In this case, one in which my foster grandson was playing. "The Kids" are on an annual retreat that DIL's family does to a nearby state park cabin, and they are having a ball. But Sunday was the last game of the season for FGC, so my son drove him back into town for it.
I had already taken Ember on a long leash walk, one where I let her nose direct us. So there were a lot of reversals of direction and doubling back, and in the end, it was 1.88 miles. This made her more amenable to going into her crate for a "puppy nap #2" that coincided with time for the ball game.
The game itself was hilarious! This is YMCA ball, and the coaches are also the referees, which is kind of ridiculous, since they don't call fouls, traveling, double dribbles, or travelling. When something goes awry, the coaches stop the game long enough to give the kids additional instruction about "we don't steal the ball in this league", "remember to dribble", etc. FGC's best buddy is on his team. Best bud picked up the ball at one point, tucked it under his arm and ran for the endzone. Did we confuse football and basketball, kiddos? I was cracking up! I dub thee "Rugby Basketball", this game played by first graders with very lax rules.
Anyway, I think it ended with a score of 2 - 1, FGC's team on the losing end. BUT, in the process, the one basket they DID get, was the result of a decent job of teamwork on the part of FGC, his buddy, and the best shooter on the team (I think that one's name is Nathan). I told FGC that I was really proud of their teamwork on that play. They are indeed learning!
Monday we had another warm weather day. We've got a couple more days of highs 20-30 degrees above average before Winter rears her head again. They are saying we might get snow Thursday or Friday, after having seen 70 plus on Tuesday! Seems to happen every Winter that we get a week of unseasonably warm weather, but this one has lingered, and believe me, I've enjoyed it thoroughly, as has Ember!
I finished up dog laundry, and straightened the couch covers after Alicia left, then went to pick up the cat's pesticide prescription.
On the way home, I found that the local/regional grocery had put Paczki's in the "sale" cart up front.
Kid sis sent me a link to a TikTok that explains the origins (at least in the US Midwest) of the Polish jelly donut made specially for Mardi Gras, to use up all the goodies before Ash Wednesday begins the Christian Lenten season. In this video I learned that this word is pronounced "poonch-key". So much for my phonetic "pahksy". Being near a Czech community I was more familiar with kolaches (had to learn that pronunciation, too).
Then I settled in for the human "think" work of the day, filing my taxes. This is a Presidents' Day tradition for me. I need to know by this date (after I've got all the forms from various places) whether I get something back or have to pay in. This year I had to pay in, which is not surprising, because I'm not in the highest income groups that had their tax cuts "extended for life", I'm in the group that had theirs expire.
Wednesday morning, I woke with the after-effects of those Paczki's. Yuck. This is why we only do this once a year, right? But there are so many holidays that we do "once a year". I hydrated, caffeinated, and had a protein rich breakfast, and started to feel much, much better.
Ember and The Prisoner's ballet that I call "safe passage"
1. The Prisoner requests entry to the house. He had gone outside at breakfast time for him.
2. Ember is asked to Kennel Up. She gets a treat (labs are soooo food motivated).
3-4. Hu-mom opens the door and escorts The Prisoner to his safe haven in the laundry room. He's on alert the whole time.
5. Ember is allowed to "break" from her Kennel. She then trots down the stairs to make sure The Prisoner is safely tucked away. Both animals are proud of their participation in the ritual.
A brief while later, Ember went down for puppy nap #1, and Mommy got to "go do human things" for a bit.
Thursday, I asked that the vet take a look at Ember's lower belly where she has been licking at a couple of spots, and at her ears, as we've had some head shaking.
I got the consult call from the vet as I was leaving my workout. Yeast infection in the ears, they will treat. The two spots on her belly, I'm to treat with neosporin. Apoquel for a brief course for her general itchiness, then continue with just the Zyrtek.
The Resumption of Winter:
The anticipated snow started about 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. I went and got Ember, and even in the short time I went inside to consult about her supplements, the car got covered in the snow. The crews had not got out to clear streets yet, of course, since it had only just begun, but we crept home without incident and started Ember on her "new" (had it before though) meds.
The deck after day care, while it was still coming down. This picture was snapped about 5:15 p.m. Thursday. The snow seemed to have ended by "last call" about 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, the forecast said we were in the "trace to an inch" band. Wednesday, they saw the track moving Southward and told us 1 to 3 inches. Thursday morning, they said we were on the line between 1 to 3 and 3 to 6 inch bands.
By 8 p.m. the middle of that deck measured 6 inches. There was more by morning, but Ember objected to my ruler, so I did not measure. Let's just say it was a bit over 6 inches at my house.
The front steps before sunrise Friday. I looked at this and thought it didn't look "too bad". I mean it was obviously light and fluffy, right?
Labrador footprints. I had to toss one of her balls out there to get her to go out in the pre-dawn to take care of business.
Still looks "light and fluffy" to me.
Ready to come back in, Ma! Ember was good about going out after the first trip.
I shoveled just enough path to put the garbage to the curb. It was indeed white and fluffy on the top, but underneath was slushy ice!
Fast forward. The garbage men came and took away the trash. I shoveled two more sessions. After I called it quits, I have about half a driveway lane, and the sidewalks cleared and ice melt applied.
The ice on the porch is too thick. Just ice melt applied, so far!
Given how slick it is on the streets, guess who will be buttoned up and staying home Friday, at least? School is closed. Son reported having to navigate around cars in odd places (middle of the roundabout, in the ditch) on his way home to his own house after work Thursday night. The major streets were at a standstill. Good choice for me to stay home Friday!
I was very proud of Ember Friday morning. She was "loose" in the house while I shoveled, and she did not "invent" chewing games. My furniture, carpets, and walls were intact when I came in. Some folks may take this for granted when they step outside to do chores. After the first year I lived through with Ember, I do not assume good behavior in this regard, and I'm overly pleased when she does "the right thing", patiently waiting for her mommy.
I rewarded her by letting her play "pull mommy's glove out of her pocket". Then "give it back to mommy's hand" and a treat. She has always had a focus on my gloves and hats... I figure use it as a reward, play into it, and it helps train her for things I really WANT her to do!
Five days of Winter weather ahead before we get the next hint of Spring!
Life in Emberville is indeed good! Keep on Sparking, my friends!
Being retired during icky weather is such a wonderful thing; I believe I'll never tire of it. We didn't have any snow beyond a few little flakes a day or so ago. But our surrounding mountains have gotten many inches at their various elevations. Our wind is icy cold coming off the mountains in winter. We got three days of rain and wind. It's warmer today; lows in the mid 30s and highs in the mid 40s.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness tomorrow has no rain predicted because we're going 'down the hill' for a banging Toby Mac concert. :D We sit at about 3500 feet elevation, surrounded by mountains which go about 6,000. Going down the Cajon Pass when there could be fog or ice patches is not a good look.
Happy Friday.