Waffle can be wary of new or unusual situations. We did a photo shoot at a studio and she wasn’t at all happy with the situation. She was good and patient about it but she didn’t like it.
The first time we went to puppy class she was not at all sure about going into a strange house. She soon learned about new houses and now has no trouble.
Waffle is never wary about people. She loves to met new people and she thinks that everyone she meets is just as happy to meet her.
This week a took a walk along Utah Lake to celebrate my 50th year. It reminded me of our pet dog Shadow and the many hours the two of us spent walking along the road that runs between the Lake the airport. For many years Utah Lake was our most common place to go for a walk. Most of the year we would walk the dirt road together, but in the cold winter, Shadow would trot along the road while I drove really slow in the warmth of the car.
It was here that Shadow took his first swim. He thought the reeds pushed up along the edge of the water were solid and he walked out on them. Of course they couldn’t hold his weight and he fell through to the water. It was here that we came to feel nature and expend his excess energy. It was here that we came late one summer when the lake was really low. The water was so far from the road that there was a huge expanse of sand. Bill was with us that day. The three of us walked for what seemed forever along the sand and out into the shallow water. It was one of those perfect kind of days that stick in your memory.
The fall is a lovely time to come to the lake. The trees looked so beautiful as I pulled off the main road. And I love the coppery color of the reeds in the fall colors. I felt close to Shadow today as a took a few minutes to come back to this favorite spot from my past and think about the future.
Waffle has a kind heart deep inside. Sometimes her excitement can hide that tender side. She has grown-up with another puppy in training, Casey. They snuggle together every night and sometime when they are hanging out at a meeting. Waffle likes to snuggle up beside us when we sit on the floor.
We took her to the State Fair and she was really interested in all the animals. She was very gentle and the animals were very interested in her too.
Yakira at the top of our stairs with Zodiac in the background
We got word this week that Yakira is being spayed and will start training to be a guide dog when she has recovered. So, while I’m a little sad that she isn’t going to be a momma dog and we won’t be raising one of her puppies, I’m excited to have weekly update on the phase report. I know she could make a wonderful guide dog, as long as that is what she wants. Here is hoping that we have another graduation to go to in Oregon, probably around the first part of the year.
Apex – 31 October 2012
The first thing I saw in my email on the morning after Halloween was this!
Apex was the school bumble bee who flitted from class to class all day yesterday. I am sure he even snitched a few pieces of candy while flitting around.
Isn’t he adorable! Not just in looks but also in personality.
When Waffle is asleep it takes her a long time to wake up. She has gotten better as she as grow up but she is still slow. Part of her challenge with learning to relieve on command was just getting her awake enough to actually be aware of what was going on.
In the mornings after a full nights sleep and once Waffle is actually awake she is such a happy bouncy girl. She can’t seem to help herself from doing a bouncy kind of walk-run to the kitchen for breakfast. She is definitely a morning puppy. It is her highest energy time of day.
Frosty’s hat
It has been awhile since I posted about my candy sculpture project for Christmas. While I’m behind my original schedule I think it will be ok. The biggest obstacle as the moment is getting the box structure and backdrop for the window. I need it to properly size the base and to do the sky that goes in one panel of the backdrop. It is too bad that I’ve missed the nice weather this week to get the base and the sky done. I’m using silicone caulk at I prefer to do it in the garage so the fumes don’t stink up the house. I’ll soon be stopped from progressing if I don’t have the box.
almost finished broom with pins to hold the licorice in place
The status on all the parts and pieces:
I’m hoping that putting the Jelly Belly’s on the base and the backdrop will go pretty quickly. They don’t need precise placement and if needed I can recruit some helpers. I would like to wait to design the village until I get the box and exact sizing for the base. It feels good to have Frosty done. He is the most important part of the window. The rest is support for him. I now know I will find a way to get this done even if I don’t get all the parts I’d like to get done.
Waffle is very good at waiting until she is called. Most puppies once they realize you are going to call them to come down the stairs can’t help themselves and they come running before the words are out of your mouth. Not with Waffle. She just sits there. When it is time to go outside for a potty break she will just sit at the top of the stairs and wait until you come get her or open the door. She has great self-restraint in this area.
telling family tales 