Undisciplined

The youth of today are often described as undisciplined; unable to control their behavior, being defiant, aggressive and selfish, with a lack of respect for authority.  But is it really they who are at fault, or the parents who don't or didn't discipline them early in life?

I think this is true of our pets also.  Disciplining children and pets is challenging because both require consistent, non-physical guidance to understand boundaries, rather than fear-based reactions.  Difficulty arises from the need for immediate, calm, and often customized responses to behavior, which can be exhausting to maintain.  Nobody appreciates undisciplined (uncontrolled, unruly, wayward, and disorderly) pets or children.  We need to be disciplined to train our pets and children.  

I show my lack of discipline when babbling on and on, writing my blogs and including too many photos.  I need to rein myself in.  


Discipline is the key to achieving my goals.  I need to build good habits and stay focused when training my pets (dogs and horses, cats not trainable) blogging, getting to the gym, and cleaning house.
 

Sunday 3/30 - The three day estate sale at Jem's started today so we put a sawhorse across the drive last night to keep shoppers out of our property.

I was up very early as usual, with just six hours of sleep.  But I finished and posted My Road To The Horse blog by 7am and then started on last week's blog, trying to keep it as short as possible.  




Church was later and longer than usual because on the 5th Sunday's of a month, they do a combined service of all three services, and it starts at 10am.  Because it was Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week, there was extra scripture to get through and we sang more songs (all hymns) than usual.  We had the regular choir, bell choir, and Praise and Worship band.  

When I met Patty at the ranch, the estate sale was in full swing, as you can kind of see as I stood at the upper corner of our side pasture.  

Jem's field between our chicken yard and his drive was the designated parking area, and it was full, with lots of cars coming and going.  

Patty and I took Amiga and Zorro to the barn.  We  left the gate to the front pasture open so Rico could be near the barn and lower paddock to better see Cowboy and Cash and keep an eye on us while we were in the barn.  

Hold still Zorro, so we can get your picture.

Rico had a fit being left by himself.  He ran the fence line much of the time and we could hear him hollering during half of our ride when we were near our property.  

We had a lovely 2½ mile ride.  Amiga was full of pep and didn't show much stiffness at all.  However, I haven't groomed her in a week and noticed that her cresty neck has gotten kind of hard.  Shoot!  


Once back at the ranch, we did a few projects.



Patty sanded this bench and I spray painted the top.  





I also flattened/raked the bad hay Joe had piled back behind the dam.  It was over half a round bale.  We (mostly Patty) also put in a new gate latch we want to try.  It will be easier to open and close (one handed) and be nice, especially in the winter.  This is a cheaper light weight model, but if everyone likes it, we will invest in better (horse proof) ones.  For now we are also using the chain.  

When I got home, Cookie was on Joe's lap, on his recliner, napping. 

She woke when I opened the door.  

Maggie (and therefore also Cookie) are not allowed on the furniture.  I guess technically she wasn't on the furniture, she was on Joe's lap.  I've decided that when Joe and Cookie are in the Mancave, they can break house rules.  It's their 'foxhole.'

Monday 3/30 - I spent less time blogging this morning. I put in a full, total body weight workout, then scooted off to the ranch and road with Karen.  Rico and Zorro both did well.  Patty was there doing some work and we noticed that Wanda was quite lame on her front left leg. Through some coaxing and gentle handling we assessed that she is swollen at her knee and possibly has a sore paw.  She can get up on the bench by the tack room door to eat and drink, but trying to get up or down the ladder to her food station is difficult for her.  She seemed to want to spend time just across the barbwire fence, seen in photo.  

The weather has been absolutely beautiful.  I rested a bit, out on the screened porch, watching the dogs.  Mama Styx was brave enough to come out and join me on the porch swing.  She has gone nose to nose with Cookie, without a chase ensuing.    

I was falling asleep, doing my Sudoku at dinner time so laid down at 5:30 and took an hour nap.  I do not know why I have been so tired lately, except that I have been losing sleep over all of the complications in my life.  Now I have added worries about Wanda.

Tuesday 3/31 - I went out to the ranch early for morning chores to make sure the signage at the end of our drive was clear and the two sawhorses blocked entry to our drive.  Yesterday we'd had two 'lost' vehicles drive back when the front electric gate was open and a small car sized space had been made between the sawhorses.  They were looking for the estate sale parking.  I wanted to be sure to keep the riffraff out today.

Rico had his head through the window in this photo, trying to bite Amiga's rear end while she was eating some hay.  



Jan was down at the barn and reported that Wanda was walking normally, no signs of pain.  I was so relieved to hear this good news.  Wow... that was a fast answer to my prayers.

I went to the last day of the estate sale (50% off day) looking for two things for the ranch, but they had sold.  I did get these cute boots of Denise's, that fit great.  I will think of her when I wear them, along with her belts I bought from Jem before the sale.





Joe arrived while I was busy draining the stock tank and we set to work on a few little jobs.  One was to move the third board down (in photo) to half way between the larger board and the bottom board.  Originally it was much higher, to be in line with the rest of the three rail fence.  However, the horses have been 'pawing' there and knocking the drain pipe loose.

Rico helped out with the hay delivery.  












Quality control.

I scrubbed the stock tank and started the process of filling it, going in the ranch house to work the puzzle while I waited part of the time.

I had been wondering about these hard, rice size & shape particles on Cookies bed every morning.  I see them when I switch out her towel (every day or two) that covers her bed.  Well, come to find out, they are tapeworm segments (proglottids).  Oh NO!  Ick!!  Now another worry.   



I did some research and read that the segments dry out and look like this.  But they contain tapeworm eggs.  Oh NO!!!  However, to infect Maggie, the cats, and us; the eggs must be ingested by a secondary host (flea or rodent) and then the flea swallowed by us or the pets.  

I ran to Food City to get some dog wormer (7 way) along with some food items, and gave Cookie the chewable pill as soon as I got home.  I also did a load of 'dog' laundry.

Wednesday 4/1 - Happy April Fool's Day.  

I think I am the fool, thinking I can stick to shorter blog posts.  I am so undisciplined, I can't help but type too much.  Who do I think I'm fooling, not even myself.  





Thankfully the wormer hadn't made Cookie sick.  Her early morning poop was a little softer than usual and did contain a few worm segments, but nothing unusual or alarming.  

I kept her in the garage when not supervised and she rested  in Rose's tire bed.

On one of our many walks - Little dog with a big stick... and Big dog with little stick.  










I finally got started on housework after lunch.  I did three more loads of laundry, made the three guest beds, and scrubbed the three bathrooms (toilets, sinks, shower & tub, and floors).   

By late afternoon I pooped out, and went to rest (and read) out on the porch.  I had to 'renew' this library book for a second time.  That's Mama Styx by me.  

 







After dinner we got Cookie 'fitted' with the inflatable donut, recovery 'E-collar' she will need after tomorrow morning's spay surgery.  


Cookie was very frightened when I first was trying to put the collar on her.  Then she tried to get out of it, and finally she just kind of 'froze.'  We tried going for a walk with it on, but she couldn't sniff the ground, so never peed or pooped.  But she was getting used to it, although kept running into things.  The instructions say never take it off, but we will at meal time and for walks.  We removed it until needed tomorrow.  Also we removed all food and water at bed time.  

Survivor had another big 'twist.'  They had the merge with 17 players left and then got divided into three groups for the immunity challenge.  Each of the three groups went to tribal, so three people got voted off.

Thursday 4/2 - Day of Cookie's spay appointment.
Patty picked Cookie and I up at 5:45am and we arrived an hour later (7:45 EST) at the Planned Pethood Spay/Neuter Clinic in rural Harriman.  Cookie had ridden the whole way, quietly in a small crate Joanne had lent us.  






We left Cookie at the clinic and drove back into the town of Harriman and got bacon, eggs, and biscuit at Chuck's Deli.  They did not have hot tea, but otherwise it was a great place to pass the time.  There were very few customers during our 90+ minute stay.
      

Needing to get up and move around, we then did some shopping at the Temperance Antique Emporium.


"Big Roane," an 18-foot rooster statue, brought to the store front in February 2026, is not seen in this first on-line photo.  The metal work is considered a dramatic, traffic-stopping landmark.

I suddenly got so tired and sleepy (I'd been up since 2am), I sat outside at a table in front of the store and took a siesta while Patty shopped.  

After hitting a few more stores and while looking for a park, I got the call from the clinic that we had been waiting for.  Cookie’s surgery went well and she would be ready for pick up at 1:00.  We had 90 more minutes to kill.  






We found the David Webb Riverfront Park which lies along the banks of the Emory River.  I left Patty (seen sitting by the fountain) and went for a nice walk and in search of a restroom.





This full size replica of 'The Three Soldiers' memorial, erected in 2014, honors the county's Vietnam veterans.  











There were several memorials around the fountain, honoring the military, firefighters, police and other heroes in the area.
 

My walk took me along the railroad tracks, past a gazebo, playground, and to the pavilion. 

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, actually getting rather hot out.  



I returned to Patty's spot, walking along the river, going past more memorials and lovely gardens.  









Patty and I finished our morning of waiting, having lunch at Sonic Drive-In.  



I paid an extra $50 for Cookie's spaying because she was (as I had suspected) pregnant.  It was early pregnancy, and good we spayed her as soon as we did.  Now there won't be all these new lives coming into the world; homeless and un-cared for, sick, hurt, having more babies or dying.  Cookie also got all her shots, for a first in her life.

I had to carry Cookie out of the clinic because she was too drugged to walk.  In order to monitor her, I sat in back with her on the seat beside me.  

 
She fell asleep with her head on my leg and slept in the car most of the way home. 



Cookie had perked up some by the time we got home.  


I was in a dilemma as what to do with Cookie next.  I tried a walk but she wouldn't pee.  I tried a little food but she wouldn't eat.  So I left her in her crate with her E-collar on.  I had things to do.  

When I got home from a big grocery trip to Food City, Cookie had gotten her E-collar off.  Shoot.  After groceries were stowed, I took her on another walk, and she still didn't do anything.  Joe got home and I went to the ranch to do chores.


Courtney shared this photo of her with Layla. 

It was nearing 6pm when I got home.  I fed all the critters.  Cookie did eat, but not very much.  

She hung out with Joe and Maggie in the Mancave and after my dinner and evening routine, I was in bed early.

Friday 4/3 - I was up at 2:30, after six hours of sleep, and my concern for Cookie and a very long 'to- do' list before company arrived, had me out of bed.  


One thing on my 'to- do' list was to finish and post this blog.  Well I was distracted by Cookie, the main concern was she not lick her surgery site.  



Cookie had been in the E-colar all night and I wanted to give her a break, so I brought her in my office/cattery for a first time.



Cookie did great.  I think she is still recovering from anesthesia... since she still did not eat much and continues moving rather slowly.  Mama Styx had gone nose to nose with the puppy, with no reaction from either this time, and the cat felt comfortable and relaxed enough to nap on my shoulder.

With company comes lots of good food.  I will end my sugar 'stop' today.  I hope I can remain disciplined and not eat so many sweets, primarily cookies and candy.

Cookies & Cream

Cookie was named after an Oreo Cookie, but she looks more like Cookies and Cream Ice Cream.  

Somewhere in my many meme photo files I had one with this same sentiment, but  instead of milk and cookies, it said cookies and cream with a black and a paint horse.

Of course I can't find it now, when I want it.  But this is still cute and funny.  

Monday 3/23 - It was 65° outside when I walked the dogs at 5am, by 7:30 when I took the trash out, it had dropped into the 50s and started getting windy.  




I  met Jan at the Ranch before 8am, to help her with the start of morning chores.  Bonnie was there also, and we went through the procedure that we're starting today, keeping the Pasos in the upper paddock during the day (because they are getting way too fat).  This includes feeding them in the morning instead of at night.  




By the time I headed home, it had gotten very windy and even colder (49°).  That was all I needed to make a decision to not ride today.  I had a 3rd cup of hot tea and worked on my blog for a few more hours.  The three cats kept me company in my office/sun room.  





Joe had bathed Cookie while I was out of town and kept her in the 'Mancave'/dog room with him much of the time.  When he sent this photo, I sensed he was getting a bit attached, or vice versa. 
I posted a photo of Cookie on the Missing Pet Network of Cumberland County Facebook page.  We had to do this before we could legally find her a new home. 

I moved my computer to the dinning table and kept an eye on Cookie who can't be left unattended in the house.  She has a lot of ornery puppieness in her, and is teething, so likes to chew on things.  I gave her more toys and chew bones which has helped.  She also really likes Stevie's old cat bed which I added to her play area.

I hit the gym, then the shower, and was home at the dinner hour, and then watched two hours of Virgin River with Joe.

Tuesday 3/24 - The cats, especially Mama Styx have been a little more clingy since I've gotten home.  I guess they missed me.  

Joe and I went to the Ranch together, I had to do morning chores and he needed to take care of a few things.  Thankfully it wasn't as cold as yesterday.  





The bulk of the rest of my day was spent sitting in the dinning room, trying to blog.  I went down a few rabbit holes, researching different things pertaining to entertainers, competitors, and demonstrators at Road To The Horse.  I was also greatly distracted by the puppy.  It was warm enough to open the sliding door to the screened porch, increasing Cookies play area.

Cookie really likes Maggie... while Maggie enjoys some play, she tolerates a lot with Cookie wrestling with her, stealing toys, and following her around (video).

I took breaks to play with Cookie, walk her and a few times talked with various neighbors about her.  Susie, Brian's helper next door, loved her and thought she might know of a couple wanting to adopt.







I took a mid afternoon nap (in bed) and upon waking, had slept so heavily that I thought it was 2am when I looked at my clock.  I was thinking I needed to take my Levothyroxine which I usually do in the middle of the night.  My nightly pill container was empty.  Finally, I realized it was 2pm. Not sure why my body thinks it needs more sleep; maybe just catching up from the four-day weekend?  




I gave Maggie breaks from Cookie and even took the puppy to the Dog Park.  We were in the 'non-social' section, since Cookie may be completing her heat cycle.  Well I met a lady (Nancy) across the fence at the 'big dog' section with her two year old dog (Sophie)  Cookie and Sophie took an interest in each other.  So Sophie came to join Cookie and they had a great time (video).  Cookie has met her match.  Nancy heard the story of Cookie's 'rescue' and that we are in search of a new home for her. 

Well, while watching the two dogs play, Nancy fell in love with Cookie and said she and her husband had been considering getting Sophie a dog friend.  She went on to say that she would be glad to adopt Cookie when they get back from Texas, the middle of June.   

After dinner, I saw on the missing pet network of Cumberland County Facebook page that my missing dog message with Cookie was no longer there, so I re-posted it.  In a very short time, my new message was responded to by a Lindsey Baker on my Facebook messenger: “Do you still have the dog? I know where his home is."  Right away I was wondering if we were talking about the same dog, because she referred to Cookie as a male dog.

Sometimes I feel like my life is spinning out of control.  I needed to make sure that this owner was in fact the real owner.  So I asked her for some identifiers such as sex, size, age, and name of dog to determine the correct owner.  I wasn’t just going to give Cookie up to anybody who claimed to own her.  After some talk back-and-forth, she sent this picture of the post on the missing pet network.  I never saw this post, nor was it any longer available for me to see for some reason.  My next question was who is Travis Cox, who is his dad, and who is Dale?
At this point Joe stepped in to help me out.  The Dale is Dale Baker, Lindsey's father in law, the man with the cattle at Wildwood, and our x-hay guy who "bailed out on" us by not baling our hay.  He basically told Joe to just put the dog back out on Chestnut Hill Road and she would find her way home.  And as far as other dogs breeding with her, Dale said "Just let nature take its course."  This made me so mad and broke my heart.  I kept thinking, how can I return Cookie to a home that cares so little about her?  Of course, her actual owner may not be so heartless, but he wasn't actively looking for her either.  Needless to say, I could not get to sleep when I finally turned the light off around 11pm.  What was Cookie's future?  Would she get hit by a car?  Was or would she get pregnant?  And then what about the puppies?  Was there any way to break this cycle?  Maybe we'd have to break the law and just assume ownership of Cookie to do right by her.

Wednesday 3/25 - I was up much too early and short on sleep.  I was trying to keep my mind off of Cookie and get more blogging done.  

Look who came through the back yard.  The fox got a drink from the creek, then trotted out across the golf course and probably home for the rest of the day.  

After several attempts to call the owner and his son, last night and this morning, Joe took Cookie and went by the house on Chestnut Hill, but nobody answered the door.  So Joe left a note and brought Cookie home.

The spay neuter clinic called and I had to cancel the appointment for tomorrow because we don't have ownership of Cookie.  Ughhh!  She empathized with me.  Cookie needs to be spayed sooner than later, in case she is pregnant.  

I went out on a ride with Jan, going 3½ miles.  While tacking up, I told her the struggles we're having with Cookie.  She  sympathized and then talked quite a bit about Mike and their journey with his terminal brain tumor diagnosis.  I can't even imagine!  










After our ride I helped Jan with chores.  I opened the gate to the side pasture from the upper paddock.  Zorro quickly went out and down to the pond.  Rico hesitated, blocking the way for Amiga.

I saw a message from Joe that Cookie had been surrendered to us and we could now move forward in finding her a good home.  I was elated!  Her owner said his grandchildren had forced her on him but that he was so busy at work he didn't really have time for her.  He was glad to let us find her a good home.  Joe also learned that 
Cookie is 11 months old, was named Corky, and has had no shots.

I tried calling the Pet Planned Parenthood clinic to try to get Cookie in tomorrow morning, as originally planned, but they were already closed for the day.

Once home, relieved about Cookie's future, and with a lighter spirit, I was more successful at blogging.  I never made it to the gym however.  Joe and I watched Survivor after dinner.
 

Thursday 3/26 - Monita asleep in a box she likes.  
This was supposed to be the day to have Cookie spayed.  Since it had been canceled before I knew the owner didn’t want her, I then called the clinic to reschedule an appointment and the earliest they can get me in, is a week from today.  

I continued plugging/slaving away at writing my Road To The Horse blog post.   It was taking way too much time.  I never made it to the gym, but took a much needed break, going to the ranch.  Joanne and I went on  a lovely ride together.  



Afterwards, she helped me with chores.  
The three Pasos were happy to be back out on the side pasture for the night.

Joe and I finished Virgin River and again the cliffhangers were suspenseful and now I can’t wait for the next season.

Friday 3/27 - I woke at 2:30 after five hours of sleep and could not get back to sleep.  I kept thinking about all that needed to get done and how badly I wanted to finish last week's blog (and I hadn't even started this blog for this week).  I was still a long ways away from completing the Road To The Horse blog, which I hoped would later be a good horse training reference for me later.  


Seen here, Monita keeping me company in my office and then I kept Cookie company, taking my computer to the dinning room.  

I got to the point by noon, and actually earlier, in the middle of the night, thinking 'blogging is too much of a ball and chain and I ought to just quit it all together.'





I finally made it to the gym for an hour of aerobic exercise and the pharmacy to pick up my only prescription (Levothyroxine).

I went to dinner and then the Playhouse with Patty, Shirley, Judy, and Karen (who was using Joe's ticket so he could go play poker).  We had a great meal, lots of chatting time, and enjoyed the play.  They always do such a nice job with all aspects of the productions.

Saturday 3/28 - I had morning chores at the ranch.  On the way home I took some photos at Wildwood.  










More of Dale Baker's cows are having calves.

I worked most of the day on the Road To The Horse Blog, but was still unable to finish it.  
As you can see, Cookie is happy to nap in her crate, and goes in to lay down on her own.  

 

Breaks from blogging were taken as usual, for dog walks.

The cats are not so sure about this new house guest.  It’s not so much the fact that she’s a canine, as that she’s high energy, unpredictable, and likes a good game of chase.  

The cat's curiosity draws them close when they feel they can safely investigate.  But for the most part, they stay well away.  Cookie has growled and let out a bark or two when they come sniffing around her crate while she’s closed in it.

I sometimes wonder if Cookie prefers her old life of running loose with a bunch of other dogs, rather than semi-confinement in a house, garage, or even worse the crate.  






She never complains about being in the crate and seems to be comfortable with long stretches of time laying in there.  I do think she enjoys the comforts and safety of our home, and probably does not realize the added benefits of healthcare (pest control, needed vaccines, and even spaying).

In the afternoon, Joe dropped Maggie, Cookie and I off at the Druid time/shares and I walked the dogs up the path to the library building and down through the woods to Flossmoor (video). 

Cookie is getting better at walking on the leash, but still bothers Maggie sometimes, who I leave off leash where safe.  It helps prevent the tangling problem.  

Joanne had chores this evening and sent an update and photos of the Pasos before she left the ranch.

I continued blogging until bedtime.  I have become a slave to my weekly blog, and recently again feel the need to free myself from it.  If I could just stay brief/keep it condensed. 

I have given up sweets for Lent.  It has not been a problem.  I don't really crave the cookies and candy I was eating daily, several times a day.  I have always been a 'cookie monster,' and like this meme, to assure nobody eats my cookies.