New to this

[flufnstuf5]

So..I live in Bend Oregon and right now it's so cold my chickens were trying to put on long johns this morning...but they still lay some good eggs! I have been grooming for 11 years. I 've had two shops, one on the oregon coast and the one I had here. I closed up here due to many break-ins and high rent. So now I am in the middle of the High Desert and working on my next business plan. I only do a few cats and some dogs for my elderly friends until I come up with another plan. I am the single Mother of five sons. Three of them just left the nest in the last two years and one just gave me a new baby grandson. I love animals, I take care of unwanted cats in the area and get them snipped and loved. I have found homes for over 100 cats in the last two years, and I do volunteer grooms for real bad cases for the animal shelter. I miss doing fulltime grooming and am now in the process of working hard to get something going. I am looking forward to talking with people who do this rewarding job. Bye for Now!

[pamperedpups]

Welcome to the forum from another Northwestern groomer! WOW, you sound busy!! That's an awesome thing you're doing for stray cats. Congratulations on the new grandbaby and good luck with your new business! Will you be able to sneak away for the groom expo that's supposed to happen sometime this year somewhere around Seattle?

[newbie]

Welcome to the board! I am also new here, but the people seem so cool and welcoming! It's awesome to get so many points of views from different groomers with different experiences! I'm already addicted!!! (it's 1am and i have to get up early for work!) lol. anyhoos, congrats on the grandson and that's nice that you are helping the strays. I am going to see if the shelter here will allow me to groom "practice dogs" for them since it won't do anything but helpt them anyways--they look so horrible. I just adopted a lab 2 weeks ago - she was so skinny you could see her bones and dirty as all getup--the poodles and bichon mixes are soo matted! No wonder they are not being adopted! people don't know how cute they really are! a makeover - even from a newbie - would make them look and feel better!

My lab is doing great now - she is eating like there is no tomorrow and is still thin some but not nearly as thin as she was 2 weeks ago. ((sigh)) however, she and my lhasa are not getting along at all. o well--i'll keep working at it!

welcome!

[Wisconsin]

Welcome Flufnstuf5.

Hope you are able to get something up and running soon. Till then, looking forward to reading your posts.

[Angie]

Welcome! You do sound busy!
My chickens are doing the same thing. I'm in Iowa though. We got hit with ice and sleet today. High of 15. I have a newborn calf in the barn on a heating pad to keep him warm.
Good for you on the kitties. I am on the Board of our Humane Society, just served 2 years as president. That was a job in itself. I can go into ALOT of sad stories of unwanted, dumped, negleted, & abused animals, but that is a wholedifferent board in itself.
I'm so looking foward to spring.

[PAWS]

Welcome to the board! I was raised in Oregon...in Eugene to be exact. I don't miss the weather one bit, but it sure is beautiful there, all desert, coast and forest too. Best of luck in your venture

[irish23]

Welcome!!! May be your chickens should come to New England.. it has been bizarly warm this winter.. so far. Oh wait did I just jinx myself??

[jbates]

Schnauzer lover-others too.Hope to make lots of pals here. b.

Hi I am the new kid? from Mesa, Az it is nearly 1am 33 degreese. Yes Arizonagets cold it also get HOT April May will be beautiful with my big jacaranda in my front yard. You groomers are so clever. I can't send a photo of my girl without help from Pam. Az. groomers assoc. can I say that? I love this chat board. She reads it every day and she has a husband for a companion. I have 3 mini Schnauzers. Boys 11 Halle is 2 this May. My best buddies. I have been here seven yrs. Still can't get some clients to sched. in advance. I think we all could write a huge book of stories. Funny, sad etc. All we say here would be a good book to read. I too am addicted and got this laptop 1-11-07! I am stiff from sitting here. I think this will be my new diet aid not so interested in eatihg overeating ---just want to read and chat all nite.Has anyone lost weight this way? I think I might.Schnauzer lover . bye for now, Jane

[sheilabgroomer]

Wow 5 boys!!! I thought my Mother in Law was the only one crazy enough to have 5 boys....lol...and a grandson too...congratulations. I bet you are like my mom in law and it takes a lot to get you shook up!!! I think after raising 5 boys it would take something short of dismemberment to get Marie to turn a hair...lol...I would love to be the first grandaughter in your family, I bet she will be spoiled rotten!!
Anyway, welcome to the board, like others have said it is a wonderful place to come where others understand where you are coming from. Sorry you had to close your business because of crime. That really stinks!! Have you thought about going mobile? I have a shop myself, but in my next life I plan on being a mobiler.
I think it is great what you are doing for the poor stray kitties. Keep up your good work it sounds like you really enjoy your life!!

[Mary1980]

Welcome!! It's so addicting.....you'll love it here. So much info and everyones so nice!!

[flufnstuf5]

I would love to go to expo...maybe I will if everything is clear for me to go. I like washington it's a beautiful place too. bye for now flufnstuf5

[flufnstuf5]

I love labs..we have a lab named amelia she is so smart and we just adopted rocket girl and she has issues but we are figuring her out..talk to you later.
flufnstuf5

[flufnstuf5]

Thanks I am sure I will...I can be pretty resourceful..thanks for the welcome and will talk to you again. Flufnstuf5

[flufnstuf5]

What an adorable baby! I too am looking forward to spring..I hear iowa is a beautiful place , unfortunately I have not been through there, I hear you are getting the ice brrrr! Keep your ingate up! ( i think that has something to do with longjohns. My dad says it to me all the time!
Talk to you later! Flufnstuf5

[flufnstuf5]

You are right about cats taking a message! My cats rule the house and everyone in it! So is arizona better in the weather area? I live in the high desert here which doesn't get the rain the valley does but I kind of get bored with the same old weather everyday. But I still hate the rain most of the time! flufnstuf5