Skunked!

Almost midnight, and a thick odor wafted in my open window and woke me. Skunk! I thought the poor thing had probably been squashed outside on the road. I slept on. Arising early, I headed out on the back porch with my laptop and fresh-brewed coffee to read the e-news. As I opened the back door the true story revealed itself. All three dogs were there before me in their wire crates. Normally, they spend the night in the living room. They all reeked. I let them out and they exited the porch. Phew!

Later, I learned from Wendy, John and Aidan who'd all stayed up late, that the skunk smell I'd woken to in my front-facing window was from the dogs' encounter that I didn't hear going on at the back of the house. They all got it in their faces and mouths. Wendy did a little first aid and John penned them up on the porch. Maybe they won't go near black with white stripe creatures again.

Back on the porch for a nap. Toby doesn't mind the smell at all.

Since mankind is in the dark ages of electronically transmitting odor, you don't have to smell Frezz to look at his picture.

Following the scent, the dank basement gave rise to the source of its moldy smell after the heavy rain of a few days ago. There in my art nook stood my drafting table and chrome shelves in a huge mud puddle (among several more throughout the entire basement). No wonder it had been so hard to sweep the concrete floor free of its dirt layer!

An art move to the barn was greatly improved with Aidan's help.

Aidan demonstrates how to move a chrome shelf unit without taking it apart though I would not fit this solution.

By late afternoon all the stuff was put away and I got a little actual work done.

John's tool/work room is behind the wall. 

Wendy's winter hay storage is on the opposite side of the barn.

Aidan is doing all the animal work while I feed him and take him to soccer games. Parents are having a small holiday. Keoni will return with them. Meanwhile, we invited Nathan over to come with us to tonight's soccer game. He is staying for supper. This morning I put together a pot of stew and the makings which are now complete and keeping warm in a low oven. Aidan went to work in the kitchen, too, making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies.

First sheet is finished!

While the second sheet is baking might as well climb up the doorway.

Look, Grandma, no hands!

The goats and Austin are happy feeding on the varieties of pasture grasses. They have the run-in shed for occasional shelter.

While I lounged in the shade of the big tree by the barn, Toby joined me carrying a mouse which he "played" with until it ran away. I guess he doesn't know yet that it's OK eat them. But, then, maybe that is what a cat does when he has dog pack membership.

Where'd it go?!

Sort of a reverse Tiger Lilly. But maybe it is something else.

Here is its buddy.

Time to gather stuff, get into the car and go to the soccer fields.