Hot Cars

As the summer is reaching it's "Dog Days" we still need to remember our four legged friends. It is not, here in Richmond the temperature has reached 100+ degrees. That's OUTSIDE AIR temperature. Can imagine how hot that is inside a car? Don't take your dog on trips with you if the outside air temperature is higher than 70, it's just not fair to your dog. One quick errand that takes to long and your dog is going to be suffering. This is a good resource website
http://www.mydogiscool.com/

Also remember your four legged creatures that are outside. Birds can use bird baths to make sure they are hydrated and have a place to cool off. Your outside pets need access to shade and fresh water. There's no such "just a few minutes" and not making arrangements. People get distracted and a few minutes can easily turn into 30 or an hour or maybe longer. That's too long to not have provided shelter/shade and refreshment for your pet.

The new house

And the house with new roof before I moved in

Snow dogs

Video of snow

Loved the snow fall of January, glad it's over though. I will post a few of Jack's snow dog pictures

Ahh, Snow

Maybe this won't be the last snow of the season. I always feel like a little kid when the snow comes. I love to hear the snow falling, the intense quiet all around except for the muffled fluffy sound of snow hitting snow. It's just so peaceful, brings on a peaceful feeling inside. And playing in the snow when it's a clear day is great - it's always warmer when there's snow on the ground to reflect all of the sunlight.

Now shoveling? Not so much but it's great exercise. I can say that now that I dug my car out and parked it on the street. Navigated the way to work and can sit back and enjoy the rest of my Sunday.

A Night with Jack

Friday is here and it's a restful night at home with the kids. A warm pizza, cold beer, toasty fire and a little TV.....and then there's Jack

7:00 - Ball?

7:15 Ball!

7:30 How about Tug?

7:45 Please?

8:00 back to the ball

8:15 - Balls under the chair

8:30 what about this one?

9:00 - Fine, I'll play by myself

10:20 - FINALLY!

Cheers to 2010

Here's my Cheers to 2010 though coming mid January instead of the first. Probably coming now because I took off a half day to do a dog adoption and take a nap....that makes for a fulfilling day : ). Leo got adopted to a former adopter whose dog passed away from heart disease. A preliminary update tonight is that he's having a blast. I am so sorry for the loss but I am happy that another dog got the chance to have a great home. The first adoption of the new year and the first adoption we've done in months.

Ahh bliss, the offer that I made on the house in 2009 two days after Christmas finally came to fruition. Had to walk away from the deal twice before I got the house and the repairs and finally a signed agreement in January 2010 to close March 2010. I will be a homeowner again. What a relief. And the dogs will enjoy the fenced yard which I intend to upgrade into a privacy fence sometime this year.

Maybe it's time now for me to consider getting back in the dating scene? Maybe, Maybe not. Sometimes that's way more trouble than it's worth. Maybe I'll just stick to the dogs : ).

Going through the sorting process now to weed things down. If I haven't worn it in a year - it's going to the Good Will/Salvation Army. If it's make up or hair care products that haven't been used - they will be used or thrown out. It it's broken, I'll fix it and if it can't be - it's going to be thrown out. Purging is good for the soul and movers. I did it three and a half years ago when I moved up here and have accumulated more stuff to weed through.

Long time since my last update

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written an update. Jack got his CGC and then passed his TT in october but we haven't enrolled in a TDI class. I have not decided what class or sport would be the best for him but I've been side tracked with the purchase of a home. I haven't owned my own place for three and a half years and it's just killing me. I can't wait to have a place of my own, it just feels good to me to have a little piece of the american dream. A place where I don't have to answer to anyone and if god forbid the dog chewed up the carpet (it's happened!), I don't have anyone to answer to.

So I've been picking up extra call and working hard trying to save all the money I can to get myself into a house. Hopefully the dogs will forgive my lack of attention when they have their own fenced yard.