How is everybody doing? I have been absent for a while
We were out to visit our sons in California in October. I have been fairly busy competing with Harry who is still very active at 9 years old. I laugh when I think about the people who said he should calm down by five or six on the agility course. We are still struggling with his intensity so I guess that is never going to happen. Bert is doing very nicely in his agility training but I haven't trained him at all in obedience beyond his basic manners and day to day requirements. Training has kind of been on hold these past few weeks as my parents prepare to downsize to a condo after 41 years in the same house. Their idea of "downsizing" is to make us kids take it. Well I don't want all their stuff - I have too much of my own junk. So I am in the process of helping them while getting rid of as much of my own things as I can. I have a new motto: "Nothing comes in unless something goes out". What's going on with all of you? |
|
|
| Hi Judy. I understand about getting rid of stuff. I also have the motto "one in, one out." Some days I make myself get rid of 3 useless things. If the item is unsalvageable I throw it away. If it has some use left, it goes in the box for Salvation Army or Purple Hearts. I'm glad my mom wasn't a collector/saver/hoarder. My kitchen is being redone--the saga is in another thread. |
| A new kitchen sounds exciting. I will have to read the thread. |
| We've been fairly busy. One of my sons moved back with us until the New Year and with him came 3 cats. lol One Coon Cat, Howl made best friends with Helene and so spends most of his day out with us. The youngest cat, Rumble discovered the doggie door so tries to sneak out at night to go in the fenced in backyard. Ryadan the other black cat, seems content to sgtay behind the cat gate in the hallway. So all e cats and dogs have been living in harmony. Howl is sleeping on top of my desk as I type. My daughter Amy, moved to a new apartment a few weekends ago and we kept her little dog Oscar at our house while she packed. Oscar and the cats were kept separated, he liked to go after them, but since he was only going to be with us a week, we just kept them separate. Oscar was happy to go back to has new home. Declan and Helene are growing up too fast. Declan will be 1 on 12/10. He's getting neutered tomorrow 12/3. Not the best pre-birthday gift I guess. We'll be celebrating China's first birthday as an angel tomorrow as well. We are expecting our 14th grandchild md December. My son Adam, Lauren and Alyssa are the happy expecting family. Alyssa will be a big sister. No one knows the sex of the baby...we are all waiting until the baby s born, so lots of guessing going on. We put up a "live" Christmas Tree this year. The first live tree since we moved to Florida. It is up on the piano to keep the puppies away from it. Looking forward to the holiday season. It was great to hear from you! |
| I sympathize with the downsizing. My mom went from a 4-bedroom, 2-story house to a 1-bedroom condo. I was the only kid close enough to help her get ready, and it was a huge job! Harry and Bert will help keep you grounded! Good luck with the downsizing! |
Diane there are two of us kids "helping" them. That is if they will let us help.  Hi to the lovely coiffed Benson. Helen, it is good to hear about Helene and Declan. I bet my Bert would love to play with them pups. Harry is fascinated by cats so he probably wouldn't have left your visitors alone. |
| I helped my Mom downsize, it was no fun. When we did the remodeling here, first the kitchen and next year bathroom and laundry area we had a dumpster in the front yard. First time around we were shy about adding extras though the contractors urged it, "you are paying for it, fill it up." Second time we did fill it to the brim! To heck with donations, eBay, Craig's List, much easier to toss it. Slowly things coming back in, rule is 1 in 1 out, or better yet, 1 in 2 or 3 out. Harry still Harry, that is comforting, still the challenging agility boy. He doesn't want to make it too easy for you. |
| Nope Susan, Harry would never make things easy on me on the agility course. And I fear the day that I can't take him out there to drive me crazy. I am trying to savor every frustrating minute of it. Yes I do need to stop getting sentimenal about crap. I certainly am not feeling sentimental about my mom's stuff.  But honestly it is kind of liberating to keep this cleaning frenzy going. I can't bring myself to throw away anybodys stuff. I need to donate it. |
Feeling your pain about helping your folks downsize. We went through it too and I managed to resist taking much of anything. 'Oh Mum, I do love those cow statues you have, but since I don't have kids to leave these precious things to, it is best to give them to the siblings who have children'. My sisters and brother hated me as they drove off with their cars loaded down with stuff.  And as for Harry, I kind of think that you and Harry are peas in a pod. I bet when you are Harry's age you are still running around full of energy too!  |
| Hi Judi, great to here from you. I've been crazy busy at work. Dealing with a nearly 13 year old dalmo who is on meds twice a day, is on his last legs and becoming incontinent. So far he's happy and comfortable so that's all that matters. Whinging about missing a few of the regulars from here: you & Val amongst others  Looking forward to Xmas and a break. Are all your boys with you for Xmas this year? Mim |
| It's good to catch up on everyone, thanks for starting. We have been busy with all the usual fall activities; football, family and our new passion, agility and rally. Charm and I have been taking classes for a year now, and finally began trialing in October. Our first agility runs were so much fun and promising, totally hooked. And then, there is another thread about agility and herding behavior that will catch you up but if it was easy, wouldn't be nearly as intriguing. Rally is not as challenging, as Charm rocks showing off for obedience. It's intense for me, performance anxiety. I blew her last trial by totally missing a sign  but we love the people, travel and opportunity. I'm hoping that this will become a retirement activity for us, Rocky is becoming more inclined to train too. Of course, that may lead to another dog, a whole new topic  Our five month grandson was baptized mid November on Rocky's annual homemade Italian sausage making weekend. We had a huge family reunion as such, and celebrated two birthdays as well. It was fun, and exhausting as those things go We had a low key Thanksgiving this year to celebrate the quiet , Macy's parade, coffee, and dog show were the highlights. Awesome! Just finished the Christmas decorations and spending time with our two year old granddaughter, Guiliana. G is so enchanted by the holiday decor, lights and sights, and Charm's biggest fan  so looking forward to Christmas with this sweet baby. That about sums it up for us. I have enjoyed reading all the threads, and great to hear from you! Your trip sounds wonderful with the boys. Continued good luck with the down sizing. I'm such a sucker for taking things in on the nostalgia card  |
| Hi Everyone!!! I have missed all of you!!! This year has been a year of more changes, more sadness, more happiness. We moved into a smaller, cozier house, now that the 'kids' all have houses and lives of their own. I switched jobs in 2013, less stress, less responsibility. And, of course, I am still grieving the loss of my sweet Heart. I know it will take time and Willow is a great help in healing my soul and moving forward with this sweet, sweet girl.... (Thank you, Heart for sending her to US...) "We" have been taking obedience class after obedience class in the hopes of getting her ready for her pet therapy temperament test in September. (Dogs must be a least 2 before being tested.) She is doing very well, is very quick to pick up a new skill and yet, I am still awaiting brain development... I hesitate to say it out loud, BUT, her obsession with sock ingestion seems to have subsided. She loves to play with Harry but, Bert is her fav as they are still both so puppy-like. Harry puts up with them, as Pearl use to put up with Heart and Harry...I have been in training to become a T.O.U.C.H (pet) therapy trainer. It is a long road with a lot of hoops for me to jump through, but, I feel it is worth it! I am about 1/2 way through the training and now I will be co-assisting the main trainer for a couple of months..then...who knows???? I have missed all of my friends here on the forum....I am back!  |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|