All posts in The Pet

A Dog In Spring

by admin on May 26, 2011 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things, The Pet with No comments

My sister in law teased that the above picture of Riddick and I proves I am ‘one of those’ dog owners, he he he… I insist that he kissed me when I was leaning in closer just to get a picture of the two of us.

Anyhow…

As each season arrives with our first family dog in the mix we all notice the bonus to having him around. Spring is a great time of year to be a dog owner. I have to admit I was very tickled with him following my every move as I gardened, cut weeds and hung laundry to dry outside. When I was motionless for longer then a few minutes he was as good as gold about laying down in the grass close by.

He was like a puppy when we first ventured out to enjoy a morning in the yard. He ran circles around me and the kids and jumped about like a jack rabbit through the cedars and then threw himself in the grass and rolled and rolled till he found the perfect spot and passed out for a nap in the sun. “Spring feels good to him too.” I told the kids. They thought he was very funny.

(The perfect grassy spot.)
(My friendly furry shadow.)

The kids favorite part of the morning with our dog was when we moved the sandbox across the yard (to a spot more visible at all times for me) and he bounced around us nipping at our heals as we haled it. It was as though everything we did was to entertain him. When we stopped and put the sandbox down he instantly jumped in it and stood there wiggling all over as if to say “Is this for me? Oh boy, oh boy! What is it??”

(The sandbox got so much more attention once we moved it to a sunny part of the yard.)
(The kids had great fun breaking out the bubbles they where given as a gift only days before.)

Just the other day my youngest daughter and I where at the pet store for a peek and couldn’t help but melt at the sight of all the puppies… but I had no problem walking away… fact is I have gone down the puppy road and as cute as they are I appreciate Riddick and his older dog loyalty far more then the energy and cuteness of a pup. I think I will continue to make it my goal to adopt older dogs in the future.

TTFN

Clothes Line and Fuzzy Feelings

by admin on May 13, 2011 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, My Romance, The Pet with No comments

The first thing he did on his week off was put up a line for my laundry. Never mind that it took me asking for eleven years and it was our third home where it was put up and he kinda HAD to because our brand new drier was down for over a week, I AM THRILLED! I see it as a clear love act, since he knows I have always enjoyed hanging up the laundry in the fresh air.
Our first warm afternoon with the line in use was a special wimzical afternoon. My youngest two and I put the dog on his long leash in the yard and then we played in the sun under the laundry line. What ever it is about a clothes line that makes life feel cozy the children for sure feel it too. They couldn’t ignore the sheet dancing in the wind. Running in, then out and all around the laundry they squealed and laughed. It was all great fun.

No one wanted to leave the sweet atmosphere of our little patch of grass in the back yard. Even when our tummies started growling the children where not tempted to head for the house. I eventually gave up and brought them out a picnic. It was our first picnic of the year and there was so much wonder and joy under the laundry line that day.

(Time for a picnic lunch. ‘Oh what did you get? I gotsa chocolate sandwich.’ ‘Me to!’)

TTFN

Clothes Lines and Fuzzy Feelings

by admin on May 13, 2011 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things, My Romance, The Pet with No comments

The first thing he did on his week off was put up a line for my laundry. Never mind that it took me asking for eleven years and it was our third home where it was put up and he kinda HAD to because our brand new dryer was down for over a week, I AM THRILLED! I see it as a clear love act, since he knows I have always enjoyed hanging up the laundry in the fresh air.
Our first warm afternoon with the line in use was a special whimsical afternoon. My youngest two and I put the dog on his long leash in the yard and then we played in the sun under the laundry line. What ever it is about a clothes line, that makes life feel cozy, the children for sure feel it too. They couldn’t ignore the sheets dancing in the wind. Running in, then out and all around the laundry they squealed and laughed. It was all great fun.

No one wanted to leave the sweet atmosphere of our little patch of grass in the back yard. Even when our tummies started growling the children where not tempted to head for the house. I eventually gave up and brought them out a picnic. It was our first picnic of the year and there was so much wonder and joy under the laundry line that day.

(Time for a picnic lunch. ‘Oh what did you get? I gotsa chocolate sandwich.’ ‘Me to!’)

TTFN

Victorian Tin

by admin on April 25, 2011 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things, The Pet with No comments

I purposely look through any thrift shop I come across for Victorian looking art. That is why I spotted this tin wall hanging. The reason it ended up in my home was primarily because of the similar enough likeness the dog had to my dog. Nuff said, it is that simple.

(And this photo below would be proof that my two year old and my dog are starting to get along… I believe Riddick is receiving some cheerios.)

TTFN

Mental Fog

by admin on April 18, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), Four Little Eggs In My Nest, The Pet with 1 Comment

Sunday night and I finally get to sit and write, but I am so warn out from a healthy busy weekend that my mind is running on empty. The other night my husband teased me that I was thinking about nothing and I informed him ‘that is only possible for men’… but perhaps I was wrong… Being mom 24/7 can wear me down to the point of fogginess up there.

I am starting to think a bit of fog is a good thing. Although I am getting much better at slowing my life down when it gets to be too much for me, I am not so great at doing the same in my mind. I love to learn, I love to read, I love music, I can keep my mind just hopping with information and I like it that way… but now and then a little fog makes me slow it down… one doesn’t digest it all as well if they don’t pause for a bit. Was it my mom who told me to eat slower? Sounds like her… ‘helps with the digestion’ sounds like the right follow up to that comment and so I relate this to my hungry mind and the idea of making good use of all I am learning. I need to digest the info, for info alone is pointless… application is all too ignored in the church culture of today.

The weekend was a weekend for the kids. So much time to just bless them and it was grand! This is why I am tired! Kids have an insatiable appetite for fun and adventure and to truly give them what they need; time, a listening attentive ear, and loads of exercise, old adults can be warn to the beyond tired point. Endless chatter, racing around and joyful noise followed me everywhere this weekend, in the form of four beautiful children and their dog.

On Saturday it all slowed down graciously for two hours, while the younger ones napped. The older two showed their mama some love by playing Lego quietly for the nap slot of the day and I sat on my chaise thinking about how much I love silence… well thinking right up until till I slipped into a delightful nap. Quiet is delicious and I wonder at the fact that not so long ago I was unable to be comfortable in it. As much as I love the dins of music, messages and more I crave quiet.

Though it is not yet a year old, I fear my favorite spot, the chaise by the window, will soon develop a permanent bum print. I flee there almost daily with anticipation… a mothers fatigue graces my mind with enough patience to be quiet… I sit…. I stair, up at the trees in my front yard and the blue sky above that, … and I eat up the silence.

TTFN

Bye

by admin on April 9, 2011 in People In My Heart, The Pet with 3 Comments

Perhaps it is ridiculous of me but it makes me sad that this is the best picture I have of these two buddies together.

In a very short period of time my girl friend and I became forever closer thanks to our dogs. Our families and our dogs all shared so much in common through this adventure of pet ownership. My best pal got her pup at the same time that we got our Riddick. We both adopted them. We both waited together through the ups and downs of finally getting them. We both learned so much about dogs and owning dogs together.

My best pal is the gal I go with EVERY SATURDAY to the dog park. She walked JAZZ her black lab and I had Riddick. It always made me smile at how gentle and understanding these dogs where of one another… so comfortable together. They really looked so forward to this run around time. Riddick truly liked his bigger but younger buddy.

My girl friend has canceled the regular hike tomorrow and indefinitely. Only minutes after seeing Jazz (because my girl friend had stopped by with her) Jazz died. She was not yet a year old, in the glory of youth… just a big pup really… I cried and my girl friend thought I did it out of sympathy but I really will miss this big gentle dog. She was clumsy and soft and always so sweet.

It brought me back to my childhood. Yes I saw a lot of animals die, growing up on a farm, but I also was the one who always, ALWAYS, cried. I am so sorry this family had to say good bye to their friend forever and I am selfishly sorry for me and Riddick too…

TTFN

Keep Warm:)

by admin on January 20, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Little Things, The Pet with No comments
(My Baby Boy and his cousin, mesmerized by the record snow fall we got this year!)

I have been running all week, break neck speed, to get all my errands done and now I am happy to awake to a -40 kinda day so I can stay home, guiltless! There is an endless list of things I need to do at home today…

  1. Timtams waiting to be filled with coffee and then devoured.
  2. Strong coffee waiting to be perked on the stove.
  3. Bread dough rising and waiting to eventually be baked and eaten.
  4. Endless laundry baskets full of clothing waiting to be folded.
  5. A cinderella story movie waiting to be watched by my babies and I for the first time.
  6. A couple books waiting to be read just before I fall asleep on the couch come nap time.
  7. All this done while I enjoy my kids, enjoying the company of my dog, enjoy my home and make a real effort to look at the bright side of winter, it makes you more appreciative warm places with people you love.

Blessings to you all on this winter-y day. May you find things to smile about and be warm enough that when you smile your lips do not freeze to your teeth!

P.S. It is supposed to warm up soon I hear! Perhaps even later today!!

TTFN

Best Of Both Worlds

by admin on January 13, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, The Pet with No comments
I truly enjoy the contrast in these two pictures.One could get two very different impressions of my dog and my relationship from both. Am I a pampering doggy mommy (I can tell you RIGHT NOW I am honestly uncomfortable with the term doggy mommy… but moving on…) or the dog owner who enjoys the company of her side kick?

One could also gain two different ideas about my dog and my personalities. Am I the genteel lady of the house with her little pooch or am I the tomboy type with her d-o-g buddy?

Truth be told if he could get away with it Riddick would be a pampered (over sized) lap dog but I have too much fun hiking and running with him and he really does love to get out there and just take off. I enjoy all things feminine, I find pleasure in the domestic side of my life, but more and more I get so much energy out of working up a sweat in the great outdoors.

So I suppose we are a good team, since we both enjoy the best of both worlds:)

TTFN

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Thankful (two)

by admin on December 16, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), The Pet with 2 Comments

Baby it’s cold outside!
This dog and I have true grit though, still going out on our regular jogs each day and our weekly prairie hike each Saturday.

My mom was taking note of how active I have been lately and she reminding me of how sick I was when Baby Boy was, well, a baby and how little strength I had only last year. I have come a long way baby! So thankful that this year I can be out in this weather, hiking and sledding and skating and cross country skiing and hopefully snowshoeing this year too. I have become very enthusiastic about outdoor time. I really think it is largely because of how hard the last few years have been with my poor health and how very happy I am to not feel like that anymore. Thank you Lord for strength. A Mama needs a serious good dose of it that is for sure!

P.S. A little under a year ago I put up a post that was full of hope for such a time in life. Kids are getting older, I am getting physically stronger. This year has brought what I hoped for back then, to read that related article CLICK HERE.

TTFN

It Was Hard To Say In Christmases Past

by admin on December 9, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Holiday Messages, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Pet with No comments
(He couldn’t seem to stand me taking pictures alone. Riddick kept rushing in as the camera clicked. This meant he kept showing up as a blur… so finally I took a moment and picked him up and made him hold still nicely for one. I like that he likes me:) Since we are both looking pretty good I thought I should share!)
Just a thought, sometimes in Christmases past things would get so busy I ended up barely using the old greeting ‘Merry Christmas’ all season. That meant it wasn’t comfortable for me when others would wish me merry Christmas… I remember having trouble giving a hearty response in kind. A perfect example of how my focus was WAY OFF! Not that stress itself isn’t a good enough clue, but moms are good at explaining stress away as a necessity… so now that we are so much better at not letting Christmas get that stressful over here I start pretty early with sharing this greeting.

This is why you will find it so much on my blog this month; I am practicing!

And with that thought, well more then a thought… story, I wish you a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TTFN

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