We're BACK!!!!

Hey all!

We are back.  My apologies from the unexpected hiatus in my blogging world; I had no intentions of taking a break but I guess I needed it.  After Mango passed, then another dog blog friend (one of the very first I made!), Sophie Brador also crossed the bridge, I kinda felt like I lost my desire to blog.  So, I stopped.

I think it's time to come back; I have to admit this is an intensely crazy, busy time in my life but I am thinking I would like to get back to this old blog and to the friends I have made along the way.  I've missed you all!  And, unfortunately, I deprived you all of cute baby Reason pics along the way, too!

Anyway, there's no sense rattling through my busy, but mundane last few months.  Instead, I'll show you what the dogs and I have been keeping busy doing the last few days.  We were hit by a HUGE blizzard on March 20, the first day of Spring and I had a quilt started that I thought deserved to be finished over the evenings when we couldn't go out and do much. Too much snow.  I'll show you pictures soon of my front yard. It isn't pretty!

Alright, back to it... the quilt.  And, the dogs, enjoying the quilting time. :)

Sophie and Murphy, curled up on top of the quilt, in progress along with my fabric bin of scraps.  It can't possibly by comfortable, but they stayed there for a long time.

Spike.

Sophie, in the midst of chaos created by Reason. My house WAS clean, really... one loose puppy in the house and all mess breaks loose, ha!

The whole clan, in their usual spots.  Murphy and Reason, balanced on the back of the couch.  Sophie and Spike, always the more sensible, lying on the pillow and blankie.  I do manage to squish in there between Spike and Soph. It's the perfect spot for Rease to nap with her head on my shoulder. 

The new Rag Quilt- it hasn't been washed yet, and I haven't notched all the seams yet so they fray, but it's all sewn up at least!

All in all, it's a good way to spend a Blizzard- hunkered down with some movies, a quilt to make and my favourite dogs in the world.  Life is good.

I love Sundays....

Life is good today. I've been knitting Christmas presents and hanging out with the dogs, catching up on my Chicago Fire addiction (great show, by the way!).

My girlies decided that they wanted, no needed to be close too.... Spike, being an old grump headed upstairs to nap on the bed but the girls stick close to me, almost all the time.

Rease, chewing on a bone. Complete with the envelope she stole off the table too, ha!

Sophie on the couch. Samples of a new knitted blanket to be,  on the chair. It's going to be a soft, cozy blankie when it's finished!

Rease- why stay on the dog bed when you can lounge on the back of the couch?!?

Yummy bone!  Great spot to chew on a bone; she can reach over and give kisses from there.

Murphy- why not steal Sophie's place on the couch?!?

Murphy and Sophie.  Sunday cuddles!

Blogging Changes....

It has been so long since I have written, I have wondered if it was time to shut the blog down.  But, I don't think so- I think I am realizing that life is just starting to shift and change and my blog is reflecting that (or would if I wrote!).  Anyway, so I am back and I want to warn you, this all may morph but it's ok. There will still be dogs. But, there might be more- plans for the future ( I am again seriously thinking career change!), crafting I've been up to, maybe even some book reviews will show up here. Maybe even stories from teaching- so hard to know.  But, the dogs will still be here, I promise. :)

Anyway, just to catch you all up.... Reason is 8 months old today. She is a total smarty pants- a quick learn who can have focus when she wants to. But, she's turning into a bratty teenager and Spike and Sophie have become WAY too easy going and let her get away with murder. Seriously, I need some tough dogs to sort her attitude out!  She needs it, just a little! ;)

Murphy went through a phase this fall where she broke out of her crate, numerous times, until she actually demolished the old one.  I had a mouse problem and Miss Murph took it upon herself to help- once I figured out what she was doing, I felt much better. Mice are gone and she's content in her kennel again.

Sophie is becoming a bit of a stately ole' gal at times. She is happy to sleep on a bed, cuddle on the couch and be spoiled rotten. I love that girlie of mine; she has rough edges to her for sure and she can be SUCH a brat but she's totally wormed her way into my heart.

Spike has been struggling with gaining weight of late and I kinda wonder if his back is out. I think a trip to the vet is shortly in order- he's 7.5 and it was recommended I get blood work done. I haven't done it yet, but I think it might be time. I just want to make sure he's ok.  In his last agility trial, he was slowing down, jumping 22" so I decided to move him to the veterans class- he is now jumping 16" so it'll be interesting to see what that does to help him out.

Otherwise, I've become very focused on the idea of bringing Dock Dogs to Saskatchewan. I have no idea where to start, but I am feeling pretty determined to figure this out.  Step 1:  Find a pool to train in!!

Oh, and the current idea of what might be ailing me is that I may have Seasonal Affective Disorder. So, I am doing a trial with a light box, trying PhotoTherapy.  For anyone who lives in Canada and struggles with shorter days in Winter, I have to say the lightbox is AMAZING! Try it!!

A Relentlessly Huge Hole in our Hearts....

The world lost a beautiful dog yesterday.  Mango Relentlessly Huge passed during the night, in the company of the Mango Momma, after he suffered an intestinal rupture and infection that was just to great to fight.  And, the bloggy world caught their breathe at the moment of the announcement and a gigantic wave of sadness rolled through us.

Mango was a gorgeous, brindle mastiff, a gigantic dog with a heart just as big.  Mango Momma blogged about his antics over the last years and we all fell in love with him.  I  spent yesterday afternoon crying in fits and spurts over this news and I've grieved alongside the blog community.

Mango, Dexter (his labrador brother) and Mango Momma welcomed me into the bloggy world when I started on this journey. Their blog was one of the first I started to read and comment on, and I was always touched by the responses I received back.  Mango Momma always responds with compassion, sharing in tears and laughter.  She made me feel like I was part of the community!

I am so sorry Mango's family for your loss!  We grieve alongside you, as everyone was shocked by how fast Mango was gone.  I am grateful for your wisdom and compassion as you knew it was time to say goodbye to your very special boy.  Know that I am praying for you during this time. Thank you for sharing his beautiful spirit with us.

Run free, Mango! Bounce in peace and say hi to Mortimer for me!

6 Months Already?!?

I can't believe Rease turned 6 months old, on September 12th. Where does time go??

She is turning out to be a lovely, sweet, gentle dog who is quite crazy-high energy when she wants to be. But, she can chill on the couch with me, as long as I'm willing to cuddle. I rarely say no to puppy cuddles! :)   Rease is all legs still- a bit gangly and lanky and she is still a bit uncoordinated. But, at 38lbs and a little shorter than Sophie, I suspect she is pretty close to full grown.

So, all in all, Rease is EXACTLY what I wanted!

Not great pictures, but you get the idea at least of how big she is... Rease, and big sis Sophie.

Rease, Sophie and Spike. OF COURSE, no one wanted to look at the camera. Sigh.

We're back!!

Well, Black Dog Blog has officially moved and we are residents of the "big" city!  It's been a bit of an adjustment getting used to traffic again and a smaller yard, but I haven't regretted the decision yet. I LOVE my new house, the dogs are getting used to it, and are even starting to cope with the really slippery laminate floors, ha!

Anyway, I am back to work- been back to teaching for a week already!  It feels like I didn't get a summer and the dogs have been telling me it's not an easy adjustment for them to be crated again while I work. But, we will settle in. Fall is definitely on the way; days are getting shorter and my leaves are starting to turn. I know that routine will come back soon.

Everyone is fine around here. Sophie and Spike look a little greyer. Murphy has been struggling with a big, huge, horrible hot spot on her neck but I think we've turned the corner on it for now. And, Rease has become all legs.  She's tall and scrawny at almost 6 months. She's a beautiful, fine boned, lovely little lab and she's a darling to live with.

I promise video clips of Reason and Spike swimming next post. And, maybe some updated puppy pictures....  at least I posted and let the few of you still following my blog know we are kicking around....

We are MIA....

The big move is coming fast.... sorry we have been a bit absent lately from posting/commenting. But, I am in the countdown until I get possession of my new home!  Once I have the dogs there and a bit settled, I'll post for sure. Until then, know that I am reading as much as I can, but commenting is just beyond me. And, know that Sophie is feeling better (her tail is healing!), Murphy is continuing her quest for world domination, Spike is his same gentle self and Reason is growing like a bad, bad weed!

Later all... from the new house!! :)