Knitting and Things

As a novice knitter I have finished just a few projects with my yarn and needles. On almost all of them I have had a little (sometimes a lot) of help from Master Knitter Mom. Whenever I screw up she is always there to "fix it". She is also good at doing a few rows at lightening speed (read 15 in the time it takes me to do two) to help me feel like I am getting to the end. So far here is a sampling of what I have done.

A baby sweater - blue so we need another boy!

A summer purse/bag.

And my most recent project a small scarf.

It is a nice color blue, for some reason it didn't show up very well on the picture.

Reese wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Winter has Arrived

Winter arrived early December with bitter cold and snow almost everyday. Out of the first 20 days of December I think it snowed every day but two. Here are some photos of the pretty snowfall we have received. It is beautiful and lovely to walk on the warm days, however, the -20 below temps and windchill find us training indoors and very short walks if any at all. Here are some pictures from the trail Reese and I like to hike on.

The Power of a Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way

From men and women to fill our day;

And when we are certain of sorrow in store,

Why do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware

Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,

With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!),

When the spirit that answered your every mood

Is gone-whether it goes-for good,

You will discover how much you care,

And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

- Rudyard Kipling

Maddie ~ Forever in Our Hearts

It was a special day when you came home, looking like a golden fluffball bear. I can still see you running across the front yard, bounding up and down over the blades of grass. You touched so many during your time here. You will always be special. You were stubborn and made many of your own rules. But you trained your people well, and for good reason. They needed you as much as you needed them. Your life wasn't always peaches and cream, ACL repair before you were a year old, arthritis early on. The chicken bone that seemed like such a good idea when it went down, didn't seem so good when it came out surgically.

You made sure that Dad got at least two walks a day whether rain, sleet or ice. You loved to walk on your trail. Little dogs were your favorite. Laying tight to the ground when you came upon a little dog to make yourself seem small so as not to scare them and to let them know you were a friendly girlie. Snow angels after your walks. You loved to lay in the snow banks in -40 degree wind chill and look into the wind and smell the cold air.

Always insisting on a game of tug after dinner, good for the digestion you tried to explain to Dad. If you saw him dozing off in his chair you would make sure he got a good nose poke under his arm to wake him up.

You were Mom's company during the day and protector when you were both home alone. You layed on the kitchen tile and talked to her while she cooked. Like clockwork at 3:30 you alerted that it was time for your snack and at 4:30 you were ready for the big meal.

And then there is Mike. Yes, your boy, who you watched grow into a man. It was always a special day when Mike came to visit. While you didn't see him everyday, when you did, you made sure he knew just how much you loved him. The tail would start to wag as you saw his car pull into the driveway and by the time he got in the door your whole body would wiggle back and forth with joy.

You lived in the moment each day. A lesson we all need to practice more often. Time is short and precious we must not waste it.

You died in Mom's arms, you tried to look at her to tell her you were going to go now and then you were gone. As you headed over the bridge it got easier to walk and then run and you breathed a sigh of relief. You had made it!

Gone but never forgotten,
Godspeed Maddie!
March 27, 2001 - November 27, 2008

Maddie

Our dear friend Maddie has been sick lately. So that has kept us busy with updates, visits (me only, Reese was only recently given the okay by the vet to visit), and temperature checks. Madders is very fond of her food, your food, anyone's food...you get the idea. About a month or so ago she decided she wasn't interested in her food, which is very unlike Ms. Maddie. After a vet visit she was diagnosed with an infection of unknown origin and low thyroid. She was put on some meds and sent home but soon worsened. She had more tests and a biopsy and was found to have a non-specific liver problem, or hepatitis. She lost about 15 pounds, and was very weak. It was touch and go for awhile to see if she would pull through. But she is a stubborn girlie and this was not her time to go. She has been making great progress, but is still not completely her old self. Will see what this week brings. We are hoping and praying it will be a week of steady improvement and gaining strength. She loves to play in the snow and make Golden Retriever angels in the yard after her walks. Get well soon Maddie....the snow is coming!

A Game of Chuck-it!

Not much new here, although yes, I realize I have been delinquent in my duties as a blogger, as I have not posted much. I will try to be better and post at least weekly. I had a week of vacation and had planned to post often, but alas, as vacations go....that didn't happen and I did other things instead.

I can't believe that October is half over already. Where does the time go. The summer went by very fast this year. I guess partly that is because we had a really nice summer and we actually got a fall season this year. Our summer wasn't too hot and not too rainy either. It had many nice days with low humidity levels. This fall started off a little cooler and then warmed up again and we've had a couple of weeks of nice Indian Summer. The colors this year are really nice, the leaves actually had a chance to change color on the trees before they came down. Many years it gets cold before the leaves can turn color and when they blow down they are still green.

Of course with nice fall colors comes the work of raking, bagging, and tidying up the yard to get ready for winter. I got all the summer items put in the shed. Emptied the hoses and Reese said goodbye to her pool until next Spring. Put the table and chairs away etc.

Here is a video I made of Reese at the park, running, running, running...which is one of her favorite things. Of course she loves anything that has to do with her chuck-it. The video is taken with my regular camera and will have to due until I can get a real video camera. I guess if you choose to watch the videos you'll just have to deal with the lower quality for now.

The Tails of Two Kitties

Here are some pictures of the 4 footed partners in crime that Reese
shares her house with.

This is Bella Belle, she is seven years old, precious little one. She was my first pet as an adult on Easter weekend. It was one of those things I went to the store to get a lamp and came home with a cat. She will always be special to me.


















This is Sophie, she is 5 years old. I got her at 7 weeks. She is always ready to play and snuggle.

Best Buddies!

A day at the Farm

Well okay it wasn't a whole day, and most certainly wasn't my farm. Sunday I took drive to a new place to get apples. It is a very cute place, many cute buildings and lots of pretty flowers. Chickens and of course the resident Rooster or two. Apples, blueberries, pies, dried flowers and jam. Here are a few pictures.

Chickens and a flowering truck!

Later, in the afternoon Reese and I went to a park to play. We played with her Chuck-It a.k.a favorite toy in the whole world. Just the sight of it makes her want to jump to the moon. She did a perfect heel all the way to the park. Yes, it was only about a block, but still with the excitement the Chuck-it brings she did great. Of course the reward was the Chuck-it and she earned it!! Good Girlie!! Here is Reese after a satisfying romp at the park! You know what they say, a tired dog is a good dog.

Welcome to Border Collie Reese and her Two Kitties!

I live in the midwest with my border collie Reese and two cats Bella and Sophia. My dog and I like to have adventures and wanted to share some of them with you. They aren't always that exciting, but when you get to share them with a border collie...well... lets just say border collies like to do everything with excitement and enthusiasm so life itself can be an adventure some days.

Speaking of enthusiasm, there is a little story to how Reese got her name. I was going to get a rough coated male border collie. I had been to Wales and Ireland the summer before which was one reason I decided to get a border collie. I had a list of Irish names from which I was going to pick a name for the little bugger. But...as these things go, when I saw Reese the only little tri-colored girlie in the litter, I just had to have her and her me. So that is how I ended up with my smooth coated girlie. The name Reese is Welsh and her sire was imported from Wales and when I discovered Reese means enthusiastic in Welsh...well that was it. If you have had the chance to meet my girl you know that she is nothing but enthusiastic!

I like sports hence the long walks, runs and hikes Reese and I take. I have run half-marathons, full marathons and many 5K and 10K races.

Our favorite thing, aside from sheep herding, and fetch with the chuck-it is long hikes in the woods on trails around town. We are also training in agility, obedience and rally. This fall we will make our trial debut, exciting but nervous. We are doing it for fun though and will only do it while it is fun. When it becomes work and we don't look forward to training for the next leg of a title then we will quit.

Reese is my dog, my companion, and my friend first and foremost. All the training we do is for fun. She loves to think and learn and it has been amazing watching her grow from a little pup to this wonderful dog.

Check back soon for new adventures to come.