My Week

This week I had to fight to get things done.  Seems the pollen has gotten me down.  I made a special trip to get some BENADRYL.

At our agility foundation class, I heard talk that dogs are attracted to lawn fertilizer.  The secret ingredient is urine.  Who knew?

 Thursday evening, Amber took the Canine Good Citizen exam.   She passed but there were a few "do overs".  I was nervous.  The facility, Pawsitive Training Zone,  does more business on "nose work" so Amber is sniffing like a crazy distracted beast.

This photo was taken after the fact because I had a meeting of the Civil War Round-table right after the test.  I went back on Saturday to get the ribbon and photo.  The AKC paperwork was mailed off for certification on Friday.  I'm hoping that this title will fulfill the requirement for 1 year training experience required to become a therapy dog evaluator.

Our church was decorated for Easter.  I didn't help but did stop by to see the work in progress.  The dangling things from the giant host are from parishioners that jotted down a Lenten accomplishment.  It's supposed to be over the lighted chalice. We were given a round TUIT at the beginning of Lent.

I couldn't see my disk hanging up there. 


I read the second reading at Easter morning Mass.  I took my Easter picture by the partially opened Dogwood tree.

My neighbor behind this photo apologized for the late party he had over for his birthday Friday night. He said he's not a late night person.  They have a baby and those young families usually don't stay up late anyway.   I told him it didn't bother me because I take my hearing aids out.  What did bother me was the vomit in the road by one of his many guests and my dog wanted to roll in it.

Now I look forward to dog-sitting for Alan's dog, Hank, for four days.  Amber and Hank will surely wear each other out. 

My Week

What a week of ups and downs in the weather.  One day I'm cutting the grass and then Sunday it snows.  I thought I could take my coats to the cleaners.  Glad I didn't yet.

In the evening I went to our Passion practice.  The place where I was to stand was glaring with evening sunlight through the stained glass window so I started to play with the shadows.

Fortunately, it was cloudy the day of the afternoon presentation.  However, we were standing under glaring spotlights.  At the last 10:30 Mass, I got to my pedestal on the Altar, my hearing aid said "battery low".  That was a second warning and I had ignored the first.  At least it was on the preferred side.

I must admit I like being taller in the back on a pedestal. 

 When the Jews addressed Pilot, we faced an imaginary balcony.

Our official group.  Yeah we took this before Mass started and people were sitting in their pews watching us. Some people were coming into church still.  Everyone in our parish has name tags that we wear every Sunday.  I think I was the only one in the photo that wore mine for the script.

It was such an honor to be part of this passion-ate presentation.  I know from the few comments I received that the long passion was easier to connect with when presented this way.  I know that when Jesus died, we also lowered our heads as 2 minutes of sorrowful music played.  I felt the emotion as I looked down.

I stopped by Capitol Canine club before my AmVets meeting for a few minutes to see the course and what I was missing. I got to pet Rex (a rough doberman who knocked my hearing aid out) and of course Pixie (toy poodle). After I came home from the Amvets meeting, Amber just poked her sniffing nose all over my legs. She knows!

I took Amber to ring ready practice. Pam Thornburg thought Amber was not reacting to a tug on the leash so she got a chain loop collar out of the closet.  The treats are no longer working so the sound of the chain is next.  Amber has come a long way. Pam walked Amber around and it was so beautiful and perfect.  That got me emotional to see perfection.

Saturday morning I got up early and went to Peoria's Retiree Appreciation Day.  Well it wasn't just a free meal and presentation but my son had a booth there.

 His weight loss is showing......

 Proud mom and son.

 Here he is making dog tags.  I had one made too because now we have a DoD number on our ID card instead of a social security number.

When Sean came over, we tried a frozen cauliflower crust pepperoni pizza.  We approve.   Then I made a gluten free spice cake.

I took the girls to Petsmart for photos:

Sophie went first on the lap and Amber is always jealous.

Sophie is used to laps.  She didn't even flip over for the belly rub. 

Here are the official photos:

  

Dog Training

This was our beginning: I've resorted to sewing squeakers into make shift toy fabric fleece because of the destruction rate.  Now I'm afraid that using old socks as a fabric for toys, I would be setting a bad precedent. 

Just filled the candy dish with broken beef lung.  Also, little cups strategically located through out the house for quick reward.

One of Amber's first goal was "go paws" command and pointing to an inverted rubber bowl.  The Paws command is to differentiate between that and the future learning of "go feet".  I had to find a bowl at a farm supply store.  The bowl is a good target tool.  She also knows "go box" and sits in a perfectly sized box.

We learned how to use a "switch" command indicating that the dog should turn away from us.  The confusing part was the habit of changing hands.  Switch when you want to go in the opposite direction.

Lisa teaches us point and switch.  Here's how the switch is used in agility by pointing to an imaginary line on the path then changing the arm without dropping the pointing arm (dropping the arm indicates come to me as the hand goes down toward one's side).  Meanwhile raising the opposite hand known as "don't spill the beer".

I've ordered a Lotus Ball after seeing how others used one to target out and direct reward.

https://www.cleanrun.com/product/lotus_ball_small/index.cfm

My Week

Tuesday I went on a PGR mission for Ken who was also the man who fitted my glasses.  The following day I went to the Unaccompanied Burial at Camp Butler.

 Tuesday evening I went to a meeting at the Capitol Canine Club and then ran over to the airport for the homecoming for the Land of Lincoln Honor flight.  Here I am with our beauty queens.

I got new shoes at the mall and they were not cheap.   They are New Balance and great customer service by the store manager.  My only complaint was they use loud music to draw customers in and then have the nerve to ask to be of assistance.  I couldn't hear.

Friday I gave tours at the Lincoln Tomb and it was crowded.  Bus after bus arrived.  I was the bus greater then handed the students off to another tour guide inside.

Saturday I carpooled with Rex of the Korean War Veterans group to the Quincy Veterans home for the semi annual advisory council meeting.   I represented our "Women's Overseas Service League".   After the meeting we toured the newly remodeled facility after numerous Legionnaires deaths at the old.  More residents will move in here shortly.  This is the newly renovated Hammond Hall.

 The map of the campus doesn't show Hammond Hall because it is located 2 blocks away off campus.  I had to follow someone there.

 The director was our tour guide and showed us all the fancy features and electronics.

 The rooms were spacious (and equipped outlet-wise) enough for 2 residents but square footage was legally short according to rules so there's only an occupancy rate shorter than the possibilities.

 One of those fancy tubs in the bath.

 This nice courtyard is accessible from  3 wards.

 Here's the lunch we were served.

Saturday evening I had dinner at church. The occasion was called "Starry Night" where the youth provide dinner and entertainment for the seniors of the parish.   After dinner we played "Name that Tune" and my table did horrible on the 50's so when it came time for the next round with the 60's, I pulled up my trusty cell phone and we caught up and did not loose with shame.


The evening ended with "The Twist"

Sunday morning I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans.  What a nice looking group.

In the afternoon I went to Peoria with the dance group for a fundraiser for what they call "The Shaft Project".  There were some photos in the paper here.