LET THERE BE PEACE

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH!

VERY TRICKY

When I came to my new home I didn't really make eye contact. The 'sit' command was foreign and when 'shake' was introduced I was less than thrilled. Just look at me two months later! I am a very smart boy.

We call this 'over' and 'under'. I wonder what we'll do next.

BEST DAY EVER!!!

Hey, It's me, JoJo.

Mom is letting me use her blog space because I have to tell you about my best day ever.

It was a Saturday. Dad was cleaning up the brush and I was on my lead. I love being outside. Chewing up sticks is just about the best pastime ever.

After Mom got home from work (I know she was at work because she had to change out of her uniform) she helped Dad gather the brush he had cut up.

They went in the house and came back out with my leash! We didn't go walking though. We got in the car. I love going for rides and Mom says I ride well. I have to stay in the back but that's okay.

When we arrived, I found myself at Christmas In The Barns. It is a local craft show held in the barns at the Fairgrounds. The stalls become booths and tents are set up outside as well.

There were lots of people and the aroma of the food vendors really made my nose twitch. I made a lot of human friends and met a three-legged dog that wanted to play with me as much as I wanted to play with her.

Mom was very happy with me. I didn't bark even once and was very cooperative as we wandered around. We stopped at a booth that had homemade dog treats and toys. I got a new tugger that Mom chose because it didn't look like any of the socks or shirts we have at the house and apparently, I'm NOT supposed to eat. The girls that made all of these goodies were really friendly and we spent some time visiting.

That night, after dinner when we take our evening walk, we went in a different direction. We went up through the yard to a secret path and wound up at the neighbors. It was those same girls! I got a bag of pumpkin turkey treats (which Mom doles out). Boy, are they good!!! The girls took turns having me sit and shake hands and giving me treats. There were dog toys everywhere and I was allowed to play with any of them. It was great.

Then we went outside. Four young, energetic girls running with me on my leash. I loved every minute of it. They even set up hurdles. They use them to jump the rabbits. Personally, I'd rather chase the rabbits but I guess that's not allowed. They taught me to "jump".

Whenever I went around a hurdle I was guided back to it and we tried again. Each time I succeeded I got all kinds of praise and attention. By the end of the evening the hurdles had been raised several times and I was happy and proud.

As Mom and I were walking home, I was positively strutting. That was definitely my BEST DAY EVER!!!

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH

When this ugly thing left the bathroom, I was happy to see it go. We have them in every room and paint does not make them look any better.

After replacing the floor, toilet, sink, and basically redoing the entire bathroom, it was time to replace the heat source. You can imagine my dismay when I realized that we would be using one of these.

"It will look good." he said.

"I'd like to put them in all the rooms," he says.

"Aack," I think.

I need to learn to have a little faith and trust his judgment more. I love my radiator! It just needed some less than tender loving care. It needed sandblasted.

WALK A MILE

Getting a young dog has changed my lifestyle. Every night after the dinner dishes are done we head out.

Although it is a beautiful walk with many things to look at...

There are plenty of reminders of the fact that we can't go there.

I love exploring the countryside and we live in an area that calls out for it.

Unfortunately, it is forbidden.

Each night, we go half a mile out and half a mile back. We stick to the road.

There are still the sights, sounds, and smells to enjoy.

The health benefits are undeniable. JoJo is a much calmer dog and I have a lot more endurance than  I did just a month ago. I am happy to walk a mile.

PROGRESS

I had been posting about our home improvement project, renovating the bathroom. For two old folk, this was a major undertaking. Although we still haven't completed the details (a new mirror, a radiator, a door) I have to look back and realize just how much we have accomplished.

We managed to turn this into...

this!

We have recently undertaken another major task. Our one year old dog who has had four families before becoming part of ours has proven to be quite a task as well.
JoJo arrived a fearful dog. He barked at every new sound. He had trouble focusing. He was full of nervous energy.
It has been a slow process of introducing him to many new experiences (like water and swimming), sounds (children, traffic, chickens), and feelings (like being cradled, scolded, praised) to help him overcome most of his fears.
The more things that he succeeds at the more confidant he is in facing new things. His focus is getting better as we worked on 'sit' and have now added 'shake hands'.
He no longer fears that we'll take his toys (although I trade them out occasionally to keep them fresh and not boring) or that his food will disappear. He grazes now instead of gobbling it and trying to hide the bowl.

From this to

This.

I remind myself to enjoy where we are, even though there will always be more work to be done.

Celebrate the Progress!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Adjusting to a new family member involves getting to know one another. We all have our strengths and weaknesses as well as unique personality traits.
JoJo is learning his territory and has found the perfect place to keep an eye on it even when he is inside.

Upon hearing a thumping sound upstairs, I figured that I had better check to see what he had gotten into. I came around the corner to see a ball bouncing down the steps and a dog hot on its trail. He really does know how to entertain himself!
It does seem as if I spend quite a bit of time 'checking on the dog'. A couple of times he disappeared but I found him. He was keeping himself busy hiding.

He really has a sense of humor about expressing himself. As I was slicing into a fresh apple pie, I heard a sound behind me. JoJo had brought me his empty food dish and dropped it at my feet. Apparently he felt I should serve him some too!

I've had to make some adjustments around here. I've discovered that laundry needs to go in the washer instead of in a basket!

(Un)fortunately, he's only one, seven in human years, so he has a great deal of growing up to do. I see so much potential in him. Patience is key. By this time next year, it will be fun to reread this to see how much he has matured. Until then, hang on! I'm sure I'll have more escapades to tell you about.

MEET JOJO

 Meet JoJo. He's a one year old minpin/Jack Russell mix.

 My search for the newest member of the family led me to our local shelter. I'd been to two other shelters and did a meet and greet with a dog from Craigslist before I walked into this building and found what I believe will be the right dog for this house.

He's already made himself at home and discovered the best part...

a handy playmate! Although at the moment the cat is still uncertain of the situation.

MY PERSONAL EVOLUTION

As usual, I've been reading. The topic was the theory of evolution and the survival of the fittest versus intelligent design.
Like most people, I grew up seeing the chart of ape to man and was taught that earth's origins began with the big bang. I was told that all that I see began with primordial ooze.
The problem is, there are too many gaps and too many leaps to make this believable. How many cells had to develop and be found to be useful and thus retained to develop a single eye? Hundreds? Thousands?
I can accept that animals that don't necessarily need eyes do not have the vision of a human. I can accept that a human doesn't have the vision of an eagle. But I can't fathom how simple cells could develop into such complexity. Did nature determine that a means to see the world meant the necessity of incorporating a multitude of individual cells each performing a specific purpose in unison could be achieved all at one time?
Speaking of eyes, looking into the eyes of a fellow human being or a dog or a cat I see something that is not physical. I see sentience. I see a living being that is capable of joy, anger, jealousy, love.

Emotions have been explained as a result of chemicals in the brain. Certainly, there are drugs that alter those chemical levels and thus alter mood. I accept that fact. However, my next question is this,

What chemicals make it possible for me to even think about these things? Does that soul exist? Could a soul have been developed from primordial ooze?

Personally, I do believe in intelligent design. I believe that certain features of all species have changed over time to adapt to their environment. I do not see evidence that one species developed into another. I do not see the desire to live as having a molecular component but rather as a feature of the soul.

Life is a truly wondrous thing and I obviously do not have the answers to the questions that have been asked since at least all of recorded history but I do believe that the answers that I feel I have work for me and that releases chemicals in my brain (ie. I am happy with that.)

WINGED FRIENDS

One might believe from my recent posts that I dislike winged creatures. Not true. I don't like them in my house. I love to listen to them singing. I really enjoy those that come to visit the trees near the porch. I have a hummingbird that stops by regularly, multitudes of robins and starlings. Last year I had a pair of cardinals that would wander out on the lower branches and watch me watching them.
Last night I had a new pair of visitors. They stayed for several hours.

These thrushes didn't really sing, they made more of a chirp/clicking sound. They seemed to be as curious about me as I was about them.

Even as I sit here sharing this picture with you, I can hear one of our local woodpeckers working over the fence post across the road.

It is peaceful here, but by no means silent.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Well folks, vacation time has passed. A long weekend listening to music and chilling at Jazzberry Farm, a few days of work and then a week in Delaware enjoying the ocean! Whew.
I really like getting away but I also like coming home. Home is my favorite place to be. I am very lucky and grateful to be able to say that.
Home sweet home! I was eager to get back but I was certain that the cat would be certain to give me attitude upon my return. She didn't let me down. After an hour or so of demanding attention she finally lay herself down to relax. I thought I was off the hook but of course she had other ideas.
I discovered her evil plot before bedtime rolled around, thank goodness. Next to my bed where I normally would be walking in the dark was her welcome home gift for me.

I swear I saw her smile!

Dead birdie removed, I decided to stay up late to watch some TV before retiring for the night. While I was enjoying America's Got Talent, I saw something in my peripheral vision. "No," I thought, "This is not happening." But it was. BAT!!

I had the commonsense to open the door wide in hopes it would fly out but that still meant sharing space with the flying rodent in the meantime. I must have made a comical figure crouching and bobbing (because of course that is how you avoid a bat) as I made my way to the door.

I wasn't entirely sure that the creature had gone outside. Perhaps it had gone upstairs. When I went to bed I pulled the sheets over my head. I'm so good at self-defense against a bat....ha ha ha.

There certainly is no place like home!

LOOKING GOOD

Our new bathroom space is still a work in progress but we are getting closer. It is possible to see what the end result will look like.
The last time I talked about this we had gotten as far as putting in the floor.

Next step was removing the window. I absolutely love this old crawler. It has multiple uses! This day it was both scaffold and dumpster.

Time to seal off the hole.

And install the shower tub. But wait ... there's more.

We have the back piece. Also, we (he) had to build framing to attach the sides.

The shower doors are due in soon. Someday, I'll sit on my new commode and not see tools and parts scattered everywhere. I might even have a door and all the trim in place. Still, the improvement amazes me and I can look ahead to when it is really 'looking good'.

GENERATIONS

So how does it happen that this little girl grew to raise these two little girls?

And then, they raise these beautiful families of their own. Amazing!

VISITING KINFOLK

I went to visit my brothers and my mother on Sunday. It was overcast but not raining, for which I am grateful. I was also glad to see that there was indeed a flag.

It was a virtual reunion as I wandered. Here, my Aunt and Uncle who had a large hand in raising me. Also, a cousin whose own child was a few years older than I.

My Grandparents were here. Also, my Great-Grandparents.

There were great-aunts and uncles. Names unfamiliar to me yet their blood runs through my veins.

As more vehicles arrived, so did more relatives. These were familiar faces from reunions I had attended over the years.

We spent much time remembering and catching up. Who was doing what now? Our family gathering blended many generations of those no longer with us and those that still are.

It is good to learn of our common history and to know that as time marches forth, our family ties continue into future generations.