The busy time of the year

This time of the year is always busy. But it somehow seems busier. The only ones who get to lay around and be lazy are the Aussies. Of course, that lasts about 3 minutes.

Dog training

We have decided to take on two classes a week, and to be aggressive about earning the Rally titles with Rowdy. Our motto is going to be "Just put the titles on the dog" instead of our usual "Stay home until we're ready to SCARE 'EM." So we're starting to (re-)train the Advanced and Excellent level Rally exercises, and making plans to enter shows. If we can just get that green ribbon (for a qualifying score) and move toward the title, we'll come home thrilled. You don't get a title "cum laude." You just get the title. So....we're going to try hard to remember that and go in the ring feeling like it's a little dicey and we'll just have some fun. Rally is all about demonstrating an enthusiastic relationship between the dog and handler, and we can light up the ring with that.....even if we're not lighting up the scoreboard!

Gardening

Jane and Don got the bids on their home renovation project and flipped out. They decided their home is beautiful just as it is! So - this means there will be no need to move the rose garden to our backyard. Oh well. Mike and I think we need a few roses anyway and are looking forward to spending the fall trying to make up our mind and place an order.

Cooking

We shudda bought a bigger freezer, and that's all I'll say about that. We're considering a second freezer for the garage. Mother and I are going to the downtown Farmer's Market on Saturday morning; I hope to take a picture or two there. It's a fun thing to do. I recently read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (check out the website www.animalvegetablemiracle.com) and continue to get more and more dedicated to the idea that eating all these chemical residues, outright chemicals, perverted foods (ie food ingredients that come out of a chemistry lab), antibiotics, and hormones just can't be good for us. The book is fantastic - extremely well-written, a joy to read as well as very informative.

Knitting

The stole is almost done! Will post a picture this weekend. It's still a snarly-looking mess, as lace always is before it's blocked out, but it's a BIGGER snarly mess now. I'm starting to think about the next project....whatever it is.....