My Week

This has been a busy week.  Tuesday I helped Chaplain Steve with our Wreaths Across America statehouse wreath in conjunction with the capitol Nativity dedication.

 

A few of us that walked the wreath over from the podium to the flags after the ceremony.

Tuesday evening I took Amber to her Trick Dog Class at Pawsitive Zone.  So far she has the following titles.  AKC is familiar but DMWYD stands for "Do More With Your Dog" title.

Wednesday I got a new coat at the Goodwill since I left mine in Metamora the previous week.  It may be a long time before I see that coat.  Perhaps I'll get it back in May when I see the museum curator, Alex, at the Morton reenactment.

Friday I took Amber to Delavan for NADAC jumpers to see how she'd do at her first agility trial.  She had two beginner agility runs. There were no Qualifying scores because we she missed a few jumps but many compliments on her jumps.  The other dog that was also a first timer like me, didn't do as well as Amber so for that I am grateful.  On the first run, Amber ran to the back of the area but she did come back to join me.  The other dog that was on a first agility run did this too but did not get back under control. 

If you look close, there's a missed jump. I need to ask my instructor on Tuesday how to handle that.  In other words, is it OK to back track to make the run over or is that considered "off course" error.

On the second run she didn't run out to the back stretch but still took the inside of a jump.  This little girl does have potential.  I think Amber enjoyed it more than I did. Either way, she did NOT QUALIFY so if I had a curly tail, it would be tucked between my legs.

If you cut out the bad parts and put them together I could have an excellent run. but separately the were a non-qualify. Amber had more fun than I did stress-wise. on the way back from Delavan, she slept on the front seat like a peaceful little baby.

Saturday was busy.  First I took the girls to see Santa at the Laketown Animal Clinic at 10AM.

 

I think they asked Santa for treats, toys and a nice walk.  I think they liked the jolly old Elf.

 Then I went to the Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony at the Elks Lodge on Lake Springfield.  The director of IL Veterans Affairs, called out a young man whom she met before the ceremony. 
Story of Pearl Harbor shared across the generations with a WW2 veteran. 

Here are the members of our Women's Overseas Service League that attended.

Amvets Members present at the Remembrance: Jerry, Grace and myself.

 After the wreaths were tossed into the lake, there was a rifle volley.  That noise startled the nearby birds and even an eagle took off to the right.  I don't think everyone noticed the eagle because it flew away from our focal point at the pier. 

After the ceremony I had just enough time to get to the annual Vietnam Christmas Remembrance with heart ornaments of the fallen. Since the dogs were in the car and the weather was nice, they got to attend the ceremony. 

A woman places a heart on the fir tree with a name of one of the Illinois fallen Vietnam veterans.  The hearts were smaller last year but the name on the smaller hearts was easier to read.

 still had the dogs with me.  The girls were in the car for the car for the Pearl Harbor ceremony.

I came home and got a few thing caught up with the 2 hour break before Christmas at the Front at the Illinois State Military Museum.  Our Soldiers Aid Society talked about a soldiers Christmas box request.  

After Mass was "doughnut Sunday".  I showed the Conley's Amber's first agility video since his poodle used to do agility.  We had a nice conversation about dogs.  Then I took Amber to the the nursing home to perform a few tricks.  When my son came over for his laundry day, he helped to assemble the coat rack for my "transition area" that I got from Wayfair on a black Friday special.  I had seen a similar inspiration over the summer at the place we stayed at during our sisters get-together.  I just waited till I found the right one at the right price and didn't want to order it before I went on my trip.

 Amber likes it.  As you can see, I can't block that air duct so this is perfect for my needs.

This will really be handy when I walk the dogs and have to throw my coat on the floor to tend to unleashing them or running to the bathroom.  Then the coat never gets picked up.Later I went to the Chiara Center's Nativity Festival.
Here I am in my Nativity shirt next to my loaned Nativity refrigerator magnets.

 This was an interesting Nativity made from PVC pipes covered in fabric

 Lego Nativity

Here's a 3D Printer Nativity.

Well things are going to be busy with one less weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Gotta go....

My week

I just realized that this year there is one less weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tuesday evening I came back from trick dog class with 2 documents for novice and advance to mail off.  These certifications are through "Do More With Your Dog".

I watched Dolly Parton's 50 years.  I brought sentimental emotions.  I married a West Virginia hillbilly. His music influenced a city girl

Wednesday was a high wind day.  My car would say "there's a high wind warning in your vicinity".  I think I will name my car "First Lady".   I helped out at the Old State Capitol.  It wasn't very busy because of the weather but there were a few out-of-towners checking things out while visiting for Thanksgiving.   In between visitors, I would help punch holes for upcoming holiday children's crafts.  I was there from 11AM - 4PM.  This is how I'd describe the weather:

Thursday morning I went to Thanksgiving Mass.  I usually bring an item for our meal to be blessed (wine) and then a gift for the food pantry.  When I got back, Alan was already home.  He helped me paint some trim from the new windows.  Sean helped me put studs on my dog training bucket.  I like my bucket to look different from all the others in the class and paint really doesn't stick well to rubber.  Alan also helped put a screw into my rain gutter extension that keeps coming off.  Together we shared a turkey breast, with cauliflower mash, succotash, and all the trimmings.  We walked the dogs and then went to see a movie ~ "Midway" 

I attended 2 dances on Friday and Sunday.   Friday I did some painting on the window trim and participated in the Yule Walk in Peoria.  Our Central IL dance group alternated dance time and choir in the GAR Hall. 

 Marcia wore a St Nicholas broach that was very fitting for the Yule Walk.

 This is the German Choir that we alternated the show with.

 My selfie when I wasn't dancing,

Now the rain.
Saturday night there was a house with a chimney fire a block away.

 Boy there's not much to these fireplaces.  Wood and an inner metal core.

Sunday I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at St Jude Church in Rochester.  
We had breakfast together at the Lighthouse restaurant and then I went to Metamora Courthouse for their Christmas celebration.  When we danced in the past, we were able to make more room by removing the railings.  That was not possible with visitors wandering around.  We had to make do with smaller space.  Well, they held dances like this in homes that had small rooms.
Here is Marcia and Bud by the tree.  They are our dancers to emulate. You can see here St Nicholas broach that I mentioned earlier. 

 Here is our group photo

 The refreshments at the bottom of the steps.  The sign says "Mr Lincoln, Lower your head!"  That doesn't apply to me.

 This bust of Lincoln made a perfect hat stand.

My selfie

A little Audience participation.

Since I changed from my church clothes to period attire in the office, I left with my cloak and had left my green jacket in Metamora.  😒
I got an order coming from Three Sisters Millinery on sale for $59.

 Monday morning I woke to some snow on the ground.  I took Sophie on  a visit and when I returned, there was a box from Chewy waiting for me.

My Week

Still recovering from jet lag...

The first night back from my trip, the dogs created a ruckus.  Amber didn't want Sophie to come to bed.  She got selfish and fought over ME.  Sophie was dragged into a self defense fight.  Poor Sophie went to the vet for her one good eye. Seems I had to pull Amber and Sophie apart from a dog fight and Sophie got eye trauma and now has antibiotic. Her behavior is like a blind dog but Dr Kirk thinks she'll recover from an eye laceration. I got a bite mark pulling them apart in the dark so I don't know who's tooth got me. CHANGES WILL BE MADE!

Sunday Backstage with Manheim Steamroller.  Great performance to get ready for the season.  I was lucky to have a pass for this photo opportunity.  Only a select few got in for this.  One came and had their photo taken with a flip phone.  Gee!

Tuesday morning I took Amber to another session of Agility with Lisa Schmitt.  Many of the classmates have young dogs and now Amber has become the demonstration dog before we take our turns.  She still needs to get a turbo run around before she focuses on the task.

Wednesday morning I had a dermatology appointment to get some spots on my face looked at.  I am fair skinned and blue eyed so I'm susceptible to skin cancer.    I've had 2 basil cell melanoma's removed in the past.  If these spots are just age related, then it would be just vanity.  If they are something to be concerned about, then the appointment is important.  Well the PA said they are pre-cancer so he used liquid nitrogen on them and a follow up in August.
In the evening I went to the Interveterans council meeting.  Poor turn out.

Thursday evening I took Amber to her Agility class.  Friday I took Amber to the nursing home to do tricks for the residents.  They were amazed.  I've been putting together some of her trick videos because I get bored with the same tricks.  Dogs do not get bored with the repetition.  Here's what I have so far.
https://ivetret.blogspot.com/2019/11/trick-dog.html

Friday afternoon, I took Amber to the nursing home to perform tricks for the residents.  She sure brought a few smiles.  That made me feel like the major goal of her adoption is achieved.  Meanwhile my fellow dog club members seem to be getting all sorts of titles that we don't have like "barn hunt" and "nose work".   I do believe all these agility classes we've been taking should have a goal.  So I've enrolled Amber in NADAC Jumpers on Dec 6 in Delavan, IL.  I took Sophie to Ring Ready obedience on Friday to see how she'd do.  I usually take Amber since she's been to trials.   Sophie didn't too bad. I never took Sophie on a figure eight and this was a bit mediocre but then Sophie does have sight problems.   Funny thing was the "sit for examination". She rolled over for a belly rub.  It's what she does as a therapy dog.

Saturday I got 4 new windows on the house.  That took up most of my morning.  Seems like the new windows leave a narrow window sill.  I won't be able to put the blinds up.  Curtains are ok.  The living room looks newer especially since the dark curtains are down.  I may just be looking for a lighter color curtain for the living room and a sheer won't do in the guest bedroom.  That sheer was fine with blinds but not by itself.  Maybe I won't have to put up plastic over the windows to stay warm.  I had time in the afternoon around 3PM to go see the Memorial Festival of Trees.  The theme was Jingle Bells and Seashells. 

 A train went around the gingerbread houses.

 They had a cute skating rink that slid with socks instead of skates.

 This is just to show how big it is.

Sunday morning I wore my tiara to Mass.  It was the feast of Christ the King.The weather was nice yet unpredictable so I had to get the leaves picked up.  I took my Toro into the shop for maintenance since it wouldn't start despite being on the charger.  That means I had to use my back up, corded electric mower.  Leaves are off the lawn and in leaf bags. Two rows and the bagger is full.
Stop n go.  Meanwhile, neighbors are taking advantage of the weather to put up Christmas decorations.

I ordered the coat rack that I had been wanting for the doorway.  I had wanted something similar since my sister's weekend because there was a similar one in the room where we stayed.  I often walk the dogs and need a sit area for boots.  I often have to dump my coat on the floor. I need an open area because of the air vent location to place this.  I had been watching this for awhile but I didn't want it delivered while on vacation. I had too much on my plate earlier so glad I waited for a Black Friday sale.   This is really better timing since the weather is getting colder.

In the spring, I drag grass clippings in the house.  In the fall I get leaves in the house.

One of the drugs I had a prescription for, zantac/ranitidine.was recalled. I hadn't used it in awhile because it didn't do anything. I returned what I had to the County Market at Fairhills for their drug turn in.

My Jesus figure fell off the wall when the windows were installed.  I glued his foot back on and the metal hanger ring on his back and put him back up.  He fell again.  The foot that I glued was still there but his other foot and arm were broken now.  :(

 We have a big one just like this in church and He seems so welcoming because of his resurrection.

Wine and a memory.

I found a new pair of New Balance shoes at the Goodwill that were never worn for like $5.  Here they are next to my $160 mall shoes.  Improvement!

I picked this inflatable Christmas puppy at the Salvation Army.  It will take up less space than my big plastic Nativity set.  A dog really describes my year too.

I had dinner Sunday at Texas Roadhouse since their charity for the day was Honor Flight.  So I got the special of the day.

Monday I had my massage at Terra Bella Spa.  She is pregnant and I think I may try someone else soon.  She really helped me with my neck pain.

Grammar Pet Peeve:
“I seen” instead of “I saw”.

Trick Dog

Amber's tricks

http://www.domorewithyourdog.com/trickdog/

Expert TRICK DOG

I was struggling with Amber and the basket ball trick till I saw this trash bin basket at Menards. What a great transition to other disciplines. Soon she'll be an all star player.  My first reaction seeing this in Menards was "who would want that?"  I turned around and looked again not knowing this would work but for under $5 what did I have to loose.

Now she is good at basketball

Airplane around my arms as a wings on a plane

Pull the wagon

eventually litter in the step can

Not sure which level it is to unroll a yoga mat.

Amber picked up on "paws up" to the shopping cart real fast.

Amber is learning to push a cart. This is an Ekorre child's walker cart from Ikea that I've modified with a soft handlebar. I like the fact that there are screws to tighten the tension without a slick push away and scare Amber from trying it again. It is weighted with a couple of cans of dog food to practice grocery shopping.

ADVANCE TRICK DOG

http://www.domorewithyourdog.com/trickdog/images/titles/ITDapp.pdf
wipe your paws

Balance disks

Amber walking backward

Play dead

play piano

pull a wagon
(Video pending)

"walk the dog" (similar to pull the wagon)
I need to retake this. It's in slow mo. I thought that instead of using her mouth to pull the dog, she needs to just get used to it following so I put it on her collar.

rainbow ladder

say your prayers

  
finish left/front/behind

skateboard

Go in a box ~ Go table and turn on top of the box

tap light


wave bye bye

Jump through a Hoop

INTERMEDIATE TRICKS

 
Amber is learning to "beg". Also known as "sit pretty". This took a little bit of balancing on her part but the finished product looks really cute.

Play Dead
(she  can do this ..video forthcoming)

Pull a wagon (in the works)

Wave Good Bye (she can do this)

Amber barrel racing (go around)

Amber's barrel racing (AKA "go around") works well with a kitchen trash bin but lately I've upped it to using a walker. There's more possibility for mistakes with a walker as you can see. She will try to take a shortcut. This trick is great interaction for seniors using wheel chairs. She knows it. She just cheats! Notice that frustrated "Grr" on the last one. 🐾

NOVICE

Her first trick was assigned by our beginner obedience instructor in Aug 2018.  We were to spell her name out in biscuits and have her nearby without stealing the mini-bones using the "leave it" command for 10 long seconds.  

Learning to pull a wagon with a scarf to grab

Halloween Paws on a pumpkin at Pawsitive training zone.

 Push the coin in the piggy bank at Pawsitive Zone

Amber crawl under chairs.

Amber sit, down, stand, front and behind

 

Amber plays Piano

 Amber walks on a board

Paws feet on a bucket

Amber shake and High 5

 

Amber Stop Sit

Amber goes in a box.

Amber can carry a basket a short distance:

Amber Kennel up:

Amber touching a light:

earlier version of the light trick

Amber conquers the wobble board with ease.  Ah, remembering the first time and her fear of the sound. 

11/21/19 agility class
On a ramp

Amber on teeter with a leash

Amber on teeter without a leash

This was the hardest.  Partly for me because of the dance move.  I really need a shadow dance this more.  This is only a clip of the success after many frustrating attempts and Amber not paying attention.