Skunk Aftermath

As you may have seen from Keith's comment on Thursday night, he was able to get Lilly cleaned up pretty well after being skunked.  The problem was, it was 23 degrees outside when he began to clean her up at 9:45 PM.  Here is what we used to do it:

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 qt 3 Percent strength hydrogen peroxide
• 1 tsp liquid dish soap (we used Palmolive)
• 1 tablespoon mineral or vegetable oil
• Bucket
• plastic gloves
• washcloth
• the recipe also called for her to be shampooed after being scrubbed.

Keith mixed the first four ingredients in a plastic bowl, which you are cautioned NOT to cover, as the peroxide and baking soda clash. He mixed them well, and then began to apply them to Lil with his hands. He realized how cold it was, and came in and brought her into the bathroom so he could do it in the tub. After the first application, he rinsed her off with the showerhead. Then he realized she still smelled, and he applied it all again, washing it in, and then rinsing again and towling her off. She stood very still while all this was going on, and he was very, very careful not to get anything in her eyes, which, thankfully, the skunk had missed.

After that, we let her stay in and curl up in her dog bed. Yes, there was a faint Oder De Skunk in the living room last night when I got home from work, but remarkably, it was very faint. Lil has only the barest whiff of it. 

We found several variations of this recipe on the net, and most called for mineral oil... Keith used one tablespoon of vegetable oil to bind everything together, and it worked fine.

We are PRAYING that Gertie Lou and Abby Lynn stay away from the skunk holes!

It is a glorious day here in Leavenworth County,

and I filled the morning with errands.  I scored HUGE when I dropped the eggs off at the food kitchen/thrift store.  I found 4 pairs of what I can only call "Christmas" curtains... they are lined panels of cotton (I hope, because I'm washing two) that were homemade, and are about 84 inches.  My plan is to take down the one pair of curtains in the living room and put a pair up... put two by the kitchen table, and then find a pair of green valances to put on the windows by the sink.  Right now, none of the windows in the kitchen have curtains.  I can only use these during Christmas season, but what the hey.  I paid $5.00 for the four pair.  Total.

I'll take pictures after they are ironed and up.

I also got four nice handled straw baskets for 2.00 total. (I fill baskets for family members yearly.)  I priced WalMart's at 3.50 each for wicker, but I got these for $.25.  Also, I got four bath hand towels in Christmas patterns at K Mart for $.89 each!  They will line the baskets. I'll take a picture of one when they are finished.

Here are some other things I got last night at WalMart when I stopped to get dog food:

The top two plates are part of the Better Homes and Gardens line of Christmas dishes at WalMart, sold for 2.98 here in our area.  I got four yesterday, and four last week, also coordinating patterns, but two have chickadees on them and two have cardinals.   I'm going to try to get four more and then serve a nice dessert on them at our Christmas party.  Yes, I know it's easier to use paper, but for my family, I would like to have a nice table.

These are the ones I really love... they are a Thanksgiving pattern, and all coordinate.  There were two other patterns, also.  I got these lovely little plates for $1.50 each on clearance!   Keith and I will use them Thursday on our table.   These were not carried at our closest WalMart, but one near my office, in Johnson County.

Here I am last night right where I wanted to be.  I had a very hard week at work this week, followed by the departure on Friday of a good friend, going on to a different (and better) job for her.  I'm so glad for her, but so sorry to see her go.  I came home pooped out, and Keith took this picture about 9, when I was watching "Diners, Driveins and Dives" on the Food Network.  That's the Food Network magazine on the floor by the couch, and Hannah's water, as we bring it to her now.  Gert and Abs had been outside a lot in the afternoon and were worn out, so it was nice to veg out and watch the cooks on tv.

Have a great Saturday!