You Don't See That Every Day

It has been a year since we got this pup. And this is what she looked like back then. And here she is now. We've learned a lot about puppies, and how much they chew and dig and stink and jump. But she is such a great running companion now, and she keeps our other mutt in shape.

Monday so far has been a typical untypical day. While I was on my run this morning, the kids - at home with dad - had some fun with cereal. Well, the youngest did. " Just trying to get some beppast, Mom " The girls like to get out of doing schoolwork by playing with their littlest sister. Sometimes that excuse works for me. I cooked up the last of the apples for sauce this morning. A delicious bowl of warm applesauce and home- made crackers for my after lunch appetizer. This is where our dogs like to sleep most of the time. There have been occasional squeals from the dogs when chair legs came down on them unintended. It's noon and so far some school has been worked on.Some chores down. Some bills paid. Some food cooked and eaten. Some exercise gotten. And yet so far to go in the day - naps, basketball, crock pot dinner, meetings, and all the stuff in between. .

From the day we got her to almost 2 weeks later, to another month past, this puppy is growing. She was smaller than our black dog when we brought her home. And now she outweighs her and is taller than her. But black dog is still in charge and they both know it.

Last Friday we had the sheet rock delivered. Some was put down in the garage, the rest was hauled into the upstairs. They had a really cool truck and 'swing' that carried the bundles over to the window, and then the guys hauled them in and set them in one of the rooms. On Saturday G and his brother, G., worked at getting some insulation in the garage ceiling, and even managed to get the time to hang one board of sheet rock! Hurrah! It begins! While they were working hard on installing a window, and stuffing insulation, the kids and I were shopping. For puppy supplies!! We found a crate we think will work for awhile, at least until Puppy is much bigger. For now, the kids find it a fun place to read, and play in. Little K. really enjoys hanging out inside of it! Last night - Sunday - our church held a Talent Show. And what talents we saw! There was an older lady who played the saw! Yep, like one you would use to saw a log in half. Well, you might not use it, ...

We're thinking of adding to our family. A four-legged addition that is, not another child. We went to visit the puppies yesterday, to see which one we would like. From the 11 squiggly noisy little bodies, we think this one that S is holding will be the one. So I'll be heading to the library soon for books on puppies and training, along with local research on training, accessories, crates, food, etc. So we're welcome to any advice you might have on puppies and labs in particular (Brother T this would be you !) We won't be bringing her (the dog, not the daughter) home anytime soon, so I've got a chance to get my information and get the kids in the mindset. Now what to do about the awaiting dog at home.

We've had some very emotional days here the past 2 days. Today we had to put our sweet Mudge (aka Montana) to sleep. He was so sick, something that wouldn't really ever go away, and would take daily medicine to keep him going. We knew something was wrong these past few weeks, but we were hoping it was temporary, something that would clear up. However, because of his past, and his hugely overweight issue when we got him, I don't think there was anything we could have done to prevent the disease. Montana, aka Mudge, was a very sweet, gentle, loving lab. He let the kids do just about anything to him. My original plans of making him to a running partner never materialized ... but it was fun while we tried. We love you, Mudge. Little Princess says, "See you in heaven!"

He might look like a harmless giant but yesterday his true colors came out. He's a thief. We picked a ton of vegetables at the farm yesterday afternoon and I set most of them - the beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, the one zucchini my dad set out for me - in the garage while I was cleaning up. I had the kids set for travelling the neighborhood to share the bounty, and I was thinking about the bread, or maybe the cake, I would bake before supper. I went out to the garage to grab the zucchini for either bread or cake (not like I need more cake but it sounded so good!) and it was gone! Gone! A little green stub was on the ground. No dogs around, no zucchini. I know the kids didn't take it and eat it - that would never happen. All I could figure out was That Dog! grabbed it and ran. I found no other traces in the garage ... and I don't think I want to go inspect the 'remains' in the yard. Unless ... this little black one was the thief. She has been kn...