Visitors

After ringing in the new year at a single adult dance I spent the rest of the day with guests. You may recognize them.

Home Sweet Home

It started with a need, and then a plan.

Then began the gathering of materials.

Then the laborers with improvements and preparations.

A good days work.

Toby's test run.

A satisfied customer...

Monday Memory Moment

I met Beth at the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. Despite being in different classes I was welcomed by her group of friends. We once decided our parents should never meet. Her mom knew things my mom didn't know and vise versa.

I was delighted when she decided to finish her bachelor degree at the University of Idaho. She not only found herself successful, she found herself in love.

Beth married Jarrod in June of 2000. I was given one of the centerpieces from her wedding receptions.

Beth's dad is absolutely amazing with wood, and her mother with paint. I have a number of crafts their hands have made among the things I don't want to get ride of.

The carousel fits together and with a little help will spin.

Even Toby likes it.

Happy Birthday Toby

Last summer a co-worker was trying to sale some puppies. You would be hard pressed to get mee to buy a dog. So many people are willing to give them away. I have considered getting one from a humane society. With that it took mee a long time to convince myself to actually get a dog.

I don't know how often, as a child, we tried to get Dad to allow our dog, Polly, in the house. It wasn't going to happen, "Animals belong in the barn." I don't think I ever really bought into his sentiments.Thus was the case when Melissa moved in with her dog and cat. She would also foster animals for a week or two. It wasn't until I was stilling cleaning up pet hair six months after she moved out that I was converted to "Animals belong in the barn."I had many people suggesting I get a dog. It would be company. I could be protection. I knew if I was going to get a dog I would want it in the house. It wouldn't be very good company outside during cold, snow filled months.

Many people at work knew Matt was trying to sale these puppies. Another co-worker asked mee what I knew. I did know much, but agreed to e-mail Matt and ask him the questions. Thus the conversation ensued. At one point the other co-worker decided she wasn't interested. However, I was beginning to be.

I wasn't sure what German Short-hairs looked like. I google images and thought they were nice looking dogs. I also remembered a friend had a picture of Matt's puppies on his blog. I opened it up to show my assistant what the puppies looked like. It is this picture that led to mee agreeing to take Toby.

The selling price? Two dozen Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies.

Monday Memory Moment

I believe we were suppose to be in bed at 8 0'clock each school night. However, this rule have a couple of exceptions.

Doris Day and John Wayne movies...

I believe it is with this exception that I learned to enjoy their films. I have had more than one friend comment on how John Wayne plays similar characters in all of his films...yeah, so...

The movie I remember the clearest from a young age is that of El Dorado.  One of the main characters "Mississippi's" full name was reported to be Alan Bourdillion Traherne. Due to this movie when I want to yell at Toby Alan I want to call him "Toby Alan Bourdillion Traherne".

I am not sure when it began or who started it. As I recall for at least the period of time while I was in college someone bought my dad one or more John Wayne movies each year for Christmas. At one time we were working on someone in the family owning every John Wayne movie. I am currently watching She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. 

 A well know combination of names is that of Doris Day and Rock Hudson. During my last month in Moscow, ID I was a Howard Hughes with some friends looking for a movie all of us would be willing to watch. It was at this time I discovered John Wayne had made a movie with Rock Hudson. It was a perfect compromise for the four of us.

To this day I will tell people I have John Wayne to take care of me when I am sick. So, although he is not family...his face and voice is just as familiar and comforting. So yeah, John Wayne is one of my heroes...

Visit from a Leprechaun

During my week off of school I received a visit from a Leprechaun. Rather than causing mischeif this he was a rather helpful one.We started out by sanding and staining the curtain rods and braces. Given the stain was already out, and I had a helping hand we also went ahead and stained the table.There is apparently some level of apperciation or couriousity about my attack. Knowing his sister had taken a trip my leprechaun also went on up. He was a little more adventurous than his sister, and wanted to stay longer than I wanted him too.This next shoot will either illustrate how tall Toby is, or how short my leprechaun is.

Toby-isms

Although it is rather difficult to tell from these pictures, there is common element between these resting locations. The common link is heat. Toby has developed the habit of laying on the air vents to get warm. If you look closely at the middle one you can see the vent under his legs. Looking in the final one it is under his belly.

Toby had a purple blanket for his bed. He liked to chew on it. He liked to play tug-of-war with it. I would also wrap him up in it and make him a purple monster. It was rather interesting watching him try to get out of a tangled mess. He liked playing with it so much that he would drag it along while following mee around the house. See the video below...

In weakness...

I had pneumonia in December of 2003. Therefore, ever since then,  I have had hard time saying I am sick. I do get a little worried when breathing feels like a chore. Yesterday morning I determined to stay home from work because this simple act required more effort than normal.

I have noticed there are similarities with mee between various illnesses:

• no appetite
• crave apple juice and saltine crackers
• weird dreams
• weakness to mild convictions (diet, house rules)

This weekend I lost the conviction to keep Toby off the couch.

I was able to rationalize this because he does a good job keeping my toes warm. Some of it was the lack of strength to keep him off.

He is also pretty cute.

TurtleBug visit

I have the week off from work. Since I was in Boise on Friday and Saturday I decided to bring a child back with mee. My second niece has been my TurtleBug since her first couple of months of life.

She will be spending a couple of days with mee. So far she is helping to keep Toby entertained, joining us on walks, and this morning she made mee Wonderland Pancakes for breakfast.

Puppy Dog tails....

I wish I had a hidden video camera to preserve some Toby moments. The first one would show the hallway. Toby is not allowed in the hallway, and therefore none of the rooms off the hallway. He knows this. He knows it so well that when I walk out of one of those rooms he runs to get out of the hallway.

That's right, whether I am in the bathroom, or working briefly in another room Toby will sneak down the hallway. I think I was changing clothes the other day. Stepping out of the bedroom to find him laying on the floor in the hallway.

I have decided the Toby-ism of dumping his food all over everywhere prior to eating it is he attempt at killing his food prior to eating it.

The hypothetical hidden camera in the front room would show him following mee around with his blanket in an attempt to get mee to play with him. It is his back up toy for when he has left all his other toys outside.

My newest source of entertainment is the fly. Now some people my have issues with having a fly in the house. Toby does. If you didn't know there was a fly you might just think Toby had issues. Imagine this...Toby peacefully sleeping. I am sure it was a happy dog dream. I am working away at my computer...then, all of a sudden he jumps. He turns. He points. But what is he pointing at? He is in pursuit. Nipping at the air.

While I stay seating on the couch laughing, as I watch my dog who has seemingly gone mad. Yet. I had noticed the fly just before he woke Toby. And I in full knowledge take delight in watching my dog seek revenge on the creature who disturbed his slumber.

Sir Toby Alan

So, I have a dog. I decided he needed a middle name. That is were Alan came in, it seemed to fit. I just started calling him sir the other day...so know he is "Sir Toby Alan".

This is Toby saying "May we go on a walk?" He paces back and forth, scratching at the door, when he is say..."come on, lets walk".

Toby has an interesting habit of dumping out his food and then eating it off of the floor.

It has been interesting getting use to having another live body in the house. He is good at keeping mee going. We walk each morning, and usually again in the afternoon. It is also hard to be sad when you have a puppy around.

Fall Weather---

I guess fall and spring weather is suppose to be interesting as we go from being hot to cold. Here is the Treasure Valley we didn't seem to get much of a spring. It was cold, then it was hot. Few"beautiful spring days". I was thinking our fall was going to be the same.

While in Moscow I was use to the first sprinkling of snow in the middle of October. I was very surprised last Sunday morning....a date to record...12 Oct 08, Toby's first snow.

Toby does not like cold weather. You cannot tell from the picture, his but is not on the ground,,,

I took these pictures as we were going on our walk Sunday morning. We'll both need to get use to it. He isn't going to stop needing walks just because it's cold.

Scavenger Hunt

For FHE (Family Home Evening) we had a picture scavenger hunt.  One of the rules was that a member of the team had to be in the picture. Some of the items where as followed:

"Welcome to Mountain Home"

Twins

mud spattered truck

someone wearing socks and sandals

Shotgun, airplane, classic car

picture of Christ

 

Chalkboard

and of course....Toby