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through the leaves. I didn't realize what short legs they have, nothing like the sound of the cat moving along. A big skunk ! Max barked and it left right away. That's a good thing. BUT on Saturday morning Max's barking was fierce and right at the doorway to the house. I open the door with flashlight shining to see Max getting sprayed in the face over and over. Poor puppy. So brave he went back again and again snarling and trying his level best to break his chain and get to this horrible intruder.

Randy just thought he was going to get to sleep late... I run in yelling, we need your help, hurry get up and grab the gun ! I didn't have to say skunk, the smell was horrible. It took lots of shots to kill the monster creature and a lot longer to get back to sleep. It almost made it to escaping under the house and that would have been very bad. Light the scented candles and spray some air freshener. Even then, the smell didn't go away until it started raining. Max did a lot of rolling in the sand but he made all the smell go away.

The Ides of March are upon us. I guess in a way that the month came in like a lamb, but compared to what. The wind is often over 45 mph in the gusts but we've had something we needed very badly, rain and more rain. They say we're several inches over normal but that doesn't count the shortage from last month or last year. I don't have to water the cedar or pine trees. All the dust from the oak leaves has been washed clean and they are working on buds and nuts. I do dread their flowers and the pollen and the headaches.

I don't want to start the gardening notes yet for the year. I did get out and clean the entire garden but that would be admitting that it went all winter looking a mess, no beds getting ready. It is already well fenced so it will get the early plantings that cannot wait for the bigger garden to get going. The grocery store that always carries the 50 pound bags of compost, manure and top soil doesn't have any yet so I will look to using what compost we have ready in the original bin.

The little outdoor kitten has decided he likes the protection of Max. I will see if my photos turn out well and let everyone see Max's upstairs apartment. If it had a roof and walls, Meowie would move in and stay. The big longhair black cat that has been coming up seems to really scare Meowie, but it makes Max very angry for the cat to be so close and he not able to get to it. I doubt they will ever be friends but Max does cease barking when I tell him to give it up. I tell Meowie he'd better be careful taunting Max so much, that chain could break and he'd be in BIG trouble if there wasn't a tree handy for quick escape.