Isaac Brings Memories of Katrina

Yesterday you could feel the breezes from Isaac, and today the rains came.

Seven years to the day Katrina hit New Orleans, and a month later I was called as a volunteer for the US Humane Society.  I drove nine hours by myself to camp out and help all the animals left behind. Above is the FEMA facility where we could stay, but I preferred to camp in the parking lot with others.  Yes, I came back one day to find my tent upside down!

People from all over the country, including Canada came to help.  It was a moving experience.

In the mornings everyone would gather to get instructions as to where they were going and what needed to be done. Most were going into the city to go through houses and look for people and pets that were left behind.

I heard stories of troubles in the city and decided to go with a group to a small town where everyone dropped off their pets at their local vet and left.  The vet was overwhelmed with 150 dogs and desparately needed help, so off I went to Belle Chase, Plaquemines Parrish.

One dog that was left in an attic was found and rescued.  He was emaciated, frightened and sad.

Then there were dogs that were happy a hurricane came and "saved" their life.  Most dogs were pitbulls.  This tiny pitbull was covered in scars, evidence that she was a bait dog.  She was so happy to be rescued from that life. This was probably the first time she had a toy.

This is me, Dee & Donna.  I met some amazing, hard-working and exceptional women on this trip, and some of them put me to shame with how much they could accomplish.

These are the California girls, Veronica, Connie & Tracey.  For a long time we stayed in touch, and to this day I still receive emails from some of the group, including Wheeler and Carlotta, who opened their home to all of us and made a darn good gumbo, and Kandee from Florida who still is involved in dog rescue.

These are some scenes from the streets of New Orleans.  Pictures don't capture the devastation.  To be there and see it was nothing like you see on tv. 

So despite popular opinion against me going and not finding anyone to go with me, knowing that the farther south I got there would be no gas, debris everywhere , no electricity, no shower, it was the most satisfying thing I ever did in my life.  I met wonderful people, saved a lot of pets, which made people who lost everything very happy.  It was very moving to see families coming back and finding their other family member.  When everyone was saying goodbye, we joked and said that we'd all see each other again when "the big one" hit California.  Hopefully that never happens!  Hopefully New Orleans never experiences a hurricane like Katrina again!

Two Seniors Rescued

Bob and I picked up two old men from Cobb Animal Control on Sunday.  Dingo, on the right, now named Bamboo is 12 years old and Tiger Woods on the left, now Fionne, Irish for red-headed is 13.  Both had owners that dropped them off and were extrememly urgent.  They are now in the care of Chaps Rescue and because of Mike are safe in their old age!  Looking for homes for both. 

What was Roman thinking???

This is a plastic ball that was inside a stuffed animal that I had given Roman to play with.  I did not know this ball was in there.  I happened to be in the basement for a visit with Roman & Princess while talking to my mom on the phone. 

It was an octopus, and I heard Roman ripping the legs off one-by-0ne turned to see him spit out this ball that I tried to grab, but he got it back in his mouth before I could get it.  I thought, I'll just wait for him to spit it out again and kick it away from him.  Didn't happen, he swallowed it.  Hopefully my mom's hearing aid was turned off because I let out a scream and ran to get Bob to somehow get the ball out because he stopped breathing, but by time I ran into the house and back out with Bob, he was standing there with his big pit bull smile!

Just look at him with that big grin after being rushed to the vet, induced vomiting, an endoscopy, then having to open him up to get the ball out of his stomach.  $1700 later, six inches of stitches, and a $40 e-collar so he can be comfortable for two weeks, and he's ready for action!!!

Roman, Princess & Another Geisha

This is Roman

This is Princess

Their owner lost her home, so this bonded pair will be fostered by us until they find their forever home together

Until then, they are content being together and going for long walks in the pasture, then a nap in the cool basement

Roman chased his first deer the other morning, and today there were three fawns and an adult and he was beside himself!

Princess is content to roll in the grass

This is Geisha, a rescue from Pell City, Alabama Animal Shelter where we picked up Jethro.  Jethro is on his way to Portland, Oregon this week to his new home.

Geisha had to be removed from the shelter and put in boarding by Neva in order to be saved

Bob and I met Neva at the Alabama/Georgia line for transfer

She is the tiniest chow I have ever seen at three years old.  Helga and our Geisha are 40 pounders and we call them "the minis", so I guess the new Geisha is a micro-mini!

Here she is safe at BAC with Mike, ready for some good food, a bath and a new home!

Just thought I'd throw in a photo of our two "minis" Geisha, and Helga, although Helga is putting on the pounds and we're calling her the Butterball turkey, so I guess she's not going to stay mini after all!

The Mother Earth News House

Note: Click on Photo to Enlarge

(Click on Photo to enlarge) We made it to Brevard to see the town and the house.  We really liked the town and the idea of being so close to the Pisgah Forest.

We really liked the house, the setting, not so much the one mile skinny gravel road to get there.  It would take 10 minutes to get in and out.

The house would need two new heat pumps, and the ugly shag carpet would have to go.  We would have to do something creative with all the stairs leading into the house so the dogs could make it in and out easily.

Of course, I would change the paint color outside and eventually put on a metal shingle roof, but aside from that, it is very workable for us.

This is Wendell, the realtor's golden who could not pull himself away from the stream.  There were two on the property, one on each side, and where they converge would make a wonderful pond, and that is something I would definitely do.

This is Wendell peeking through a window to see what we were all up to inside!  Okay.  So aside from the long rough road requiring a four-wheel drive and the remoteness of the place, which I would have to get used to, the big problem was the owner's friend had come up that week from Florida and loved the place so much decided to put a contract on it the day before we saw it.  He only wants it for a summer home, so we are hoping he has buyer's remorse and we get a shot at it.  We should know in about six weeks.  In the meantime, we are talking to our builder about our dream home and getting ready to gear things up!  Either way it's a win-win situation!!

Excited About the Possibilities

Pisgah Forest   All who know us are aware that we are a year behind in building our home at the lake because of the constant struggles with the banks on both sides and our endless struggle with Nature Conservancy about the gate that is now in place on the road leading to our property.  The Nels' home is on the market, our financial paperwork is in and now it's just a waiting game.  I have taken advantage of this down-time to maybe find a house just a bit closer to Asheville and to alleviate the hassle of building.  Mac our builder, like so many others, had to get out of the construction business due to the real estate crash.  Jem Hames, our GA builder is considering the possibility of going to NC and building our new home.
For months I have been looking for the perfect house that we hope would be our final house, and there has been nothing that would work until the Pisgah Forest house.  We are going to look at it this weekend.  We are not familiar with the area, but it is at the entrance to the Pisgah Forest, and Brevard is only three miles away.
This is Transylvania County, named the Land of Waterfalls because there are 250 waterfalls within a short distance of each other.  All of the REI hikes that I can't wait to participate in are in this area.  Next week there is a hike on private property to Tumbling Falls, and I wish I could go.  It is still hard to think of giving up the boathouse, but it will be easy to sell at a profit.  Dr. Rogers is still willing to buy our land, so we are thankful for that.  There are so many lakes in the area, we will have lots of places to go with the kayaks.
This house was built in the '70s by the founder of Mother Earth Magazine.  He moved with his wife from Ohio and lived here for quite some time.  It looks beautiful in the video, but not knowing what surrounds it and knowing if the space will work for us is something we will soon find out.  If this is not the house for us, then we will most likely start the building process.  Hopefully I can get excited about it when it begins because right now we're both tired from the constant hassle of trying to get out of here.   I will let you know what happens and take more photos of the house.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Click on the green Pisgah Forest to see the video and let me know what you think!

Carload of Cockers

Saturday we did a leg of driving for Marthas Mutt Movers, a carload of cockers going to Ohio.  This is Baxter and Rocky, and Bella is a little nervous, so she is in the crate.

We met two other couples coming from other areas who had been fostering Trixi and Jack.

Jack is the red, Trixi is the blonde.

Karen and Gail came with a large van to take all dogs for the next leg.

Next it was off to the Urban Stack for lunch.

Chattanooga has many interesting buildings.

We love any excuse to go to Chattanooga, TN, and transporting dogs makes it that much better.

This is the bridge that goes over the river in the middle of the city. It was 105 degrees, but most of the country is that temperature right now, and at least there was a breeze at the top of the bridge.

Many different views from the bridge.

It was a nice day.