Percy's Playpen

Percy loves being outside. Up until last weekend whenever we had him outside he was on a leash. We've been working with him, training him to come when we call, and to stay close by - but we couldn't trust that he'd come back if he took off after a chipmunk or other animal. So we tried tying his leash to the deck, but he'd get all tangled. Last summer Craig tied the leash to a snow shovel, and Percy dragged it all over the yard. This summer Percy was tied to a five gallon bucket - but he'd still manage to drag it into the woods, and we'd have to go in and untangle him time and time again.
So Craig finally decided to put up a fence. We went to a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and picked up some 4 feet metal posts, and then we went to Menard's and got 4 foot high garden fencing. Craig made a wooden gate and put some posts in the ground for the gate. Last Sunday we put up the fence. Everything was going great until about 3 PM when the mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies descended. I tried to hang in there, but they were biting me all over, and were driving me crazy. I made it until we got the fencing to the last post, and then Craig finished up while I escaped into the house.
Since then Percy has spent hours out in his "playpen" - the fenced in area. He loves laying out there just watching the world around him. It is nice for us too, because we don't have to worry about having him run away, and we don't have to get him untangled all the time.
Of course, when I went to take his picture he went and hid behind the bushes :)

Sunday is for....

• raspberry pancakes and a good cup of coffee
• worshipping God at Emily Wesleyan Church
• snacks and fellowship after church
• hamburgers on the grill
• afternoon nap

• watching Twins baseball
• a walk down the road with Percy
• sitting on the deck (yes, I think spring is finally here)

• pizza for supper
• resting, refreshing, renewing - body, mind and soul

Thank you, Lord, for this day of rest and for all our blessings.

Over the Road - trucking with a dog

Last week when I went in the truck with my husband, we took our dog - Percy - with us. He is quite the traveler.

He preferred the front seat, except when it was time for his morning nap. When I was also in the front, he was on my lap. He spent hours looking out the window, watching the world go by. Occasionally, when he saw a horse or cow he would put his paws up on the door handle, and sometimes bark. But most often he was content to just look.

Of course, whenever we stopped he was ready to get out of the truck, go for a walk and sniff all the new smells.

He got sad when we left him in the truck, but he was very good about waiting for us to return.

Lots of truckers I saw had dogs with them, and I know why. Percy was good company. Because he needed an occasional walk, he forced us to get some exercise at each stop. He was so interested in looking at everything along the way, he inspired us to be on the lookout for new things to see. He entertained us with his bedtime antics - trying to get his blankets just the way he liked them ... and he snuggled close to us on the bunk, which helped melt away the stress of the day.

Even after 5000 miles, when we got home and I asked Percy, "should we go for a ride?" he jumped right in the car, wagging his tail, ready for the next adventure.

Friday Photo

I'm starting a new thing for my blog - Friday Photo. I am going to try to share some of my favorite photos. I actually started last Friday with "Think Spring".
So here's my photo for this week!

"Are you friend or foe?"

Christmas Cards

I wish I could say that I had started making my Christmas cards during the summer, and that they were all done.... but I can't. I think it's hard for me to get in the mood to make Christmas cards when there's no snow on the ground.
We still don't have much snow - but at least the ground is white.  The lake is finally frozen.

Percy is no help. He just wants to lay in the sunshine.

Last week I finally came up with a couple of designs for this year's cards. So when I was packing for the cabin, I packed my stamping things. Yesterday Craig went to work at the shop for the day...a perfect time for me to begin. And so I did.

Here are the designs I am using this year.

In this design I used an embossing folder from Stampin' Up. The snowman is from Inkadoo. I used a snowflake punch to punch out part of the snowman and let the paper beneath peek through. There is a small pearl stuck in the center of each snowflake, and the silver snowflake on the ribbon is a brad.

For this card I used a stamp from Northwoods Rubber Stamps Co. I used Stazon ink, and then colored the cardinals with a red marker from Stampin' Up followed by using Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up to make the cardinals pop. My photo doesn't really do the card justice. (Sorry!)

This card is similar to the first but instead of punching the snowflakes out of this snowman, I punched them out of another one I had stamped, and put the snowflakes on top of this image. I used a little piece of Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up) to lift the snowflake off the page a bit, and put a pearl in the center. The snowman's scarf is colored on both the snowman and the part of the snowflake on top.

What do your Christmas cards look like?

This bed is just right!

In the story, Golidlocks tries the beds of all three bears before falling asleep in baby bear's bed, which was just right.

In Percy's world, every bed is just right. Another day, another pillow to curl up on.

Can you find him?

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?

 Did you find him?

Oh, there he is! Behind the pillows on my bed, all curled up.

He just loves those pillows!

ABCs I Adore

My daughter, Carrie, has started a weekly post about ABCs in her life, so I am joining her. It's fun to take some time to think about the things I like in my life. You can read my A, B, and C things here. Now it's time for D, E and F.

So, here I go.............................

Since Carrie already talked about DIY projects (which I love doing with her!) I will have to list these very special D's: my Dad, my Daughter, my Daughter-in-law, and my Dog, Percy.
I've also always wanted to learn how to dance, but haven't taken any lessons - yet. (Maybe that's why I like the movie, Shall We Dance?)


Percy at his "post" - watching the driveway at the cabin.

 Egg salad is one of my favorite kinds of sandwiches. And lately I've been making Egg sandwiches that have been fantastic. You might ask, what's the difference? Egg salad is made by cutting (or mashing) hard boiled eggs, mixing it with mayo and/or onion and celery, throw in just a pinch of pickle relish, sprinkle with salt and pepper and maybe even a dash of mustard. Then spread on a piece of bread or a bun, add another piece on top, and enjoy. An egg sandwich can be made two ways - fry an egg, toast the bread and butter it, and put the egg on the toast. Or, hard boil an egg. Put mayo and lettuce on the bread (I've been using Deli thin sandwch bread) and slice the egg on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and eat.

Actually, I should just say that E is for Eggs. I like eggs fixed almost any way - in sandwiches, fried with hash browns, deviled eggs, Easter Eggs, etc.

That leaves me with F. I think I'll stay in the food category and say fries - I love McDonald's french fries. They're not the healthiest things to eat, but they sure taste good.
When Carrie and I were at Trader Joe's a while back we picked up some sweet potato fries. They are really good - and maybe a little bit better for me?

 What are the ABCs you adore?

It's a dog's life at the cabin

Percy loves being at the cabin. His favorite pasttime is looking out the window. But he's little, so he needs help.

This window is in the kitchen area. Percy can watch the driveway from here.

I found this stool at an occaional shop, and all I did was re-cover the cushion.

When Percy wants to look into the woods he goes to one of the windows in the family room.

I bought this bench at another occasional sale shop. It was originally a piano bench.I've added a cushion to the top, and the legs have been primed. When it gets warmer outside I will spray paint them a dark color. 

 Here's another window in the family room. I think this is Percy's favorite vantage point. From here he can see the squirrels playing in the oak tree, chipmunks running across the driveway, rabbits under the propane tank and anyone walking along the road.

I need to find a suitable bench for this window. Craig made the bench that is under the window right now out of barn wood. Percy needs a bit of help getting up onto it.

After a full day of running from window to window, jumping up and down on the benches, and keep track of everything that's going on outside the cabin, Percy is ready for bed.

Percy

This morning Percy followed me around as I got ready for work. Right before leaving I put him in his crate. I could hear him crying as I went into the garage to get my car. It reminded me of all the times the kids cried when I'd leave them in the church nursery or with a babysitter. But just as they got usedto it, and learned that I always came back to get them - so will Percy learn that I will always come back.
When I got home he was so excited to see me. We went for a walk and he loved it. He was very good during the walk - he kept up quite a fast pace. Walking him will be good exercise for me.
Jeff came over for supper tonight- to eat my cooking and to meet Percy. Percy loved the attention he got from Jeff.
After walking with me and playing with Jeff he's all tuckered out.

These aren't great pictures, but here's Percy.

Carrie-I realized that he does look like a schnauzer sometimes. Sorry! But he has such a loving personality, and his color is unique- not like most schnauzers. His looks will be affected by how he is clipped too.We won't let the hair on his face get long and straggly.

New Family Member

I'm not home alone any more. Tonight Percy moved in with me.

Percy is a miniature schnauzer mix dog who is about one year old. He's silky beige which I don't think is a traditional color for a schnauzer. He's housetrained, and loves being with people.

Trying to take a picture of a dog is harder than taking pictures of kids. He just won't sit still when I try to snap a picture. He wants to be right by me. So you'll have to wait a bit to see him.

When his foster mom brought him over tonight I felt a little like I did when we brought our first child home from the hospital - excited, scared, overwhelmed, happy, wondering "what have we gotten ourselves into?" but at the same time so very thankful. I think Percy is going to be a great companion for me when Craig is gone, and also good for the two of us when Craig's home. He's not very big so he'll be easy to take with to the cabin or anywhere else we want to travel.

So it's a new adventure. It's been 5 years since we had our last dog, Major. It was time to have a dog again. Thanks, Midwest Animal Rescue, for bringing Percy to us!