Dune: Phase 2 & “D” Puppy

Posted on March 20, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Dune is in phase 2, yeah! It is so good to see her moving right along. So glad that the wait is over and she is on the weekly phase report. If you want to know more about what she is learning in phase 2 go here. Looks like I haven’t done a detailed post on phase 2 so there is another thing for my to do list.

The Story of Our “D” Puppy

This is the story of our long-awaited “D” puppy. We got our first puppy to raise from Guide Dogs for the Blind on August 2nd 2008. His name was Apex. I thought it was cool that our first puppy’s name started with the first letter of the alphabet.

When we were awaiting news of our second puppy in training, I was secretly hoping for a pup whose name started with a “B” but I didn’t tell anyone. When our second puppy was named Banta I was super excited.

I took it as a sign that I should try to raise a puppy from each letter of the alphabet. So when it was time for our third puppy we requested a puppy with a “C” name and we got Casey.

Then we ran into a snag with “D”. GDB requested that we start a puppy for a high school student. I said fine as along as it started with a “D”. There were no “D” litters. I said, OK, how about a name with a “D” in it. We got Waffle. No “D” but it did start with a ‘double U’. (As a side note Waffle has a sister named Wednesday that went to Colorado. I don’t know why we didn’t get Wednesday.)

I thought all right, we will only have Waffle for her first five months, I can get my “D” puppy next. But we didn’t quite make it. The “D” litter when it was time for puppy number five was a couple of days too young. But they had a “Y” litter so we got Yakira. After Yakira we got Zodiac to finish off the end of the alphabet.

So for puppy number seven we tried again for a “D” puppy and finally we succeeded. Our club leader sent a pink balloon in the mail with ‘Female “D” Yellow Lab’ written on it to give us the long-awaited good news.

Dune: book & phase 1

Posted on March 14, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Title page of Dune’s book

Dune finally showed up on the weekly phase report yesterday in phase 1. Having been in breeder evals is the equivalent of phase 0, so it is what I expected. She is actually learning what to do to be a guide dog! Yeah. If you want to know more about what she is learning I have a post here about phase 1. For more details there is another post here.

the pre-story of Dune

I’ve been working hard on Dune’s book. Remember the plan I had to get a page done every week or so. Well I totally failed on that. I wanted to have it mostly done so I could send a pdf of it with her along with photos from her puppyhood on a DVD. But I just didn’t get it done so I just sent photos. When the dogs are in class with their new partner they will give them some information from their dogs puppy raiser include photos or CD’s etc. This give the new handler a chance to know something more about their new dog. Dune’s future handler will have to wait to get her book until graduation.

But I’ve got it done now except the couple of page that will be about her new career and graduation day. So I’m going to share Dune’s book over the next several weeks. I’ve done a book for each puppy we have raised. Here are links to their books (except I haven’t put Apex’s on-line yet, I should do that soon!):

I think Yakira’s book needs updating with some additional pages after she had a change of careers and location last fall. (Another thing for my to do list.)

I find making these books really helps me with the process of sending the pups off after having them for a year. People ask all the time “how we give them up and don’t you get attached?” I tell them we miss them but it is worth it. But doing things like the books for them helps me celebrate the time we have had with them and honors the impact they have on our lives even though they are only in our home for about a year.

I’m working on a slide show/video for Dune that should be done soon. I can’t wait to share it with you!

All Pups Pupdate

Posted on March 7, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

I’m finally getting around to writing an up date on all my pups. We had contact with all of them near the holidays. Boy time flies by. Is it really all ready a week into March?

Yakira and Apex

Puppy #1 Apex will be six years old in May. He is doing great and still has lots of energy. He and Sue have a busy schedule so his high energy is perfect. When they have long days at the office she gives him dog puzzles to keep him occupied. We got a delicious case of citrus a few weeks ago from Florida. That was awesome. The tangerines were especially amazing. We just had the last grapefruit for breakfast yesterday.

Banta and Mark

Puppy #2 Banta is doing great too. We got a professional portrait of her and her handler and they look so good together. Mark has had some health problems and had to be in the hospital recently. A local puppy raiser took care of Banta and even took her to the hospital for visits but she was super excited when he got home. Mark loves her dearly and they are so well matched for each other. She will be 5 years old in July.

Carrie and Casey

Puppy #3 Casey has matured into a very confident guide dog. Carrie graduated from law school last year and they moved to Vancouver. They now commute to downtown and Casey does great except when the weather is bad. She is a fair weather guide. I don’t hear from her Carrie very often but when she write she shares great stories and pictures. Casey’s birthday is in May and she will be 4.

Tucker, Shelley & Waffle

Puppy #4 Waffle has a good life. Carole added a new sister to the household recently. On a trip to Costa Rica she brought home a feral dog she named Shelley. Shelly looks like a black lab and her and Waffle get along great. Waffle spends almost every moment of the day at Carole’s side. Waffle turned 3 the end of February.

Yakira – aka Princess Yaya

Puppy #5 Yakira is a lucky girl living it up in Florida. She gets to see Apex all the time and enjoys romping with him and wintertime house guest Ruby (another black lab). But we got really exciting news earlier this week on her. Sue noticed that Yakira was alerting Sharan when the phone or the doorbell rang. (I didn’t realize that Sharan’s hearing had gotten so bad.) So Sue wondered if Yakira could be trained as a hearing alert dog for Sharan. She checked into it and via GDB found a trainer. Since Yakira has already been a service dog the training should go pretty quickly and with some luck Yakira will be certified as a hearing alert dog by Easter. It is amazing the path that has brought Yakira to this place. She will be 3 years old in August.

Zodiac

Puppy #6 Zodiac has the perfect family and partner for him. They love him with all his quirks and everything. He celebrated his second birthday on Monday. Toni sends me photos and update regularly via email and Facebook. Zodiac looks so handsome and happy. He is really starting to bond with his David and give him is whole heart.

Bill, Dune, Raelyn and Emma

Puppy #7 Dune is still officially in the limbo land between being dropped from breeder evals (her patellas weren’t up to par to be a breeder) and showing up on the phase report. I’ve heard from sources that she has started her harness training so hopefully this next week we will see her name on the phase report. I hope she loves training. I think she has the potential to be a super great guide dog, if she likes it. If not she will be career changed in no time at all. She is an opinionated girl so she will let them know right away if she doesn’t like it. Dune will be 16 months old on Tuesday.

Emma

Puppy #8 Emma has adjusted to life without her Dune. Things are so much calmer and easier around the house that I said yes to having an in heat puppy in training from another club stay with us for two weeks starting on Monday. Emma will love having Verbena for a playmate. Emma turned 8 months old about a week ago and is showing some signs of teenager boundary pushing. But she really is an easy-going pup most of the time. Yesterday, I let her out on the deck for some fresh air and then forgot about her. More than an hour later I’m looking around trying to figure out where she is. Then I saw that the kitchen door was open but not the screen door and I remembered where she was. She got soaked from the rain storm that had come through while she was out there, but seems to have no lasting trauma from the experience. The good part is she was due for a bath and the rain did such a good job that now she smells and feels clean again.

So there is my novel on how all my pups are doing. It is great being part of such a wonderful organization as Guide Dogs for the Blind, that makes a positive impact on so many lives during the process of what they do. Being a puppy raiser makes my life better.

Joy Jar

Posted on January 1, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

2013 is over and while I haven’t posted a Joy Jar list for several weeks, I wanted to do one last list to finish off the year.

sky ready to glue
heated mattress pad
A to Z book
warm day
good night sleep
music
Gandy’s foot better
feeling better
ordering new Crocs
signing in choir
Bill’s birthday gathering
an extra hour
hair cut
sleep
lovely day
sleeping pups
pain killer
cough drops
cough medicine
data plan
ice cream
chocolate
family & Christmas
my new printer
Snoopy finished
finishing Emma’s blanket
Dune growing up
audio books
lights
Bill’s help
clean air
Pinterest
Nature Club
Primary Program
yarn
Dune and Emma romping with Lotus and Maybe
sunshine and blue skies
Emma having well-formed poop
Bill’s help
help for Gandy’s foot
seeing “Day of the Doctor” with Bill
Dune
my sister
Christmas treats
finding chipboard
warm slippers
wire binder
new phone
friends
Emma
silly girls
Christmas decorations
quilt finished
a new start
Jeremy clearing our sidewalk
help of friends
fresh snow
my “wall”
sky board cut
7-up floats
visiting another Primary with Dune and Emma
printer working smoothly
inspiration
Emma having well-formed poop
Bountiful Baskets
ice cream
Blue Skies
fresh produce
Gandy’s foot improving
whipped cream
family
my nieces
fruits and veggies
color
smart phone
Gas Buddy app
audio books
blackberries
Gandy
Christmas Gifts finished
Gandy sleeping on my computer
internet access
music
Dune’s one year birthday
clear head
having an appetite
graham crackers
candy window done
hot chocolate
finding storm glass ornaments
videos of Zodiac
Banta stories
continuous ink supply
finding a “Z” ornament
Lime pie
wireless keyboard and mouse
snuggling with the girls
warm slippers
Christmas songs
puppies
a new year coming

It is kind of hard to comprehend that 2013 is gone. It has been a good year with plenty of challenges. I’ve learned much but have so much more to learn. Here is to a great year ahead!

Christmas From A to Z: eBook

Posted on December 27, 2013 by tellingfamilytales

Today I did my first attempt at an interactive eBook. The links below should take you to a pdf of the book. I kept it pretty simple with just a link on each page to jump to the page with the entire tree to search for the symbols of Christmas. I think it is sized for viewing on an iPad so let me know how it works on that or other devices you try it on.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas this week!

A to Z eBook

Not the week I had planned

Posted on December 21, 2013 by tellingfamilytales

Saturday is here and I have yet to get a post done so I’m putting together a quick apology. The week started out great and then ran into a cold. I’ve been running on about 10% since than but it is starting to improve. The printing is done for all my Christmas gifts but oh, there is so much cutting still to do. Fingers crossed I can get it done before Christmas. Wishing all of you the best in your final Christmas preparations.

my Christmas printing

Snoopy – Candy Window Installed

Posted on December 7, 2013 by tellingfamilytales

Snoopy and his doghouse

Finally coming up for air after a couple of weeks of total focus on finishing this years candy window. Last night was the unveiling and though we had some snags and challenges along the way Snoopy and his dog house look great. If you are in the Salt Lake Valley during the holidays let me know and I’ll give you directions to find the window. There are 8 other candy windows too, including my Frosty from last year. I only got a couple of pictures snapped. Hopefully I can get some more next week of Snoopy and the other candy windows too.

Christmas from A to Z at Festival of Trees

Part of what made this week extra crazy is that we donated the candy sculpture (Christmas from A to Z) I did two years ago to the Festival of Trees. It was in pretty bad shape and I spent 12 hours fixing it up. Good news is there were multiple bidders and it sold for about $650. All that money goes to Primary Children’s Hospital.

Candy Window Update: Wreath (tellingfamilytales.com)
Christmas From A to Z: book (tellingfamilytales.com)

Christmas From A to Z: book

Posted on November 21, 2013 by tellingfamilytales

When I made the Christmas from A to Z candy sculpture two years ago, the idea I had was to use it as illustrations for a children’s book. This year the tree is being donated to Festival of Trees to be sold to raise money for Primary Children’s Hospital. I want to have a copy of the book to go with the tree so pushed this week to get it finished and yeah, I finally got it done! Clink the link below to see a preview. For some reason I can’t get the preview to embed properly.

Christmas from A to Z by Raelyn Webster
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Make Your Own Book

Streched Too Thin

Posted on November 9, 2013 by tellingfamilytales

Life has tried to tell me something for while now and I think I’m starting to get the message. I’ve got too many things on my plate and I’m not doing any of them as well as I would like to. One of the things that ironically I have totally neglected is doing family histories for my mom. She is almost 91 and she is aging more rapidly the last year or so. She takes great joy and satisfaction in these histories and I don’t want to regret that I got sidetracked and didn’t get as many done for her as a could have or should have.

That being said I have a great desire, even passion to help others do meaningful family history projects too. That wish is why I do this blog and why it has taken me so long to come to this decision. In the last day or two it finally sunk in, I’ve gotten things out-of-order. While this blog is an important part of my long-term goals, it isn’t more important than getting histories done for my mom.

So I’m shifting my priorities and backing way off on the number of posts I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future. After I finish the 50 Jar Gifts Challenge, I’m going to be posting once a week with an occasional pupdate thrown in. I’m also going to let go of trying to get all 50 Jar Gifts posted before Christmas. If it happens great. But if not, I’m not going to stress about it.

To make those weekly post of the most benefit to my loyal followers, please let me know what kind of topics you would most like to see. If you would rather send your suggestions in a private email (raelyn@tellingfamilytales.com) that would be great too. Hopefully this change of focus will help you too, by making the time you spend reading my posts more productive. Thanks so much for your input.