Hanging

Yesterday was a good day, an awesome day, one of the best days I've had in quite a while.

I did lunch with Therese at Rm. 39. Yum! We sat and talked for 2 hours straight. Eventually, we figured we should move on and stop making the nice waiter keep our water glasses full.  We then headed back to my place, picked up the dogs, and headed to the park. Thanks to Lindsay, I now know that Shawnee Mission Park has an AWESOME dog area.

We took the trail to the lake and the boys had their first experience swimming. Made me wish I'd worn a swimsuit. The water was a wonderful temperature and it was roasting out. The only downside to the outing was the fact that the boys are a bit too friendly. As in, they freaked out when I wouldn't let them go and greet/play with every single other dog we saw, especially at the beach. They did great with the other dogs and people they were allowed to greet, but couldn't understand why I held them back. I just don't know other peoples' dogs and am not sure of the reception the boys might get.

After the park, we stopped at Sheridan's, got the boys pup cones and Therese had her first Sheridan's sundae. YUM again!

It was so very nice to have a friend to hang out with. It has been so long! Thanks Therese! I look forward to hanging out again!

It's one of those days. I'm so very bored and so tired of  being alone. I want to DO, but what? I want to GO, but where? I want to be with people, but who?

I don't even know where to start.

Bake time

I woke up today with a craving for baking. Not just any baking, but homemade cinnamon rolls. Considering how long it takes to make just two dozen rolls, it was a pretty strong craving, to say the least.

Gathering ingredients together, I discovered that I had no yeast. A quick trip to the store remedied that. Yummyness was under way.

So that is what I did with my morning. What are you doing this nice, cool August day?

Who are you?

Wait! Before you glance at the pics and think I am just repeating myself, hear me out!

Since bringing the 'boys' home, I've found myself in the middle of a mystery. Tag is obviously a Lab mix, but Toby's other origins have been a mystery. People frequently stop me and comment on what a handsome dog he is and "What is he?" They are amazed and dubious when I tell them that the boys are actually litter mates. Because of this, I have frequently spent free time roaming the net for images of Lab mixes that could explain my boys' origins. I think I may have found a few answers.What do you think?! Am I on to something here?

I've always wondered if Tag had a bit of German Shepherd in him. The way he cocks his head and pricks his ears is very distinctive. The dog on the right is a German Shepherd/ Lab mix and could easily be a grown version of Tag.

The dog on the left, while NOT Toby, looks like a grown carbon copy of him. This dog is an Australian Shepherd/Lab mix.

 

 

Growing quickly

Routine

My life has become quite routine lately. Work days have a certain rhythm to them, as do my days off. Each day is fairly predictable. This past week, this could not have been more clear.
Apparently puppies, like children, thrive on routine. This last week I had a bit of a rotating door with visitors. On Sunday Mom and Grandma came down from Kirksville.  They both spent the night and Mom headed off about midday on Monday. Late Monday afternoon, Lorene and Glenna arrived. They had traveled to Ohio for a meet for the shooting club that Lorene is secretary and treasurer of. They spent the night and the two of them, as well as Grandma, headed off to Utah the next morning. About 30-45 minutes after they took off, Margo and Newell arrived on my doorstep to visit for a couple of days. Tom had headed to Boundary Waters with Caleb, Gina, Am, Nathan, Kate and Sam for a week of canoeing, hiking and wilderness camping.
While I was having a great week, loving seeing so much family and getting out and about, the pups were getting more and more stressed. The beginning of the week was fine. Mom and Grandma were familiar figures, worth getting somewhat excited over, but not a huge deal. Lorene and Glenna were fun. Lorene played a ton with them and they got really worked up. By the time Margo and Newell arrived, they were wild, crazy, and had a hard time calming down. I had to gate them into 'their' room, which only made them upset. They would bark and bark whenever they saw Newell, especially when he was crawling around. They were really jumpy, even barking at Margo when she got up in the middle of the night to make a bottle for Newell. They would NOT listen or obey, were snippy and snappy and kept jumping...a TON...on me. As a result, they ended outside most of the time.
The past few days, I've been getting back into routine. I have worked and slept and they have spent a great deal of time in their crate as a result. And yet, they seem somewhat relieved. They are listening and obeying better. Not well, but better. They are less ornery. Apparently routine is good. 
PS I had a great week despite the ornery dogs!!!