How did it get to be July already?
Monday morning dawned wet. The Prisoner balanced on the deck railing, and I managed to snap this shot about five seconds before Ember came charging out and booped the cat on the hind quarters, knocking him off. Typical cat, he landed on his feet. I tried to avoid giggling out loud; since he didn't get hurt it was a funny moment.
Morning walk had to wait until about 10 a.m. and it was humid! We avoided the noon time sudden downpour that caught practically the whole town by surprise.
Rabbit day (Tuesday, first of the month) dawned cool and pleasant. Ember happily played retrieve off the deck with her dummy gamebird (sand-filled) before going off to daycare. Since my personal trainer is off seeing his grandkids that live in Tennessee, I went on cleaning overdrive. The muddy mats and dog-towels in the laundry. The vacuum out to deal with two-dogs' worth of hair from Carl's visit on Saturday.
Wednesday we finally addressed the siding damage from running a Northern Flicker B&B. Early morning showers caused a bit of dog schedule reshuffling. But Mother Nature delivered a new tree branch for Ember to carve.
My little diva behaved very well and earned a reward walk. It was hot and humid, so we just went around one block. Came home and tucked inside the AC for the rest of the day.
Once painted, the siding looks terrific. Hope it stays that way. But Jeff says the mama flicker is still in the vicinity.
Ember and I enjoyed some deck time in the warmth and shade of Wednesday evening. My son called and he and I had a long rambling phone chat that was reminiscent of the ones I used to enjoy with his father. So many topics, chaining from one to another.
We commiserated about the state of the world, among other things.
He let me know his full licensure has earned him a substantial raise in pay, which I think anyone would welcome!
There were the parenting questions: "Mom, how did you get me to do chores when I was six?" 😁😂😀
My response? "Did you do any chores when you were a kid? I don't seem to remember you doing any!"
In the end, we concluded that kids mostly learn from the example that their parents set of "doing the right thing" or including them in "this is how we..." wash the dishes, mow the lawn, take the trash out, etc. and it keeps the household running. Grocery shopping, dog walking and feeding, all the family stuff that make up LIFE! I do remember bartering transportation for yard work... you boys (grade 6 at the time) clear out these weeds and bushes and I'll drive you to the pool next village over. The old "after we get these family things done, we can go to the mall" swap.
Having no siblings, he didn't really get the parenting bug / need for parenting skills until they plopped him into a squad leader role in the Army Reserve. He was picked for the role mainly based on being a year older than the other recruits. But suddenly he was responsible for the behavior of the group, and he learned fast.
Meanwhile, back in Emberville, my furry diva has demonstrated a calm gun-dog attitude toward the booms and pops that are prevalent this time of year around here.
Some of the whistle-whizz-sounding fireworks lead to a head-whip and a check-in with mom, but the booms might get an ear cocked, only. None of the "go hide under the bed" that so many have found they must deal with. Something I am grateful for.
It's July 3rd as I write this, and I can hear the now-legal booms and pops in the neighborhood. Ember is in day care today, and I felt it a great treat to be there when someone brought a majestic gray brindle Great Dane in for the day. Very calm and friendly dog; he offered me a paw, and I gushed over him, then felt guilty because when I turned around, there was another owner with an adorable poodle. Ember had already been taken back so she didn't have the chance to feel jealous over her hu-mom's attention to others. Face it, I love all dogs!
I'm settling into the Summer and hope the same for others. Avoiding the news has been good for my mental health.
Hope that my Canadian friends and former Sparkers had a good Canada Day, and wishing a happy Independence Day to my US friends and former Sparkers!
Life is good. Keep Sparking!
