She's cute, and sweet, blonde and blue-eyed with a wonderful smile, an awesome giggle and she calls me 'Mamma'. I am so lucky to have this precious person in my life. She reminds me to appreciate the little things, to be fascinated by all that life offers in just that way a child of almost 2 can do.
Sticks catch her interest, she loves throwing twigs in the creek to watch them float away. She says good-bye to the stream, to her trike and hugs trees. She is amazing! She has the CUTEST fake snore with her eyes wide open as she's pretending to be asleep. She loves to snuggle her Baby Joy on her special pillow under her fuzzy blankie.
She keeps me motivated and trying to be the best person I can be. She inspires me. I treasure my time with her, showing her new things, and sharing new and old experiences with her. Her hugs are the priceless and I soak each one up.
Emily, you are smart, you are good, you are important and I love you!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
My Power
I close my eyes and recall an image and it is filled with colour, and texture and I fill it with sound and feeling.
I am standing on a beach, facing the omnipotent ocean. The powerful waves are tumbling in, one after another. A wind blows along with the waves. It snatches my loose hair away from my face. My feet are planted firmly in the damp grainy sand. A sense of solidness comes from the earth. My arms are out from my sides and my fingers are spread wide as though to catch the illusive power from the wind and waves. The wind whips through my hands and the waves roll out of my reach. But I can feel the power as it slides sinuously into me to find all the places that were shrivelled and empty and fill me with the strength that I need to keep moving forward. The fresh clean air breathes new hope into me and carrying this image in my mind, calms me and strengthens my resolve.
Thank you mother nature!
I am standing on a beach, facing the omnipotent ocean. The powerful waves are tumbling in, one after another. A wind blows along with the waves. It snatches my loose hair away from my face. My feet are planted firmly in the damp grainy sand. A sense of solidness comes from the earth. My arms are out from my sides and my fingers are spread wide as though to catch the illusive power from the wind and waves. The wind whips through my hands and the waves roll out of my reach. But I can feel the power as it slides sinuously into me to find all the places that were shrivelled and empty and fill me with the strength that I need to keep moving forward. The fresh clean air breathes new hope into me and carrying this image in my mind, calms me and strengthens my resolve.
Thank you mother nature!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
10 joys of having a puppy...
Ten Joys of Having a Puppy
#1) Her tail wagging when she's happy to see you
#2) Her excitement when you arrive home from work
#3) Her curling up next you and sighing into sleep
#4) Her bowing down in play mode, tail wiggling like crazy
#5) Her licking your foot to wake you up
#6) Her learning a new command/trick
#7) Her following you around the house
#8) Her splashing in her bath
#9) Her stealing your bath
#10) Her head titling when you talk to her
#1) Her tail wagging when she's happy to see you
#2) Her excitement when you arrive home from work
#3) Her curling up next you and sighing into sleep
#4) Her bowing down in play mode, tail wiggling like crazy
#5) Her licking your foot to wake you up
#6) Her learning a new command/trick
#7) Her following you around the house
#8) Her splashing in her bath
#9) Her stealing your bath
#10) Her head titling when you talk to her
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday With Lexi...
Friday April 3rd, I went for a jog with a friend of mine early in the morning. I came home and then took Lexi out for her morning walk. My idea was to take her to the tennis courts near us, as I can close the gates and let her off leash to run around without her running away. My idea was while she ran off energy I could do some post-jog stretching. We lasted about 10 minutes before she found something to eat... the pit of a plum with some of the fruit on it. I tried to get to come to me so I could take it away. Of course she would not come. I gave her the command to leave it, of course she did not. I spent 5 minutes trying to get her to drop it/come to me that when I finally did get a hold of her I was none too happy.
In fact I was livid!
I was kneeling at this point and had her by the collar. I threw her to the ground and held her in the submissive position our trainer recommended. I told her, "That's IT! We are done here! We are going home!" I clipped her leash on and I the phrase "I could kill you right now" went through my head. Let me explain this... I was really upset at her because she may have eaten the pit of that plum, which could potentially cause trouble for her bowels = $$$$ vet bills.
So, no more play time and we went directly home at a fast walk. All the while in my head is running... "I'm DONE with this!! She rarely comes when called! I'm TIRED of trying to train her and getting no where! I don't want her anymore! She can go to someone else!" Meanwhile, on the other end of the leash...
Lexi, is walking in perfect heel position, as I have been training her, or rather constantly fighting with her about. Plus, she keeps looking up at me to see what I'm doing. So, along with all the thoughts above are these thoughts... "Oh, sure! NOW, you understand heel. NOW you stop pulling on the leash! NOW you be a darling, responsive dog! Now that I'm seeing red I'm so mad at you!" I'm also thinking how I don't want to always have to walk around angry to get her to walk beside me properly. SIGH!!! I didn't even dare to praise her because as soon as I do that, she'll know I'm not as upset as I was and the tug of war will start all over again.
LORD or whomever!! Please give me strength! I love my puppy, I love my puppy, I love my puppy!
Honestly, I really do!
In fact I was livid!
I was kneeling at this point and had her by the collar. I threw her to the ground and held her in the submissive position our trainer recommended. I told her, "That's IT! We are done here! We are going home!" I clipped her leash on and I the phrase "I could kill you right now" went through my head. Let me explain this... I was really upset at her because she may have eaten the pit of that plum, which could potentially cause trouble for her bowels = $$$$ vet bills.
So, no more play time and we went directly home at a fast walk. All the while in my head is running... "I'm DONE with this!! She rarely comes when called! I'm TIRED of trying to train her and getting no where! I don't want her anymore! She can go to someone else!" Meanwhile, on the other end of the leash...
Lexi, is walking in perfect heel position, as I have been training her, or rather constantly fighting with her about. Plus, she keeps looking up at me to see what I'm doing. So, along with all the thoughts above are these thoughts... "Oh, sure! NOW, you understand heel. NOW you stop pulling on the leash! NOW you be a darling, responsive dog! Now that I'm seeing red I'm so mad at you!" I'm also thinking how I don't want to always have to walk around angry to get her to walk beside me properly. SIGH!!! I didn't even dare to praise her because as soon as I do that, she'll know I'm not as upset as I was and the tug of war will start all over again.
LORD or whomever!! Please give me strength! I love my puppy, I love my puppy, I love my puppy!
Honestly, I really do!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sun Run Training...
I'm in the midst of very casual training for the Vancouver Sun Run. I am going to do it this year although it won't be my best time... and Lexi is training with me... which may not be the most helpful thing...
I've gone twice this week with her and both times I haven't been able to put my full attention on the jogging.
The first day was Tuesday morning. We went down to this sand soccer field which is mostly enclosed so I feel 'mostly' ok about letting her off leash. This is because Lexi does not come when called very well. So I spent most of the time calling her back onto the field as she'd find the little ways out. I got mixed up with my timer thinking it read the actual time and that I had run for a good amount of time... such was not the case... It turns out I had only been running for 8 min 34 seconds. I know I know SUCH a GREAT amount of time... I should have known better... but at the point I realized it was the counter time not the real we had left the field to hike up the hill back home.
The second time I went jogging with Lexi was today. Thursday, Apr 2. I had to keep her on the long line leash as there was another dog walking around the edge of the enclosed field. This gets to be really frustrating as she can't just jog with me or near me... she's got to push the limits or in this case 'MY' limits. She must run as far from me as the leash will allow and then switch sides, do circles around me, run past me and stop and run the other way. Although, today I did manage over 10 minutes of running :) Despite all the distractions of birds landing nearby, dogs walking past.
Tomorrow I'm off to jog with another human.... my fellow trainee for the Sun Run, Suzanne.
I've gone twice this week with her and both times I haven't been able to put my full attention on the jogging.
The first day was Tuesday morning. We went down to this sand soccer field which is mostly enclosed so I feel 'mostly' ok about letting her off leash. This is because Lexi does not come when called very well. So I spent most of the time calling her back onto the field as she'd find the little ways out. I got mixed up with my timer thinking it read the actual time and that I had run for a good amount of time... such was not the case... It turns out I had only been running for 8 min 34 seconds. I know I know SUCH a GREAT amount of time... I should have known better... but at the point I realized it was the counter time not the real we had left the field to hike up the hill back home.
The second time I went jogging with Lexi was today. Thursday, Apr 2. I had to keep her on the long line leash as there was another dog walking around the edge of the enclosed field. This gets to be really frustrating as she can't just jog with me or near me... she's got to push the limits or in this case 'MY' limits. She must run as far from me as the leash will allow and then switch sides, do circles around me, run past me and stop and run the other way. Although, today I did manage over 10 minutes of running :) Despite all the distractions of birds landing nearby, dogs walking past.
Tomorrow I'm off to jog with another human.... my fellow trainee for the Sun Run, Suzanne.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lexi, Almost out of puppyhood...
Lexi is our 7 month old Brittany Spaniel. We got her when she was just 2 months old. What a challenge raising a puppy is. We thought this would be a good start before having children. She's a wonderful animal, full of energy and curiosity! She's grown much more affectionate then when we first got her.
She's traveled with us to Calgary, AB; Salt Spring Island, Sunshine Coast and Tofino, BC. She travels very well in her kennel in the back seat of the car. She's been on ferries too.
Lexi's favourite things to do are play with other dogs, run, smell things, and meet new people. Here is a little video of her on the Sunshine Coast with TJ the Mastiff.
Enjoy
She's traveled with us to Calgary, AB; Salt Spring Island, Sunshine Coast and Tofino, BC. She travels very well in her kennel in the back seat of the car. She's been on ferries too.
Lexi's favourite things to do are play with other dogs, run, smell things, and meet new people. Here is a little video of her on the Sunshine Coast with TJ the Mastiff.
Enjoy
Sunday, March 29, 2009
How Do I Love Thee?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 - 1861
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 - 1861
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