Rain

Its been raining lightly here, all morning long. The dog is eagerly staring out the sliding glass door, watching the birds peck at the wet grass. I'd let him out, but then he'd want to come right back in again. The 'walk' sort of got lost in the midst of this sleepy starting day.

There's a stillness that creeps up to me right now, inviting me to feel its void with creativity, a skill that seems somewhat long lost to me right now. I am slowly trying to recapture this butterfly though. Time has made time for me to do so.

Maybe, this quest will just start simply - (really, why do I always think that creativity = writing poetry and painting in watercolor?)

Let's start with the basics, and then I will feel like I am making a little more progress in this department. Basics, eh? Like making the front porch more agreeable. We worked a lot on both the front and back yards these past weeks - if I can dig up the camera, I'll get a picture of that work's results.

I'm getting there

Manners, please . . .

Sheesh - I have a rude dog.

Not only does he tip over his food bowl, scattering kibbles EVERYWHERE, but after breakfasting this morning, he proceeded to move upstairs in full barrel force only to plop at my slippered feet and emit a great "BURRP" in my presence. . .

And he didn't say 'excuse me' . . .

A time for everything

There is a time to sleep . . . and a time to wake up . . .

Unfortunately, as I sip DECAF coffee it is the time to wake up.

Even Hector isn't a Monday kind of dog

Bleh - okay, here we go. Off to a new week

Crybaby

There have been many tears this past weekend.

The loss of a sweet loved one (my stepfather's mother& my adopted Grandmother) has been the biggest grief-giver. And yet, we are grateful to know that she lives eternally with our Saviour. I am so thankful that God provided a flight right away for my parents to be there before her passing.
Haven and I took their two little boston terriers for a while, and while they were here, there was much romping around with our Hector.

We had a quiet weekend, well, minus our night at the Alamodome for Monster Jam ;)

(Yes, we like Monster Truck rallies - they're a blast ;)

We rented another set of 24 (we are working our way through season six.

We had snacky dinners, happy puppies and lots of vegging out.

We just needed it.

Haven dropped by my work tonight, at the end of the day to say goodbye for the week.
I can't remember the last time I cried so much. I contained it until after I left work, and like a ticking time bomb, I sort of exploded in the car driving home. Its not like he's going away for a month - he'll be back on Friday. Its not like we haven't spent any time together at all this past month either.

Its just that I love him.

The God who is Love gives us love that gets richer, deeper, better, and sweeter with time. The hard things we've gone through with this crazy job of his has made the reward of being together all the greater. I am just one big ball of drippy black mascara and snot and streaky tears.

One big happy crybaby.

Blogger's Block

Why is it that when I do have time to blog, I am always racking my brain to find something to say??? Its like a blog fart, I say. That being said, don't get your hopes up about me blogging.

So its Friday, I am sipping the blackest cup of coffee ever and trying to organize a mental list of everything I need to do today. Uggh.

Hector is looking at me with disgust. Last night was so boring for him - A night out with my sister cost him a night out on the town (aka a walk). I thought he'd burn off that hyper-crazy energy running up and down the stairs with me. Alas, only I was tired.

Blah blah blah - I told you this was a boring post ;)

Happy Pup

We truly spoiled our pup this Christmas. Well, can you blame us? He's so stinkin' cute!

I broke down and we got him a dog bed. . . he loves it - and the couch has been reclaimed by humans!

And yes, then we got him a big bone - a Texas sized bone. . .

Oh boy

;)

Just for laughs, of course

My hubby sent me an email with a link to a sled dogging supply, er, I mean, dog sledding site.

We are contemplating a great future for our canine . . . who cares if he's a lab amongst huskies?


* before you worry your little heads off, no, we are not really submitting our house pet to a life of snow-paws and confused identity - we will all stay nice and warm inside.

Pooch Pillow

UPDATE: This looked hopeful ;)

*****************************************************************************************

Okay, to my dog-loving audience - (or, to those who love sewing things of this nature)

I have a little problem. He's my four-legged, adorable, BUT shedding monster who sleeps on our couch. I don't like this one bit. I always make sure that I have a protective sheet over the couch, but I am getting tired of spoiling him like this. Plus, I really want my couch back! And fur-free!

I want to make this pup his own place to plop. I am reluctant to throw down $60-100+ for a dog pillow, and I am feeling like it'd be fun to make a him cedar chip-filled pillow, just in time for Christmas. Strong fabric is a must - chew-proof would be nice too.

Any ideas? Thoughts? 'Amy-just go out and buy a dang dog pillow' s? ;)

And NO Whining!!!

Owl Play

This evening, late, I shoved the dog outside for his usual night-romp before bed. About ten minutes later as I was busy scrubbing the kitchen floor, it occurred to me that I hadn't heard a peep from my usual 'let-me-inside' now, dog.

Hmm. . . I peeked my head outside to see what the pup was up too. All I saw were a pair of glowing eyes staring back at me. I tried to keep my voice down, to not wake my poor neighbors, 'Hector, come on, get in here'. The beast stood there with his hair on the back all ruffed up, and he was intently staring at something on my neighbor's roof.

And there he was. A ginormous owl - peacefully perched on the corner, staring at my confused dog. Yes. I knew this one. He has been over in our neck of the woods (or lack thereof) the past three months, hooting, swooping, and keeping down the rat population. He has a friend owl too - only tonight, that one seemed mia.

The dog was excitedly pacing around the yard, keeping his eye on the owl and coming back to something in the other corner, which I couldn't quite make out, but judging by the soft squeaking, I was pretty sure it was a bunny. Maybe that was why the owl was so interested. It took some treat-coaxing to get my *expletive* dog back inside. . . sigh - sorry neighbors.

To bed we go - I dunno about this owl play.

A little Night Music

Screechy cicadas and throaty frogs, swooping owl wings, and my dog's heavy, excited breathing.

Nothing like an evening walk on a hot indian summer night.

With a pearl white moon illumating the way, I prod a 'gotta-take-a-pit-stop-every-ten-steps' pup along a broken weedy sidewalk. I try to help him ignore the scuffle of dogs behind backyard fences and the blindingly bright headlights of cars passing by. Kinda to no avail - I guess its kind of exciting being a dog in this neighborhood.

As we were walking, I was trying to work through a period of silence, kind of similar to a hard swallow. . . trying to think of ways to be a more encouraging wife, trying to overcome over 1,000 miles of distance.

I wish that I could get to my husband like I can get across 15 blocks south and 2 blocks east 30 minutes later. I wish I had a way to forward time like I can skip commercials with DVR. I wish I had a more patient spirit that would even pour out onto my hurried dog-walking.

Even my little dog is teaching me a lesson. The art of slowing down and actually enjoying the moment. In his case, that means never losing wonder in chasing hopping frogs. . .

Maybe I am not connecting the dots when it comes to getting to my husband. But it does come back to being patient, for that is surely required these days.

God is ever benevolent in making the days go by faster, all that He is requiring is to face each with hope and joy. There are only 24 hours each day, and only 7 days in each week. A week more will bring us to 3 more days and then a three or four hour plane trip to visit him. Oh yeah, and a heck of a celebration of 2 years of marriage.

But as for tonight, I am going to enjoy every hour of this 6 hour rest.

Goodnight.

This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made

Today is the day of rest for the week. Today I am delivered from this chaotic position of 'doggy-sitter'.

For the past two days, I have had my parents two boston terriers. The little one has 'terrorized' my household with misplaced poops, chewings here and there on rugs and flip flops, and has tried to take on Hector several times. I am tired. They should be tired too - where is all this energy come from? Will they finally burn out from ripping around the house, up and down stairs?

How about trying to settle three dogs of different natures for the evening? Ummm. . . lets just say that I have not slept very well these nights. Is this what life is like with kids? (Believe me, I still would rather have kids!)


So anyway, that was my weekend, dogsitting and trying to finish a couple of things before my hubby comes home. WOHOO - TUESDAY!!!!


I have a ton of pictures I need to upload from last weekend's family trip to Six Flags, and some other things. :)

Happy Sunday to everyone!

Of days grown short

There doesn't seem a lot to tell of lately. I am working (undercover) on the house, and it is almost done. I am getting excited about how its looking too ;) I will post pictures, AFTER AFTER AFTER my love comes home ;)

And the countdown, yes, the countdown. But I suppose you probably don't really care as much as I do about that. Its 9 days, by the way. ;)

Hector just begged me to let him out so that he could chase a poor bunny dizzy around our yard. That dog is driving me insane. (My brother is convinced that its because we named him Hector.)

Is tonight a full moon night? Just wondering - he is turning into such a wolfy-beast.

Today, after church, I met with the family to go see the Bourne Ultimatum - go see it, its great! It was the best of the bunch so far, I think.

I spent the rest of the afternoon going through a big box full of pictures from all sorts of things; high school graduation, baby pictures, family reunions, college days, our old house in CA, my parents wedding pictures, my grandmother's wedding reception, the horse I had in high school, etc, etc. Such memories - I am hoping to scan a ton of these!

Well, I am waning, the dog is whining, and this post is whittling.
Goodnight :)

O Blah Dee O Blah Dah . . . Life Goes On

Despite this present funk that I am in (see post below/see my BLOG TEMPLATE), I am not going to let it screw up my weekend.

I just took Hectordoodle for a walk - it was more humid than I thought! I kind of wish I had my own kiddie pool ;)

It looks like we are going to get some more rain. . . I have a bug in my bonnet to get some weeds out of my front garden, and attempt to dissuade two little sparrows from building their nest in one of our front pillars. They have been going at this process for weeks now, only to drop most of the nesting materials (i.e., unidentifiable 'fluff' of some sort, twine, sticks and dried leaves and grass) all over my front patio. So it looks like I am the messy one.

Thanks birdies.

Well - I am off to do a fun project, following up on my sister's suggestions. I am so proud of myself, in my preparations, I figured out how to use my hubby's drill ;) Ta Ta!

Cuz there's a little bit of something me, in everything in you

I didn't expect the rainstorm today, I didn't expect to be sad this evening. You might laugh if you saw us now . . . my pup and I are mopey tonight - Big Daddy ain't here :( Hector won't eat his dinner - I dunno if he is just being picky or if he is depressed. . .

This evening, I got some groceries, Hector got a long walk, and now its time to wind down. Its hard to wind down when you are so wound up . . .

Sigh.

I am looking at a crystal candy jar that holds 100 precious strips of paper that Haven wrote for me, when we were 100 days away from getting married. I keep it in a place where I can easily grab one at random and remember how much he loves me.

And, as if just to remind me again, another card came in the mail today, postmarked from Kansas, from my own Alert roofing man. Oh, how I love that guy.

So, I end in the land of random. Such is life these days.

Trying to get back to the place you helped me to find

Hi.

Its funny how I can't remember what life was like before marriage. And mind you, I was not a miserable single.
I didn't expect to get married right after college, it just sort of . . .happened. No, it was not a mistake either. Haven surprised me out of the blue. Or maybe I was just a daft gal. At any rate, single life shriveled quickly right after we graduated.

Anyway, I don't want to ramble on being alone - I might as well go sulk in some puddles while I am at it ;)

I am watching 'Shall We Dance' right now. Anybody seen it? I dunno if I like the premise so far.

So, I am working on several little projects while my DH is away. No peeking ;) Hint: it involves color (what else is new?)


Okay, there are all thoughts random. I am off to walk-take-off-on-a-dead-run my hyperactive dog.

Goodnight :)

Airports ain't nothin' but places to cry . . .

I am home.

Chicago is now a memory, unpacked like my suitcase. I was a bad person and did not make use of my gifts; i.e. pictures were few and far between. At any rate, seeing my best friend was a perfect excuse to take off work last Friday ;)

An engagement makes a friend all the more lovely. Being loved makes one lovely, I swear. My sweet BF was bubbly, excited, and emotional - the normal 'engaged' combination. I walked away almost wishing that I could be engaged and get married again, just because its one of the most awesome times of life. Okay, and stressful. Okay, and I would not give up being married ;) But man, bridal showers are the BOMB. Remember all the amazing gifts you received when you got married? I am starting to approach my towel and dishes life-limit now ;)

Well. I am home alone. My pup is keeping me company. Or maybe its the other way around. I just took a hot strawberries n' champagne bubble bath in my luscious, under-used tub, and now I am ready for a nice bedtime.

I miss my hubby :( He'll be home in 19 days, and I am praying that they will go fleetingly.

Without him, this list doesn't make any sense. I have no ground to stand on for my pet peeves. ;)
Which makes me look at them in a whole new way. The things that my hubby does that annoy me are little reminders to me of who I am and of how much I love him in general. Okay, so I don't exactly love the heap of clothing on the floor, or the fact that he leaves crumpled dishtowels disheveled on the rack, but, without those little things, I have nothing to pick up and life is so empty without them. I almost am tempted to go throw his clothes on the floor ;)

I won't ;)

Yeah baby, its summer!

Hector's having a pool party! ;)

Cuteness, Take Three ;)

1

2

3

:)

Sneaking posts

I am sneaking in a tiny post . . . just because I miss blogging so . . . sigh - life is very busy and full right now, Its been hard to keep up with this.

Things are on the 'up' though (minus our poor Spurs pathetic loss to the Suns last night ;(
Otherwise, work is on the mend, BSF is almost done for the year, and we are slowly starting on house projects.
Oh yes, and successful dog crate training is paying off (Yeah for good night's sleep!!!).

By the way, while we are on the topic of dogs, while we are waiting for LOST to come on, I have "World's Ugliest Dog" on right now . . .

UGLIEST DOGS I'VE EVER SEEN!!!
(How could God let such atrocious creatures walk this earth???)

Its the kind of show you watch with one eye closed because its so gross, but the other open because you just have to see what the creature looks like ;)

EWWWW