May Sunday

Not out of the woods yet.

You're thinking I'm going to complain about the weather? No. It's not that I haven't something to gripe about there: we're in May and it's too cold to eat breakfast outside. Indeed, after tomorrow, the entire week will be cold, though at least the threat of night frost is behind us. But this isn't on my mind. I'm getting used to a May with my hoodie.

My attention, however, is on Millie. Here we are, starting the fifth week of life together and the girl has been presenting one health issue after the next. I have no reason to think that she was poorly treated as a little pup. And I know her parents are healthy. And of course, she's been mollycoddled here. Lots of vet visits, good food, appropriate exercise and socialization. 

She was again sick at night. If I had to take a guess, I would say it's the fault of her meds. She's finishing a round of them, and the last time she was finishing the same meds, she was also very sick. Can't be a coincidence. So no, I'm not freaking out. Nonetheless, I have to place limits on her activities. I'll skip agility class once again. It should be a calm day for us. One of these weeks we will wake up strong and carefree, ready to sail through without vet consults and diagnostic speculations, but clearly that week has not yet come for us. 

Millie is not a rescue and most pups that you pick up directly from a litter come with health guarantees. In other words, I can return Millie, since at least one of the problems she has had dates back to when she was with her litter still. I'm not even tempted to do that. Frankly, small dogs that have health problems are easier (though not cheaper!) to take care of than big dogs with behavioral challenges. And I can't say that I don't have time for all this (though she has already preempted my travel to Chicago last week, and will likely do so for this entire month: you can't board a pup who wakes up with issues and who still has potty accidents). Though I am in a good position to help her get strong, still, I am so looking forward to having at least a few weeks where all I have to deal with are her playful bouts of naughtiness and silly antics. We are not there yet.

Breakfast, sigh, inside. But with emerging lilies of the valley from the farmette!

In the early afternoon, Ed shows up on his bike. I had asked him to help me start up the new lawn mower. I'd never had a battery operated one and although I am perfectly capable of reading instructions, with Ed there I can shortcut the stuff that I do not need to read. (The machine comes with three booklets.)

Mowing the lawn here is one of those odious chores that does not thrill me, but honestly, the yard here is so small that it takes me all of five minutes. Ed and Millie watch. 

Since the day suddenly turned magnificently lovely, we opt for a bike ride, and since Millie slept the entire morning and is now bouncing around, rather than to leave her in the crate, I pop her into the bike seat and we set out.

It is one windy day! Heading out, the wind is on our backs. This is not a good thing. You tend to go too far and then struggle to get back. Notably too, Millie is not yet comfortable in the bike seat and so I have to cuddle her to calm her down. 

Should we do the full loop? Our usual 45 minuter? Or a variation on the above? Should we stop at the dog park? Go to the lake? See the turtles? So many possibilities! 

In the end we do indeed bike the full loop, with pauses at the park to see the turtles...

And by the lake, because this is our favorite contemplative moment.

(wait, don't we usually do a selfie here?)

 

 

And then Millie and I bike to the farmette with Ed. Because she likes it there, and because I could use some fresh lilac branches.

In the late afternoon we are home again. And to her credit, Millie does not throw up until we pull into the garage! I can hose down the mess! The wind, the motion, the bumps and her fragile tummy today are not a great combination.  But I am convinced that she grows stronger when she overcomes these challenges. I see that in her reactions to our outings.

I have to hurry then to fix dinner for the young family. They are here with the usual high energy and enthusiasm. And Millie love.

 

  

 

(Goose, getting his share of attention) 

 

 

(dancing)

 

 

(Polish boy's folk costume cap, discovered) 

 

 

(dinner)

 

 

It's a beautiful evening, on top of a beautiful day. To be outside, to do the bike loop again, to open the porch door fully on a warm evening, kids, dogs, going in and out  --  this is what we wait for. Millie, this is what spring is all about.

with so much love...