Wednesday, February 29, 2012

What I Love About My Dog

What don't I love about my dog?


Here's our love list:

1. Her pink nose. It went from black to pink during her first winter, and just didn't go back. We adore it.

2. Her dark, mysterious, soulful eyes. She will tell you epic tales with them, folks.

3. Her swagger. Girl's got some moves!

4. Her confidence. Juno is never one to shy away from a new experience. She dives in head first.

5. Her curiosity. She just has to know what you're doing. At.all.times.

6. Her smell. Yes, I sniff my dog. I know her scent. And it completely fills me with comfort.

7. Her ears. They are velvet I tell you. And they have flap splits - like a double ear. Both of them. She has like 4 ears. Maybe that's why she comes running for cheese from the four corners of the house.

8. Her ninja sense of awareness. Guard dog extraordinaire. Girl is aware of her surroundings. And if you're a complete stranger behind her on a walk, she will turn around, and wait for you to catch up.

9. Her spirit. Girl lives to play. And darn if it's not infectious. She is always up for something new, now, and next.

10. Her trust. We've earned it, and that's one of her greatest gifts to us.

Oh, and here's Juno ice-surfing in the backyard. Look out Sochi 2014 - our dog's heating up the competition. #olympicathlete






Tuesday, February 28, 2012

P52uesday WEEK 9

Back for another week!

Here we go with week 9 of P52uesday:





Anatomy Of The Afternoon Nap:

i) Soft plushy surface that belongs to me? Check.
ii) Full belly? Check.
iii) Feet as face pillows? Check.
iv) Sun spot a few feet away (in case I get cold)? Check.
v) Visions of sticks, balls, and frisbees dancing in my head? Check.

Smell you later, peeps.

I'm out.

Happy 2uesday!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Platform 9 3/4

I'm going in.

To tell you the truth, I've never been an early adopter of anything.

I don't line up for movies or concert tickets or book releases or new i-anythings.

I had my trusty walkman when everyone was shopping for CDs. Some of my movies are still on tape. I still taped shows until our VCR broke last year. I got a cell phone in 2005. I make lists in notebooks and use a paper calendar. I write letters. And I haven't read Twilight or The Hunger Games.

Or Harry Potter.

I kind of like what I like...for me. I like knowing that I like something just because I like it. I do eventually get around to liking what everyone else likes, (see above), but I want it to prove something, and stick around first before I spend any money on it. If it's good, it'll still be there when I want it.

And...I want it. And, in all honesty, what self-respecting aspiring kids' writer can say she hasn't read about "the boy who lived"?

The time has come.

Platform 9 3/4, I'm going in.

Weee. I really hope I like it.

If I can find it...

You'll find me in a cupboard under some stairs for the next little while.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

P52uesday WEEK 8

Sorry for the absence - that extra day on a holiday weekend always makes me think it's Monday on Tuesday, etc.

Anyway, here we are back again for another instalment of P52uesday! A peek at what went on at our house this week.

If you're new here, (welcome!), or just want a refresher, you can read more about this series here.

Here we go with week 8:






We have 4 birthdays in 8 days around here.

And don't worry, the flower arrangement wasn't for the dog.

Her birthday isn't until April!

I'm kidding.

Happy 2uesday!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Thoughts on Cake

If you know me or my food preferences, then you'll know how I feel about cake:

1. Yes please.
2. If I eat my cake, can I have...more cake?
3. Yes please!

Oh, and today's my birthday, so let's...

...have some cake!

Care to join me for a virtual slice? 

Aren't birthdays just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake?

Hope you're having a great day!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Making Days Brighter - One Sweet Dog At A Time

We first saw this video about a year ago.

After many watches and re-watches, it's still one of our most reliable 'pick-me-ups'.

Hope you enjoy it today - as much as we have for a year.

Stella's Day from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

P52uesday WEEK 7

Thanks for visiting! Ready for another week of P52uesday? 


Here we go with week 7:

What are the chances of that happening - on Valentine's Day?

Spaghetti hearts from our house to yours!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Of Dogs As Rainbows on Mondays

This morning, Juno came as close as she ever will to being a service dog. (The screeners call her 'too exuberant'). 

There was an older woman on our trail walk earlier, and she said to us, "Sad days for me, Mondays. Happy dogs make bad days better days." 

She asked if she could say hello to Juno and I said, "Of course". 

When she was finished, she thanked me, thanked Juno, and said "Today, I am grateful. For you."

Wow. What an uplifting start to a Monday.

Thank you, kind lady.

It kind of reminded me of this:

Image from here

Juno didn't even have to try. She just 'is'. And I'm thankful for it.




Friday, February 10, 2012

Poop n'...Leave It?

Juno and I just got back from what was supposed to be a Friday 'treat' trip to the off-leash dog park. In short, EPIC FAIL!

Since when is the expression Poop n'.....Leave It? The park was literally a minefield of 'business'. It's a community park, people! You don't 'go' at a friend's house and leave it, do you? Even if someone before you did...

I'm sorry if this subject offends you, but I'm offended...and disappointed...and so very disgusted.

Do the dog parks in your area have this problem? Is there so much snow where you live that they take away the garbage cans during the winter? 'Cause that's what they do here. And it stinks! (in so many ways!).

Hmmm...do I sense a new book topic?

Anyway, hope you all have something great lined up for the weekend!

We're going to move furniture, label our breaker panel, spray foam insulation around the vent pipes of our new furnace, caulk some windows, unpack the last of our boxes that live in the basement, and buy pants.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Who Is That Doggy In The Window?

OMGenius.

Juno created her likeness on the storm door.

Just somethin' I been workin' on.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Duck, Duck, Duck, Walk

Juno's week of dog walks...

Sunday - STOP! I see something. Ducks in mah neighbourhood pond? I.watch.now. You.wait.

Monday - Whaaat? They're still here? Sweet mother of kibble. I.watch.again. You.wait.

Tuesday - Whoa, it's like Christmas up in here! The.ducks.are.still.here. Im'na watch. You.good.at.waitin'.

Wednesday - Mom, they're just ducks. Let's go...I have STUFF to do today!

Stuff. Like...this?

Yesss.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

P52uesday WEEK 6

Back for more? Glad you came!

Here we go with week 6:

2uesday Brewsday

We picked up a tin of fresh coffee beans over the weekend - to use in our new grinder (a great Christmas gift!) and gave it a whirl!

I feel like a barista. 

Juno is trying to eat the grinder.

Our house smells like Starbucks!

Happy 2uesday!


Monday, February 06, 2012

Not On Her Watch

Half way through cooking dinner last night, we noticed that Juno noticed our missing cabinet door.


Now this is her favourite cabinet, so it's not completely surprising that she noticed its missing door (It's where the chips live. Not that she ever really gets to have a chip, but she does enjoy her some good chip bag crinkle!).

But we still thought it was pretty funny that she noticed this little change in the kitchen (we're puttying and redrilling the hinge holes to tighten up the cabinet door), and then stared at it for a good solid minute or so.

As I've mentioned before, not much gets past this dog.

You don't change things and get away with it on her watch, no sir.

No sir, not on my watch.   
Hope you enjoyed a great weekend!

Friday, February 03, 2012

Definitions

At the moment, this is how I'm defining the following...

Inspiration: "Moving around is good for creativity: the next line of dialogue that you desperately need may well be waiting in the back of the refrigerator or half a mile along your favorite walk." - Will Shetterly

Progress: "I was working on the proofs of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon, I put it back again." - Oscar Wilde

Writing is hard.

But I've realized we can't spend too much time figuring out what people want to hear. We have to figure out what we have to say. That is what we have to offer.


Thursday, February 02, 2012

Winter Antidote

With Wiarton Willie not seeing his shadow today, it looks as though we're in for an early spring!

But, to bide the remaining cold and snow, we brought spring to our house even earlier.


Oh tulips, why are you so lovely?  And, in pink, they're certainly spreading some early Valentine's Day cheer around here too.

...So pretty to look at while I write!

Of course Juno, being in charge of Border Patrol and Quality Assurance around here, had to stick her nose right into the bunch when these came home - you know, to make sure I got the good ones. Nothing gets past this dog.

How do you celebrate the impending changing of the seasons?