Motion and Commotion

Sophie is visiting and is not happy with the activity level around here. I can't say as I blame her.

There is a scary man in the living room laying carpet, and two scary men in the yard repairing siding issues. There is stinky carpet glue, saws and drills, and general disorder. Progress is messy.

I do understand. I may have to take some of her anxiety med's to help me get through the day. Not sure at this point who needs them more. Hank and Mick are playing in the yard. There are are mud puddles and standing water from heavy rains this week. Hank's belly is coated with mud spatters.

I'm wondering if perhaps a alcoholic beverage might be in order before 11am this morning. Although it does set a bad example for the workers. And, frankly, I'm sure Sophie would like a swig too.

All in the name of progress. All testing my faith and patience. All falling under the "this too shall pass" category of life. All are blessings too. Noisy, dirty, smelly blessings. Of which I am infinitely graced.....

So for the morning Sophie and I are hanging out in the office to stay as far away as possible from the motion and commotion. Now, where is my flask.

Hunt 'Em Up Pete

You may recall a handsome foster dog we had the privilege of housing by the name of Pete. This boy came from rural Iowa and lived in an unheated barn in the dead of winter for a time while waiting to get into rescue. From rural Iowa he made it to urban Omaha and then landed in the Big Apple, New York City. That was a pretty big hop, skip and jump he made.

Pete lives a charmed life. From the hustle bustle of the city, door men, elevators and being treated to lamb chops on his birthday he wants for nothing. Well, except for a little hunting. He is a pointer after all. Living in the city just means he has to be more creative that's all.

He sees pigeons on his daily walks. To a huntin dawg a bird is a bird is a bird and Pete is a hunter. One must, city or no city, point at the birds when you see them. Pete's owner indulges him.

Imagine the scene, handsome pointer in the thick of city life. People hurrying by, buses, cars and cabs, noise and activity. People rushing, and yet, in that moment Pete is alone with the bird he is pointing at. Everything fades away except for his instinct and the bird.

For years he hunts and points the pigeons. Someone told him they taste like chicken. He wants to know for sure. Quietly, in the noisy city, he points and hunts. Until he realizes he must seize the moment. Now I want to know how many times he thought dangit...I shoulda....it was right there. I could almost taste feathers.

Until the day comes that the urge to seize the bird was greater than the joy of just the hunt. And seize it he does. Much to the shock of his owner, to the surprise of the passers by, and to the very dismay of the pigeon! Hold crap he caught one. And he was not about to relinquish it. Chicken, it's gonna taste like chicken!!!! Oh such a great day in Pete's life. Doing what he was born to do despite the unlikely hunting odds in the city.

I am certain there was quite a ruckus. Not to mention people going to work and saying, man, guess what I saw on the street today! Pete scored one for the Gipper, for pointers everywhere. And in the end he released it. The bird lived, the owner cheered and Pete beamed. Life is good in the Big Apple.

So Quiet

It is so quiet without Sophie around. I miss having her curled up under my desk while I'm working or playing on the computer. For a timid little thing she has a huge presence!

I am fairly certain Hank and Mick are not missing her at all. Phfewww.....they have 16 months of uninterrupted naps to catch up on. They are loving it. Now, she'll be coming back over the weekend for a little stay, but that is a need to know thing for Hank and Mick.

Often we have a greater appreciation for things when they are gone for a while. I'm not sure the boys will apply that to Sophie, but it general it's true.

Sophie being gone is about the only quiet thing in life right now. I feel like I'm about to climb into a hamster wheel and go for a long spin. Sometimes, well, once maybe, I felt really calm about that. I keep trying to get back to that place. I realize it's a choice whether I run around like a chicken with my head cut off. Perhaps that's why my Mom used to call me Chicken Little.

It would be nice if I could harness that anxiety and focus it into some major productivity. Hahahaaaahhaaaa....oh yes, this is me we're talking about.

So, for now, the boys enjoy the quiet. And I know quiet is a relative term. Others have ridden this hamster wheel and come out the other side. I will too.

Big Changes

If only faith rained down in buckets. Sort of like last night when we got 2" of rain in 30 minutes. Imagine how nice that would be. I can visualize moping up the floor because all the faith spilled over, just like the rain last night. Of course, last I checked it didn't work that way.

I could safely say I/we are in the season of big changes. Big changes = big stress + counting down to the wedding and moving. My challenge is to approach each day with a positive spirit and a full serving of faith.

I know just how Sophie felt when she came to us. Give me a crate and I will gladly hide in it. Let me know when all the drama is over!! Word has it she is settling in well! She's found the master bed and gave it her seal of approval. She has absconded with her owners bra and gave it a run about the house. Oh, this foster Mom is so proud. Such important life skills.

Find a soft place to settle in. Run for joy dragging something with you. Have faith. When you can't find the faith, ask for help. Then wait until it rains down.

Slow Journey's

Dear Sophie - today is the first day of the rest of your life. Our work here is done. It is time to go forth and prosper. Perhaps we should break that into baby steps for you.

Today your new Momma will pick you up and you will have a long, long car ride. Try not to crap in the crate. There is no shame in it, if you have to, but it is a long ride in the car. She knows all about you. She knows you will be scared. She will be gentle with you. Always run to her, not away from her. I may have forgotten to mention there will be cats in your new home. Rumor has it one is as scared as you are. Be nice to them, actually be nice to whoever you cross paths with. Some may be even more scared than you are. A gentle hand and a soft touch goes a long way in life.

Remember you are dog - and a mostly normal one at that. You have grown up a lot in the last 17 months. You have learned how to run and play, to trust (most of the time) and to relax. Many of us need to learn these same things.

Your new home will have a fence like ours and a canine friend named Brandy. It has a desk for you to lay under, and I think if you wrap her around your paw like you did us, a bed for you to sleep on. Frankly, I think she's knows about you sleeping on the bed. Don't make her wait too long to enjoy that comfort.

In a few weeks you'll and your Momma will take the long drive back to Omaha to visit. She has work to do here and you both will stay with us during that time. I'm sure Hank and Mick will welcome you with open arms.

You may not know it, but the fun is just beginning dear Sophie. You have exactly what we have always wanted for you. A new life, a second chance, a forever home...and the life skills to enjoy it.

Girl Time

Girl time is special. Girlfriend time is sacred. Maybe I treasure it more because all my siblings are boys, so I never got the sister I always wanted. Thankfully I have a daughter so I have that blessing in my life.

Sophie is our first female foster and our first Nebraska foster dog. Yup, we've had fosters from IA, OK, KS, and MO, about time we had one from Nebraska. I think if we eventually have one from SD and CO we can say we've fostered all our surrounding states, plus Oklahoma!

Sophie is a few days away from moving to MN. I wonder if I should be shopping for a coat and muklucks for her? We have been enjoying some quality girl time together recently. In fact, at night I've been banishing Hank and Mick to the sofa. Egads, the horrible treatment they receive! Somebody call the ASPCA.

Sophie and I have been sharing the bed at night. Sounds racey, but it's really quite sweet. It used to be, if she was brave enough to lay down on the bed, that she'd bolt if anyone so much as twitched. Now she settles in, completely relaxed and snoozes the night away. Sweet!

I think our work here is done. Although still a bit timid she is about 1000% more normal than when she came into our care. She is as normal as normal can be and we all know normal is relative.

Now my only worry is how long it will take her to get back to normal after her move. The good thing is she already knows her new owner. Thankfully she'll have that comfort to build on. And hopefully, the foundation we built with her will ease her way in the days ahead. In the mean time - I'm diggin the girl time.

Sometimes you want to Shout!

True, true, sometimes you want to shout! But Mr. Hanky has his own take on that. He is very expressive when excited, when kibble is involved, when Penny (hubba hubba) the German Shepard a few doors down is out, and when he wants inside. It starts with a bark. A, singular bark. I think he learned that from Mickey.

After the bark, comes a long drawn out whine. Sometimes in life only a long drawn out whine will do. We've all done that, are doing that, or are seconds away from doing that.

Following the bark, and whine, comes the surprising part. Because he is so talented he goes right from whining to a full blown yodel. Canine yodels are pretty hilarious. Naturally he does this without cracking a smile. Because, truthfully could any of us do this without laughing?? I can hardly write about it without giggling.

The yodel always gets me moving. I admit to wondering if the neighbors think we are pulling his tail or something. None of the other neighborhood dogs make this kind of noise. They are probably thinking, oh God, there goes that dying dog again, someone put him out of his misery.

Except, there is no misery involved. Just a silly pointer boy expressing the full range of his vocal abilities. Woof, whine.....Ahrooo-ahroooo, ahroooo-ooo-oooo.