Sweet Memories

We all have our routines. My husband gets up early , takes the dogs out, gets ready for work and heads out before I even think about getting up. It's been this way for years.
When Fiona joined our family 3 years ago, she would quietly watch the early morning preparations, then , when my husband picked up his bag to leave, she would run to the door to say good-bye. So cute.
Now Bonnie is here. It took her a little while to figure things out, as her mind is in a million different places at once. (ah genetics...so like her great-grandfather)
Always trying to push her way in, or beat the other Beardies to something, she has now decided that she also will be included in the morning "good-bye" .
At first Fiona was not impressed. (but then it takes a lot to impress her) For a few days she would stay hidden, displeased that her little sister was stealing her thunder AND her Daddy's good-bye. She got over it(as she does most things...she is a very reflective soul and obviously had to muddle things through) and now they both wait till they hear that bag being lifted up, and run to the back door to say bye to Dad as he leaves for work.
I am awake most mornings, waiting to drift back to sleep.The house is beginning to settle back in, quiet once again taking over. I can hear my husband as he makes his lunch and collects his things. Then I hear eight Beardie feet running for the kitchen and the back door. It is silent....except for the whispers and the murmurs of my husband, who softly kisses his girls and tells them to be good and take care of Mommy. It is a memory that I will treasure, even though I am not really "there".

It is the small moments, not the big ones that weave our lives together. Grandson Frankie laughing or watching the dogs delight in him being able to touch them( they go nutso, ok, but delight sounded so much nicer) Relaxing with friends, laughing over nothing, finding you have a few moments in the day to just do nothing....

Go forth and appreciate the sweet moments, make some great memories, big and small, and above all else be thankful we have them.

Life in a Clown Car

So ....our club was doing a supported entry at the weekend of shows in Wrenthem, MA this past weekend. We wanted to get puppy Bonnie out more and also entered Traveler, and Fiona. Well Fee just finished her championship at the shows in Scarborough, so I had to move her up from the Open class to the Best of Breed class.(that was fun) Three dogs to get ready- no problem. 10 year old Maddie had to come also, she is NOT good at watching the house while we are gone. She leaves the lights on, eats all the food and sometimes has a party, so that was that.
Did I mention I am working on two trophy orders that have to be shipped last week?And the on-going things that need to be done for the National? No problem.
Work on orders, work on dogs, start sorting out what is going and what is really not needed. Bathe 3 dogs, dry them,repack the grooming supplies, oh yeah, pack my clothes , get show clothes ready....you get the idea.I did remember I was making trophies( it was 2 days before we left, but I DID remember) and I had to cook bait(Trav's favorite...sauteed chicken with lemon pepper and garlic)
Friday arrives...load up,everyone in the van. Thankfully traffic was not bad , even through Boston and we made good time. We stopped at the show site to set up our tables and ex-pen and then it was off to the motel.
Pat and I each have 2 dogs, but they all want to walk together and have been cooped up, and they start criss-crossing us and each other and we end up going through the lobby like the circus has arrived. This place has an elevator( and a staircase you can go out of, but not get into to!) so easing all 4 dogs in was a treat. The phrase of the weekend- 'Beardie tails in!".
Maddie took a few hours adjusting to the room, Bonnie not so long. Jumping from bed to bed was her way of adjusting[lol] Everyone settled in early and off to sleep we went-not. Bonnie needed to alert us every time she heard a sound. Finally got her to understand it was fine, fell asleep, woke up a few hours later to Maddie trembling on the bed! I just rubbed her with my foot and tried to get back to sleep.Morning arrived much sooner than I would have liked.
Getting everyone out tot he van, we again looked like the entertainment, but we are used to that. We got to the show, set the rest of the stuff up and I started to groom 3 dogs. OK, not at once, when I can figure that out I will let you know!
Thankfully Lesley Woodcock and Sue Ross arrived to save the day and took Bonnie for her brush out. Everyone ready!Bonnie got distracted by things outside the ring, but managed to do "ok" . Her half sister Willow won WB and did a fabulous job! Then I had to quickly hand Bonnie off and grab Fiona for the BOB class...whew! Made it. Traveler and Fiona entered with the other dogs and off we were again. Fiona took BEST Opposite to her Uncle Roy. Trav did ok, but as I say, got a rock[lol] Now we could visit and hang out for the rest of the day......
We all managed to a good night's sleep back at the motel and after packing and loading(yes the circus made it's way through the lobby again) we were off for the final day of showing. I walked Bonnie around the grounds for a while, letting her get used to all the noise and smells. Back on the table for everyone(and again thanks to Aunties Lesley and Sue who took Trav and did a wonderful job on him) and we all go again. This time Bonnie did better and managed to take Reserve to sister Willow. It was a repeat in the BOB class too, as Fiona got BOS to her uncle Roy and got a start on her Grand Champion points. Don't ask me to explain those, I think I need to go back to school to figure it out.
We packed up the car, loaded the dogs in, hugged our friends and headed home. The traffic was light and we made excellent time getting home. The dogs were so glad to see their yard when they got home. We didn't need to put them on leads to get them in, just opened the crates and out they flew into the yard[LOL]
It's not easy taking all 4 with us, and after a while, Maddie enjoys being out with the whole family. She took up residence on one of the motel beds, and hung at the show like she did it every day. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but once in a while living in a clown car is ok.....although...I have been looking at those RV'S at the shows-hmmmmmm.