A Year of Gratitude #49

 

A Year of Gratitude #49: Elphie

I'm sorta sad writing this one because our time with Elphie is very short-lived. Next weekend, when Steve's dad and Sue Ann leave to head back to Indiana, they'll be taking Elphie with her.

We are at our wit's end with her. Between the constant escaping, to her new trick of digging up the backyard to try and get into the neighbor's yard, it's too much stress. Each time she escapes, I have to go out calling for her and that with Gus at the same time is NOT easy or enjoyable.

Then on Thursday she decided to start digging to China and I brought her in covered from head to tail, in mud. Today, Steve let her out for a minute while he put Gus down for a nap, and when he came down to let her back in (it was less than five minutes), not only could he not find her, but when he did, she was digging again and shoulder-deep in the hole, and covered in mud.

She's causing too much stress and wrecking our yard. There are holes everywhere. She's been pooping downstairs (just outside the door to the litterbox room) because she's not going to the bathroom when she's outside... she's too busy digging.

So... Steve's dad said he'd take her back to Indiana with him. He's going to put her on a collar and have an invisible fence... and she'll be able to run free. I think she'll love it. She'll have Dog and Georgie to play with (their other dogs) and I think it'll make her happy to be free to roam and play all day (within the perimeter of the farm-- which is a nice amount of land for a pooch).

I'm sad to see her go... since I've grown attached to her. I'm sadder for Gus. He absolutely loves her (his love for her has saved her butt so many times). We're just at the point that we can't do it anymore.

So... while it's sad for him to say goodbye to her (they've been together since he was two months old), maybe when we don't have a dog anymore (Ned's got about five years left in him-- if that), and he's a bit older, we can get another dog and it can be Gus's dog. 

It most definitely will NOT be a Jack Russell or any other type of terrier. Not sure what we'd get, but no breed that's known for being too smart for their own good, and not one that digs for EVERYTHING.

So we'll say goodbye to Elphie, but we'll get to see her when we visit the farm, and Dad said he'll maybe bring her with them when they come here for visits. Gus would at least get to see her more often that way.

I'll miss the sweet way he calls for her, "IIIIIII----Sheeeeee"

A Year of Gratitude #43

 

A Year of Gratitude #43: No More Escapes

I'm thankful that Steve was able to find the spot that Elphie also found and was using to go galavanting around the neighborhood. It was the gate and it was cracked a little too much and she was able to wiggle herself through the crack.

Steve found it when he let her our and she escaped. He went to the front to do something with the garbage and saw her go back through the cracked gate and then he let her back in through the backdoor.

He was able to put something in the crack to ensure that she won't be escaping (through the gate anyway) anytime soon. Now I'm just praying that there isn't another spot somewhere in the yard that she's using...

Happy February!

 

Snuggles

What a day! Gus decided that his days of sleeping in and taking long naps are OVER. BOOOOOOO!!!

He was up and ready to go at 7:30 this morning. I could have slept for another hour (at least). We had a good morning and played with his blocks...

 

Playing with his slinky

 

Yes, he took his pants off

After playing all morning, he was finally ready to go down for a nap.

I put him down, let the dogs out, and then plugged my phone into my computer to charge. When I went to let the dogs back in... surprise, surprise... only one came inside (any guesses as to which came inside???). I called and called for (yes... you guessed it) Elphie, but she didn't come. I finally went outside to see what the deal was, and saw that the OTHER gate was cracked. GRRRRR

So she was gone... AGAIN.

I went to the front and called her for but there were no signs. I came inside and texted Steve to tell him that she was gone... and he immediately knew that it had to be the gate. He said he noticed it was cracked this morning, but didn't have time to close it.

I had a birthday card to mail to my niece for her 7th birthday on Friday, so I grabbed the card and headed outside to the mailbox. Just as I looked up from depositing my mail, I saw Elphie... at the neighbor's house. She was on her back getting her belly rubbed. 

I (totally embarrassed) told the guy that she was my dog and hiked up his driveway to get her. He was very nice and was very understanding. He said he saw her down the street... and she eventually made her way towards his house. He figured she was someone's dog from the neighborhood. I told him that we just moved from NC and her tags still say NC on them... he said he'd keep an eye out for her if she ever escaped again.

He looked at our front door and made a comment about Ned waiting for her (Ned was standing at the door looking out). I carried her back home and sent Steve a text that she was back home. She was tired for the rest of today.

Gus got up and we went to Kroger. He was hungry and was delighted when the deli lady offered him a piece of cheese.

We had a great rest of the afternoon and now I'm ready for bed. We have a playdate tomorrow (with AAM) and I'm hoping that this one is better than the last one. We'll see... it's from 10-12 and Dina will be there. I'm praying that we have a good time.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Nite!

WHAT. A. DAY!

This morning started with another pooptastrophy. This time I wasn't so lucky and when I went in to get Gus, the poop was all over the crib. I was so pissed...

So after I got him cleaned up and the crib taken care of, we headed downstairs for breakfast. Gus was snuggling Harry (his doll) while drinking some juice and watching Mickey. 

It was about 8:50 or so, and I let the dogs out for a bit. When I went to let them in, only Ned came to the door (which is pretty normal... I usually have to call Elphie at least twice before she comes inside). I called again... no Elphie. I called a third time, and still no Elphie. So I stepped outside to look and I didn't see her. 

I went down into the yard and looked back in the back where it's not fenced, thinking that maybe she got through the area, and it was still intact... but when I looked back at the house, I saw the gate to the backyard was WIDE open. :-(

I called and called for her but she was gone. So I texted Steve and then went back inside... stepped out into the front and called some more, but nothing. So I ended up getting her microchip info and called to report her missing. Just as I was giving the info on the phone, I looked outside one more time and saw her across the street. I immediately hung up and went out and called her, and she came running home.

I was so thankful that she actually came to me... instead of running away. I told Steve that she came home and that we MUST get their tags updated with our new info... they're still listed as living in North Carolina.

As soon as I got her back inside, it was time to head out for our playdate. We arrived about 15 minutes late, but pulled up at the same time as the other mom (Andrea). She had a little girl named Gemma who was 29 months, and then Kim hosted, and had a five year old named Caroline and a three year old named Lilah.

 

Gus enjoying the cash register

 

He liked the rocking horse too

We had a great time and stayed for about two hours and then it was time to head home for lunch and then naptime.

Gus went down for his afternoon nap at 1:00 and woke up at 4:00. It was SO NICE to have him get a nice long nap today!!

Once he was up, we played for a bit and then Steve got home. 

Gus counting bowls

We ordered pizza (it was yummy) and had dinner and while we were watching tv after dinner, Gus decided to take off his diaper... and this one was poopy. THANKFULLY it fell bottom up and didn't spill out at all, but my goodness was it gross.

We threw him in the tub and then it was bedtime.

We came downstairs, and this is what I saw:

 

CRAZY Hobo

I'm chatting with Kristen as I type this... so good to talk to her!! She was eager to hear about how our playdate went today... so supportive and such a good friend. :-)

Tomorrow we're staying home all day and I'm excited to just veg all day with Gus. Hopefully it'll be warmer than today. Friday we have a playdate with a lady named Dina... her daughter Becca is 19 months old too, and was born May 14th of 2010! How fun is that? I'm excited because she's new to GA too and doesn't know anyone here either. They're going to come over here around 10 on Friday and I can't wait!!

:-)