Gretel's swimming lessons!

We (me and Ron) have been taking Gretel to the beach since she was 9 weeks old. She was little and  a bit scared of the water when she was younger, but we kept taking her - on the leash, keeping her close and not giving her total freedom. Then there was winter when it was too cold to take her, and then...spring. Gretel is 10 months old now, and boy, what a difference!!!!!! She was all over that water - swimming in it, chewing it, diving in it and playing ball like she never wanted to quit. Yup, she wasn't born with webbed feet (yeah - they  really are webbed!) for nothing! No leash - free as a bird, and with her training - staying close to us while having a BLAST!

Going after the ball - or looking for it :)

This is the ball chucker that throws that sucker wayyyyy out there! Notice how the dog is NOT watching the ball, but running anyway. We gotta work on that....

Blurred but LIVE ACTION SHOT of Gretel diving head (and ears!) first after the ball!

That is me saying "good girl Gretel" as she learned to leave the ball on the truck's bed (saves us from picking it up!) !

Getting ready for the next throw...the tail never stops wagging. I've been looking forward to this day - letting her off the leash and watching her play and run and chase the ball - since she was a puppy. It's so AWESOME!!!!!

After frolicking at the beach and polishing off some Kentucky Grilled chicken :), we took her to the boat ramp to 1. rinse off and 2. learn to jump in the water after the ball. She didn't mind number 1, but number 2 gave her some pause to reflect -- it was a long way down there!

She retrieved the ball and loved the swim in...no waves. A great doggy paddle if I do say so :)

My Gretel with her favorite toy - she is a beauty. There will much swimming (and dog paddling)  in our future!

Fishing (even though we froze)!

Ron and I couldn't stand it anymore. It was the first Saturday in ages that the sun was shining, the breeze was manageable and it was (kinda) warm. So off we went!

Pelicans at the bait camp waiting for an easy meal :)

Ron caught a beautiful drum - 27inches! They both look pretty handsome here! We threw it back in the water and gave it instructions to go make babies. You see, I can't kill something that is so gorgeous when there is dead fish at HEB ready to cook and eat ....

Here is the drum before it became Free Willie :)

Now, technically I did not hook this fish --- Ron was nice enough to let me reel it in. It was cool though it didn't fight much. Catching drum is kinda like catching a cow...it just mozies on in. But it was fun, and I got to hold the fish like I caught it. It became Free Willie Number 2.

We had fun though I will say the hard-heads (catfish) put up more of a fight than the drum. We froze when the boat was speeding, but would do it again. Fishing is a blast!!!!

Gretel the Omnivore

By biological definition, omnivores eat a variety of all foods. Gretel exceeds the usual fare...

How to break into a 25 lb bag of bird feed?

Got my running shoe and removed the toe...duct tape (barely used) shoe.

Evidently she didn't like the last issue of Science magazine!

And also hated Cesar Milan's Dog Training book!

She had very fresh breath after stealing my toothpaste off the bathroom counter.

Who say's shower gel doesn't taste good? (look at that guilty face!)

Sometimes all a dog needs is a good bone!

Or a Kong toy!

Shoe and hibiscus bush were torn in the same morning...it was not a good day.

Two, yes TWO contact cases have been stolen and destroyed --- along with the contacts therein.

What towel???

I remember the days when the bone was almost as big as she was....

This is a favorite -- major chew!

Poor Ella - Gretel made it look like Ella was guilty!!!

NOT pictured: Guitar tuner (I left on the night stand) 4 remote controls that all have teeth marks/buttons missing, lotion that she squeezed all over the bed and floor, flip-flops, toilet paper rolls....I still love her to pieces...even though she keeps stealing my stuff!!!!

Blogging by iPhone!!

Well this is just too cool! Now there is an ap that let's you post from iPhone, instead of transferring pics to computer which is a major pain. Here is my past few weeks in review...

Gretel doing her favorite past time that doesn't involve a tennis ball - staring at the birdies.

I am getting ready to serve on the music team for a Journey to Damascus. At one of our meetings, an artist came. He gave a brief talk and then began to paint. Had no idea what it would be. About 3/4 of way through he flipped the canvas upside down and this was the result. IT WAS AMAZING.

I got engaged to Ron! The ring and the set...it was his Mother's and is now 65 years old. He had it beautifully refurbished at the jewelers. It is simply lovely - and means so much to me.

One of my favorite hymns we sing during Lent. Though sad, it really is a beautiful part of the Catholic Liturgical Season.

Nothing is more beautiful in the Catholic Liturgy than Easter!!!!

Gretel stealing soap from the shower...yes. The shower. Look at that guilty face!!

Audrey turned 7 in March! So sorry I could not be there, but I will be traveling there to see them and my new grandson to be soon!!!

The highlight of any day in Gretel's life - playing ball!

Got to see Jen as we met in Washington DC in March!!! A dark picture that doesn't do justice to the happy glow of being able to visit my daughter! 

Shortcut to Fun!

There is a HUGE empty field behind my house. Part of it is plowed and planted with corn or sorghum every year, the other part is left empty. Gretel LOVES to play ball back there - I can throw it as far as I want with the chucker and she runs at full speed and brings it back. She will do this as long as you let her -- to the point when she had heat stroke this week. It was scary. She was wheezing as we walked home, then, in front of the garage, her legs locked up, eyes glazed over and she started to whimper. I carried her in and got her water and fans and she cooled down and was fine in an hour. But, it was scary. Very scary.

So, my thought was - a shortcut to the field where there wasn't a long walk involved to get there and return and where I could get water when needed. My solution?? Ron came to the rescue -- and built a fence between my yard and the field. We went to the hardware store and got lumber and supplies. He came by the next morning and got to work. SO SO SO exciting!!!!!

Measuring...I reminded him to measure twice and cut once. He said he's heard this before :)

 

He brought his tools over - like saws and stuff. It was pretty impressive...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Installing the gate...

 

 

 

 

 

A certain brown and white dog was sooo inquisitive....

 

 

 

Finally, it was time to check it out...

 

 

 

THE Gate!

 

 

 

And the best part -- the view!!!!!

 

 

 

Perfect for playing ball and running around without a long hike from home. Great job Ron Scott!! I am so thankful - and Gretel too :)

"It starts as a hobby and becomes a lifestyle."

I saw that as a line in a blog about someone who raises German Shorthaired Pointers. Yes, having one of these dogs is exactly that - something that starts as a hobby and becomes a lifestyle. I am so glad to have Gretel in my life, and will tell you, she has definitely changed my lifestyle.

Used to - stay at work all day, not really caring what time I got home. Now? I can't wait to leave and see her, walk her, or just hang out. Used to - leave stuff on counters and on the floor like people usually do. Now? Hide the remotes, the shoes, the contact lens cases, the books, the magazines, the guitar tuner...anything within reach (and that includes countertops and end tables) is game for a good chew. Used to - have an immaculate back yard with the rocks arranged just so, plants in containers, vegetables growing peacefully in the back, birds at the feeder. Now? I wouldn't know where to begin to describe the changes except NOTHING has been untouched. It's all rearranged, and looks nothing like it did when I moved in. Semi-controlled chaos all over. Used to - read a book or watch a TV show alone. Now? Never alone - she's at my side, my "velcro" dog.
See the picture up there? That was taken the morning she was watching the birds at the feeder from the window. Only that morning, she decided she would jump THROUGH the window to get the birds.


Sometimes I wonder how it is that, with all the above, I love her so much. But I do. Tomorrow she will try my patience for the millioneth time and I will smile and pet her suede-soft ears and tell her she's a good girl and get a sloppy kiss in return.  She does get a little better every day, but at 10 months I thought she would be finished with the puppy stage. I read it lasts till about 2 years. I hope I have enough shoes and contact cases to last me until then....

Wishing...

Seems that things are kinda busy...like usual, but now, it's the end of the semester and a whole new level of busy is taking place. Case in point - I carry a small notebook where I jot my 'to do' list and the due date next to each item. I noted that the book I started in April 2009 was filled by the following Sept. So, the next one was started in April 2010. Then 2011, 2012, and yes, today a new one. What is it about April!? Yup, end of spring semester. So I'm wishing I could put things in the book that aren't about work or hum-drum crap. Things like...
*Take Gretel to the beach.
*Play/practice the guitar.
*Clean out the garage (yeah, I love cleaning out stuff :)
*Ride your bicycle.
*Download more music on the IPod.
*Go to the mall and stay for more than 10 minutes.
*Cook a REAL meal.
*Make dessert - like, from scratch.
*Win the lottery so I could buy unlimited airfare to go see my kids...and Audrey.
*Take Gretel to the beach (again).
*Brush Ella.
*Spend more time with Ron.
*Get a pedicure.
*Plant tomatoes.
*Sit outside and read a book.
*Go see my Mom and go shopping.
*Go fishing.
*Go with Ron and Ella to the beach and go fishing :)
*Buy a kayak.
*Take Gretel swimming in the boat channel.

I could keep wishing but now I gotta teach class.... hopefully I can check some of these things off SOON!