cold, but not North Pole cold

I really lucked out with being away for what turned out to be the coldest week -- one where temperatures were shockingly low even for Wisconsin. Long walks with Henry would have been impossible. Kennels held pop-up classes on how to deal with stir crazy dogs. Henry would surely have gone nuts in the apartment, especially on the weekend, when the doggie daycare is closed. 

Today, it's still well below freezing, but not so bad that we can't plan an outing. Perhaps not an extended one, but something that will give him a chance to run.

Slowly, Henry is returning to normal. He checked on me several times at night, and was up and ready to go at 6:30, but that's within his range of acceptable wake-up times.  We go out, albeit briefly.

 

I stick to our past routines. His breakfast, my breakfast... (things that make me smile: my coffee mug that says "home is where my dog is," and the still unused but oh so pretty candle from the store near the Jardin Luxembourg).

Lots of cuddling in between.

And at 9:30 we have the continuation of the class Henry started before I left -- Intermediate Obedience. 

An interesting hour! The training program is in the same facility as his doggie daycare and my doggie just wants to know why I won't take him off leash so that he can play! Not helped by the fact that one of the training assistants is one of his favorite daycare people! He wants to run, to meet and greet the other dogs and yes, even their owners. The instructor notices that his anxiety with people is significantly reduced. It could be any number of things: he's seeing a repeat of people he'd seen before. Or maybe my vet's medicine. Or his stay at camp. His age maybe? The weather! 

Today he is an extremely clever student with an extremely short attention span. He learns "go to mat" instantly and does it three times, then has enough. I'm glad we're back in training rotation, but I am also glad when the class comes to an end for my frisky boy.

A quick rest at home, and then an outing to the dog park near the farmette.  With Ed.

(on the run)

And it is at the park that I notice the big change in Henry's behavior. In the past, he'd avoid the people there. If someone approached him, he's bark. If someone stuck out a hand to be sniffed, he would ignore the friendly gesture and bark some more. 

This time, he didn't bark once. And (this was absolutely shocking to see) -- he actually ran up to one or two dog owners and sniffed them of his own volition. 

Is my dear boy finally learning to trust others?

It is true that at the Edge, he is still his old self. He hugs the walls and looks apprehensively at the opening elevator doors. If he sees someone, he barks. I cannot wait for this problem to go away in 12 days. But out in the real world of people and cars and hands and strangers, he may be shedding his panic. Maybe.

In the dog park, he is exuberant! All the dogs are. It's the first reasonably warm day (just below freezing and very sunny) and the dog owners are all thrilled to finally let their pups loose.

Afterwards, the three of us go to the neighborhood coffee shop, Tati's. This Henry knows and understands. We walk in, he immediately goes to the couch and waits for us to join him. 

There is one other couple, sitting at a nearby table and as they watch us (as I do my camera thing...), they smile and comment -- your dog is so well behaved! Ours would be all over this place!

Henry! Your first "good behavior" compliment from strangers! I just beamed and mumbled some inconsequential modest nothings.

When we leave the cafe, I suggest we drive up a couple of blocks to look at the house I'll be moving to in 12 days. Ed is incredulous -- you mean you haven't even seen it?  I smile at that. Ed, tell me, what are the chances of me finding an empty house in this absolutely full neighborhood, available right now, willing to do a 6 month lease, more or less in my price range? It's nothing short of a miracle! Who cares how it looks or feels. Besides, I've seen pictures. 

Driving past it now, I recognize its downsides. It's bigger and more expensive than Steffi's House (where I'll be moving this summer -- just a few blocks away from this one). More rooms, bigger spaces. But I would never buy it, even if I could afford it. Steffi's House is small but sunny, with many big windows facing the south, the east, the west. This house (the Suelo one) has fewer windows and I can see that the living room will not have enough natural light for my taste. It is in close proximity to one house, and opening up to a construction site on the other side. Across the street, new homes are being built as well. Expect construction noise.

And still, I'm thrilled with it. A house for me and my dogs. A house where the kids can have ample space to play. And all this within walking distance to the farmette!

 

 

 

At home, there's not much I can do now in preparation for the move. I put together a few boxes, but there isn't room to really start in on that project. The kids will be coming here all next week and of course, I dont want to get Henry all nervous again. I look around and pick out things to discard, wishing that I were even braver with tossing out unused items. It's the kitchen that has the bulk of possibly irrelevant items. In cooking, you often don't need a tool for months on end and then suddenly you remember a recipe and boom! You wish you hadn't tossed that potato masher or pastry scraper. Toys are easier to give up. The kids are growing out of many of them rapidly. Books as well. We've carted boxes full to the library. And still, I wish I would just go bare bones on stuff. Well, I have two moves before me this year! An opportunity to really scale back.

Tomorrow, the winter Snow Moon will shine upon us here, in south-central Wisconsin. I'll look up, then lower my head in gratitude. For all that's still good and noble in this world.

with so much love...