Change in plans...

No sooner had I posted yesterday's blog entry, about our puppy-to-be...when I got an email from my breeder. It seems that the mommy dog wasn't pregnant after all - they did an ultrasound on her, and no puppies. Sort of sad! But - the good news is, another pair of their yellow labs had mated, and those puppies are expected only 7-10 days later than the other litter. That means, we should have a new puppy just about in time to pose for a REALLY cute picture under the Christmas tree, complete with a big, red bow under its chin, don't you think? Anyway, here are some puppies from previous litters of the current pairing. Irresistible!

Why another lab? Part 3

As if there needs to be another reason - here is a very adorable one! This is a picture of a sweet puppy from one of our breeder's previous litters - from the same parents that have been bred for "our" litter, which will produce our puppy in the next month! Get ready to say "oh!" And like Mary Schmich, a Chicago Tribune columnist has said, "There are people who love dogs, and then there are people with no souls." That may be a little bit extreme - but who could resist this adorable bundle of yellow fluff?

Good music is timeless!

When people ask me "what is my favorite kind of music", that is a very difficult question! There used to be a great radio program called "Adventures in Good Music", I think, and it was hosted by a lovely gentleman named Karl Haas. He once said "I could never be a critic, because I love everything!". I also love many kinds of music. There is a wonderful, old clip of Peter, Paul, and Mary, singing one of Paul (Stookey)'s songs, "Early in the Morning". Just go to youtube, and type in Peter, Paul, and Mary, Early in the Morning (I tried to give you the link, but blogger wouldn't let me - sorry!). Enjoy!

Why another lab? (Part 2)

We could use help with the dishes.

Why another lab?

The first and only dog I have ever owned was Maggie, our yellow lab. She was a really nice girl, a friend to all, and an enemy to none. She was very tolerant, as shown in the adorable photo below of my younger daughter, Hannah, about 6 in the picture (she's now 20!). Mags loved to look out the front screen door, surveying the world.

Maggie had been chasing tennis balls in heaven for about 5 or 6 months now.We have reserved another female lab from a very nice breeder, here in Illinois, and should have our puppy in time for a very special Christmas. I'll keep you posted on the puppy's progress, as I get news on the breeder's website!

So - why another lab? Or, why get another dog at all? Because having a dog is better than not having a dog, and having a yellow lab was great. That's why

Hannah and Maggie

Who knew?

I just read that September is NaBloPoMo - which is short for National Blog Posting Month. You are supposed to post every day for a month. Well, I'm getting a veeeeeeery late start on the month, but today makes two days in a row! Which is extremely good for me!

My usual excuse for not posting every day, or at least very often (and I have many excuses) is that I can't upload photos at work, which is where I tend to do most of my computer work, including my postings. So. I need to learn better how to upload my photos myself (without my daughter or best techie friend), and also maybe I should be posting at home, at a regular time each day. We'll see about that!

I have been thinking about all of my mentors over the years - all of those women who have guided me along the way, teaching me intentionally, or just simply by their good examples - they're like my oracles. Yesterday, I shared some beautiful advice from my wonderful Aunt Phyllis with a friend. She deserves another posting all of her own (note to self!). She always said, regarding kids and schoolwork, that all of the "other stuff" - like sports, and plays, and music, and friends, and jobs - was just as important, and that it's all a part of growing up. Which is so true! Phyllis is gone now, but her wisdom lives on, and continues to inspire me.

Here is one of my present-day mentors: my awesome SIL (sister-in-law), Jean. This is her latest profile picture, don't you just love it? It really captures her who-cares-live-life-right-now-with-gusto kind of spirit. She is one of the smartest, funniest, craziest, caringest (so what if it's not a word) people that I know. I like to think of her as my sister, and I am happy also that she is my friend. She is awesome!

Once, while visiting our house, my daughter's friend stopped by to visit. Little did he know that he would be encountering Aunt Jean! She started quizzing him about his earring...and the next time he stopped by, he wasn't wearing it! I guess you had to be there, but we still talk and laugh about it, and it was probably almost 10 years ago!

Here's to you, Jean!

Inconceivable!

Inconceivable! That not only did this wonderful man agree to marry me, but also that he had stuck around for 32 years! He is the sweetest, kindest, most patient man in the world.

Inconceivable! That I have two daughters who are 20 and 24 years old! I love them both with the fierce love of a mama bear, and I am so proud of them that I can hardly stand it.

Inconceivable - that today, I have been married for 32 years! How on earth did that happen? On the one hand, it seems so long ago, and yet also just like it was yesterday, the day of our wedding. A beautiful, warm fall day in Minnesota, surrounded by family and friends, a most special day. Thank you, Scott, for being there for me that day and for every day since then. You are my rock and my life.