Too long

Alright, It didn't need to be said but it has been awhile since I have gotten on. It hasn't been years or anything but these last 5 months or so has changed my life so needless to say, I didn't have time for blogging.

I thought about getting everyone caught up, but the posts upon posts needed to do that overwhelmed me and then I didn't feel like getting on (note to self: do NOT get behind on posting)

Most of you are my friends on Facebook so you kind of know whats going on (If your not, add me! link on the right :) but those of you that don't, we had career changes, dog changes, living changes, and much more!

I am going to try to get stuff summed up, but don't expect individual post on each thing. I am only one person and my hair will fall out if I take that on.

Brief run down: Adam started new job in Flagstaff, Az. I have been living in Iowa for the past 5 months waiting for a house (to rent) and also making sure he wanted to stay at the job, liked it, they liked him, etc... I took 4 of the dogs up here with me, and he kept 1. I had Tara, Annie, JD and Vance and he had Sammy.

Most of you know, Sammy is no longer with us. He broke his leg last month and when we took him in, we thought it would be a simple surgery and we would be good to go. False. He had bone cancer and it was so far along, that he was given a month to live. I was in shock. I didn't know how to take it. Do I blame myself for not knowing? Do I blame the dog for not showing signs sooner (acting like his cheery ol self and never gave any indication) It was hard for me since I couldn't be there and hard for Adam because he had to be the one to take him in.

Months before, I adopted another Greyhound (actually got him mostly for Sammy to have a playmate) Even though him and Sammy will never meet, I am lucky to have him. Reminds me so much of Sammy in so many ways (found out they have the same Grandpa :) We named him Hermes and He can't wait to head out to Arizona either.

Annie, my Aussie, decided after months of speculation she wants to stay on the farm. My parents needed a dog and Annie loved them to pieces. She is so happy out here :)

Vance is still with me, but with this whole process, he hasn't been out as much as I liked. Some months were better as I worked part time up here and he got to come to work with me. His turn in date is sometime in the fall but when we finally head out to Arizona, he will be staying with
puppy raiser Lisa and she will turn him in for us. It's a hard decision, but with the new move and me trying to find a job, I most likely will not be able to come back for awhile. I still have him for 3 weeks though, going to cherish though, one lick and wiggle at a time.

So I will have 3 dogs. It has been years since I have been down to this number but that way I can focus on my marriage, my house, my soon to be job, and everything in between.


So...I will try and update on here as much as possible, with some pics too. But for more up to date info. add me as a friend on Facebook :)

Sarah

Iowa Trip Part 2

During our week long stay, both of us were out and about every day. From visiting friends, to old co-workers, to family and then various events, Vance got much needed socialization.

One place that he has never been and is always a great place to go is Cabela's. I met my sister and her family and my parents and I went.


They have a two level store, with the top level having a cafe and unique accessories (such as bathroom and room decor, candles, home furnishings, things like that)
He were up and down quite a bit so Vance got a good work out on going up and down the stairs, nice and slow. The above pic looks like he's way ahead of me, but really, I put the camera over his head to show you the amount of stairs. That isn't all of them either, we had already gone up a few, but didn't have the camera out yet.

My dad had gotten a big gift certificate to Cabela's as part of his Christmas bonus, so he took his time spending it. Shoes were a must, so we spent some time there and Vance just layed there, watching my nieces and their antics.


My nieces were also a big help with helping me train Vance. We would set up situations where Vance might be tempted or whatnot and of course, he passed.
They also liked to pose with him. Here they are in an ice house they had set up. I have all kinds of pics, but this one was really cute :)


I have never had a dog who was scared of statues and such, but I wanted to be sure Vance wasn't going to because they can be spooked by some of the oddest thing. He didn't even care there were beasts on the fake mountain in the store. He just posed and was hoping someone passing by would sneak a pet to him (people are his weakness)


Also, the heights of being on the second level didn't bother him either. He could walk right along side the railing and could care less, that's a plus! I thought he might be affected, but he continued to surprise me :)

Iowa Trip Part 1

During the last part of January, I went to Iowa for a week. It was really nice to get back and visit family and friends. Just Vance and I went as Adam couldn't take a whole week off of work and funds were tight for two tickets.

We got there around 10 p.m. on a Wednesday night and my brother picked me up to make the two hour trek to my parents house. Now call me a cruel person but I had told everyone in my family I was coming except my Mom. She had no idea, so when we pulled in late, I went upstairs to wake her and the look on her face was priceless! I could tell that she wasn't sure if she was dreaming or if it was truly reality. She just couldn't believe I was there.

I hit the hay and the next morning, I just had to get Vance out in the snow. I could tell he was curious about it. The last time he saw snow he was 8 weeks old and then a few weeks later, we left for Arizona. He just didn't know what to do at first. He sniffed it, then started running around. It was a sight to see! Major zoomies as he blazed through walls of drifts. He was in heaven.

I could barely get him to stop and pose for me! I saw some props I wanted him to sit/stand beside for some portrait shots, but I didn't get very many. I made him sit still a few times, then just let him run. My parents have an 8 acre acreage, but I would never lose him. With the all white landscape, he stood out quite well.




After a good romp in the snow, we came inside to warm up by the fire. Again, more firsts as he has never been around an open flame fire. Let me tell ya, it didn't even phase him. All the crackles and pops and the heat didn't bother him in the least bit.



Even when I asked him for a down/stay right next to it he was fine. There is a protective screen in front of it to make sure sparks and whatnot doesn't come flying out onto the carpet.

I love this pic of him. So grown up yet still a pup. He has beautiful, big brown eyes and he sure uses them to his advantage :)

Going Back and Forth

I know I haven't posted too much like I said I would, I just am waiting to upload all my stuff from my laptop to my main computer. That is a good reason why its hard for me to update, because I have to go back and forth and it gets confusing and/or tiring.

So...after I do that It will be on a more regular basis.

On the upscale, This weekend, there is an air show going on in a nearby town. Can you guess where we are going? :) Air Force and Navy and some Army will be there to put on a good show as well as educate the public on various tactics and such. I am taking Vance and he is going to be all decked out in Air Force gear (Since he is named after an Air Force base )

It should be extremely fun, I have never been to an air show before and neither has Vance. I hope the noises don't scare him too much. I'll just have to be sure to bring extra treats :)

K-State KSDS and CCI Presentation

Yesterday, KSDS and CCI, had the opportunity to give a seminar on assistance dogs at Kansas State University.

Now Doniphan (for all of you that don't know, is in formal training [guide] at KSDS) is still in training and I was hoping they would use him as an example of their Guide program. I was thumbing through media and such and didn't find anything, but I kep looking and I found better. A video of the entire presentation and Doniphan is at the end, but he is a black lab in the guide harness.
I encourage all of you to watch the entire video, KSDS and CCI really did a good job and both were represented really well.

I am just so happy that I got to see a glimpse of Doni and see that he's doing good, makes me feel good :)

KSDS and CCI Presentation (Doniphan towards the end)

I'm Still Here!

Whew! Alright, I could go on and on and on about how busy I've been and such, but to be honest, only the basic things have been going on.

I have been actively looking for a job (that is work in itself, I guess) We have been running on just Adam's income, but there is no extra for fun things, or dog related things (training fees, traveling, health, etc..)

Since I don't work there is no reason for me to make alot of trips into town, therefore Vance and I don't go to town too much. He accompanies me while I do basic things and errands, but there are few opportunities to really socialize him around new things. I try my best, but just with our situation, it's limited right now.

The other 4 dogs require daily exercise and sometimes vigorous ones at that. I do have very active dogs and with that comes activities for them to do or exercises that stimulate their brains.
The worse thing to have is a bored dog.

I do have some activities that Vance and I have done that we need to post about. I will get on that for this week. It has been long overdue, and I am sorry.

Thank you for hanging in there with me!!

Long Story Short....

.....Vance and I are headed to Iowa on Wednesday!

I didn't post about it because I didn't really think I could go (price, time, to see if Adam could get time off, etc) but after watching airline ticket prices closely, We are able to go for a whole week!

Regrettably it will only be Vance and I. Adam cannot take that much time off work and we need to watch our pennies, so two tickets are out of the question.

Last time we trekked back to the Midwest, I forgot my camera so I will be sure to have it with me, even if I have to tie it around my neck! Besides, Vance only experienced snow when he was real little and then we moved out here to the desert, so I am curious to see his reaction to snow as an adult. I am only able to take the little Kodak camera and not the nice big one because with just me going, I don't want to be bogged down with stuff while trying to maneuver an airport with Vance. I'll admit, it sure is nice having a husband haul all the luggage for you, I knew there was a reason I married him! lol

I might be able to post while up there, but I'll be mainly updating on Facebook so check on my page or add me if you aren't my friend already :)

Have a good day and now I'm off to unpack all my winter clothes. I have a feeling I'm going to need them

14! (Months)

No, Vance is not 14 years old, but he is 14 months old today and we puppy raisers have to count the months because we only have a limited number with them :)

Happy 14 month birthday, Vance!

Vance helping me make the bed :)