Farewell to My Sweet Rio...

We came home from a really nice Thanksgiving in time to comfort Rio, our incredible labrador. He passed away Thanksgiving night wrapped in my arms, with Kosmo lying with him, & Henry keeping us company. He was the best dog ever, visiting my students at Arlington, always my protector. He joins his best friend, Olive, whom we also lost so recently. I hope they are playing across the rainbow bridge, pain-free, and full of joy...This is a photo of Rio & Olive at the old house in 2004, in younger days... The monkey's baby album is full of photos of him lying on Rio, crawling on him, etc.

Random News...

We had a great time at the Ridge Route Museum with our little group at my monthly free craft yesterday.

 

     The gloomy weather, and last day of soccer, no doubt had a lot to do with the small turnout. We enjoyed reading The Rainbow Bridge (based on a Chumash legend), and making feathered armbands. The children also had fun exploring our local treasure of a museum, inside and out. Daisy Cuddy made delicious 'cowboy' cookies, and I made tollhouse, with a pinenut in each, to honor the Chumash. Attendees were rewarded with a bag of yummy cookies, and Daisy's recipe. I had a surprise teenage volunteer, as well.

     My favorite part of the day was hearing about Harriet, the ghost at Gorman School. I may have to attempt to write a children's book about her...She was a 5 year old girl in the 1930's, whose family fields were where the school now resides. She wanted so badly to attend school, that when she saw a school bus, she jumped off her father's tractor. She fell, and was run over by the tractor, and died instantly. Her father buried her where she died. The school was built over her grave, and there are numerous Harriet stories at the school. She is a friendly ghost, enjoying her stay at the school...The Ridge Route has a desk and chalkboard in the museum to honor Harriet. Here is a link to a youtube video from television program that featured her story: Harriet the Ghost

     This morning, we awoke to beautiful snow, but not enough for sledding. The forecasters were once again completely off about how much snow we were going to get...

     On a comical note, Kosmo, the 10+ month old puppy (AKA 'Dr. Destructo'), managed to get a feather stuck on his nose this am. Hilarious, then he managed to get it off & eat it.
     So bummed I was unable to snap any photos of him playing in his first real snowfall. The hub was shoveling the driveway and said Kosmo cavorted for a while, snow on his nose, etc. Next thing he knew, the puppy disappeared, and was next seen watching the hub from the comfort and warmth of the living room window. He is a clever puppy, after all...

Why You Should Adopt an Adult Dog...

Two weeks ago, it was craft feathers everywhere...then on Nov. 10, it was my sofa pillow stuffing everywhere! Little minx!

Later that day...not a creature was stirring... note the lovely noseprints on my window...

Cub Scouts!

   Last week, my wolves had fun making the table decorations for our Blue&Gold/Holiday Feast. We had the feast on Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Mil Potrero Campground Lodge. It was SO much fun!

    It was the perfect location: in our local mountains, and we even had a fire in the fireplace.
The food was all so yummy, and the cake auction was a resounding success. The monkey's cake won "People's Choice," and went for $30+. Everyone had fun, & my wolves received their totems & first bead...

Here is the lodge, the sky was actually beautiful and blue....

Wolf table was right by the huge fireplace...

Some of the cakes; the monkey's was the chocolate one with the big chameleon...

The winner of the People's Choice...

Life With Dogs...

    Kosmo apparently really likes Curb Your Enthusiasm, and cameras. Came home today to Glade's birthday boxed set ripped up (dvd's are okay). This is a photo I took of him with the ruined camera case on his head, just because I could get him to do it. A little humiliation goes a long way...lol

    Rio survived his surgery, and we are trying our best to fatten him up. May have to return to feeding him whipped cream out of the can, like I did after seeing "The Tao of Steve." LOVE that dog! The first day he was home, I put the 'cone of shame' on him. Felt pretty good about him, so we took a drive up to Mt. Abel, on a whim, when we picked up Griffin. Saw a baby mountain lion!! Couldn't snap a photo of it, but did take some nice photos I'll try & post tomorrow.
    Came home to Rio dripping blood from hanging his head down while wearing the cone of shame. Kind of freaked me out, but vet reassured me....Really defined the term 'hang dog.' Snatched that e-collar off, & so far, he's been better about not rubbing stitches too much...

These photos do not do justice to the mess I come home to on pretty much a daily basis. Naughty Kosmo is like a 55 lb. termite...Here he is Greco-Roman wrestling Henry....

Halloween in Pinon Pines!

     We had a blast: after NOT having enough time to get ready (I should have taken the day off!), my friends Linda & Rachel saved the day, by helping me! We had a wonderful chili I had made the Friday before, so it would have time to absorb the flavors (esp. yummy because it also had some of my friend Ellen's homemade dinner sausage), cornbread, hamburgers, hot dogs, cupcakes, carrot cake w/homemade cream cheese icing (thank you Rachel & Linda!), etc.

     Had a ton of fun trick-or-treating in the main area of PP. Some people really go all out, esp. the Raymonds. They have a huge deck area decorated, then two 'rooms' to make a haunted house; the first is not as scary as the second.
    So fun, like a scene out of a movie...decorated homes, gracious people & great costumes. Really enjoyed the sea jelly made from an umbrella, a little girl in Griffin's class came to school as Frida Kahlo (sans unibrow, though), the pizza costume, etc. Great Halloween!

     Highlight of the evening (unfortunately costume/mishap not captured on film): my friends (aka the 'MacGuyvers') made the coolest biplane costume out of cardboard. Their son 'crashed' nose-first into the gravel at the first home the kids went trick-or-treating at. It was hilarious, a la 'A Christmas Story' & the snowsuit; limbs flailing & he couldn't get up...(funny because only his pride was injured).

     Will post about Rio's surgery, our drive up to Mt. Abel, etc. later...