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!
Prisoner looks soaked! Glad he landed on his feet after being booped by Ember. *SIGHI*
ReplyDeleteOH and yeah for Ember being gifted another branch from Mother Nature!
Yesterday and today definitely are a/c days!
GREAT parenting advice. For sure, as the kids got older, bartering was a huge part of the “do your chores.” equation. Yeah!
Yes, it is just imperative to avoid as much news as possible for mental health. I do keep up w/the happenings, but . . . maybe 30 minutes tops.
This certainly is NOT an 4th of July to ignore. We need to celebrate the freedoms we still have.
Hugs and Happy 4th
Barb
1cd
Yes, The Prisoner was quite damp at that point, but he did dry out. Today he's likely going to hang out in his luxury suite, where he's safe.
DeleteAww, good girl not to be afraid. I laughed at your Great Dane meeting. My niece had two at the same time. Athena's head was just below my chin when she was on all 4's and I wasn't! Max could almost look me in the eye and I'm 5'6". Their night crates, yes they make them for Danes, were about 5ft by 6ft, and maybe 5 1/2 feet high. When out of they crates, they each had their own couches in what once was the family room. Both are gone now and the family took the room back.
ReplyDeleteAmazingly majestic, those Danes! This one, according to dog-dad, was 3 years old, in his prime. And yes, since I'm kinda short for a human, he could look me in the eye while on four paws. Those of us with soft spots for our dogs! And horses... my sister's granddaughter out in Utah is amazing with the horses! Danes are almost pony sized, right?
DeleteHope you have a fine Independence Day!
Quiet and uneventful day. As both of us worked most holidays, opposite shifts, we relied on family to supply the fun. Now that WE are the mega-adults, most of the family has gone separate ways. I computed, DH TV'd and we had left-over pizza for dinner. LOLOL
DeleteLOL, while I went and enjoyed a classic 4th with my son, DIL, and FGC, and the other set of grandparents. I haven't done that in many years. note: don't watch your grandkids set off fireworks next to someone who worked in the medical profession on holidays. second note: it helps to have a good dad supervising. third note: if nobody got hurt, it's a success!
DeleteFor us it was a quiet Canada day but we did enjoy the festivities in the capital for the day on TV. This year you could watch all the Fireworks on their streaming services. I giggled too at the picture of Ember bopping Prisoner in the butt. I can just picture Prisoner's expression when that happened. Humidity keeps us pretty quiet here too. Have a wonderful 4th.
ReplyDeleteWe have a cool, calm start to the fourth. Ember showed very good leash walk manners. She earned her big chew stick. I have noticed fewer fireworks this year. I don't know if that is the side effect of inflation, of the current tariffs on Chinese imports, of feeling not quite so proud to be an American in the current political environment? For whatever reason, it's easier on the pets.
DeleteTo a calm day for us all.
Poor Kitty is quite handsome. He struts the "catwalk" literally!
ReplyDeleteRe DS: I used the Premack Principle (grandma's rule) in my classroom. No games until all your work is completed. Grandma's rule: no dessert until you eat your veggies. No doubt he will find a solution that works.
Happy 4th of July! 🎆🎇 It's rest and recuperate here after a mowing marathon yesterday.
They have a chore chart and FGC can earn "points" leading up to a prize from a box they keep with small "new toys" or "wish items". Example of points: don't wake mom before 6 a.m. for X days, earn a point. Read a whole book aloud to Mom & Dad: five points.
DeleteBet having that marathon mow behind you feels good! Had a lovely afternoon with the family group and was able to see the progress FGC has made since the last time I was with them, and for that matter, huge amounts since the FIRST time I met the boy.