Gotcha Day!

Today marks one year since Blaze came into our lives. Life hasn't been the same since then. Charlie and I tried to add up the monetary value of all the things he has chewed or generally destroyed. We lost count, but let's just say it was pretty high, but also pretty funny. The biggest/most expensive were my glasses, and my night guard. Let's just say that it's a good thing Blaze is so cute and lovable because he sure is naughty.

Blaze and Penny get along very well, and are rarely apart. They also fight a lot, and Penny eats his food when he's not looking.

He has such a good personality and is such a happy dog. Coming home from work is always a treat because of how excited they both get to see us. They keep us busy, and on our toes. I get in a lot of walking everyday thanks to these two. 

Despite the chewed belongings we really are happy to be celebrating a year with our Blazer Boy. 

Lauren 

Wicked Gross Story + Lots of Ace Ventura GIF's

Don't say I didn't warn you, if you have a weak stomach turn back now.

This afternoon upon returning home from work I took the dogs for a walk. It's hunting season so yesterday the thought of being shot deterred me from taking the dogs in the woods. Today the weather was warmer though so I figured I'd put the dogs in their vests and let them romp around in the woods near our house, and hope not to be shot.

At one point in the walk the dogs stopped to explore a big hole in the ground. I thought nothing of it and admired the view while they played around. Then I picked up a stick to throw for Blaze and he came over to me and I smelled poop on him. This is not the first time he's ever rolled in poop, nor the first time I would have to clean it off him.

Silly dog, rolling in poop. Good thing you're cute.  

 Then I assumed that since Penny was still in the hole she was probably rolling in the poop too so I went to yell at her to get out of the hole. Then something terrible happened. (As if having two dogs roll in poop wasn't terrible enough.)

You won't even believe it. 

I looked in the hole, and saw toilet paper. 

Commence vomiting.

I can't think of any animals that use toilet paper when they poop.

Continue vomiting.

 Oh dear it was terrible. The worst part was no one else was around to deal with it but me. The second worst part was it was all over their necks, which is where their collars are, which attach to their leashes, and we had to walk on the road to get back home. I thought about just letting them run in the road to get home and taking my chances. Instead I used leaves to grab their collars and put the leashes on. Then I washed them with the hose outside the house and let them dry off in the garage.Then I threw all my clothes in a garbage can and burned them.

Just a thought, maybe if you're out hunting in the woods and have the urge to poop, do so, but then cover it up. 

I hope you all enjoy this story. Like my dad always says, if you can't laugh at yourself life is going to feel extra long. 

Lauren

p.s. Although this post contains primarily Ace Ventura Pet Detective GIF's my favorite (of the two) is still Ace Ventura When Nature Calls. If that is even a point to debate, which it's not, so don't bother. 

National Running Day

Today is National Running Day! Hurray. It's also *Penny's Birthday, and my friend Lorelei's Birthday. What better way to celebrate than by wearing some new running shorts and hitting the trails with my two whippersnappers. 

Hopefully I can facetime with Lorelei later. If not, Happy Birthday my friend! I'm so glad that the 5 months of the year that we're different ages is over, and so excited to see what 27 holds for you!

Happy National Running Day!
Lauren

*We didn't actually know when Penny's birthday was so we just made it up and decided Lorelei could share a birthday with Penny. That way I never forget either of their birthdays. I think we'll make up a birthday for Blaze too. Perhaps July 12th; my brother's birthday.*

Movie

I found a cool app online yesterday. It's called iSupr8. I like the old movie feel. The video is just random clips I took cut down to about 4 seconds and strung together in no particular order. Just a typical afternoon into evening for us. I have been sewing but that didn't seem interesting enough to film, then again unless you're as obsessed with my dogs and plants as I am then the whole video is nothing special. Just thought it was fun. I was thinking about adding music but I liked the birds singing, and leaves rustling too much to cover them over with a song. Please excuse the nail gun noise from our neighbors thought.

Lauren

Stick Fence

Our yard has quite a slope to it with one flat spot in the middle. The flat spot is created by the leach field (eww) then it slopes down some more. Since I don't feel like mowing the grass on a slope, and since the grass doesn't want to grow on the slope, I've been trying to grow some wildflowers and other plants (weeds) that will spread out and inhabit the sloping land. The problem is that our two crazy dogs like to run around and chase each other through the whole yard, sloping gardened area included.  My plants were suffering, even more so than they would have been with just me as a caretaker. 

So this weekend Charlie and I cut down some saplings and built a nearly free fence. I originally wanted to weave the sticks together but that would have taken way too long so I screwed them together. I don't recommend screwing saplings together. It wasn't the exact vision I had but it'll do.

 Look! Some of the wildflowers are even growing! These are from a little paper heart that Charlie's cousin gave as wedding favors. (I may have taken all of the hearts at our table).

 The only problem with the fence is that Blaze thinks it is his own personal stick emporium and tries to take sticks off of the fence. Since it is built by me it is not very sturdy and he has succeeded several times at getting sticks free and then playing with them.

 We'll see how long it lasts. There is another area in the yard that needs some dog protection so I can plant some flowers and herbs. I might have to think of another solution. Ideas are welcome.

Lauren

Blaze

This is Blaze. The newest member of our family. His arrival was quite sudden, but we love him and he's a great addition to the pack. Charlie has been waiting another dog since before we moved, we've looked online a bunch of times but never felt strongly about any of the available dogs. Last Wednesday I saw his picture online and thought he looked really cute. His write up said that he was friendly, playful, and would make a good second dog for a home. We e-mailed the people at the rescue agency to ask about meeting him. Within a half hour we got an e-mail back saying if we filled out the adoption form we could meet him over the weekend. After a phone interview, we got the go ahead and were scheduled to meet "Ted Baxter" on Saturday. The people from the agency even drove him to our house and dropped him off. He came at 6 pm on Saturday. He did not respond to Ted or Baxter, and we had agreed that if he didn't answer to those names we would call him Blaze. So as soon as the people left we started calling him Blaze. Penny and Blaze spent some time getting to know each other, we went for a walk, played fetch and went to bed. Sunday morning we woke up, Blaze was being crazy, dragging us on walks, chewing the side of the couch. I had a mini crisis/breakdown feeling like I ruined Penny's life, was on the path to having a new to us yet destroyed house, couldn't love another dog as much as I love Penny, and jumped into this too quickly. I cried and told Charlie how much I liked my life before Blaze came and felt like we were starting over. Blaze put his tiny head on my leg and looked at me with sad puppy eyes. Then I decided to accept that Blaze is here to stay, realize that he needed a good happy home, and we can provide that for him, and accepted that quilts, socks, shoes and bathmats need to be hidden for a while.

Penny is the classic big sister; ignoring Blaze and playing with him on her terms, stealing his toys, beating him up. They do get along quite well though.

Blaze is the typical younger brother; biting Penny's legs and neck, trying to be close to her at all times, following her everywhere. 

 He is a fast learner, he learned to sit in one day. Now, if I could teach him not to steal socks or shoes. The website said he was 2, but I think he's closer to 1 and acts a lot like a puppy. Good thing Penny runs him ragged so he's pooped most of the time. Except at 5 am, which is when he thinks it's time to wake up and play.

The best part is he stays in the yard and can walk/run off leash. He is so cute and friendly and loving.

We do love him.

Lauren

::Right Now::

Right now, I am...

:: watching the leaves grow on the trees in our yard. 

:: loving that Spring is here, and here to stay. 

:: wanting two cute twin sized bed skirts. I'm hoping to find some relatively cheap ones this weekend. 

:: looking forward to seeing my family this weekend. 

:: heading outside for a run/walk/hike. Now that we live on such a big hill my runs have turned into hikes. I love it though. 

:: patting my pup. She's been doing better. Slowly but surely. 

:: enjoying the peace and quite that comes with not living down town in the middle of a construction zone. 

:: appreciating all of my co-workers. It is teacher appreciation week after all. They all work so hard and are some of the nicest people I know. 

:: surprising myself, and Charlie, by finding scraps of fabric in a nest in the yard. I'm so excited, it's a bit ridiculous how happy I am about it. 

:: feeling full of cupcakes and fruit salad.
:: working on my ability to be patient, as well as remembering to water plants. 

:: hoping that someone this weekend will show me how to turn the outside spigot on. I know you turn them off every Winter, but that was always a job my Dad did while I did something else. 

I'm also hoping you have a lovely weekend. Be sure to wish your Mom a Happy Mother's Day. And if you are a Mom, thanks for all you do!

Lauren 

Dogs and Moving

Penny is a pretty anxious dog. At the race I ran the other day I was talking to a woman before we started and Penny was close by, as another person with a dog walked by the woman said "Is she a rescue dog?" I responded that yes she was, and joked about how obvious it was. The woman then said "Well, you seem like nice people that would not hurt a dog, and most dogs don't act like that unless something sad has happened to them." That made me both sad and happy. I'm so happy that Charlie and I can give Penny a good home. She really is a very loving sweet pup. It also makes me sad that someone would ever be mean to such a lovable dog.

Anyways, Penny has been having a hard time adjusting to the move. She had her safe spots in our apartment and has yet to find them here. She likes to sleep on our bed so that's a spot she has been going to a lot lately. Aside from that though she seems quite scared. She has not been eating much and seems to be having weird nightmares where she shakes and wimpers. I didn't even know that could happen. (She has happy dreams sometimes where I can tell she dreaming about chasing squirrels.) I think Penny has not yet figured out that we are staying here. Whenever we let her outside her first reaction is to go sit or lay by the car. She has taken to laying under the wheels. My thought is she'd rather be run over than left behind. Poor pup.

I read a study that said 99.8% of dog owners talk to their dogs and the scientist think that the other .2% were lying and really do talk to their dogs. I keep telling Penny she's safe and we are staying here. Hopefully she'll figure it out soon and feel a little more at ease.

Any dog owners out there with tips on moving and anxious dogs? It usually takes Penny about two weeks to get used to changes so hopefully she'll feel better and safe soon. Any advice or tips would be appreciated though.

Lauren

Spring Adventure

 Charlie and I took Penny on a hike this afternoon. It finally feels like spring so it was great to be outside for the afternoon and soak up some sun.

 I love stone walls in the middle of the woods. It makes me so happy, and I love thinking about the people who built them long ago.

 More stone walls. This is on the North side of the hill, where there was still quite a bit of snow. On the South side there was no snow, just lots of mud.

 My two favorite hiking partners.

Logs in the middle of the woods. I love the smell of fresh cut wood.

The view of Ragged Mountain. We're going skiing there tomorrow and I am thinking based on the warm temperatures we've been having lately this will be our last ski outing of the year. I'm sad to say goodbye to skiing since we have had so much fun this year, but excited for springtime adventures. Penny is excited to spend more time with us, and more time outside.

I bought her a homemade bone after our walk/hike but she didn't want it, she wanted my lemon poppyseed muffin instead. 

Hope you're having a good weekend. 

Lauren 

Gotcha Day

Today marks a year since we got Penny. We are so happy she is ours. It's been a fabulous year. I've always known I wanted a dog, and been a "dog person" but Penny has really solidified that feeling for both Charlie and I, especially Charlie, who was a "cat person" until Penny came along. She is so fun, and loving and just makes us smile all the time. We love her!

I rant about this quite frequently to anyone who will listen, so here goes once more; Penny is a rescue dog. My family has only ever had mutts and rescue dogs so I am biased, but I think rescue dogs love their owners more than purebred dogs. If you're thinking about getting a dog think about getting a rescue dog. They'll love you unconditionally. And you'll love them unconditionally too!

Lauren

Friday Snowshoeing Adventure

Penny and I went searching for a new place to walk/snowshoe today. We figured this was NOT a safe place to park: 

We thought that this WAS a safe place to park, so we set out for a snowshoe adventure. 

It was beautiful. I am so happy that the days are getting longer and that the temperatures are not quite a frigid. I'm also happy that there is still quite a bit of snow to snowshoe in, and not just mud everywhere. Here are some things I saw: 

A very random wood pile in the middle of the woods. 

A tiny bird nest. Look how the bird used pieces of birch bark for the nest. 

A pop of color even in the middle of winter. 

A mitten stealing bush. 

An old barn. Right after taking this picture I was thinking about how if I were with my Mom she would convince me to go inside and snoop around. Right then she called me. She must have known I was thinking about her. I did not have the guts to go inside by myself. I'm a wimp. 

A creepy underground bunker or garage of sorts. I definitely was not going in there alone. 

A bathtub, maybe? Not exactly sure what this is for. Bathing? Collecting sap? Sledding? 

The barn was wide open I suppose I could have gone in. 

A beautiful sunset on a gorgeous day. 

Here's hoping you've had a wonderful day as well!

Lauren