Category: Love

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

A Little Bit of Everything

1972italy

Here we are at our usual dark o’clock Sunday morning time! Stella is beside me on the love seat and Archie is chewing a bone. I don’t know if today will be very busy at work. Yesterday certainly wasn’t with the exception of the two hours when everyone woke and did the mad dash to get stuff before the Michigan/Ohio game. I managed to get a lot done. Unfortunately that mean that all three of my carry outs were looking for something to do. It came down to having them clean shelves aisle by aisle. I have no idea if the night manager continued that or not.

Yesterday was also a time of reconnecting with old friends. I had several friends I’d not seen or talked to reach out yesterday. Some stopped by the store while others called or messaged. It was nice to catch up with everyone.

The pups went for their first walk together. I just took them out on the property but they both did really well (despite having to constantly keep the leashes from entangling). They both had harnesses on and I got shorter leads for both of them out. It was a beautiful day out.

I should probably wrap this up. Hopefully Archie stays out of trouble while I am gone. Yesterday he got into a plant and destroyed it while Chris was in the other room. I hope you have an maxing day! Thanks for reading and stay safe! (I’ll try to get some new photos to share over the next few days.)

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Doggie Dynamics

1972italy

Another morning up before the sun. I didn’t sleep well as I slept light enough to wake whenever Archie got up. I kept the light on as well (but dim) in hopes that he would stay in the bedroom and sleep instead of getting into things. It was successful.

Stella is feeling left out. Everytime I go to give her love Archie is right there. When I let them out this morning she came in first so I loved on her as much as I could before letting Archie in. My goal when I get home is to take each of them for a walk on the back 40. I want to do them separately because if he freaks out I will need both hands. And I think Stella deserves a little alone time.

Our meat department at work specially ordered bones for us.❤️I am hoping that it will help him not chew on things he ought not to. We have been out at work so it has been several days since they have had any to chew. Which is about the time he started getting into things.

Aaaaaaand the clock tells me I have a few minutes before I need to be out the door. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Cooking/Baking, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Gardening, Holiday, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Busy Day of Thanks

1972italy

Both pups are trying to sleep behind be. Archie Bear is using Stella as a pillow and she’s not sure that she wants to do that. So they will each pick up their head and readjust.

Dinner turned out amazing! Chris smoked the turkey for several hours and not only was it moist but we had a time getting it onto a plate because it just fell apart. The whole dinner was the best he’s done so far.

My friend did come over. It was the photo of the two pups that I sent the got her over here. I took a picture with my phone of both of them looking out the window. Then I sent it to her saying that they were looking for her. I guess she was planning on not coming until I sent that. I am not above cheating! But she was glad she came over and I am too.

Archie is starting to get into things. He ate part of my pillow and I caught him eating mail off the table after I went to bed. We are thinking he is going through another growth spurt. I gave him an extra bowl of kibble yesterday afternoon and and extra bowl this morning. He was going through his breakfast as if he was starving. I hope we have bones at work. That seems to help him a lot. I also hope that he doesn’t get into anything while I am gone.

I should have an order to put out today. I think my misship for my liquor will be ours. I never got a call back. I will try again today. I don’t think we will be too busy (my heart goes out to the retail workers doing Black Friday, I don’t miss it AT ALL) but I will have lots to do. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Aging, Animals, anxiety, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Holiday, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, Thinking, Writing

Troubles

1972italy

This morning has started in a funk. I didn’t sleep well, anxiety woke me several times. Reading the news did not help. Mostly negative stuff. Both pups are behind me asleep. They cuddle well together. Stella struggles some days because Bear is so very present. She can’t go anywhere without him wanting to follow (much like Stella did to Essie when Stella first arrived).

Today is Thanksgiving and we are due to have company later. I am pretty sure that both are phones will be busy with well wishes for the holiday from friends and family alike. I am just feeling very blah about it all. Trying to talk with either of my parents has become very frustrating. Whenever I send Dad a text and email (I always send both) to ask if he wants to Facetime I either get no response at all or several days later he asks when do I want to talk. Even when I put the date that I am sending it on there. Mom. Mom is frustrating to talk to because she is in her own little world. She has the tv blaring in the background whenever we talk. Talking to her the simple becomes difficult. She has problems understanding a simple explanation or grasping a simple concept. She will laugh at things that I am serious about thinking the situation is funny. Texting isn’t any easier. I try to be patient. I really do. Even when they get upset with me because I don’t talk for very long (they forget that I am still working full time etc).

I feel guilty typing all this but today it is how I feel. I can only do so much. I try to take care of everyone as best I can. I fall short a lot I know. But I do try.

I don’t have any new photos to share. So I will have to go back through my library on here and pull up a few to share. Sorry this has been a bit of a downer post. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Food, Friends, Holiday, Learning, Life, Love, Music, Nature, Photography, retail, the World, Thinking, Travel, Writing

A Day Out and About

1972italy

I guess I should’ve plugged in the laptop after yesterday’s post. We’ll see how far we make it before the battery goes dead. Yesterday was a busy day. Chris and I spent some much needed time together doing early Christmas shopping. I came home with new boots and three new pairs of jeans. I really love my new boots! I have been dreading replacing my old boots because I don’t do frilly. I don’t need all the designs, colors and stitching on them. I just want a basic boot that is hard working (I wear my boots year round with the exception of Summer). And I think I got that in the new pair. They are comfortable even before being broken in.

Other goodies we came home with included a double bowl holder for the dogs as well as a new collar and harness for Archie Bear. He likes the new collar but is very unsure of the harness. It is the same one that Stella has but in red. I was over the moon about the bowl holder. It is supposed to be for a food bowl and water bowl but I am using it for their meals. It is so much easier for them to not have to bend all the way down to the floor when they eat! And Archie doesn’t chase his bowl around the room when he eats either. I wanted to make one from spare wood but I never got around to it. For me it was worth every penny. It is also easier to feed them. They are face to face instead of side by side as Bear tends to try to help Stella eat her food once he has finished his. This way she knows where he is as she eats. (I stay with them and keep him out of her business until she has finished eating.)

It was good to spend time with Chris. We do it so seldom with our work schedules. We chatted here and there but were content to just sit in silence while we drove (although the drive home we were singing to ZZ Top). We will have company for Thanksgiving this year. I invited a friend over (the same friend that lives down the street and has been having problems). It will be interesting to see how Archie Bear does with a new person. I want to take them both with me to work today but I’m not sure how long I will be. Atleast an hour. I don’t want them in the car for that long. But Stella needs to get out and I want to get Bear used to being in a car.

Well the battery is about gone. I will take a few quick clicks with the camera and add them to this post. A big thank you to everyone that has reached out over the past few weeks. It is great to hear from my readers! Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Holiday, Learning, Life, Love, Medical, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Doing a Bit of Planning

1972italy

I did get up earlier this morning. Around 8am. But I was in bed by 6:30pm. I felt decent when I got up but, as the day wore on I felt worse and worse. So I hunkered down in bed and read. I couldn’t keep my eyes open past 8pm. I may have been asleep even before that. But I am up and ready to try again!

Poor Archie Bear is trying hard to adjust to our schedules. Both pups are on the love seat behind me. Archie is ready to get his day started once he has eaten his breakfast. Unfortunately that just means he can run around outside for as long as he wants but he has to be quiet once he comes back in. And he tries to be quiet but once he gets going on a bone (it seems to be his morning toy of choice) all bets are off. He is learning the words “shhhhh” and “quiet” though.

Stella is curled up in a wad of blankets wearing her hoodie. I still need to size Archie Bear for his. I am dragging my feet for two reasons. 1. He really doesn’t seem to get cold when he is outside. He goes tearing through the yard playing. 2. He is still growing. With as big as he is at 6 months old I’m not sure how big he will get. I know we will go through several collars.

Oof. Bear has draped himself over my left arm. So I am trying to type this one handed. I want to figure out who we are getting gifts for this year. And I have pulled together a Secret Santa pool at work. And I am doing a horror Secret Santa thing as well. I almost forgot. I have ideas for all of it but I need to organize myself. And do I want to send out cards this year? If I am doing that then I need to start getting addresses. (Since I seem t be going whole hog here, if you want a card too send me your address and I will do my best to get one out to you!)

I need to wrap this up. I don’t have any new photos to share. It is warming up and the snow melt just looks messy. I will share some older ones and try to get some fresh photos for tomorrow. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Friends, Holiday, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Paws to Regroup

1972italy

Well this is a late late post today. I decided that I was going to not look at the clock and just sleep as much as I needed. That meant about 12 hours, give or take. I am not sure if it was all good sleep as at times I woke up in pain but that’s ok. I need all I can get. Both pups were even in bed with us when I woke up. Right now Archie Bear is chewing a bone. Stella is behind me asleep. I don’t know if the bone chewing is too loud. I don’t want to wake Chris up. Bear is trying to keep himself occupied. The other option is the squeaky toy with the working squeaker. I had to take that one away.

The snow has stopped but the wind has picked up where the snow left off. It is definitely winter! I need to try boots on Bear (I may wait since his paws don’t seem to have a problem with the cold whereas poor Stella was trying to play with only three paws on the ground yesterday) as well as size him for a hoodie. Stella was wearing hers yesterday because it got a nasty cold once that wind started, even with the sun out.

I am trying to find a balance for the two pups. Stella needs to get out for atleast a car ride soon. Bear doesn’t like cars but he might be ok if Stella was with him. Also, should I take Stella on her own? Does she need some “no Archie Bear time”? I want to get him used to going for car rides for something other than going to the vet’s. I try not to give more attention to one or the other but there are times that it happens. With several days in a row off I am hoping to get some training and such in.

I need to send some photos to Archie Bear’s Grandma as well. She asked for the occasional update and some photos. I feel like I have been crazy busy and not gotten anything done. By the time I get home I am pooped but I try to spend quality time with the pups before I have to go to bed. I also try to fit in keeping in touch with family and friends which has sadly fallen by the wayside. I respond to text messages but the responses are usually brief. Part of me is glad I decided to step down from the paper for next year. I will miss it though.

I just remembered that I need to clean out some space for new photos if I am going to add any. That means I need to wrap this up. And the pups are getting restless. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, Emotions, family, Holiday, Learning, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Falling Asleep at the Wheel

1972italy

We have another Winter Storm Warning again. Good grief. I just stopped my phone because I fell asleep. Fortunately it was in my lap so it didn’t do much. Bear is out here with me. Stella stayed in bed so I will wrap her bowl and put it in the fridge.

Just today and tomorrow and I get a mini vacation. I said I would go in on Wednesday and do my cigarette order. Thursday is Thanksgiving here so we will be closed and I don’t want to have to try to do a crazy cigarette order on Friday when I come back. My order yesterday was messed up as it was. I need to call about that later today.

Beat knocked on the door to go out several times yesterday. I am very proud! He is learning things very quickly!

I took some new photos yesterday. I am going to try to share them today rather than wait. Since I keep falling asleep I had better do that now while I still can. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Ed. Note: not enough room for new photos so it will have to wait. Not enough time.

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Learning, Life, Love, Nature, Photography, retail, Thinking, Writing

Crazy Makes Crazy

1972italy

I don’t know who I am more disappointed in, Mother Nature or the Weather Channel. My phone went all red last night with storm warnings. We were supposed to get all this snow etc. we barely got dusted. Up to a foot of snow was the prediction.

I am sitting here falling asleep as I write this. I got to bed at a decent time but my body is playing catch up still. So it just feels like there is never enough. Just a few more days and I will have a mini vacation. I am taking Monday through Thursday off next week. Hopefully my content on here will improve. Both pups are out here with me. I am looking forward to having family time next week.

I am doing more at work as I seem to have inherited the various Red Bull reps that have been coming. Red Bull is now distributing their own product instead of relying on a second party. There have been several while they try to get everything started and get a feel for this new addition to their work. The current rep is very nice and very ambitious. He wants to add all kinds of things. I have been helping where I could but I now seem to be the middle man with him and various people in management. He kept me busy the last portion of my day.

Speaking of that I just looked at the clock and I need to get my backside in motion. I have more stuff waiting for me at work and who knows what they weather is going to be like. Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Animals, anxiety, Creativity, Dogs, dreams, Emotions, family, Friends, Gardening, Learning, Life, Love, Medical, Nature, Photography, retail, the World, Writing

Bright In the Dark

1972italy

The struggle is real my friends. I am struggling to function. I have fallen asleep several times while trying to do this. Both pups want to go back to bed but are staying up with me. I am grateful.

Yesterday was a success at home and at work. At home the pups were angels while I was at work. At work I managed to get everything but my price checking done. My liquor order came in and it had a bunch of my gift sets so I had to do some rearranging as well as putting new prices into the system. I got the beer cave filled and my back stock rearranged. as well as my cigarette order completed.

I was struggling to stay upright with my daytime cold medicine. I usually do the liquid gels but we only had the caplets so I went with them. Once again they made me sicker. I found myself struggling not to pass out as the medicine made me very lightheaded. The flip side is that without it I could get a tickle in my throat and start coughing uncontrollably at the drop of a hat. I did just that because I did not take my last does of the day. I just couldn’t.

One of the bright spots was one of my customers who makes his own jewelry gave me a beautiful glass capsule filled with opals.❤️ I just love it! I will try to get a photo of it at one point.

I see by the clock I need to get myself moving. A storm is supposed to roll through today. We’ll see how bad it gets. Thanks for reading and stay safe.