My Week

 

Fireflies and fire crackers

It's that time of year for fireflies and scaring my dogs.
Amber and Sophie went to "Bubbles of Fun" on Tuesday.  This is the first time they both went at the same time. 

So while I was out and about, I dropped my bike off for maintenance and went shopping at Menards.  I try to make the most of a trip like that because I just don't like breathing through a mask in public.  It often steams up my glasses and can't read labels as well.  I got my 4 concrete blocks, salt water taffy, chicken feet, red tape,  coffee, hand sanitizer, hinge for the coffin lid,

I had to get a bacon cheeseburger to see if it was as good as the commercial.

The expensive New Balance shoes that I bought April 2019 were wearing out.  Wednesday I got a new pair of AVIA shoes at the Goodwill for about $3. 

I ordered a new cable between my Belkin hub and laptop. The new Macbook Air has a weird port called UAB-C and no place for a USB jump drive without the hub.  This was designed for wireless cloud and "air drop" transfers.

You may have noticed a lot of flack about the folded flag for Floyd. Well it wasn't a casket flag. Floyd's flag was smaller and came with a proclamation. I'm not saying he was a deserving hero either ~ which is the biggest part of the veterans complaints. Anybody can request one. My mother requested a flag flown on my retirement date below. Here's the link. https://www.aoc.gov/flags

You may have noticed a lot of flack about the folded flag for Floyd. Well it wasn't a casket flag. Floyd's flag was smaller and came with a proclamation. I'm not saying he was a deserving hero either ~ which is the biggest part of the veterans complaints. Anybody can request one. My mother requested a flag flown on my retirement date below. Here's the link. https://www.aoc.gov/flags

Friday I went to obedience practice for first time in over 3 months. Amber did well and our instructor noticed her improvement (masks and social distancing).  There were a few "ahhs" to see Amber in a summer cut.  I believe the environment kicked in with Amber vs practicing around the house.  This tells me time and place means business to my dog.  I left feeling a little bit better.  She has been a frustrating little dog and she is training me.  I can see whey there's a program called "Pit Bulls and Parolees" for the mind.  Sunday I went to rally practice.  Learned  new signs.  #304, 314 and 319.

http://images.akc.org/pdf/events/rally/2017_Rally_Mini_Signs_w_Descriptions_030717_v2.pdf#:~:text=AKC%20RALLY%20SIGNS%20AND%20DESCRIPTIONS%20THE%20FOLLOWING%20SIGNS,the%20end%20of%20the%20course%20-%20timing%20stops.

I think I need to just practice my movements like on youtube examples before trying it out with my dog.

Monday morning was are return class at the gym.  All the sanitizing and temperature check involved as well. 

This is just a clip of our return class.  Although Traci is wearing a microphone, it's feeding into the recording so that's why I like to be close in hearing range of our instructor.  Unfortunately the water fountain was blocked off.  I'll have to bring my own tomorrow.

Well more cancellations are coming in.   A reopening at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum opens on Wednesday and there was supposed to be a foundation members-only the day before that was canceled.  We were hoping to see the delayed seasonal exhibit on "spies and traitors".  I also got word that the postponed June reenactment from June to August was canceled.  I do have one thing to look forward to and that is starting Amber's beginner nosework class starting Monday nights on July 13 for 7 weeks. 

My week

I've been sewing and learning the parts of my Baby Lock Joy.

What I really see translated:

I'm trying to sew an 1830s dress.  I felt invincible and ready for a big project but now I think I'm in over my head with this dress.  I fear I'll be short of fabric for the historic dress that I've been dreading to sew for over a year staring at it.  It calls for 7 1/2 yards and I have 5 1/2. It has gigot sleeves and a ruched collar.  I got everything cut out for the bodice and realized I'll be short fabric for the skirt.   I stopped by Joannes and Hobby Lobby and I don't think I'll have enough fabric for the skirt.  So I'll just use the bodice for practice.  I did find some clay pots at Hobby Lobby that had a crack but good for Amber's shell game.

Instructional video for the shell game:

When leaving the parking lot, I saw a homeless man and his camp behind a vacated mattress store.  He was sleeping in the shade behind the store but in the tree line I saw a walker. The nearby stop light is popular for street begging.

Amber's AKC Trick Performer certificate arrived today.  This is really a grandfathered award equivalent from Do More With Your Dog to AKC title as recognized (plus a fee)

Amber's award report so far this year:

Next I want to work on "elite performer " which is tricks performed along a story line.  I want to do a Christmas theme and have decorated her hoop into a wreath.  It's a work in progress.  I need to convert the weave poles into candy canes.  Trouble is her inconsistency and moodiness to perform. 

I picked my first cherry tomato of the season

I had a handyman come over on Monday for chores.  My last blog I mentioned my shutters being bad on the whole house fan so here's the replacement.

I had new jacks for my door so that it will close and not let the dogs out.

My rain gutter was redirected away from the house.

I also had hinges put on my coffin (refer back to this blog).  He was very courteous and reasonable.

I'm so proud of Alan for a 15 year service recognition.  I know he didn't work for the VA that long but it include military service time.

I've had a lot of unknown callers.  I  changed my phone's outgoing voice greeting to:

"This is Rose, please leave a message and I'll call you back.  Leaving a message by a legitimate caller is important especially if you're not in my contact list.  Failure to do so could result in your number being blocked.  I too can play the unknown caller via VOIP."

When that didn't produce voice messages, I changed it to:

"I don't answer unknown calls, please leave a message and I'll call back"

I'm getting sick of the "racists shaming".  Not necessarily toward me personally but from what I see.  Seems like if someone is white, and leans the liberal way politically, the name caller is desperate to resort to name calling.  How childish.

I watched Raintree County (1957) Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift & Eva Marie Saint

https://ok.ru/video/195905522396

I never saw it but when I notice (again) the critics from the reenactors on Facebook.

My Week

Wednesday morning I smelled gas in the bathroom coming from my dryer.  I turned off the valve.  Plumber fixed in the afternoon for $170.

I ordered a replacement flaps for my whole house fan.  Should arrive about June 19th and then to find a handy man to install it.  I'm making a list.  Meanwhile, I stuffed the opening because attic heat is coming through.

Friday I had an appointment with Suttons about warranty work on my sun room.  I thought it was settling because the windows don't close but he thinks he can order parts.  So that will take about 2 weeks.

 Amber's annual visit to the vet was scheduled for 8:30.  I asked if she was fat.  He said he wouldn't call it that but I shouldn't let her gain.  She gained a pound since last year (from 19.6 to 20.4) even as active as we've been.  She's also been getting lots of treats for her behavior.   He gave her the annual heartworm shot instead of getting monthly pills.

The waiting area is now in your car or outside parking lot.  I took the opportunity to ready her for being on a table.

I finally finished tacking down the trim on this wide brim hat I started last year.  Earlier I sewed a lining but had numerous changes of mind on the top

Wednesday I went to the Goodwill for senior discount day that has been modified for social distancing standards.  I found some good yardage and a pot for planting.  Not too much on clothing that was interesting but I took a chance on some cropped pants for summer because you can't try things on.  Changing rooms are sealed.

My daffodils that have burst problems were replanted in different locations in my yard.  Now given up on and replanted in the ditch on the property line.  Good luck daffodils.  They are now property markers if they are lucky.

Thursday was veterans discount day at Ace Hardware.  I picked up a geranium plant since they are on sale now and I like the way that they flower one right after another.  In the evening I went to our Catholic War Veterans meeting.

I'm frustrated with my gym membership exercising from home.  I registered for our exercise circuit class on Friday that's supposed to be live on Facebook and get a live video of weight lifting at the gym.  What good is a video of people lifting weights in a gym when you are home with dumbbells? Then Saturday I registered for live yoga at the gym and it lost connection after 12 minutes.  Screw "Facebook live" yoga when I can do it on YouTube without internet cutting out. Now to search out more videos to motivate me. I don't see exercising in the gym for awhile especially if the state fair is even deemed unsafe and church must be sanitized for sitting in a pew. Withdrawal into my own "Mind and Body"!

I had ordered a mourning cap on Etsy on 29 March, 2020 it's handmade in Russia. It still hasn't arrived.  But then the dress I planned for it I still haven't started.  I had been completing other things but this is a big project and an 1830s dress could be difficult with gigot sleeves. I figure if I can help sanitize pews after Mass I can sanitize my house after Mass

For lack of meetings during the pandemic, Commander Sean Connolly and Adjutant Rose Connolly presented the Post AmVet of the year 2020 posthumously to Bettie Sprinkel on behalf of her late husband, Francis "Jerry" Sprinkel on Jun 14, 2020.

After 3 months, I haven't needed to get toilet paper on Instacart. I got gas in my car for the 2nd time in 3 months and even got a car wash.   I sometimes think this quarantine is worse than when I was stuck in the house after my spinal fusion for 3 weeks.  There is a difference though....I do walk the dogs 4 times a day. 

My Week

This has been a week of protests over the death of George Floyd.  I am upset over the looting crimes.  We don't need this during a pandemic when so many people are already out of work.  Locally I only saw spray paint on the sidewalk.  A few days  later it looked like it had a powerwasher taken to it.

Instead of canceling all the Fests this summer...
We simply call them Protests with food and live music...then thousands can come and its perfectly fine!

One of the tricks that Amber learned in class was to open a mail box.  Up until now, she's had to learn using the toy mailbox at the "Pawsitive Zone".  That toy seemed to open well for a dog.  Not all on the market are, especially those metal Christmas mailboxes.    So I found this one on eBay and put it on my watch list and the next day I was offered a discount. 

I had some white duct tape that I rolled through the narrow opening in the latch for her to pull.  I put a treat inside and she remembered how to do it from the class. I did think it could use a little weight but those exercise wrist weights were too thick so I had to sew a weighted sleeve.  This mail box came with mail cards and crayons and sticky numbers.    Her certificate for expert came in the mail.

Therapy Dogs Int. recently permitted the rules to allow window visits. The nursing home I frequent has a nice sun room with a garden patio for Amber to perform a few tricks. The window had a nice ledge for her pass along close to those on the other side which I hear they liked. I could barely see the residents on the other side of the tinted glass with the exception of shiny wheel chairs, masks, and occasional applause. Amber can perform tricks for them on the patio mostly on leash but some needed to be done off leash. Overall it was good but she got tired out within about 20 minutes and hid under a cool bush after awhile because it was 85 degrees. Here's a picture taken on the way home with the hoop that she jumped through for the residents. In addition, she went through a tunnel, unrolled a yoga mat, rolled over, hid in a suitcase, went around the suitcase, got mail from her new mailbox, turned on her light and beg. Things that I know she does but wouldn't perform were airplane, leg weave, pull her dog on a leash, and basketball. We will try again maybe on a cooler morning.

The background looks so perfect that it looks like an artificial backdrop but then I wouldn't look so hot and exhausted if it wasn't real.

I've had a need for pockets so I got this apron (pink).  I'll see how this goes.  Not so keen on all this polyester but might be an easy patten.

I sold my heavy curio cabinet.  This is part of my draw down.  That means I must store the contents which were mostly my military Barbie collection and some Civil War bonnets. I don't need to display this stuff. Nobody comes over but my son anyway.  I also sold a hoop crinoline cage that was just too wide for me.

I'm starting to make a list of things for a handy man.  My rain gutters need altered, whole house ceiling fan either needs replaced or just new flappers, and swagging shelf in the cabinet for the pots n pans.  Maybe I can add to it and find a repairman that can do it all.  Meanwhile, I have Suttons coming to check settlement on my sun room.

I fixed this no-crust pumpkin pie that I saw on Kim's Facebook page.  She is one of our dog training partners. 

https://thepounddropper.com/crustless-pumpkin-pie/

I think I should recreate the photo with Amber someday. 

I've had to work on our Catholic War Veterans history report.  I used to print it off at the library but the library is closed.  My word processing program on my computer had dropped all the images in the document so I had to pretty much work it from scratch and put it in google docs.  Oh I had the text but had to find all the images again that supported the narrative.

Sunday was the first time we were allowed to go back to church on a limited basis.  I had to make a reservation to go since there are only 75 allowed based on capacity and every other pew taped off.  I volunteered to be part of the 5 person sanitizing team after the service but seems like there were more than that helping.  My church is still livestreaming for those that can't make it to Mass.    I really think our priest missed us because he opened Mass by reciting "“Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.” There are hand gestures to go along with it to up the dexterity ante: Face hands toward each other. Lock fingers together facing down. Hold both index fingers straight up against each other. Fold thumbs inward against each other. The index fingers make the steeple, thumbs the doors, and other fingers the people inside. When the thumbs separate they represent opening the church doors to look at the people inside.  He repeated the poem during his sermon on YouTube.

Since there were no misilletes in the pew, the readings were on the big screen.

I usually sit near the front but the prelude music seemed loud on my hearing aids.  Probably something to do with the new set up for live streaming.  There was a diocesan reporter in the back were I sat.  

Some may know that I've been doing a lot of research on the family tree.  I was shocked to learn that a volunteer thru FamilySearch had me listed as deceased.  I'm not the only one in the Connolly family with the same problem so I had it corrected.

Sunday afternoon I met with Linda McCall regarding my DAR genealogy research.  She's found the missing link ~ Martha Sturdivant's third marriage had listed her mother’s name of Ruth Cloud.  All the links match up to a Revolutionary War patriots.  This could open up a whole line of eligible people for the SAR and DAR since there are so many in this line of descendants.

Hopefully I'll be accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Capitol Canine Training Club is opening up to 10 members only and must wear masks and wipe up afterward.  That seems like a lot of trouble.   I would be interested in finishing what I started but there are no trials to attend.

My Week

 

I was watching a member of the Capitol Canine Training Club's trick video and thought to myself, I can do that.  I've been spending more time training while sheltering in place.  There were many retakes but I made a compilation of required 5 expert level tricks so I put in a bonus trick of 6.  Note that 6 distance tricks count as one expert level trick.  Here is Amber's Trick dog Expert video.

  FYI: The list of acceptable tricks can be found here:

http://www.domorewithyourdog.com

Next level through Do More With Your Dog is Trick Champion.  I personally want to do AKC trick performer .  Then next on to AKC Elite Performer with tricks performed to a story.  But first I must transfer the DMWYD title over to AKC trick title.  I may have to wait for the library to open to make copies.

I had ordered a 120" rubber roll for the back room for a non-slip training environment. The ceramic tile floors may be nice and easy to clean but not that great for dog training.  It's like a giant black yoga mat. Oh and that strong rubber smell permeates the house.  The weather has been good for airing things out but after 4 day, still a strong smell.  I mopped it with Pinesol to help.  Soon it will be air conditioning time and the "window of opportunity" to air things out will end.  I've been doing a slow stop-n-go mile walk with the dogs but as it warms up, I'm not sure the girls can hack the distance.

Saturday morning I had groceries delivered.  My virtual yoga class had technical difficulties.  I held that pose.  Then I had a video conference with the Catholic War Veterans state board.  afternoon, our Chatham American Legion posted colors at the Danenberger Family Vineyards.  Lunch was included.  Here I was at the end of the color guard and the St Bernard comes between me and the Legion Riders flag.

Monday morning I was a pall bearer for the funeral of the Diana Schumacher . She is the wife of a member of our Catholic War Veterans.  Her husband, Dan, had not been able to make too many meetings because of her illness.  He was pretty recluse and little family or friends to call on to aid as pall bearers.  There were only 3 pall bearers and the funeral staff helped.  

Therapy Dog International has authorized window visits so Amber has an appointment to visit the nursing home outside this coming Thursday. Only about 5 or 6 residents will be able to see out the window so we may be able to do repeat performances. Better practice and pack up her props.

There was a open ended question in our agility facebook group that asks, "What makes your dog unique?". So I thought about Amber.  Here's my reply:  My dog is a girl but her mannerisms are so masculine: she yawns loud, male voice-like barking, lifts her leg to pee, humps my pillow and sissy at the veterinarian. Thank God for the exception on the male farting trait.

A hummingbird that visits my feeder from time to time.   I don't understand why these little birds are so much more enjoyable than other birds.  It must be something about that long beak.