The Rest Of Our Memorial Day Weekend

 

I had two things I planned to get done over the long weekend – help Joe finish the lean to and hang some lights I had made on the pergola. What did get done? The dog kennel and lots of fun! Sunday we spent the day in Des Moines with my sister. They have neighbors who own a “lake” where they get to camp for free and they are the only ones who camp there. It’s 10 minutes from their home in Norwalk so they go out often. Lots of fishing, playing in the sand and yummy food was had by all! We were there all day and didn’t get home until after 9:00 p.m. and we were wore out!

The lake was an old quarry and back in the 90’s it was known as Clearwater Lake. They held concerts there and the lake was used for swimming. The Beach Boys played there at one time. I remember hearing about it but Joe and I were busy starting a family in the 90’s and never went. The old stage is still there and the old lifeguard stand. It’s a neat place for Beth to get to camp.

Monday saw us up and revamping the kennel. We made it out of hog panels and steel posts. The dog house is in one corner and it’s very roomy. Izzy had spent the past few years living in a horse stall so we thought she would enjoy the freedom of this kennel. And she seemed to be okay with it. As long as we were outside. As soon as we went in the house she would get out. We discovered she was climbing up the hog panels and then jumping out! So, we put a chain link cover over the top. And we covered one end with a tarp for shade. I know – it sounds very redneck. But it doesn’t look too bad and she is nice and safe. Plus – it didn’t cost us anything as we used what we had. She can’t get out, she has a nice insulated dog house, plenty of shade, grass to lie in, food and water. She seems happy and we can relax knowing she is comfortable and safe.

I never tire of the beautiful views at Belva Deer!

After finishing up the kennel and eating lunch Joe mowed the yard while I finished planting flowers and swept the deck. Then we took Izzy to Belva Deer where we met Dad and Mom for a picnic. Eric met us out there too. Izzy loved it. She is such a people person and she loved on everyone and she loved going for a walk. She was wore out after so much excitement and fell asleep on the way home. Then when we got home she went straight to her dog house and laid down. I think she’s liking her new family and home!

For a weekend with no plans except working around the house we sure did a lot of running but it was also a relaxing and fun weekend. Lots of family fun!

A Visitor, Izzy and a Visit With Dr. Anderson

This beautiful guy was a visitor by our backdoor yesterday. Isn’t he pretty? He was all spread out on the patio then later I saw he was sitting on my birdhouse by the backdoor. And then he was gone. I think he just wanted to show off his colors for us to enjoy!

Wednesday was Drew’s last day of school. He got out at 10:40. We came home, ate some lunch then headed to Ottumwa for his hearing check up to see if getting his tonsils and adenoids out and tubes in his ears helped with his hearing and the fluid build up. He was so worried. He thought if he didn’t pass the hearing test he’d have the surgery again. We explained it all to him but he still worried. He got so excited during the test we he realized he really could hear. You could see what a relief it was for him!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Drew and I spent most of the day outside working in the yard, transplanting flowers and playing with Izzy. I didn’t get everything done I was wanting to but it was nice to get as much done as I did! Later in the early evening Drew had a t-ball scrimmage then we took him over to Grandpa and Grandma’s to spend the night and then visit Braxton today. Joe and I drove out to Belva Deer to see if the campground was full for Memorial Day and it was. I was kind of hoping he’d suggest we pull the camper out but he didn’t and it’s just as well as we wouldn’t have found a spot anyway.

Dr. Anderson has the neatest fish aquarium in his waiting room. It is huge and is full of all kinds of fish. This is only a small portion of the whole thing. We see something different every time we visit and it makes waiting to much more enjoyable. We sometimes wish we would get to wait longer as Dr. Anderson is good about getting people in quickly although I’m not complaining. Short waits at the doctor’s office is a good thing!

Today it’s raining. I’m hoping the rain moves on so I can finish with my flowers although I might have to mud them in! I’m hoping to get it all finished today so I can help Joe make a kennel for Izzy tomorrow and hopefully finish up the lean to. I have projects I need his help with but want his lean to done first. Why is it that our lives get so busy that we can’t finish a simple project in a decent time? Oh well. Hopefully this long weekend ahead we can get a few things done, a few things started and maybe take some time to run up to Des Moines and visit my sister where they are camping. That can be Drew’s adventure! I’m going to stay away from the computer too as much as I can. I want to enjoy these next few days with my guys!

 

Meet Izzy

This is Izzy, the newest member of our family. She’s a five year old Vizsla and we brought her home last night. We lost our Black Lab Elly about a year and a half ago and knew we would get another dog eventually but hadn’t found the right fit for our family yet. Then Mom heard from a friend that she had two Vizslas that she was trying to find homes for. Her husband had passed away and she was needing to find homes for all of their animals as she wasn’t able to care for them all herself.

We headed over to her house after supper and fell in love with Izzy. We weren’t looking for a puppy. We were looking for a dog that was out of the puppy stage and had been worked with a little bit. We thought eventually we would go to a shelter and look for one but we are so happy with Izzy. She’s a little older than we were thinking we wanted but she’s such a gentle and calm dog. She loves Drew and she just seemed like the perfect fit. I tried to get a good picture of her but she was way more interested in checking out her surroundings than posing for a picture!

Joe is hoping to hunt with her. She was pointing the chickens when we got her home! And Drew is looking forward to summer and playing with his new friend. I’m just glad to have a dog again. I think every little boy needs a dog and for some reason I always feel better knowing we have a dog outside keeping an eye on us. I think our family is complete now. I think we have enough pets now. Pierre Piddlepants the cat, Esther, Ethel, Beaky and Blacky the chickens and now Izzy the dog. Now to get Drew to do his chores!