No Turkey a la King!

'The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE! '

My apologies to anyone who has never watched the movie 'A Christmas Story'. But, unfortunately, that quote fits my situation to a 'T' today; no river! no cabin! no hiking! no picture taking! no mother/daughter time! Gone, ALL GONE! Waaaaa!

I've got a horrible cold. I tried to suck it up (and used a combination of TheraFlu, Musinex and Afrin) through the last of my baking on Christmas Eve, and dinner on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning, and then starting loosing it Christmas night when I was getting ready for dinner at my house. And then really lost it Wednesday morning when my mom and I and Holly and Mikey were supposed to be heading off on our trip. I managed to get everything packed and loaded in my car for our trip, but was shaking with exhaustion by the time I got to my mom's house to transfer everything in her SUV and finally cried 'Uncle'.

My mom went to the cabin by herself yesterday, and I lay on the couch all day with the dogs watching TV feeling bummed. This is the second year in a row I've been sick for the holidays. Probably a good hint that I need to slow down and stop stressing over all the holiday stuff. Duh.

What's really so laughable about it is that I made an appointment today with the same PA that I went to on exactly the same day last year. Last year my nasty cold went into a sinus infection and bronchitis, and this year I'm additionally on Enbrel, which suppresses the immune system. And I really would like to enjoy a couple days of my vacation. Plus, the TheraFlu, while great at alleviating the cold symptoms, is causing havoc with my tendency for irritable bowels.

Yeah, I'm feeling a little blue.

Holly and Mikey say 'Hi'.

Merry Christmas and Wags to All!

Here's the Christmas card I made for this year. We're heading for the hill country Wednesday morning. I promise to take lots of pictures! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Let Us Play!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the Cardis are so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let us play! Let us play! Let us play!

Oh, they don't show signs of stopping

But I've brought some balls for tossing

They'd love to do this now 'til May!

Let us play! Let us play! Let us play!

When we finally start the game

How I love to see the light in their eyes!

They always bring such warmth in my heart

Oh, the kisses, that's the best part!

Well, my arms are slowly dying

But, the Cardis are barely tiring

But as long as I love them so

Let us play! Let us play! Let us play!

My I Don't Have to Run Day

Remember the song from the 90's (or maybe it was the 80's)? '. . . Sunday, that's my fun day, my I don't have to run day. . .' Or something like that. Anyway, I'm enjoying at least a slow morning; a slow, long walk on the bayou and then sipping coffee and catching up on all the blogs I enjoy.

Mikey did a little funny at the end of our walk. Because there wasn't a soul out there this morning, I let both dogs run off leash right up to the gate back into our complex. Well, it's a wrought iron fence, and there's a bigger gap between the poles at the edge of the gate, but only that one space is bigger. Apparently big enough for Mikey to pop through. Because Mikey was running full tilt and, POP, there he was inside the gate, while Holly and I were still outside. I called for Mikey to 'come', but the goofy boy kept trying to go between the poles everywhere except the one gap that was big enough for him to fit through. You should have seen his face! Like 'OMGosh! What have I done!' So I told him to 'sit' and 'wait' until I could get to the gate and let him back out to put leashes on. Mikey is such a goober!

On the agility front, there's not much going on. I went to my parents house last weekend, and here's the course I set up. I don't show any numbers, because we ran it back and forth from either direction. The two side ways jumps we did as a serpentine because the space was just too tight to try a threadle. I don't think I'm going to try to go to my parents this weekend.

Some how we missed agility class this week. I was running late from work on Monday, so I tried to go on Wednesday, but when I got there, nobody was there. I don't know what happened; it was misting lightly, but I didn't get a rain out e-mail, and as far as I understood classes would continue until Dec. 21 and then brake for the holidays. I guess I'll go ahead and drive out there tomorrow unless work gets in the way.

My dad got a second Novice leg on Meg yesterday, although my mom and I didn't go to watch. The entire weekend has kind of been off because my mom was supposed to go visit family in Missouri this weekend, but didn't go because of the weather there (which turned out not to be any weather at all), and my dad really wasn't planning on showing on Saturday, because he was taking my mom to the airport and the show location is several hours away. So when my mom's trip got canceled at the last minute, he decided to go yesterday anyway. He and Meg got a 94 and fourth place and he's really pleased with how up and focused Meg was. They're not going back today, since he's already entered in a local show in January and my mom and I would like to be there when Meg finishes her title.

I'm thinking about entering Holly in Rally Advanced at that show. But, I have an agility trial with Mikey the weekend after, and then a weekend off, and then another agility trial the next weekend and I get tired just thinking about show weekends back to back. On the other hand, local(ish) obedience and rally trials are few and far between. There is a breed/obedience/rally show the weekend between the two agility trials that I was planning on entering with both Mikey and Holly, but I've decided not to because it's about over an hour away and obviously, that would be back to back to back weekends of showing, not counting the one my dad has already entered. Whatever. Mikey needs one more bloody point and there are a couple of local shows and then Reliant this summer. Surely he'll finish eventually.

I spent all day yesterday making three double batches of cranberry bread for gifts and for our family (my mother is off tomorrow and, since she's not in Missouri, she's going to make a few more loaves). My kitchen is a disaster area and I've got house work and laundry and bills, so I better get my rear in gear. Since I can't make cranberry bread for any of you for Christmas, here is the recipe and the recipe for the cheese spread we make to go with the cranberry bread (minus the bits of dough and shortening stains all over my recipe here). And here are a couple of not so great pictures of my outside lights (which I always rush right out to put up the Friday after Thanksgiving, because I am a total goober about Christmas). I also just realized that I've got to get my Christmas cards finished today! Aaargh!

Currently reading 'The Sunrise Lands' by S. M. Stirling.

Holly and Mikey say 'Hi'.

Doggy Merry Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house

The puppies were squeaking an old rubber mouse.
The stockings that hung in a nice straight row,

Were now crooked with holes chewed through each little toe.
The wreath that had merrily hung on the door

Was scattered in pieces all over the floor.
The tree was subjected to bright-eyed whims,

And now, though still splendid, it's missing some limbs.
I catch them and hold them. "Be good", I insist.

They lick me, then run off to see what they've missed.
And now as I watch them, the thought comes to me,

That their's is the spirit that Christmas should be.
Can children and puppies yet show us the way,

And teach us the joy that should come with this day?
Could they bring us a message that's written above

And tell us that, most of all,

Christmas is LOVE?

Soaked!

All three of us - soaked. It wasn't raining when we left for our morning walk. . . Coming back we closely resembled the Three Stooges. We ran all the way back home, but one dog or the other kept trying to stop and shake the water off. Run, one dog stops to shake, I say 'No, hustle', run, repeat. D'oh!

To Weave, Or Not To Weave?

That is the question. Of course, I know the answer to that question, but Mikey apparently doesn't have the same answer. I think I'm going to try to steal one set of my dad's weave poles this weekend. Then we can do a little practice everyday in the house (if I move the dining room table, they should fit; and no, I don't think there's anything strange about that).

Other than the weaves, Mikey was right on the money. I'm so proud of how he's doing, especially considering he is the most green dog in his class. While still being fast as a little bunny, he also always remains focussed on me and very responsive to my direction. And our problems with the A-frame seem to be a thing of the past. Either Mikey has just gotten over it, or the extra exercise I've been doing with him has strengthened his back legs and made the A-frame easier; either way, he's consistently charging up it without a second thought. Good Boy!

In answer to the question posed on the previous post, you can tell that Holly is fixin' 'ta roll in something nasty by the look of absolute joy on her face and the wildly wagging tale. When you see this combination, you have mere seconds to prevent her from going face down in the dirt (and whatever else)!

Currently re-reading 'Scarlet' by Alexandria Ripley.

Holly and Mikey say 'Hi'.

Bleh!

I came down with a cold on Monday afternoon, so I missed class Monday evening. But. . . I was able to go to class last night (same class, same instructor(s), different folks and their dogs). I'll try to get a course map up tonight. In the mean time, take a guess how you would be able to tell if Holly was fixin' ta' roll in something nasty? Just in case you ever need such information. . .

Baby Holly. . . So innocent. . .

Do-Over Please!

Just a rotten day for everybody! First my dad had a beautiful run going with Meg in Novice. . . and then she stood up on the long down stay! Aaaargh, so close! And then Mikey went Reserve. . . out of two dogs (including Mikey) that actually showed up. And I didn't even show Holly. Between my RA flaring up for the past few days, and the rain that started while I was showing Mikey, I decided to just call it a day and go home after Mikey and I finished. Of course the dogs all think it was a great day, and they're really right. We all got to spend time with each other and with the dogs and with some great people and that's just how the dog game goes; some days you kick butt, and some days you get your butt kicked.

I'll try to get some pics from my mom over the next few days.

Holly and Mikey say 'Hi'.

And. . .

Holly has a new title and Mikey went BOS for, ummm, 1 more point and Meg has her first Novice leg. Yay Holly and yay Mikey and yay Meg!!!