Turn The Tables

First off, let me say to any attorney's who may read this blog - no offense meant on my next comments.  But, you guys speak another whole language.  Well, Doctors do too.  Anyway, years ago I meet with my attorney while going through my divorce.  We were going through the who, the what, then when, where and how of everything.  All the legalese was mumbo jumbo in my head and I left feeling horrible.  I distinctly remember getting to my car and realizing that I now had proof that I was dumber than dirt.  It was a heart wrenching experience.  To this day, meeting with attorney's makes my head spin.

I've decided how to fix that.  I don't have to know that stuff, that is their job.  I would like to turn the tables though.  I'd like to sit these same folks down and talk dogs and flowers to them.  I could talk it up one side and down the other.  I know, it sounds grueling.  Someone please give me fair time with things I know well, and love dearly.  Perhaps it will seem like another language to them much like it did to me. 

Funny how we expect so much of ourself and how it hurts when we don't know everything.  At least I am that way.  While I couldn't talk breeding and show dogs, I can talk fostering, rescue and loving 'em.  While I am not a botanist, I am a designer and gardener.  For the most part I can make it or grow it.  I'm way right-brain in ways that will make the left brainers hands sweat and head ache. 

So I'm giving myself permission to not understand all the legal stuff thrown at me.  Phfewwwww, what a relief.  When you turn the tables we all get time to shine.

Sifting and Sorting

The process continues, at Mom's house, in life, with our dogs.  Sifting and sorting, finding, keeping, storing, releasing, opening up and letting go.

Warning, this process involves trash!  Of course, what is one man's trash is another man's treasure.  We see this in animal rescue all the time.  I see this just by looking at the three pups snoozing at my feet.  Definitely my life has been blessed with someone else's trash!  Sure makes you wonder doesn't it??

We found the coolest old wooden tool box in the basement yesterday at my Mom's.  Maybe my Dad made it, maybe his Dad made it, who knows.  Granted, no one else found it cool, or even useful.  We did.  Truthfully, I had trouble finding excitement in going through old tools at first.  Each of my brother's found a few pieces to take home.  But I doubt they were as excited with the old tools as Reno was.  Perhaps it takes a special old tool to recognize cool old tools.  And, I say that in the nicest possible way!!  He was excited with the treasures so I was too.  I do wonder if they are simply moving from one work area to another and still won't be used.  But, for a brief moment they were handled and appreciated. 

Perhaps that is all that matters.  Recognition, use, appreciation.  Sorted, sifted, saved.  What may have been trashed, instead will be treasured.  Amazing things happen when we take time to treasure.

Spring!!!!

How to explain how happy we are to see the sun, to not be walking in snow or mud?  To see the daffodils peek up in the garden, the grass greening up, to feel 50+ temps again.  I say all this knowing rain and snow is in the forecast tomorrow.  Today, though, I'm in the sunshine moment.  Bring on the natural vitamin D!!  Oh ya!

I took advantage of this weather to work on the spring yard clean up.  And it brings me to one important question.  Who's been pooping in my yard??  I am 100% certain it ain't a pointer.  None of the resident poopers leave tiny piles like this.  The resident piles I can identify.  These little ones - definitely not from our dogs.  Hmmm.....

In the warmth of the sun all three dogs got brushed today.  Hank about bowls me over for the spa treatment.  Hank about bowls Mick over as well to get a second brushing come to think of it.  Sophie is learning the brush is a good thing.  Getting brushed in the warm sun, even better. 

Sophie is also learning about being on the zip line.  If only I could capture the look on her face when she's on it and can't go any further.  Head up pulling on the lead, tail tucked, eyes big with a "HowCouldYou-WhatDoIDoNow-GetMeOffThis-IWannaGoInside-WhyMoreTorture" look.  Poor chicken little, so many things to learn.

All of this comes with patience.  The grass will grow, the flowers open, and Sophie will blossom.  And our hearts will be lighter because it's Spring time. 

Little Bit

Reno affectionately calls Ms. Sophie by the name of "Little Bit".  It describes her so well.  First of all, she is a little bit of a pointer.  She's a little bit timid.  She's a little bit silly.  She's a little bit psycho (but somedays aren't we all?)

He maintains she's a little bit anal.  I think he means that as a compliment.  He points out she is a little bit difficult.  Well, duh, she is female.  Goes without saying I'm thinking.  He told her no one would ever adopt her!!!  Now that was way harsh!!  And totally not true.  That comment was a little bit unnecessary. 

She's come a long way.  Far enough to be troublesome and challenging.  Far enough to show us just what life skills she needs to learn.  I think it's a good sign that she's comfortable enough here to be naughty. 
So we need to work with her a little bit on commands such as leave it, come, no bark - good quiet, go lay down.  Not to mention sit, stay and heel.  All in due time. 

She is more than a little bit adorable.  And gets more adorable day-by-day.  Of course, if you ask Mick, Hanky or Reno - they'd tell you otherwise.  Don't listen to them.  What do boys know?

Cleaning House

Cleaning out my Mom's house has been an on-going project.  Coupled by the fact that I'm a keeper, not a tosser.  It's hard to throw things away.  I can't do it to animals, to family treasures, to memorable items.

Nearly all my dogs were "throw aways", and look what absolute treasures they have been!  Every time I go to Mom's there are just a few more things I need to bring home.  Silly things, useful things, old things, kitchen things, collectible things -  you name it, she had it, and the box it came in.

For probably 40 years she had a statue of robins on the ledge of her dining room window.  Turns out it was a gift from my brother.  Those robins must have tried to take flight a few times as there are numerous places they've been repaired.  My brother doesn't want them.   I don't need them, have no place for them, but danged if I can pitch them.  I may have to delegate that task for a day when I'm not there.

Funny how we cling to that which invokes memories.  Bit by bit we're cleaning house.  Bit by bit we are walking down memory lane.  And yes, a little bit of those things are finding their way home with me.  I think that's just fine and exactly how she would want it.

Anger & Thanksgiving

I had a conversation recently with a cat owner.  She owned that the cat was unwell, and it was quite a dilemma on what to do.  The angst hit many levels.  First the love she had for her cat.  Second, the anxiety of living with a controlling husband.  Third the decision she needed to make regarding treatment of the illness.  Actually, the reverse of that.

Medical treatment was not an option because of the husband, because of the money.  Excuse me?  I have a tough time swallowing that one.  She suggested surrendering the cat, I suggested due to the age of the cat to euthanize it.  She wanted to give it a chance to find another home and possible treatment. 

Helloooo - the thought of throttling this person was my immediate impulse.  What about commitment, what about caring for the animal you chose to adopt, what about a little backbone of your own?  Why would you dump your cat on the wild hope that someone else would care enough to see them through their illness???  It sucks to have a sick animal.  It is heart breaking to see them over the bridge when letting go is the kindest choice for them.  But it is part of owning a pet.  Hard choices, heart wrenching choices, loving them until the end whatever that brings.

As angry as I am at this person's quasi-logic I also find some gratitude.  A person much like this one dumped Mr. Hanky and perhaps hoped he'd find a home to love and care for him.  A person like this didn't care enough to love him on the good days and the bad days.  A person like this gave up something wonderful. 

So as angry as I am, I find some softening in my heart when I think of Mr. Hanky.  There are people who love enough to do this for animals in need.  I only pray this cat finds one of them.

So So Sophie

I'm beginning to think that in another life that Sophie was a yappy miniature lap dog with neat freak tendencies.  No doubt she dreamed of being a pointer, and her wish came true.  Anything not in it's proper place gets a good barking at.  Once the bathroom tile project is finished I think she'll relax some. 

Case in point, the shop vac in the hallway is a source of great consternation.  Such a barkable object.  Hoses, attachments, a big canister, and a long power cord.  She has nosed it, bumped it, pawed at it, sniffed it, and pounced at it.  Other people have wubba's, we have shop vac's.  It does provide infinite opportunities to work on the "leave it"  and the "quiet" command.

Sophie has decided Mickey is a worthy playmate.  As I'm trying to write, they are playing that mouthy pointer game, with few wrestling moves thrown in for good measure.  Only problem being they are doing this under my desk managing to pull both the keyboard and the mouse off the tray!!!  I am certain I could blog in about ten minutes flat if there weren't little issues like this to interrupt me.

As I was saying, when the keyboard went flying,  Sophie loves to play with Mick.  Mick, a typical man, only plays to get Sophie to stop bugging him to play.  Mickey obviously was a boy friend or husband in another life.  Mr. Hanky is not a player, which is a good thing in men, but not so much with a silly girl like Sophie around. Once in a while she can engage Hank,  but Mick must be an easier target. 

Still I can't complain too much.  Seeing Sophie play is worth it.  Seeing her tail wag as she plays even better.  Seeing her just be a dog, although with wife-like tendencies, is a hoot.   She is so so Sophie, and pretty darned adorable at that.