Looking up, down, and all around

Yesterday morning, I took Jackson with me when I went to ride Ivy. Jackson got to meet some new friends: Debbie, my good friend who kept Rosie for us whenever we were out of town, and Monte, one of her six dogs. Monte is Rosie's brother, and he was very sweet to our pup. Next week I will take Jackson to Debbie's house to meet the rest of the canine crew, since he will likely visit there sometimes just as Rosie did. Jackson wasn't at all sure of that big, scary horse when I was riding (he took shelter in Debbie's arms), but outside when Ivy was standing still he was a bit more brave.
Yesterday afternoon on the way to Salem, I HAD to pull over to take some snapshots of the clouds. First I noticed the setting sun to my right:A bit further down the road I looked left (east) and saw this:Both views were breathtaking; my camera did not do justice to the glorious fire inside the clouds (you can double-click to biggify photos).

Tonight Brian got in trouble for something, so he crawled under the couch to pout and cry some "alligator tears." Pretty soon I noticed someone else creeping under the couch to join him:What are friends are for?

That's it for now at . . .

My cup runneth over

If you've been watching the national weather news, you might be thinking I meant to say "my gutters runneth over." They did on Sunday and Monday! Fortunately, we don't flood up here on the hill. We did lose power for a few hours Monday, but it was back on by the time I got home from the airport with my folks. They got diverted to Seattle for awhile when the pilot couldn't safely land in Portland, but they finally made it.

It's my cup of blessings that continues to overflow. There is the pitter-patter of little feet in the house again, and the faint, intoxicating scent of puppy breath on my clothes. Jackson has been an exemplary little citizen. In three days he has only had one accident in the house, and that was when I put Rick and Brian in charge of watching him while I made supper his first night here. (They watched him all right - watched him piddle on the floor!) I know at this age is it mostly a matter of getting him outside at the proper times, but he's still being a very good boy. With all that hair, he doesn't mind being outside until he's done his job, which helps.

The first two nights he was here WERE rough, with all the heartbroken yowling by a lonely pup. Last night at bedtime when the ruckus started, Rick told him no and thumped him on the nose with his finger, and we went to sleep in blessed silence. When he started carrying on around 4:00 a.m., Rick went to the laundry room, popped the door open suddenly and growled "Jackson, no!" Immediate and continued silence reigned until I got up at 7:00. I was fully expecting some clean-up duty after eight hours without a potty break (I took him out in the wee hours the first two nights), but he held it in - incredible!

Yesterday we introduced Jackson to a leash for the first time. He was fine with it - as long as he was playing tug-of-war with it. Today, when we went Christmas-tree-hunting, I put a leash on him again, and he walked surprisingly well on it (in spite of what it looks like below). I am as impressed with this puppy as I hoped to be!
Speaking of Christmas trees, here's the prize we selected and cut at a lot less than a mile from home, in front of my folks. It isn't as tall as the previous ones we've had in this house, which were centered in the 16'-tall space right in front of the deck doors. We decided in the interest of quick access to the yard (for Jackson) to put this year's in the corner of the dining area. I'm not sure when we'll get it decorated, but it's already making a wonderful room freshener!
It is great having my folks here for Brian's birthday and an early Christmas, too. Brian adores his Grandpa - to the extent that the puppy isn't quite as appealing at the moment. That will change when Grandpa leaves; for now I'm getting in lots of puppy time. :-)

I'm also getting in as much knitting as I can. I got the box from Tammy Monday, with yarn for her mother-in-law's shawl (started, above), yarn to start over on the project I lost on the plane, and TWO different colors of Shetland roving plus some chocolate llama to spin! Her generosity has me overwhelmed. I feel like Christmas came early and I have need and desires for nothing more.

That's it for now at . . .

How to stress a puppy

We did indeed pick up Jackson today; at the moment he's asleep at my feet under the table. No wonder! First, the breeder picked up Jackson from her son's this morning (he actually owns Calli, the dam, but is out of town until tonight) and took him back to her house, away from his mom and littermates for the first time. Then she gave Jackson his first puppy shot (he was supposed to get it several days ago). We showed up and took him away from the last shred of the familiar. When we got him home after a long truck ride (during which his preferred place was on the back of the back seat, the closest he could get to what he was leaving -- sniff!), we brought Jackson inside (another new experience, and warmer than he is used to). Brian wanted to hold him, then set the puppy on the couch beside him and let him fall off, not realizing how fragile puppies are. Jackson limped rather dramatically for a bit, favoring his right front leg -- making me want to throttle the boy-child! Brian is going to be bringing out that impulse in me a lot in the near future, I'm afraid, as he hasn't a clue about young puppies and doesn't want to listen to those who DO have a clue. It's going to be an intense month, what with puppy-training and child-training on top of out-of-town company and holiday happenings. But Jackson is already starting to play a bit with his new toys and Brian, and I know this special dog is going to be worth it, all the way around.

And so, without further ado and commentary, here are more of the photos you have been clamoring for -- the first of many, I'm sure! :-)
That's it for now from . . .

A rare November

This week the weatherman has been saying that snow could fall in the Portland area tomorrow. In commenting on any earlier chances, he said that snow has fallen in Portland (I think the airport is the "official" location) only five times in the last 50 years. Well, Mr. Weatherman, it may not be snowing at the airport, but this is what it looks like at my house this morning!The deer and the boy don't seem to mind, but I'm thinking snow would feel awfully cold on tender puppy paws.

Since today starts the open advertising weekend on the Yahoo Shetland list and I am ever the optimist, I took my camera to the barn this morning for fresh photos of Bella. Above is her fleece at mid-side -- wow! It has density, crimp, luster, nice handle -- and at least a 7" staple! (I happen to think that's a good thing. :-) I could easily lust after that fiber, but have to remind myself that I have her lamb fleece. Besides, my husband is getting mighty edgy about the number of sheep we may have come spring if Braveheart does his job (he and Valentine mated last night, so that makes two girls covered for sure). I NEED to sell this girl before lambing begins!!!
That's it for now at . . .