New Beginnings and firsts

Happy Sunday, friends!  It's been a couple of weeks since I've written because things have been pretty busy around here lately!  We have had some adventures, some work travel, and lots of exciting new happenings.  We've experienced some new beginnings and some firsts over the last couple of weeks too.  While it's been crazy, we've been doing our best to enjoy each day.

It's been two weeks ago today that Peaches, Ruby, and I headed out with Vanessa to Albion for a little adventure.  Ruby had just had her spay surgery and was unable to go on long walks, but we all needed to get out for some fun.  We parked at the new, fancy trailhead parking lot off of M99 to take a short walk on this new part of the trail.  We've been hiking the NCT in Albion since we joined our first Hike 100 challenge back in 2016, and it's always exciting to see improvements to the trail.  This new parking lot was definitely a welcome addition to the trail, too. 

Our plan for the day was to take a short hike on this new section of the trail and then spend the day placing some new geocaches along the trail.  Vanessa and I really noticed the lack of geocaches in the area when we completed hiking Calhoun County last year.  This year, with a new geocaching challenge being added to the Chief Noonday Chapter's Hike the County challenge, we knew we really needed to get out and add some caches to add to the fun.  We have both volunteered to help the Chief Noonday Chapter with this challenge and figured placing some new caches was a great way to start.

While we only hiked about 1 1/2 miles, the girls were pretty happy to be along for the ride and settled in nicely as we made several stops to place the caches.  It was a great day and we successfully placed 17 new geocaches.  This was my first time placing any caches and I really enjoyed finding some good hiding spots.

My week started with a trip to Chicago for a work meeting.  This is the first meeting our team has had since before COVID, and I hadn't been on an airplane since a returned from Hawaii in October 2019.  It was a little strange being back on a flight.  It was also strange to spend more than 24 hours away from Peaches because we haven't been apart overnight since before COVID.  Luckily the girls were able to stay home and Nicol came to stay with them for the night, which eased my mind.  

Due to our meeting, I didn't have any time to enjoy the city, but I was thankful for the short break between the meeting and dinner which allowed me to catch this beautiful sunset over the airport from the window in my room.  

I made it home Tuesday evening to two girls who were very happy to see me, and I was pretty happy to see them too.  I really haven't missed our in person meetings over the last two years, I'd really rather just stay home with the dogs!

Wednesday's big excitement was getting my new car.  After dealing with car issues over the last couple of months, I decided it was just time to get something different.  I really didn't want a car payment and I don't enjoy the process of purchasing a car, but it is nice to have dependable transportation.  The car market is ridiculous right now, but I was able to get a brand new Kia Soul for cheaper than many of the used cars I had been looking at.  It's the first brand new car I've ever purchased and it was strange to pull out of the parking lot with just 14 miles on the car.  Of course Peaches and Ruby got to take a ride as soon as I got home!

Saturday arrived and I had to get the girls out to enjoy the sunshine so we headed out for a walk on the Hayhoe Riverwalk in Mason.  It was a beautiful day to be out, and I needed to make sure that they had a little adventure before I had to leave them home for a bit to head to Battle Creek where I'd be meeting our next foster, Hershey.

Hershey has come into our home as a hospice foster at age 15.  He was abandoned by the family of his former owner when that owner passed away and he found himself in a local animal shelter.  Several volunteers took him in as short-term fosters over the next few weeks so he could be seen by the vet that the rescue uses in Illinois, we could get Ruby through her heat cycle and spay, and I could get done with my trip to Chicago for work.  But Saturday was the day for him to make the trip from Illinois to Michigan, where he will spend the rest of his life with us.

While Hershey has a heart tumor, a stomach tumor, kidney disease, and poor eyesight, he deserves the chance to live out his life in a loving home where he will get everything he needs to make him happy and comfortable until the end, and I am honored to be the person to give that to him.  We'll be taking adventures, both big and small, and showing him what it's like to be an adventure dog.  The vet has given him less than 6 months to live, but we're going to make the best of every day.  He's one sweet little guy!

While Saturday had been busy, we made time for Ruby's ice cream party because Sunday was going to be her big day!  It was a good way to end our day.

Last Sunday, was a big day as our Ruby was going to be adopted, but before completing the adoption, we got back on the NCT for a quick hike in Kent county.   This was a new section for all of us which is exciting since the goal is to complete all of Kent County this year, so we're making progress! While the section we hiked was road walk and paved path, it was a nice section to get in a quick 5.25 miles for the day.  

We still have a few sections to complete South of Lowell and in the Lowell area, but once we complete those, all of the miles we hike North of Seidman park going forward will be new, unique miles for all of us!

With our hike complete, we headed to Barb and Tom's house to finish the adoption process and send Ruby off to her new life with her new family!  She hit the jackpot with this family and I am so happy for her!  The best part for me is that I'll still get to see her over the years as Peaches continues to have playdates with Ruby and Sherman.   After all of different owners she's had over the years and then 4 months in my home, she's finally found a home of her very own where she can happily live out the rest of her life.  I couldn't be happier for her. 

As my work week arrived once again, we settled into our new routine without Ruby, but with our new long-term resident.  Work from home life seems to suit Hershey really well and he happily snuggles up with his blankets to nap the day away while I work.  

With the new week, we welcomed the Spring meeting schedule for work, and some regular work travel for me over the next 8 weeks.    While it's going to take a little time to figure out what works best for all of us, Monday required me to head to Kalamazoo for the night.  Since Peaches just finished her Bordetella vaccine, she couldn't go to a boarding facility, so I loaded her and Hershey into the car for a night in Kalamazoo.   

Other than barking at the door of the room while I was away parking the car, Hershey proved to be an excellent hotel dog.  He was fascinated by the other dog in the room, but once I sat down for the evening, he settled in nicely and slept the night away.  And unlike Peaches, he rode the elevator like a champ!

After my Tuesday meeting, the dogs and I headed home.  Peaches wanted to make sure that I didn't get lost!

After all of the craziness of the first few days that Hershey was here, we were finally able to settle into a more normal routine over the next few days.  With the longer daylight hours, we are able to get out each evening for a nice walk and Hershey really seems to enjoy them.  

 

We have been checking out some different parks around the Lansing area so that Peaches has new things to sniff and is able to get a little added adventure since our walks have been a little shorter than she is used to taking.  

Our walks along the Sycamore Trail and at Island Park in Grand Ledge were both big hits and I am impressed at how well Hershey does.  We are letting him lead the way with the pace we take and the length of our walks and he's pretty happy to be out there exploring and leading the way.  When we're not exploring, he's happy to take a nap.

Emmalee came into to town for a few days, so we planned an adventure on the South Lansing Pathway for yesterday.  It was frigid, the wind chill was biting, and it was a record cold day for the month of March, but the path was clear, so we headed out with Emmalee and Vanessa with no definite distance planned. We ended up walking just over three miles and Hershey was happily pulling along nearly the entire time.

We enjoyed a nice lunch after our walk and then I head out to get a car wash.  Hershey handled the car wash better than many other fosters I've had.  

And before heading home, we headed to Soldan's pet store for a quick visit and new collars for the pups.  Both of them loved their visit!

What a crazy couple of weeks it's been, highlighted by new happy beginnings for both Ruby and Hershey.  Peaches has taken these changes in stride and is such a trooper.  I realize more and more every day just how lucky I am to have her in my life. 

Hershey has experienced many firsts: hotel stay, trip to Gumps for pulled pork, a pet store visit, and many more.  Plus he's spent the week meeting lots of new friends.  He has settled in well and you'd almost think he'd always been here.  

This week we have more work travel and he'll be staying the night with another volunteer while I work.  But we'll be certain to get out for more fun adventures as well.  It's the first day of Daylight Savings time, so the sun won't set until nearly 8pm now and the days are getting warmer...Spring is on the way and we're ready for it!