- French toast
- Jordan River trail
- cooler temperatures
- rain
- Bill’s working getting a new contract
- Zodiac officially being a guide dog
- hanging out with Tricia
- finally getting a confirmation code for Amazon search inside
- walking along the Jordan River
- the internet
- chatting with Karen
- sleep
- Dune
- learning new things
- finishing Zodiac’s book
- Dune maturing
- finding my map
- getting my candy window started
- photos of Zodiac and David
- cooler summer evenings
- Karen’s help with Facebook
- strawberries and yogurt
Category Archives: My Life
Zodiac Book – final page
We have loved having Zodiac as part of our family for just over a year. He will always have a special place in our hearts. While we miss his happy outlook on life, we are excited that he has chosen to be a guide dog. With his exuberance we know he has a great life ahead of him. He has a good heart and Zodiac will effect all who come into his life in positive ways. At under 18 months at the start of his career, maturing is bound to bring out the best in this sweet boy. We look forward to hearing about all the new adventures.
Liebster Award Nomination
Jessica of The Way Eye See the World has nominated me for a Liebster Award. Pop on over to her blog about her experiences with retinitis pigmentosa and the guide dog lifestyle. Here are her questions for nominees:
1. What got you into blogging?
I got into blogging as a way to explore ways to share family stories in more interesting ways to make what I learn available to others. Plus it is fun to share about the puppies I raise for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
2. Who has been the most inspirational person in your life?
That is a tough question. The short answer would be Jesus Christ. The longer answer with a “regular” person would be my friend Tricia. She is a great example to me of being a great mom, friend and leader even when times are challenging.
3. How has a specific animal impacted your life?
Our pet dog Shadow taught me the basics of training a dog and when he crossed over I couldn’t imagine doing that end of life process again. But I wanted to have dogs in my life. So I started raising puppies for GDB. That has made a huge impact on my life. I’ve learned so much more about service dog and I’ve gotten to know so many people that I otherwise wouldn’t have known.
4. Where is the coolest place in the world you have been?
Once many years ago I got the chance to visit the 16 Lakes region in what was then known as Yugoslavia. It was amazing and I loved just walking around and enjoying the color of the water and the beauty of the scenery.
5. What is your favorite book or movie?
My standard answer for my favorite movie is “Man From Snowy River”. I love the scenery, the music and the horses.
6. How did you find out about my blog?
I know you from GDB Lounge and from your visits to my blog.
7. What is your favorite and least favorite thing to do around the house?
The housework I mind the least is probably laundry. My least favorite is dishes and/or cleaning.
8. What are you most talented at?
Probably creative problem solving is my biggest talent.
9. What would you leave in your will for the person you most care about?
I have no idea. I’ve never thought about that before. Maybe all the histories and books I’ve created over the years. I guess I’d better think about that some more.
10. If you were just given a boat, what would you name it?
Another question that I’ve never thought about before. Let’s see . . . now about “Shadow” after our pet dog.
11. What is your favorite song and why?
I love lots and lots of songs. My favorite changes all the time. Today my favorite is “This Little Light of Mine” by the Lower Lights because I’ve been listening to it because it is the sound track I’m using for the time-lapse project I’m doing on Zodiac’s puppyhood.
Thanks Jessica, that was fun and a good stretch for my thought processes. But I’m sorry to say that I won’t be doing the rest of the nomination process of nominating other blogs. It is a fun idea but the process is very time consuming I it just isn’t where I feel I should be spending my time right now. Sorry about that.
Zodiac Book – Zero Hour (the second time)
On August 5th I got the call telling us that Zodiac had been chosen for in-home training and would be leaving on the weekend. A few days later we made a quick trip to Oregon to see Zodiac before he left for Missouri. We didn’t recognize him at first with all his new chest muscles but he recognized us. Zodiac had continued to mature in the almost three months since he left. It was so much fun to see Zodiac for a couple of hours. We walked around campus and on the Oregon Trail and he got to romp with Dune. My favorite time was the four of us just hanging out together in the paddock. The day was very different than a graduation day. It was strange to be sending him off to be a guide without having met his new partner.
Zodiac Book – Zenith
Michelle Cliborn and Zodiac traveled to Missouri for Zodiac’s in-home training with David Pinkley. On Monday, August 13, 2013, Zodiac and David met for the first time and started their training together.
We were so excited when Toni (in her words), David’s other half, sent us photos of their first route together. More photos followed and as we got to know David and Toni better the more confident we felt that GDB had made a great match for Zodiac. There is no doubt that Zodiac will be loved and well cared for. In return we hope that Zodiac will be a great guide for David, giving him the freedom to travel independently and to do so in safety for many, many years to come.
Candy Window as a Story Project: Update
candy window drawing
I really thought that my window location was set but I was wrong. It has moved twice since the last post. Now I hope that it really is decided! But I’m moving forward anyway. I finished Step Two: Organize, today by searching through my candy stash to see what I already have that will work. I’m in good shape except for the larger candy areas like the sky, the doghouse etc.
So now to work on Step Three: Analyze.
Part 1: Assess – I think my plans for this years window are as reasonable as I can make them. We are hoping to do some fun things with computer controlled lights but the design is such that if that doesn’t happen it will be OK. I’ve been careful not to let the size of the window get too large. With getting a late start on things and a new puppy coming time is limited and larger objects means more candy and more candy takes more time to glue it on. This will be one of my smaller windows at about 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall and 2.5 to 3 feet deep. Hopefully it won’t feel small when it is done. So the project moves forward.
Part 2: Plan – I’ve looked at all the parts and pieces of the window and come up with more than 50 tasks that need to be done. Some are fairly simple and easily completed while others might need to broken down into even smaller task when I get involved in the reality of doing that part of the project. I’ve done enough candy windows that there shouldn’t be too many surprises.
Part 3: Timeline – I have a firm deadline (the unveiling on 7th) so the thing the timeline does for me is to help me make sure that I get enough stuff done early so that I don’t have to pull all-nighters to make my deadline. I have it when I have to do that. Creating the window looses all it joy when there is too much pressure. So here is my rough timeline:
- window box size – August
- list of construction materials – August
- purchase construction materials – August
- choose candy – August
- build structure – September
- purchase candy – September
- purchase other supplies – September
- paint structure – September
- attach candy – September through November
- final detail & fix problems – November
- promotional stuff – November & December
- install window – before December 7th
- unveiling – December 7th
The timeline is still pretty rough and so I’ll be making detailed plans and goals each week. My first deadline is to get all the structure built (if possible) by the time Pup “E” comes on September 6th. Timelines need to be adaptable to changing circumstances yet help the project stay on track to meet long-term goals.
Zodiac Book – Zoom
Not surprisingly Zodiac loves to zoom around our back yard. We usually keep a Jolly Ball out there and his favorite game is to grab the ball and run from one end of the yard to the other as fast as he can. Once his mouth got big enough he started carrying it around by the ball and not by the rope. He has to crush the stiff plastic with his teeth to do it, but he is plenty strong enough. While he loves to run he isn’t the fastest dog around. He is built more for sturdiness than for speed. I love watching him run happily in the back yard.
Joy Jar
This is two week’s worth of joy with last week’s highlight seeing Zodiac and this week’s having Zodiac doing in-home training! Yeah Zodiac!
- getting the house back in order
- time with Zodiac
- cuddling with pups
- Zodiac’s big paws
- Zulu chosen as a breeder
- feeling better
- email from Yakira
- raising puppies
- getting life in order
- “chatting” with Toni about Zodiac
- helping Santini get home
- raisers workshop
- M & M’s
- info on the internet
- good friends
- Skittles
- help with rocket launchers
- Dune and Zodiac playing together
- Zenith in class
- safe travels
- seeing Zodiac
- Zodiac doing in-home training
- successful church BBQ
- soft Kleenex
- fresh from the garden tomatoes
- contact with Zodiac
- feeling better
- sleep & naps
- candy window progress
- “E” pup
- Dune growing up
Zodiac Book – Zonked
Zodiac is great at being zonked. Especially after a challenging outing or in the evening. He is very content to curly up on a dog bed or stretch out on the floor. Usually he has an ear listening for anything interesting happening but sometimes when he is really tired it takes some real effort to get him up and moving again.
Pupdate – puppy #8
Last Saturday, August 10th we turned in our paper work for our next puppy. I listed these preferences:
- ‘E’ puppy in November
- ‘E’ puppy anytime
- any letter puppy but A, B, C, D, W, Y, or Z in November
- any letter puppy but A, B, C, D, W, Y or Z anytime.
Imagine my surprise when on Tuesday I get the call from our puppy club leader that they have an ‘E’ puppy ready to come on the September truck, do you want it? Oh my! I called Bill and then we both pondered the question. We decided yes! So a little ‘E’ puppy is coming on the next puppy truck. I think September 6th is the current date. Through the GDB grapevine I’ve learned there was a litter of puppies assigned the letter ‘E’ born on June 28th. The parents are Maeve and McKinley. It is unlikely that there is another ‘E’ litter so that means our little pup will be 10 weeks old when we get him or her. 10 weeks is a perfect age.
When I’m not feeling overwhelmed about all I have on my plate for the next few months I’m very excited to be getting my ‘E’ puppy. ‘E’ litters don’t happen as often as most of the other letters except other vowels and letters like ‘Q’ and ‘X’ ‘Y’ and ‘Z’. We have ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ and they did their first ‘X’ litter last summer. So I’m glad to be getting my ‘E’ pup so quickly. I’ll update here when we learn more about pup ‘E’.
telling family tales 