Procession of the Species

The 19th Annual Procession of the Species Celebration was on Saturday.

It's a weekend of events honoring Earth Day and partnered with the Olympia Arts Walk in which businesses sponsor the display of artists' works. This year there were 128 businesses participating and hundreds of artists. Friday night kicks off the celebration with music performances all over the city then at 9:30pm is the Element of Spirit Luminary Procession which celebrates the element of Spirit with a parade of lights. I've never been to this procession. Next year.

This year I finally made it to the Procession of the Species which takes place at 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon.

It's a real "grassroots" parade where anyone can join, make their own costume and participate. Lots of various groups organized by families, schools, and clubs. Some groups are specifically organized for the procession. It's very community-oriented.

They meet for months prior to the day planning, designing, decorating, and practicing their routines. There are costume workshops and dance classes all over town leading up to the day.

I arrived early on Saturday and walked the procession route looking at art and watching people. I headed to the start of the procession to see what was happening. The energy was high. Everyone was laughing and smiling. Each group had their own music, mostly African drums which was really cool. Everyone dancing to choreographed steps. It was amazing to see all the bugs dancing together over there, the jelly fish swaying to my right, and the wolves howling beyond.

Organizing the chaos must be a miracle, but everyone seemed to know exactly where to go and what to do as they self-placed themselves within one of the four elements of the universe: Earth, Air, Water and Fire as designated by the signs.

For instance, if you are a dragonfly or a bumble bee, you would be grouped in the flying insects within the element of "Air".

Flowers and animals are groups under "Earth".



Sunshine under "Fire".

Sealife under water.



There were lots of jelly fish with costumes made with umbrellas or plastic bags. This little girl had a great technique. She would walk high on her toes, then would bend her knee and step down so her plastic jelly fish head would puff looking like a real jelly fish.

This is SambaOlyWa, a samba group. Every year they select a new theme. This year they were grey wolves so everyone dressed in grays and blacks, some had animal prints on their shirts, others wore little wolf ears or tails. There were at least 100 members including the drummers all dancing together. I'm not sure of the significance of the long white skirted women at the front of the group. Founders?

 



In compliance with the Earth Day theme, there is a strong emphasis on recycling so lots of recycled products are used for costumes and accessories. Lots of papier mache and cardboard.

This whale sculpture was really cool.

As it got closer and everyone was oooh-ing and aaah-ing, someone exclaimed, "Oh my god, it's made from plastic grocery bags!" The fin was made from old styrofoam. The handlers were rolling it down the street on grocery carts. Brilliant.

Then on the flip side, as they turned it, it was more recycled materials as a skeleton. Brilliant message.

The kids were adorable.

These little frogs were energetically hopping down the street. I was near the beginning. I wondered how long before they would exhaust themselves.

These are the viruses. HA! I didn't get a photo of the group in front who had another virus sculpture and were dressed in their bathrobes.

My favorite, the dandelions.

Their headdresses were really incredible and I wonder where they got their matching green outfits.

Love this family of hedgehogs. HAHAHAHA

Those are clothespins on their backs. HAHAHAHA

This was really cool and kinetic, although difficult to capture in a photo since everything was moving so fast. These are dolphins and the blue the water. The people are dressed in blue running up and down the "rapids" holding dolphin wind kites so the dolphins looked like they were jumping through the waves.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the giant slug, but it left a trail of yellow and red paint as slime. You can see it on the street in the photo below. I'm still pondering how they did that. You can also see the chalk all over the street.

Prior to the procession, kids were decorating the pavement with chalk which was provided and sold by an organization. Fun.

What a wonderful celebration of happy people honoring the earth. So fun.

Multi-Purpose Furniture for a Tiny House

Since I can't find a rental, I'm seriously considering jumping right into the tiny house idea and planning how I can possibly fit into a small space and still live comfortably. Where will I put my five shelves of books? What about my desk, which is nearly 10 x 10 all by itself? I could fit my whole office into a larger, tiny house, but then where would I put my bed?

 

I was recently sent a link to a design company with furniture that served two purposes. It would look like a desk with computers or books on it, pull it down and there's your bed. The amazing part was the desk would still be intact with the computer and books on top of it only now stored under the bed. The technology is amazing. Things pulling down or folding up serving two purposes in one small space. The link I was sent is no longer working, but I'll keep searching. Here's a similar idea with a wall bed from OrgHome:

 

http://www.orghome.com/org/photo-gallery/org-wall-bed/ 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant it, this particular model wouldn't fit in my tiny house, but you get the idea.

 

 

Here's another idea from Ghoofie:

 

 





 

Fun stuff! Designs are embracing the tiny house idea with multi-purpose tables, couches, chairs, kitchen sinks serving as bathtubs (eeewww...).

 

Love it.

Who's Thinking About You?

My new favorite Jason Mraz song. He's so sexy...

 

 

 

 

 

I finally bought his new CD...a year late. I love it. I have been putting this song on repeat and listening to it over and over. It's so relaxing. 

 

Real link in case it's needed:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuWfyh4sctY

My Real Dream Houses, Part Five: Tiny Rolling House

 

For people who really love to cycle, but can't figure out how to store a bicycle in their tiny house....!

 

 



A Celebration of Appreciation and Gratitude

I have a new appreciation for my old house, also occasionally known as The Rat-Infested, Opossum-Harboring Hotel. For all its faults, it's safe and home. (As long as keep fighting to keep the critters out!)

 

The garden is growing and beautiful. I've worked on this garden for eight years and it finally feels right. Flowers blooming. Birds singing. Wind whispering.

 

 

 

 

Sun shining. Neighbors mowing. Trees blossoming.

 



 

No mold anywhere, no insect infestation, and it's all mine. I don't answer to anyone demanding rent and telling me what I can and can't do.

I'm still free! Hooray!

Peter is happy he's not jailed in a small cage sitting in a strange place. Life is good. I spent some time outside appreciating my safe haven and every now and then kissed its walls and smiled. Nothing like a really bad experience to make you appreciate what you have.

To celebrate, I built an ugly gate.

 

My other gate rotted so I threw it away and I've been using chicken wire which is unsightly. Not that this isn't unsightly, but it has a sort of eclectic charm that makes me smile. In an issue of Martha Stewart Living I saw pictures of a garden gate someone made with used, ugly wood. They hooked it to the fence post with twine and had to lift it to open and shut. Something looking like a pig pen enclosure. A nice, traditional farm gate.

 

Mine isn't that rustic as I have used old hinges and a latch recycled from the last gate, but it's still pretty ugly. If you look really closely, you can see the dirt on the wood pieces. I found some of these pieces in the garden as I was using them as stakes. HAHAHAHA I am the recycling queen!

 

Peter won't care. It'll do its job to keep him out of the front gardens. At least he can see it, unlike the chicken wire which he ran right into.

My lungs are finally back to normal today. I am so grateful.

Dodging Bullets

I deleted my last post called, "The Commitment". For those of you who read it, you are aware I inspected the rental cottage and satisfied it was clean and safe, signed the one-year lease. I was so thrilled and excited to move into my new place and finally be a resident of a wonderful community. The memory now horrifies me.

So clean. So deceiving.

 

I spent five hours cleaning, scrubbing and sterilizing every surface. As in past moves, this affords me the confidence to know everything is clean and safe. Unfortunately, I kept finding very odd signs of problems. Most I didn't understand, but I kept right on cleaning excited to finally find a home after many months of searching. Nothing a little cleaning won't take care of, right?

My first discovering was the cleaning people who were hired a month before didn't do a very good job. They missed the blinds totally and the filth matched the rug the landlady tried to give me. Really disgusting. But dirt doesn't necessarily mean danger so I kept working.

The next discovery was a little problematic. Under the kitchen counter there was a rubber-coated metal garbage receptacle attachment. It was dirty, caked with food, peeling and rusted. There were bits of old, dried food behind it. (I think the money the landlady paid the cleaners was truly a waste.) The rust was a little odd, but at the time I wondered if spilled liquid left and not cleaned was to blame.

Then as I wiped down the new shelving paper on the bottom surface under the sink, I felt a bump. I peeled it up and underneath found a pile of yellow dust. Hmmm....Did someone repair? Drill? Saw? And leave saw dust? Maybe there was a moisture problem and it was fixed? That would explain the rust. Why did the cleaners cover it with the shelf paper? I removed the shelving paper and cleaned it up looking for evidence of repairs. Couldn't see anything. For a half of a second I considered bugs. Naw! The landlord wouldn't rent a space with an insect infestation.

As I cleaned the floor I kept seeing tiny specks of black dots. Dirt the cleaners missed? Fly poop? (Eeewww.) I knew this space had been used for storage for the last two years so flies would be normal and I knew the cleaners were bad. I kept cleaning.

My lungs were hurting and my sinuses burning so I opted not to stay in the house overnight. It just felt wrong like it needed to be cleaned again. 

This is where I'm embarrassed. Did someone shanghai my instincts? Why am I being so incredibly blind and optimistic?

My lungs, sinuses and head were hurting all night and the next day. The evidence was gnawing at me all day as I packed up more belongs to take to the rental. Finally I got online to search for clues.

"particle board yellow piles of dust"  This is evidence of wood-boring bugs, either carpenter ants, termites or wood-boring beetles and therefore, evidence of water saturation.

"tiny black dots linoleum"  MOLD. FUCKING MOLD. How did I miss evidence of mold before I signed the lease?  It seems these little black dots are the mold growing underneath the tiles and seeping through the porous surface. The mold will also push up the tiles. While cleaning I did come across one tile that was loose and made a note to glue it back down. Another indication of mold is black around the edges of the tiles. I saw this near the front door. It didn't wash away so it seemed hard. I assumed it was remnants of black adhesive, maybe repairs.  I have never seen mold before and only know how to prevent it.

Sunday night I was in a panic. Oh my god! I left my cleaning supplies, some dishes and a MATTRESS in the rental. I envisioned the little mold spores infecting everything. But I didn't know for sure. It was all I could do to sleep and wait for morning.

At five in the morning I drove to my new digs to confirm the signs of mold to prepare to get the hell out regardless of the cost due to the lease agreement. Sure enough, I pulled up the one loose tile and there is dark black mold growing underneath.

Mold growing under tile.

The tiny dots of black on top of the linoleum are not as obvious as the dots underneath. They were much smaller, almost microscopic. I could see them while cleaning because I was on my knees and close to them. Walking around looking at surfaces before I signed the lease, I expected mold to be very visible. There wasn't any on walls or in the corners where I expected it to be.

 

 

Mold seeping out from tile edges.

 

Looking under the kitchen sink, the bugs are back at work and there is new little mound of yellow dust started.

Infestation dust

Before leaving I took photos. I read you should put a dated newspaper in the photo, but I think you are supposed to do that when you move out. I figured it couldn't hurt.

Overflowing water next to foundation outside kitchen.

 

I also took a photo of the overflowing rain barrel outside the house near the kitchen area. Then I packed up all my supplies and my mattress and shivered the feeling of YUCK off me.

I knocked on the door of the landlady at 8:30 a.m. She was still in her nightie. She was surprised to see me and I apologized for getting her out of bed, but it couldn't wait. I told her I couldn't move in to the cottage as the space is contaminated with mold growing under the linoleum. I showed her the piece of tile with mold shadows on the under surface. She didn't look surprised, but she feigned ignorance whining, "I don't know why no one told me." Really? It didn't matter to me whether or not she knew. I continued to inform her about the bug infestation and showed her the shelving paper with dust.

Wood-boring bug dust on underside of shelving paper.

Although her chosen words indicated she was apologetic, her demeanor was not. I think she knew about the mold. How could she not? I repeated I couldn't believe the cleaners didn't tell her as it would have been very apparent to them. She looked uncomfortable. We also discussed the possible problems of the house, the fact it was closed up and used as storage with no heat, the crawlspace height, and the water barrels. She admitted to being the one who installed the linoleum. I told her even if she got an exterminator in the building to get rid of the bugs, I can't be in the same space with those chemicals. And according to online information, she was going to need to rip out all the linoleum and maybe remove the wood floors underneath to make it livable.

She told me she had just deposited my checks so it would be a few days before she could give me a refund. This sounded hopeful. She's not going to hold me to the lease? We'll see. I told her I would really appreciate it.

Then she slipped and said, "I wish I hadn't deleted all those other responses to my ad because now I will have to re-post it and go through the process again of finding another renter."

I just stared at her. "Are you sure you want to rent it out without fixing the problems first? That mold can cause real health damage." She stared at me. I don't think she has any intention of fixing the problems and is hoping to get a tenant to take responsibility for them. I'm torn. If she finds another renter, I'm not liable for the lease and future monthly rent payments, but how do I live with myself for allowing another renter in there? If she doesn't or can't find another renter because she has to fix the problems, I might be liable for twelve months of rent. That's a whole lot of money.

I kindly told her I was really disappointed as I was looking forward to living next to her. She said she was also looking forward to being neighbors and showing me around town. I asked if I could come by to visit if I find another place and she said yes. We said our good-byes and I got the hell out of there.

At home I sterilized everything with hot, soapy water and bleach. The mattress I left out in the sun to heat up. Light kills mold. Not much else I could do with a mattress.

I just dodged a bullet. A deadly bullet. Suppose I had moved out of my house and put everything in this rental? What would I have done if I didn't have my safe haven waiting for me to return? Supposed I had stayed the night? Or continued to ignore the warnings and never did that online research?

This has been a huge learning experience! First, I'm an idiot. Second, I can desperately rationalize anything in hopes of a good outcome. Third, my optimism is bad for my health.

The whole experience is frightening. I'm hoping I don't put myself in the line of fire again. I'm a bit gun shy right now. My house is looking really lovely these days. At least it's not going to kill me.

My Real Dream Houses, Part 4: Greenpod

In a previous post, I described how I discovered Greenpod and the joy I experienced to see chemically sensitive housing in real life! They look much like models I'd seen online so I immediately recognized the simple, environmental, sustainable designs. I almost started crying as I was chanting, "Oh my god! Oh my god!" It was like a vision.

 

The owner, founder, and developer, Ann Raab, was the person who greeted me in the parking lot. What I didn't realize is this is a woman-owned business with women employees. Very cool.

 

 

They had two models on display. The smaller one was the studio plan. The interior space was about 10 x 20 feet (guessing) without any "living accessories": no toilet, sink, appliances. It was being used for examples of fabrics, colors, materials, etc..

 

Studio

 

The other model was a house. It was amazing. Very compact, but comfortable and most importantly, exceptionally environmentally-friendly, non-toxic and safe!

 

 

House

 

 

I loved all the windows and everything seemed so well-built and sturdy.

 

 

See the little storage unit outside with the vegetation wall? Ann said they just started it. Plants are placed in the grid and they grow right there eventually forming a wall of greenery. My kind of garden. Low maintenance!

 

Living Room

 

This is the view from the front door showing the living room. All the furniture and accessories are designer and simple using non-toxic materials. One of those switches on the wall next to the painting was the electrical magnetic turn off. Amazing. The walls aren't painted; they are made from ceramics.

 

 

Kitchen

 

To the left of the living room or if you walk to that backdoor in the living room photo and turn to the left and here is the kitchen view. All stainless steel with wood cabinets. There was an incredibly high-tech water purifier. You can barely see it in the upper left of this photo on the shelf. She explained all the different kinds of water. I was in so much awe, I don't even remember the details.

 

 

Bathroom

 

Turn all the way around, walk down the hall and halfway down is the bathroom with open shower to the right. I walked into the shower to take the photo. The tiles are granite and the walls of ceramic material. I love the beautiful colors. Everything felt like nature, all natural materials and natural colors. It was very soothing. I think I left my brain in the shower...

 

 

Hallway

 

Walk to the back room and look back to the kitchen and here is the view of the hall. The wood floors were so spectacular. What was odd is I kept expecting to smell SOMETHING. Wood varnish, new paint, caulking...something! Everything was too new not to smell. No smells at all. The weird thing about this model is the layout was almost exactly like a trailer I lived in during graduate school, nearly the same size, but much more sturdy. The trailer moved and creaked when I walked down the hall. This model didn't move at all. Not even a whisper. I felt very at home. It was like a cocoon.

 

 

Ann said the cost for the studio was about $20,000, but keep in mind it was just walls, floor, and doors. Probably electricity, too. The house model was $100,000 but that includes all the designer furniture, accessories, art, appliances, etc. Everything was made by local people.

 

These are just my memories. For real and accurate information check out their website:

www.greenpoddevelopment.com

 

 

Can I have one?

 

 



The Expedition

It was a three-hour drive out of the hinterlands. I wasn't sure what to expect. More hinterland? More trailer trash with dumpy houses and junk yard properties? No, it can't get worse than where I live now. Well, maybe it can! I braced for the worst doing my best not to get my hopes up too high.

The drive was absolutely stunning. I can't believe I've never road-tripped in that direction! Lots of green trees, sea water on one side, mountains on the other, and rain all around. The farm lands were spectacular and I spent the time dreaming of the perfect plot of land with a perfect little house on it just for me. Wonderful area. It would be good to rent here so I could take my time and explore. It has great potential.

Then I got to town. It was little, but big. Much bigger than my town, but it still felt small and quaint. Lots of different kinds of stores. I made it down to the old town center and it looked like something out of a western movie circa 1800. WOW! Oh, look at the Victorian mansions on the hill above! I headed up there and found what looked like a separate, second town center with a Farmers' Market!!! With gluten-free booths and organic produce! I was nearly hyperventilating I was so excited and amazed. Everyone was so nice. And gorgeous men walking around without a care in the world.

I found the co-op. Bigger than the one I shop at and the prices about the same, but you don't have to write those obnoxious codes for everything. Lots of nice, smiling people. Plenty of parking. So wonderful. The only thing wrong with it was they sell those damn unsweetened carob chips which are really hard to find. My weakness! Normally I have to drive an hour or more to buy them which controls my temptation. They are not on the Paleo-Hashimoto's diet.

Next I went in search of the cottage. I had an hour before the appointment. Hmmm...the landlady said her house was "on the other side of the property" from the cottage. I think she meant ten feet away. A little too close. I felt a little disappointed and then worried about what else she mislead me to believe or just didn't tell me. By that time though, I was in love with the town and determined to move there.



I went back down to the co-op to peruse their bulletin boards for other rental notices. I found a few. I asked employees where I should look for information and a customer standing nearby said he is currently renting while his house is being built. He warned most rentals are not advertised and to find a real estate agent or property manager for assistance. He gave me the name and address of his.

The real estate agent, non-smelly and eager as only real estate agents can be, was very helpful and kind. She didn't have much in the way of rentals, but we discussed property and tiny houses. Then she said, "Did you see the pods? Drive two blocks down the street and have a look." I had already been up and down that street several times so I wasn't sure what she was talking about. Pods?

PODS!!! OH MY GOD!! REAL LIFE PODS! Housing for the chemically sensitive made right here! I'll write a separate post for the company Greenpod. I felt as if I had come home! This is serendipity! I got so overwhelmed I'm pretty sure left my brain in one of the pods.

It was time for my appointment. I took one look at the landlady and felt a bond with her. She was my people!! I connected with her immediately. She had beautifully painted walls with original art on each one and such a warm smile and welcoming personality. She told me she moved to the area for the co-op. Same as me! Then her son came around the corner. He is so cute! Not the trailer trash, serial killers I expected.

The cottage was bigger than anticipated. I was expecting the size of a closet. Clean. The linoleum is ugly, but I can deal with that. Maybe I'll paint it? I asked about neighbors' dogs and any barking problems. The son points and as if on cue they are barking. But I didn't really notice it until he pointed it out. They are about 200 feet away. Hmmm...I tried to concentrate to determine if their noise would be too obnoxious, but every time I did, they would stop barking. I think they are far enough away that they wouldn't be too much bother. The rental is temporary so it'll be fine. The garden is beautiful, although a little overgrown and packed from fence post to fence post, but beautiful nevertheless. Compost bins, greenhouses, garden sheds, stone walkways, recycled rain barrels, and tiered beds. It was perfection. And right outside my cottage. The cottage windows face directly into the organic garden.

But where would Peter fit? Not much room anywhere. The side of the cottage? No, there is no room. The other side of the cottage? No, the property line is too close. Then the son pointed to the back of the garden. See the fence? See the little field beyond the fence with long grass and bushes? He was planning to put chickens back there someday, but maybe my rabbit would like it? REALLY?? Peter would love it! He even showed me some caging he had I could use and his mother said if I build the cage on the weekend, her son would be available to help. Her little bunny is a mini chocolate. So cute and much friendlier than Peter, but stuck in a hot greenhouse. I think I'll have to take him out for exercise now and then.

Can this be more perfect? I filled out the application and paid the deposit to hold it. I'm moving! Exile is OVER! I can't believe it. I feel like I've been in hell or at least in prison these past years. I've been released.

I'm so thrilled, although just a tad anxious. I hope my brain-less excitement didn't blind me to something important. When I got home I asked, What just happened? and stressed about the whole experience all night. I definitely failed miserably at remembering my safety checklist. Was I too impulsive? Wait a minute! I've been planning this for two years HOW could it be impulsive?  I'll go back again, inspect everything again and be more thorough before I sign the lease. If I lose the deposit, it's better than being poisoned. It's best to be sure. It's been a long time since I've had to go through this process. I'm a bit rusty.

It's an adventure. I need an adventure.

Tiny Rental Houses

I'm still searching for a place to rent so Peter and I may safely seclude ourselves away while stinky people wander into my house with the possibility of purchase. I decided I can't put my home up for sale without moving out first. How do I sell a house with this restriction:

 

No smelly people entering my sanctuary.

 

 

 

Right there I've eliminated 80% of prospective buyers and nearly all real estate agents. I might not ever be able to sell!

 

So for the last six months I've been searching for a rental. Here are my requirements:

 

1.) Clean. I don't want to see any evidence of smelly pets, rats, insect infestation, mold or general dirt or garbage. It would be nice if it wasn't a crack house or meth lab, too.

 

2.) No carpet. Preferably tile, hardwood, or softwood floors. Linoleum maybe.

 

3.) Non-toxic heating and clean electricity. No oil or gas.

 

4.) Non-smoking.

 

5.) Not newly painted.

 

6.) Pets. No dogs on the property, but Peter must be allowed.

 

7.) Neighbors. Not close by and not trailer trash. Lots of land would be nice, but obviously difficult to find without added rental costs.

 

10.) Must have Internet service.

 

 This is a very tall order. The difficulties I'm finding are the contradictions. If I want clean, then I can't have a pet. If they allow a pet, more often than not the previous renter had a pet or smoked.  Or select only any six of the ten, but you don't get them all!

Another consideration is size. I want to try living in a tiny house. I'm not sure I can even do this, but better to find out now. Since I still have my house and all its expenses until its sold, less expensive rent would be nice. This fits perfectly as a smaller house is often less expensive to rent, naturally. One prospective landlord right away asked me, "How much furniture do you have?" He kept repeating how small it was, not convinced that's what I really wanted.

The last consideration is appliances. It would be nice to have a washer and dryer on the premises so I don't have to use a smelly laundromat, but if it's a tiny house, I doubt if there is enough room for these luxuries. In fact, the few tiny houses I am finding often don't have a stove/oven or full-sized refrigerator. Several tiny houses for rent didn't have toilets!

OK, OK, I can't be too picky and since this is a temporary rental, I'm flexible on appliances. Well, I do want a toilet. I'm surprised there are tiny houses out there and there are few that fit my budget. My definition of "tiny" is anything under 500 square feet. The ones that seem the nicest are very expensive. Also, finding a tiny house that doesn't have a crazy landlord is difficult, too, but I keep trudging onward.

 

I might have found one! A little cottage in the middle of an organic garden. Only 230 square feet. It doesn't have a washer, dryer, stove or oven, but it does have a refrigerator, toilet and a shower. When I asked if the property had dogs roaming free, the woman told me it was a dog-free property with only one rabbit. RABBIT? What? Did you say RABBIT? It seems she has an old rabbit, too.  I like rabbit people. Here is a photo of the cottage:

  

 

 

 

Tomorrow I have made an appointment to have a look. I'm worried the owners are serial killers. Crossing my fingers everything works out just fine.

Peter, the Senior Citizen

Yum! Yum! I love Brazil nuts.

I think Peter is vision-impaired. Or blind. I've noticed in the last month when he hops to me for a treat he nearly runs into my boots. He never used to do that. And finding the treat I'm holding in my hand is difficult for him. Today I waved the treat in front of his eyes. He has no idea where it is. I have to put it right at his mouth for him to stop frantically searching for it. I wonder if his sense of smell is gone, as well? He's been really jumpy, too, but he's responding to my voice more. His huge radar ears are working fine.




I didn't think much of this until a few days ago when I watched him hop toward the front yard. As you may recall, he was banned from the front yard all last summer for eating too much. Last fall when I opened it up again, he didn't bother. I wondered if he was just conditioned not to go into the front yard. He eventually rediscovered "snack heaven", but still rarely ventured away from the backyard.

 

About a week ago I sealed off the front yard entrance again since the new plants have begun to sprout and I want to give them a chance to grow before he snacks them down to nothing.  This time I used chicken wire. I watched him hop right into it! He wasn't going very fast, but he hopped without hesitation, hit the wire with his nose, nudged around a little checking it out, and then stopped. At first I thought maybe he couldn't focus on the thin wire, but now I'm wondering if he's vision is greatly impaired.

I'm feeling badly for him. It can't be fun. I'm going to need to not move things around so much as if he is blind, it's got to be stressful.



Searching...farm boots = treats
 

He just turned seven years old. I wonder what that is in human years?  Perhaps this is the beginning of the end? He seems very healthy otherwise.