Author: peterb51

24th December 2025

I’m shattered, having a puppy in the house is exhausting. At the moment Winnie sleeps in between us at night, mainly because we don’t trust her not to mess her bed.

However this means that when she wakes up, someone has to get up and carry her outside. The someone is me, so I usually get woken up at about 2.30am, put on a house coat and somehow find my way into the sunroom and out through the patio doors. I’m not fully awake and often my slippers are on the wrong feet.

It’s not so bad now the snow has gone, but before it was bloody freezing.

I stand around,under the glare of our outside lights, trying to see if Winnie had done something.  Fortunately it is successful most of the time, then it’s getting back to bed, and settling the puppy down, hoping she will sleep again.

If I’m lucky, she will wake again at 6.00am so it’s a repeat of earlier.

We have established a routine that after she eats, sleeps or looks suspicious she gets taken out. She goes out before we eat, and after a walk, it a crazy pattern, but she is getting better, and our powers of observation has vastly improved.

Kelli did a lot of baking, bread rolls and a loaf, I love these Eincorn products, I could eat them straight out of the oven.

23rd December 2025

I think it’s only right that I tell my side of the story as I am the newest member of the family.

I am Winnie, I am a black Labrador mixed with an Australian skunk. The difference between an Australian skunk and a normal one is there is a white stripe down the back whereas mine’s down under. That was a joke that I told my brothers and sisters as we waited in death row at a shelter in Texas. 

Fortunately we were rescued by an animal shelter in Fennville, who then tried to get people to adopt us.

It was a cold and miserable Thursday when these two humans turned up, my brother and I were carried out, and placed in a make shift arena. Along with the two humans came a rather aloof hound, who took no notice of me, she just walked away.

I thought the only way out of this place was to go into my super adorable mode. So then the lady human came over to us, I turned on the dopey eyes and looked super cute, and walked over to her.

This worked a charm, she fell for it, in no time I was being driven back to start a new life. Phoebe, the stuffed up bitch sat in the back seat ignoring me.

Once we had arrived they threw we into tub and doused me with warm water, they muttered something like “ smelt like a tramp” or words to that effect. I must admit it felt good, I just hope they don’t make a habit of it.

Then they let me run around, they had set out a cage in the spare bedroom, but there was no way I was going to sleep in that.

I decided I needed to mark my territory by having a wee, that was not popular, but I gave my cute look, and I think I got away with it.

I was given food and as much water to drink as I liked, this was useful as I had just emptied my bladder.

They tried to take me for a walk, they tied this strap to my new collar, I was not used to this, and I made it know by sitting down and refusing to walk. Therefore I finished up being carried most of the way back.

So it’s been a few days now, and I think I’m getting the hang of fitting in to the routine, I have got used to being carried outside every half an hour where the old human shouts “piss” or “poo”

I don’t have a clue what he’s saying.

Luckily I know where the door is, I just bypass him and wait to be let in.

I have taken over ownership of all the toys, they are a bit ragged, but as I only want to rip them to pieces I don’t mind.

There were two baskets that I have taken over, one was in the sunroom where Phoebe used to sit in front of the heater, the other was the old girls bed.

The only places that I cannot occupy are the bed and the sofa, but it won’t be long before I conquer them.

In the evening the lady human wants me to cuddle up to her, and that’s fine, it when she yells into my ear about being so tiny, I really have to grit my teeth.

Phoebe has started to be more friendly, maybe she has realised that you keep your friends close but your rivals closer.

22nd December 2025

Hello this is Phoebe, I’ve taken over today from the old git. I wanted to give my take on how things have changed for me since this little intruder came into my home.

For the past eight years I was dominated by Dharma, who was a bossy bitch, she ruled the roost, never letting me have any fun.

When she “went away” I thought, Great! I can now do what I want and be the top dog of the household.

Well that lasted all but a week before this strange little thing was carried inside, I thought, “what the heck is going on here?”

I kept my distance, the humans were still giving me attention and treats when I had a piss and poo. I still had all my meals and the leftovers from their evening meals.

Up to now my favourite place was laying on the big bed or sitting by the lady human. That was wonderful until she would reach over and lift me up and kiss me on the head, and talk very loud in my ear, that was my signal to jump off and go over to the old human sitting on the sofa. He would alway make room for me, even though Dharma was on the other side, snoring.

Now I was excited as I could lay anywhere on the sofa without getting growled at.

My other favourite place was the sun room where I had a bed directly in front of the heater, lovely. 

Since this little invader has got her four feet under the table, she uses my bed, she messes with my toys and dominates the time in the evening with the lady human.

I need to exert my dominance, maybe by cunning.

I’ve secretly urged her to wee on the floor, and even take a dump in her bed, I then watch when the humans get excited, and take the little demon outside.

I feel a stranger in my own home, I also realise that I’m knocking on a bit, this invader is a lot quicker on her feet, but I will get my place back as the cute one, these little things are adorable when they’re young, but she will soon get big and ugly, whilst I will remain beautiful.

21st December 2025

We took Winnie to the beach, not that she wanted to go, but I ended up carrying her back to the truck. It was cold, although the sunset was as impressive as ever.

We had two accidents, which was an improvement over yesterday, so hopefully we are on the right track.

It is interesting watching the little one and Phoebe interact with each other, it very casual and playful with the occasional yip.

I managed to prime two matching dressers getting them ready for painting. Things have definitely slow this month, so these need to be done.

20th December 2925

Our entire routine has been disrupted, I have never opened the patio door so often since Winnie arrived, I may have to replace the door track if this goes on any longer.

A lot of the snow has gone and revealed all the dog poo that had been buried, I had great fun collecting it.

We had some errands to do, like getting puppy food from the pet store and picking up toys that Kelli had requested from a local buy nothing web site. We made three stops, the first one had gifted us a duck that was almost new, I thought it was great, and wanted to keep it for myself.

I did a bit of work in the garage, sanding another dresser ready for refinishing.

I was supposed to have a recording session with  Chris, I messaged him to find out when he was coming, he replied with a long diatribe of  woe.

He is having a difficult time in his relationship, I spoke to him later reassuring him that there will be other times when he will not be so stressed.

As a musician, he should take full advantage of his dark time, some of the best music has been written when people have been depressed, so look forward to his forthcoming double album.

19th December 2025

Nobody said it was going to be easy, and it isn’t. Having a new member made you question your sanity. I was out in the falling snow at 4.00am trying to get Winnie to have a piss.

I think we only got about five hours of sleep, which is never ideal for Kelli, but it can only get better once the little critters get into our routine.

I am amazed how much poo comes out of such a small thing, there is masses of it, some we catch and some we don’t.

I am learning the signs to look for now, when it’s little arse looks like a rocket booster that the time to head for the patio door, miss it at your peril.

I had my beer meeting with Lloyd, just the place for a cold drink as the new snow was falling.

It was annoying because there was a thaw happening over the last two days, now it starts all over again.

After that I had to collect another cage from Zeeland, I thought it was Holland, so with the truck driving on fumes, I found the place. It looked like a flower growing nursery. I found the cage outside one of the greenhouses frozen to the ground. I managed to lift it along with a clump of frozen leaves. By now nature, the beer and the cold was calling, so I searched around for a spot to have a slash. Usually everywhere is overlooked, and not convivial to a call of nature.

I did find a convenient spot behind a trailer, so that was done.

Now it was back to Holland to collect a fabric sling that Kelli hoped to carry Winnie around in.

Of course it was dark, and trying to read the house numbers was almost impossible.

I ended up parking the truck and walking up and down the street trying to find this house.

Freezing cold, I did find the place, and the sling stuffed inside a mail box.

By now I was driving on fumes on fumes, so I got to a petrol station just in time. Prices are at their lowest for quite a while at $2.56 a gallon, it will go up again tomorrow, I’m sure.

I believe it is because Trump had the oil from that Venezuelan tanker siphoned out, I suppose that’s one way to do it.

18th December 2025

We collected the latest addition to our family Winnie, a small black puppy. I have no clue what she is other than a leg on each corner.

Now comes the difficult part house training.

Note to self, get a pack of shop towels from Menards.

We arrived at the rescue centre in Fennville, the person in charge of the adoption was a little disorganised, but once all the paperwork was done she was ours.

Kelli kept saying how small she was, as Winnie fell asleep on her shoulder.

I have to rely on Kelli to take charge of the training, although I have more patience, I will have to make sure any of the girls don’t lose their cool.

This activity dominated our day, and it was probably the most disruptive.

I’m sure there will be rocky days ahead as the pup has to get used to our routine, but with a stash of tiny treats to reward her for doing her piss and poo outside, I’m hoping for the best.

17th December 2025

I heard a terrible commercial on the radio the other day, and it was repeated often during my journey. It is all about income tax, and it was produced by a business that helps people sort out their tax problems.

The theme of the commercial is fear, scaring people to death if they haven’t paid their taxes.

It shouts that the tax authorities will come after you, take your house, empty your bank account, take your passport away and leave you destitute.

This is not the only one, there are others that want to frighten people, and it is disgusting.

But that is what is happening to all of us, everything that is bad is being thrown at us keeping us in a state of unrest and anxious.

Check it for yourself, when is there good news?

TV ads are designed to make you feel inadequate, show food that is not healthy, and show games meant to keep you angry and tense with your opponents.

The distractions are all around us, it’s like the scene from the Truman show, where we are all in a show. 

As I have written many times, I don’t believe anything in the media unless I see it with my own eyes. 

It’s hard to question stuff, we listen, form opinions, take sides and dig a trench from which we defend our beliefs.

The biggest challenge is to climb out of that hole, take one step, and ask why should I believe anything that we are told.

My decision will not change the world, but I will not expel energy that can be harvested by the evil that surrounds us, try it, it’s really liberating.

I took my chair shell to the upholster, other that my renders its was the first time he saw it in the flesh. “It’s big isn’t it? Were his first words.

I explained that it was based on the loveseat that we already have, so it’s actually a seat for two.

We talked about the seat cushion being the first part to get sorted, so Randy, the guy who will help navigate us through the job can work to his hearts content.

 We also delivered the cedar chest and a small table to a customer just outside Holland. Although still covered in snow the small community, mostly built by the same builder, were a collection of very unique houses from hexagons , burms and chalets, all interesting and appropriate for the landscape.

16th December 2025

It was project day, and I was eager to get there to finish the chair shell by attaching the webbing strips.

John wanted to continue to apply finish to his church job. That seems to be going on for ages and although he had tried to explain what the thing would look like, I was none the wiser.

What I can gather is the core is a four legged height adjustable desk frame which is then clad in wood panels, but where I get lost, and I have tried to understand, is between the wooden panels there is a steel sheet which is supposed to a shield in case someone shoots at the pastor. I told John that if he is that bad they should get another pastor.

If everything is assembled, it will weigh a ton and would need a crane to lift it.

I wait with bated breath to see the result.

As far as my own project was concerned, fitting the webbing was relatively straightforward.

Getting it into the truck was a little more difficult.

It was a heavy bugger, both John and myself struggled to lift it, there must be enough timber to equal a small tree, but we did it, and it just about fitted. 

I gave John a notebook to put things he needs to remember, losing memory is a terrible thing, and he is slipping down that slope. Sometimes simple things like using his phone confuses him, and I find myself helping him. I try to make a joke about it, because I don’t want to come across as a carer, I just want to help him.

We start the day with a coffee and a biscuit, I think he is getting used to that, that is repeating once we finish a significant part of our projects.

Driving down to his barn on a Tuesday is my creative release, I just have to keep a list of projects going.

15th December 2025

There was no more snow last night, it is even anticipated that the temperature will rise towards the end of the week. Snow that lasts for weeks is a bit of a drag, it slows everything down, and working in the garage, although insulated, is not the most pleasant place to be.

We finished the cedar chest and took pictures, I hope we can get it sold before Christmas.

There was the usual shopping trip, with an excursion to the north side to collect a dog training cage that was being sold for $15, a bargain. Kelli has used this method for all the dogs she’s had over the years, so we are getting prepared.

I checked out the BBC news for anything about the demonstration in London against digital ID, I had watched a bit of the debate in parliament. Most members agreed what a waste of money it would be, and a thin end of the wedge toward full government control of the people. 

I think back to the plan to centralise everyone’s medical records that cost billions and didn’t work. The big concern is the possibility of the system being hacked and everyone’s information being stolen and sold, I say keep personal information personal, tell the government to piss off.