Bringing Home B - our first night and day.

Night One

After waiting at the shelter for almost an hour B finally was handed over to us all neutered and everything. Since I had been told and read that it's best to treat an adult rescue as I would a puppy I plan on spending at least the first week sharing a room with B at night. So now I am camped out in my son's room - he's up in his loft bed and I am on a mattress on the floor. The things I'll do for a doggie family members!

B so far: First thing I noticed is that he appears to be quiet, not a barky dog. That may change once he relaxes a bit.

Second thing is that he is very nervous/uncomfortable and can't seems to relax. He spent half the night standing next to my bed breathing on me! I wouldn't mind so much but it's hot here anyway and that didn't help. He did unbend enough to go lay on the bed I had put out for him a few times and I'm pretty sure he was licking his stitches but I was so tired by that point I was just glad he was laying down!

S also was a pester whining at the closed bedroom door because her dog buddy was being kept from her /sigh/ I only had to speak to her a few times. I also put B out every 2 hours or so during the night 2am,4am and 6am. Both dogs are currently outside now but being quiet so I figure all is well. They've given me time to post anyway.

So the journey starts - he really does have a beautiful temperament even wound up like he is right now I can see it. What a wonderful addition he is going to be! Any suggestions on how to make him comfortable would be great - I'll be taking both dogs for a walk once it's light enough to see.

Day One

B actually lay down 4 - 6 times today for short periods! At one point I swear he was falling asleep on his feet - his eyes slowly closed on him and then his head drooped. It was too funny!

S&B seem to be getting along pretty well - he sometimes pins her but she keeps pushing and at one point she mounted him so I think they are slowly working something out, what that is exactly I have no idea. I sure hope he sleeps tonight because even though I napped I am still pretty tired.

Pictures:

The dogs coming up the back steps


Some nice shots of B, yes he does have yellow eyes:




Getting ready for me to throw that ball:


My 4 year old took some pics as well, I always get a kick out of how her perspective is totally different than mine. As unflattering it is to see my backside from that angle I had to include all the shots she took.


Best for last - one only a 4 year old could have gotten:

Why I love my home.

It's said "Home is where the heart is" and "Home is where when you show up they have to take you in.". All sorts of things are said about Home. I often complain(maybe not here,but I do) of things in my house that I don't like; the rooster border in the kitchen, the unfinished projects, the lack of space, the mess and many other things. What I sometimes forget to tell people is why I love my house exactly how it is, flaws,mess and all.

Recently K's grandparents(my ex's parents) were very kind and gifted us some furniture. Not only did they gift it to us but they hauled it out of their basement and drove it 5 hours down the road. Now part of this I am sure is because they want their granddaughter to have a nice living room where she can hang out with her friends(which she did last night). I am grateful anyway because I get to enjoy it as well.

I wanted to show off my new looking living room thanks to this furniture and the new area rug my dear man also bought. I also wanted to say more about the things I really do love about my house. I have to say that this house has been my favorite home of all. Now I know part of the reason for that is because I have a wonderful man who loves me and this is where he lived when we met. Another part is the fact I have brought home two brand new babies that were conceived in this house as an expression of that love.

One of the biggest reasons I love my home is that I have lived here almost longer than I have anywhere in my life(there is only one place I lived longer). Ten years of my life has been held in the walls of this home. Ten years of love and joy and only a little bit of anger and suffering. Only someone who knew more about my past could understand what than means to me. I have been happier here than anywhere in my whole life! I have grown here and I have learned here but most importantly I have loved here better than any other time in my life.

This is my home and it is the best expression of my heart I can think of. Not perfect and shiny and clean but comfortable and cozy and warm.

This is my home:Things I love about my Home:

My front screen door:

My new living room:

The view from my spot:

My mudroom:

My Children(represented here by my youngest daughter):

My Puppy:

And because of my puppy, my back yard:

It may not look like much to anyone else, it's small and my family is kinda big with three kids, two adults, two dogs and a cat living in the 900 square feet we call home. It's not perfect but then I have a lot less stress than I would if we were an a new, perfect house. It's often messy and loud and covered in animal hair but it's also often friendly and comfortable and clean too. I love my home and can think of nothing better than to live here always, until the day I die.

This is Home for me.

Cass :)

Our new dog comes to visit!

Yup - our new boy(who will be home for good on Wednesday night) came by for a home visit today for 7 hours. I know I should have taken more pictures, these were the best I had.

Here he is - in my kitchen :)
I tried to get more shots of the two dogs together but B was very nervous and wouldn't stop moving.
S was a bit stressed as well, it's been a busy weekend for us having T for two days and a night and then B coming to visit so we were all a little tired. Here she is getting some comfort from J.

The kids were happy to play with B & S outside though and B loves to play fetch.

All in all a great visit and then I walked the two dogs back to the shelter and said bye to B until Wednesday night. The lady that runs the shelter is very happy that we like B and are taking him. I am happy to give such a happy doggy a loving home.

Cass :)

What I did this summer.

I know I have been very remiss about Blogging and I am sorry. Not a lot has happened this summer but I will update you on the goings on since my last Blog.

On July 22nd & 23rd I took A & M to visit my Mom. We went on the train. It was A & M's first ever train ride so they were very excited!Once we were waiting for the train to arrive both M and I noticed A's crazy hair:

The train was interesting and the trip only takes an hour on the train, which is also cool. Here are a few shots of the kids on the train:Via rail gave the kids a fun pack that included a cardbaord train - A thought that was pretty cool. M was tired from getting up so early.

We stayed overnight at my Mom's and came home late Wednesday night on the train. We did it again this month as well and I hope to go again in October and give the kids a surprise 2 days off school. If not then, then in early December to have some Holiday time with Nana.

Also in August we dog sat T a Boxer/Australian Sheppard cross that is the dog of a friend of M's. T and S have regular play dates and had a lot of fun for the 3 days and 2 nights he was here. Meet T Shots of T & S:Shots of just S:

Also this month S's dog pal S came to visit:S was a big hit with M:

Also yesterday I grabbed a shot of S being affectionate with A, she did this on her own:

In other news we are adopting a second dog, we've paid the adoption fee and I have been going to the shelter to walk him nightly until he can come home to us on September 3rd after his neuter. Here is his adoption ad. We are all looking forward to Bobby coming to live with us!

I will post shots of B once he is home with us!!

Cass :)

A visit and some nice pictures!

First of all: All credit for these lovely shots of my pets and children go to my good friend LA. She has a fast hand and a great eye :)

To also give credit where credit is due - This is Pugsley Pwning S :)

A doing his 'smell the flower' trick, hehe.

M showing off how dirty little girls can be.

The Cato being - catish :)

S loves her pool and lays down in it now to keep cool - this is the most adorable picture of her to date. Thanks L for the wonderful shot!

She even snuck in one of me. Its good so I will share.

Cass :)

It's so sad!!

For a short while there I was entertaining the idea of us getting a second dog, J has kept the brakes on that idea long enough for me to realize(once again) that we can only really responsibly care for one cat and one dog at a time. I have regular play dates for S so she gets a chance to play with other dogs so she's not that lonely.

Unfortunately I have gotten in the habit of checking Kijiji for "free to good home" ads as well as looking at local shelters and it kills me that all these poor dogs are being dumped. "We're moving into a no pets place." is too common - if you had kids would you move into a "no kids" place?!? I mean really. I ~think~ we could give a second dog a good home but it would be hard if there were any unforeseen issues with health ... also there is the whole issue with space. We have 5 people, a dog and a cat in our just under 1000 square foot home. Sure we have a giant yard(I'd say about 5000 square feet) but that doesn't help when we're all sitting in the 100 square foot living room on a winter night watching TV.

It just makes me so sad - all those poor dogs. I'm not even going to think too deeply about the thousands of cats and kittens I have seen "free to good home" as well as in shelters. Why is society still not spaying an neutering? Bob Barker always said that at the end of his show, you remember? Poor Bob, all those years and it seems like people are still being dumb and just not doing it.

Cass :(

I like to say 'Argle Bargle'

It's what I say when I have nothing to say. Summer vacation has started for the kids but my routine has stayed the same. Which reminds me I have to go plan our menu for this week right now! Be right back ...

... There all done. Anyway like I said I don't have much to say I have some cute shots of the dog though so I'll just put them up :)

Our puppy is now 7 months old, everyone always tells me how pretty she is whenever we are out with her.

Just so you don't think I've forgotten about them, here's a shot of two of my three children:

And my two furkids:

So that's it, long lazy summer ahead. I'm trying to keep everyone from getting too bored and in the process I'm wearing myself out as well. We have play dates for the dog a few times a week, her daily walks, I took the kids to see a children's music presentation last night and there is big band music playing next week that I think I'll take them to as well(can't beat free). Different types of music are good for the brain right? Also we have early swims, when we walk to the Y nice and early and go swimming for an hour and then walk home. Too bad it takes us an hour home to in the water.

Yeah, summer, yippee. /sigh/

Cass :)