Keep the Coffee Comimg

Today is a glorious day. Though cold, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue, Venetian Chrystal blue according to Crayola. A few wispy clouds are hanging around reluctant to let go. Warmer days are coming but not until later in the week. I’ll just have to be content with the sun and blue sky. Hoping for warmth might be bit greedy.

Here is the big news. Henry has joined my family. He arrived on Saturday. Henry (his new name) is a ten month old rescue who is, by best guess, part pointer and part setter. Henry is mostly white with brown spots and has amazing green eyes. He is my first male dog and my first dog with a tail. I’m being patient as Henry has traveled from Texas to Connecticut to South Yarmouth to me and is understandably skittish. The low point was Saturday night the day he came home to me. I led him to the backyard and he ran into the biggest possum I’ve ever seen. I ran to them hoping to save Henry and the possum, but Henry was smart and ran away from the possum. I stayed in the yard keeping my eye on the now playing dead possum. The night was freezing. I gave Henry enough time and called him. He didn’t come. I went to get him and he ran away from me. I sat and waited some more but he wouldn’t let me near him. I sat back on the deck stairs and waited. It started to rain, but he ran under the deck and only I got wet. I was cold to the bones and went inside to get warm. Henry was stuck in the yard so I felt safe going inside. In a while I went back outside, and we played keep-a-way. I tried to lure him with food and sweet words. Nothing worked. I went back inside to get warm. By now we’re at about two hours of my trying to get him. It started raining again. I went back inside. When I went out, he was happy to see me from a distance. By now it was quarter to 3 in the morning. I sat on the step trying to figure out what to do next as I was stymied but then he ran by me and climbed the stairs to the deck. He was cornered and I was able to loop the leash over his head and bring him inside. I slept with him on the couch that first night and ended up cold with a painful back but he needed that couch, his safe spot. I bring him food and water there. Last night I slept upstairs but he stayed downstairs. This morning I couldn’t get him to leave the couch. I put the leash on him but I couldn’t get him off the couch. He was scared so I stopped and patted him and told him what a good boy he is. He settled down and fell asleep. I fed him again on the couch. That brings us to now. He is stretched out and sleeping and hasn’t ‘t been out yet. I guess he’ll let me know.

Maddie is a trooper. When she first saw him, she hissed and swatted. Since then she has jumped on the table three or four times to get patted but always watches Henry who doesn’t care about cats.

It will take time but I have the time. Henry is already  loved. That’s the best start!