Spring has Sprung

Spring 2010  has sprung early - Yay!

Finally I can cast off that old rotten sweater I have called winter and welcome the warm embrace of spring here in ol' Wisconsin. The dafs, crocus and hyacinth made their feisty appearance over the weekend.  

My memory must be fading, as I can't remember having so many bulbs.  I know I've planted lots over the years, and if the rabbits don't find them this year, I might just have a bumper crop.

Joining the flowers this week are the robins, sandhill cranes and 60 degree sunny days. 

Spring in Wisconsin,  there is just no better place to be!

With a little bit of love, patience and kindness

This poor dog was scheduled to be euthanized because it was labeled a freak. Wow, what a difference a half hour of patience and kindness can do. 

Plus, Edie the dog in this video reminds me of my crazy maltese/poodle Cita......  I could totally see Ceets going nuts on people if she was backed into a corner and scared out of her mind.  


Please, please consider rescuing your next dog friend. 

End of the Month

February was a pretty tough month for me.  Had a hard time with winter, the cabin fever, the dog hair, the darkness.  But lately the light has been coming back and staying a bit longer every day.   The temps are into the 30s so the damn snow is melting and the sun feels warm on my skin.  So maybe I'm finally coming out of my funk.

Had a couple of birthdays this month.  Earlier this month we took Mary to brunch at a Madison classic, The Edgewater Hotel.  There we had a very good brunch that stuffed us all to the gills. 

I absolutely adored the little bottles of Heinz Ketchup at each table.  So cute!  Can't believe I didn't snag that one.

Next birthday was Ms. Raine.  She turned 18 years old this past week.  I can't believe how the damn time just flies.  Will post a separate story on that little gem soon.  Need to track down some photos.

 

Oh, and little Ms. Sunshine went to her forever home last night.  Met the family from Stoughton on Thursday night, we  got along well and I knew I had found a great home for the sweet but destructive little hound. 

 

I can now leave the butter on the counter again.....

Pearl, 1993-2010

Said good bye to a sweet and dear dog friend a couple of weeks ago.  Pearl or Pooey as she was called, was a shelter dog rescued many years ago via Phoenix to Madison.  She gave her heart to her family and during many visits to our house taught Teiko that not all dogs wanted to eat him.  She lived for 16 years and 11 months.  

Good bye, sweet girl.  We'll miss you.  

Oldest City in Wisconsin

Took an hour drive to Mineral Point last weekend.  I love the southwest part of Wisconsin, rolling hills, ridges, big sky.  It was far enough away to make me feel good that I got out of my own head for a few hours.

Among other great galleries on the main street in Mineral Point, we found the wonderful Brewery Pottery Studio.  It still has a water spring running underneath it from the beer days of 100 years ago.  Today it is just a great little gallery run by the Johnston Family.

I could totally see myself having an escape hatch in this community. 

Cleanliness is next to....

Not sure why, but I love this photo I took at MK and Jen's house a few weeks ago.   Maybe it's how the light hits off the center piece of steel.  Or maybe it's the cleanliness of the sink (which so isn't mine)

Maybe its just the composition of the photo.

Oh boy, that seasonal affective disorder has set in.  The dark days of northern clime winters has really taken their toll on me this year.   I am in a funk.  I have no motivation, can't focus on or make anything new.   Case in point.  I signed up for a beginner's knitting class last month, being a new year's resolution to learn something new.  I seriously don't get what's so great about it.  It goes sooooooooooooooo slow and it takes forever to finish a stupid row - OMG.  And now I can't quit because that is what losers do.  Thankfully the class ends next week.

All right, it's time to flip this nasty state of being on its ass.  This is not me!  I normally have a somewhat "sunny" disposition.  I see the glass as half-full.  I find the beauty and fun in simple things. 

I'm heading to Mexico.  Anyone want to come with?

Sunshine, the boot eater

The hell that is mine...being the Mama to a foster dog.  

 So on Thursday night, I was talking to my Mama on the phone while she was sitting in the warmth of the south in her R.V..

The dogs were at my feet, like they always are....Sunshine, my  foster dog,  had a great "bone" she was chewing on.  Only after I hung up the phone did I realized that bone was actually one of my favorite boots. 

OMG....I was so MAD!!!!  

Okay, deep breath.....it was really my own fault. I wasn't watching her.

However,  my favorite boots were destroyed.  So what does a woman do?  She goes to http://www.zappos.com/  

I totally found a pretty close  pair of boots - and ordered them at 7:30 on Thursday night.   Took the 3 day standard business shipping option.

 Went to work the next morning and told my colleagues about what my rotten, horrid, foster dog, Sunshine, did to my favorite boots.

 At 1:30 pm on Friday aternoon, a total surprise to me, a Zappos box was delivered.

WOW!

No one could believe that you could order something online the night before and get it the next day.  And they were awesome!!!!  LOVE 'em!

So I sent zappos an email telling them "thank you!!!" for the amazing delivery, awesome boots, and customer service.  And I mentioned my "horrid" foster dog, Sunshine.  Dennis from customer service, sent me an email back, telling me in part, because of  my fostering of dogs from GSRAW  I was now upgraded to their VIP group.  

SO now, the Mama is a card carrying member of Next Day Delivery. Yay!!!

Thank you my sweet little Ms. Sunshine. You are Mama's girl!

A disaster is averted.  And Mama will get shoes the next day forever.  

You are my sunshine

Sunshine is my 8th and newest foster dog from German Shepherd Rescue Alliance of Wisconsin.  She is just like her name, sunny, happy and a little powerhouse of energy.  She is currently waiting to receive heartworm treatment here in Madison.  Once we have her cured of that, this little doll will be available for adoption.

The music accompanying the video was recorded last week in New Orleans by my daughter, Ryann, while she was sitting in a jazz bar listening to some great music.  She sent me it as my birthday present as she knows it's one of my favorite songs.   Grama Boo has been singing it to me since I was a little girl.  Here's another story about the song from my blog - You are my Sunshine

A new year and new things to try

My first knitting class starts this week at the local community center.  I'm going to learn how to make a hat and in the second class a pair of socks.... not sure what I'll do with socks but it will be fun to learn something new.