Names and Trying to Speed up Time

I've loved talking about names. I love speculating and trying out possibilities. I'm pretty sure I'm still looking at "A" names and I've added a few that I would like to see. I love Anders, Asher, and Atticus of the names that have been submitted so far. I have a dog named Aidan, and I'm afraid that my new puppy will come with that name. However, I've been reassured that if that happens I can name the puppy a different name. So, I'm kinda hoping that happens! : )

Other names I've found that I like are Aleron, Alderon, Albion, Ari, and Alijah. I like Amarillo and Allegheny for place names, and Spanish names I like are Amando (meaning lovable), Alano (little rock) and Alamar (meaning coated in gold).

There is a possibility that I'll be looking for female "J" puppy names. It depends on the availability of male puppies this close to the delivery. One of my club members can't have a female and I can, so there may be a switch. I have to say I love "J" names. I love Jemima/Jem, Jessamy/Jessa/Jess, Jubilee/Jubie, Julip, January, July, Juno/Juneau, Junie... this list goes on and on.

I still have moments of sadness about Ardella. I learned that she is in foster care now and I had hoped to keep her until she left with my CFR. Then her name was listed under Transferred Puppies in the puppy group blog. I had a few weepy episodes today. I'm doing my best to keep busy and to speed up time. I got together some balls of a cotton-blend yarn I had to make a "going to bed" mat for the new puppies out of these colors:



I think I'm going to do a version of the Modern Baby Log Cabin blanket from Mason Dixon Knits, but I don't want to do it in straight garter (too boring) and I think I'll add a seed stitch edge. Here's the blanket I knit for my grand-niece, Ava:



I'm also knitting this scarf for my leader for when she retires early next year. It's called Paws to Remember, which I thought was a fitting title for retirement of a group leader.



I'm using Malabrigo lace and the color is close to the green in the Guide Dog coat.

Lastly, I bought a 5-subject notebook to keep a diary of training and other events in more detail than I can blog about, and a Scrapbook to have something to store pictures and memorabilia of the puppy when the puppy leaves. I also bought a book on scrapbooking - I've not done this before but I like the idea of making this a regular puppy-raising project.



I'll do anything to make the time go faster! I miss having a puppy in the house!

New puppy news

I just found out we're getting a male yellow lab puppy on September 10. He is from an "A" litter. Gosh - are there any A names left? Let the guessing begin!

Humane Society Dog Walker

I went to the local humane society volunteer interview/information session and am now signed up to walk dogs one morning a week. I go through orientation in a few weeks and can expand my duties as I want, and walk more days if I want to. I had put on the form that I wanted to work with both dogs and cats, but I have to start with one species initially. I think I'll be safe in not bringing any dogs home, but the cats are harder to resist. I may wait awhile to work with the cats - I need to grow a spine first.

Speaking of cats, I hadn't wanted to write about this on the same day that I found out about what would be happening with Ardella, but our 15-year-old cat Simba didn't show up for breakfast, nor was he sleeping on the bench he sleeps on. My son had let him outside around 4:30 a.m. and he never came back home. He had been losing weight and getting really stiff the last couple of months and I suspect he is no longer with us. So, we're mourning the loss of 2 animals from our home. The house is feeling more and more empty.

I heard a few minutes ago that my CFR would be taking Ardella to her home next week or right after Labor Day. I should be able to say goodbye at that time. I'm glad to know Ardella's leaving the kennel soon since that's a source of stress for her. It kills me knowing that she's stressed out there. I wish she could stay with us a few days.

Learning to say goodbye

I had a very long discussion with my CFR today and will say that I received a lot of clarity from our conversation and decisions were made with Ardella's best interests in mind. I feel my CFR had my interests and feelings in mind in addition to Ardella's.

That being said, this hurts to say, she's not coming back to us. Ardella does not have a health issue, but is very stressed in the kennel and when getting special attention. It's not horrible stress - she doesn't need to go home with anyone at night - but the kennel situation is very stressful for her and has just now started improving a little. Ardella is going to be spayed today or tomorrow and then will be going home with my CFR or another experienced puppy raiser to see if they can change any of her behavior. If so, she will be placed in another raiser's home. If not, she will be career changed and put up for adoption. I've learned that Labs are creatures of habit and so if Ardella came back to us, she would probably resort to old behavior.

My CFR feels this has been a stressful situation for us and she recommended starting over. It has been stressful, but that didn't stop us from loving Ardella. However, I have found that my biggest fear in all this was not just in losing Ardella, but losing the chance to raise at all. I feel invested in raising a guide dog puppy for a reason, not just to gain another pet, but to raise for someone who is visually impaired so that they can have some freedom. I've seen firsthand what these dogs can do and I want to continue to be part of the process. So, we are on a list to get a puppy off the puppy truck on September 8 (Lyn's birthday). I've asked for a black lab and I don't care about the gender. This gives us some time to grieve a bit and then start over. My leader says this is heartbreaking, but things will change when I have that next puppy in my arms.

We do get to say goodbye to Ardella. We'll see her at a time when she doesn't have to see us and then go back to the kennel. It will be in a few weeks. I really need to kiss her nose one last time!

Bethany, if you read this, can you tell Anna?

Ardella

I called Guide Dogs this afternoon to find out how Ardella was doing. They told me my CFR would be contacting me - that that is the person from whom I would receive the news. This sounds ominous - maybe not - but that's how I took the information. I just want to know something so I can accept and go on, or make future plans.

Sister Ann's Picasa link for wedding pictures

Keri's wedding

Per e-mail from Ann, these start with dinner from the Leavenworths and go through the wedding and reception following. Thank you, Ann!

Fixed, I hope, per Ann's instructions.

Wedding videos

I had to divide this video into 2 parts. The total length is 16 minutes. I'm posting the video for friends and relatives who weren't able to attend the wedding. Pictures are up at Flickr, but they are such a spotty representation of the wedding that I'm going to wait for more pictures to come in from the photographer and from people who were at the wedding to post any.

The person officiating the ceremony is my brother, Mark. I'm assuming you know the bride and groom are Keri and Ryan.