Thursday, January 20, 2011

Why today?...

I feel like I should just do this post in bullet form because I doubt I'll be able to tell the story of my morning and make any sense of it. Thank you, in advance, for being patient with me.
  • I've had a really rough couple of days with headaches and last night that was coupled with stomach cramps. It's all sinus related, not to worry.
  • We are having our home appraised and the appraiser arrived 1 hour after I wake up to do a "walk through." Of course, the dogs (except for Daisy) were outside in their yard. He finished taking pictures inside and all he needed to do was go outside and take a few more pictures. Within a minute or two he's tapping on my window saying, "Your dogs have just killed a skunk out here!"
  • So, I quickly change into clothing suitable for the occasion, get my handgun, shovel and go outside to see what's what. Sure enough here lies Pepé Le PEEEUUUU! The dogs are all wired up and with one yell I sent them scattering. Next, I scoop up Pepé and flip him over the fence. All the while, mind you, the appraiser is laughing and trying to tell me about the time he was hunting with his father and their hunting dogs got a skunk. Oh yes, he also said "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you." Ummm, I was thinking, first of all, I'm not laughing and second of all, can't you just leave me to clean up this pack of fools?!?! He did leave.
  • With Mr. Skunk out of the way I tromp back inside to mix up my special, no fail, get rid of skunk odor potion. I keep these ingredients on hand always. Want the recipe?
1 box of baking soda
1 bottle of peroxide
1/2 bottle of dawn dish washing liquid
1 small bottle of listerine
3 gallons of warm water
  • Let the bathing begin! Each of our little darlings was doused with the potion and you have to let it stay on them for at least 15 minutes. It was so cold that I had to rinse, bathe, and repeat, inside, starting with the least foul among them. Speedbump and Daisy only had their faces sprayed so they were first, followed by Charlie and Scrappy. The vilest offenders were Violet and Corrie. The appraiser told me that Corrie had Pepé in her mouth shaking him. YUK! Well, anyway, they got three baths and are, for the most part, back to normal. Oh, after their baths they were sprayed with "Odo-ban" - great stuff.
  • So, all that was left to do was clean the bathroom, wash about 2 dozen towels and take a shower. Then I decided it was time for some toast and coffee! What a day,,before breakfast! I can smile now.
  • I'm kinda glad there are no pictures to document this morning. I probably had some kind of fierce crazy look going on. At least the appraiser has a new funny story to tell. Oh, did I mention that he got sprayed just a little? Gotta love it. Life in the holler, we truly are blessed and hope you are as well...

14 comments:

Paula said...

*giggle*snicker*
I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you... awww heck, you've heard that line before!
So sorry about your morning, dearie... things HAVE to get better from here! (Uhhh, I hope?)

Cindy said...

Oh my, what excitement! I can picture you now, soaked with sweat and water after bathing the entire pack. Yup, lots of laundry to do after such an endeavor. Interesting recipe---I always heard tomato juice was the thing, but you would need a tanker full of it to do the job. So glad things are smellin' sweet again in the holler!!

Betty said...

I kind of wish you did have pictures so we could also have a visual of the morning. I can't imagine you washing all those dogs 3 times before lunch. Oh well, I guess you have your routine down by now. (Keep us posted from the Holler) By the way, why the appraisal, are you planning on leaving the Holler??

JP said...

@Cindy: Unfortunately, this is not Mrs. JP's first rodeo with skunk attacks, and she has told me that the tomato juice thing really doesn't work that well. Out where we live, these skunk encounters appear to occur about once a year, but this is the first time the dogs actually get ahold of the varmint.

JP said...

@Betty: Nope, definitely not selling our little place in the holler. We are just re-working the mortgage in hopes that we might outright own the place some day before I die. :o)

Bell said...

I hate to say it, but this story really stinks. (grin) Bless your heart. This was so good for me to hear. I was all feeling sorry for myself and thinking that nothing is worse than living in a shoe with so many children that I don't know what to do. But bathing stinky dogs in the cold is worse. And I love the choice of words: pack of fools.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We really don't want to laugh but it is a funny story. Mom says no giggling. She is so afraid that will happen here one day and she doesn't want to have to deal with THAT problem with our super thick coats. Just one more fun day in the holler:)

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Lena said...

What a day! Oh, Mrs. JP I hope you really enjoyed that cup of coffee! And that you even had seconds! Geesh - I would have headed straight for chocolate chip cookies, I think.
Hope you got the worst of the smell out. Thank you for the recipe, Kane hasn't killed any skunks yet (actually for all his ferocity on the schutzhund field, he hasn't killed anything! knock on wood!) just corners the local possum every now and then.
Have a wonderful, uneventful day!

The Life of Riley said...

Your post today makes me realise what totally different worlds we live in when you use words like "skunk" and "handgun". I've never seen either of those things close up here - only from a distance (guns on airport security guards) when I visited America in the 1980's, and skunks in overseas zoos.

I wonder if the extra ambience in your back yard (and lingering reminder on the appraiser) altered the final appraisal figure!

cowgirl said...

I'm trying not to giggle... What a morning! I can picture those sweet pups protecting your yard from the evil intruder.
Thanks so much for the recipe... I will definately use it next time my heros encounter a Pepe. :)
Great post Mrs JP!

Maxmom said...

Hey there Ms JP...
I have to admit, I am also giggling! I wish I'd been standing watching too...yes, 'watching'. I've never experience a 'skunk' - I don't think they are resident to our country, but they sure seem to get people going.
How's the headache now...or did it help to clear the sinuses...***Giggle, giggle***
Sending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Deborah said...

Hi,
I would have flipped out and that is putting it mildly. I always have used tomato juice on the dogs to get the smell out. I hope your house comes in what it is worth and the appraiser left in a good mood! My appraiser showed up 1 week early and the house was not picked up enough in my standards and guess what happened. We didn't get to refinance. OK back to the skunk. I would have gone crazy. Did you have to get them vaccinated too? Out in MA we have to. Most skunks are sick. My mother wouldn't get them vaccinated but I would. That is because I'm a worry wart!
I hope your weekend goes 100% times better.
xxoo
Deborah

Sierra Rose said...

Our smiles are just a crack over here...until you were done....and able to get back to the coffee and breakfast! Oh my oh my!!! What a morning! Can't imagine....but so glad the magic potion was on hand :)
Hope the mornings to follow were most relaxing!

Sweet hugs,
Sierra Rose

Vickie said...

Oh my word! I'm afraid I would have been laughing with the agent! At you, my dear! How funny - I AM going to snag your recipe. Our lab Jake got sprayed a couple of years ago, and we tried the old tomatoe juice treatment - didn't work very good. Oldd Jake has since passed on to doggie heaven, but I'm sure we have other dogs to own in the future (when we get moved). Thanks for the great laugh this morning!!!