Cabo says, Hello Summer!

Hello Summer! Hey…….wait a minute…..I think I might resemble that remark. Can’t understand how Mom can say that. She always says I’m the smartest puppy she knows.

In case you missed my introduction, you can read it HERE. I’ve jumped up to 14.5 pounds in just three short weeks. Everyone keeps talking about the size of my paws…….but I think they’re pretty perfect just the way they are. All I know is it’s getting easier to clear the step from the backyard into the house, and I’m able to catch the little white dog that lives next door. Boy, I rolled her a couple of times last night real good while we were chasing each other!

So, it’s my first official day of summer, and there are sooooo many things to get into tear up discover. I’ve really only just begun. So far, no shoes, socks or clothing have been sacrificed to my razor-sharp teeth. Whenever I get into something really interesting, all of a sudden I find a substitute chewy bone in my mouth. What’s up with that?

But I did discover I luuuvvvvvv watermelon….and strawberries….and peaches…..and apples! I found out I even like green beans and broccoli. I hope Mom lets me come with her to the garden soon. I could be such a big help.

I am part Golden Retriever so, of course, they got me my own pool! The Poodle in me keeps trying to suppress those water instincts, but I’m sure I can overcome those negative vibes before summer ends. And it’s so much fun when the litter mates play in there too!

I have to admit, I do tend to get into some trouble from time to time. It seems to come when all I want to do is play….rough…with my mouth…..on their fingers. But I have all this pent up energy and am so happy to share it with anything that crosses my path! And, I am a little mouthy at times, especially when I’m hungry.

Because of this, Mom and Dad have decided it’s time for me to start learning something called “manners.” They say words like Come, Sit and Wait. And then there’s the one I don’t care for so much. No.

I’m hearing that one a lot lately.

It’s very hot outside now because it’s summer. Duh. What? You sit outside on a 90F day in a fur coat and tell me how YOU like it. My yard does have lots of shade, but……

This is my preferred napping location, but just to show I’m flexible, I’ll relocate to various AC vent around the house. 🙂

That’s all for today. Take care, stay cool, and may all your puppy dreams be sweet.

Conflicted

Well, they are on their way to stay with their dad for a month. The Recruiter, Peanut and Twix left this afternoon to make the trek to Nashville for the hand off for the second leg of their trip to Alabama.

And I’m oddly conflicted.

On one hand, with all that’s happened since February, Entrepreneur and I need a break from the endless energy and incessant “whys” of a three year old. And, having both of them since mid-May when the after-school sitter left college for summer break has been both a joy and a challenge. AND, add the fur baby that arrived the beginning of June and…..well…are you tired yet? We are. We really do need this time to regroup and Entrepreneur needs this time to rest due to chemo fatigue. So, we’re down two children….but training a fur baby.

But, on the other hand, each time they leave, the relief is replaced with worry and concern. Call it parental paranoia or whatever. I’m counting the days until their return. When they hit the door again in mid-July, there won’t be much summer left before those back-to-school and after-school activities begin again. In the meantime, my house will be void of munchkin-size clothing lying around, half-drank beverages in the frig, books, crayons, pencils and toys on every surface in every room. Gone will be the bath toys in my soaker tub, and luvies within arms reach of every bed.

I feel guilty about looking forward to the break…knowing the time we have with them is a gift not afforded to every grandparent. Am I ungrateful for that gift if I’m relieved to be relieved of those child care responsibilities? What if something happens to them while they are gone? I would be devastated knowing I was looking forward to time in the empty nest…even if it was only temporarily.

Such is the life of long-distance visitation.

So we try to pack as much as we can into the few weeks of summer before they have to leave. We did picnics and playgrounds; pool time and popsicles; Peanut and I visited a museum and took in a movie; went to our church’s version of VBS (on steroids); and scheduled horseback riding lessons. Plus, we made sure there were times for just hanging out with nothing organized so the mind could wander uninterrupted.

Please enjoy a few early summer childhood captures of our grandbabykins.

A nosefull of posies.

Yes, she is that high. Zoom lens required.

Picnic pupper and his pal.

The University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archeology; artifacts and art ranging from circa 1550 BCE to the 20th century.

Pool time with Papa.

Sittin’ pretty in the saddle.

He loves me……..

An uninterrupted afternoon.

Mermaids do exist!

She was a little uncontrollable at the sprayground!

The epitome of summer relaxation.

Litter mates.

I think I got a little carried away with my pics. But, I’m sure you’ll forgive me. 🙂 I hope everyone’s summer is off to a wonderful start.

xoxo

LTTL & Quotography: Red

Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.
~Bill Blass

and hummingbirds….definitely hummingbirds.

I’m finally playing along again with Kelley and Quotography, and Lisa at Life Thru the Lens! Twix went down for a nap and I made the executive decision to grab the camera and go outside…specifically looking for Red.

The calendar says the first day of Autumn is later this week, but the thermometer still says it’s summer here in middle Missouri. Temps are in the upper 80sF with the heat index in the upper 90sF. Not very conducive to Autumn thinking.

The hummers were impressive this year. They buzzed around the feeders all summer and are still going strong. I figure they are beginning to migrate south and are catching a quick bite along the way. So, the feeders will stay up for a while.

I decided to take time the next couple of months for a Women’s Bible Study class on C.S. Lewis. We’re specifically talking about Mere Christianity and The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. He’s such a favorite of mine, and his story of how he walked away from Christianity and became an atheist…only to be drawn back to faith through logic and reason. Much of his writings make my brain hurt. Did you know “Jack” (as he wanted to be called) was the first Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at the University of Cambridge? That means he must have been an extremely well-read person. Good and bad, fiction or fact…he read them and gained insight, discernment and a respect for differing points of view. I may write more on Jack as the study gets further into the details of his life and writing.

But for now, I’ll just leave you with one of my hummers….just to make you smile.

Playing along with Kelley and Quotography, and sharing with Lisa at Life Thru the Lens

July Photo Challenge: Photographer’s Choice

July’s prompt was our choice over at PJ’s A ‘lil HooHaa, and I chose Changes for the month’s theme. It seems our family has been in a state of flux for as long as I can remember. So, it seems fitting to have this month’s photo collection reflect the results of the past few years.

Changes #1
Our oldest daughter and family moved back into our house three years ago when her then-husband was discharged from the military and was going to college. If that wasn’t flux enough, she found herself as a single mom soon after Twix was born. Divorce and long-distance visitation schedules added to an already tenuous situation. A change in job opportunities has put her in a better financial position, and she recently bought a house for her and the grandbabykins. With the house came weeks of demo and reno, and she is hoping to move in to “her” place by the middle of August. We are excited for her, but I’m sure the change in our home dynamic will be met with mixed emotions.

Changes #2
What a difference a year makes. Last year, Twix was cautiously optimistic about the pool and everything that goes with it. This year, she is going underwater on her own and splashing Papa every chance she gets. Pool and Popsicle are synonymous words this summer. She has changed into quite the captivating two year old!

Changes #3
Peanut has been gone all summer to her father’s house for visitation. Changes…on steroids. Twix went for a couple of weeks and will build up to all summer in the next couple of years. That in itself is change enough, but having no Peanut around is a huge change for us. Peanut’s little corner of our home office sits empty…except when Twix is pilfering through its contents while she’s away. Add to all these changes that she will begin 2nd grade with a new house, new school and new friendship opportunities.

Change #4
Our trip to Florida resulted in a change in the landscape around The Golfers’ home. Over the two weeks we were there, we transformed the front and back yards into something more in-keeping with their Florida, beach-y lifestyle.

Changes #5
Yes, changes are coming to our home. For the past few years, we’ve grown very accustom to having the grandbabykins under our roof. It’s provided us a rare opportunity to create a special relationship with them. I know Peanut will remember the time she spent with us. We’ll continue to provide child-care for Twix during the work week until she goes to preschool, so there will still be time for her to form lasting memories. Even so, the changes that are coming will be bittersweet. But like the caterpillar that leaves its comfort zone to becomes something better, I’m sure these changes are for the best. Although life as we’ve known it the past few years will change….it will be an exciting, new time for everyone.

Be sure to stop over at PJ’s tomorrow, July 30th, to see what others chose for their July theme.

Thinking about Christmas in July?

But here I am in July, and why am I thinking about Christmas pudding?
Probably because we always pine for what we do not have.
The winter seems cozy and romantic in the hell of summer,
but hot beaches and sunlight are what we yearn for all winter. 
~Joanna Franklin Bell,
Take a Load Off, Mona Jamborski

Here we are in July; smack in the middle of summer. It’s hot here in the middle of land-locked Missouri….with the heat index some days in the triple digits. It was the same during our recent trip to Florida to see The Golfer. But somehow, it never seems quite as miserable when one is at the beach! Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Playing Quotography along with Kelley at The Road Goes Ever On

June Photo Challenge: Baseball

Here we are again with PJ’s photo blogging challenge. June’s prompt was baseball….since PJ is a huge baseball fan! Unfortunately, I’m not a huge baseball fan, so this was a bit of a head-scratching exercise for me. On a side note, I like movies about baseball….Bull Duram, The Natural, A League of Their Own, Major League 1, Field of Dreams, Angels in the Outfield etc. ….but to sit at a baseball game is not my idea of a great time.

The caveat to the above statement is when one of our hometown teams is in the World Series playoffs or final games; then, I’m all in.

Since this prompt was difficult for me, and the month (like the last two) got away from me, I only got four shots. My apologies, but it’s the best I could do.

Baseball #1
This shot is an unconventional take on the game; an improvised game with a pool noodle and beach ball.

Baseball #2
The Dollar Store is a plethora of items and a couple of them proved helpful for this month’s challenge. Probably not the highest quality balls or bases, but then what do you expect for $1?

Baseball #3
A couple years ago, we bought The Recruiter a new purse. Her requested pattern. Her sister, The Golfer, has a matching one in a Cardinals motif.

Baseball #4 and  possibly #5
While I don’t religiously follow our state’s baseball teams, I do get updates on my phone on their games. Since I live smack in the middle of the state of Missouri, I can claim both the Royals and the Cardinals as my team. Since these were two screen shots, I’m counting them as two entries….oh yes, I can. 🙂

And that’s the end of the inning. Swing on over to PJ’s for more June baseball-related photos.

And then summer was gone……an August collage

I did it! I actually got a monthly calendar done on time…even a couple of days early! Here is a snapshot of August in middle Missouri.

It was a strange summer; never getting into the triple-digit, dog days of August we’re used to here in the Heartland. And it was rainy most of the summer. We finally surrendered to Mom Nature and the deer on the veggie garden, but enjoyed beautiful flowers that normally succumb to the dry, hot days of August. There were toads to catch (and release), cicada shells to discover, praying mantis to watch, butterflies to chase, bikes to ride, pools to lounge in and popsicle to eat.

School began entirely too soon around mid-month and Peanut is now in first grade. Her sister is toddling around testing the limits of my patience. Entrepreneur continues to find “projects” to complete around the house. To date, we’ve replaced carpeting in a couple of rooms, refaced the gas fireplace with new tile and painted lots of walls. Outside he revamped part of the yard to redirect water run-off, painted the garage doors and trimmed up all our trees.

I tried something different on my collage this time. I attempted to give the photos a wash to soften the colors, and added a texture to some of them. The effect isn’t as dreamy as what I’m looking for but maybe it’s a start in the right direction. I felt like I needed to grow a few brain cells and try something new.

Linking up with Mona’s Picturesque and her monthly photo collages.