Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Penny


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Overachieving Walktober

Hi, hi, hi, HI Everybody!! It’s me, Penny!

Me just before our walk. I think they do bonfires at this park sometimes.

Mom was talking about Walktober this week, and I wanted to know what it was, cause I’m only 10 months old and I’m curious about everything! When Mom explained it to me I just knew I had to get right on it!

This is me “getting ON it” on a log. Get it? I’m so funny

After all, I’m a sheltie and shelties love to go for walks!

Right away I knew I should tell you all about the three great walks I’ve already had this week! And it’s only Friday!

I love how the fall leaves compliment my coloring.

First off, last Sunday, I got to go on a walk with mom and her friend and her friend’s dog Whisky! Whisky is an 11 month old cocker spaniel and he was very excited to see me!

This is as close to each other as we wanted to sit on this walk.

We walked in a beautiful little park, Dinosaur Hill, that I understand was one of my sister Angel Katie’s favorites. It had a river that ran right through the middle of it and I sat on the bridge with all that fast moving water under me without freaking out!

A bridge is no big deal, mom!

Mom was very happy with my “behavior” as she calls it.

Then a couple days ago mom took me to a park in town. She thought she’d photograph me around the playground stuff.

Mom’s always telling me not to sniff other dog’s private areas. Especially if they’re bigger than me!

But there were moms and kids playing there, so we pretty much stayed around the perimeter at first. Mom found this cool musical instrument.

Mom played a bunch of music on this. I was not entertained.

Mostly we walked around and read the dedications on the benches and under trees that were planted in memory of people. One tree in particular was very sad. It is for Madisyn who was one of the 4 victims at a school shooting that happened just up the road from us a couple years ago next month.

We’re so very sorry, Madisyn.

Then mom got a chance to photograph me with some playground stuff, but while we were there a big group of high school students arrived to take pictures.

See all those students showing up behind me? That’s why my ears went flat.

But we met a new friend! Meet Lulu! Her dad was walking her in the park and stopped by to talk. Lulu is a 5 year old mini Australian Shepherd.

I play bowed, but Lulu wasn’t in a playful mood.

Lulu wasn’t that into me, though we did exchange pleasantries. She and her dad wandered away and mom took me over a bridge to the park pavilion for my final portrait of the day.

I think I have this posing thing down!

What do you think? I’m thinking I’m growing into quite the regal young lady.

My last walk (so far) was yesterday. It was rainy outside and mom said we needed to keep training, so she took me for a walk at the Home Depot! Wow, that was a different kind of walk!

On the road in my chariot.

First we stayed outside and I checked out the pumpkins. Mom wouldn’t let me buy one, but they still smelled good.

I thought this one smelled perfect.

We went inside and I barked at a man getting a cart! Mom said no bark, but geeze, that cart place was super noisy!

Hmmmm, I could store my special toys in this.

We heeled around the aisles a whole bunch. I was a little squirrely at first, but eventually I settled down. We did sits and stays too. Everybody smiled at me but no one asked to pet me. I guess they knew I was working.

Sitting still is not my favorite thing to do, mom.

Then on our way out mom introduced me to some tall dude in a red suit. I was not at all sure about him, no siree!

Gotta keep an eye on anybody wearing fuzzy red clothing.

Mom said I did really good at the busy store. I slept all the way home. And now she says I am going on an epic walk this Sunday!

So many parks, so much walking to do!

Well gee, mom, I’m not sure the nice people want to hear about another walk of mine. You better be at the top of your game if you want me to share that one with them too!

Will pose for treats.

Anyway, I need a snack and then a nap. In that order. I can’t wait to see where you all go on your Walktobers! Mom says she has no idea where she’s going to do her walk because she’s so busy taking me places! As it should be.

Oh! I almost forgot, here’s some beautiful color for you from our local park!

Hee, hee, hee.

-Your Walktober girl,

Penny.


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Penny practices posing

Hey guys!

Don’t worry, I’m sitting on my leash and I have no intention of going anywhere except to mom for a treat!

Mom is busy doing stuff that doesn’t involve me so I stole her laptop. I don’t think she’ll even notice unless one of you snitches on me. Which I’m sure you won’t.

This is a kayak launching dock. Pretty cool! Mom says we aren’t going kayaking though. Bummer.

So anyway, it hasn’t always been this way with her being so busy. She’s been taking me to a lot of parks lately.

Uh oh! That feather moved! I don’t think I like it!

She says the weather is just perfect, a little cooler, but sunny skies and the trees are just starting to change colors.

Yep, most of the color we found was on this limb. I don’t think that counts as fall color, mom.

She says we can’t waste days like this, so she’s been taking me to a new place almost every day, and I thought you might like to see.

This was at a different park on a different day.

Mostly she’s been training me to pose for her. I wasn’t so sure of this concept at first.

Mom thought I’d never sit on this log for her, but I can channel my inner diva just fine. When I want to.

But eventually I figured out that after I pose I get a treat, and that big black thing in front of her face isn’t really scary after all.

A girl and her shadow.

Plus I talked to my Angel Sister Katie who told me that treats were an integral part of park visiting and especially posing. I think I’m getting it!

My sister sat right here a couple years ago. Mom smiled when I didn’t argue. I think Katie smiled too.

But I could always use more practice, so I’m bugging mom every day to take me somewhere. I find that poking her hard in the knee works pretty good. If you have any other suggestions let me know.

What do you think she’ll ask me to do next?!

I’m not above taking good advice, no I am not!

Talk later, your professional poser, Penny-girl.


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Wanna come play?

Hi everybody! It’s me, Penny!

Me on my deck. Mom says I’m all grown up now.

Mom’s been off doing adventure stuff without me a lot this summer. But don’t worry, I’ve been having lots of fun right here at home.

I’m a happy girl!

I have the best backyard and I thought you all might want to come over and play with me!

Mom says I look like a fox.

OK…so maybe it’s not fenced in so it’s a little scary for you humans, especially if we doggies don’t come right back when we’re called.

Coming, mom!

I mean, I try to do my recalls, but sometimes, especially lately while I’m going through what mom calls my obstinate teenage years, I forget.

I got it, I got it!

Anyway, one of my most favorite things to do is to chase this little frisbee my dad bought for me.

I’ll just take this on a little spin around the yard.

I don’t always bring it back to them, but I sure love to chase it. And sometimes I surprise mom or dad and come running back with it!

I love this game!

Of course I don’t actually give them the frisbee, they have to come get it. After all, I need to maintain the hierarchy around here.

Hey, can one of you get it for me?

Anyway, I thought you’d all like to see my backyard, and especially me! Mom says it’s not always all about me, though I can’t imagine why not.

I’m going to go explore some more now.

Can you?

Come along with me!


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My adventure, by Penny-girl

Well. You may have noticed that I was not included in any of mom and my Auntie B’s adventures.

I don’t know how they could have left me out!

I would like to point out that I am a big girl now and I think I should be included in everything my people do! Don’t you agree with me?

Don’t you like the way my fur is starting to flow in the wind?

After all, I will turn 9 months old next week, and that’s pretty old if you ask me. Don’t ask my folks, they still treat me like a baby.

Well, OK, sometimes I DO still get a little bit scared.

Anyway, once mom and Auntie B returned home, with plenty of great smells on them I might add, I insisted on going with them everywhere, and a couple of days that everywhere included a local park next to our town’s small cemetery where my aunt could practice her bagpipes for an upcoming competition she will be in.

This is my Auntie putting in her ear protection. I noted I didn’t get any ear protection.

She said she hadn’t played in way too long and she needed to practice somewhere. I guess you can’t play the bagpipes just any ole place.

Wait a minute, mom! What’s she doing?

At first I wasn’t sure about the bagpipe sound, but mom urged me to come with her for a walk and we left my aunt to play in the park while we explored the cemetery next door.

I found out there were lots of whirly-gigs and flags flapping over there and I wasn’t too sure about all that at first.

Hmmmm….this stuff moves!

Then I found this little dog and I tried to talk to him, but he was more the silent type.

Hey buddy! Wanna play?

And then I saw this little boy and tried to play with him, but he wouldn’t move and suddenly that scared me so I went and hid behind my mom’s legs.

Maybe YOU will play with me?

That’s ok, right mom? Whenever I get scared I can hide behind you, right?

I’ll just rest a moment back here, OK mom?

Anyway, I practiced sitting pretty a lot, and getting my picture taken. My sister, angel Katie, says that’s just part of the game plan when you live with our mom.

OK, mom, I’ll sit here. But I’m not going to look happy about it. Unless you have cheese?

I’m getting pretty good at it too, though Katie says I need to be more insistent on getting my share of treats for the work I do modeling.

Sometimes mom gets kinda close, but I’m not afraid of the camera any more.

I’m getting prettier and prettier by the day now, so I don’t mind showing off.

Mom says it’s all about the light, but I know it’s really all about me!

Meanwhile my Aunt played on.

She played way on the other side of the park. It sounded cool!

And the resident cranes listened too.

Mom wouldn’t let me go say hi to them.

We all had a very good time, both days we wet to this park, and I guess I’ll call this a mini adventure, but I’m telling you, I’m up for something truly epic.

This was not really adventurous, mom. Try to do better, OK?

I hope mom’s planning something great real soon.


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Saturday randomness

I was making cornbread for dinner. The kind that has creamed corn and sour cream and butter and eggs and cornbread mix. Talking to my sister who was busy making Brunswick stew, I pour the mixture into the prepared 8×8 pan and pop it into the preheated oven. My work is done. But as we chat and I casually clean up bowls and measuring cups I pick up the cornbread box to toss it into the garbage and realize it’s heavy. Heavy with the cornmeal mix still inside. Which means it’s not in the cornbread that’s in the oven. I quickly haul the pan out of the oven, scrape the creamed corn, sour cream and egg mixture out of the pan, stir in the Jiffy Mix, pour it back into the pan and shove it into the oven.

I’m not telling anyone and I hope you can keep a secret.

I’m vacuuming the house in preparation of visitors coming tomorrow. Working my way across the living room I stop to roll the big long red and blue tunnel to the other side of a carpet runner so I can vacuum up the rolling dog fur hiding underneath. It occurs to me that maybe most people don’t have an agility tunnel permanently affixed in their living room.

I kind of feel sorry for those that don’t.

Penny the sheltie-girl is whining to go out. We figure she has to poo so I hook her up to her leash and my sister and I head out to take her for a walk up the street. She puts her foot down at the end of the driveway and refuses to go further. Apparently she only walks up the road if we’re practicing her heeling, including appropriate treats. I have two dusty pieces of kibble in my pocket and that gets us almost to the next driveway but she’s not going further without rewards. My sister picks her up and we carry her past another driveway to the lawn where she likes to do her business. We begin to laugh, because who carries their dog to a neighbor’s lawn in order to get her to poo? We laugh so hard our stomachs hurt, then my sister puts Penny down and she proceeds to do her stuff, which we promptly bag.

Are you guys laughing at me?

And then we all walk happily home.


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So much fun!

Hey, hey hey! It’s me, Penny, your adventure girl!

Want to go on a walk with me?

Well, I haven’t had many adventures lately but I’ve sure been having fun! Mom took me to the park last week and I wasn’t as afraid as the other time.

I didn’t even notice this snake when we walked by it. Mom kinda screamed though. Mom is a wimp.

Mom is noticing I am happiest when I’m out in the open where I can see the sky and not so happy when we’re in the woods where it’s dark and there are strange sounds.

I think I can handle this, mom!

But this is the second time we’ve been to this park and I liked it a whole lot better this time. I ran up and down the hills and explored lots more and mom says she was very happy with my ‘progress,’ whatever that means.

I even stopped to take a peaceful little breather on a big hill.

Then over the weekend my friend Lance and his sister Payton came to visit me! They brought their folks too and we all sat out on my deck.

Lance and I discussing our photo/treat ratio requirements.

I guess if I was honest there wasn’t a whole lot of sitting for me and Lance. We mostly chased each other around the deck. We had sooooo much fun! I’m as big as he is now and I can play just as hard!

We raced around and around that deck!

I tried to play with Payton (she’s my angel sister Katie’s half sister) but she told me off, so I went back to jump on Lance. The folks had to make us stop and rest cause we were all about the game.

Payton wasn’t in the mood.

I had so much fun with them that I had to sleep for an entire day after they went home. I think Lance and Payton probably slept too. Mom calls that recharging. I wonder what she’s talking about?

Aren’t we all just adorable?

Anyway, I know you like to hear what’s going on in my world, so I thought I’d stop by and give you an update. My Aunt is here right now, and I’m pretty busy entertaining her.

What’s your favorite toy today Aunt B?

Play, play, play, a sheltie-girl’s got to keep the fun coming all the time. It’s such a big responsibility, but I’m up for the task!

I get lots of hugs cause I’m so cute.

Talk later, people, I have to go get a toy for my Aunt so she doesn’t get bored!

Oh, and thanks to Lance’s parents for driving so Lance and Payton could come and play! We had so much fun.

Life is good!

I might need a little nap now, mom.

Your girl, Penny.


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Better

Company is coming and I’m trying to do the last minute dusting and picking up and organizing food and checking the bathrooms and Penny is weaving between my feet, grabbing at the dust cloth, barking hysterically at the plastic wrap drawer.

Everything is harder with her.

I am frustrated and decided to take her out for a walk, maybe she needs to go to the bathroom, and she’s jumping and playing with sticks and tugging on her leash and nipping at my feet. She doesn’t go to the bathroom.

Everything is harder with her.

Walking back into the house I am hit out of the blue with the memory of the last time I walked Katie back into the house.

I begin to cry.

Penny stops tugging on her leash and stands on her hind legs, front paws on my waist and cocks her head. I pick her up and she licks the tears from my face then snuggles in for a hug.

Everything is better with her.