Spending lots of time at HOME !

Sorry, I have not posted in some time but things have really changed in my world and around the world.  It started slowly with some of our presentations getting canceled and Mom spending more time at home.  Then Dad started to spend more time at home.  Not that I don't like it - I do - but they always seem to be on the computers during the day so I can't get on, plus it is hard for Avalon and I to get all of our power naps in during the day.  However, one GREAT thing is that Dad now usually takes us to a local school just about every night and let's us run and play ball.  Avalon can even make it to the fields without getting car sick so a BIG plus !

Mom and Dad sat down with us when an order was put into place to stay at home unless you are an essential worker or business.  They explained there is some type of bug called Covid-19 that is making people sick not just here but around the world.  I told Mom I saw some bug killer in the garage and why don't they use that to kill the bug but she said it was a virus bug and you can't see it.  Mom does have something she uses to kill the bug in our house and it sure smells like we are at a hospital.  I remember that was how it smelled when I was there.  Mom and Dad also have these masks they wear when they leave the house.  Mom rarely leaves the house because just about everything is closed so she now orders groceries and other things on the computer.  I always alert Mom when a package arrives at the house.  I feel it is the one way I can help.

We have had several social distancing activities as Mom calls them here at the lake.  There was a teacher's parade (training schools are closed), village pizza delivery twice, a food truck to celebrate a birthday, two food drives and three boat drive up music concerts.

Dad still goes to his office since he is self employed and the only person there. They closed the Courts so his cases were all postponed for around six weeks but he did do something called "Zoom" and "Webex" meetings.  He started to go back to Court last week but he wears a mask and uses something on his hands that has that funny smell to it.

My two legged sister Aunna who is a nurse was working with people here who got the bug.  However, Mom said they put her job on hold and she wasn't working.  I was hoping to get to spend more time with her but Mom said since she was exposed to people who had the bug it wasn't safe.  About two weeks ago she left for Howard University Hospital in Washington DC to help with sick people there.  Mom said there are many more sick people there and they needed more health care workers.  We are proud of her and her desire to help others but can't wait till she is home again safe and sound.


My other two legged sister Meghann has a business that Mom said they called non-essential so she had to close her juice bar for a couple of weeks.  Later, she was able to open it but no one was allowed inside.  She could take juices out to people who drove up plus she started delivering.   Just recently they are allowing 10 people in a business like hers at a time but she has decided to just do drive up and delivery for now.  This coming weekend will be her second year anniversary of her juice bar opening but things sure are not the same.

Easter came and went this year.  Church service was on TV and the Easter bunny who I really like didn't make an appearance this year.  Mom took some pictures of baskets full of eggs to send to my two legged sisters but there were no goodies in them.  Mom and me decorate the marquee which is always fun.


It finally warmed up and we got to get out in the yard and do some things we normally get to do.  I helped Dad get the lawn mower up and running and Avalon and I supervised Mom and Dad while they cleaned up the yard and beach  It seems funny doing something normal was sooooo exciting !!  We still have to plant the garden and flowers.  It has either been too cool to plant or raining, but hopefully this week and over this coming weekend we will be out.

I have not seen Miss M for over two months. They closed her command training school and she now has classes on the computer at home.  I hope I don't have to do a lot of command re-training with her when we get to see each other again.  There have been command school graduations going on but Mom said they can't get together like before so they are doing ones on the computer.  Mom and I hope to brighten their day on one of the graduation days.


I am sooooo excited to announce there is a NEW KSDS puppy in training here in Omaha.  Mom and Dad's friends -Bob and Shirley Corn.  They raised a puppy named Huxley. He has been back at KSDS command school but like so many graduations his has been put on hold too.  A few weeks ago they drove to KSDS and picked up Amigo.  I am so excited to go visit him but it might be a while with social distancing still in place.  I could teach him puppy commands. Maybe Miss M and I can come over this summer and teach him commands.

Winter in Nebraska

 Winter in Nebraska is boring !!  There are days it is snowing or ice raining or days it is sooooo COLD that we just stay in the house.  We don't always get to go for our walks around the lake just short ones to get our business done.  Mom and me have been busy setting up booths for the summer - Outlook Nebraska Vision Fair is in April, Pick a Pooch is in July and Nebraska Humane Society is in September. Mom has been talking to CHI Hospital about volunteering for pet therapy.  My two legged sister Aunna works there as a nurse.  However, before we can start we both need to take physicals, get a background check and be tested to make sure we are a good match.  Miss M will be testing too but will not be able to go with us till after her birthday in August.

My birthday was March 3rd and I am now 4 years old in dog years and 28 in human years.  No fan fare like last year when I turned 21.  Just a few extra treats.  Bummer  :(

My Dad's birthday was the next day - He got special treats and a special dinner.  We could have celebrated together ??

My Mom has been busy with my two legged sister Aunna and helping her plan her wedding.  It will be September 5th over Labor Day weekend.  I heard Dad say he is concerned about the first Husker football game being that day so hoping it is a day game since the wedding is at night.

Mom showed me some pictures of them out shopping for wedding dresses since I did not get to go along.  Mom said only two legged people were allowed.  Another bummer  :(

The first anniversary of the flood is coming up soon.  I heard Mom and Dad talking about it.  It was really a scary time with soooo many houses getting flooded here at the lake.  Mom, Avalon and I helped out as much as we could.  It has been cold here but not as much snow so hoping all is OK this year.

I am EXCITED to report that Christ the King Catholic school raised just shy of $500 for KSDS after we did our presentation in January.  They were hoping to raise $1000 to name a puppy but any money raised will help KSDS provide trained puppies to forever partners for FREE !

Happy St. Paddy's Day !!

Winter is here

Sorry, I have not blogged for a bit.  Something called Windows 7 became outdated and our computers were not BIG enough for Windows 10.  Not sure what that all means but Mom took away our old computers both at home and at my Dad's office and bought new ones in their place.  There was even someone who Mom called a "Geek" who came to the house and help me and Mom get everything up and running.  I think the "Geek" also went to my dad's office one day.  Things sure look different on the computer so it has been a learning curve for me.

My two legged sister -Aunna is getting married so Mom, Dad, Aunna and Drew went building shopping.  I was hoping to tag along and make sure it met my approval but that was not the case.  Mom said everyone had to sign a waiver form and wear hard hats since the wedding building was under construction.  Since I could not wear a hard hat I didn't get to go.  I heard Aunna saying she was looking for a younger person to be a flower girl and since in dog years I am only 3 1/2 I am hoping she picks me.  I already know how to carry things in my mouth so the learning curve will be short.  


It has been cold and snowy here so our daily walks have been a hit and miss lately.  Dad usually takes us in the morning before he goes to work but sometimes the sun doesn't come out early enough so we have to  wait till later when Mom says it is warmer.  We have even missed a few weekend walks because sometimes it rains ice.  Dad even slipped and fell on it and hit his head.  I heard him talking to Mom his head hurt and I was worried about him.  I sure wish Mom and Dad understood puppy talk !!

 It has been so cold here that I saw some people walking and fishing on the lake.  Mom never lets Avalon and me out on the ice.  She said it is dangerous.  I hope those people are careful.                                                                                                                             

 This week Mom told me was Catholic School week and we had been invited to do two presentations at Christ the King Catholic School.  I was soooo excited to be back working again.  Miss M, me and Mom do a lot of presentations over the summer when Miss M is out of school but not as many during the school year.  Miss M is in school five days a week and Mom told me Miss M's command training at her school takes 12 years.  My command training only took around 6-7 months after my puppy raising training.  She must have a lot of commands to learn. 

 Everyone got up early at our house so Avalon and I could get a walk in before we had to leave.  It was a drive to get there but we made it okay and had plenty of time to set up.  There were lots of kiddos - grades K-4 came first then 5-8.  After Mom and I did our presentations we walked around to almost all of the classrooms.  I think I might have had all 365 students pet me before we were done.  It was okay - I love to be the center of attention!  I even did a few more of my  commands when we were in the classrooms.  Mom told me these students command training also takes 12 years.  I just can't understand how many commands they must have to learn. Mom said I earned an A for the day!!

Mom said the students at Christ the King were raising money for my school - KSDS Inc.  Their goal is to raise $1000 so they will get to name a puppy.  I told them any amount would be WONDERFUL to help cover our tuition at school and help us be debt free when we go to our forever partners. 

Thank You Christ the King for letting us tell the story about Guide/Service/Facility Dog and how they can change the lives of their forever partners in ways we can not even imagine. 

Christmas - That wonderful time of the Year !

 Thanksgiving came and went.  This year it was just Mom, Dad, Avalon and I.  Other family members were either leaving town or not coming to town.  It seemed a little strange not to have lots of people here but the one good thing that happened is that Avalon and I got to eat dinner

with Mom and Dad.  I was really excited about this thinking we were going to get turkey and the fixings but it was just our same old every day dog food.  However, we did get to eat at the same time and that was cool.  We  did get to watch the parade together and Dad watched some football.   The day after Thanksgiving all of the fall and Thanksgiving decorations came down and the next two days we all spent putting up Christmas decorations.  I helped by eating a few of the decorations off of the Christmas tree and rearranging some of the colorful packages.  Sparky - Our elf on the shelf arrived after I ate some of the decorations so I was glad about that.  No report to the big red guy that I was naughty.

 I was soooo excited to learn we were going to Bell Ring again this year and puppy in training Huxley was going to be there.  Mom said this would probably be the last time we get to see each other since Huxley will be heading back to KSDS soon to start advance college classes.   He said his Mom and Dad were talking to him about starting college and he said he was a little scared.  I told him all of the training commanders at KSDS are wonderful teachers and the accommodations were great.  It was FUN times bell ringing and meeting all of the people who stopped to donate to the Salvation Army and pet Huxley and me.  However, the only person there that could understand puppy talk was the big red guy - Santa.  I told him I was trying to be nice and Sparky could verify that. 

Christmas Day finally came.  Lots of family and friends came over to celebrate.  However, Avalon and I had to stay in our bedroom while they were here.  Mom said I can get overly excited when we have company sometimes and things can get a little dicey.  Mom didn't want me to spoil my nice streak by being naughty and Sparky would have to report to the beg red guy.  Avalon never seems to have this problem but Mom said she had to keep me company so I would not feel left out.  I am soooo excited  to report  all was well but I think the snowman helped. 

Finally it was Christmas for us.  Sparky reported to the beg red guy that I was basically nice and Avalon was really nice.  We got new toys to play with and some really yummy puppy treats.  Mom was trying to give us a few but I just jumped up and took what I could since I didn't have to be nice anymore.  Avalon said Sparky saw it and she said he might report it back to the beg red guy when he leaves for the year.  I hope not and he forgets.   I will have to have a talk with him before he leaves but for some reason he doesn't really do anything but sit on the Santa hat and observe.  I was told his magic only happens at night so I might have to sneak out of the bedroom and go see him.  I don't want any bad reports going up to the North Pole !!

We changed up the marquee before Christmas so -