Still Here

Much has happened since my last post, which I offer not as an excuse, but as an explanation.

A rare week away from Four Sticks Farm involved a whole lotta get-away getting-ready and a little bit of coming-home catching-up.

The start of a new job took up part-time hours and full-time headspace.

Then came two vet visits, three days of dog-sitting, four favorite fundraisers, five high school hockey games, six college wrestling meets,  seven volunteer events, eight canine classes, nine sister socials, ten PetsMart training trips, eleven friend or family dinners, and twelve days of Christmas. Or something like that.

No partridge, pear tree, or turtle doves (unless you count Mace, the barn cat, who gets very lonely in the winter, and therefore, uncharacteristically cuddly.)

No French hens or calling birds, except Biskit and Chicago if they see me outside anytime after 3:00 pm, as they are convinced that they will, indeed, waste away unless Someone puts out still more hay to stoke their internal stoves.

Pot bellies in many ways.

But enough with the Christmas carols. The holidays are over, winter solidly entrenched, with its cold temps and early nights offering the perfect excuse to stay inside and write. So, I will return to more regular posts, and may even fill in the gap with some of the unfinished updates of yesteryear. If I ever finish them.

In the meantime, know that all is well here at Four Sticks Farm.

Boone enjoys his senior life, sleeping on any dog bed that Mocha with allow. He’s a little wobbly in the rear, but loves his walks and functions best when we keep him on the daily program. During an earlier cold frigid snap, we all stayed in for a few days, which left him a little unsteady and not too inclined to eat, but one trip to the wooded, canine snuffling smorgasbord called Bertram Park put him back on both his feet and his feed.

Boone has conceded to wearing his fleece jacket when we walk in temperatures under 25, but continues to refuse any offer of help hopping in the truck. His face has greyed, his eyes have clouded and his back end has weakened, but his determination has not.

Rowdy is still rowdy in all the right ways. We enrolled in another Therapy Dog class, and managed to pass our TDI (Therapy Dogs International) test. We still have plenty of work to do, but with the stress of the test behind us, we can focus on the fun of working together. And a solid Sit/Stay.

Though the test anxiety has faded in the rear-view mirror, straight up the road looms the next summer library program. Since some of our young readers are already on record as solidly in the “Books with Boone” camp, “Reading with Rowdy” is going to have to bring it, and the pressure is definitely on.

So, with the new year comes anticipation for new adventures, appreciation for old dogs, and gratitude for people to share them with. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog. Check back now and then to see what’s goin’ on at Four Sticks Farm with rowdy Rowdy; Boone the brindle greyhound; Chicago, the Big Red Beast; his portly palomino pasture mate Biskit; Crabby Barn Cat Mace and Mocha, the Kwik Trip Kitten.

Here’s hoping that 2018 brings peace, health and happiness for all.

And for a certain happy golden hooligan, a solid sit/stay.