The Master Destroyer
The last few mornings, I have found a series of things destroyed in our backyard. First, I saw from our bedroom window a deflated yellow and white beach ball floating in our swimming pool. On my way out to pick up the dead beach ball, I found pieces of navy fabric from one of our outdoor umbrellas scattered across the flagstone path leading towards the pool. When I reached the umbrella, I saw that it had been torn off the top of the pole and now had a gigantic hole in it. I'll admit it was probably my fault that the umbrella no longer serves it's purpose. I did leave it laying on the pool deck, instead of putting it back in the umbrella stand, after my littlest guy decided to show off how strong he was, by taking it out of the stand. It was when I was pondering this, thinking what a drag it was, I had to replace the umbrella, and how it was all my fault, that I noticed my oldest son's garden was in disarray. My heart sank.
Captain Awesome has had his garden since last fall. He asked for a garden for his fifth birthday and his Grandpa proudly provided that gift, by building the raised bed, helping him plant his first fruits and vegetables and teaching him the importance of consistent watering. The garden has benefited us all, teaching us about growing food and eating the tasty results.
I was somewhat relieved that I was the one that found the garden this way, while Captain Awesome was away at school. I imagined if he saw it like this, he would have been devastated. The bird netting we put up to protect the garden from hungry birds looked as if it had been in a tug of war and was on the losing side, having been pulled off the garden almost entirely. The Master Destroyer that was responsible for yanking the bird netting off, had attacked the garden before, while the boys and I were out of town (in the beginning of August) and my husband was at work. At that time, we lost both our purple and green bell pepper plants, but she had left the melon plants alone. That morning, it looked as if there had been a little damage to the melons, but they still had a chance to survive.
When I told Captain Awesome about his garden after school that day, he took it better than I expected. I tried to soften the blow, by letting him know that the melons may still be able to survive and we can start planting new things for the next garden season now. He then got excited about all the new things he wanted to plant and briefly forgot about the damaged melons.
The next morning I went out to water the garden and saw that the Master Destroyer had finished off the rest of the melon plants, by pulling them out of the garden bed and scattering their remains all around the garden area. I felt sick with anger and frustration. The day before, after seeing all of the damage done, I had sprayed along the pool fence, a spray that was supposed to keep destructive animals away. And my husband had covered the holes dug underneath the fence with bricks and other large stones. I should have known it wouldn't keep her out, when she followed along while I was spraying the fence, lapping up as much of the mist as she could.
I have yet to see the Master Destroyer get through the pool fence, but she does. It amazes me she still can at 5 months old, since the rails are about 3 inches apart and she's got to be over 25 pounds now, apparently a lean 25. Most times I hear her yelping when she forgets how to get back through the fence to come back to the grass side of our yard, always after she has taken a swim in the pool.
I decided yesterday, I was going to get something else to keep her out of the pool side of our yard. At Lowe's, I found a nontoxic powder made of cinnamon and thyme oil that was specifically made to keep dogs, cats and rabbits away. They labeled it a training aid, "people and pet safe". I sprinkled it along the pool fence yesterday afternoon. Again she followed me while I did it. I figured since my nose was tingling and my eyes started watering, it must be good stuff and would eventually effect her, keeping her away from the fence.
Nope! I woke up this morning to find her swimming in the pool again. Now, granted, when I wake up, she has only been outside for 30-40 minutes. One would think that she wouldn't get that bored, that she has to take a morning swim and then tear stuff up afterwards, but she does. I'm at my wits end with this high energy husky-lab mix puppy. As sweet and loving as she is, she is mischievous and destructive. This was just the last bit of destruction she has done. A few weeks ago she killed all the patio chair cushions, by destuffing them one by one. I wanted to be able to plant a new garden with Captain Awesome this weekend, but am unsure of how to keep her out. I may have to resort to chicken wire fencing to protect our garden. Hopefully that will keep her out.
Captain Awesome has had his garden since last fall. He asked for a garden for his fifth birthday and his Grandpa proudly provided that gift, by building the raised bed, helping him plant his first fruits and vegetables and teaching him the importance of consistent watering. The garden has benefited us all, teaching us about growing food and eating the tasty results.
I was somewhat relieved that I was the one that found the garden this way, while Captain Awesome was away at school. I imagined if he saw it like this, he would have been devastated. The bird netting we put up to protect the garden from hungry birds looked as if it had been in a tug of war and was on the losing side, having been pulled off the garden almost entirely. The Master Destroyer that was responsible for yanking the bird netting off, had attacked the garden before, while the boys and I were out of town (in the beginning of August) and my husband was at work. At that time, we lost both our purple and green bell pepper plants, but she had left the melon plants alone. That morning, it looked as if there had been a little damage to the melons, but they still had a chance to survive.
When I told Captain Awesome about his garden after school that day, he took it better than I expected. I tried to soften the blow, by letting him know that the melons may still be able to survive and we can start planting new things for the next garden season now. He then got excited about all the new things he wanted to plant and briefly forgot about the damaged melons.
The next morning I went out to water the garden and saw that the Master Destroyer had finished off the rest of the melon plants, by pulling them out of the garden bed and scattering their remains all around the garden area. I felt sick with anger and frustration. The day before, after seeing all of the damage done, I had sprayed along the pool fence, a spray that was supposed to keep destructive animals away. And my husband had covered the holes dug underneath the fence with bricks and other large stones. I should have known it wouldn't keep her out, when she followed along while I was spraying the fence, lapping up as much of the mist as she could.
I have yet to see the Master Destroyer get through the pool fence, but she does. It amazes me she still can at 5 months old, since the rails are about 3 inches apart and she's got to be over 25 pounds now, apparently a lean 25. Most times I hear her yelping when she forgets how to get back through the fence to come back to the grass side of our yard, always after she has taken a swim in the pool.
I decided yesterday, I was going to get something else to keep her out of the pool side of our yard. At Lowe's, I found a nontoxic powder made of cinnamon and thyme oil that was specifically made to keep dogs, cats and rabbits away. They labeled it a training aid, "people and pet safe". I sprinkled it along the pool fence yesterday afternoon. Again she followed me while I did it. I figured since my nose was tingling and my eyes started watering, it must be good stuff and would eventually effect her, keeping her away from the fence.
Nope! I woke up this morning to find her swimming in the pool again. Now, granted, when I wake up, she has only been outside for 30-40 minutes. One would think that she wouldn't get that bored, that she has to take a morning swim and then tear stuff up afterwards, but she does. I'm at my wits end with this high energy husky-lab mix puppy. As sweet and loving as she is, she is mischievous and destructive. This was just the last bit of destruction she has done. A few weeks ago she killed all the patio chair cushions, by destuffing them one by one. I wanted to be able to plant a new garden with Captain Awesome this weekend, but am unsure of how to keep her out. I may have to resort to chicken wire fencing to protect our garden. Hopefully that will keep her out.
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