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Holiday Highlights

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I was too comatose yesterday to even think about blogging.  The past two days have been filled with wrapping, cooking, opening, eating, drinking, and just trying to maintain a calm household.

I’ve really enjoyed these past couple of days.  When I have time and am not completely drained of energy, I love to cook.  The prepping is soothing.  The cooking and baking is fulfilling.  The eating is, sometimes, outstanding.  I wouldn’t call myself a good cook because I have messed up many a meal but overall, I think I do alright.

Christmas Eve Dinner: Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip, Bread, Salad, and Filet Mignon (for Steve)

Christmas Dinner: Bison Pot Roast (for Steve), Turk’y Roast (for me), Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potatoes and Salad

The highlight of our Christmas extravaganza was watching Pongo’s excitement rise as he realized…there were presents under the tree!  I don’t know what changed for him because last year it took all we had to get him interested in opening presents.

But this year…he was OUT OF CONTROL!

The only thing that seemed to calm him down was putting on his new survey vest–a present from Papa.

Poor Reid just didn’t seem to be enjoying herself like she usually does.

I’m guessing she was annoyed at Pongo’s overly exuberant enthusiasm.

And, the fact that he kept trying to steal all of her presents, which was absolutely not allowed.  As you probably can figure out, there was A LOT of redirection going on.

After the animals were satiated with opening gifts, Steve and I also enjoyed our Christmas morning.

And what was suppose to be mine…

is now his.  Oh well, that’s what happens when you have a baby head.

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season!

It’s A Good Thing

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My mother-in-law, Bev has a sign that hangs in her house.  It reads: “Martha Stewart Doesn’t Live Here…It’s A Good Thing.”  I chuckle every time I read that sign because both Bev and my Mom are very crafty but not in a Martha Stewart-ish type of way.  I envy the creativity that comes from the brilliant craft minds of these two women.  The quilting and knitting projects they create are beautiful!  And, I definitely could have used their expertise last night when I was cramming in some marathon sewing of Pongo’s Christmas stocking. Nothing like procrastinating until the very last minute to get something done (voting for the holiday stocking contest at Dog Tired Doggie Daycare started today).

I’m no Martha Stewart.  I know she would be appalled at the amount of time I took, all doing and re-doing I had to do, and the choice words that sometimes flew out of my mouth.  Eight hours of non-stop sewing later, I think the end product turned out to be something I can be proud of hanging on our stocking chest of drawers with care (unfortunately, no mantel in this house).

Trying to capture Pongo’s affinity for rocks.

The infamous Pongo ears.

The innocent porcupine Pongo decided to tangle with.

All ready for Santa!

And So It Begins…

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Winter Break: A much needed break, just in time.

All I can say is THANK GOODNESS!  I’m looking forward to sleeping in, taking my time in the morning, drinking coffee with Baileys on a weekday, walking with the dogs during low-traffic times, reading for pleasure (and not just before lights out), spending quality time with my husband, getting back onto a pilates schedule, and just plain ol’ relaxing!

the DESTROYER

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There isn’t a tug toy out there safe from Pongo.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a tug toy durable enough to match the intensity of his play.  He doesn’t chew on them.  We don’t play tug very often with him.  But, the manner in which he shakes and whips that toy around, they only last about a day…some only 5 minutes.  What I don’t understand is how he hasn’t knocked himself out yet!

Steve and I talk about inventing some titanium strength plastic to make the perfect Pongo-proof tug toy from but until then, we’ll be on the look-out for the ideal tug toy.

Gratitude

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There is research out there that correlates thoughts and feelings of gratitude to better health, both physically and emotionally.  One of our social-emotional learning (SEL) goals we are focusing on with our students at school is optimistic thinking: focusing on the positive.  It’s very hard to teach optimistic thinking and not have it trickle into your own life.  I am ashamed to say though that in the busyness of life, I don’t stop often enough to reflect on what I am grateful for.  It doesn’t take long; it just takes intentionality.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving today, I am grateful for so many things in my life but here are a few:

My wonderfully supportive husband, family, and friends…wish I could post pictures of everyone who supports me.

(I take absolutely no responsibility for the matching shirts!)

I have a job that I love. 

(Positive Thinking Hats I made with our 3rd-6th graders for Standards Based Assessments.)

Two dogs and two cats who love us unconditionally.

Pongo has not ingested a rock in over 6 months…knock on wood!

We have a roof over our heads and food soon to be on our Thanksgiving table.

And what makes this Thanksgiving even more special is that Sarah, the vet tech at our amazing vet graciously met us today at the vet’s office to give one very sick kitty fluids.

Blown Away

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Pongo goes to work with Steve on Wednesdays.  Usually, he is kenneled in the car with occasional potty breaks or a visit to Papa’s office. And even though Pongo has plenty of office toys and chew toys, he gets bored after about 20 minutes and will begin to bark, so back to the car he goes.

This past Wednesday Anchorage experienced what felt like hurricane force winds.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t also been frigidly cold.  Fluctuating between -23˚and -30˚ was the windchill reading on the temperature gauge, at work.  On this particularly gusting and bone-chilling day, Steve brought Pongo into the office to warm up.  I think Pongo made the conscious choice to be a good boy, to avoid having to go back out to the car, because he spent 6 peaceful hours snoozing in Papa’s office!

It also could have been that he was trying to avoid having to wear his car coat…

Snowtastic

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We’ve come to realize Pongo is a true snow dog.  Forget the hot, sweltering Australian sun of his ancestry, he is a true Alaskan. He loves the snow: burying his head in it, digging for his toys in it, and most of all playing in it.  Anchorage has received well over a foot of snow the past week or so.  While the constant shoveling can be tedious, I’d rather be shoveling feet of snow than sliding, skidding, not able to do anything, on rain and ice.  I just hope a warm front doesn’t move in, before we can strap on our snowshoes and go exploring with the dogs!

It was going to be just a quick play session outside so we didn’t put Reid’s coat on.  10 minutes later, the poor girl was cold and ready to come in.

A pooped Pongo after playing in the snow.

Thirteen

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Reid turns thirteen today.  I’ve always been told, “Big dogs don’t live to be that old” but thankfully, she’s proving us all wrong!  Besides a few more bumps and lumps and a little more wobble and hobble, she’s still chugging along like she’s a young, spry whippersnapper.  Plus, she’s come leaps and bounds in her old age: walking on those scary wood and tile floors that she’s avoided the past 12 years!

On the birthday girl’s agenda:

Posing for birthday pictures with her pesky brother and Kona the cat.

Enjoying homemade smoked bison sausage and cheddar cheese cookies.

Shoveling the driveway with Mama, while a very upset Pongo watches from inside because he can’t be trusted to stick around.

Playing some frisbee out in the freshly fallen snow.

And…putting up with her goofball of a brother.

Happy birthday Reid!  We love you!

Intro To Treibball

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We been taking our first Treibball class the past 6 weeks and just finished up last week.  It’s a herding sport but instead of herding ducks, sheep or cattle, the dogs herd different sized and colored balls.  You use the same commands as you would in a true herding situation.  We thought this would be a good alternative to herding actual animals because Pongo already has a hard enough time refraining from chasing (i.e. herding) our kitties.

I do have to be honest, this was a pretty frustrating class for both of us.  You have to be coordinated, which I am not.  Plus your dog has to have enough impulsive control to not bite or pummel the balls which as of now, Pongo does not.  I think this will develop with age but right now, Treibball for Pongo is all about attacking the balls.

We are going to stick with it though because he is one tired out pup, mentally and physically, when we get home and that is so worth it!  Our next Treibball class starts at the end of November.  We still have some time to really practice with Pongo so that our next class is less frustrating and more enjoyable for the both of us.

Our trainer, Liz Williams of Alaska Dog Sports took this video on our last day of class.  This is the best class Pongo had; he really was getting the “push” command down, which I will eventually change to “drive” so it doesn’t sound like we’re trying to have a baby!