...and had a cozy place to sleep at Corinne's.
The boys were very excited to have two canine house guests. 
It was great to hike up to the Y with lots of the family.
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Puppies' First Sleepover and Hike to the Y
We decided to spend Memorial Day with Corinne and her family. We spent the night and then hiked up to the Y. Lucy and Drover got to come. They were cozy on the drive down......and had a cozy place to sleep at Corinne's.The boys were very excited to have two canine house guests. It was great to hike up to the Y with lots of the family.
...and had a cozy place to sleep at Corinne's.The boys were very excited to have two canine house guests. It was great to hike up to the Y with lots of the family. Antelope Island
M went on a field trip to Antelope Island just before the end of school. A parent went with each child in the class, so it was a special day. It was a horrible time of year for bugs and I came home with many, many bites, but it was nice to spend the day together. 
M with her friend Danielle.
We didn't take our swimmers but M was still able to enjoy the water.
M with her 3rd grade teacher who retired after this year. M loved her teacher and we were happy M was able to have her in her last year before retirement.
M with her friend Danielle.We didn't take our swimmers but M was still able to enjoy the water. M with her 3rd grade teacher who retired after this year. M loved her teacher and we were happy M was able to have her in her last year before retirement. Sibling Rivalry
Lucy and Drover got a new monkey toy and they loved it! It was a lot of fun watching them play tug-of-war with each other. Now they just use the monkey as a chew toy. Its squeaker was chewed out within the first week and its stuffing has been steadily diminished. I love watching them play with new toys but have quickly learned that you don't spend a lot of money on dog toys. I only buy toys that are on clearance and avoid plastic toys because I've had several that have only lasted about 30 seconds before they start to be chewed to pieces. An occasional egg carton or cardboard box makes a mess to sweep up, but it gives them a few minutes of fun.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Middlemarch, by George Elliot
"Her full nature...spent itself in channels which had no great name on the earth, but the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive. For the growing good of the world is partly dependant on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life and rest in unvisited tombs."
I finished this book yesterday and really enjoyed it. This quote particularly struck me. I am grateful for the effect of good people surrounding me and the people who influenced the generations before me.
I finished this book yesterday and really enjoyed it. This quote particularly struck me. I am grateful for the effect of good people surrounding me and the people who influenced the generations before me.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Dog + Garden = Dog Lesson # 7
On Monday afternoon I planted new flowers in my yard and my very first vegetable garden (in the square foot garden Dad built for me). I really enjoyed choosing the things to plant and seeing the finished product. I felt like I was starting to understand why Dad and Corinne love their gardens so much. It got late and I didn't get a photo on Monday night but figured I'd get one the next day...
...did I mention that Drover likes to dig? On Tuesday morning I got home from helping in M's class to find many of my newly planted flowers and veggies dug up. I was pretty sad to see my pretty flowers in pieces. Luckily I was able to replant most of them. The one I am the saddest about is a cabbage that M is growing for school. We planted it in the middle of the garden but that was the one he went for. I salvaged the stem and roots so I'm hoping it will still grow.
I decided that I should only let the dogs out while I'm with them until they have a clear understanding of the boundaries in the yard. Unfortunately I was running late for something today and didn't have time to wait for them to go potty and bring them in before I left, so I put them in the yard and hoped for the best. Hmmm.
Today I lost my cucumber, a cauliflower and one of my tomato plants.
Lucy, who has much lower energy than Drover, prefers relaxing in the sun to pass her time.
He likes to stay busy, but he's a good dog and learning well. I love him more than flowers and veggies, but I'm hoping that with some effort I'll be able to have them all!
...did I mention that Drover likes to dig? On Tuesday morning I got home from helping in M's class to find many of my newly planted flowers and veggies dug up. I was pretty sad to see my pretty flowers in pieces. Luckily I was able to replant most of them. The one I am the saddest about is a cabbage that M is growing for school. We planted it in the middle of the garden but that was the one he went for. I salvaged the stem and roots so I'm hoping it will still grow.
I decided that I should only let the dogs out while I'm with them until they have a clear understanding of the boundaries in the yard. Unfortunately I was running late for something today and didn't have time to wait for them to go potty and bring them in before I left, so I put them in the yard and hoped for the best. Hmmm.
Today I lost my cucumber, a cauliflower and one of my tomato plants.
Lucy, who has much lower energy than Drover, prefers relaxing in the sun to pass her time.
He likes to stay busy, but he's a good dog and learning well. I love him more than flowers and veggies, but I'm hoping that with some effort I'll be able to have them all!
Feeling Good
The dogs had x-rays again on Monday. Drover's pneumonia is better. Lucy still has it but she has improved a lot and I'm hoping that when we go back in 2 weeks she'll be completely better too.
Curls
McKinlay recently taught M how to curl her hair. I got M a curling wand of her own and she has styled her hair a few times now.
Friday, 30 April 2010
ANZAC Day 2010
This year we celebrated ANZAC Day by putting out our flag and making ANZAC Biscuits. Yum! 
Josh took a few photos while I was making them but didn't take any of the finished product. That may have something to do with the fact that I gobbled most of them up very quickly!
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Powder Puff Derby
M and Kate made their cars for the powder puff derby together again this year. We decided that we should try and make their cars heavier than last year (5 oz is the maximum weight) in an attempt to make them faster. So they each glued a coin to the back of their cars from Sara's box of coin samples from work. M used a coin shaped like a shopping bag with fruit and veggies in it. Kate found a coin shaped like pizza. They both decided to make those coins the themes of their cars. Originally M was going to paint her car green and call it Elphaba with either "Defying Gravity" or "Wicked" written on it. After finding the coin she ended up changing it to "W Shop" written on the car. Kate has "Pizza" written on the side of her car.
There were 3 timed races on race day. M got 3rd, 2nd and 1st in that order. The heavier car didn't help as much as I'd hoped. I learned later that there are lots of tricks that parents do with filing down the wheels and who knows what else. That all sounds a little too much like the parents doing the work and I'm happy that M did most of her car herself.
After the official races were finished the girls were able to race their cars against their friends.
M's, Morgan's and Kate's cars lined up for a race.
The W Shop's first place race and its designer watching in anticipation.
The W Shop's first place race and its designer watching in anticipation.
Cousins
Mark and Jeni went away the weekend before last and a few of their kids hung out at our house on the Saturday afternoon. M loved playing with Annabelle that afternoon. It is sweet for me to see the two of them enjoy spending time together.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Lessons of a New Dog Owner
Lesson # 1 - Get pet insurance before you get a dog.
We found out on the weekend that the puppies both have pneumonia. Lucy was really ill last Sunday and ended up spending the night at an animal hospital. She's got a pretty bad case but is looking much better and has eaten well since Tuesday. She is on antibiotics and it may be a month or so before she's completely better but we're glad she has more energy and her appetite back.
On Monday we took Drover into the vet to have an x-ray done also since he had been coughing too. He also has pneumonia but it's a much milder case. His only symptoms are coughing and a hacking thing he does but he has plenty of energy and an appetite that is as good as mine. He has trained really well to wait until I tell him to take his food but then scarfs it down within 30 seconds! We then have him wait in the garage until Lucy has finished eating because she gets a little skittish with him trying to get her food. He is very good - he sits patiently on the step in the garage and waits for me to let him back in.
I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow for more x-rays to see how they are looking. I hope they both make a full recovery quickly. Drover eats his pills in his food - he's in such a hurry that he doesn't notice they're there. Lucy, the ladylike eater she is, never eats the pills in her food, even if I put them inside a piece of hot dog she can still get them out. So I have to put hers in the back of her throat, close her mouth, then use a syringe to squirt a little water in her mouth and make her swallow. Dog slobber all over my hands has become a routine thing! M pointed out that it is fitting that Lucy doesn't like taking her medicine since Lucy is her dog and she hates taking medicine too! Maybe I'll try the holding the mouth and syringe trick with M next time too...
Lesson # 2 - Fix gaps in your fence before you get a dog.
We were planning on waiting until June to get a dog so we hadn't made fixing the gaps in the fence a priority. The fence on the back was put up before the rest of the fencing and it didn't meet in one corner. There was about a 4" gap there that we knew we needed to fix but the dogs didn't seem to be going near there and Josh and I hadn't been able to find the right size post to fix it so we procrastinated. It's funny how some jobs just need the right kind of motivation to get them done.
That motivation came on Tuesday evening. I got home after being out for a few hours to find that a neighbour had our dogs in his yard. There had been soccer games at the park that afternoon and Drover and Lucy must have wanted to join in the excitement. They had a good run around the fields. Luckily several people from our neighbourhood were at the games and a friend of M's recognised the dogs as ours. I am so glad they were kept safe until we got home! I felt like such an irresponsible dog owner! I went to Home Depot that night and got what I needed to fix the gap.
A second problem we weren't even aware of was a gap underneath the fence right next to the house. I discovered this gap one afternoon while speaking to a friend at my front door. Drover, who was in the back yard, came trotting merrily up to me at the front door. I filled that one up with dirt and will get some grass seed for there. Hopefully they won't be diggers!
Lesson # 3 - In a puppy's mind, a dog gate is just a fun obstacle to jump over.
The dogs' bed is in the kitchen. When we go to bed at night we put up a child gate to keep them in there (they are only allowed on the wooden floored kitchen and entryway). They can get over the gate pretty easily, but when the gate is up at night and they are there together they are happy to stay on their beds.
Early last week when Lucy was still resting and couldn't come on our long walks I left her in the kitchen with the gate up. I returned home to find her running around the lounge room and a pile of M's soft toys on the floor that she'd pulled out of the toy bucket. At least she didn't pee inside, though, which is more than I can say for Drover. On the night that Lucy was in hospital he got over the gate. I got up in the morning to find him sitting in M's soft toy bucket which had been left in the lounge room and he'd peed and pooped in the office.
Now I make sure all the bedroom doors are closed at night, just for good measure. We also borrowed Jeni's child gate that we put up above ours to make sure they are really blocked in the kitchen if we need to go out and leave them inside.
We are working at training them to stay on the wood. Lucy is very good with that boundary. Drover stops at the carpet but if I'm out of the room for too long he comes looking for me. It will take lots of reinforcement for that one.
Lesson # 4 - In a puppy's mind, thongs are excellent chew toys.
Josh's thongs were the first victims. They were on the deck outside the back door on the first day the dogs were left out. We got home to find the straps in pieces. Then I forgot to move my thongs from the garage one day when I'd put Drover in there. Fortunately he only got some teeth marks in the sole because those are my favourite shoes!
Lesson # 5 - Be prepared to do a lot more cleaning.
I love having two dogs and I thought about the double poop I'd have to pick up, but I didn't think about the double hair. They make a lot of dog hair between the two of them. I will definitely be sweeping/mopping/vacuuming more often. Sitting at my desk typing this I just noticed a dog hair on my desk calendar. How did a dog hair get in here!
Just so you know, even if I'd thought through the double dog hair before getting them I still would have got both.
Lesson # 6 - You will love them more than you imagined.
I had no idea I would love the dogs this much. I knew I wanted a dog and I'd love him/her, but now that I have them I am already so completely in love with them. Tara, I understand now how you feel about Darwin! I guess having the dogs of my own that I am responsible for and I spend lots of time with has made this bond so strong for me so quickly. They are beautiful little things and I am so happy to have them as a part of our family.
Drover enjoying a belly scratch.
We found out on the weekend that the puppies both have pneumonia. Lucy was really ill last Sunday and ended up spending the night at an animal hospital. She's got a pretty bad case but is looking much better and has eaten well since Tuesday. She is on antibiotics and it may be a month or so before she's completely better but we're glad she has more energy and her appetite back.
On Monday we took Drover into the vet to have an x-ray done also since he had been coughing too. He also has pneumonia but it's a much milder case. His only symptoms are coughing and a hacking thing he does but he has plenty of energy and an appetite that is as good as mine. He has trained really well to wait until I tell him to take his food but then scarfs it down within 30 seconds! We then have him wait in the garage until Lucy has finished eating because she gets a little skittish with him trying to get her food. He is very good - he sits patiently on the step in the garage and waits for me to let him back in.
I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow for more x-rays to see how they are looking. I hope they both make a full recovery quickly. Drover eats his pills in his food - he's in such a hurry that he doesn't notice they're there. Lucy, the ladylike eater she is, never eats the pills in her food, even if I put them inside a piece of hot dog she can still get them out. So I have to put hers in the back of her throat, close her mouth, then use a syringe to squirt a little water in her mouth and make her swallow. Dog slobber all over my hands has become a routine thing! M pointed out that it is fitting that Lucy doesn't like taking her medicine since Lucy is her dog and she hates taking medicine too! Maybe I'll try the holding the mouth and syringe trick with M next time too...
Resting peacefully. I love the way they sleep together.
Lesson # 2 - Fix gaps in your fence before you get a dog.
We were planning on waiting until June to get a dog so we hadn't made fixing the gaps in the fence a priority. The fence on the back was put up before the rest of the fencing and it didn't meet in one corner. There was about a 4" gap there that we knew we needed to fix but the dogs didn't seem to be going near there and Josh and I hadn't been able to find the right size post to fix it so we procrastinated. It's funny how some jobs just need the right kind of motivation to get them done.
That motivation came on Tuesday evening. I got home after being out for a few hours to find that a neighbour had our dogs in his yard. There had been soccer games at the park that afternoon and Drover and Lucy must have wanted to join in the excitement. They had a good run around the fields. Luckily several people from our neighbourhood were at the games and a friend of M's recognised the dogs as ours. I am so glad they were kept safe until we got home! I felt like such an irresponsible dog owner! I went to Home Depot that night and got what I needed to fix the gap.
A second problem we weren't even aware of was a gap underneath the fence right next to the house. I discovered this gap one afternoon while speaking to a friend at my front door. Drover, who was in the back yard, came trotting merrily up to me at the front door. I filled that one up with dirt and will get some grass seed for there. Hopefully they won't be diggers!
Lesson # 3 - In a puppy's mind, a dog gate is just a fun obstacle to jump over.
The dogs' bed is in the kitchen. When we go to bed at night we put up a child gate to keep them in there (they are only allowed on the wooden floored kitchen and entryway). They can get over the gate pretty easily, but when the gate is up at night and they are there together they are happy to stay on their beds.
Early last week when Lucy was still resting and couldn't come on our long walks I left her in the kitchen with the gate up. I returned home to find her running around the lounge room and a pile of M's soft toys on the floor that she'd pulled out of the toy bucket. At least she didn't pee inside, though, which is more than I can say for Drover. On the night that Lucy was in hospital he got over the gate. I got up in the morning to find him sitting in M's soft toy bucket which had been left in the lounge room and he'd peed and pooped in the office.
Now I make sure all the bedroom doors are closed at night, just for good measure. We also borrowed Jeni's child gate that we put up above ours to make sure they are really blocked in the kitchen if we need to go out and leave them inside.
We are working at training them to stay on the wood. Lucy is very good with that boundary. Drover stops at the carpet but if I'm out of the room for too long he comes looking for me. It will take lots of reinforcement for that one.
Lesson # 4 - In a puppy's mind, thongs are excellent chew toys.
Josh's thongs were the first victims. They were on the deck outside the back door on the first day the dogs were left out. We got home to find the straps in pieces. Then I forgot to move my thongs from the garage one day when I'd put Drover in there. Fortunately he only got some teeth marks in the sole because those are my favourite shoes!
Lesson # 5 - Be prepared to do a lot more cleaning.
I love having two dogs and I thought about the double poop I'd have to pick up, but I didn't think about the double hair. They make a lot of dog hair between the two of them. I will definitely be sweeping/mopping/vacuuming more often. Sitting at my desk typing this I just noticed a dog hair on my desk calendar. How did a dog hair get in here!
Just so you know, even if I'd thought through the double dog hair before getting them I still would have got both.
Lesson # 6 - You will love them more than you imagined.
I had no idea I would love the dogs this much. I knew I wanted a dog and I'd love him/her, but now that I have them I am already so completely in love with them. Tara, I understand now how you feel about Darwin! I guess having the dogs of my own that I am responsible for and I spend lots of time with has made this bond so strong for me so quickly. They are beautiful little things and I am so happy to have them as a part of our family.
Drover enjoying a belly scratch.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Puppies' First Bath
Time to wash of the dirt and grime.
Not really liking this wet, soapy thing.
Nice and clean, but still looking foward to getting back to her dry bed!
I thought they were cute before their baths, but they got even cuter when they were clean!
We put up a child gate to keep the dogs in the kitchen at night. They have never tried to get passed it normally, but when I took Drover to give him a bath Lucy jumped the gate to come and look for him. Then when it was Lucy's turn Drover did exactly the same thing! I think it is so sweet that they like to be with each other.I didn't get any photos of Drover because only M was home and I was half way through his bath before realizing I should get my camera and I couldn't leave him then. But I'm glad I got some photos of Lucy. They didn't like their baths but I'm sure they'll get more used to it in time. I sure like them being clean!
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