If only they could talk…

 I never found out where our neighborhood cats went when it iced over a few harsh winters ago. 

They didn’t wait at the doors, they didn’t show up at dinner-times, where did they go? 

I never got to find out, maybe someone else’s homes, we just saw them the rest of the year and they were always fine. When the house sold, only 1 cat barely made it over to Barn Cats, and as usual, no one could coax the other strays into the open. I’m sure they’re fine, I hope so! 

I worry for cats, but not as much as other critters because most other critters, such as dogs, can’t hide nor hibernate quite as well as their feline friends, they can’t find food, actually catch squirrels 🐿 who are themselves hibernating, and most dog breeds just aren’t loners. 

Cesar Milan; ‘One of the things I remind people of constantly when they are trying to connect with their dogs is this: Honor instinct. It really should be a simple concept. If you want your dog to behave the way you want them to, then you have to honor their instincts to get that behavior.

The trouble is, people are not instinctual. They’re intellectual and emotional. But if you try to communicate with your dog through intellect and emotion, only one thing is going to happen. Your dog is not going to understand what you want, so is going to do what he or she feels necessary in order to take control of the situation.’ 

                                   ~

Please feel free to communicate

 To my beautiful customers, 

I’m available for u 24/7, don’t be shy! Please feel free to communicate any time. 

Only 1 customer, (I admit a favorite) spoke up ever so briefly that they would like new candy, this was awesome to even hear from them! I got on it right away, hoping specific vendors were still available. Ordering, shipping, prepping, not to mention giving that location extra time and thought on their, and their customers’, potential preferences puts me to work! 

Giving a preferred customer preferred attention for them and their potentially preferred customers :-) is no easy task! Well, it’s not really that difficult when u enjoy your work 🙂 

At any rate, to all my customers, please feel free to communicate thoughts, ideas, suggestions, gripes, feedback, whatever u like! 

If I don’t hear from u, I assume you’re happy as is!  

Only 1 time did the customer complain and that was because the new gumballs were ‘melting’. 

There was nothing I could do about that except wait because it turned out the mega gumballs were melting  after tasting them because they had just come from the manufacturer, not even stopping to sign in thru a vendor, and the gumballs were so fresh, they were practically melting in the customers hands, much less holding a bubble. Best ‘complaint’ I ever had..! 

I replaced that canister with one that had time to set, and was just fine. 

That said, many customers prefer soft gum, others prefer hard centers that last longer. The shelf-life for quality gumballs is amazing, so if I don’t hear from u, I can’t know who prefers what, please email, call, text, any form of communication u prefer is fine..!

   

                                              ~

Christmas is upon us!

 Merry, merry Christmas month! 🎄 

It’s a hybrid, go around

  Someone please alert the public at large! 

Most hybrids have little to no power, stop trying to go thru them, go around, life much easier that way! 

There are rumors that hybrids aren’t too great on freeways. 

I’m confirming it’s fact. 

I adore my beautiful Prius, it’s fabulous on gas, it’s light, intuitive, easy on the eyes and easy to drive. 

It does NOT HAVE Power! It doesn’t go over 65 miles an hour, please let that sink in because honking at hybrids earns honky reputations. 

It is not well known that hybrids do not have power. Motorcycles have more power than hybrids. I even suggest that driving schools should teach that rule on the same page that teaches speed limits for bicycles. 

My specific model and year Prius has a small graph on the dashboard that lights up red once the 4-cylinder engine begins working too hard, which used to be quite often until I stopped driving the freeways. Only service side-roads and streets for me and my bicyclette, I mean hybrid. 

Oh, u can easily drive over 65, it will respond, until it doesn’t. 

I’ve seen a few on the freeways when I used to drive them, I even saw one of those tiny smart cars zoom past me once, a disaster waiting to happen?

There is one thing that truck drivers understand, and that is, going up hills triggers the honkies. 

I’m not kidding, my Prius baby would Not make it up a steep hill grade. How many Prius’ are in San Fransisco? If my Prius had to negotiate those hills, it might even start slinging backwards. 

If u drive a Prius in San Fransisco, please post the video on YouTube and alert me here. I’d have to see it in action and get one. Any Prius that can climb those hills deserve mention.  

So please, stop with the honking, yelling, zooming, and gestures at those innocent car-wanna-bes. It won’t make hybrids go faster, they don’t. 

                                             🚗 

                

Happy Thanksgiving! 🙏

To Everyone, have a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving! 

To my customers; the supply chain for gums and candies is thin but still available. Please forgive any current delays. I am so Thankful for my wonderful customers! 

All the best to u and yours! 

  

                    ~

Some good info about those pesky mosquitos!

 With mosquito season over, I thought I’d share a bit of good news about those nasty bugs for next year. 

It’s sort of good news because it may help to make them a little less annoying. 

Only female mosquitos bite. 

Of 3,500 species of mosquitos in the world, only about 175 are in the United States. 

West Virginia has the fewest species of mosquitos. 

The mosquito lifespan is only about 2 months .

Mosquitos propagate in standing water but don’t like citronella, a harmless herb 🪴 

    

        

                

                                                                                  ~

Over 1,000 cats and dogs are safe after a meat truck headed for Yulin was intercepted in China

    Having been a proud person of Larry, the sweetest, goofiest Chow-mix I ever met many years ago had caused me to check out the history of the Chow-chow dog. 

    Apparently, they were bred in China to guard the fabulously intricate temples there. 

This answered my question of why Larry growled at anyone approaching the house but couldn’t care less about anyone approaching me! 

 After several generations, the temples in China gave way so much that those grand dogs were abandoned,  and soon began to be eaten! Many centuries later, the beautiful Chinese culture gave way, and all animals became vulnerable, even pets. 

  The story goes that foreign sailers saw the potential of the temple dogs and rescued, saved, and bred as many as they could, dubbing them Chow dogs. 

There’s a special place in my heart for rescuers of dogs, cats, and, okay, I admit, all critters. After all, I blatantly dedicate my candy route and this blog, to critters everywhere, and thought to share a story here of HSI, the Humane Society International Yulin rescue, an effort every year during the Yulin ‘festival’, just one among many; 

‘ It was a horrific scene—over 1,000 dogs and cats were crammed on a truck with dead and dying animals. Some of the animals were stolen pets being trafficked for the meat trade in China. The Chinese animal activist groups, including Capital Animal Welfare Association, worked with the police to help intercept the “death truck,” as it was headed for slaughterhouses or markets in Yulin, China.

Alongside dead dogs and cats, they found animals suffering with open wounds, broken bones, respiratory diseases and severe dehydration. The surviving animals are being cared for by staff at local shelters who are administering lifesaving treatments. Thanks to supporters like you, HSI provided emergency funds to help care for the traumatized animals.

The two truck drivers have been detained by police and reported to Xian Tao officials, and the trader now faces an investigation by the Agriculture Bureau. 

A majority of Chinese people want nothing to do with the dog and cat meat trade, and we will keep working to bring an end to it.

Thank you for continuing to fight for animals worldwide.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Flocken
President of Humane Society International’ 

  

     

      

 

 ~

Happy Halloween’s Eve eve!

 Traditions can keep us anchored and steady. 

I say traditional candy corn is a must! 

If you’ve out-grown any cravings for original candies made of basic sugars, gelatin, and food coloring, no sweat, an expressive Halloween is 360° the entire month of October. 

No, that’s not the temperature, that includes all aspects of an Autumn harvest before the dead of winter, witch is only one reason why October is celebratory while preparing for upcoming Thanksgiving feasts, so enjoy this time of year. Spring is on its way, too! 

            

 

   

     ~

Halloween candy 🎃

 I love Halloween, always have! 

This entire time of year is full of holidays and goodness. 

I guess u can say the glass is half-full or half-empty. 

Some say All Hallow’s Eve is bad, candy is bad for u, masks are scary. 

Or u can say that Halloween is once a year, candy and celebration are great in moderation, and masks are temporary and fun. 

Enjoy life and appreciate loved ones because it’s all rather fleeting isn’t it..? 

It could be better, it could be worse, either way, it’s temporary… 

      ~

Daveisms#1

 

A budget is people telling their money where to go instead of wondering where it went. 

   -Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness