Family Photos

This post is long overdue!  I have finally sorted through all my digital photos (I think!) and opened my dropbox account with our family photos.  These were taken at my family's Thanksgiving gathering, the day after Thanksgiving. Danielle Vennard, my friend and wedding photographer, generously shared her time and HUGE talent to create these special memories in honor of Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary this year.

(c) Danielle Vennard, Photographer

Congrats, Remy!

We adopted Remy in February and along with my mom and her newly adopted dog, Connor, we took a basic obedience class together.  At that time, Remy was very reactive around other dogs and although he did learn his commands, he failed the final test and we walked away as the "Most Improved" pair.   In order to advance to any other classes at that particular training center, we needed a successful completion of basic obedience, but were unable to re-enroll due to my work schedule.  I found another training center and Remy and I took a Manners class, followed by Level 1 and Level 2 Rally Obedience classes, successfully completing each of them!  We have come a very long way together and I'm encouraged to continue.  I still hope to do animal-assisted therapy, so we will start with the Canine Good Citizen certification in the New Year.  Since part of the test requires Remy to walk toward another dog and not react, my initial goal was to pass this test within three tries.  I will now raise that bar and hope for one try!  Stay tuned!

Santa Photo

My office put on a Pet Photos with Santa event on Saturday.  It was a great success, raising nearly $600 for a local rescue organization.  Remy was, of course, just the cutest dog ever!

Upcycled

From this...

I've been on a long hunt for an appropriate winter jacket for Remy.  Thanks to an enviable lack of fat, he shivers when the weather's even a little bit chilly.  I couldn't really find any suitable (and reasonably priced) options in stores, but I did come across a style that I thought would fit him well.  From that pattern, I modified the fit to get it just right for my pooch.  This required a very patient model, willing to stand still for long periods of time while I measured and fit and perfected the paper bag pattern.  He did grow weary after awhile.  Once the pattern was settled, I went on a hunt for the fabric.  After a suggestion from mom, I used two jackets that I bought from Community Aid for less than $15.  Remy's sporting both Columbia and Lands' End in this fine jacket.  Jealous!

To this...

Decorating

It's beginning to look and smell a lot like Christmas, but I cannot say it feels like Christmas when the temperature rose to almost 70 degrees today!  While it's nice not to worry about driving in snow, that white stuff does help me get in the holiday mood.  Wearing nothing but a T-shirt while cutting down our Christmas tree just didn't seem right.


This year's Christmas tree-cutting experience was nearly stress-free for Hubby and he was so happy for that!  We took the opportunity to tag our tree well before Thanksgiving.  This past weekend Hubby, Remy and I went to cut it down and I swear, by the time I lifted my camera out of my pocket, the tree was already cut.  In another five minutes it was loaded in the car and we were home.  In less than twenty minutes, from departure to the tree farm to the lighting of the tree, we were done.

Here's a look at a few of the decorations.  I love the smell of the fresh pine and I'm particularly pleased with my homemade wreaths.  I still have a few things to finish downstairs, but that will probably be in another week.

Family

This Thanksgiving holiday was such an enjoyable and relaxing time.  We spent Thanksgiving day at the Hawk's, getting to eat the traditional turkey, sausage stuffing, and homemade pies.  It's so good to see them!

On Friday, we spent the day at my parents' house and everyone made it home for a day after Thanksgiving dinner.  I don't have pictures to share from that day yet, but when I do, they will be fabulous!  Why?  Because my friend and wedding photographer, Danielle Vennard, came and did a family photo shoot for us! It was a very belated gift to Mom and Dad for their 40th anniversary this year.  I can't wait until the pictures are ready!

The rest of the weekend was spent at Mom and Dad's.  Brian stayed until Saturday and the rest left on Sunday.  Everyone got to rest and relax, and the dogs got more time to settle in together.  By Sunday, the dogs were doing great!

I can't believe that we will turn another page in the calendar tonight.  I simply cannot keep up, and if this is how quickly life is going to fly by, I must say I am not a fan!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope each of you can enjoy a relaxing, family-filled day with lots of delicious food. This year has been a difficult year, but I am so thankful for the love and support of my family, a stable job, and each of my four-legged boys!

Sewing Project

When my grandma asked me what sewing projects I had completed and the only thing I could think of was Remy's Halloween costume, I get motivated to finish up this Thanksgiving wall hanging.  I bought this as a kit on the clearance rack a while ago.  I appreciated the opportunity to have all the fabrics purchased and a for a challenge with the applique portion.  Admittedly there are a few areas in which I would have wished for a better finish, such as the two mitered corners that are far from mitered...  However, I am happy with the final project and thankful to have it completed by the holiday!

Brrr!

So I think that we had about one month of gorgeous fall weather and then, with Hurricane Sandy and Daylight Saving's Time ending, we just flew right into winter.  And, speaking for myself, I am not a fan.  I think Remy will agree for two reasons - fewer walks and colder weather.

Since Mr. Remy prefers to sleep in late in the mornings (as do I), I long ago gave up on walking him in the morning.  That left our evenings for our long walks.  Now, there's no way that's happening before the sun sets at 5pm!  Crazy!

As for the weather, Remy has a few items in his fall wardrobe, but I think I'll need to look for something even warmer for the cold winter months.  I had him for a walk the other day when it was windy and quite cool, and despite the fact that he had his jersey thundershirt on, he was still shivering!

I did some searching online and looked for coats designed for whippets.  I know I've been denying the idea of him being a mix with whippet.  Now thinking it's a possibility.  I just had to laugh when I saw this picture because the dog looked very similar to what Remy looked like in the rat costume I made him for Halloween.

http://k9apparel.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=132_147&products_id=2600

We're wet...

...but thankfully, that's about all!  We weathered through Superstorm Sandy with little issue.  We had the extra bottles of water, packed freezer full of ice, batteries, flashlights, and candles at the ready, but none of that was needed.  In fact, we didn't even have any flooding from our creek!  At this point, we're just dealing with water-logged soil and chilly temperatures.  We'll take it, since not everyone had the same luck as we did.

We wish everyone dealing with the clean-up a quick recovery!  And for those traveling home later than expected, a safe journey!

Proud Momma

I am such a proud momma!

When we met Remy prior to his adoption, I had two questions - Does he bark?  Does he get along with other dogs?  The answers were exactly what I wanted to hear - no barking, and he got along great with other dogs.  Unfortunately, once we adopted him, it was quite apparent that the real answers to the questions were the exact opposite!

I've spent so much time and energy in Remy's training at the kennels at work, and after eight months, I am finally enjoying some peace! Four months after adopting him though, I had resigned myself to the fact that Remy would never be alright in the dog kennel.  I had to make arrangements with my coworkers to let him out at home, or drive an hour to and from work over my lunch break to let him out.  Now, I finally see a glimmer of hope.  

In the past two weeks, I've had to take Remy to the office with me for various reasons when I would have normally kept him at home.  Instead of barking at the door of the kennel and shaking, Remy will walk right into to the kennels quietly!  Instead of constant, ear-piercing barking, Remy will settle down quietly in his cage after about five or ten minutes!  Instead of getting wound up even further when people walk into the dog kennel, Remy will now wake up and calmly come to the door of the kennel and not bark, whine or even jump up on the door!  I honestly cannot put into words how dramatic this change is for him.

Some of these behaviors are the direct result of his training, but I think the overall success of his kennel experience has been from gaining confidence and trust.  He still has some anxiety around dogs, but with all of the socializing I have done with him, he is definitely more confident with them.  I also think that over the past eight months he can now trust that I will return even after I leave him in a kennel.

Regardless of the reason, I am such a proud momma!

Keeping Busy

Time has just been flying by!  Remember back as a young child when you couldn't wait for the weekend, for the summer, for your birthday, for Christmas?  I never thought I would reach a point in my life that time would go by so quickly, that those most anticipated dates of the year would come before I knew it.  But I guess I finally grew up and these days, I feel like I could use another 24 hours in every day.

With that said, I've really tried to make the most of my weekends, realizing the work week is just crazy and rarely anything happens outside of work during those days.  Last weekend I was able to spend time outdoors, enjoying the beautiful fall colors.  Remy's been my buddy on these journeys. He loves doing pretty much anything with me, but if other dogs are involved, it's a blast for him!  Remy and I joined up with my coworkers and their dogs to hike a portion of the AT.  We left cars at the start and endpoints.  The drive back with 3 people and 4 dogs in my car was quite a hoot!  Thankfully three of them fell asleep.  Can you guess which one was wide awake?

Fall Colors

This is such a beautiful time of the year.  It's so wonderful that I finally have a dog to share it with, to motivate me to get outside every single day, to witness the amazing changes in nature.  This video clip was taken in York County, as Remy and I drove to the dog park.

Traveling

Here are some pictures from our trip to Dallas.  Unfortunately my trip was quite uneventful, with a busy conference, followed by several days of sickness.  I managed to squeeze a few sight-seeing hours in prior to the conference and just before flying home, but I didn't really experience Texas like I had hoped.  We'll have to return!

Arts School

Mural on a Catholic community building, within the arts district

Pretty terraces on an apartment building

I liked the flower garden at this restaurant.  We didn't eat here, though.  Just passing through!

Dallas landscape, including our hotel.

Gorgeous landscaping at a business building.

Pretty architecture

Dallas cityscape

Texas Punch-buggy at the State Fair

State Fair

Big Tex at the State Fair

Stampede!  This was a unique sculptural depiction right downtown

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Mr. Speedy

Check out Mr. Speedy!  Isn't he handsome?  We've been riding along York's Rails to Trails path and he has no problem with a six mile run while I bike.  I timed him with a handy dandy app and he maintains a steady six minute mile.  I would be dead if I ever ran that fast, let alone that long!

A New Family

Miss Annie Oakley has finally found a new home!  It took far too long to find a home suited to her needs, but I am feeling pretty good about her new family.  They called me last week, having found her video on Castaway Critters' website, and they were wondering why a sweet girl like her hasn't yet found a home.  I explained the obvious, which was her breed, her size & power, and the requirement of a home without cats or small dogs.  But beyond that I couldn't give any better reason than to say, I just don't know!

They came Thursday to meet her at the office and they welcomed her sloppy kisses!  We shared her story and everything we knew about her behavior and the experiences we've had with her over the past 10 months.  Thankfully, they still loved her and wanted to take her home that day!  Both Ali and I had goose bumps and were literally jumping with excitement because we could tell this home would be perfect for Annie!  Alice checked references and we scheduled the home visit for today.

This afternoon, I picked Annie up from Willow Mill and she was so excited to be going for a car ride.  With Ali and Alice, we drove to her new home.  She was so excited to be somewhere new and she was, admittedly, acting more than a little bit crazy.  The first thing she did was explore the crate that had been set up for her.  The couple had made a wonderful, fluffy bed for her, and even included a cushy pillow.  How sweet!  They had toys ready for her homecoming and they were so excited.  Annie proceeded to investigate every nook and cranny (literally!) and found the coffee cup decorations on the wall particularly interesting!

It was a bittersweet good-bye. I will miss her.  Remy will miss her.  And  my coworkers will miss her.  But I am just so excited that she can now have the undivided attention, love, stability, and exercise that she desperately wants, and deserves.  

Stay Tuned...

for some very exciting news!

Traveling Companion

Our pooch is the best traveler.  Here he begins to sleep - with his head up.  Eventually it will eventually fall, but I missed it on this video.

Entryway

So the entryway to our home has been unfinished since we moved in.  I like to have things neat, organized, and a place for everything.  This space only needed a few hours of my time to pull everything together and I am so excited that it's complete!

Remy's leashes have been homeless, too.  So I got my creative juices going and was able to create this personalized leash hook with items on hand.  I covered an old frame with fabric (look familiar?), created a cute, "scrappy" photo center, and drilled a few hooks into the bottom.  I absolutely love how it turned out!

Now, when we head out on our walks as the season turns cooler and darker, we're ready!

More Sewing for Babies

I finished up the final part of Annie's baby shower gift weeks ago, but I only recently found this photo to complete the post.  As you may have remembered, I created this awesome snuggie for Annie's boy, Blake, and I completed the gift with this diaper strap.  It's not fancy, in fact it's one of the most elementary things I've made, but the concept is very practical, I think.  Simply strap together a few diapers and wipes and for those quick trips out the door, you don't have to worry about a bulky diaper bag.  Ingenious!

MI Part Five

Sorry it's taken me a few days to finish this last post for you.  I'm actually writing this in between my very long naps.  I have so much sleep to get caught up on!

On Friday, we started our day with another walk along the bay.  Thankfully Mom had no strict instructions for me and I could basically do my own thing..except when it came to picking up seagull bones.  After that the people talked while I basked in the wonderful sun.

After a while, we headed out in the car and Hubby and I enjoyed a picnic lunch...until the water sprinklers were turned on.  I high-tailed it while Hubby continued to get blasted while he picked up all of his things.  That was a surprise!

After a looooong drive, I got to meet Tucker!  I was so excited to see him I couldn't contain myself and he and I got to playing right away.  I was so glad to finally play with a dog!  Later, Mom even let me tear through the house with him.  Wow!

During a break in our play, Mom took me outside and I heard this awful, loud noise and then a huge train came right next to the yard.  I started having flashbacks from the other day and I couldn't handle it.  Mom wrapped me up in my Thunder Shirt and I settled again inside.

Mom decided to take me on the boat (figured out what that large "car" was called!) with Uncle Larry and Aunt Peggy and all of the cousins.  I wasn't too nervous and the smells of the lake air kept me pretty occupied.  I didn't mind at all when little Hannah pulled my ear or when Charlotte gave me gentle pets on the head.

At night I was pretty tired so I willingly crawled into my crate.  But after just a few hours I woke up and knew Mom and Dad were upstairs without me.  They threw me in the car for a little while until they came back and we drove off.  It was a very long drive again, but once the car stopped, I knew right away we were home!  It was a little confusing to run inside and not find any of my cats, though!  Mom says we'll pick them up in a few hours.  Yeah!  It's pretty boring here without them to chase.

Well, back to bed I go.

WOOF!
Remy

MI Part Four

Man, am I glad to be "home!"  Yesterday was a terrible day and I have no idea what Mom and Dad were thinking when they dragged me along!

In the morning, I was happy as a clam, hopping into Dad's car to go for another drive.  Little did I know that they were going to put me in a huge "car" that was so loud and noisy and moved back and forth and was surrounded by water that was attacking me!  I was so nervous.  I was panting and shaking and my eyes got huge.  Mom tried wrapping me up in her shirt but was really unsuccessful with that and I was still really nervous.

When the ride was over, I was so happy...until we came out from under the tunnel into this weird world full of tons of people, ginormous horses pulling huge "cars", a few dogs and loud noises like cannons, rifles, boat horns, bicycle bells and God knows what else.  I freaked out, tucked my tail under and would have loved to have high-tailed it out of there, except that I was surrounded by water on all sides!

I could tell Mom and Dad were looking out for me when they found some bikes and they let me sprint down the street at full speed for about a half mile.  Mom reigned me in after a while and asked to run like a normal dog and I did the best I could.  After about three miles I started to relax a tiny bit because we were running on this trail that was free from all of that noise.  There was a nice breeze from the water and the sun shining down on me.  Every once and a while Mom and Dad stopped and tried to get me to drink water (which I really didn't have time to do since I was so worried) or they walked me into the water (OK with me as long as the water wasn't attacking me) or they threw water on me (not a fan).

After that nice long break from the crazies, would you believe that we went right back to where we started?  And they made me get in the huge "car" again?  I panicked and tried curling up as small as I could in these really big bushes.  It was too much.  Unfortunately, Mom dragged me out.  She wrapped me up again in her's and Dad's shirt and I felt a little bit better.  I sat on the floor of the big "car" and this time Mom held me close and since I was so tired that I just kind of passed out.  After I nearly fell over, Mom lifted me in her lap and I went out like a light until the "car" stopped.  I got off and I knew right away that we were safe again.  My tail wagged and I was ready to start my day over!

Mom and Dad were relieved by the way I recovered so quickly, and we walked through town and I even got to go in some stores (...until I started barking at another dog that I saw in the store.  Mom threw me out with Dad and she kept shopping!).  Thankfully my day was finally turning around!

We took another long drive and then Mom and Dad left me in the car.  Not sure where they went but I kept on the look-out for them, despite being so tired.  I did take a few short power naps in between my watch duty.  After FOREVER they returned and then we went "home" to my bed where I slept for a very long time.  Dad said I never moved a muscle last night!  This morning after a short walk by the water, I came back and went right back to bed.

WOOF!
Remy