(no subject)

[ru]

I think Arnold's gone on a hunger strike. His last vet visit was to address three things: 1.) Getting his nails clipped. 2.) Getting antibiotics for him, as his annual summer leprosy attack has begun (we're convinced it's that something out in the ground that's active during the summer causes an allergic reaction on his skin that makes him go all mangy. This theory is supported by the fact that his condition improved when we took him with us to Florida one year, and the fact that it only occurs in the summer). 3.) Addressing the fact that he's been having tummy troubles.

The vet on hand (who was a substitute, as I guess our regular vet wasn't available that day) suggested that it might be a food allergy giving him intestinal attacks, and that we reduce his diet to a special dog food and cheese for giving him his antibiotic. This dog food is made of? Potatoes and *venison*, of all things. Apparently the idea behind the venison is that it's a protein he's never seen before, so he probably wouldn't have a reaction to it, or something to that effect. We suspect that it's not the problem, since his dog food hasn't given him troubles before, but being that she's the vet, we've given the new diet a try.

Arnold's *not* happy about having his dog food changed on him. I'm not sure if it's because he's decided it doesn't taste good, or if he's flat-out irritated that we changed it on him (as, being a dachshund, he's a creature of habit), but he refuses to eat the stuff. He's also lost his taste for cheese it seems, as he only occasionally eats it, I guess because he's wary that we've snuck pills in it. It's gotten to the point where we've cheated a little and splashed a little broth on his food, which seems to appease him enough to the point where he'll eat. He's such a little snot. XD

On a different note, twice now, the sunflowers have gone roots up. I've got a few theories as to why (they don't like the soil, they weren't getting enough sun, something kept eating them, etc.), but for this season I've decided to stop trying to grow them. Instead, since it's kinda late in the season to start something from seed, I picked up a couple vegetable plants from the hardware store. Specifically, I got two pepper plants (red and green), and because I was seduced by the concept, a watermelon vine. This is largely experimental, so we'll see how they do. The three of them together cost only about $5, so if they decide to go roots-up as well, it won't be a disaster. Though I'd rather that didn't happen, of course.

Along the same lines, I've been debating the idea of a gardening journal. Since learning to garden, especially with the vegetables, has been largely trial and error for me, I want some place where I can record things I've done over the growing season, what works, what doesn't, etc., so I know what to do for the next go-round and hopefully won't make the same mistake twice. I'm definitely going to do it either way, but the question is, do I want to start it as a separate LJ, or should I just do it as a paper journal? I dunno if anyone would be interested in reading it or not.

Comments

[shortcakegreen.livejournal.com]

I'd read it. Mostly because I desperately want herbs and I can't get the damn things to thrive. I need help, clearly.

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Eeee! My track record with herbs hasn't been the greatest, as the only thing I seem to have gotten to successfully grow is thyme. But! I got a book on growing herbs at the annual library book sale, so perhaps I can use that to try again!

[liich.livejournal.com]

parsley and chives are really easy to grow, too. we've had chives for years and years and they won't die...which is good. chives are great!! we just left them in the back yard in the compost area. the parsley was the same until my dad covered them with a pile of grass. oh, well. at least there are still chives!

[liich.livejournal.com]

ooh, garden journal. sounds interesting. :) i would read it.
also, i don't think it's too late in the year to plant some more sunflowers from seed. try some more.

also, we started giving my dog the venison food by wellness....and i think he's allergic to it. it's hard to find houdini food b/c he's allergic to chicken, wheat and dairy. beef is usually a big allergen in dogs, but dini seems to be okay with that. i've had to put him on a lamb and rice formula, though, because it's the easiest to find that dini can handle. i wish i could find a senior/low-fat diet for dini, but, unfortunately, those are all made with chicken. i think the next type of diet i'm gonna try is duck and sweet potato. dini likes food, so i don't have a problem with him eating...luckily. monster, on the other hand....fussy fussy. he's not allergic to anything, tho, that that's great!

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Well, I've gotten the peppers in the former sunflower bed now, so maybe I'll try again next year. That, or I'll go about trying to make a bed in a sunnier location.

I never realized that dogs could be allergic to meat-like things, seeing as, well, somewhere back there that's what they ate and whatnot. Arnold should view venison dog food as hearkening back to his ancestors! XD

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

I have tried many times to get sunflowers to grow in NC for five years, and have failed every time. I've gotten them to grow a foot and a half high once and produce the measliest seeds ever, but that was it. Of course, this at my mom's house. There it wasn't the amount of sunlight so much as a soil type. Too sandy and/or clayey. I think to really get them to grow around here (I've seen other people do it!) you need a lot of potting soil.

I'd read a gardening journal. I love growing things. ^^

[peppermintberry.livejournal.com]

Hm, yeah, I think maybe adding more potting soil to offset the clay will help. The bed that Dad and I made was pretty shallow, so maybe next time around I'll make it wider and deeper, and see if that helps.

Since I seem to be backing my way into a vegetable garden anyway, I may also try moving the sunflower area into a sunnier place and putting something else in the former spot. The ones that did come up were pretty spindly and twisty, which makes me wonder if they were looking for more light. I guess they thought the black walnut was hogging too much of it, or something. ^_^;