Does Anybody Read This?

Just wondering....I write this mostly because I love to write, and I love to write about the pups. But I was just wondering if anyone really reads this blog? Please respond and let me know if I should continue to publish...

The Definition of Contented

It looks more like the dead of winter than the first week of spring here at Hundenruhe. Overnight fierce winds whipped rain, sleet, and snow against the house, coating it in a thick, nearly impervious layer of icy snow, the consistency of concrete. North of our area, over a foot and a half of snow fell overnight, with more on the way today. Unfortunately, despite wishes and fervent hopes, my school was not on the cancellation/delay list by the time I was scheduled to walk out the door this morning. So I dutifully bundled up and trudged out the front door - only to find the gate latch on the front porch frozen shut and the gate unable to swing open because of the aforementioned "concrete snow". Back into the house I went, and out the side door that was partially protected by our overhang. After slipping, sliding, and crawling up a steep winding hill on a nearby road, I had made it about five miles from the house when my phone signaled that I had received a text - school was canceled for the day! I turned around and crept back home, narrowly missing the thundering snowplow that refused to slow down as it barreled toward me.
Back home, I wanted to treat Dan to one of his favorites - from-scratch pancakes - only to find there was no milk. Making do with cream of wheat for Dan and leftovers for me, we had a rare breakfast together at the island in our kitchen, watching even more schools close for the day.
And then - the best moment of all - we decided to nap, Dan in his chair and I in bed with Baci. My little guy snuggled up next to me with one of his teeny tiny rawhide bones, I turned on the bed heater, and lay listening to the wind batter the house.
As I lay there, I thought to myself, "Where would I rather be right at this very moment, and what would I like to be doing? The Bahamas on a sunny beach? Eating a delicious meal in an exciting foreign country? Meeting a famous celebrity?"
As the warmth began to soak into my bones from the heated mattress pad and little Baci happily tucked into his bone, the answer came to me.
Right here.
This is what being content really means.
Even as the weather has at this moment turned into a snowy blizzard and the prediction is for another week of below-zero temperatures, I know that right now, at this moment, this is where I am meant to be.

The Boys are Here!

With all the sadness lately, and the probable reduction in our income due to current politics in Wisconsin, we had considered not adding any more residents to our pack, reducing our numbers and expenses. But, as we have always responded when nudged by the inexplicable force that guides us toward needy dogs, Dan and I felt the need to help out two adorable chihuahua guys who were looking for a new home. These two little fellas, the bigger being 12 years old, and the teeny tiny one only 6, were removed from a home that didn't understand that dogs shouldn't be tied up outside during an Iowa winter. They have found their haven here, with warm beds and plenty of companionship. The two boys came with names, but I'd really like to give them new names for their new lives, so we've decided upon Cubby for the little 6 year old, and Barry for the older fellow. In the meantime, we are anxiously waiting for their neutering appointment, since they are marking every available vertical surface! They are so much fun to watch - they love to wrestle and play (so gently!) and Barry often sleeps with his head on top of Cubby. They seek out Grammie Esther for a chihuahua pile and sweetly slumber snuggled into each other. Ahhhh.

Here's a couple of extra random pictures just because. Enjoy!

The Rainbow Bridge Just Got More Crowded

Winter is so hard on the old ones, and seems to bring about challenges to their previous maladies. We lost three residents within the last month and our hearts are heavy with their loss. Moses the chi, our recent addition had to be helped to the bridge and the following day Sophia the Italian greyhound joined him. Both succumbed to kidney problems that wasted their bodies. And today, Shae the beagle also fell victim to the same fate - kidneys again. Despite special diets and, near the end, cooking anything that they will eat, after awhile they just get too nauseus to eat. And what the protein they do eat is leaking out with their urine.
These were three sweet, sweet dogs. Shae was with us for a year, Moses only a month, and Sophia for five years. They will always live on in our bruised and battered hearts.