A Perfect Day Out

It was time to shake up my routine.  I decided to take a half-day off to do fun, unusual things my wife would also enjoy.  We began by arriving for the Grand Opening ceremony of our little town’s Farmers Market.  All the newspaper said was “9am Goat Parade”

A Story in 4,011 Words

“You’re Going on an Adventure!”

That’s what we always say as we’re heading out the door.

It’s our guide dog trainee’s last week with us.  I’ve been concentrating on that instead of writing.  On Sunday we’ll be driving Spice to Tacoma to meet the puppy truck.

An Inclusive Border

Our front deck is 35 years old.  It’s been rained on often enough over the years to penetrate the paint and sealant and cause rot.  We considered how to repair and replace it, and talked with local carpenters over the past two years.

Puppy Club Day Trip

An important part of raising potential guide dogs is exposure to any kind of travel a blind person might undertake.  People who live in northern Washington use ferries.

Substitute Puppy

This little Lab is our guest for a few days, and our regular guide dog trainee Spice is staying with another couple.  Her name is Pippa.

This is How

Here’s a better answer than I wrote before for those of you who wondered how it’s possible to emotionally handle giving up a wonderful dog like Spice, after raising her for a year in preparation to train as a guide dog.  This is excerpted from a letter we recently received from the new owner of one of our graduates, a black lab named Camille.

Thanks All Round

It’s been a good week.  The rest of the country has been uncomfortably hot, but until yesterday it was raining most days in my little town, and I sometimes felt sad without reason.  I chose to live at the geographic edge of a rain forest.  It would be silly to expect it to be drier.  Perhaps I’m still adjusting to not living in the artificial oasis of El Lay.

This One Starts Out Boring

Firing the big gun (1915)

My recent inability to access the most interactive features here on WP.com are producing interesting results.

Sunday’s Challenges

Our guide dog puppy-in-training has made it to the halfway point.

Evaluation Day

I’m encouraged.  Our guide dog puppy in training is now five months old, a little older than the last one was at this point in the regimen, but she has retained her docile temperament.

Born That Way

Our guide dog hopeful’s training regimen has been increasing in complexity.

Superdog II

Saturday was our seventeenth wedding anniversary.  We had a nice Mexican dinner at a place on Highway 19, and turned in early.  We both knew our gift would arrive Sunday.  Sunday was the day we picked up our second (potential) guide dog puppy.

Career Change

Yesterday I had to work late at the Urgent Care.  As a result, I was unable to accompany my wife and our guide-dog-puppy-in-training to the meeting of the puppy club.

Therapy Pup

I realized a new reason I love raising our new “guide-dog-in-training” Lila early this morning.  She’s a clean slate.  She doesn’t share the neuroses my wife and I have

The Spirit Awakes

His Master’s Voice by Francis Barraud (1899)

I might have called this post “Whine-O-Rama”, but I’m trying to understand the process from a more enlightened position.

Heeeere’s … Lila !

She’s 10 weeks old.  Not bad on a leash.  Whines a little, but it comes across like she’s asking, “What do I doooo?”

Black Puppy L, Day One

Her Safety Zone

Stay…in… the moment.  It’s early, and I’m sleep-lagged.  Check the world.  Yep, still out there.  Check the supplies.  Crates in place.  Carriers, food, leashes, ties, towels.  Check.

Service Projects

I’m staying out of the way today.  My wife has a cleaning crew in to prepare for the arrival of cousins this weekend.  If I stay home, I will be underfoot.  There are a number of projects in progress at Casa DeLuxe.

Are You In or Out?

There are two ways to attune your attitude toward the natural environment.  You can generally view it as an outside “thing” to be tamed, shaped, mastered and utilized for resources.  Or you can look at the whole as being an ecosystem, which you are a part of, not an outside agent to.