It is almost the 4th of July! I like to be a positive pup, but I will admit it: this is my least favorite holiday. Before I found my way to rescue, I was a stray in a busy parking lot, living outdoors. A wonderful rescue group found me, and then Momma found the great rescue group ... so I have a happy and loving home. Unfortunately, I carry one thing with me from my days as a stray, and that is a real fear of loud noises. The 4th of July is all about loud noises.
I live in a busy, urban area and we are near a big fireworks display. I actually hear the 4th of July fireworks over my home. On top of that, neighborhood fireworks are legal here, so there are sure to be fireworks out this year not just on the 4th, but on the weekend nights as well.
Do you have a pup who is scared of fireworks? I have a few tips that may help.
I wear a Thundershirt. I love my Thundershirt! I go to the closet where it waits when noise starts to happen. I wear it when it thunders and when there are fireworks. It hugs my little body tightly and makes me feel comforted. Here are a couple of Thundershirt posts I've written for this blog: 2015 and 2014.
Momma knows that summer holiday evenings are hard for me because of the noise, so she plans her day in order to be home with me at night and comfort me. That helps me so much!
Of course, I walk before dark on firework nights, so I can be safely home inside. I like to have lights on and happy music playing during fireworks. Momma will often put nice music, like oldies or jazz or classical, on the radio station in the bedroom, and in the study, and in the living room as well. The music fills the house that way. Please remember that many dogs are spooked by fireworks and sudden loud noises. If your dog needs to go out after dark on the summer holiday evenings to potty, it is safest to take him or her on a leash (of course, wearing ID tags!) and keep walks short. Also a reminder about cookouts - grills and open flames can be both tempting and dangerous for pets (and both cats and dogs may be tempted by goodies on a grill!). Do you have any other 4th of July safety tips for pets? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below. Have a great weekend! Love, Abby xoxoxo
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush was released in 1978. It appeared on her album The Kick Inside. Kate Bush was inspired to write this song after seeing the BBC miniseries of Wuthering Heights. She has said that the last 10 minutes of that program inspired this song. "Wuthering Heights" was written at a single sitting. I didn't discover this song until my college years, the 1980's. I was an English: Creative Writing major, so of course I loved the swooping romanticism of this song, and the references to Wuthering Heights. The lyrics include: "Bad dreams in the night.
They told me I was going to lose the fight,
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff, it's me--Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window.
Heathcliff, it's me--Cathy.
Come home. I'm so cold!
Let me in-a-your window." Here's a little trivia tidbit: Kate Bush and Emily Bronte share the same birthday, July 30.
And now, the video for your enjoyment -- the interpretive dancing is a bit dated but the song is still beautiful! Do you remember this song? What is your favorite song based on literature? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
I hope you are having a good week and staying cool. It is very hot in the deep south right now! I am enjoying indoor time with air conditioning and fans.
I have a guest post from two special friends today. Cadbury and Woodbury are two beautiful bunny rabbits, and they wrote this interview a couple of months ago. You met their kitty sister, Scotty, here before. I have had this interview scheduled. I was so sad to hear that Cadbury passed away in late May. With permission of Cadbury and Woodbury's mother, Beth, I am running this interview in special memory of Cadbury. Abby: What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?
Cadbury: Hello, Abby! I'm a girl rabbit, and I don't know how old I am. I don't remember much about before, and I know I lived with humans a long time ago, but about five or six years ago, I was suddenly outside all by myself. At first it was fun to run around all over the grass, but then it got scary and lonely and hard to find good food.
Then a young girl and her brother found me where they waited for their school bus. Their parents put up flyers to see if someone would claim me, but no one did. They couldn't keep me permanently because they were moving, but they spread the word that I needed a home. Then one day, my new humans came to pick me up! Mother named me Cadbury because I looked like a chocolate bunny! She thinks I might be something called a Holland Lop. (Photo of Cadbury below)
Woodbury: I'm a boy bunny, and unsure of my age, too. All I know is that a few years ago, I was let out into a neighborhood, and it was awful. I was scared of all the noise and big things whizzing by me. It was dark and rainy, and I was all covered in mud, when a tall boy came by on his run and spotted me. He brought me home to his mom (also human), and they cleaned me up and gave me carrots! Like Cad's rescuers, they were moving and couldn't keep me - but the mom, Diane, knew a friend who really likes bunnies. (Photo of Woodbury below)
Cadbury: I heard Mother say, "What's one more bunny in the house?"
Abby: How were your first days at your new home?
Cadbury: It wasn't too bad when I got to the new people's house. They put my little hutch on a big wooden table right where everyone would walk by and talk to me. One thing made me nervous - these strange creatures (I learned they're cats) would sit on the table and just stare at me. I didn't care for it. However, I tried stamping my back feet, and it was great! When I did that, they all jumped about a foot in the air and ran away. Ha ha! Now, sometimes I'll sneak out of my cage at night to explore the house (Mother frowns on this). The cats watch me from a distance. They're afraid of my feet!
Woodbury: Everything was pretty nice when I got here. Especially because Mom and Dad knew to give me lots of carrots and parsley! Mom says I'm "mellow" which I'm pretty sure means "handsome."
Cadbury: At first, Mother would take me to church for Easter, and to the church booth at a local Scottish festival, too. I got tired of the limelight, though, and started to get nervous around lots of kids and big people. Luckily, Woodbury came along at the right time to do public appearances. He doesn't seem to mind.
Abby: What are a few of your favorite things?
Woodbury: Carrots!
Cadbury: I like when Dad holds me on his lap. I like secretly exploring, and I love little soft toys to play with and sleep on. My favorite thing to eat is this cranberry cookie treat that our human friend Tom brings us.
Woodbury: Would it surprise you, Abby, to learn that I love carrots? I also enjoy a big wooden toy that's fun to chew - and it is great to throw against my dish to alert Mom that I feel hungry!
Abby: Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet?
Cadbury and Woodbury: Our advice is - don't put bunnies in Easter baskets! All bunnies need lots of love and care, because we don't get along so great on our own. We may not look like it in our photos, but we're both pretty small, so we need some protection and help. All rabbits, no matter what size, should be chosen to be a part of the family for always - not just a holiday!
Special thanks to Beth for helping with this interview. I am so sorry about Cadbury's passing. She had a wonderful home with your family. Please give Woodbury a gentle pet for me! (Please tell him that I am very gentle with bunnies, although I am a dog.)
Dear friends, if you would like to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you! Thank you for visiting today. Love, Abby xoxoxo
It's the first week of Summer! Yay! I love the slow, leisurely pace of the Summer months. I will confess to a love of frozen fruit flavored treats, too.
Last week I saw a reference to Otter Pops online and it took me back to my childhood. I loved Otter Pops and the similar Fla-Vor-Ice pops.
Otter Pops were originally marketed in 1970 by National Pax. They are still made and sold today (I saw a huge box at Wal-Mart last week and it took all my will power not to buy!) These pops have 40 calories and come in flavors including:
Alexander the Grape Sir Isaac Lime Little Orphan Orange Rip Van Lemon Louie-Bloo Raspberry Poncho Punch Strawberry Short Kook
In 1995 the company tried to replace Sir Isaac Lime with Scarlett O'Cherry, but a well organized protest by fourth graders stopped this change. (Too bad -- the cherry frozen fruit pops sound delicious!)
Do you remember Otter Pops or Fla-Vor-Ice from your childhood? Are you still a fan of these frozen treats? They are part of summer nostalgia for me, and always fun (and delicious!). I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
If I was making a playlist of my favorite summer songs, "All Summer Long" by The Beach Boys would be high on the list. This song was written in 1964 by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, and it's the title song of The Beach Boys' All Summer Long album. The harmonies are wonderful, and that is a xylophone you hear in the background, along with a piano. The lyrics capture old fashioned summer fun like:
"T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs
(T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs)
We've been having fun all summer long
(All summer long you've been with me)
I can't see enough of you
(All summer long we've both been free)
Won't be long til summer time is through
(Summer time is through)
Not for us now
Miniature golf and Hondas in the hills
(Miniature golf and Hondas in the hills)
When we rode the horse we got some thrills
Every now and the we hear our song
(Every now and the we hear our song)
We've been having fun all summer long" Here are two minutes of retro summer happiness: Do you like the Beach Boys? What is your favorite of their songs? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
