Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Penny


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One day at a time

Every day is a new day. Each morning, as the sun comes up gently warming my room I wonder what the day will bring. Our little family, Penny, husband and I, are working together to get through each day while noticing the beautiful things as well as the daily trials.

The sun comes up on a new day.

Friday I somehow strained a sciatic nerve in my right leg. I was fine most of the day, running with the dog at the park, in and out of the car while running errands. I was fine until suddenly I wasn’t.

A great day at a local park.

At the drug store as I got out of the car I suddenly felt excruciating pain shoot up my leg. I stood still for a moment, hoping it would subside. It didn’t. I hobbled into the drug store, did my business and hobbled back to the car. At home I could barely get up the two front steps. Saturday I stayed in my recliner, napping and groaning.

Mom…are we going to nap all day?

The biggest problem we had to deal with was taking Penny out. Walking with her in the yard on uneven turf was so painful for me. And she’s been asking to go out a lot lately while not necessarily doing anything once we get outside.

I need to go out, mom. Now.

I took her out four times in the morning, each an agony for me, and she didn’t do anything but wander around sniffing. My husband tried taking her out, using his walker. It was his first time to take her for a walk since he was discharged from the hospital almost two weeks ago.

She didn’t do anything, though they shuffled down to the stop sign and back. We decided if she didn’t have to go she didn’t have to go. She had two parents and neither in any shape to take care of her.

It’s not my fault.

Later in the day Pen and I managed a short walk along the pond across the street. She still didn’t do anything, but I got a few pretty shots with my phone. And that made me smile.

A beautiful spring day.

Today I feel 80% better, and I know I’ll be able to take her out, maybe even for a real walk up the road. I hope she decides to do her jobs while we’re out there.

In bloom.

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard, physically and mentally. It would be so easy to slide into the dark place we hold in the back of our minds. Focusing on getting through today and not thinking about tomorrow too much is my secret approach to today and every day going forward.

Everywhere you look, something is beautiful.

Getting through each day. That’s our plan. So far it’s working.

Today’s pretty thing, mom! (me, right?!)


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A forced vacation!

Penny here! Boy I thought I’d never get back online and all of my fans would wonder forever what happened to me! Cause you know a little bit about the adventures my folks have been on, but I’m sure you were worried about me too. Right? Right???

You WERE worried, right?

Well at first mom and dad figured since I’m a big girl I could stay at home alone and mom would get home often enough to walk me and more importantly feed me. But once they were fully immersed in their adventure they realized they needed help, so one of our nice neighbors, Mr. Mike, came to the house and took me for walks.

He did that all weekend. I was cool with that cause I like Mr. Mike, and because sometimes he brought his dog Oliver along. Oliver and I are in love. (Don’t tell Oliver, but I have lots of boyfriends that I’m in love with.)

Then on Monday mom took me to go see my dog mom, Vivian, and her bestie Olivia, and my niece Sara and my mama S!

I can’t wait to see everybody!

I just love visiting there, Sarah and I play nonstop. Mom says I instigate a lot of the play and that I’m a little stinker but mama S. says I’m a perfect little girl who fits right in.

I don’t think my mom is fooled.

That’s my dog mom, Vivian, on the left and my niece Sarah on the right!

I was happy to be there, but then I turned around and my mom was gone! I couldn’t find her anywhere! And even though I love to visit I still want my mom. I’d wait by the door every evening hoping mom would come get me.

I was there all week and over another weekend and half way through the next week! Heck, when Mom finally decided she’d come get me I’d almost forgotten about her.

At the dog park I told those big dogs off. Cause they were on the other side of the fence.

Still, I was glad to be going home and so was a little confused when we stopped at a dog park and mom let me run and run and run. She said she wanted me to get all the antsy out of my system cause I was going on another adventure.

I like to contemplate life while I’m exploring.

And I ended up at my kennel! What the heck mom! I hadn’t even seen daddy yet! But it’s a nice kennel and I don’t mind being there. I followed the girl to the back without even looking at mom.

I do that cause I know it hurts her feelings.

Whatever, mother.

I should have been a bit more compassionate because mom says she felt terrible. But daddy was coming home from the hospital and he needed some time to get stronger before I was jumping all over him, so I had to stay at the kennel for four nights!

And finally, FINALLY, today mom came and got me and I was soooo excited that I barked and barked at her in the car and you know what she did?

I’m back at my park. Wonder what mom has up her sleeve this time?!

She stopped at the dog park and let me run and run and run until I wore myself out and then she took me home to see daddy who was very happy that everybody was finally at home.

I love to run, especially to mom who always has a treat!

And now we’re all going to get some sleep. I promised mom not to wake them up too early tomorrow morning. I hope I can keep that promise.

Mom really, REALLY hopes so too.


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My dog won’t let me chop garlic

I know that you probably have an idea of Penny and her, well let’s say, attitude. My husband and I were talking today about the cute little puppy she was just 3 years ago. All round and bouncy and silly.

Hey mom!

And what a beautiful adult she’s grown into…all attitude, always on guard, listening to everything. Still bouncy but with more edge, though silly too when she’s in the mood.

Have you pulled your daily sheltie permit yet?

One of the things she does not allow in her household is me chopping garlic.

I used to buy chopped garlic in a jar. Then we tried to eat vegan for awhile and I learned how to smash the fresh garlic bulb with the flat of my knife and then chop it up. It takes no time at all…and it’s fresh.

And then along came Penny.

I’m watching you, mother.

She doesn’t like loud, unexpected noises. Like a knife slamming on a garlic bulb. Or tinfoil being torn from the box. Or plates clicking on each other coming out of the dishwasher. Or someone sneezing.

She prohibits it all.

No noises allowed.

Today I was making potato soup. I tried my darndest to quietly press the knife into the garlic bulb. No slamming. No noise really. But when I began to slice the garlic she was instantly next to me barking hysterically.

She can, from standing still beside me, leap as high as my shoulder with seemingly little effort. Today it seemed she jumped even higher in her indignation. I put the knife down, picked her up and put her into her nearby pen . Where she complained loudly.

Got it??

I chopped the garlic and the potatoes and then let her out. It seemed necessary to remind her she doesn’t actually own the house. Or me.

Does she?


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Filling in

Penny here. I’m filling in for my mom who seems to be very busy. She and daddy are gone a lot during the day and I’m left to guard the house.

Let me show you around Penny’s Park!

I will tell you that I am a very fierce guard dog — if I’m on the other side of a door. If someone, say the cleaning lady, comes through the door, well, I’m just a happy puppy that needs to get her head rubbed.

I can’t help it. I’m adorable.

Running in my park is one of my favorite things to do!

Anyway, mom and I haven’t been to dog school in a couple weeks. I don’t know when we’ll be back in school. Mom even missed some band, and there’s a concert (so she tells me) this coming Friday!

We had a beautiful day for a walk at my park!

I don’t know, the folks seem entirely disorganized at the moment. I think I’m going to have to give them a stern talking to. I’m sure they’ll shape up if I can get them to focus on me.

After all. I AM the most important dog in this household!

Just because all the snow melted doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. (Hee hee, see what I did there?)

Mom did take me to my park this week. We call it Penny’s Park because mom didn’t take my sister Katie there very often. Mom says that’s because she didn’t discover it until Katie was pretty old, and it’s very hilly.

It got pretty windy, even in the woods.

I don’t think my sister will mind that this one is named after me. We still call her parks Katie’s Park and Katie’s Park II. I wish she and I had been able to walk in our parks together.

Mom and I worked on my “STAY!” I aced it of course.

Anyway, after a long walk in my park I decided a nap in my dad’s lap was just the ticket. Lucky for me my dad obliged.

Dreaming about my next adventure.

Talk later, your substitute hostess, Pretty Penny, park explorer extraordinaire.


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All grown up

Mom says she posted one of my baby pictures yesterday. She says it was from my very first day home, when I was a tiny little thing. Yesterday was my gotcha day, I’ve lived here three whole years now!

I needed a nap once I came home, it was all so overwhelming.

I sure remember that first winter. There was so much snow! Of course I was a lot shorter than. My Auntie Beth and my folks made a snowman for me.

I thought snow was meant to be played in, not posed in. Sheesh.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit next to it. And I didn’t know about getting treats for posing yet. But eventually I sat…for an instant…so mom could get a picture.

What is this ‘sit’ of which you speak?

This year there’s a lot of snow too, and guess what? Mom made a snowman for me yesterday! She said we had to act fast, though, cause it was so warm the snowman’s nose and eyes kept falling out while I was posing!

Whatever, mom. The treats better be good, this snow is cold!

Now days I know all about the treat system so I had no problem sitting in the snow for a little while, knowing there was something good coming my way as soon as mom was done.

Last chance, mom, this snow=boy is a melting!

I’m a lot bigger now…but mom made this snowman bigger too. That’s ok, the sun has already shrunk that ole snowman down to size!

Talk later,

Your snow-queen, Penny.