Recycling in Ecuador

Last year when some friends took down their Christmas tree, she said she would be getting a new one this year, so I said I would take her old one. She boxed it up, and I brought it home and stored it. I knew it was a prelit white tree, that over the years had turned brownish, my plan was to spray paint it and give it new life.

Upon opening the box. I saw it had colored lights,  not the white I had assumed it had, but I had already bought the spray paint, so I was going to go with it. I plugged it in, saw it all worked, then took it outside to fluff and paint. I thought of covering all the bulbs with tape or paper, but that turned out to be waaay too daunting a task. Deep breath, fingers crossed...here we go!

Not too bad, and two cans of hot pink spray paint later...Voila

Upon plugging it in, before decorating I saw that not all the lights were indeed working, but I had come too far to stop. 

My friend had also given me turquoise and silver ornaments, and I had some shells I had painted many years ago I chose to use. Strategically turning the tree, and fluffing branches,  and you cant even tell some of the lights dont work.

Now, if I can just keep Mia and Mona from climbing it...all will be well. So, stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Week One

Did I mention these pups are huge? I measured the other day and they are 10" long, and rolly polly!  But all they do is eat and sleep...so photos have been, well, the same ol' same ol'. Soon they will open their eyes, but wont be able to see for another week or so. 

The black one is a boy, and the other two are females. I have also heard that they may all, including Salchi mama be adopted here in San Jacinto. 

I moved them to the other bathroom, more room and not so close to my bed. And they all stay outside in the other area when I  need to leave for any amount of time.  Salchi is house broken, now that she doesnt have 4 huge pups on her bladder.

Vet will be back in two weeks to check on everyone. Oh yeah, the house call for the vet...$10. Gotta love my small town! Not much else on the puppy front...so Stay well, and stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Puppies puppies puppies

I awoke to crying puppy yesterday bright and early at 7:30. Salchi, being in the house at night, decided the closet was where she was going to have them. I had cleaned out an area for her, and she was receptive,  but alas...

We waited, and waited...read and re read Google...I could tell she wasnt in pain, but definitely uncomfortable.  Finally after 6 hours, I decided I needed help, and got in touch with a local vet. He said she had one stuck in the birth canal,  great! Poor kid. He removed it, with much difficulty and it was no longer alive. She then proceeded to have 2 more.

After she had them all cleaned, I got her fed, (she was starved) and cleaned up. Freshened the whelping box, and made sure everyone was doing well. Geez! I need a stiff drink!

Vet came back this am with an injection, and said she was doing just what she should be. These pups are huge! So much for the thought she was impregnated by a corgi...ouch!

Haven't checked the sexes yet, Google said not to handle them too much the first couple days, and so far all they do is suckle and sleep, so stay tuned...the adventure  continues!

Mama has a name

I have been casually asking friends to help name this mama dog I'm fostering, well we have a winner. Her name is Salchi. Here we call sausage or hotdog Salchi, and a popular dish is french fries with hotdog, which we call salchipapa. So I have been calling her SalchiMama. 

She is getting better with the cats, and adores Perry and I. Unfortunately I have to clean up mess every morning, as she cant hold her bladder all night, but I also feel bad making her sleep outside. She jumps up and cuddles every morning, and will make a very sweet companion for someone. (She probably would not potty during the night, if not for the babies on her bladder)

Yesterday I cleaned out an area next to the house,  and will try to make her whelping box there, but who knows where she will decide to have her pups, and when??

If nothing else, I now have uncovered a bbq, so I see grilling in my future. Stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Never a dull moment

There is a group of expats and ecuadorean people across the river in Crucita who are helping raise funds to spay and neuter the animals. They recently found a pregnant dog whose "owners" did not want to deal with puppies, and were going to dump her, so she was posted on Facebook.  I reached out, and said I would foster her and pups until they could be adopted, she was being delivered Saturday.  Well...Thursday night, as Im making dinner, I hear a kitten crying, she was up in one of my trees!

I got her down from the tree and brought her inside. Mia was less than pleased and slept outside.  Kitten slept on my pillow. She stuck around all day, very closely and I named her Mona, feminine for monkey, well, she was in the tree. :)

Friday night there was fighting, and when I awoke, Mia was in bed with me, and Mona was not to be found. But wait! A little while later I get a message, that my neighbor Pam has here in her yard, so she was returned. Great...

She is a super sweet kid, not skittish of people, but if Mia isnt going to warm up, we may need to find her a home. Now on to the mama dog...

She is a year or so, infested with fleas and other creepy crawlers, and sweet as well. I'm playing with names, but so far she is just Mamacita...

She let me pick some bugs off her, and I will bathe her today with dish soap, as I have to be careful of what to put on her because of the pregnancy.  

Even though she is pretty rolly polly, and short legged, she can still maneuver and jump on the furniture.  Here, trying to get the catfood I had to put up on the table.

I have never had puppies, but after the #notmykittens last year, as long as Mama sticks around, we should be fine. Ive been reading up, and will start to gather supplies, could be anyday...

So...stay tuned, the adventure continues!