Because I’ve been all over the place lately, this update has gotta happen in a list!
1. The camp grind
With all the driving back and forth between work and camp, we’re finally starting to find a camp rhythm. Yay!
This week was dive camp, which was really cool for Connor. She learned how to do some basic dives off of the edge of the dive pool and off the springboard.
By the last day, she was jumping off the 5 meter platform, which, gasp, is about 16 ft above the dive pool surface. Craziness. By the end of the camp, she was begging me to come back to dive camp. I wonder if we’re gonna become a dive family. Who knows?
2. I finally finished a huge project at work
So now I have a little more breathing room, which is a relief. This job has these phases where I’m working a ton in the space of about 8 weeks. For the past month it’s felt like a sprint from the time I walk into the office until I leave. I’m thankful that my schedule’s eased up in time for the camp.
3. Do you ever go through those phases where you hate cooking?
Sometimes I don’t mind it, but lately I haven’t wanted to deal with it when I get home. Plus, when it’s hot out, the last thing I want to do is turn on the stove and stand in front of it. We’ve been surviving on sandwiches, cereal and homemade snack plates (crackers, cheese, a smattering of fruit and veggies, and a handful of nuts). Whatever, at least it’s somewhat nutritious.
4. Life with Marnie is full and rich, but oh so time consuming
We’ve had her living with us now for two months, and as she’s getting more comfortable, we’re finding out all sorts of things about her. Turns out in her previous puppyhood life, she wasn’t given a lot of opportunities for socialization with people and dogs, so she’s got a bit of doggie anxiety.
We’ve been working with a trainer and a behaviorist to help her become the best Marnie she can be. I know she can do it, but it’s a lot of work. I love her and the joy she brings to our family, but I’m having even more trouble juggling everything, including time to write. I keep telling myself that I’ll get there, and I just have to be patient with myself. I’ll eventually figure out how to find a writing rhythm again.
5. Raspberry picking!
Lastly, today El Hub is working, so Connor and I are headed out to do something we’ve never done before – raspberry picking! There’s a u-pick raspberry farm north of us in Sonoma County, so we’re headed up there in a few to hang out and pick some raspberries.
What are you up to today? I hope you have something fun and summery lined up for this beautiful Saturday!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
You sound incredibly busy, Karen! Also sounds like you are handling it well. What a cool pic of Connor diving! Seems like a cool sport. I have raspberries growing in our alleyway and they should be ready to pick in a few weeks! The girls loooove them! Have a great weekend!
If you can participate in agility training with Marnie, I think things will work out well for both of you. Herding dogs live for having a job, and they love to run. Fortunately, as a group herding dogs are more intelligent and more obedient (when well-trained) than most other breeds (as they’d have to be to be good herders).
About cooking – in the summer I hate to make the house hotter. Electricity bills can run over $300.00 a month in Texas because it’s so darned hot here when it stops raining. We got 13 inches of rain in May, then all the rain stopped after June 11. I use the microwave and a very small air fryer, for the most part. Since it’s just me, all the work is on me. I actually hate cleaning up after it more than the cooking part, but I’d never be able to stand all day in a hot kitchen like professional cooks do.
This is a busy season of your life, for sure, but just know that when it ends, it’s also a little bit sad, so I think you’re doing the right thing by focusing on time with Connor and not so much on cooking. 🙂
And I’m so glad you’re getting help with Marnie. It’s worth it! The time and $ I spent with (several) trainers for my Nola at different times, along with the work that the humans need to put it (as well as them), really makes life easier in the end. Nola was also extremely anxious and now we can (but don’t usually) take her everywhere. She hangs out under tables while we eat, we just took her to the Desert with us at a dog-friendly hotel, etc. It’s just another layer of love for the family and another bit of love Marnie gets from you.
Hoping summer goes slower from here on out! 🙂
Hi Divina,
Thank you for this nice note. 🙂
How long it did take you guys to help Nola with her anxiety? I feel like the road is going to be so long before we get there. I would love to have her come with us to a restaurant… That’s the dream.
We got Nola a little late, at 10 weeks. Apparently, there’s a couple of times the pups have regression in their lives and in addition to Nola not being socialized (grew up on a little farm with just the family), she because a scaredy cat. Mind you, she’s a Rottweiler. 😆 She was afraid of the car, so much so she’d pee on me every time, and was afraid of any loud noise or quiet noise, or garden gnomes, plastic bags, etc. There was quite a lot of counter conditioning. Baby but solid steps were made. We spent a lot of time with her after training. I would say it’s dog dependent, but for Nola I could see a marked improvement in 3-4 months to the point we could take her in the car and take her out to eat. Made sure there was always tons of space between tables. Always positive and pre-planned activities. I think Marnie’s breed is very intelligent. So it’s just a matter of time! 🙂
We were told by the trainer that these next couple of years — the teenage phase — are the hardest. And because Marnie is a herder, she’s naturally on high alert all the time. I feel like we take two steps forward and three steps back with her training. I do get glimpses of the wonderful dog she’s going to be every once in a while, though. I hope we can get there. 🙂
Oh my gosh! That is one gorgeous aquatic center! Love the photo of Connor diving in!
I love to cook. It’s one of my few talents. But sometimes I get into a rut and I can’t think of what to cook, or I just don’t feel like eating anything. Husband does not cook at all and the clean up after cooking just kills me sometimes. So yeah, sometimes I just hate it. In the summer I rely on my Breville counter top oven (which cools down way quicker than the big one) and the microwave. But mostly when I hate cooking I rely on Dear Husband to make reservations.
I second the opinion that agility training is good for Aussies and Aussies tend to be good at agility. I have a friend who used to run an agility training facility, but she lives south of Fresno, a bit too far to drive for you.