Author: whbeebe

I am a retired engineer who writes about photography, my pets, software development, computer languages, operating systems, embedded computers, and life in general.

animal day journal #9

whbeebeLeave a comment

Danï is in a perfect Ginger zen state while resting in my lap. She’s there because I spent Friday and part of today with heat on my left hip and back due to the effort I’d spent the prior week lifting, planting, and re-planting a crepe myrtle plant from the back yard in too much shade out to the front where it will be in a lot more sunlight, as well as quite a bit more gardening and planting. I have a number of other crepe myrtles all around the home that are now beginning to  show considerable growth, but the one in the back, which had been there for quite a few years, was stunted. I’m hoping the move out front into a more open area with a lot more sunlight, along with a lot of tender loving care, will get it growing again with all the others.

Digging up the crepe myrtle and moving it was a half-day effort. I had trimmed the old growth branches, but even trimmed it was a good foot taller than I am, and I’m still 6 ft 4 inches (nearly 2 meters), and I used a hand truck to move it from where it was to where I transplanted it. I planted it into a large hole with lots of topsoil around the root ball, covered with with plenty of wood mulch, then gave it a good soak. I’ve also planted five azaleas around to begin to build out a flower area. I want as many flowering plants as will grow in the yard to attract butterflies and humming birds.

I’ve been trying to be a lot more physically active in 2025 than in all the prior retirement years combined, and even more than the working years before retirement where I was always too tired to do any decent work in and outside the home. It’s a way for me to keep exercising and keep the left knee in proper shape as well as to help the healing process continue after the operation. It’s been nine months since the left knee replacement, and I suspect that it will be a full year before everything is as close as it can get as far as a healthy joint is concerned. Surprisingly the left knee wasn’t in pain, just the left hip and my lower back. After a day-and-a-half slowdown the pain is much abated and I’m moving and working at the same levels again.

I attribute my quick recovery to the heating pad and the magical ministrations of my lap cat Danï.

animal day journal #8

whbeebe2 Comments
One of Annie’s many creative resting poses

I haven’t written an Animal Day Journal entry in a while. It’s been even longer since I’ve written one that’s primarily about Annie. So here we go.

Annie is thriving these days. Weather permitting, we do our two-a-day walks, once early morning and again early evening. Between those two walks Annie and I cover between three and four miles/day. There’s now enough twilight to see well enough, although I still carry a battery lantern as well as having a light attached to her retractable lead. I have both of them lit, not only to help see what’s ahead, but to let others we might come across see us as well. Annie and I still come across the occasional dog and owner combination walking in the dark, depending on the scattered street lamps as well as house lighting. I consider that unsafe both for the animal as well as the human. Annie and I have managed to avoid any number of problematic encounters because we advertise our presence well in advance with our lights.

In addition to all our walks, Annie helps me when I work out in the back yard. I won’t let her out front without her lead, and I refuse to stake her out in the front while I work. It’s still cool enough that Annie can go on car rides in the back when I have to run errands or take my wife to some appointment. If I have to stay and wait on my wife, Annie and I roll down the windows a bit and wait for my wife to return. If the waiting is long enough then Annie and I will get out and do a reconnaissance walk around where we’re parked, which allows Annie plenty of stop-and-sniff moments. When she’s done she will turn and walk us both back to the car, which I find charming. Annie is one bright little girl.

Zoë and Annie greet one another

I have heard so many stories concerning cat and dog interactions and how the two species do not get along. I have nearly twenty years of personal experience where my dogs and cats have gotten along with one another just fine. Granted, the dogs in my household have all been Labradors or Lab mixes (Annie is a Labradoodle), so that may have something to do with the calm atmosphere between all the cats and dogs. A good part of this peace I attribute to treating all the animals equally with love and kindness. I never play favorites and give attention to all. When I pay attention to them I talk to my animals, calling them all by their names, and in a normal tone of voice, no baby talk. Every creature is chill.

Going forward I intend to do far more postings like this. They may not be very often, but I want to move away from ain’t-it-awful writing, especially with regards to the current political climate. I’ve dropped off of every major social media service to avoid the effects of algorithmic-driven rage posting. If I do write a negative post, it’ll be based on personal experiences and facts, such as my earlier complaints about Apple products. My house with my wife and the animals has become an oasis of calm and peace, and yes, even love, all around. Those are the true treasures in my life worth protecting and writing about.