OuTsiDe iN a PaRk

I am thrilled to be having some good days.  I was able to be out and about with Jason the other day!  It was wonderful.  I was having pretty good balance and not to bad of pain.  It was lovely, the sun was shining!  We took lots and lots of pictures!  That was super fun..  (He took lots and lots of pictures!) 

I went along for the ideas..  I am not the best at these things but I am having fun with it.  It has been that I would share what I would like to have pictures of and he would go out and find it.  In addition to what he wanted to take pictures of of course.  But it is so fun for me to go with him.  We are pretty low key about it and it is so nice to be out and about doing something with him. 

Luka would have loved the day as well.  We went to a park.  But since I have been doing some food experimentation I thought it was best that he stayed home.  No one wants a dog with an upset tummy!  His tummy is doing so much better!  Which is wonderful!  I am getting things figured out.  Wish he wouldn't have to suffer through my inadequacies. 

The day was glorious though, not to cold, I thought it was going to be.  It was chilly.  I wore a tee shirt a bulky sweater a jacket a scarf and brought gloves along too!  It worked out rather well.  I used everything but the gloves and I did not freeze to death!  Of course I think I was wearing more than EVERYONE else who was out that day, but who cares! 

We even met up with some friends!  We took their pictures too!  That was really fun!  They did a great job of having fun in front of Jason's lens. 

We even stopped to see our friends baby.  By then I was getting pretty tired.  I did not say anything of course as then Jason would have just taken me straight home.  I really wanted to go see our friends at the hospital! 
So we did.  I even held the new little guy for a bit.  (About 2 minutes.)  Before my arms could not do it any longer.. I was even sitting in a chair with arm rests.. I was bummed.. but hey.  I don't hold many babies.  It has been hard for me to do, and I would not want to drop them.  The chair worked out great it provided good support so dropping was not going to happen..

He is adorable!  He was awake and everything!  Pretty cool!..  until my arm started freaking out..  His proud papa then held him until he fell to sleep.  Mom and Dad are doing great!  The nurses think Mom is super mom, she was up and about the day or so after her C section! 

She looks gorgeous and radiant as well of course!

We had a great visit with them!  By the time I was done I could not hide my exhaustion.  But I was so happy to have gone to see them!  Jason had a great time too!  We really like hanging out with our friends!  I am sure we will be getting together for supper in a bit as well.  At least I would like to. 

Look at what the military is testing? 

It was a great day! 

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

OnE mOrE DaY.

Things are better and better.  I guess a big storm system blew through.. Although we did not get much of it here I must have been feeling it.  I am doing so much better just exhausted now!  Thank God!  Easter weekend should be just beautiful!  I hope it is for everyone. 

Things are pretty calm around here these days.  I am happy with that I guess. 

We have friends with a new baby!  That is divine!  Another who is doing well after having brain surgery.  Several friends being thought of this week who have kids with Autism.  A cousin who has kids with Traumatic Brain Injury who has just closed on a house they will be fixing up.  Another friend who had a fire in her home is her new roof on her house this week, another who is going through a traumatic divorce.  Four weddings coming up.. life is amazing. 

Birds are beautiful..

Friends with birthdays, others who are finding jobs, one who has survived cancer, another who has had a foster daughter change her name to include hers.  Some other friends are dealing with the loss of their mother or father.   I am also sure there are more whom I am sure are going through something whether it be exciting, traumatic, or normal that I have not heard from.  Life moves on it takes turns, and will always come to an end. 

I personally like living in the dashes.  The things in between birth and death.  I really like all that people can cram in that little tiny dash.  A person from the town in which I live is headed back to the space shuttle!  How cool is that!  Clay Anderson will be making his second trip in to space.  Talk about a person who never gives up.  While I have met him, (most people in town have if they wanted to)  I knew his mom.  She was an amazing person herself.  PBS did a special on him as well!  Here is his Wiki Profile..  You can even follow him on Twitter! 

It is official, Luka has some sort of upset tummy, he has now thrown up three times.  He is going to have to stay at home for a few days, not that we've gone anywhere recently any how.  But I was hoping to.  We will just have to see how that is all going to work out. 




Some more Etsy things..

This is beautiful!  Very stylish!

How adorable for someones little girl! 

Reminders of my childhood.   It is truly amazing what you can find on Etsy!   

Excited about some things coming up.  It is nice to have things to look forward to.  Even if they are simple!

Hope you are looking forward to something!  I am... I am looking forward to some Peeps and Malted Milk Eggs!

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

EgGs... & SeRviCe DoG NeWs...

This post shares something important at the end!

Things while difficult in some areas are better in others.  Luka and I attended an event last night.  Jason dropped us off and our very prego friend L dropped us off at home.  She was there also making beautiful things with me.

We made Eggs!  Yep!  Eggs.  We did not cook them they in fact are still RAW!  Loving that part!  We dyed them.  Pysknky Style!   We had our event at this great place!  Check it out!   It was fun.  I was completely worn out afterward, and today I am definitely medicated!  But I got to do something creative with friends, which was totally worth it.










They are a wax relief... you paint the wax on with this little device called a Kistky they have three sizes of them and make fancy electric ones.....

See how busy everyone is.. Thanks to Gina for taking some great pictures for me!

So this is the design I did.. what is black on my egg is soon to be white and what is white is soon to be black.. The little tan square is bees wax.. You dip your Kistky in the bees wax after holding in in the flame.  Scoop up the wax and it melts on in a line to your egg..  You can also see my practice lines on the plate.

Yep, I copied it.. Well, not quite.  I did my own version...  But it is similar..

You melt the wax off after you have dipped the egg in the dye.  I didn't get a shot of us doing that, but there were so many tempting colors to choose from.  I couldn't think.. So I just chose black.

My friend L's egg... isn't it cute?  Luka kept wanting an egg too, but he finally was resigned to just watch and wait for us to finish!  He was quite the good sport and received rave reviews on upon our exit! Gosh, as I type this I am watching PBS again of course..  I am now watching a show that is featuring EGGS.. How cool is that? 
Here is a link to a PDF version of Burt Wolfe's Show..  It features these eggs! 

My friend W's Egg..  I think this one is inspired!

G's egg!  She is so gifted!

My egg finished.  

This is the other egg I made.... I didn't want to stare at another picture and "copy"  but I couldn't think of what to make either.. so it is a scribble egg!  Not a scrambled on.. Ha Ha!!  Ok, I know my humor is terrible..

 The eggs are all still RAW.. we are supposed to just turn them occasionally and they will dry out!  How crazy is that!  I am so excited!  ( Oh, and you pray they don't crack, because then your whole house will stink REAL BAD!)

But they are fun!

If you'd like to make this style of eggs go to..   The Ukrainian Gift Shop  

These eggs are amazing!



 So this is what I really want you to take a minute and check out..  



One of my friends called me today!  He shared with me a video that he saw featured on CNN.  Since he knows I am interested in things to do with people that have Service Dogs, he shared this with me.

This is another Service Dog video  this was just featured on CNN.. about fighting for rights..  Thanks to Kevin Stone and his Service Dog Mambo as well as Luis Carlos Mantovan and his Service Dog Tuesday  for fighting for the rights of Veterans to have them covered by insurance!  

I can surely say I am better off for having Luka in my life.  I take less medications, I am more active than I previously was with out him.  I am also happier and I also look forward to more things in general.  Even if I am still not out and about like I was before my accident, after having him I am having a significantly better quality of life.  I of course think they should be covered by all insurance companies.. but I am not asking for a miracle.. These veterans DESERVE to have the best quality of life they can have.  They have fought for our freedom!  Treat them well! 

By the way, this friend is preparing to go to Afghanistan to support the effort there.  He gets orders to leave soon. 

Blessings and Thanks For All That You Do!

Pink Doberman

VaLeNTiNoS a NiGhT oUt WiTh fRiEnDs

Have you ever had a really great night out with friends.  I have!  I look forward to those moments for sure!  I always have!  While I've not ever been the best at hosting gatherings I sure look forward to attending them.  As I get older things have once again transitioned.

As a child we would chat about current events and things going to be happening, the same thing as a teen and in college.  However once college passed, there would be small talk about work sometimes competitively so but really only until people would bring up events from the past. 

Now, people seem to have enough going on that there is small talk about work but it is with a non competitive tone, as well as fun times from the past, but the focus seems to have landed back on what we are up to in our lives what they are planning for the future, and how the families are doing.  Everyone seems to have a greater appreciation for life and others lives.  It is nice.  More relaxed.  Less forced. 

At least that is the way last night went.  It probably helped I was doing better myself.  Luka was able to go and we got a ride from a friend!  I was able to listen to peoples conversations even take part in them.  I had placed myself near the center of the table which worked great for me.  I had different conversations going on on both sides of me.  The kind of conversations you were meant to listen to if you wished or better yet participate in.  That was just wonderful!

I had the opportunity to meet others that I had only heard of or seen pictures of on Facebook!  ( that is my really social life most days)  Which really helped me because I looked everyone up and made sure I had all of the names correct!  Names are important! 

It isn't that I hadn't seen some of these people for a while, I mean it has been months but it was at gatherings of even more people than last night.  I am not good at making the rounds I pretty much just set myself down someplace and watch and listen at those things.  If someone comes by to sit and chat well even better! 

These smaller gatherings are so much better.  While I didn't talk to a few of the people much at all, I was able to at least acknowledge everyone's presence!  Which is so great! 

One of them is even getting married soon!  We all got to meet her fiance!  I think he passed the friend test with flying colors!  They are an adorable couple!  Who lead amazing lives!!  My friends are all cool like that..!  It is so fun to hear about their adventures!!  

Luka did a very nice job too!  It was very difficult for him to say the least.  I had fed him right before we left.  Which was good!  We went to a Valentino's Buffet in Omaha.  The staff there was exceptional!  There were kids everywhere.  Some of them knew what to do about Service Dogs and others did not.  I felt at times like we were being the ones served at the buffet.

The Manager of Valentinos, Deneen was awesome too!  Very thoughtful and I appreciated the conversation I had with her!

The staff ran around behind us chasing naughty children away from Luka.  Telling them they couldn't be around us.  Which was great, as Luka was enamored by the buffets of food!  He didn't eat any of it but was sure focused on it.  (we don't do buffet's much, mostly because I think they are a waste of money, as I don't eat much usually)  I love them though!!  Besides it is allot of walking and carrying, things I am not so good at any more.  Besides the chaos of the whole event is pretty overwhelming for me. 

I did fine though.  I was hoping they were serving cotton candy!  They did the last time I was there!  MMMMmm!  Girl loves her cotton candy! 

The gals who worked there managed to save Luka from what in their words looked to be a very bad episode.  A child who is there on a regular basis is evidently never watched by his parents.  He was following us around everywhere!  VERY CLOSELY!  Kept touching at Luka.  No parent around and so then no one to stop this kid.  I have enough to do without dealing with these kids..  The gal who worked there, shared that she saw the little boy headed for Luka's tail.. (keep in mind he has a very short stubby tail) she shared it looked as if the kid was headed to bite it with his teeth!  OMG!  I can't even imagine what would have happened if he had done that! 

My hands were full with a tray of food I was gathering for myself.  I really can not say enough good things about the staff at Valentinos!  Thank goodness!  Otherwise I am sure that we would have had a very bad experience. 

My friends were great with us too!  A couple of them had even seen us on TV!  That was kind of fun!  Kind of embarrassing too, but I am resigned to the fact that people really need to be made aware and the only way to do that is if someone starts speaking out!..   So here I go with my big mouth!  =D  I am proud also that I am having the courage to do it.  I already stand out with Luka, but at least this way people will come to understand that a little common sense is required on both sides. 


I definitely have more to say on this subject as well.  But I will let that go for now. 


My friends did a great job as well, they fielded questions about us which was wonderful, because I was overwhelmed and could only seem to muster short answers as I would practically run away from everyone as Luka and I walked through the isles of people on the way back to our table.  People are so so curious.

I am finally feeling better and I need to get up and around a bit today! 


I am blessed!!
I hope you have a great time with your friends!
Blessings!

Pink Doberman

mY MuDdY aDvEnTuRe!

The snow that came has now gone.  I can see some tiny piles of it left here and there.  What I thought was going to take months to disappear took days.  Thanks to some rain.  Lots of rain I think.

I guess it is a real muddy mess out there.  My friend who has horses went out to their coral to check them, feed them etc.. got stuck in the mud her boots buried.  She had to sock it out of the mud while her husband dug her boots out.  He'd been stuck earlier with a loader or something.

Her story reminds me of when I was a kid.  Our whole class had gotten together at a friends home for her birthday party.  All of us girls 9 or so and one boy..( poor guy he had no chance with all of us girls..).  Well anyway we headed out to look at the cows in the feedlot.  We did not get in the pen with the cows.  It was November, and there was not any snow on the ground.  But we were all wearing our Moon Boots!  If you are too young to know what those boots are.. they were the coolest winter boots you could have at the time!

They had this outer boot with an inner liner that could be removed for washing.  They came in every color, we all had bright ones.  The bottoms of the boots were like tires and we felt like we were ready for adventure in them!  Just like going to the moon!  

At least that is how I remember them.  Although after our experience I am not sure how cool they actually were.. =)!

We all decided to walk over this really crusty area of dried dirt.  Never thinking anything of it.  If you choose to click on the link provided, you'd think it was safe to walk on right??   Well this crusted dirt had really wet mud underneath it.   9 grade school aged girls... + Moon Boots + Mud..= Unhappy Momma!

Yes, you are smiling now.. soon to be laughing so hard you might pee your pants..

We got stuck in this muck one by one.. Well three or so of us were stuck all at once, the others got stuck trying to pull us out.  Oh my were we a mess.  To top it off this was not just plain mud.  This was Cow mud.. meaning that it had lots and lots of Cow Manure (shit) in it.  In fact that is probably what it mostly was.  Our boots had suctioned themselves deep in to the Manure..  We could not lift a foot. 

We were covered in it.. 

The one boy in our class had opted to go hang with our classmates older brother.  Smartly so it seems.  They happened upon us and got her dad to get us out of there.  We were all mortified, and laughing at the same time.  The boys couldn't have been happier.  They were laughing so hard at us!  The more they would laugh the more frustrated we would get.

Her father finally arrived to pluck each one of us out of our boots..  By this time we were freezing and all had to go to the bathroom ourselves...

He tossed us in his truck and left us on the doorstep of their home.  He went back to get the boots out.  Her mother was overcome!  She just couldn't believe what she saw on her doorstep.  We surely were not entering her pristine home like this.. Manure ridden socks and pants, hands and coats...

We were told to strip!  Leaving every article of our clothing outside.  We were freezing as you can imagine..  She got us all cleaned up.  The boys were banned from the house during this time of course!  I remember sitting by the fire place trying to get warm.  She washed our clothes...  

Took the liners out of our boots and washed those, hosed off the outer boot... and we all ran around in towels!  This was the funnest birthday party of the year! 

My friends mother was incredibly apologetic to our parents as they came by to pick us up!  She was so apologetic I think she was nearly in tears.  My parents of course were used to this sort of thing.  I was the muddiest child you could imagine.. I was always making a mess.  In fact I am sure that they were the ones who were mortified... as they assumed I had something to do with this entire mess.  In my remembrances.. I don't think I was one of the first in, but I do believe I ended up being one of the messiest! 

I think she was horrified at what we'd managed to get ourselves into..  Ourselves, we were thrilled! We couldn't stop talking about our adventure.  I dare say that is one birthday party that none of us will ever forget!  We all now know the dangers of dry cracked dirt!  So we are all smarter for it as well!

I really did grow up right!  I had the most wonderful imaginative and adventuresome childhood.  Of course the best childhood friends too!

These days, every day is a new adventure. I guess that is what life is!

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

HoMe hEaRt iS

Home is where the heart is. 

Jason is home again.  Which is so nice.  He is sleeping now and since I've been a night owl, I am typing.  I think when I go to sleep he will soon wake up.  Which works out fine anyway.  He's got plans to go out and snap some more pictures! 

I am happy for that.  I know he didn't take many shots on his teaching trip.  So this will give me more to look at tomorrow.  I have really been craving something new to look at.  We have bunches of pictures, lots of decent ones and many good ones.  We also have lots of bad ones.. so I think I am going to work on deleting those!  Get them out of our files. 

I also need to get some pictures printed.  I have to get those chosen as well.  I am really hoping that tomorrow will be a nice day and I can get outside for a bit and sit in my chair.  My medication should be available as well.  So that might solve a few of my issues.  Fingers crossed! 

While my life has come to a slow down, others I know have had their lives put on the fast track.  They are busy multi-tasking and doing this interesting thing and that.  I am glad that they are.  My head lately has been slow.  Slow at even imagining.  I don't know if the depression is getting worse or what. 

Yeah, I realize I am depressed.  I have been down this road.  You could say I am an expert.  I will beat it.  I sure could use some warm weather and sunshine to make it easier.  Come on Spring!  Lets turn this country GREEN! 

I need to get our taxes sorted for our CPA also.  Yikes.  That is going to take a clear head.  I have hopes of doing that.  I have gathered everything, I did that in Feb... I am going to start running out of time. 

I also would like to do some baking.  A friend posted a gluten free recipe on her blog. 

Another friend would be fun to have over to eat the gluten free recipe with!  She could probably use it too.  She's going through a rough transition.  Brain Surgery.  Can you even imagine what that must be like.  Anyhoo.. she had a seizure this week her first week out from surgery.  We are worried for her as you can imagine. 

At the same time we are also quite frustrated.  I am not in any condition to go off galavanting to see her.  Hopefully I will get something worked out with that.  It would be perfect to go hang out with her.  I am not sure if she is buzzing around her house or sitting quietly.. but either would be fun.  Her hubby could probably use someone to talk with also. 

Since Jason is practically an expert in dealing with lifestyle change..  Both guys are so similar it is frightening!  It would be something that they may both enjoy as well.  Who knows, we will just have to see what happens.

I did look outside today.  Last week or sometime anyway, I had taken a picture of a robin.  A big big fat robin.  Full of eggs.  Today I glanced out the window to see skinny robin's out and about.  So I wonder if the eggs are all laid?  

I am quite proud of this picture!  Jason was even surprised!  I must say that I am even more proud because I changed the camera's settings to get the lighting right.  Jason had shown me how one day.. Well, I hadn't paid that good of attention to how he got to the screen..  So I just started pushing buttons.. 

I am sure he would have been mortified and terrified that I was going to wreck something.. But hey, the camera is virtually a computer right??  The main thing is not to drop it!  And I had that puppy hooked on so it was not going anywhere! 

I shot my first bird!  (BIG GRIN)

I really can't wait to see more birds.  My grandmother used to paint them all of the time.  Maybe that is what I will try to do as well.  She liked using acrillic paint.  But I think I am more of a watercolor girl.  I have been wanting to try out the oil thing... so who knows. 

I also want to make a braided rug.  I am guessing I will need help with this stitching the whole thing up because it will get quite heavy.  But we really need a rug for our living room and I think I could make a pretty great one!  I have it all in my mind.

I thankfully have not had a migraine the past day or so!  I am super thrilled about that!  The last one I had was a doozy with all of the other issues I was having.  Luka caught it, so while it did get worse than they have been we did get it caught soon enough for the meds here at home to take care of it.  Thankfully!  I really hate going to the ER. 

I might give the urgent care thing a try sometime.  But I need to find out more about that.  I have a feeling they'd just throw their hands up in the air with me.  Placate me and I still would have no relief. 

Hopefully that issue is mute anyway.  I plan on only going to the hospital as a visitor, not as a patient. 

Since I have not been moving around much, my neck is doing better!  No moving no causing unhappy nerves!  But my rear end and the back of my head are going to need a vacation.  They are so unhappy!  Way to much sitting in similar positions! 

I am looking forward to dying some Easter Eggs.  I can't wait to share pictures!  They are going to be glorious!  I even have friends coming to dye them with me!  I don't know what I will do with them, but I just thought they would be fun to make.  It is a workshop with a teacher and everything!  I am so excited! 

The last one of these I could not attend.  So I am better prepared this time.  Jason is going to be home and can run Luka and I out to the class!  Even if I feel crummy I will go and watch!  That way I can do it later on my own! 

I think the way we will be doing the eggs will be similar to using water color as well.  Not the same but similar.  It looks interesting to me anyway.  I can't wait to share pictures! 

Life is a gift, be sure to open yours!
Blessings,

Pink Doberman