First Thanksgiving

This week was all about Food, Family and Football !  Maybe not in that order but certainly a lot of each one of them.  Ruthie explained a few things to me about Thanksgiving and a thing they call a Turkey !  I have seen them running through our farmstead but Ruthie said they will not look like that when they come in the house.

Our week started out with grocery shopping at Hy-Vee.  Mom had already gone to the Commissary on base the week before so this was just a last minute trip to pick up a few things.  However, whenever I go grocery shopping with Mom it takes twice as long to shop because so many people want to stop and talk.  Mom sometimes lets them pet me if I am behaving myself in a good sit/stay.  We take it in stride because it is always a good chance to explain about Guide/Service puppies and dogs. 

Football was on the TV most of the week.  I watched some with Mom, Dad and Ruthie.  One night Mom felt sorry for us stuck in the hearth room with Dad and football so she got on the floor and gave us some really nice belly rubs.  Mom took turns between Ruthie and I.  Dad asked for a belly rub but Mom said he would have to get on the floor and he didn't want to do that. 

Wednesday night my two legged sisters Aunna and Meghann came over.  Pre-Thanksgiving activities.  Mom had already set the table before they arrived so when they were here they could help with cooking.  Well, Aunna found it more exciting to play with me and Meghann was on her computer.  She developed and hosts a web site www.esotericvelvet.com and Mom says she lives on her computer and phone now. 

Finally the BIG day came.  Mom and Dad were up early so Dad could do his Schense Tradition - Getting the turkey and duck ready.  This is a very serious job for him and he takes over the kitchen till the birds are in the oven.  I found out what Ruthie meant when the birds would not look like the ones I am use to seeing.  I bet it was HOT in the oven and then they ate them ?  Glad I am a dog !

Things were a little touch and go for the day though for me.  I''ll explain.  Dad took Ruthie and I out after he got the birds in the oven to run off some energy before the guests arrived and I found a bar of soap out on the Farmstead while Dad was poo flipping.  He puts out soap around the trees to scare off the deer.  Well, it doesn't scare off puppies and into my mouth it went.  Dad saw me when I came out from  around the tree and tried to catch me but I was too quick for him.  Finally I came around the corner of the garage with bubbles coming out of my month and no soap left.  Dad was not a happy camper and Ruthie told me I would regret what I just did.  Ruthie and Dad remembered when Ruthie was a Service Puppy and ate soap.   The mud room ended up full of stuff later in the day that comes out the business end of puppies.  Mom and Dad watched me closely all day but I guess I have a better stomach for soap and things never escalated to Code Red !

Ruthie and I had to stay behind bars in the mud room while everyone ate Thanksgiving dinner but Mom let us out during dessert time for a "Teaching Moment" for me.  Ruthie and I were put on a down/stay under the table.  Boy I have never seen sooooo much food and messes to clean up in the kitchen.  Before everyone left another Schense Tradition happened.  Everyone got out their Tupperware and took leftovers.  I also learned that birds have bones.  I wonder if I have bones ?

My sister Meghann brought a friend with her for dinner and he was a NICE guy.  His name was Pete.  He took Ruthie and I outside several times during the day to "Hurry up" and play a little ball.  I hope he comes again.  I like him.

The rest of the day was football along with most of the weekend.  Friday was the last HUSKER football game and we got to watch with Dad.  He was a happy camper because we were ahead during the whole game.  Again, an early game so Dad had the rest of the day and evening to watch more football.  Little Red had to stay in the garage since the wind was blowing and blowing ! 

In between half times and games Dad took us out to play and do our business.  Mom took down the fall decorations around the house and once when Dad took us outside Mom came outside too and took down the outside fall decorations.  Dad got out the tractor and filled it up with pumpkins and other stuff.  I was trying to be a helper bee and escorted him down to the tree line to dump the pumpkins.  Mom said it was the deer's Thanksgiving dinner however I think they started a little early because I could see bite marks on some of them. 

Happy Thanksgiving from our Family to Your Family !

PS - Please check out my new Pen Pal - Daisy. 

She is also a KSDS Serive Puppy in Training

 http://confessionsofasuburbanpit.blogspot.com/

Ready Set Go !

Boy what a week !!!  It all started with breakfast on Sunday then Ruthie and I going to the Groomers.  Ruthie had gone many times but this was my first one.  Just before we left the house Mom checked her email and there was a request from Channel 42 to come and do an interview at our house.  Perfect timing since we were off to the groomers and would look our best.  I didn't know Mom would receive a report card from the groomers on me.  It said I was a little hyper and somewhat difficult to groom. We all agreed since this was my first trip we would overlook my short comings but Mom plans to take me about every other month so I can adjust and be on perfect behavior when I go back to KSDS.  Ruthie was an angel of course.

We arrived back home around 3:30 and the TV crew showed up at 4:00.  Before they arrived Mom lectured us about minding our manners and not talking out of turn.  I put my vest on but Ruthie didn't have to and I thought that was unfair.  She was going to get to play around when they were here and I was going to have to work.  However, the cameraman asked my Mom to throw toys for us to retrieve and asked Ruthie and I to play together while they interviewed my Mom. I guess Mom figured they would not understand puppy talk so no one asked me any questions.  Mom was going to take pictures but put down her camera and could not find it till after they left so no pictures to share.  We all sat down in front of the TV that night and watched.  Turned out pretty cool !
 

Later in the week was our BIG day of travel and adventure.  It started out with a 5 mile walk with MaeMae so that I would be worn out as my Mom said.  Back home Mom gave me my pink pill before she started to get dressed to go so that hopefully my tummy wouldn't have issues.  Around 9:30 Mom loaded us up in the Ford and off to St. Cecilia School to do four presentations about Guide/Service puppies.   When we arrived  Mom made sure our business ends were taken care of with two pink baggies to show for it then we headed into the school.  We were surprised that Channel 6 news was there to do a story about us.  It aired on the 4:00 and 6:00 news cast.  Everyone was so nice to us and I think all of the kids must have attended KSDS obedience classes and passed with honors because everyone was so well behaved.   We even had one class sing "Thank you" to us.

Just a few things about the presentation though.  I was nervous to start with but soon relaxed just like Ruthie told me I would.  Ruthie was so relaxed that Mom had to stop during one of her presentations because Ruthie was snoring so LOUD !  During one of the question and answer sessions one of the kids asked my Mom "Does Avalon go with you to communion ?"   I heard my Mom telling my Dad the story later and she said it would have only been a question from a presentation at a Catholic school. 

One thing I REALLY want to tell you about this week is - NO ACCIDENTS at all.  I did not have a mistake in the house or get sick in the car !!  I am starting to alert my parents that I need to go out but I still refuse to ring the bells unless Mom puts a treat right next to it.  I am not a pavlog dog - I am a KSDS dog.  Mom is allowing me to stay out in the house more and is surprised when she finds me in my kennel sleeping ?  Don't know why because that is my bedroom. 

This Saturday was HUSKER football but again it was an early game.  Ruthie and I spent some time before the game outside with Dad.  He sat us down to ask for assistance in poo finding and flipping since it had been a few days and Mom has not been very good at poo flag marking lately.   Most of the game we spent in the mud room because Mom and Dad watched the game in the basement on the big screen.  I could hear Dad coaching from the basement and it wasn't a good day in Huskerland. 

My Mom told me to pass on two GREAT books to read about service dogs.  One is Until Tuesday and the other is A Big Little Life.  She was telling us about the dogs in the books and all of a sudden started crying when she remembered Baily their family golden who was a WONDERFUL foster Mommy to four of the service puppies they raised.  

In Loving Memory of Bailey Marie Schense

Up with the Birds

It is Sunday morning and Mom, Ruthie and I are up with the birds.  The sun is rising and the sky has a beautiful red glow to it.  I have been outside twice already.  Once to "Hurry up" right when I got up then after breakfast to do my BIG business.  Mom marks them with a flag so Dad's job as poo flipper is easier.  He takes his job very seriously. 

This week started out with a LONG walk at the lake on Sunday.  I love to go there with Ruthie.  Mom didn't let us swim in the lake but we still got to play in the sand.  Ruthie is a digging machine but I prefer to run around and sniff anything and everything.  There are really some big machines at the lake - they are fixing a spillway - and Mom took Ruthie and I over to see them. 

I finally learned what Dad meant when he would always say "Pre-wash".  Ruthie said she knew but I never had seen it in action.  Well, this week I did but my Mom lectured my Dad that KSDS puppies are NOT allowed to partake in this.  I did my best though to get all I could before the door was closed and Mom said it can never happen again.

On Wednesday my Mom and sister Aunna went to Wahoo to see my Grandma Schense and to get a bed that was in the storage unit there.  I knew a trip was coming because Mom got out the pink pills before she went to run but at the last minute I ended up staying home.  She said there wouldn't be any room for me after they picked up the bed and unless I wanted to stay with Grandma at the care center I had to stay home. 

Thursday though was a travel day and my FIRST official trip to a restaurant.  Mom gave me my pink pill before she went to run then off to have lunch with my sister Aunna.   Since we live out in the country and she works way out in West Omaha it takes about 45 minutes to get there so I sure needed the pink pill.  I did Ok traveling there but boy I had to do a BIG job as soon as we were there.  I was soooo proud that I could control by big business and not leave the deposit in the car.   It was a messy one and Mom would have rather not been the poo scooper right before lunch. 

We stopped at Three Dog Bark and Mom bought me a treat to eat for when they were eating.  She showed me how to behave while in a restaurant and stay under the table.  She said I did pretty good with only getting up twice but neither time did I try and walk out from under the table.  Probably had to do with the GREAT treat I was chewing on but if my Mom says I did a good job I am proud.  Not sure my Mom and sister really got to talk much since lots of people in the restaurant stopped and talked to them.

Friday Ruthie and I got to go for a 5+ mile walk out here on the Farmstead.  My Mom's friend MaeMae who kind of lives behind us walked me and Ruthie was with Mom.  That way we would not mix our leashes up and Mom would not have to stop like she does at the lake sometimes to untangle us.  There are just soooooo many things to sniff out here in the country but Mom and MaeMae were on a power walking mission so no stopping.  Ruthie and I were pooped out.

I did get to meet MaeMae's four legged family.  There are two of them in their house.  Ruthie has gone on walks with them before so she knew them.  One of them almost looks like a horse which they also have but she gets to stay in the house so I know she is a dog like me.  I could walk right under her without my body even touching her.  They took some pictures and I could tell it was challenging even in my puppy understanding.  Between MaeMae and Mom I think I heard more "Stay - Wait - Stop" in 10 minutes then I usually hear in a week.  

Mom even fell over trying to hold on to the BIG horse dog and everyone got a good laugh. Just before we left MaeMae's daughter Emily came home so they tried to take some more pictures with a little better luck this time. 

Saturday was an early game for the HUSKERS so Ruthie and I spent some time right away in the morning messing around outside with Dad.  He filled the bird feeders and bird baths while Ruthie and I played then we headed off to the road to get the paper.  Dad put the HUSKER flag out but it was too windy for Little Red.  Little Red spent the day in the garage so Dad turned on the TV out there so he could watch.  It was a good day for them.  Dad didn't do as much jumping and yelling as he usually does.  Not sure if it was because we were ahead during the whole game or it was just too early in the day ? 

Today I have a NEW adventure coming.  Ruthie and I are going to the Groomers.  Ruthie has gone many times and says it is FUN but I heard Mom say she is a Mommy's girl and whines when she leaves.  Mom said we will be there for about three hours.  I am sure pictures will follow.

I LOVE my BIG Sister !

Just another Puppy week

Halloween -What can I say ?  I got to see Batman and Superman.  Fairies and Witches,  Ghosts and Spooks and many, many more of those orange things.  Some of them had faces on them so I guess that is what my Mom meant when she said we would be carving them up.  Some of them were funny looking but some looked scary! 

My week started with a trip to Shadow Lake Mall on Sunday.  It is a BIG out door Mall that is kind of out here in the country like us.  They had Halloween activities going on and my Mom thought it would be a good learning activity for me to be around lots of kids and activities.  I actually heard her tell my Dad since he was going to work all day she didn't want to stay at home alone so not sure if it was really suppose to be a training experience or not ?   Either way we did training on the gentle lead thing I don't like and even got to go for a ride on a long thing pulled by a green thing I think my Mom called a tractor.  I see them around the farmstead sometimes.   While on our ride I met a really nice family and the little girl asked if she could sit by me, then after we got off the ride she walked me back to the Mall center. 

Monday was trick or treat time.  Not sure how that really works since out here on the farmstead no one comes to our house except the Emily who's family kind of lives behind us.  I heard Mom talking to Dad how she misses Halloween from when they lived out at the lake.  She said lots of kids and even adults would come to our house.  Mom bought bags and bags of candy and she said she also gave out orange things called "Jell-O" shots to the adults.  Don't understand why someone would want a small cup of Jell-O but Mom said there was happy juice in them.  Whatever that means ?  However, I think is has something to do with that 21 year old thing ?

While we were out at the Mall Mom stopped at Petsmart and bought a ramp for us to get in and out of the back of her Ford.  Ruthie can jump up in the back if she wants to - I saw her do it a couple of times - but I heard Mom say she has issues and won't do it all the time and Mom has to pick her up.  She weighs in at around 70 pounds and I am getting up there so the ramp is a good thing.  Mom tricked us with treats - dog ones not the ones the kids got - so we would learn to go up and down on the ramp.  I played hard ball so I got lots of treats while Ruthie cooperated and only got a few.   She should have taken my advice and more treats would have been had by her. 

I saw something NEW this week.  First I watched it through the window coming down from the sky then after about two hours Mom let Ruthie and I outside.  Needed to "Hurry up" but didn't know what to do about this white stuff on the ground.  It was cold and wet and my "Hurry up" end didn't like it.  After I found a clear spot to "Hurry up" I explored the stuff Mom called snow with Ruthie.  Ruthie said this is nothing compared to what will be coming this winter.  They have snow drifts out here that cover up the barn and sometimes a big green thing has to come and plow my parents out.  However, Ruthie said it is soooooo FUN to play with Dad out in the white stuff. 

Mom took me with her to Wahoo this week.  Mom and Dad went there again to help Grandma Maryann go through her storage unit.  First it was the pink pill which kind of worked.  I felt car sick but didn't actually get sick.  It was busy at the storage unit so I ended up on my leash tied up.  When we went to the care center I thought I was going to get to visit like I usually do but Mom and Dad were busy with moving stuff into Grandma's room and a meeting so I had to sit/stay quietly.  Mom promised me the next time we go I will get to visit. 

 

I received another package in the mail this week.  It comes about once a month I think and it is one of my favorite things to do with Dad.  Open my Science Diet Puppy Food !  I tell him to be careful with the knife when he opens the box so nothing spills out.  He puts it in the storage room so when I run out I have another one ready.  Dad usually feeds me in the morning along with Ruthie and Mom in the evening.  Both Ruthie and I have to mind our manners and wait till our dishes are filled with food and water before we can start eating.   At first this was a challenge for me but I have learned if I mind my manners I get to eat sooner.   Mom says I inhale my food. 

Friday some people came over to the house and helped Mom clean out the last of the stuff in the garden.  At first Mom let us hang out with them and run around but after Ruthie and I ran out in the alfalfa field she put the stop to that.  Both of us had selective hearing issues as Mom put it so Ruthie was banned to the barn and I was put on my outdoor leash.  It was still FUN to chase the blowing leaves but sometimes I would forget where the end of the lease was and surprise - dead end !!

Game day on Saturday.  Ruthie and I got to spend a lot of time with Dad outside in the morning scanning the farmstead before he went to work for a bit before the HUSKER game at 2:30.  Mom and Dad at first were going to go to the game and my babysitter was going to come over but at the last minute they changed their mind.  We didn't put Little Red out since the wind was blowing really hard but Dad still put out the HUSKER flags.  Maybe we should have put Little Red out because it was not a good day for the HUSKERS !  However, I think Dad took it pretty good.  I didn't see him crying or anything like that.  Ruthie and I spent some time watching the game with Mom and Dad and some time in the mud room when things were not going too good.  During halftime Dad took us outside to do our business.  I think though the loss affected me more.  I am beginning to be a true HUSKER fan.  I was up several times during the night needing to go out.  Mom was not a happy camper and after the second trip outside she just stayed in the hearth room where my kennel is and tried to fall back asleep on the couch.  Maybe it was the daylight savings time that messed things up but I really think it was the HUSKER game along with K-State game.  I still track them so when I go back to KSDS I know what is what with KSU.