The Word Of the Week is.....

Leave it. Leave it, leave it, leave it. Followed by No, and Nooooooo. Ahhh, there is nothing like life with a puppy. Someone pass the squirt bottle please, or better yet the super soaker.

Did you know many things are edible to a puppy? The newspaper is amazing. Sticks, out of this world. Buttons, bracelets, bathrobes, boxers - oh yes, very edible. And, if Snowflake, aka Sierra had an Indian name it would be Thundering Paws. Or, Boxing Dog. So many possibilities.

Right now she is asleep in the recliner with Reno, who is also sleeping. Puppies at rest are especially appealing. She does prefer cuddling while sleeping. Today she layed her head to rest on Hank's butt. He wasn't thrilled, but she got away with it. But, frankly, everyone needs a soft spot to lay their head.

Oh yes, and did I mention dingleberries??? Sierra had one today, and was quite distressed by it. I'm sure she was thinking OMG what is this shit? I was thinking the exact same thing. Situation resolved without me having to get involved. Phfewww, that was a close one.

We also tried going for a walk today. Well, we walked. She lunged. And lunged, and lunged. Made Hank, who usually surges ahead on walks, look quite docile. Mick gave us the sad eyed look because he is having arthritis issues and is on restricted activity. No walks for Mick for two weeks. If only he understood that.

But good news! Kenneling is not a full contact sport anymore. She gets it, she really gets it! Whohoo!

So I leave you with this question - what is the word of the week at your place? Do tell.

Settling In

Snowflake flew across several states to NE, leaving behind the only home she's ever known. You'll be happy to know she's settling in just fine. I moved two hours from the only home I'd ever known and I didn't settle in as easily as she did. They are so much better at embracing change than we are.

She is learning quickly - what to do, what not to do. Mostly what not to do. Case in point. Counters, are a no-no. Books are a no-no. The kitchen table - also a big no-no. She also found the soft spots to lay on. In fact, she was born to sleep on a leather sofa. Born, I tell you.

Funny how dogs, and people tend to sit in the same place on a regular basis. Almost like "assigned" seating at the table. I sit here, you sit there. Repeat day in and day out. She has staked her place at the left end of the couch. No matter that Hank owns that piece of real estate. Coming through, make way. Don't mind me, I'll just squeeze in here. You won't even notice me.

Hank to his credit bears that graciously. Okay, sometimes with a grumble or two, but then he concedes to the little lady. Come to think of it, I often grumble before I concede. Hopefully I am as gracious as Hank.

It's all about embracing life and snuggling in. I need to do a little bit more of that myself.

Whirling Dervish

For two days, Snowflake, aka Sierra, has been bouncing off the walls. She is a regular whirling dervish and a silly one at that. I don't know if she's run out of steam, or just decided to bring it down a notch.

Could be jet lag caught up with her. Even puppies rest eventually. I love that side of puppies. Face it she was vetted and pulled from the shelter, flew with three different pilots for Pilots N Paws, overnighted in one household, and them came to ours. Then moved from our "summer" home to our Grand Island home. No wonder she's exhausted.

She's learning to go into the kennel. At first it was like wrestling a marlin. But, thanks to Bacon Strips its getting easier. Right now she's sleeping on the love seat, covered up with a blanket. Tell me she isn't well loved.

For those who wonder, she was a breeder surrender. Pups that don't get sold in a timely fashion end up dumped in the country or in shelters. We think she ended up there because of the markings on her face. One eye is ringed in brown fur. The other is not. That creates the illusion that one eye is larger than the other. It's taught me to make sure I put eye liner on both eyes so I don't look unbalanced. It seems rather fitting for us, as a number of our fosters have been slightly imperfect in terms of appearance. In reality she is entirely perfect just the way she is. Or maybe we see the world, and our fosters, in love colored glasses.

Either way, as the dust of this dervish' arrival settles, we find joy. And humor, and training challenges, and pleasure. It never ceases to amaze me how much love helps them blossom.

Long Journey's

Journeys often begin with a plan and a destination, this one also included a wing and a prayer. Well, several wings, many prayers and lots of hope. It involves a small English Pointer puppy who needed a chance to find a forever home. Dogs in shelters everywhere need that chance. Puppies often have a better chance just because of their cuteness factor (CF). I'm all for the CF, play that card whenever you can in life.

This pup hitched a ride, with 3 different volunteer pilots, on December 23 to fly from euthanization in a rural shelter in Tennessee to Great Plains Pointer Rescue in Nebraska. She was met with open arms and a news crew from a local TV station. Not a bad start.

Her transport name is SnowFlake. But maybe we should name her Puparazzi. Of course, Taz, Spaz and Flake come to mind also. She is a bit of a wild thing. In a -oh what is that, can I see that, look at me go, watch me run kind of way. Her reflection in the window is cause for barking. The glass in the front door was a complete revelation to her. She thinks twice about running into the door now.

Now doubt she has a zillion questions. What is a plane, what is a leash, where do I pee, why did I bounce off the front door, what is toy, where do I sleep, why does Hank growl at me? What can I chew on, why do I have the attention span of gnat, what is a crate, are tv remotes edible, how fast can I run up the stairs....you get my drift.

So many questions from a little pup on a journey. So many second chances, so many people willing to help. And the saga continues. Santa may bring gifts in his sleigh, but God delivers gifts via volunteer pilots.

Merry Christmas little Snowflake, let the fun begin.

Guess What Santa is Bringing??

Dear Mick and Mr. Hanky - guess what Santa is bringing for us for Christmas???

Is it a bird - no. Is it a plane - no. Is it a new foster dog - YES!

It's time to bring another one into the fold. At least temporarily. C'mon, it's what we do. Or, it's what I do and Reno indulges me.

This time it's a puppy. Yes, it will come with it's own special madness and serendipity. Yes, Hank, she may try to bite your butt. Yes, Mick, the peace and quiet as you know it will come to a screeching halt. But hey, you too were puppies once.

Foster #11 for us, is yet un-named. She is approx 5 months old, and being pulled from a shelter in Tennessee by the good folks at Great Plains Pointer Rescue. We're delighted, excited and up for the challenge.

Yes, boyz, I still love you, will always love you. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help this little one integrate into the household. To learn what love is, what 'no' is, what "ah-ah" means. She'll learn as much from you guys as from me. So she's a lucky dog. She'll learn from the best.

I'm going to say Thanks Santa....da boyz are saying oh crap, here we go again. Either way, let the fun begin.

Now or Later

I wish I could teach the dogs two concepts. The first would be the concept of days off and weekends. Hellooooo.....On the seventh day God rested, I'd like to as well. Is an extra hour too much to ask for. Granted, I haven't created the universe or anything grand like that, but still...

The other concept I'd like to teach is that of "later". We will go for a walk "later". Not now, not at 6am, because this is the weekend, but later. I promise. Later when it's light out, when it's warmer, when the bed is not calling my name. Later will be a longer walk and I'll enjoy it more because I'll be, well, conscious.

Sometimes I'm not sure who trains who. We started the am/pm walk ritual when we downsized to a postage stamp sized yard. It's good for them, and it's good for us. I would just dig a little flexibility on the time table. They say now, I say later. Except they say now with pleading brown eyes. Okay, and I later in what comes off as a bit of a whine.

It goes something like this. Let's walk Now? Now? NOW? blink, blink, wag, wag, wag, happy dance wag. Later, please, later, can we later...oh please, please, please l-a-t-e-r.

It's not a pretty negotiation. But you can guess the end result.

Double Trouble

Rescues work on a shoe string budget, with a staff of volunteers who's hearts are always larger than their pocket books.

Pointer Rescue Organization has two injured foster dogs right now. Joy, who was hit by a truck recently, and Buck who appears to have injured his ACL while playing. Now, they may be foster dogs in name, but they are our babies at heart. We hate to see them hurting, we long to patch them up and see them heal. We stress over funding for medical issues such as these.

If I had a fairy Godmother I'd ask her to sprinkle some money dust over the rescue to help with vet bills. I'd ask for someone in the family to marry a vet who does pro bono work. I'd pray for a winning lottery ticket. I'd say, hey, would you be willing to forgo that grande double skinny caramel macchiato with extra whip to help a four footed friend down on their luck? Could you have a bake sale fund raiser? Could you chip in the money you find in the clothes dryer? Could you make a donation in honor of your favorite four footed friend to help another four footed friend?

If you could, hearts will be warm and tails will wag in thanks.

Dogs In Need

In rescue, there are always "Dogs In Need". They need someone to stand up for them, to advocate for them, foster them, adopt them, vet them, train them, and above all, love them

Sometimes, they also need a miracle. Joy, is one of those dogs. She is an English Pointer being fostered by a Pointer Rescue Organization volunteer. She was hit by a car this week. Hence, the need for a miracle. That is where you come in. What's that you say? I don't have my miracle worker hat on.

Ahh, but you do. Joy needs major vet care to help heal from her injuries. Pointer Rescue (www.pointerrescue.org) needs some major assistance to pay for those bills. Happy, Happy Joy, Joy - as her foster Mom calls her, needs all the help we can give her. She needs our prayers, and all the good karma we can align for her.

I also know this is holiday time. We are pressed for time, busy with family, and tapped out in the budget department. So I ask you to just ponder the dogs in need around the world, and specifically Joy. Ponder, what you can do to help. Know that we can and do make a difference.

Fruits and Veggies

I learn a lot from the dogs. In fact, they are my best role models. Kindness, you bet. Humor? They make me laugh every day. Forgiveness....I can only hope to forgive and forget as easily as they do.

They have been known to be food opportunists. Not that I'm complaining. We have been lucky with that over the years. A few cases of counter surfing, one money hungry Labrador, a little springer who snatched a sandwich off my plate while I answered the door (little minx)! A pointer who helped himself to the fruitcake while Reno and I were gazing at the fireplace.

Yesterday was the case of the missing Kiwi fruit. While cooking dinner I heard Mr. Hanky snarfing something down. He was quite intent in his consumption. I was amazed he found something edible. When I got him to give it to me he had 1/2 of a kiwi fruit in his mouth. Huh?? Where did you get this?? He pleaded the fifth. How can this be? Well, it was there...I ate it. It was yummy. Can I have the other half back?

Now I honestly don't know where he got it from. I remember buying one, in an attempt to eat more fruits and veggies. But I don't remember it in the fridge, or on the counter. I certainly don't remember knocking it off the counter and onto the floor. Either way Hank seized the Kiwi. And he liked it skin and all.

Perhaps, next trip to the store I'll buy two. One for each of us.

Places In Life

We all come from different places in life. Heck, I find myself living in one. When I started blogging, many years ago, it was because I figured I might be experiencing something similar to others and that by voicing my thoughts someone else might benefit. Or at least laugh, or on a good day find some wisdom, healing or hope.

Usually the dogs are my conduit. Without them I would not be me. Dog-wise, things are very calm in my life. We are not fostering, although I'm beginning to plant the seeds that it is time again. Since our move, I haven't done any pet therapy visits. Although I'm hoping to get going with that again soon. Hank and Mick are good, healthy, happy. All good things.

I need to own how difficult it is for me to live in a new place. How isolated it has felt, and yet, how right it is to share daily life with Reno. It is a mixed blessing. We have jobs - amen. We have a roof over our head - amen. We have time with each other - amen, amen, amen.

And, sometimes, we have me in tears. I believe it's normal. Although having never done this before I couldn't say for sure. Of course, being a weepy person by nature, we kinda knew this was coming. I feel for all our service men and women in foreign countries, or simply in towns that are far away from home. I empathize with those searching for the feeling of home in places that just don't feel like it.

I know we are all in different places in life. Some are easy, some are not, some suck, some cause us to celebrate. This place, with the dogs, with Reno is where the road has taken us. It's not easy, but it is right. I'll be better off because of it. Certainly this place needed another crazy dog lady, and that would be me.