My Week

Tuesday I went to PowerWorks for core class and then I went to the Capitol Canine Club for our foundations class.  Amber impressed me as we went through hoops and a tunnel.  We've come so far.  My problem is I am too focused on our starter status (this little wild thing running around wild) and need to realize the progress.  Yeah, I still don't trust this wild racoon.

The remnants of my torn down shed were picked up at the curb since Chatham has a large dumpster week.  The village will pick up for seniors.  I've downsized and whatever was in the shed will fit the garage. Maybe I can expand my vegetable garden to where the shed was if I can pick up all the rock that was under the shed.  Not that my garden did well this year with that early rainfall.

Tuesday evening I went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum for one of the 4 required volunteer training sessions.  I missed last week because of Amber's trick dog class.  We had an overview of the building's rental service, a representative, Lisa, from Downtown Springfield inc, and Dr Sam Wheeler.  Then we had another volunteer give us a tour of the volunteer stations.  Ya know, as many times as I've been in that museum, this guide, Dave Grimm, told me a few things  didn't know.  Dave liked the temporary WW2 exhibit the best of all the temporary exhibits.  I learned that there was an artificial "snake root" at the side of the Lincoln cabin that caused the milk sickness Lincoln's mother died of.  Many cabins were burned just to save and recover nails.  The cabin is covered by trees but in reality they would be build in a clearing to avoid lighting strikes.   The grave stone for Eddie Lincoln that had been in the attic area of the caretakers cottage at the Lincoln Tomb where I normally volunteer was now encased at the museum.  Our volunteer guide was Dave Grimm and he was an enlightenment to me.

Wednesday was the Chatham HS homecoming.  I was part of the color guard for the homecoming parade.   I was sore from our exercise class and then carrying a 12 pound rifle for a mile was a strain on my muscles also.

There is a video on youtube where the color guard is in the front of the parade behind the police car.

Then I went to the Veterans Assistance Commission meeting.


Thursday morning I got mad at Amber. Found her on the kitchen table where the feed bowl was loaded with reward dust remnants intended for supplementing/flavor to dinner kibble. Yoga class was welcome because I was so sore.  I took the dogs to the vet office for a weigh in.  Amber was 19.4 lbs and Sophie 12.4.
In the evening I went to the Civil War Roundtable and there was a very interesting argument over the states rights to sessession in the constitution.

Friday evening I took Amber to trick dog training at the Pawsitive Training Zone.  She looked so cute on this classroom desk that I sent it to our new station.

This photo was shared with News Channel 20 and they shared it on Instagram

She can jump table to table through a hoop. That was easy for her but not for me with a hoop in one hand and a lure in the other.

 Amber can tunnel her way through chairs.

I think I got a clue on how to get her to pull her wagon or take a ball for basketball. She’s starting to pull on a scarf tied to a drawer handle with the “take it” command.

Saturday and Sunday I helped with the Agility Trials at the fairgrounds.  It looks hard but it's the classes that we have been taking at the Capitol Canine Training Club.  Here's one of the better examples of the the beginner class that Amber and I could be in by Spring.  I sure have my doubts.  This is Marge with her standard poodle, Charlie.  Marge did rather well plus the fact that she maintained a schedule of all the volunteers involved.  I haven't even been with Amber in the agility ring and there's mention already that I should be an assistant trainer.

On my way home, I stopped by my son's house since his car was in the driveway and I missed him doing laundry at my house.  I noticed he had a tank in his house.  I learned he adopted a corn snake he found on Craigslist.  It eats mice (not necessarily alive so he says).

There was a photographer at the rally last week in Caseyville and he sent me a photo he got of Amber sniffing around when she should have been looking at me.

There is a titling for "nose work" but my feeling is she sniffs enough without the added class of sniffing and detecting a hit/alert.  Then someone pointed out that there might be less sniffing when a dog is sniffing for certain scents like birch and anise.

In the evening I went to the Spooktackular at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.  I went to watch "Ghosts of the Library".   I added a little steampunk look but it's a work in progress.  I think I need a different skirt since lace gets hooked on the frog hooks of the boots.

 I got a cool tattoo that I don't want to wash off.

Kids were in the cutest costumes and there were neat games and music.

 Some local teens would hide in the corners and come out slowly with their dark make up.

 Mummy bowling pins knocked over with a pumpkin.

Sunday morning I went to Mass and then took Amber on a therapy dog visit where she did some tricks for the residents.  Then I quickly got ready for the second day of agility at the state fairgrounds.

 Monday I took Sophie to the nursing home. Pumpkin man's lap was the first visit.

My lap was the last she sat on after the visit (selfie).

I had a nice shoulder and back massage Monday afternoon.  Nice but short lived by evening because I seem to tense up in a little chilly walk for the dogs.
Church is getting ready to do a Jubilee directory and I have an appointment for for family photo.