Meet Kopitar

This past spring we brought in a new puppy to the homestead.  He is a rescue from the Oregon Humane Society.  He was brought up from Mt. Shasta at 8 weeks old, and we adopted him that first Saturday he was there, in early May.  He is believed to be a Xoloitzcuintle ( pronounced Show-low-its-queen-tli ) or Xolo for short... but he seems to have some whippit/greyhound/ rabbit/deer in him.  He's spunky. a trouble maker. a digger. He pounces.  He snuggles.  He is strong willed.  He may be small~ but, he has a big personality!  

 He cant seem to get enough of Cider.  He lays on her, curls up in her. He provokes her and plays with her.  The two of them fell into brother and sister role naturally.  B named him Kopitar ( after his favorite Hockey player... Ange Kopitar).  We call him Kopi.  

We dont know how big he will get, but we also dont really care.
He's crazy.
He's cute.
and he is a perfect fit into this family.

spending the days

getting ready for Spring.

Now that we have "sprung forward"... and the time makes our day longer....

photo by my friend~  Jenny Tan

with the sunshine out...
it seems that things get moving...

seeds get started.
tree houses get rock wall stones.
parks get a workout.
bikes get exercise.
new trails get explored.
dogs get tired.

lets just say.... with warm sunshine  comes a lot of activity.

Hart Park with O

rock wall trunk complete!

my garden

look at all that open space to fill next year....

The spring project has been completed.... as the playgym and swings were removed...

they were cut down in sections, and everyone pitched in.

The plan (next spring) is to build raise beds in the area and extend the size of our garden space.... almost three times larger!

Our chickens were given a space to roam, but our chicken wire was to low for two birds... who "flew the coop" many times throughout the days... not to mention the dog that could leap over it to share in the game of "Run Chicken Run" or a snack of cracked corn and clippings.  Bryan had to double the size of the chicken wire~ and so now it is not as much a chicken pen... but more like a state pen(itentiary).

visiting hours are from sun up to sun down

The sun has been shining, and the rains have been falling~ which have been great fuel for the garden.  It has flourished over the past few weeks....
We have had quite a few salads full of our garden greens.... and the peas get snacked on before they reach the back door.  O has been known to sit near the vines and just pick and eat (the little turkey!).

things are green and looking great!

ahhhh.... I love my garden.

gardening boy

tis the time of year...
where the winter fades and the spring gardening gets started.
This year we have another little helper alongside the hubby and I....
B has decided he wants to "help" plant beans.

This weekend we built two shade trellises for cucumbers to grow up and for lettuce to grow from under.  We used PVC pipe so that we could dismantle it and reuse it each year.... and once the starts come forth we will use garden wire to train the vines to trellis.  Much like this one....

see what we did!
the cucs will grow up the PVC, and
the lettuce will grow from underneath

The chickens have been given their little space around the coop in the back of the garden... but one little devious one- keeps finding her way out (even with her wings clipped!)... she continues to keep us on our toes.

the sneaky one!

So we have gotten our starts out from the greenhouse and have given them space to grow.  Carrots, onions, spinach, tomatoes, beans, peas, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, squash..... and herbs.  Oh goodness!!!! It is Spring!

peas~ yummers!

devious garden destroyer #2

Her Maiden Voyage

 The later days of Spring Break we took Ruby out for her first camping trip.  An experience that was full of lessons learned, ideas of tweaking for next time... all in all, a good time.
We ventured out past The Dalles to a little fishing village where the Deschutes River and Columbia River meet (Deschutes River Recreation Park). It rained most of the time... (at times like cats and dogs!).. with a few moments of dry weather.  Just before we left we had a few hours of sunshine (which we reveled in!).

This spot was really a beautiful place. We had a river otter playing nearby, and birds were everywhere.  The boys rode bikes, fished and walked the trails.  Ruby fared well.... but the kids struggled sleeping together in such close quarters (one of our tweaking moments).  There is also a train that blows its horn, every hour or so.... well into the late hours of the night.... So everyone was not sleeping well.

 LOOK AT THESE SLEEPY EYES

EVEN CIDER WAS EXHAUSTED

Aside from the lack of sleep, we had a good time together.... and personally, I cant wait to take Ruby out again!  This next time... a little more prepared~ with a few practice camp outs in our driveway, so the boys can get use to sleeping in small quarters.

stick collecting.... boys!

attempting to bring home dinner

Smore-face

"some like them hot"

one of the rare moments Cider was dry

hiking the hillside

just amazing!

darn dog.

I never understood the excuse "My dog ate my homework".... I mean, who's dog eats paper~ that is like the lamest excuse EVER! Come one now, there are some better things to say... like " My brother puked on it" or "I never went home~ and it's called homework. " or even better "what homework?".

that is until.... this!

 complete with dog hair still sticking to it... and paw marks!

this is just great!
how I am going to tell the school librarian about this library book we "borrowed".

Cider love

she is huge now a days..... but always seeking a human hand to love her, throw a ball for her, or hold her leash as she walks. Odin and her wrestle all the time~ and she is so obedient to Bjorn's commands......

she loves the attention.

she loves the fun.

she loves her family!

what a great little girl she is.... I think we love her too!

this picture was from when she was rescued.... and before we got her.

look at how small she is.... awwww!

the night we got her (look at O's smile... man, he was in heaven!)

Cider turned a year old this week.....

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

we love that long hanging tongue!

its a party

now your wondering... a party.... but the boys are all spring babies......

well... they are. but this birthday party was for dogs.

no... literally....

for the dogs.

Cider, along with her litter siblings and mother, were saved from a pretty bad situation on neglect.... and were rescued (the pups were 10 weeks old) and adopted out.

All of the lucky families have stayed in contact and the pups are turning a year old this next week on November 28th....

so they threw a party.

a dog party.

a dog birthday party.

(my first dog birthday invite ever!)

We all met at Hazeldale Dog Park.... and let all 5 of them run around and enjoy the life of being together in an open/fenced field. It was amazing to see all of them together again.... they are all such beautiful and sweet dogs.

Gracie (mom) watched on as the others played.

of course a party is not complete without a puppy cupcake (with a beef stick for a candle- mmmmm... sure, mmmm.)

Happy 1st Birthday Harlow, Montana, Harper, and Cider!

Haag Lake.

now we can say....

we went to Haag Lake.

of course when we make plans to go somewhere outdoors and enjoy the sun....

it sprinkles all morning.

( it must be a Murphy's Law)

but we packed up a picnic, loaded the dog and boys....

and drove 30 minutes west.

It was quiet and cool...

and the boys and dog had a blast!

a Stay-cation success in my book.