Pharaoh's Haven hits the road!

I used to teach kids with learning disabilities. I still LOVE kids and I love animals, so one day I thought, " How can I combine these two passions?" And I came up with the idea of doing humane education in the schools. So, I contacted the vice principal at Em and Jules' school and she was very enthusiastic. So, thus begun our humane education program. We've talked to over 500 kids now, about the five MUSTS of pet care and why most people should NOT own parrots. (Did you know that there are almost as many birds in rescue as dogs? They are big impulse purchases and most people do not understand that parrots are the emotional and intellectual equivalent of a two year old child.) I do the dog part and Jon does the parrot part and it's so much fun for us and the kids and the teachers. After our talks, we take Samson, our greyhound, and Rocco, one of our Italian Greyhounds, into the classrooms to let the kids pet them. The kids are so eager to share their experiences with us and we encourage them to write us- to write their questions and experiences down and then I answer each letter. Teachers love having the kids write and I know from experience that kids write best about things they love. When I have time, I am going to have some business cards made and go to other schools- there never seems to be enough time to do "extra things" like that- but I'll carve out some time and do it- one day.

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But where are your kids???

I get asked occasionally, mostly by older relatives, "But what about your kids?" Meaning, they are more important than a bunch of dogs and birds, and why not blog about THEM? Well, I'll tell you why. My daughters are like my secret stash of Snickers. I don't want to share, and I don't want to advertise how great they are. They are MY TREASURE. Yes, people would love to hear the funny things they do, and I do share that with immediate family, but I don't want their faces watched by people I don't know. Call me weird, but that's how I feel. I could go on for days about how funny Julianna is or Emily's peace keeping skills, but that's "family business". I do occasionally post something funny or a great picture of them, but for the most part, they are my little Snickers and I like them in my drawer, just for me. :) Here are two pics of them with a family friend, who is dear to their hearts. Yes, they are beautiful and precious. And they're ALL MINE. ;)

Greyhound party at the Trinkle house

Last Saturday, I invited the greyhound social group that I joined to come to our house and play in the pasture. I didn't count, but I am pretty sure that we had about 12 or 13 greyhounds here. They ran gleefully around the pasture, looking like the elegant racers that they are. Greyhounds (as well as most sighthounds) recognize each other as the same breed and instantly get along, with none of the "raised hair on the back" nonsense that goes on in dog parks when you try to mix labs, chis, poodles, and pit bulls. They just look at each other and say, " Who's it?" And then the running begins. It is a lovely sight, and greyhound owners find great pleasure in watching them and commenting on how fast they are, or how beautiful someone else's greyt is. I met some really lovely people and Rosie (my dentist's greyhound, whom I keep when they are out of town) and Nuri and Samson, were all very excited and made some new friends, both human and dog. My visitors got to see the IGs and some of the IGs actually ran with the big dogs. We all agreed that it was a fantastic day and I will be extending another invitation soon. Wouldn't it be great if meeting people was this easy? Just touch noses and say, "We're friends!" God really knew what He was doing when he created animals- they are good examples to us of what a peaceable kingdom should be.

We really are in the doghouse NOW!!

Well, we have officially become the doghouse. Over the last two weeks, we have had visiting dogs- at one point, we had our fourteen plus four visitors. Right now, Nuri, the greyhound (seen to the right) and Jack (my friends' dog, they have gone to China to "pick up a baby named Lainey), the Aussie mix are here, along with Nuri's little brother, a Jack Russell named Jordy. There are dog bowls all over the kitchen and dog beds all over the floor in the living room, the office, and our bedroom. And I have gained two new shadows. I cannot sneak out of bed without these two hearing me and following me- (Nuri and Jack). This presents a small problem and I'll tell you why. The "zoo" doesn't officially wake up until six am. I, however, sometimes wake at four or five am. The zoo's alarm clock is Soleil, our sun conure. She wakes eagerly at the first sound of human life in the kitchen or at the sound of a door being opened. So, I've got two dogs who need to go out, and I want some coffee. AT FOUR AM. So I am tiptoeing around, trying not to turn on lights or make any sounds at all- for TWO HOURS. Now, this quarantines me to the office- with Jack and Nuri lying either on the couch or the office floor, calmly waiting for breakfast which I cannot fix until six. What's the big deal about six, you ask? Well, that is when Jon and the girls wake for work and school. If they are awakened before then, WOE to the fool who wakes them up. So, here I am, stuck in the office, writing this, when I really need to be

doing laundry

emptying the dishwasher

cleaning the living room

taking a shower (that wakes up the porch crowd)

walking on the treadmill

I keep saying that Soleil is the wrench in the works, but noone around here agrees. In the meantime, I am secretly enjoying being the center of someone's universe (Nuri's and Jack's), even if it does mean being sequestered in this tiny room. Sometimes being in the doghouse isn't all that bad.