Good Morning!

Yesterday we all had a quiet stay at home day. I got a lot of studying done and finished another series of Quickbooks tests and now all my focus is back on taxation.

This is what I love to see:

Not bad for a pup that supposedly has zero crate experience.

Nim gave up trying to fit in the box but just in case there was a reason Holly was so into it he liked to station himself next to it. And yes, on occasion we had sun between a lot of rain.

By evening Emile decided he wanted to be in the living area but first he had to deal with Holly.

Holly held her sit as long as she could.

Fading.

So tired.

You will note that for the most part I keep the gate open. She seems to understand thresholds reasonably well, but more importantly I keep the gates down because frankly it makes things safer when Emile does jump out of the rafters and a chase ensues.

I basically use the gate at feeding time or if there is any reason I think the dogs need a timeout from each other.

When Emile didn't get his desired response in the stare down he called in the reinforcements. It was 9pm by that point and he wanted his bed routine.

Leela put on her angry ears but let Emile do all the talking.

Holly was put in her kennel once I stopped laughing and she was out cold all night. The cats immediately came down and started their night routine. :)

Saturday Holly Update

Emile is currently resting up after his morning of giving Holly the eye. He has already decided how these next three weeks are not going to go.

I had to move her food dish this morning because she figured out he was up in the rafters staring at him while she was trying to eat. Then she tried to avoid that section of wall entirely which doesn't work really well in my tiny house.

Shortly after this photo there may have been some cat chasing. Emile is calling a draw while he rests up.

Meanwhile Holly is making herself quite at home. She is constantly right in the way on the slate. I love it. It reminds me of Sherman.

She came with her own wooden box and today she has decided she likes the location of it. Nim has tried to fit in it a couple of times but he can't quite pull it off.

Leela was on the move around the house in the middle of the night, but so far has not shown as much bravery during the day.

Holly is not good for my senior rescue tendencies. I thought her staying with me would remind me of the complexities of a second and senior dog, but unfortunately she is settling in too nicely. Nim and her are pretty cute when the go out together in the morning. He doesn't entirely get her, but he always figures she is excited about something that he better not miss out on. :)

Guest Dog Holly

Hooray for Friday!

Before I had accepted my current job, I had agreed to care for senior dog Holly for about three weeks. She arrived last night and will be with us almost all of May.

She spent much of the night on the slate (and that is where she is right now).Once I turned off the house lights she calmed down considerably. It is funny for me to have a dog with a tail. She wags a lot and is constantly hitting things.

When Nim and her first met a few weeks ago I was a little worried. For an old gal she had plenty of spunk and was really over-excited by him. But she seems to have already gotten over it and today has gone pleasantly well. :)

They do best walking around the yard playing a slow version of follow the leader.

She got a good chase in on Emile at about 4am, locked on to a bunny but I had a good grip on the leash, and took out a gate, but on the upside she is also tolerating the kennel well (apparently crating is new to her) which is a huge relief as I have to be gone at work during the day.

Nim likes to watch what she is up to from the distance and then decide if is worth going in and checking out.

Have a good Friday!

Warm Wednesday to End April

So today the warm weather came on strong!

Can one tire of the faces of Leela? What the heck does that look mean? Did she forget what the sun felt like or something? Actually, in truth, Emile isn't far off and they have been known to fight for sun spot so perhaps that is her warning (or resignation) face.

By they way, it isn't like she suddenly makes a face when the camera comes out. She actually looks like that and then I go and get the camera.

Moving on...

Nim is easy to read. Sun + Meaty Bone = Happy.

I actually think there are no other thoughts in his head besides that basic equation.

I made the most of the weather and figured out how to work outside. Many of you have seen this umbrella set-up before.

Nim finally either got too hot or he wanted to share his bone with me so he stationed below the picnic table.

Not a bad day for us (except maybe Leela...depending on what she is thinking in that photo).

Tuesday Morning

Nim and I definitely needed to get out early this morning. It was a pretty sunrise. This week is going to push 80s but as you can sort of see the mountains are still very snow loaded.

This might be a good week to arrange my flower baskets.

Nothing like a dog to remind you it is the little things that bring happiness. :)

Squirrels In A Tree - Ginormous Edition

We survived another week! It has been cooler and rainy for the end of the week. There appears to be a pellet stove truce going on. Although Emile looks more confident about it than Leela.

What I really wanted on Friday was Thai food, but that would have involved a drive into Issaquah and I was beyond spent. So instead it was time to wash Nim at Pet Place Market in town and impulse buy a $30 ginormous version of the Kyjen Hide-a Squirrel toy.

I really wish Rusty was still alive. His favorite part of the regular size was the stump (I am not even sure he knew the squirrels were in there). He would have loved a large stump like this.

2 Weeks Into April Already!

I can't believe how quickly time is passing right now. Clearly I am failing miserably at my Friday posts on favorite organizations.

We had an unusually warm day again today. Flowers are blooming and I was able to take some time in the yard.

Nim waits all week for weekends like these. By Wednesday or Thursday of each work week Nim starts to really struggle with my work schedule and my patience wears thin. Friday is usually a day we just survive. Then the weekend comes and we balance out again.

Today he watched me clean the roof. It is a crappy job but at least it is over for the year.

Enjoy your Sunday!