A quiet Thursday

 

Look... the guys came to frame up the sidewalk for concrete Thursday afternoon.  Ember wanted to go out and "supervise" but this crew did not seem to welcome her presence, so we went back into the backyard and played a little fetch.

It looks very nice at this point, but it will look much better once the concrete is poured (hopefully tomorrow afternoon).

Friday is going to be a day of comings and goings here in Emberville.  We not only have the bug guys (scheduled for between 10 a.m. and noon), but also the plumbing inspector (scheduled for 9 a.m.) and a delivery of water softener salt, which is not scheduled, they just call when they are getting close to our neighborhood.

Saturday will be the big challenge of Carl arriving at 6:30 a.m. and staying until 6 p.m. while my son and his wife go to a funeral service several hours' drive away.  It will be a good solid test of our future hopes of having the dogs share quarters when one owner or the other has commitments or travel.

How two dogs with two separate sets of needs and rules will survive sharing one human... Ember normally takes 3 crate naps in a day... we shall see how that holds up under the temptation of having the big dog present.  Carl is used to being allowed pretty much free rein at Grandma's house but being handed the toys.  Ember now has her bin of always available toys, which Carl will clearly be able to find and nab, too.  So far in each of their shared visits they have not shown any signs of "resource guarding" as one online trainer I tune in to calls it.

Both have pretty good manners as far as letting me cook and waiting their turns for their share (I always make sure there is at least a little that is their share).  I'll see if they eat each other's dog food, etc. and if they are good at recognizing the need for a break in play and "go to your corner".  Carl doesn't have a "corner" at my house, but Ember definitely does (her den/crate).  Thank goodness I now have the fenced back yard available to separate the two if needed!

If necessary, plan B is to call in the reserves, in the form of my daughter in law's parents, who would willingly "dog-sit" Carl at his own house if things go South here.  I am hopeful that things will go well.  And I am really glad that my son will be able to attend this particular funeral.

If it turns out I don't have time to blog again until Sunday, well, I figure you'll all understand!

Life is good.  Spark on!