Saturday, October 29, 2011

Hanging up the clothes


Hanging up clothes to dry is an activity that I have always enjoyed.  Somehow it represents a slow-paced leisurely way of life.  It also makes me think about my childhood, playing in the yard while my mom hung up clothes to dry.  So it has a nostalgic feel to it.  In the last few years, I’ve not been able to really enjoy hanging up clothes.  It seems I was always in a rush and had to do it quickly.  Somehow I felt cheated. 

So in retirement I am enjoying hanging up clothes to dry.  I am able to wait until the weather cooperates to wash clothes.  So this past week, I did three loads on Wednesday because the weather was good instead of the predicted rain.  It also feels like a righteous activity.  It is good for the environment, it saves me money on my utility bill, and it extends the life of clothes, sheets, and towels.  I pop towels and clothes into the dryer for a few minutes and it makes them soft and takes out the wrinkles.  In some ways, hanging up clothes to dry is like gardening – it doesn’t take a lot of brainpower and is therapeutic.

This past week I have been working on getting Magnum (six months today 10/29) out among humans to work on his shyness, which is a new occurrence. He’s gotten used to humans in his classes and at the dog club, maybe because they are with dogs. I started with walking him on the bike path where we see folks walking, biking, running, and see other dogs.  Living in the country we are isolated so he is like a country bumpkin.  He stopped on the bike path to watch men getting out of trucks doing work at Antioch.  Today we took him to the farmers’ market where he was able to meet a number of people and several lovely dogs.  He’s doing much better.  Then we took him to The Dancing Goat, formerly Brother Bear, for Alan’s java and cider for me.  He did great in doing what we in Yellow Springs take great pride in doing – hanging out – as we sat outside on a bench. 

Monday, when I go to visit with my grandson and his parents, Magnum will go to work with A.  My job for the rest of the week is to plan other ways for him to interact with humans each day – visiting pet-friendly stores, the bike path, and walking around town and hanging out.


Monday, October 24, 2011

Ajax


Ajax Arthur Razor Sharp was born on October 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM to the delight of his parents – Tim and Joanna.  He weighs 8 pounds 7 ounces and is 19 ¾ inches tall.  His 3 sets of grandparents are quite excited.  I visited him on the 21st and Alan and I visited on the 22nd.  I believe it was the first time Alan has held a baby.  Tim is a great dad and had even changed diapers in the hospital.  I am looking forward to spending time being a grandmother.

Magnum is now 35 pounds at a little over 5 months.  He’s about ¾ his grown up size, but is he ever a puppy.  He is a sweet dog and has been going through a shy period.  I thought we were through it, but had friends over and he was very shy, but did eventually warm up to them.  I am really impressed with his tracking ability, which is a segue into a story of a canine hero. 

Theo, an English Springer Spaniel mix, was a sniffer dog for bombs and worked with his handler – Liam Tasker – in Afghanistan.  In just five months, Theo had uncovered 14 bombs and hoards of weapons – a record for a dog and handler in the conflict.  Liam was shot dead by the Taliban and Theo was visibly distressed.  A few hours later, Theo, 22 months old, died of a heart attack.  Theo was buried with Liam.  Liam Tasker was a member of the British armed forces.  A picture I saw of the funeral showed a number of English Springer Spaniels – military working dogs – in attendance.  It is amazing how talented our dogs are and the bond that forms with us.  Theo and Liam were clearly heroes together.

I been thinking about what books I will start reading to Ajax and believe I will start with a book about dogs.  I purchased a book “A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron several months ago, but have put off reading it.  I think I was waiting for the perfect time.  Inside the book it states “This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives.”  This will be a great way to begin to share my love of dogs with Ajax. 

I am including a picture of Ajax in his car seat going home from the hospital.