Nap Time

From the very beginning, little guy (Trooper) has been a good napper. And I am all for dog naps. Sometimes, it's the only way I get any work done. Amen. 

Trooper's first trip to the river, crashed out in his basket. Snooze central.

Coming home from Nana's for Christmas in the jeep. Seven people, four dogs, food, running around the house, dog walks, and one last stop at Machado's apple orchard for pie and one last pee break walk on the way home. Zzzzz.

Fresh out of a bath, and a blow dry; not so much a nap as me burying him in blankets for warmth. Still, sleep came soon.

He woke up just as I was going in for this shot. He may not hear but he knows.

Today, a blustery sunny day, we walked several miles along the river. We took the low trail, along the water, through the Cottonwood trees on damp grown, over down branches, through dense grass up along the trail. Trooper followed along and worked to keep up with Zephyr, the trail leader, who waits, patiently for us. Now, crashed out by my computer in the sunny window. Sweet dreams, little guy.

d, xo

Lost Dog, Found Dog: 3 Weeks In

I have a dog...another dog, a second dog. I have TWO DOGS.

Sometimes, I still can't believe he is a dog, but it's been three weeks and so much has happened since that very dark, cold night on December 6th. If you haven't heard, while out walking Zephyr, I found this animal scurrying down a leafy gutter.

I took this photo (above) the day after I found "the lost dog" states the .jpg title on this photo. He was headed for the pound--says me. Uh-huh, sure.

This is "the little guy" (above) one week later...

I was just "fostering him" and (below) keeping up with Zephyr through the leaves. Zephyr's been a great sport about this fostering business, because it's not forever, right?

And two weeks later...coming back from mom's in the foothills, stopping to get apple pie and take a walk in the orchard at Machados, my favorite road stop.

Going for broke in the orchard. The little guy was getting healthier and a lot faster. Now, dad calls him Zippy, but I still haven't found a name.

And by week two and a half, I was the only one who wasn't clear where little guy was living for good. Below, showing off his "night-walking jacket". Seriously, I wish it glowed and had blinkers.

This is the dog the vet dubbed "aggressive and unadoptable" making quick friends with a big shepherd at the dog park. We later learn little guy is completely deaf.

Zephyr, bless his patient heart, has put up with little guy even when he wants to run and hide from him.

Eventually, I gave in.

Zephyr is giving in.

Even my parents, friends and neighbors have given in. ;-)

And what an adventure one turn of the night has taken us: Little guy has been to FOUR vets, has been medicated, diagnosed, poked, prodded, washed more times in three weeks than Zephyr has in the last year. He's visited two pet stores, has two coats, rides in the jeep, in the basket, out of the basket, in my arms. He's been in Starbucks--and kicked out of Starbucks (nicely) and has been warmly welcomed in by family at Christmas, even when he peed on the floor, a few times.

Week three...23 days later, this is our family.

And, although we have tried out dozens of names--Possum, Scout, Rusty, RuDolpho, Ugg--what my step-father calls him, Zippy--what my dad calls him, Gutter--what the guy at the SPCA named him,  Butterscotch, Domino, my nieces great finds, I have FINALLY come up with a name that is sticky: Trooper.

Trooper is what my dad called me when I was a kid, if I helped stack the wood, shovel the deck, kept up on a hike. It's what little guy does every day to keep up with Zephyr.

I will continue to call him little guy, but now, instead of "lost dog" on the vet papers, it will state clearly, Trooper.

d, xo

Winter Goodness

I have a cold. It feels like my annual post-Christmas tonsil nightmare. I am heavy with winter. So, I am reaching for good winter thoughts. I actually have many: old black & white movies, scratchy wool blankets with a hint of  moth balls that remind me of my grandmother. Long, hot, bubbly baths. :-)

Here's what I'm grateful for today:

Cream of wheat. My grandmother made it for us when we were kids with a chunk of butter, bathed in half-n-half. Today, I add nuts, cranberries and molasses. I eat it all the time.

Because I'm at home more, I'm cooking, drinking tea, making coffee and eating fruit and vegggies. The remnants fill my compost and in the spring I'll have fresh dirt. There's hundreds of worms under there all doing their work. :-)

I never drink tea, except in the winter. I keep the cupboard stocked. Chamomille and mint are my favorite.

 Both my neighbors have lemon trees. One is a Meyer's, my favorite. I just plucked a calandar full. I will eat, squeeze, drizzle, soak, drink all of these before the week's out and start again. I love lemons. :-)

I leave my small tree up just for the glitter and lights. My niece found tinsel and these groovy pink plaid bulbs while we were shopping last week. I love them.

What are you grateful for, just for today?

d xo

Vintage Curios: Make Your Own Art

One of the great perks of being a vintage sleuth is finding wonderful curios for my own home. I found this darling little framed flower bouquet lithograph for 50¢. Up close--very close--you can see the daisies are hand painted white for an extra pop. Beautiful.

The frame is backed with green velvet & I didn't want to peel it open. So I added my vintage buttons--still holding onto a swatch of fabric, and a poem line, "look at the stars", I once typed and tore away for this piece--right on the glass.

Some day, someone else may want to remove my additions & clean it up, hang it on their own wall. UP-cycle. :-)

d. xxoo

Small Joys

I keep watching the news and it's so disheartening. Jobs, homes, budget cuts. And just yesterday I found one of my favorite used books stores has up and disappeared. When a university town can't support a good used bookstore, it's just sad.
I'm trying to be courageous, have faith, keep stepping forward, but sometimes it's difficult. Everyday I reach for small moments of joy or beauty or sweetness. And sometimes I can string them together and call it a beautiful day. I hope you can too.

Take care. Have faith. Keep your loved ones close. Appreciate the small joys. Amen.