Cabin Fever

Tuesday, March 05, 2019

This month is breaking a century (since 1901) of record-keeping, with colder temperatures and more snow. Unfortunately, neither cold nor snow are letting up. I enjoy witnessing history but not in these worst winter months ever recorded. These days have become strings of being stuck in the house, watching television, dozing off, and fighting attacks of cabin fever.

My faithful dogs doze with me while keeping a paw in reality. The instant I think about going outside to do something with the horses, all dogs are on their feet and noisy to go. I’d invite them more often, but my property isn’t completely fenced and I don’t want a dog wandering near a busy road or a neighbor’s property.

Miles in many ways seems very contained, but in reality, he’s a fellow with a very strong herding instinct who lobbies noisily to go with me. He wants to help move horses into the barn for hay, and after they’ve eaten, help move them out.

Osix has high energy and a mind of her own. She’s fun and funny, springs up eager to go anywhere. Outside, she runs back and forth for reassurance that I’m coming along, too.

Louie’s herding instincts focus on retrieving balls. He loves a ball and insists that I repeatedly throw it for him. I watch to be sure he’s not stealing balls that belong to our neighbor’s dog.

My other “dogs” aren’t typical, but in some ways a little like canines.

Peaches’ cage is in the living room between ceiling-high picture windows. He can see west to the horses and north to the driveway. He spots all movements outside and barks at intruders. The more intensely Peaches’ screams, the more it’s certain he sees an unknown human, deer, or a stray dog.

Max was an outside-only boy, but over the years that’s changed, and now, he’s inside lots, and totally during this freezing weather while I’m feeding birds. Max watches them intently from windows, and having him inside keeps another species safe in this rough-weather, for wild bunnies are caring for babies.

Gill is a former racing pigeon, a rescue who lives with me, and among my house buddies, the sweetest, least demanding, and most quiet. He’s totally alert to all going on, he’s taught me to appreciate the wild pigeons that I used to take for granted.

Winters that confine like this one are easier to get through with pets to keep company and brighten days.

Dear Readers, Have a lovely day. Diana