The Hobbit Hole VII - But not yet weary are our feet...

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

But not yet weary are our feet...

• First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit hole
• Second thread: The New Hobbit Hole
• Third thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!)
• Fourth Thread: The Hobbit Hole IV - The Road Goes Ever On...
• Fifth Thread: The Hobbit Hole V - Where Many Paths and Errands Meet...
• Sixth Thread: The Hobbit Hole VI - And Whither Then? I Cannot Say...

New verse:

Upon the hearth the fire is red, Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet, Still round the corner we may meet A sudden tree or standing stone That none have seen but we alone. Tree and flower and leaf and grass, Let them pass! Let them pass! Hill and water under sky, Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate, And though we pass them by today, Tomorrow we may come this way And take the hidden paths that run Towards the Moon or to the Sun. Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe, Let them go! Let them go! Sand and stone and pool and dell, Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight. Then world behind and home ahead, We’ll wander back to home and bed. Mist and twilight, cloud and shade, Away shall fade! Away shall fade! Fire and lamp, and meat and bread, And then to bed! And then to bed!

See also: http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net

Web page for our moot reports and troop support information!

[osagebowman]

LF: that was a most productive weekend, whew. Cheers for the lumber yard guys and hisses for Home Depot.

Doughboy (shakes head) whatta neighbor.

[HairOfTheDog]

It was likely the surprise of them appearing unexpectedly.... Bounding carnivores tend to upset prey animals. Of course some horses make more out of a mere startle than others... and some riders make things worse by being startled themselves and goosing the horse...

As an aside... Let your mom know that if they hear horses coming on trail to please talk out loud.... say "hello" the horses won't be startled to see them round the corner that way and riders appreciate that. We especially appreciate it for the mountain bikers. Bay is an old guy who has been thousands of miles. He is usually the first to hear somebody coming, but still... it is nice to do.... we usually talk when we know we are coming up on other folk...

[osagebowman]

Hair & Ecurbh, that was a most creative wedding invitation, don't recall ever seeing one that was so well done. Kudos and Cheers.

Great job on the fencing, do I see a new profession in the offing? "Custom Fence Building" on the side of the truck? Well done.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks osage! We are purdy good at fencing these days!

And ecurbh designed our invitation!

How's newpup tonight?

[osagebowman]

Rosie; very true re the photos of the dogs, only have a couple of really good ones of Gifford, the lab. Samantha, a golden, was quite photogenic.

[JenB]

Until that happened, they were apparently having a great time! The horse people were apparently nice, and the trail was clearly marked to make way for horses.

When I move to Colorado, hiking and trailriding are high on the list of things I want to do. I will keep your advice in mind.

[osagebowman]

Well, since you asked :-) Gypsy is fine, mini-break through, she climbed the stairs to the landing on her own. She has been "reluctant" to climb the stairs to the second floor until then. :-)

[RosieCotton]

I still wish you could come up and go hiking this summer!

Or maybe I'll have to come visit YOU and go hiking in Colorado.

And maybe stay awhile.

Or so...

[RosieCotton]

Speaking of pets...I have a pet-related prayer request. Cleo (cat #3) is going in for her surgury tomorrow. From the kinds of things the vet said during her checkup, I'm afraid she may have the kitty version of breast cancer. How serious that would be, I don't know. I'm hoping it's something this one surgury can cure...if it isn't, I may have to make a tough decision, and I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that.

She's really started to settle down over the last few months. When I got her, any little sound would make her practically jump out of her skin and go crazy and wild-eyed, and something as simple as shifting position when holding her would completely freak her out. Makes me wonder what her past was like, though from all I know of her, she lived in a nice home with just one teenage girl and her mother. Maybe it was too quiet there compared to here, I don't know!

But now...she's even coming out and greeting guests a bit, and has seemed very content and happy. That's positive, no matter how this ends.

[RosieCotton]

And I misspelled surgery not once but TWICE! Grrr...

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, the horse riders should be nice. Most are pretty good about trail ettiquette... and give folk time and space to be out of the way.... Like in boating, the least maneuverable craft has the right of way, so often times, walkers can step off the trail easier than riders.... and horses can usually step off the trail easier than mountain bikers. But horses can be spooky about moving mountain bikes, and it is safer for all if the mountain bikes just stop and let us pass around them.

Loose dogs on trail are mostly OK, most horses are fairly accustomed to them, and the dogs are usually smart enough to not be under foot, but I have seen exceptions, some bark and are hard for their owners to get ahold of. And most horses will kick a strange dog if they get a chance... Heck, mine would go after Gidget if they had the chance... ;~D

I never take dogs with me on trail rides even though they'd have a ball. With them loose and me on horseback, I really have no control over the situation if we were to run into wildlife or other dogs/people.

[HairOfTheDog]

Prayers indeed for Cleo... Hopefully the surgery gives her lots more time. Keep us posted when you get back with her!

[HairOfTheDog]

Wonder what's scary 'bout stairs! Funny pooch!

[Fedora]

And I misspelled surgery not once but TWICE! Grrr...

When that happens, that's called "surGrrry" :)

[RosieCotton]

Oh dear...the articles I'm finding aren't making me feel any better.

Mammary cancer occurs much less frequently in cats than dogs, but when it does occur, it is often malignant and difficult to treat. Mammary cancer is likely to strike 1 in 4,000 cats. While this is about half the rate as in dogs, when cats develop mammary cancer it is often fatal. There is a strong correlation between early spaying and a reduced incidence of the disease. If mammary cancer is caught early, the treatment is more often successful. This article will help familiarize the cat owner with appearance and treatment of this deadly cancer.

Which cats are at risk for developing mammary cancer?

Any adult female cat can develop mammary cancer, but the average age is usually 10-14 years of age. Siamese cats appear to have a genetic predisposition for developing mammary cancer and are twice as likely to develop it as other breeds. Unspayed females are at a much greater risk of developing mammary cancer. Female cats that were spayed after having one to several heat cycles, with or without having kittens, are also at a greater risk than a cat that was spayed before her first heat cycle.

More here, none of it very positive.

I think I'd better not do any more searching.

[Fedora]

I am barely intermediate. I can pull off a few concert pieces -- like Clair deLune and Chopin preludes but I'm far from "good." (that is, people who don't know crap about classical music think I'm pretty good. That really doesn't count.)

LOL! That sounds about where I'm at :) For instance, I taught myself to play Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" but without the chords :)

[JenB]

Will remember Cleo. I hope it goes well.

As to Colorado, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like, of course! And if you won't come out permanently, I will get you out for a vacation at some point. Imagine, camping and hiking the Rockies... or snowshoeing, or rock climbing, or skiing, or rafting - whatever we feel like, depends on the weather...

I had a sort of reverse eureka moment tonight when I realized how little programming I've done in the last year. I'm hauling out the C++ books and brushing up before I get to grad school.

[HairOfTheDog]

No more searching! You don't know if it is malignant. Interesting that there is a genetic link... you can feel around and be more aware on your other kitties.

Even if it is malignant.... it hasn't necessarily spread. There may be no need for any further treatment than just removal. Don't guilt yourself if you really shouldn't afford chemo or further action for her... You have to spread the dollars around to make your life work. Even if it comes back later, you have bought her time.

[RosieCotton]

No more searching! You don't know if it is malignant.

True...but it's grown rather fast, and I'm kicking myself for not getting her in earlier. Also being paranoid and thinking I feel bumps elsewhere when I don't.

I know she's just a cat...but I still worry.

She isn't young, in any case. Not super old, either...but if this gives her a year or two...she'll at least be over ten, which I suppose isn't bad considering.

I think I'd better go to bed and stop thinking about it! I'll just have to wait and see.

[RosieCotton]

In any case, I expect a full report when you get back from you weekend, missy! Lots of pictures!