TODAY ON BEECH DRIVE

I am a Realtor and today was my day on the schedule to be on duty. It was dead! No calls, no one stopping in, nothing. The real estate market is definitely in a slump and according to all reports, it may continue for awhile yet. People are buying, though. The market where I work in Delaware is primarily vacation home or retirement home shopping. If you are buying within the resort town proper the prices for a single family home are close to or exceed a million dollars. "Deals" are non-existent anymore.




After I got home I took Beau for his walk, stopping along the way to chat with neighbors and other dogs. For the second time in as many weeks Beau went after (with teeth bared) other much larger dogs. It seems to happen if the dog runs towards him (usually in happy exuberance). Beau believes the dog is being aggressive so Beau defends himself and me. At least this is what Beau told me!



We have been dealing with fleas for the past month. First the Frontline stopped working and then the Advantage stopped working. He is now on Promeris and Capstar and they seem to be working. I still see a flea here and there and he still scratches, but I think it is improving. I bought flea foggers which I haven't used yet. What a pain.


I have a pot roast simmering in the crock pot and I will make mashed potatoes and veggies for dinner. I always use the crock pot for roasts - even a chuck roast can be cut with a fork. I don't use it for other recipes, but I love it for things like soups, roasts, stews.


The storm here didn't turn out to be anything. I hope the same is true for all of you. Hurricane Ike is the next one we need to worry about!


Good health and happiness to you and yours,

THE STORY OF VIOLETTE

Today I thought I would share with you the story of my oldest cat, Violette. (I used to spell it Violet until I realized that the other three four-footed babies in my house have French names, so hence "Violette."

Once upon a time a very nice lady and her new husband lived in a condo just off the beach in a small town. There were many wild cats in this little beach town.

One day through the back fence appeared a little gray striped wild kitty. She was as wild as the squirrels who lived in the trees. The nice lady wanted to feed the kitty, but the kitty was so wild and shy she would not come close even though she was very hungry.

Each day the lady would put a can of tuna through the fence and the little kitty would eat her fill. Each day the lady moved the can closer to the back door. After many days the kitty would eat from the can while the lady sat beside her. After many more days the lady was allowed to touch the kitty and pet her.

But one day was different. On this day the lady picked up the shy, wild kitty and took her into the house. The kitty was so scared that she ran from room to room and cried to get out, but the lady would not let her out.

Finally, the kitty thought that this was not a bad place after all. The lady and the man were very nice and always fed her. She was no longer hungry. A big, old boy cat also lived there and he became her friend. He took care of her and showed her where she could sleep and even washed her ears for her.

The wild, shy cat was given the name "Shy Violet" by the nice lady. As the years passed, Violette was no longer wild and she was no longer shy. She loved her new home and she loved the nice lady and the nice man and she also loved the big, old boy cat who washed her ears.

They all lived happily ever after because that is how nice stories are supposed to end.

THEY AREN'T JUST GREY -- THE GREYHOUND WEEKEND

I have a poodle named Beau. Beau was almost a greyhound. Every October there is an event in Dewey Beach called Greyhounds Reach the Beach and people from all over the country bring their rescued greyhounds. There are events going on all weekend -- seminars, meetings, places to buy dog things, greyhound get-togethers on the beach where they can meet other greyhounds and to just parade their beauty. One year when this event had first started and I didn't know about it, I was driving down the road and saw a few greyhounds and then I saw a few more, and then more. I thought I was hallucinating.

To rescue a greyhound from a bitter end when it retires from the racetrack is a very special thing. You are giving a new life to a very grateful animal. Contrary to appearances, they are docile, quiet, friendly and true couch potatoes. Owners say they are like potato chips. You can't stop with one. In fact, you often see them in multiples in one family. They like nothing better than to relax with you at home. They do not need to run miles for exercise. I did a lot of research on this and was almost ready to do the adoption and then something happened to my brain and I became poodle-ized. Beau owns the house and us and now I can't get a greyhound. He just would not let it happen. Anyway, here are some pictures of these wonderful dogs just doin' their thing at the beach. I didn't have my camera with me everytime I saw the dogs and I was working all weekend, but I did borrow these images which were taken at the event from the web. Thank you to whomever did take these shots.

Violette, Le Chat

Good Morning. I thought I would begin this beautiful day with offering a picture of our little "old lady" cat. I may have shared a picture of her before, but here is one I just took. Violette is a chubby thing (has been ever since she was a kitten), sweet and loving, but like many female cats, likes her own space and her own time. (Well, I guess she is sort of like me!)

We found Violette when she was several months old living on the streets as one of the numerous feral cats in Rehoboth Beach. She was as wild as a squirrel and I would tempt her with tuna cat food. She would allow me to come closer and closer to her until finally I was able to touch her and hold her. I brought her into the house and she went NUTS... racing from room to room, jumping off windows and doors...she was a prisoner. Eventually she settled down and into her new home. At that time we had our old Taj cat who allowed her to share his home and they became fast friends.

Violette is approximately 14 (maybe 13) years old and in people years that is 98. She seems healthy and happy, but all my cats live to be old and I am ever watchful of the indications of her aging.

Dear, dear old cat...we love you.

Cats and Dogs

Since it has been raining cats and dogs all day today, I thought I would show you some pictures of my cats and dogs.

This is Beau, our crazy 2 year old miniature Poodle. Yes, he is brown. His eyes are not really red, although he does look like a devil dog here (which he can be sometimes).

This is Pierre, our 20 lb. tabby. He is afraid of Beau, but Beau is also intimidated by Pierre.

This is Chloe, the baby feline, who is looking sleepy since she just woke up. She is really not a baby anymore, but she thinks she is.

This is Violette, the old lady (sorry Violette). She is about 13 now. Sweet, sweet girl.