Sunday Snaps

The Festival of Hawks was on this weekend after the storm and clean up last week. Unfortunately, Mother Nature still had her way as due to the heavy equipment used for cleaning up and the change in wind direction there weren't any hawks or hummingbirds to be caught, banded and released. I adopted a Merlin hawk anyway just to make a donation. Maybe next year I will get to help band and release.  On a happy note, I learned some new things, made a donation and Kingsport Environmental was there with a Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, and a Harris Hawk so I got some good photos.

Great Horned Owl

Eurasian Eagle Owl

Snowy Owl

Harris Hawk

Since I was in the mood for taking pictures I subjected Harlow to a bit of dress-up.  She was a trooper, cookie bribes help quite a bit as well.  Here is my little chocolate Labracorn ♥

Lucky Labs Harlow Grace

Hard to believe the end of September is near, this month has flown by!! 

Lots of Happenings!

It's only been two weeks since my last post but what a time it has been! We've said goodbye to another school year, I watched my nieces graduate from elementary school and attended the graduation of another group of high school students that I have followed their entire four years.

The chocolate wonder wiped me out on a wet, slippery boat ramp a week and a half ago. She found a bigger stick and came running at me from behind....BOOM in the water I went, goodbye iPhone 6 that was only a year old, hello scraped knee/elbow and a pretty badly sprained ankle.  I had to hobble over to the ferry dock and borrow a cell phone from the ferry captain to call home. Rather than stay home with my foot up I went into the city to reactivate my crappy iPhone 5, buy Harlow a new crate liner and a new bed.

Sunday was interesting as I had the trolley wine tour previously booked with my mom. It was a very hot and sticky day which didn't help the fresh ankle sprain but I managed to hobble around and enjoy our tour. Two wineries, a distillery, tastings at each, lunch and appetizers made for a fun full day. Purchased a bottle of wine and coffee flavoured whiskey that is to die for...I am not a whiskey drinker but boy is it wonderful.

I did it, I booked my bucket list trip! A seven day self drive tour of Ireland has been booked complete with deposit and some Euros already purchased :) Will apply for my passport and start checking out flights in the fall.  My goal is to purchase some Euros every month so I have a nice little chunk saved up. Really looking forward to throwing my camera in the car and just wandering out on my own. Seems so far away but I know it will be here before I know it. Another bonus is the breeder is going to take Harlow for me free of charge while I am gone.

Photo by Will Pantaleo | Unsplash

Summer vacation is delayed by three weeks for me this year as I applied for a summer learning camp through my school board.  Quite a jump as I went from working with teenagers all day to kindergarten to grade two's. Day 2 and I am enjoying the change although see me definitely sticking with my teens.

Feeling Good

Harlow and I are continuing to walk daily, most days twice and I am still averaging 6 km a day. Some days our afternoon walks are 6+ (mornings just over 1 km). I am starting to feel the results in the posterior region of my pants :) they are feeling baggier.  Now if only that would transfer to other areas....

I think I have found decided on a 'style' for my bedroom finally.  It has just been a square room painted light taupe with taupe carpet, pretty boring. I mean not even a picture on the wall! I have decided to try for a 'cottage chic' look. Replaced the little mini blinds with white faux wood ones, have flowy white sheers on the window as well.  An old wood occasional table was brought upstairs and I am using it as a night stand with a vanilla candle, wood saying, picture of Harlow and a pretty wood sign about following your dreams. I bought a wood shelf with metal edging and vintage looking wall hooks. My bed is covered with a white thin quilt, orange cushions (will be adding) and a thin throw quilt in a pale turquoise and moss green. I had a 1/2 gallon mason jar that I put fairy lights in and created a bedside light, at night when lit it kind of reminds of fireflies in a jar.  Went to a local antique place and found another jar (how lucky) the same and put the other string of lights in there.  I am in love with the look! Looking for a white metal or a wrought iron headboard and an old dresser I can paint white next.  Found the perfect headboard on kijiji but someone beat me to it :( I am going back to the antique place tomorrow as they have an occasional table very close to the one I have now and a bunch of old wood ladders--may grab one and see how and where I will use it.

 

          

fireflies in a jar

Next on my list is the spare bedroom/catchall room.  It needs a serious overhaul and purge, it's not used and you can tell.  I would love to just put shelves on the wall and get rid of the bookcase that presently houses the modem, router, odds and ends etc.  Not quite sure how I want to do it though. Definitely need to clean it out first and start from scratch, keep the futon as the mattress is navy blue and I just put different duvet covers on for a different look as walls are painted taupe. Off to Pinterest I go for some ideas. Feeling the need to do some decorating/changes.

Talked to the boy last night and he has told me his move out date is April 29.  Soon he will be home and we will both be readjusting to sharing a space together.....must admit there will be some fireworks over the summer as we are both stubborn, lol.

National Puppy Day was yesterday but I didn't blog so here is a picture of Harlow yesterday to celebrate.  Sorry couldn't do a post without mentioning or showing her off <3

Harlow @ 16 weeks old

March Madness

March has arrived, well a week into the month actually but it is here. My parents left yesterday for 3 weeks in Jamaica and my brother leaves next week for a week in Mexico. I will be at home, a 'staycation' or whatever you want to call it. I say it is a week off work, but not of sleeping in and lounging about as I had that crazy moment and got a puppy :)

My plans for the break will be to do some decorating of my bedroom (probably won't get done) but most important I want to reorganize and do some major purging in my spare bedroom, it has become another catchall. We will see how much, if any I get accomplished due to that previously mentioned crazy moment when I got a puppy. So far they are predicting nice weather which means long daily walks with the little miss and some off leash play time as well.

I am also in this decade with the purchase of a smart tv yesterday, got a good deal and now have two televisions in my living room!  I have big old DHLP Panasonic and the huge surrounding entertainment centre that needs to be moved.  Hopefully my brother will come tomorrow and we can get that done.  Can't wait for the emptiness that will create in that room with the flat thin tv sitting on the stand. I also put new blinds up in my bedroom, nice white wood look ones and with the white sheers there is a bit of an airy feel to my window. I look a strand of fairy lights and put them in a big tall mason jar creating a nice light on the side table. A new coverlet set in white has been ordered and I am thinking of some new pillows but am not sure if I want to go soft colours or bright and bold. Next on the list is to find a dresser, either a used one I can paint white (read cheap) or maybe order one from IKEA (I suck at DIY).  Feeling the itch to do some updating and changes.

Little miss Harlow is now 14 weeks old and weighing in at 21 lbs. She is doing well in her puppy classes and loves going for our long walks. There have been great days and days where I wonder what I got myself into and why I gave up my quiet do what I want life. Then she looks at me and snuggles in and I am quickly reminded why I did this.

                          

       

Choices and the Aftermath

I am between wallowing in self-pity, guilt and anger at making stupid decisions.  After much agonizing thought, tears and a long discussion with the Animal Behaviourist I made the decision to return Dash the Wonder Dog to the shelter.  I have gone through the whole emotional roller coaster and debated on if I was making the correct decision and who this decision was for. 

You see, he would not leave the cat alone.  Not in a mean or aggressive manner, it was playful but to the point of pinning my poor Meow-man to the ground and play nipping. Of course Meowy responded the only way he could which is to scratch and bite..........then it would start all over.  Meowy was to the point of staying in the basement, behind the tv or under the kitchen table, not fair to he who has been around for seven years.  It was extremely hard and I probably looked like an idiot as I fell apart while dropping him off :( 

The upside (if there was one) was they complimented me on the job I had done with him in the month we had him, his coat is full, soft and shiny, no more hip bones or ribs showing and he is house trained using a bell.  I was asked to consider fostering where I would socialize/train either dog or cat.  Something to look into but not in any hurry at the moment.

How do I know I made the right decision?  Am guessing that I have as my Meow-man is free to wander the house as he has in the past sleeping in his favourite spots.  He is already coming back around us no longer worried about being pounced on by an exuberant dog who just wants to play (or use him as a play toy). My wish with all my heart is that Dash the Wonder Dog finds a loving forever home very soon, he deserves it and is a real treasure.

Think I am going to not make any decisions for a few days as it seems what I think is a good idea is not necessarily so. 

Tired of it All

I'm tired of the cold weather, ice, frizzies, static cling, children and dogs.................can you tell what kind of a week it's been?  Seriously, the only thing I like right now is my cat.  Deep breath, breathe in and breathe out, count to 10, feel your body relax............screw it, just let me put my head under the blanket and I'll wake up in the morning feeling much better. If only!

Feeling stressed and unable to let go of it or should I say get past it. Going to try and do some things this weekend to relieve that stress, maybe a deep clean of the house (ya right) will help or organizing the storage room in the basement (snort), what about planning my meals for next week and doing advance prep and freeze (will get as far as looking at what I want to make).  OK so I have my list of things to do, does that count? 

Got the carpet in the basement this past weekend and what a difference it makes! Now all I have to do is get my wall built to separate laundry area from living area and then see if I can find a paint colour I like in the mismixed section.  So have grand plans, let's see what I actually accomplish :)

Happy New Year!!

A brand new year and we are celebrating with lots of snow.  I mean say WHAT?! It was snowing some last night when I went to bed but when I woke up and looked outside I couldn't believe it.  It has been nonstop all day and looks so pretty out. Granted I didn't have to drive far today only down the road to pick the boy up and that was our venture for the day.

Here I am, the first picture of the year.  One of my goals is to actually appear in more photos....as well as take photos.  I don't think I've used my camera in months and I need to get back in the habit of using it.  I have turned like everyone else, snap them with my phone.

From the DASH-board; our newest family is doing well.  Although he is a notorious counter surfer, proof was Saturday afternoon.  We left and I apparently didn't latch his crate and came home to find he had demolished a Terry's Chocolate Orange....thankfully I was only gone 5-10 minutes.  Let's just say things were a little explosive for a few days, and the one day it was both ends.  Yes I began question why I wanted a dog again.  We have all survived and the leftover Christmas chocolate is kept waaaay high.  Have to find a way to stop my little Dash the Wonder Dog from this behaviour, Dog Whisperer website here I come!

House is de-Christmassed, we watched the Winter Classic--Leafs won in a shoot out and I decided (begrudgingly) that maybe it was time I did some laundry.  Tomorrow is dentist and then dinner with some friends. 

From the Dash-board

Today we brought Dash home.  Dash is the dog we adopted from our local Humane Society and I am in love.  I have been wanting a dog in my life for some time now but it has been serious lately.  I knew I wanted a shelter dog as opposed to getting a puppy for many reasons.  First of all I don't really want to go through the all the puppy stuff again and second there are so many dogs out there who deserve a second chance, a home to call their own with lots of love to give. 

Here is Dash's story; originally I was looking at a three year old beagle mix, we had decided he would be perfect for us in terms of size and I knew beagles were faithful, good family dogs.  We were just waiting for the cat test (I have a cat) and then he would be ours............disappointment as he did not 'pass'. Now they still would let me adopt him but I had to sign a waiver stating they did not recommend he go to a home with a cat.  I sat on the floor with him feeling horrible as he was not going to get his forever home like I promised.  The adoption worker then asked me to take a look at this sweet little guy they had, so I agreed thinking I would look again after Christmas.  In comes Dash (the name we gave him), a sweet little boxer mix with a severe underbite and very underweight.  He was a mess but something in him tugged at my heart, I knew that he would want to please and be a faithful companion.  Definitely a little guy that would be passed by in his cage without the benefit of getting to know him.  I came back the next day to visit with him, and after playing he would come lay down next to me and just let me pet him.  I was seriously getting drawn in all he had to do was pass the cat test (crossing fingers). 

I called to see how he did, preparing myself for bad news and deciding that my search would be off until after Christmas.  The behaviourist got on the phone and gave me the news that he did very well, wasn't even really interested in the cat and that he had a sweet disposition.  It was all set, I knew Dash had found his forever home.  When I went in to visit him Friday it was to let him know he would have a home for Christmas, my heart felt light and I was excited.

Fast forward to today.  Dash is home, with a pretty red collar, new toys and someone to love him.  I don't know if he understands what he has given me, think we need each other and we will make a good pair.