About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Friday, April 19, 2013

O is for OBEY

 
In not quite 3 months, I've gone from being an independent, new senior to a doting and exhausted "Mommy" of a yellow Labrador puppy.  Now I remember why we have our children when we're young and why we get the kids a puppy when they're old enough to look after it.  It has been a grueling few months. Every night I moan as I get out of bed in the dark of night to let the pup out for a quick pee. Thankfully, I'm so exhausted that I quickly fall back to sleep, only to waken with a start as I hear that yip-yip "Yoo-hoo, are you up yet?"  But then in the evening, when she falls asleep while we're watching TV, I can't help but look at her adoringly, especially when she's on her back spread-eagled for all the world to see!
However, we seem to have fallen into a routine, and she's now trust-worthy enough that the hubby brings her upstairs to the bedroom when he leaves for work around 6:30 am.  She settles down on a blankie in the corner of the room and is quiet until around 7:30 or 8:00 when she lets me know in no uncertain terms that it's time to play!  I am not a morning person, so she knows now that while I check my emails and a few other important sites, she is allowed to sit in the chair and watch any goings-on outside.  Then we go downstairs for our breakfast, the morning news, and the newspaper with coffee.  Then it's shower time, and she's become very good about lying on the bath mat to wait and then watches as I go about my dressing  rituals.

Downstairs again and if I'm in the mood, I'll take her for a walk.  Sometimes I take her out both in the morning and the afternoon but I always take her at a time so she's pooped out when my students come between 3:15 and 6:30.  At first, I had to keep her in the family room behind a baby gate, but now I've trained both her and the students so she can now meet and greet each student before settling down under the table until we're finished.  Obviously, I have other chores to attend to during the day, so I take her everywhere with me, whether in the car or on foot.

This week's slideshow is about what she's learned since we brought her home - how she has learned to OBEY all the rules.  We're both absolutely thrilled with her intelligence, except that because she's so smart, she also knows how to be obstinate.  And that's the phase we're in now!  *Sigh!* 

Oh well, when I look back at all the photos I've taken of her, I must share this one.  It shows how much she loves us and we love her!
Opulent thanks go to our official leader, Mrs. Nesbitt for creating ABC Wednesday, and to the omniscient Roger, our current administrator of the site.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

32 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

it's difficult to get creatures to obey!
omniscient! that's much better!

jill said...

Oh she is so cute and looks so full of mischief.xx

Leslie: said...

Roger, glad you like the new adjective for you! XXX

Leslie: said...

Jill, she is cute and she IS full of mischief! lol

Reader Wil said...

She is adorable! That's what she is!
Wil, ABCW Team.

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh my goodness, Leslie, how wonderfully brave of you to get a puppy. I often look at Lindy and think how cute she must have been as a pup, but I don't have the energy for raising one.
This afternoon we're going to visit Dick's youngest daughter, who has one husband, two children, a cat, two big dogs, and 14 puppies. Yes, fourteen, two times seven.
They are mastiff/boxer cross pups and are going to be a serious handful for them before they're old enough to leave home. Fortunately, they have a big house with a good-sized yard. Unfortunately, they are mastiff/boxer cross puppies. Repetition for emphasis.
We'll get photos and post them to my blog.
K

anthonynorth said...

A real hand full, I think :-)

Ann said...

Maybe it's like getting up all those months with our babies to feed etc or just rock. Then later you forget it all and LOVE them.
Ann

Hildred said...

Congratulations, Leslie, - a sweet obedient puppy with lots of personality. You are doing a great job.

Leovi said...

Lovely dog, beautiful photos!

Marleen said...

So very cute!

Meryl said...

LOL!!!! I LOVE that first image of Tegan sprawled and just so happy chilling!

Have a great week!

photowannabe said...

He is so sweet. I can see how you have fallen head over heels for him.
I'm very impressed with the training and can see all the joy that its brought to your lives.

Richard Lawry said...

My daughter has a new puppy and obey is not in its vocabulary.

An Arkies Musings

Russell said...

Wonderful dog. Really enjoyed the slide show -- water is always an attraction!

Sounds like you have a great new addition to your home!

Nanka said...

Oh! such a cute and loving pup!!
Adorable!!

My O - Open School

Carver said...

I love seeing your shots of your adorable puppy. I know it's a lot of work, as well as pleasure, having a new puppy.

Photo Cache said...

how adorable. i especially like that spread eagle shot, so angelic.

EWOK

Gerald (SK14) said...

obediance training for dogs is easier than it is for kids.

Joy said...

That is one obliging dog posing for photographs. That licking one is so funny.

Nonnie said...

I loved our black lab. She was not a pup when we adopted her. She had the mistaken notion that she was a lap dog, but only with my hubby. :)

Anonymous said...

So adorable and post is filled with O's and Love ^_^

LONDONLULU said...

Oh my, Oh so sweet! Worth all the disObeying:)

Unknown said...

Obey and this is adorable little pup just should NOT go together!

Liz Hinds said...

She is so delicious! How can you resist?

ChrisJ said...

There is nothing more adorable and heartwarming than an obedient, polite and loving pet.

LOLfromPasa said...

My oh my what a sweet doggie. Loved the video last week and the photos today. Can't believe how covered in mud a blondie can get :). Lovely 'O'.

Lise said...

O-dorable:)

Shady Gardener said...

Very cute post! Great smilebox creation. Glad you gave the bath, and not me! :-)

Marie said...

Quelle merveille ce petit toutou!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Ahahaha I love that picture of the two, what a sweet darling you have.

OUTSTANDING

Over and over again, I am always late commenting, but, trying to catch up.
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Oh, she's gorgeous!