is a heart wrencher,

We have temporarily paused this posting to allow you to retrieve tissues.

She was found abandoned,

on the side of the road,

tied to a fence post,

starved and shot in the head.

She had been left there to die.

A very good friend was walking,

as he does every day on his lunch break,

when he happened upon her.

She had fought the lead, and in the process,

tangled herself in the barb wire, until her face was hung up on several barbs.

She had multiple punctures and cuts and two bullet holes in the top of her head.

She weighed about half what she does now and both ears were severely infected.

The friend called me from the side of the road asking what to do.

At the same time the local Veterinarians assistant happened upon them. He helped to cut her loose and proceeded to take her to his work.

The vet in question is a large animal vet and doesn't usually deal with dogs,

 but made an exception for her.

Everyone involved knows me and knows that I have Mastiffs and have taken in critters in need.

Needless to say, she came upon my doorstep and I could not turn her away.

She has been a loving quest here at the retreat since!

She is real testament to strength and endurance and despite her misgivings she still loves people!

and just for the record....

this is the sun room in question,

it's attached to the dog house,

not my house!

Lovie still has issues, she can't stand not seeing whats around her and has fashioned a peep hole so she can stay aware while she eats... In the summer the plastic comes down and the sunscreen is left.

They always have a warm and dry place.

Beyond this is a 12x8 foot heated dog house with beds.

I told you they were spoiled,

I even cook for them...

How many dogs do you know,

 that have their own heated dog house with attached sun porch?

 Better yet,

Room service with a view?

By the way,

I did agree to let the girls have some pet birds...

Tisha

aka.... the critter keeper....

~ Mouse Training 101 ~

 It was brought to my attention  recently,
 that we have a wee bit of a problem.
You see,
I have just discovered that my big girls (my Mastiffs) have been holdin' out some relevant information.
Information that I consider to be Important.

They have a pet...
mouse..mmmmm.. or rather mice!
 I discovered this whilst I was feedin'.

I was going about my normal routine,
feed Lucky boy, feed the girls, wash water buckets and return to see,
 Molly sharin' her breakfast with THEM! 

 "Them" as in the mice!

They scatter the very second I step into the sun room, leaving both girls perplexed, looking at each other like I just ran over their favorite puppy.
Molly looks at the hole in the wall, where they made their escape  and then back to me like..

 " What did you do?"

"Where did they go?"

 That didn't bother me half as bad as the fact that I have three cats and it sure appears that they are not doing their jobs!

 I talked it over with Mr. Fix-It and after wayin' the pro and cons, decided to buy some mouse traps and enroll the three, free loaders....
 in Mouse Hunting 101.

The traps were promptly added to the weekend grocery/shopping list and all things furry and fun were quickly enlisted in this endeavor to train three lazy felines to rid the homestead,
of this rodent infestation little situation.
I explained to the big girls,
 that they could not have pets without prior approval as well as the fact that I can not afford to feed the neighborhood.

Besides, it wouldn't be fair, I already told Skippy that he could NOT have a Rottweiler,
even if it was to be the "Mascot" of his Fan Club!

We proceeded to set aside time each evening, to play out the role they were expected to preform.
Mr. Fix-It would gather all the furry critters,
and one by one,
fire them out for the kitties to catch and return,
so that once again, he could practice with them.
 They loved this schooling, and looked forward each evening to  
playing
practicing their stalking and pouncing skills with Dad.

We were fairly certain that they had gotten the idea,
 so this morning I awoke bright and early.

 Snatched three free loading felines,
 from their comfy little beds
 and shoved them outside at the crack of dawn...

Now get your butts out there and earn your keep!

I set about doing my mornin' chores of laundry, dishes, make the beds etc...

and as I pass the back door, 

I notice something different.

Upon further inspection I discover.........

Yep, thats right...

We now have three retrievers!

No ones tellin' whose bright idea this was..

Cheaters!

Tisha

 and the freeloaders....