Growing up

Look what a difference six months can make. Our little girl is growing up. (She's now eight and a half months old, just a step away from being full grown.)

She is becoming a good dog faster than any of our other pups. I don't feel like we are spending more time training her than the others, but perhaps an empty nest creates fewer distractions. I know that having her in Puppy School has encouraged us to spend more quality time with her. She is much more responsive and loves doing her homework.

I do miss my sweet little fluffball, but Kharma still has a beautiful face. It is a delight to watch how athletic she has become. She is an expert frisbee catcher, high jumper and speedster. She is mature enough to stay home and not bark at the workers installing windows next door. I love being able to run upstairs knowing she will stay content in her basket down below.

There is still some puppy exploration going on however. She discovered that the horses I introduced her to are much bigger and a little intimidating. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she had the sense to stop and think about them. I thought I'd really have to restrain her and stop her from chasing them around. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the cows are put back into the pasture we use on our walks.

We are glad Kharma is a part of our lives. Puppyhood takes a lot of work, but she enriches our lives beyond measure. As they say, "Dogs may not be our whole life, but our life is whole because of our dogs."

Currently

Currently...

I'm rereading some David Edding's novels, because a good story is worth visiting again and again.

I'm rejoicing over the end of soccer season. I love soccer and I love coaching, but perhaps now I can spend some time with the most important people in my life.

I'm attending dog school; Kharma doesn't start till next week. She is rapidly learning that our come-right-now whistle involves a gourmet cheese bit. She also spends most of her time watching our hands if they stray anywhere near a pocket which just might contain a treat!

I'm pondering my options. Shall I work on the dollhouse...or print some photos for the scrapbook...or begin stitching on a fat black Halloween cat? Perhaps I shall do them all.

I'm trying to get used to having the heater on, and remembering to turn it down before bedtime.

I'm trying to get up earlier--with no success so far. At least I can rely on some extra sleep next weekend when we fall back.

I cringe when I walk through our home and see a pile (or two or three) in every single room. I hereby vow to create one shining, clean, clutter-free room by tomorrow night (complete with photo to show my success).

And now to sleep...

Fall Favorites

Aspen blazing in the crevices of the ridges,
pristine pinecones newly fallen, untouched by rodents or weather,
blue skies,
acorns whether small or large,
sugar maples lighting the kitchen orange,
crisp mornings and toasty afternoons,
snow powdering our three peaks for a few fleeting hours,
looking forward to skiing and snowshoeing,
cheering at soccer games,
hot chocolate,
kicking crunchy leaves,
firewood,
pumpkins and scarecrows,
stitching on woolfelt Halloween critters,
putting the garden to bed,
small puffy clouds,
my new jean jacket,
Kharma running full tilt at the Canada Geese in the pasture,
golden yellow and intense purple chrysanthemums,
burgundy dogwood leaves,
the twins' birthday,
putting the down comforter on the bed,
holiday planning and anticipation,
singing Home Means Nevada in class each morning,
apple crisp,
train whistles at night,
setting out the pumpkins, black cats, witches, and bats.

Fall is wonderful.

Lucky in Love

Today we celebrated the anniversary that seems to be our most important, most personal, one...the day we met.

We don't share this anniversary with anybody else. No one has pictures of it and only we have the memories. There were no fancy clothes, no planning and no expense. But on a dorm field trip into the Sierra, we met for the first time and that was that. It was love at first sight. We instantly connected and here we are, thirty-five years later, still together.

The ambiance of the lake and cabins, the crisp fall air and snapping campfire, the sound of the breeze in the pines, the laughter of friends and the awareness of two young hearts seems as fresh and clear today as they did the first time we shared our "one month" anniversary.

The memory of that long-ago day has carried us through some rough times and delighted us anew each year. We are both very lucky to have found each other and we give thanks to the fates that brought us together.

Lovey

Lovey used to have a tail, she used to have ears, and she used to have two eyes. She wore a stylish red-and-white Norwegian knit hat too. Alas, all gone.

Lovey was Kharma's sleeping toy when we first brought here to her new home. She missed her eight brothers and sisters, but Lovey, a hot waterbottle and a ticking clock were the substitutes that got her through those first nights.

Then Lovey became a playmate. Kharma was so proud when she learned to carry Lovey aloft that she pranced. (Lovey was bigger than Kharma at that point.) Gradually Lovey became a teething ring of sorts as Kharma developed her molars and Lovey began losing body parts.

I plan to sew up Lovey's eye. I'm guessing that the nose might be the next to go when Kharma can't entertain herself by pulling out clumps of polyfill anymore.

Darling, On the Summit

I've always wanted to climb this mountain. It's so close to home, so easy to get to, and it's not like it's Everest or even Whitney, for heaven's sake. But I was out of shape and overweight and a big chicken about the whole thing, really. I've had friends who've climbed it year after year. I was envious every single time.

Not any more! Picture that being said with a gigantic smile on my face.

I was invited along for a Labor Day weekend climb and my friend (and classroom partner) said that she wasn't sure everyone would make it to the top. No pressure, perfect! So I thought about it and finally decided that it would be fun especially since I enjoy the other folks who would be coming. So I committed (and that's half the battle) and began researching what I'd gotten myself into.

Fortuitously I'd gotten a guidebook of Lake Tahoe hikes at Costco earlier this summer and there was Mt. Rose on page 85. Only a 10 mile round trip and the elevation gain was less than 3000 feet. I walk hills around home all the time and 5 miles isn't uncommon morning walk. Better yet, it's listed as only 3 stars of difficulty out of 5 and I'd been successful a few years back (okay, maybe it was more than a decade ago) on a 4 star hike. I had my sweetie bring up the topo on the computer and took a look, imagining the route and visualizing what it would entail. I knew I could and would make it to the top, no problem and no doubt. My favorite part is that after helping me check out the topo map, my sweetie decided he'd come along too.

So here we are together, laughing, happy to have reached 10,776 feet.

I've achieved another goal on my lifelist! (I've checked off the aurora borealis, but fireflies are still on it. I've done the Journal Jog, but I haven't hiked the Tonto or seen Havasupai Falls. And whales, grey, humpies or orcas. Alaska would be nice. It's a long list...)

Love that smile

Someone is a year older, cuter, smarter, sweeter, funnier, and nicer.