Teamwork

Juggling managing Dad's care, my own work, my life, and two very active dogs takes a lot of teamwork.  Mostly convincing the pups that really, truly, I will get them outside for long walks!

But they are sensing something special is happening and seem to give me a lot of room...

Labs are amazing.  They understand their role in this team.

Murphy's day.

Trying Everything

Finality

Even though it's done every day by some daughter or son, there is something final, something painfully final, about moving your parent's things out of their home.

Murphy's day

Murphy Redux

Sage grew up under the fine tutelage of Murphy.  Even though Annie's antics are "so very Murphy," Sage really has many of Murphy's mannerisms.  One of them that is endearing to me is Murphy's love of "her car."  Murphy went every where with me, her car really was her second home.  And Sage is just like that.  If she is tired, stressed, or just wants a nap, she'll always head for the car.

If we're ever homeless, we'll be fine!

Murphy's day.

Allergies

I think Sage is allergic to the pollen that gathers on her swimming hole.  It's a small lake (actually a catch basin for stormwater) that we walk by on our evening walks.  Now that I think about it, it may also be the run-off from all the herbicides we put on our lawns...yikes!

But I swear by salmon oil.  I started giving it to her last year when I noticed her skin was red and she was itching a lot and she now gets some on her food every day.  Works like a charm.

Murphy's day.

Evening Walks

My days are busy, filled with moving my parent's life out of their home, visiting my father, talking with his rehab therapists, managing his care, in addition to trying to work, stay healthy, and take care of two frisky dogs.

So my balm, my one saving slivers of time, are the late afternoon now early evening walks with the dogs.  We first go visit Dad, then head to our secret park.  I open the car door and all three of us leap out.  45 minutes of quiet.

That is, until the cell phone rings.

Murphy's day.

Spring

We were so busy moving over the weekend (still quite a bit of work to do) that we didn't even notice the first day of spring.

Well, really we did notice it.  Here in Seattle it reached 70° which is amazing.  But the girls were cooped up inside waiting for me to get home...then they went nuts playing tennis ball.

It's Annie's second spring with us.  She continues to grow, and occasionally  has moments where I can see a bit, a tiny bit of maturity.

But I can tell she is really to rock and roll with the good weather.

Murphy's day.