A few updatey type things
It’s been rather rainy and chilly here lately, which I’m enjoying very much, although it seems like everyone else just wants warm, sunny weather. Despite the frostiness, spring is soon to arrive. As evidenced the pictures gracing this post, which I took while walking to work one day after a night when it froze and even snowed. Leaves were damaged, but the flowers were undeterred.
I think it’s worth noting that I actually sat down and messed with the stuff (sidebar, pages, settings, etc.) on this blog the other night. I think some things hadn’t been futzed with since June 2007 when I started this blog, and others have stayed static since the redesign in October 2007. I’d love to do another redesign, and restart the Index of Indie, but that will have to wait for available time, so I thought some tidying was in order. My blog’s making me feel a bit claustrophobic, it needs trimming. But I did like that I put the projects I’m working on in there.
Wesley graduated from the first round of obedience training last Monday. He is now an occasionally obedient dog. I’ve gotten mixed reactions about dog training – you all can rest assured, obedience training does not turn your dog into an automaton and there aren’t any choke collars involved. Our trainer Tara and co-trainer Amanda have been great, they love dogs, and they actually specialize in difficult, aggressive dogs, which Wesley is not. I love people who love animals, and don’t give up on them. Anyway, Wesley is still very much puppy-like and doggy. Just the other day he ate my wallet and license, the plastic on Jeff’s new tea mug, part of my shoe, the cheese crackers from a friend’s purse and an entire box of Kleenex. We are doing intermediate obedience training because Wesley enjoyed the classes so very, very much, him being an intelligent dog who likes people, activity and treats. I enjoy that he’s not chasing the poor cat as much, and that he’s ceased trying to dislocate my shoulder on walks.
I have sadly suffered cooking fail twice this week already, and it’s only Wednesday. On Valentine’s Day I did my usual and cooked Jeff dinner. The baked vegetable baklava turned out well, as did the saffron rice, however I … sort of melted the falafel. I used a recipe. I shouldn’t use recipes. The last time I made falafel I just invented it as I went and it turned out beautifully. Then tonight I tried to make red beans and rice – another recipe! – and burned the ever loving hell out of a dish I’m eminently familiar with and is only rice and beans, after all. I must be tired or something. I’m off my game.
I’ve been working really hard on my stack of crafting organizational items, and am proceeding quite satisfactorily. I’ll have some show-and-tell once I have some acceptable lighting. I am enjoying the time sewing very much. I should do this more often!
Puppers Update
It’s been nearly a week now since puppers came home to live with us.
We’ve named him Wesley. He’s named after Wesley Crusher – happy and dopey and well-meaning, and really smart. We’re not going to keep his old name, he doesn’t respond to it. Since it only took him 2 days to start learning his new name, I suspect no one really ever tried to teach him his old one much.
He’s a happy, optimistic dog, partially trained, VERY much a terrier, smart, and very enthusiastic and playful. Wesley is between one and two years of age. We’re going to choose a birthday for him after we see if the vet can give us a better idea of his age. He’s still very puppy-like in his behavior. Bouncy and sort of all floppy and a bit clumsy. He’ll come up and walk on you and then just totally fall down on top of you. He likes to snuffle at us and be hugged. If you’re a visitor here, prepare to be bounced on and loved.
Wesley needs a lot of food and love. He was starved to emaciation earlier in his life, and his ribs and spine stick out. We’ve discovered a pattern of partially-healed scabs on his ears and around his neck from past injuries. He flinches as if he’s been hit sometimes. He was taken to foster care in early October, which is about the time his injuries would have started to heal and put on weight. Breaks my heart. We’re going to finish fixing all that.
Callie is really not sure about puppers. They spend a lot of time hissing and barking at one another, particularly at mealtimes. I guess that’s only normal. We’re hoping for less hissing soon. We may establish a dog-free zone for her.
Anyway, meet the newest member of the family. Who I’ll be taking for a walk now.
Dog is My Copilot
Today we journeyed to Longview to pick up the newest member of the family.
So far, he’s adorable, affectionate, enthusiastic, interested in everything, appears to have doggy ADD, and feels very shaky-legged when in the car. We like him very much.
His name right now is Mr McScruffy, but we feel he needs a name that’s more personal instead. What do you think his name should be?
