i heart mornings.

a pretty morning a few days ago. puppy is so happy to be out in the snow, she hardly comes in.

i have a screened-in porch on the south side of my little house. sunny weekend mornings, i'll go out there with pup and read the magazines i've neglected over the weeks, with a cup of tea and a blanket or two to bundle up in. it's a lovely way to start out, and i only wish i could do the same before i go to work.


snow's pretty.

puppy country club

we visited an amazing place for the possible boarding of the pu - it's been getting lots of press, and it's for the precious pups of my area. it's 'way out in the country so any barking of my little dear girl wouldn't bug anyone.

and this place is amazing! m and i went out a few weeks ago to tour, and were met by a lovely young lady who genuinely loves the pups she cares for. the dogs are separated into 3 size groups, and each group has a wing that opens out to an fully fenced-in, huge play yard, and all the pups play and play and play. the suites each have a bed and whatever you want to bring for your pup. they administer meds and special treats. i asked about the possibility of adjusting meds as they are needed, like pup's need for pred, and she was confident that they could do that for her.

they take the pups out for play for 4 to 6 hours every day, human-supervised! the woman who founded the place used to be a marriott exec, and knows her stuff. they even have some in-house pups who have constant-care needs: a blind collie, a mix with such separation anxiety that she crashed through a window to get to people, and a older pup with paralyzed back legs, who stays on his blanket and watches the youngsters. all so happy - such a good vibe. and all the staff are people who see animals as part of the family.

they are even starting the process to create a sanctuary for pups that would otherwise be put down for medical or physical reasons. a retirement community, really.

i like these people a lot.

so now i get pup her appropriate shots and test. i'll test out the place for a weekend and see how it goes. oh, but i hope it works out.

finally! snow has arrived in the northland. it started last night while we were awaiting the 7th year of the two thousands. just beautiful. and we need it desperately. i never really thought about a drought in winter - snow doesn't seem to be precipitation to me. not only does the snow protect plants and trees by keeping the really frigid weather away from the ground and root systems, it provides the spring water that supplies the marshes and streams and everything down from that. snow is good. and pretty.

the holidays have been really good. work slowed down enough to start on my B list. yes, i have A lists, B lists, C lists, all prioritized in a terrifically anal-retentive way. this job has a huge everyday A list - practically everything is a priority - but the holidays reduce the number of people on the floor, and proportionately, A list stuff. hoo.

i even did some filing.

then the glorious, lazy, non-traveling holidays! two 4-day weekends, back-to-back! dinners with friends! gifts! way too much food! just glorious.

we saw dick clark last night - it's impressive how far he's come in only two years. my neighbor had a stroke a few years ago, and still hasn't regained much speech, but he's getting there. his wife is amazing, so devoted and doing a great job with care-taking. he's navy, so they get lots of help and she gets a break now and then. i so admire that devotion.

i got a sage bundle for christmas, so i thought i'd do a cleaning for my house. i waited until everyone left, took a bottle of wine, and saged & toasted the outside of the house, the garden and garage, then every room and closet. i asked for hope and strength, love and friendship, comfort and knowledge. i'm not wikan or pagan or anything, but i do think my ancestors watch over me, so i asked for their guidance too.

happy new year, world. happier than last year, i hope.