I find myself doing much and yet blogging little.
This yeller feller is partially to blame.
How could I have internalized how much having a puppy would throw my life into utter chaos?
All major projects are slowed to a crawl. My life is divided into the short segments between naps, walks, training sessions, and clean up. I really want to be a good dog person with a really good dog, but I find the lack of sleep and concentration are really wearing me down, more than I am comfortable with, and my family has left the care and training so largely up to me that I am resentful. ( Of them, and their ability to blow it off... not the cute poocher.) It is so much like having a sharp toothed toddler, that it takes my breath away.
And yes there are great things about this new addition. He is silly, very eager to please (when the mood strikes) , he snuggles like a champ, the deer in the garden are not the problem they were, I have an anytime I want walk partner, who only need a few more months of leash training... and puppy breath is pretty sweet.
In truth, it feels like my life is no longer my own.
But, I have still been able to get my kid to animation classes far from home for 3 weeks,
put up 26 jars of Olallieberry Jam, pick and freeze 3 quarts of wild blackberries, make and freeze pies.
And I was able to make and un-make 14 potholders. (Yes.. I had to disassemble my potholders because Poly Batting is Not Good For Potholders. In fact, it almost conducts the heat. And I had hand quilted 7 of them.... ARRRGH!
But at least I found out now and saved my loved ones from scalded digits.)
And I found time to break my fancy camera's lens.
And yesterday I finally prioritized some selfish sewing and tried to make a shirt from this Adorable Japanese Craft Book... and it is AWFUL. which is perfect since I made no muslin and used instead my expensive linen. What a doofus. I think the pattern is fine.. I'm just not doing great with the lack of English instructions, limited brain power and my not tiny petite Japanese body.
I also totally yelled at my kid, multiple times. And am making him learn too cook, because I said to find himself something to make for dinner and he chose 3 pieces of toast... then asked for ice cream.
I need to regroup.
Time to breathe deep... and look at the pretty flowers:
Oh.. look! It's time to walk the dog again!
Dude, good thing you're so cute!
37 comments:
Oh, SO CUTE!
The pup is indeed adorable. Though I could see the toddler with sharp teeth thing and despite the curveball the pup's thrown you, you still sound pretty productive to me!
Poor Betty! Isn't that ALWAYS how it goes? The MOM ends up with most of the work. Sigh. But think ahead - Puppy will grow & REMEMBER who took good care of him. Viola! One VERY faithful companion and staunch defender! Teach him to tinkle on the toes of all who abuse you, my dear! LOL!
Poor Betty! Puppies ARE toddlers.. and labs never quite outgrow that little kid enthusiasm. It will take about 2 years for yellow guy to grow through puppyhood, so take a deep breathe. It will get better.
He looks like a great companion, though, and I'm a bit jealous of you. Ofcourse it's been 10 years since I spent a summer caring for a lab pup so the energy suck has blurred to some really great stories. Ofcourse one of them is how I started with: she has 1 good hour and 1 bad hour; 1 good day and 1 bad day; 1 good week, and 1 bad day...
Oh my gosh, so cute! & so worth the time & effort to turn them into well-behaved little members of the family! Especially when they *are* such great snugglers.
& the flowers are *gorgeous*!
Very sweet puppy face! I can relate completely to what you're saying. Dogs are SUCH a lot of work!!!!!!
What a Cutie!! Yes, I know just what you mean, I can't seem to get motivated to blog more than once a week, if that, just too many summer distractions! xo, suzy
Dude, you need to talk to grown-ups. Call me.
The good news is that fur babies grow up so much faster than skin kids.
My experience is that the mom always gets stuck with pet care no matter whose dog it is or the promises that came with the acquisition of the pet.
Oh.. I wasn't expecting much from the kid, but I was hoping for a little bit less whining and feet dragging from the Dad portion of the family.
I'm taking notes! Serious rumblings here about a dog and that's after one of the smelly gerbils escaped this weekend! Of course it was found at the back of my bureau merrily chewing through my precious magazine stash! Arrggh! t.x
Being a stay at home dog mom is harder tben you thought it would be. Hang in there... It gets easier!
Oh, do I remember those puppy days. My entire day revolved around "tiring the puppy out". I was exhausted!!! I sat on the kitchen floor with the little biter one day and cried. It's so worth it though. Now he's a labrador gentleman and a huge source of peace and joy. Good luck!!!! Vicki at hollyhocks.typepad.com
Puppy duty is tough. But what a face and the puppy breath. Love it.
While on your next walk, breath, smell the roses, look up at the trees and the blue sky. Maybe even a big sigh or two just to let go of the stuff, whatever that stuff is in the moment.
It's all good.
I think that the flower pictures put it all into perspective!! Truly I love a good rant once in a while- we are all human and true emotion is what seperates us, well that and a little fur. I can't believe ALL you DID accomplish however, the jam, the potholders, twice!! The berries and walking on top of it all...not too bad!
oh cute dog w/ beautiful eyes!!! pets are our children, it's ok that you're blogging little because of the adorable dog!!
What an adorable pup!! I do feel for you. I remember the baby dog phase well. Sleepless nights, frustration, and irritation, but you're right -- puppy breath and snuggling are great! Take deep breaths and you'll get through it all. In the meantime, keep looking at those pretty flowers.
that dog is so darned cute i find it hard to believe that everyone else isn't fighting to be around him to train... although, if i remember correctly, i was a terrible task master, so maybe i don't really know of what i speak...
it will be worth it in the end.
Oh! The dog. So darn cute. Look at that face. And those ears. LOVELY.
A sharp-toothed toddler, yikes! I feel for you. Do you have the Monks of New Skete Art of Raising a Puppy book? We used that one. Hang in there. I know how you feel.
Hey, give me a call.
Oh my goodness. That pup pup is too cute!
O my, I just found your blog and "HE IS SO CUTE!!!!!" and your blog is lovely.
Well..I hope this little comment helps you some...I have two dogs and I recently found two dogs on the street, picked them up, took them home and bless their little hearts if that wasn't enough they blessed us with puppy's....:) now we are the happy home of 6 dogs and each morning I remind them that it is a VERY good thing that they are cute!! :)
I do so want to be sympathetic, but that adorable face just won't let me.
You sound like you have your priorities in order though, as always my dear. Teach the dog to behave, the kid to cook and don't forget to take time to smell the flowers. Everything will come out fine.
You're in my thoughts.
I got all the way to the end of that post, saw that ridiculously cute little face and forgot everything I had just read...
Kidding. But god he makes my heart go gushy just looking at him! I remember puppy days... they are so trying. But so worth it when you come away with a dog who does some of what he's told. Best of luck with him, and everything else!!
He is SUCH a cute little dog. I've been thinking I wanted a dog for a while now but after reading how much work it is, I think you've scared me off!
He will grow up and thing will get better. Your children, on the other hand.........I wouldn't count on them EVER GROWING UP! LOL!
"We" got a puppy in February, "we" (husband and I) decided that it was a good idea and the right time for the boy -- and I know so exactly what you are talking about since Doggie Dad just complains all the time about how inconvenient it is to have the dog and about how he didn't want one in the first place (huh?), Dean of course isn't old enough to help very much (and we did know this going into it) so it has been 6 months of all about me and the puppy and it has taken all the precious little time I ever had to do anything else creatively or for myself. Oh, yes, we do walk the same path (and then clear it of the poop!). I highly recommend a puppy kindergarten training class, even if only because (1) it will so totally exhaust the pooch that he'll sleep for the rest of the day each week and (2) you can snicker at the people with dogs who are worse behaved. Great fun.
Peace, my friend. I hear it gets much better at the two-year mark, so I'm just hoping we all last that long.
Holy crap-oly that puppy is so cute I will eat him if I get half a chance.
Yes, it's true. Puppies are almost exactly like having a toddler around the house, only harrier.
Gripe away...life gets crazy sometimes and you have to vent.
Damn those tiny people!
that face, that face...
Oh I am really here to tell you I have nominated you for a blog award. Please check out my blog.
I even have a WRITTEN contact with my boys... The "If we get a dog I promise I will...". Signed by them and everything! Well, looks like I'm the alpha dog... seems that's the way it works. I will say this, eleven years later, the boys are grown and out of the house, and the dog's still a sweetie.
Enjoy each day!
Poor you bad day. I've got just the thing for you::: A GIVEAWAY::: Come on over and join the fun. Have a great day. Cute dog by the way.
AAAAAAAAAAAW, he's soooooooooooo cute! Puppies rock.
Im sure Benjy and your pup would totally hit it off.
Aww man, some days are hard aren't they? I find myself having to regroup often. Your pup is such a cutie!
just too stinkin cute...now I want one:) Okay...what is olalliberry ?? Susan
By the way, I cannot get over how DELICIOUS the jam is!!! Thank you.
oh he's adorable!!
thanks for the tip about the pot holders! i've got oven gloves planned and i had the fabric and a piece of polyester batting ready to go (for about a year now)... maybe some felted wool jumper will be better?
having raised one child and one dog - i would say a baby is easier than a puppy. if only there were puppy diapers...
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