Finally got to a Youth Basketball Game

 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!

Tuesday morning Ember was happy to go to her day care.  My kid sis Alicia came over, having taken a vacation day from her work to observe the confluence of holidays!  Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Mardi Gras all land on the same day this year.

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.  

Ember had a fine Wednesday.  She got a nice long leash walk on the last mild weather day for a while.  She got two car rides.  We drove to the Humane Society's adoption center, where I dropped off some of her old "gently used" toys that she no longer shows interest in.  Then we took recycles to the bins by the high school.  She got a yak cheese puff as an extra treat Wednesday, too.

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!

Winter for reals

 

We did not get much snow.  This one is from Sunday morning, so it has paw and footprints from both Saturday and Sunday, the 24th and 25th of January.  Ember has become very good at going out "on her own".  When I started to take us out for "poo patrol" on Saturday morning, she yelped and jumped but I couldn't determine whether she had reacted just to the cold underfoot, if something stuck her, or if I accidentally stepped on her toes... whatever the cause, I comforted her, and put her back inside while I completed the yard chore.

Saturday, seeing that one or two other dogs were in fact getting leash walks in the neighborhood, despite the cold and her own hu-mom being unwilling to do that, she looked longingly out at them.

I think this particular cold snap has proven her labrador breeding.  She spent time in the yard solo several times over the three (so far) cold days.  It takes her a bit to find "just the right spot".

Being the weather wimp that I am, I was grateful for the scarcity of the snow, and we took several short (very short) car rides, and played with some different toys and games inside.  I'm gaining confidence and she's gaining self-control.

Saturday the cousins lunch worked out after all.  My niece messaged me that her taste and smell had come back, so we all gathered at a nearby Indian restaurant and with six of us there. All ordering different dishes, we were able to have "a little taste" of all of them.  Mulligatawny soup for all, and three kinds of Naan.  Tea was the beverage of choice for the majority, except for FGC, who had some fancy chilled latte.  I'm going to put the version of the photo with "face obscured" that my DIL posts when she shares online.

As it turned out, this was the Yahrzeit for my niece's mother.  She passed 13 years ago, I think it was.  Same time as my son was coming home from his second deployment.  We got special dispensation for him to make it home a day early, in time for the funeral mass.

Coming home after the luncheon, the news out of Minneapolis hit like a punch in the gut.  This young man had many things in common with my son.  I don't know if I ever mentioned in the old Spark blogs that at one point my son considered going after a nursing degree.  He ended up with his master's in social work instead.  He is out there helping unhoused veterans, directly.  

I could easily envision my son helping someone who had been pushed down to their feet.  I could easily see him putting himself between the agents and the young woman, acting as a human shield.  In my son's line of work, de-escalating is second nature, just as it was for Alex Pretti.

On Monday I found myself in need of doing something to make myself feel better about the world.  Often, I find this by doing something nice for someone else.  I left a larger than usual tip at the coffee drive-through.  I also paid for the order of the car behind me.  I get a little thrill out of being able to do this anonymously.  I have no idea who is in that other car, and they don't know it's coming, either.  I hope it made their day just a little bit better.  The antidote to "bad things happening" is kindness.

Later I shipped back the unused "leak proof" undies, asking for a refund.  That was Ember's second car ride of the day.  It was still bitter cold here, but Tuesday should be a little bit less so.

I trotted out another new toy on Monday.  An extra-large "calming duck".  I had to take it away from her after only about five minutes, as she already breached the beak and started the de-stuffing process.  I shall try again with it another day.

By the end of a four-day stretch without daycare, this is what the x-pen looks like.  Toys all over.  I do scoop them up from time to time, but they tend to accumulate until she goes off to play with her puppy friends and I do a proper vacuuming job.

Wishing those who read from places more impacted by this week's big Winter storm safety and warmth!  Life is precious, as well as good.  Hug your loved ones.  Pray for peace.  And keep on Sparking!

Leftovers for Monday

 

Monday I had leftovers from the cookout for lunch.  Nums!

Ember wished Mom could turn off the rain, but Mom does not control the weather!  This is the rain gauge Monday morning, last emptied before this stretch of 3 days.

The rain gauge Monday evening from when I emptied it above until "last call" about 7:00 p.m.  In short, we've had some moisture going on here!

Next prediction of rain possibilities Wednesday.  As of Thursday, the drought map being published shows we are finally back to normal!

Of course, all the moisture makes the ground soft, so when the motorized minibikes came racing through Sunday night and one of them lost a bit of control, he tore up my lawn!  A muddy mess.  And he just rode off into the sunset!

Tuesday was indeed drier.  Ember headed off to day care and had a really good day there.  I had my workout with the trainer, and did housework, including laundry.

I was later than usual picking Ember up from day care, and her group was out playing when I arrived.  I said to let her finish her play time, so I got a very tired and happy pup to bring home.

I adjusted pickup time on Thursday to allow for her to get the extra playtime.  I'm thinking this might become a regular thing.

I built "x-pen #2" in the family room as the extra panels had arrived.  Note the mostly destroyed leather couch has had a couple of replacement cushions added, and some fabric draped, although it's still pretty trashed.  Three partially chewed end tables are fenced off, as are the couch, the router, and the fireplace.

Ember showed curiosity about the new space, and I took her inside on leash, briefly, for her first visit in there.  Then I shut the gate and turned off the lights.  We'll go in again at various times, and it is my hope that it might become a training space.

I do purchase "destroy" toys, as well as allowing her to chew on certain "empties" (TP rolls, paper towel rolls, boxes of various kinds).  Some days she's a wonderful shredding machine, other days, she's fine just licking the leftover yogurt out of the little tub and leaving the tub intact.

Thursday I was supposed to have the whole house electrician check but they rescheduled me, and I felt relieved.  I spent the day cleaning and taking it easy.  

Friday continued the cool and pleasant morning streak.  The sunrise pinked up both east and western skies.

Ember had an outstanding leash walk including:

• walking on the other side of the street parallel to another dog she knows (Bella) for a couple of blocks leading up to Bella's home.
• Calmly coming with mom across the street to allow a little dog to do his business in his own front yard.  
• Staying calm and walking on past a human walking in the street and a barking dog in his fence on the other side.  (Competing distractions).

• Staying calm and getting past three, count 'em, three garage sales, including one where a man was carrying his purchase to his truck right across our path.  She did pause to beg for pets and got a little excited after he obliged, but she didn't jump at his bungee cords!

•  Last, but not least, she walked along the same side of the street where a garbage truck (big and noisy) was picking up other people's trash, and she didn't lunge at the garbage worker who was picking up and putting down the cans/bins.  Yes, mom used up several treats along the way, but we "walked on", did not need to sit and wait.
• She got an extra half a block detour as reward / calm down time after the encounter with the garbage truck.

The day is starting off well. Hoping for a good weekend ahead!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Summer draws to a close?

 If you count the beginning of the school year as the end of Summer, that is.  Air conditioning makes it possible to start school while the weather still says it's Summer, for sure.  But the sun-time is definitely diminishing.  Those of us with pets that go out and get walked notice the daylight regardless of the high and low temperatures.

Thursday morning:  raining.  Ember burrows into her blankie and gnaws on a bone.  She looks like one of those scrap dealers on Tatooine in Star Wars.  Jawas?

It was another day care day for Ember.  I cleaned house, took recycles to the center, and baked a loaf of banana bread.  

FGC played in his first flag football game Thursday evening.  He made the first flag capture, and the final touchdown of the game.  Son posted photos and a video of the touchdown run.  Think he's popping his daddy vest buttons?  Yeah, me, too.

FGC has survived the first two days of school.  Here's hoping for a good year in first grade!

Friday morning, Ember managed to find the a two-day-old burrito that was on the grass beside the street.  On Wednesday I had managed to get her past it without her sniffing at it, but not so on Friday!  She... ate... the... whole... thing!  There was no sense trying to pull her off it or give her cues like "leave it" or "poison" because I could tell she was in no state to pay attention to them.  I just stood there, holding the other end of the leash until she was done and willing to walk on.

She went down for her morning nap early after we got home.  Full belly, exercise done, business taken care of.  Meanwhile, the surprise lily is almost back to vertical.

The surprise lily carried on!  I shall caption this one "resilience".  A few blooms expired, but lifting its head!

What's this?  The start at an attempt to have a "training corner" in the lowest level of the house.  Right now, it's just a stall pad and a rectangle of astroturf, airing out and flattening out.  Ember has been down there a couple of time to check on it.  I had put it down and arranged it while she was in day care on Thursday.  Now my strategy is to just ignore it and get her to do the same, until it becomes "white noise" before I try to do any playing or training on it.

I am trying to "think ahead" to the Winter, after the incident with the thunderstorms.  I still have the family room completely blocked off with X-pen and baby gate.  It has become the graveyard for partially or fully destroyed furniture.

I have ordered new cushions for the couch in there and am thinking about how I might rehabilitate it, eventually.

Saturday morning events of note:

On our morning walk, we encountered (without my notice, but definitely with Ember's) the remains of two baby squirrels.  She sniffed them but she did not pick them up, try to eviscerate them, nor roll on them!  Yay!

We are almost to the end of my antibiotics... 24 hours' worth left.  Ember has two days' worth left on Ember's.  I am following doctor's orders to air the healing wound out a little bit each day, and watching as the scar starts to shape up.  Morning walk on Saturday, it was nearly 80*F, so I did not wear long sleeves.  I figured the sniffing and walking would provide enough distraction that Ember would not fixate on the bandage.  I was right.

The weatherman was right, too.  It got good and hot later in the day.  It got up to 95F, for those of you who can play "can you top this" (I know some of you can)!  I missed the FGC's soccer game as Ember was up and active during the time of the game.  But I did let her nap in the crate while I put in an appearance at the financial outfits "Night at the Ballpark".  I made it through one inning before deciding it would be good to get home.

Once home, I let Ember out for her last call and I snapped one last shot of the surprise lily, as was dying now.  I do love the week or two when this one pops up and progresses through its bloom cycle.

Life is good.  Spark on!

And a visit to Urgent Care ends it

 

Another front comes through.  Before this one hit, Ember and her hu-mom got a walk in, watching the cloud bank approaching.  It held off for a little while longer, as hu-mom prepared and consumed her own breakfast, then Ember put herself into her den, mom gave her a cookie, and we both got a nap as the rumbles went overhead, and the drops fell steadily!

The coolish "Fall preview" appears to be drawing to a close and we'll have a HOT weekend ahead.

Wednesday, we got a second walk in before it got sticky in the afternoon.  We went for a ride in the car to get Dexter (the car) a drink, and a treat for mom and pup.  The puppy napped on Mom's lap giving a warm sense of peace to the house.

Public school starts here tomorrow (August 11th) for some of the kids.  FGC doesn't start until Wednesday.  I will be doing a "grandma visit" to FGC between other things on my schedule, because he'll be hanging out at home while DIL does a work from home day, the last two days before his own school start date.  Other Grandma gets Monday; I get Tuesday for a visit.  It's not really babysitting, because "mom" will be there, but she has work to do, and it gives FGC something to do as well.  I'm thinking let him teach me something, for example, or play a game that he likes.

I did not sleep well Wednesday night.  I planned to nap on Thursday while Ember was in day care, and I did a little, but I also puttered around gathering the trash that goes to the curb Thursday nights.  

Anyway, the challenging weather was not over.  Early Saturday morning (4-5 a.m. hour) we got belted with high winds and rain.  I didn't get up until after 5, and it was still raining in the 8 a.m. hour.  The wind had blown over the patio chairs I have on the deck, blocking the sliding door. It had also blown a trash can down to the street. The chair I had out on the front paver patio got not just blown across the yard but also broken.

As the sun rose, we had "red sky in the morning" (sailors take warning!)  Sirens in the distance accompanied this view to the East.

Center of the city lost power for a while, out here in the suburbs, we had the lights flash but did not lose power even long enough to reset the microwave clock.

Ember was grumpy about the weather but did get out to take care of business during one break.  She was missing her morning walk.  She started getting into mischief while I was fixing my own breakfast.  About 3/4 of the way through my bowl of oatmeal, she started stripping the slip covers off the couch and attaching the "new" couch cushion, and that tripped MY triggers.

I was not able to distract her and made the mistake of trying to intervene and get it away from her.  OUCH!  Managed to get her calmed down, but not before a huge bloodstain was blooming on my left sleeve.  

I got Ember outside and closed the door while I went upstairs to clean the bite and bandage it.  I was amazed at the depth of the wound.  I could see my muscles working under the flap of skin that was torn in a corner shape.  "Fascinating, I get an anatomy lesson right here," floated through my brain, followed by, "this is going to need stitches".  Fast forward to the process of getting Ember calm enough to cooperate in going in the crate.

Aside here:  I don't know how many of you are TikTok followers, but there is one doctor on there whose comic content came to mind.  Dr. Glaucomflecken.  He has a hilarious video about rural medicine and the farmer.  I was that farmer, as before I presented myself at Urgent Care I put the couch back together, and rebuilt the X-Pen around it.  

As I was getting Ember into her crate, my phone had a voice talking at me.  Alicia's voice.  While I was putting the couch back together and getting Ember settled, I had butt-dialed her!  Serendipity, right?  I quickly told her what had happened, and that I was headed for urgent care, so at least one human would know that Ember was alone at home while I sought treatment.

Here's my one handed job of patching it up.  Took the photo while waiting at urgent care.  I didn't bother with photos of the underlying wound, even though it was indeed fascinating.  It was "of medical interest" according to the second doctor who came in just to compare with his stitching job of the morning.  With all the fallen branches and such, Urgent Care was an interesting place Saturday morning.  Guys who got in a hurry with their mini chain saws, shall we say?

The lovely PA who came to treat me started out with "I don't normally suture dog bites, but... in this case..."  8 stitches, in the end.  Prescription for antibiotics.  Instructions for pain management were the normal OTC things.  She numbed the area well before stitching.  That, too, was fascinating to me.  I guess I was mostly just interested in the whole process.

Even though it was a very warm day, I wore long sleeves over the final bandage all day, to avoid having Ember drawn to it!  I took this photo when heading out on my own to try to pick up the prescription for antibiotics (but the pharmacy closed at 5 on Saturday and they texted me at 4:58 that it was ready).  

They did poke me with a tetanus booster, since I could not remember exactly how long ago the last one was.

In the aftermath, I came home, took Ember out for a walk, and we settled in for the day.  Some training "on the fly" related to manners while I'm fixing food.  

We both napped a bit.  Don't you just love that dogs live in the present?  No memory/guilt associated, no grudges... appeasement face that we humans call "she's sorry", but she doesn't wallow in it.

Final outing of the day was to get batteries for the TV remote, so I could put on her puppy calming music for bedtime.  At last call we sat outside on the deck and soaked in the peace before the next round of storms.   

Seeing that the forecast included a storm warning with up to 70 mile an hour gusts, I went back downstairs after tucking Ember in and moved the deck chairs into the garage.  I spent a couple of hours from about 1:30 to 3:30 on the couch watching the weathermen covering the front and the various weather warnings as they swept through.  Saturday night was not as severe as Friday night's storms, but more people lost power.

Got the prescriptions filled Sunday morning.  We get to try Clindamycin, and Cipro, to avoid penicillin family, and we know I'm allergic to.  

I wrapped the dressing in saran wrap and took a shower.  Felt MUCH more human.  I'm on my second dose of Clindamycin now, and will take the third and the first dose of Cipro with supper at 6 p.m.  I put reminders on my phone so I can keep the four times a day and twice a day schedule on track.  It's only for a week!

I have not taken much in the way of pain meds, but I did down one Advil a short while after my first pill, as I had a bit of a headache.  Nothing since.  

Life goes on and is good!  Keep Sparking, friends!

Suburban life and memories of a quarter century back

 

I had enough energy, and the weather was mild enough, so I pulled some weeds out of the river rock bed in the past week.

I also acquired a couple chairs to add to the outdoor space.  This one went on the front "paver patio", along with "Stoney" the labrador gardening bench.  Stoney got relocated to the front last year because Ember was knocking him over and chewing on him.

Ember got her monthly shipment of toys, and this month it included a teething toy in the shape of a pizza slice.  It's curvy and rocks, so she had a good time tossing it around in her x-pan.

We had a bit of regression over the weekend when I forgot my own learning and tried to introduce too many changes.  I was dragging one of her big branches around, rearranging the back yard and she decided she needed to participate, but she chose my arm to drag and that started a wrestling match that resulted in bandages for me. 

Haven't had that kind of episode in quite a while.  What I noticed was that both she and I have learned better skills for ending such an unfortunate thing.  We both said "I'm sorry" in our species appropriate ways.  

We really do have to make changes gradually, one step at a time in this house.  It is mom who gets in a hurry!  Bottom line, though, is that we recover, mend our relationship fences, and move on. 

We will be tested this coming weekend with a Carl visit.  Son and DIL will be transporting foster kiddo a state over to visit his aunt and siblings.  This is part of the process of letting him help make his own decisions about where and with whom he wants to live.  He might even stay the night with them, but son and daughter in law will be there in town for that night. 

Tuesday morning, we had our own chapter of "Make Room for Ducklings" right on our own corner.  I lost count of how many adolescent mallards were in this flock, this is only about half of them.  Adult male and female followed along after.

Ember and I watched them from our back deck.  

I have been appreciating how much just having this dog in my life keeps me enjoying the simple things like being outside during her early morning outings and at "last call".  Both are at a time when the temperatures are moderate, this time of year.

Meanwhile, halfway across the continent, back in the little village where my son was raised:  Sunday brought 5 inches of rain in 3 hours, resulting in flash flooding.  I thought my older sister was mistaken when she messaged me that she'd seen the village on the morning news program she watches, Monday morning.  This sent me to Google and to Facebook to find videos, and sure enough, the roads that were part of our daily lives were turned into rivers!

Photo is at the corner with the only traffic light in the village.  Off to the right would be the library and the post office and the town hall.  Down the road to the left would be where the creek is supposed to be, a bridge over it leading to the village residential area, including what used to be our house during my son's growing up years.  There wasn't a whole lot of news time captured by this event, because no one got hurt, but there was a lot of property damage and it's going to take time for it to all get cleaned up.  Local area first responders, a motorcycle club, and a church were all involved in helping folks affected get shelter for the night, food, water and supplies.  The local consolidated high school opened its doors to provide shelter.

It is not that the area had never known flooding.  I mean, any small hamlet with "Valley" in its name, probably has a reason for that moniker.  Back when I lived there and commuted out of town for work, there was one weekend when I could not make it from the airport to home because of flooding when an unusual warm spell melted all of the snow at once.  But this is the worst anyone remembers it being.

Prayers for all those around the world experiencing weather challenges, whether it be fires or floods, earthquakes or volcanoes.  Hopefully these things remain rare, and we have time between events to clean up and put things back into a livable state to carry on.

Life is good.  Keep Sparking!

Quiet Holiday week?!

 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.

After the rain stopped, Jeff the handyman showed up with all the things he needed to make repairs.

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.

She just settles into a deck chair and watches the world go by or even closes her eyes when she gets a little tired.

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!