Father's Day, Better Late Than...

Although it was almost a week ago, we have not forgotten & are enjoying the bounty Father's Day brought to our resident Pop.
The girls were up quite early (indifferent to any other day), after an early breakfast "wrapped up" their Dad's Day presentation to prepare for Pop's waking.
(Hopefully you can read this... If not I'll tweak in the a.m on my laptop so you can)...

Card reads: (Trader Joe's bag recycled)








Book:
(I heard an awesome interview w/ author really peaked my interest)...have to disclose here BOTH gifts were to be enjoyed by the Mama too!




& outside waiting...
(Yup, I've enjoyed some sunny naps already! I think I've used it more than Scott has-don't tell!!)




This hasn't happened yet...but I'm waiting...(so far she just lies under me (in the shade)....give it time...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

I Can't Hear You....

I had a good Father's Day post, but you'll have to wait as this appears to need to get off my chest tonight...
I often say and have heard many other non-parents repeat, people MUST not be able to hear their own children whining. I CAN HEAR THEM, believe me...in the checkout, in the parking lot, in the bank waiting line...I. HEAR.YOUR.CHILD...YOU however appear to NOT hear YOUR child! I have ALWAYS assumed with both amazement and awe that evolution has evolved to protect every parent from going nuts by hearing only when your child yelps in a time of true emergency (then with supersonic hearing) otherwise, complete oblivion to the whine, cry and general racket.
Apparently being an adoptive mother, not having given birth to Frannie myself (that'd be awkward...along w/ her 9 litter mates-yikes!) I do not posses this ability.  The sound of her whining makes my chest tight and my anxiety reach unhealthy levels.  It is an incessent little whine, at this horribly obnoxious pitch-and worse case it is NEVER when something is actually wrong- its just her way of expressing herself (typically her dismay).
Most children if their parent was out of the house, or out of sight would rejoice, do everything they are not suppose to, take all the toys out, go wild...right?!  While attempting to garden (something I VERY MUCH enjoy) and after taking the little beast for a walk/run at the Blueberry Plains, AND a car ride to scenic Sanford...she stood at the door (ALONG W/ MACK) and whined almost the entire two hours I was outside.  For those of you who have not spoken w/ me today, I have laryngitis...yelling at your dog is impossible (and she chose to ignore my sign language & frustrated faces!) I attempted to ignore the whining and tried to enjoy my work...but it persisted, and persisted....I must be missing something fellow parents, how do you do it?!

Summer At Last

Mama & I are BOTH happy the sun has come out! I got to visit a favorite swimming hole to celebrate our Summer day!! As you can tell-I loved it! Best part, no nasty ticks on either if us!!
We didn't tell Mack or Sadie where we went off to-so keep it in the "QT" would ya?!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Adjustments

Maybe he's not THAT bad....(& Mama says he's not staying forever...)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:High St,Kennebunk,United States

Yes, it is truer than true...we have a graduate yes we do!

-Dr. Suess

Yes, it is truer than true...we have a graduate yes we do! 

I will state again, as I have had to remind my own mother a number of times (we graduated from FUN/AGILITY class, not OBEDIENCE class!) With that said however, she did learn to listen to me, focus on me and did a fantastic job.  Not only did she learn with great earnest how to leap over hurdles, run through tunnels, walk along a see-saw, weave thru poles, jump thru a tire hoop, walk the plank, and yes FINALLY learn the LAY DOWN command, I was most impressed with her focus on her task, desire to please and accomplish her "job".  

Last night we ran thru an obstacle course using all the skills we had learned over the 6 weeks of classes.  Both dogs in attendance did excellent.  Frannie finally conquered the see-saw and walking the plank without baling out 3/4 of the way thru-and welcomed the all new task of jumping thru a tire hoop with no hesitation!

Ronnie, classmate and his dad & brother doing their run through.

A very quick graduation ceremony, presentation of diplomas and pups each got to choose a toy from their sweet teacher, Merri Button (I can't stand it!)...

Scott will surely use this as proof when she is bad that "he" is not her Pop,
and that some guy named Scott Gallant is-lol!

The proud GRADUATE showing off her diploma & her "cheeseburger" toy from Merri (which yes, is already been de-stuffed, de-squeekered, and chewed and is in the trash! Hey it was fun while it lasted!)

Cards, cash, checks and gifts to help us celebrate will be graciously receieved....Cheers!

Goatin' along....

Always the pleaser, I often think she MUST know I would love a goat, and therefore portrays the role of a goat in the yard and on our runs (not that I'd take my goat on a run just for the record). 

 (Although I could hang out w/ the guy in Dover, NH if I did...)

Dover celebrity...

Proof grass is obviously "greener" on the "other side".

A slight change in type (not brand) in her food is my hope that MAYBE she'll slow down on the grass consumption. (note, she particularly enjoys my ornamental grasses by the front door-the ONLY grass I don't need help cutting-thanks!)

Luckily F doesn't throw up the grass (using it as a bulimic tool to keep her girlish figure or her version of "Tums").  After reading many, many theories on why dogs eat grass, I believe she just "likes" the taste of it.   She has "favorite" spots she compulsively stops (on a dime) to eat it, where other spots that look like great grass munching to me, she passes right by...(what do I know?!)

So the grass seems thus far to do no harm, passes right thru her digestive track and perhaps (according to some theories) gives her the fiber she desires (?!)  (that the super expensive dog food doesn't provide-right?!) The only reason I really hate her eating grass, is that occasionally she needs a bit of help with the exiting of the grass...(use your imagination)-always a nice way to begin a day.  (still better than a diaper x 6 a day)!

(Vizh-luh)

Although this is from a childrens' book apparently, it describes a Vizsla well in very simple terms we can all understand...I can't tell you how very often I have to repeat, Vizsla, two or three times, then people say, "oh"...they don't know...how would they?! Few people are familiar with them, I actually am more than shocked when out running or out and about downtown if someone says, "a Vizsla right?" (all proud of themselves), and I too respond with a smile, an impressive nod and am amazed they somehow know this velcro dog is indeed,  Vizsla!

I found this on a facebook page I JUST stumbled upon, I have a feeling it may be a new favorite page (along w/ the other 20 pages facebook "suggests" I may like about Vizslas! I never thought to look for Vizsla pages...there IS some good in Facebook after all!