Heat wave

The beginning of the week brought us an end of Spring heat wave.  With temperatures in the high 80s and 90s, getting outside for much fun was definitely a challenge.  Combine that with storms and rain throughout the week, and we didn't have a very eventful week.

The girls spent most of their time outside in the morning before it got too hot or in the evening when it had cooled down with short spurts of time in the middle of the day.

On my lunch on Tuesday, the girls and I took a drive out to buy strawberries at the farm and I decided to swing by the dog park for a short visit before we headed home.  It was cloudy and we had the whole place to ourselves, but the girls got in a good run and Mina played several rounds of fetch in our short visit.  It was just what they needed.

I had the day off Wednesday for the Juneteenth holiday and wanted to do something fun with my day.  

After a quiet morning at home, I loaded the girls into the car and headed out to find some fun places to explore.  First we stopped at the North Meridian Road park for a short walk in the shade.  We picked the perfect trail with lots of shade and no bugs.  

After about a mile in the woods, we were all ready for some water and the air conditioned comfort of the car.   

We drove around picking up a few geocaches along the way and found this cute nature preserve in the Bath area, so of course we had to check it out.

It was quiet and shady, and although there were a few spots that were buggy, for the most part we had a really great walk.  There a few short trails here, and we got in another mile before making it back to the car.  

We'll definitely stop by here again if we are in the area.  Peaches and Mina really enjoyed their walk.

We found one other nature center in the area for one more short walk before we headed home for the day.  We had such a great day and the all that time outside in the heat kept them happy for the rest night.

Thursday the hot, humid weather continued, but thankfully all of our Wednesday fun kept the girls quiet most of the day.  Late in the afternoon, a storm system moved through the area bringing with it some really heavy rains.  The timing of the storm was perfect because it cooled the temperature down enough that I could take the dogs with me to the Farmer's Market with me.  They love going for their weekly visit and I'm glad that they could join me.  Those storms also ushered in the Summer Solstice.  I'm always sad to see Spring go, but I do love our Michigan Summers too.  I can't wait to see what fun we can find this Summer!

After an uneventful Friday, my Saturday started with a trip to the shelter for our Dog Walking Club walk.  I walked Sorah who is a very sweet girl.  I then spent the rest of my day doing yard work and some work around the house.  It was a really productive day.  I had a couple of graduation open houses to attend late in the day, and then the girls and I had a quiet evening at home.  

Sunday morning we were up early because we had to start our travels toward Minnesota where I'll be spending the next several days at a work conference.  I decided I'd make the drive on Sunday so that the girls and I could have a little adventure before I had to drop them off for boarding and I have to sit in meetings all week.  Normally when I make this drive for work, it is after we've spent some time in the UP, and I love the drive across Northern Wisconsin, but this time we left from home so we had to drive through the Chicago area traffic.  

We made a few quick stops along the drive, but the Wisconsin Welcome Center may just have been the favorite stop for the girls.  Peaches was rolling in the grass and Mina was exploring all the new smells.  They were just happy to be out of the car and checking out somewhere new.

Finally, after a long day of driving due to some slow downs around Gary and Chicago, we finally made it to our destination for the evening-Eau Claire Wisconsin.  While I've driven through this area on several occasions during my travels west, I've never stopped.  So we made sure to get out for a walk around town to stretch our legs after all of that time in the car.  The views along the river were especially pretty.  

It had been a long Sunday, and after a nice walk and dinner, we quickly settled in for a quiet night in our hotel.  

Mina had me up bright and early this morning for a quick potty walk and breakfast, so I'm making the most of the quiet time to finish the blog and a few other things before we head out to explore a bit more. and then finish our drive to Minnesota.  I sure am going to miss the girls the next few days, but I know that they'll have fun at Lucky Dog and I have some fun plans for our weekend before we leave Minnesota to travel home.  I hope you all have a great week! 

A farewell and fun in the sun

Happy Tuesday to you all!  I know I am late in writing this week, but my Sunday didn't go as originally planned, and frankly, neither did my Monday.  So here we are sitting inside to avoid the heat after my day of work, which I thought would be the perfect time to get caught up on last week's happenings.

Last week started with Rafa still here in foster with us, and after a good day of rough-housing with Mina all day Monday, we didn't need much of an adventure.  I still wanted to get out for a walk to enjoy the beautiful sunny day, so we took a nice walk around downtown Mason to fill our evening.  

Then on Tuesday morning, I got the call that there was a family interested in meeting Rafa.  Thankfully, I had stocked up on Frosty Paws on my recent trip to Aldi, so we threw an impromptu lunchtime ice cream party in the backyard.  All of the girls enjoyed this mid-day surprise.  

Then I took a late lunch and drove out to the shelter with Rafa to meet the prospective adopters.  She was a little nervous being back at the shelter, but overall she did great.  She was happy to see her shelter friends, she just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to leave her there.

After spending a lot of time just sitting in a meet and greet room, and lots of discussions about her needs and personality, the family decided that they couldn't leave without her.  She was unsure at first, but I've since heard from them and she is starting to settle in to her new home and getting more comfortable every day.  They kept her name, so she will be Rafa forever.  They all just thought it fit her well and they all adore her.

She was a hard one to let go, and I did get a little choked up as they drove away with her, but I'm happy that a family was willing to give this shy little girl a chance.  Just a month earlier she was too nervous to even walk out of the shelter, so she really came a long way in a short time, and I know that she'll continue to be brave and will learn that the world isn't such a bad place and that there are more good people than there are bad ones.  

Without a puppy to keep her busy, Mina was back to her normal work from home routine on Wednesday morning.  The weather was great, and the girls were happy to be outside.  I just had to chuckle when I looked out the window to find them both happily lounging in the middle of the garden.  

Then, after a morning of outdoor fun, they came inside for lunch and and afternoon nap.  Mina has a rough life!

The weather Wednesday was a little warm, but we were still able to get four dogs out of the shelter for a nice walk.  We did shorten our walk a bit due to the heat, and Oyster was happy to get back to the shelter and make himself comfortable on the cool lobby floor.  

Thunderstorms were forecasted for mid-day on Thursday, so I took an early lunch so that I could get the girls out for a nice walk.  I decided to drive into REO Town and jump on the River Trail for a little added adventure since we don't walk here often.  

It was cloudy when we started, but the clouds quickly cleared and we had sunshine and beautiful blue skies for our walk.  Boy did that sun make things heat up quickly!  We had a great walk, though, and then we headed home so we could eat lunch and I could get back to my work day.  

By the end of my day of work, storms still hadn't started, so I headed out for our Thursday visit to the South Lansing Farmer's Market.  Luckily the cloudy skies kept the pavement cool enough for the dogs to join me.  After I grabbed my egg rolls, Peaches dragged me into Soldan's for a quick visit before I could finish the rest of my shopping.  I grabbed a few goodies and some fresh produce just as the rain started, and we made it back to the car before we even got wet.

The rain moved through the area quickly, which allowed us to join a group of fellow geocachers at a geocaching event at our local Dairy Queen.  Of course I got the girls a treat.  They even waited nicely while I got their picture.  

When we were finished with our treat, we headed home to spend some time outside doing some yard work.  It had been a really great day.

Friday was a long day, so I was happy to just take the girls to the dog park in Dewitt for a good run.  It was surprisingly empty when we got there, and before we left we had the whole place to ourselves.  Both girls enjoyed this time to just stretch their legs and explore.  Peaches found plenty of chances to roll in the grass, and of course, Mina had to play ball.  It was a good start to our weekend.

Saturday morning I spent some time doing some stuff around the house before loading the girls into the car for a visit to Joey's Pet Outfitters.  One of my fellow shelter volunteers reserved the dog park there for the shelter volunteers and staff so that we could bring our own dogs for  a little fun.  Peaches wasn't quite herself Saturday morning, so she didn't explore as much as she normally would, but I think she was still glad I brought her along.

Mina ran around chasing birds and exploring the pond and grassy areas, and of course she played several rounds of fetch, bringing her ball to anyone who would throw it for her.  She had a blast.

After our fun at the park, I ran a few errands and picked up a late lunch, and then we headed home for the day.  We enjoyed some time outside working in the yard and garden, and also took some time to relax.  Overall it was a really good day.

On Sunday morning, we were up early so we could get out and enjoy the day before it got too hot.  I was finally able to get the fence up around the garden to keep Mina out so that maybe all my plants will have a chance to grow.  

While I had plans to visit my dad for Father's Day, I also had other plans to get some things done around the house and yard, but that all changed when I got a call from Nicol around 9am asking if I could take Fiona for the day because both she and Tyler weren't feeling well.  So I finished what I was doing, and jumped in the car to go get Fiona.  

After the hour drive to pick her up, we made the hour and forty minute drive to my parents where we arrived just in time for pizza.  After eating lunch, Fiona headed outside with my dad to explore.  I joined them soon after and off we went to explore the ditch for crocodiles.  Along the way, we picked up lots of tiny flowers and even some small apples that had fallen off the tree.  She proudly carried her finds with her until my mom put a blanket out on the ground and all of her treasures found their way to the blanket.

We had a special treat of strawberry shortcake that Fiona was very frustrated that she couldn't eat outside, so she finished quickly and we headed back for more time in the yard.  Before we left, we got a picture of Fiona and my parents.  And then it was back in the car for the long drive back to drop Fiona off at home and then continue on to my own home where the girls were patiently waiting after a long day of napping. 

While Mina and Peaches didn't get to have much fun on Sunday, I was proud of how well they settled in for the night when I got home, exhausted from over 5 hours of driving.  But all of the driving was worth it because I got to spend a nice day with family.

This week we are experiencing some pretty extreme temperatures, so it is going to be pretty uneventful around here, but you know we'll still find some fun.  Our Spring will officially come to an end, and we will welcome Summer and hopefully the new season will bring with it plenty of adventures.  Now I'm off to visit with a friend.  Wishing you all a happy Summer Solstice!  

It's June in Michigan

This week I am feeling like we're finally settling back into a regular routine again.  It really felt like the most normal week we've had all year.  It's so nice getting back to a routine.  The weather this week was nice, and it allowed us plenty of opportunities to spend outside.  

On Tuesday after work, I decided that I wanted to take each of the girls on individual adventures.  Mina and Rafa play so much all day that I hadn't had to take them all out for a walk together since bringing Rafa home, and I always dread the first walk with a new foster because we generally end up as a tangled mess.  It is never enjoyable.  So I decided individual walks would be perfect.  

Rafa got a trip to Old Town to visit Preuss Pets.  I wanted to see how she'd do with all of the sounds and people there, and while she was a little nervous around the people, she seemed to enjoy the trip.  We left Preuss and took a nice walk around Old Town.  She did a great job.  

After I got home with Rafa, I loaded Mina into the car for a trip to REO Town.  I needed dinner, so I thought a quick dinner on a patio somewhere would be a great adventure for her.  She was a very good girl.  When I finished dinner, we took a walk around REO town.  She is such a good girl when she is on her own.  I always enjoy my  one on one time with her.

Finally, I headed home to get Peaches out for a walk  She was pretty excited for her walk around the neighborhood with me.  It was a short walk, but she was happy.  When we were back at home, I let Rafa and Mina hang out in the back yard, and Peaches got to stay with me while I did some weeding in one of the landscaped beds in the front yard.  She was an excellent helper.

Wednesday was another nice day for the girls to spend the day outside while I worked.  They had lots of trips inside to wrestle and nap as well, but spent most of the day out in the yard,  The weather forecast called for rain, but it held off all day until I was getting off of the highway on my way to the shelter for our Wednesday night dog walk.  With thunderstorms in the area, I had to cancel our walk, but a couple of volunteers still came out to help me get some dogs out for a little fun.  Somehow we got lucky, and the storms moved out of the area shortly after our walk would normally start, and we were able to get three dogs out for a shortened walk.  I got to walk Rafa's sister, Trace.  She was crazy, but I love this little girl!  I sure wish they'd both get adopted!

On Thursday, I worked a half day because I had to help my mom get to an appointment in the Detroit area in the afternoon.  While she was in her appointment, I took a walk around downtown Birmingham.  It was a beautiful afternoon for a walk, but it sure was strange to be walking without any dogs!  

Her appointment went quickly, and we were back on the road home in no time.  We still had to deal with some rush hour traffic, but luckily it didn't add a lot of time to our drive.  We stopped for dinner in Perry before I made the rest of my drive home.  The girls had been in their kennels for nearly 6 hours by the time I got home, but they did great.  I was really proud of how well Rafa did.  She is proving to be a great little dog, and the family who chooses her will be very lucky to add her to their family.  

They were all definitely ready to burn off some energy, so we headed outside so that Rafa and Mina could run and wrestle.  Peaches was happy to run, sniff, and occasionally bark to let the youngsters know that they were getting too crazy.  They all had fun, and it was nice to spend time outside with them.  Finally, we headed inside so that they could eat dinner, and then we all settled in for a quiet evening. 

Friday finally arrived, and I had a busy day at work.  The girls enjoyed their day of fun both inside and outside and were very good at keeping themselves busy while I worked.  Mina has finally settled into our work from home life, and I can tell she's maturing past those puppy days and learning that I don't have to be her main source of entertainment.  But after a long day of work, I am happy to spend some playing with her.  

Almost every night this week, I spent some time outside trimming bushes, pulling weeds, and cleaning up landscaping.  I thought on Friday I'd be doing the same thing.  But I walked outside, and Mina brought me a toy, so I decided I deserved a night to sit on my patio to enjoy the weather and spend some time playing with the dogs.  We had so much fun!  

Our Saturday morning started early with a drive to Lakeview to complete a home visit for ISR.  The girls came along and got to get out and play with the resident dog.  They loved this huge fenced in yard.

After finishing our home visit, we headed south to Lowell for a visit with Tom, Barb, Sherman, and Ruby.   These four crazies hadn't been together for a playdate in quite awhile, so it was nice to be able to get them together. 

Sherman was extra playful, and he tried hard to get all of the girls to play with him.  Peaches doesn't play as much as she used to, but she and Sherman had a fun time together.  Rafa was so good with making new friends, I knew she'd be okay with the other dogs, but she did even better than I expected.  Mina spent most of her time trying to get someone to throw a ball for her.   And Ruby made it clear that she missed me and that I should visit more often.  I love that girl and I am so happy she was adopted by friends so I can continue to visit her throughout her life.

It is quite a challenge to get a good picture of this group, but somehow we managed to get one.  

Most of our pictures look like this one with dogs on the move or just plain ignoring me.  

After a fun visit, it was time to leave, but I decided I couldn't leave Lowell without getting a stromboli for dinner from Three Brothers, so I placed the order and then headed downtown to take the girls for a quick walk on the North Country Trail along the river while we waited. 

It was the first time I walked all three of them together, and they did great.  Rafa usually walks pretty nicely and Peaches was tired enough to not be completely crazy, so we enjoyed our quick walk.   I just couldn't be that close to the trail without taking a walk, and it was beautiful along the river.

After our walk, we picked up the stromboli and headed home.  Even with food in the front seat, I had a very quiet drive home.  It had been a really good day.

Today, I spent time out in the yard doing some work in the garden while the girls played.  It was a very productive day.  I came inside for a short break mid-afternoon, and the girls crashed.  Rafa spent some time in my lap, and when she got down, Mina jumped up.  I couldn't stand the thought of making her move, so we relaxed and watched some TV for a little while.  We finally got up to run a quick errand.  When I got back home, I had planned to go back outside for some more yard work, but the wind had really picked up so the rest of my work will just wait until tomorrow.

I really hope this upcoming week is as good as the last week.  I love spending time in my yard this time of year and enjoying beautiful weather.  

Here are a couple of cute pictures of Fiona, who got to ride a horse last weekend.  She was so happy! 

I hope you all have a great week!