Stop by: www.OmahaMovesMe.com

Stop by: www.OmahaMovesMe.com

Stop by: www.OmahaMovesMe.com

I’m so glad we brought Grandpa Sandy home before this huge rescue for Hearts United for Animals.  At least it was one more place for another needy dog.

What a busy week it’s been.

Sandy is still adjusting to his new home. First, he wouldn’t stop humping Marble, and sometimes Llana. That finally slowed down considerably and then Sandy thought he should be the pack leader. So he tried “policing” Marble when he was running around playing. I discouraged that and it improved despite, Sandy wanting to prove to the world that his place in the pack is higher than Marble.

Tonight he finally figured out his job is to around the house and yard and just have fun. He romped sound the back yard tonight- it was do cute I wished I’d had the video camera to share with you. He only decided to “herd” Marble only once he’d had his fun.

Mandy and Sandy also had a break thru moment last night when they took turns eating out of the same bowl.

Grandpa Sandy has been with us now almost a month and he fits in so well.  First, I have to THANKFULLY say that the humping has decreased tremendously.  I’m happy to report it appears it was just Sandy trying to find his place in the pack. 

Marble

The one he tries to hump the most is Marble since he’s the lowest member of the pack. Sandy just wanted to be higher in the pecking order.  

Llana Muffin Chubba Wubba Girl

Sometimes he would try to hump Llana, (pack leader) and while she tried to maintain some manners about it, she put him in his place. 

Sheriff Mandy Boo Boo

The only one he wouldn’t try to hump was Mandy.  She’s the disciplinarian of the group and she put him in his place immediately when he came home. 

Sandy and Mandy are pretty inseparable.  They do have turf wars but they are few, and over quickly, and then they go running around the house together. 

Even though Sandy is 14 yrs old, he is a tough guy.  He will stand his ground and REFUSES to share his chewies.  He’ll let the other kids push him out of his food bowl, but don’t mess with his chewies. 

Mandy stands her ground and will not let Sandy lay near her nor eat out of her food bowl.  Anything else is fair game.  Where ever one of them is, the other is on their heels.  It’s funny that the two oldest ones are the most rambunctious. 

I’m still stunned that Sandy’s person’s family wanted him put down.  He is the sweetest little guy.  He’s potty trained and walks perfectly on a leash.  He likes to be right next to you – and that includes walking around.  He loves his chewies and likes to sleep by himself at the end of the bed.  Sometimes in the middle of the night he’ll come up and give us a few kisses on the face and then go right back to his spot. 

Grandpa Sandy

He’s learning how to snuggle and sleep next to us.  Since his person was older, I don’t think he’s used to that.  he’s also not accustomed to being picked up so we’re teaching him. In the morning, he’s the first to come over and give kisses and the first to leap out of bed to go outside.  I still can’t believe he’s fourteen.  He’s also learning to play and is starting to mouth our fingers.  We’re hoping to teach him how to play catch soon. 

And speaking of teaching,  when I go to work I tell the kids “Momma’s gotta go to work now, let’s go to your room”.  Llana and Marble always go right in.  And after a week, Sandy was racing to the be the first person in.  What a smart little guy he is.  We’ve had Mandy since December and while she’s also very intelligent, she’s more stubborn.  So, on the principle that she’d rather be outside sunbathing, she will go sit by the door instead of go to her room with the other kids. 

Sandy got a clean bill of health from the vet, including the blood work to see how his internal organs are working.  They were pretty impressed  for such an old guy.  He’s started to cough a little in the past day so if it continues through tomorrow, we’ll be seeing Dr. Andrew very soon.  

Enjoy the photos.  I’ll try to take more pics and videos so you can enjoy him, too.

Ok, I know, you’ve already met the family.  But I have some new pics to share.  Enjoy!

Tomato Plants

I’m attempting to grow some tomato plants this year and it’s not going well. First it got blossom end rot and now all the leaves are turning yellow. Its some kind of fungus and the only thing I can do is to pluck the yellow leaves before it spreads. But, I think it’s too late. I’m still getting some tomatoes off the plants but it is VERY FRUSTRATING.

Tomatoes - Sad

Yesterday, I watered the plants in the afternoon and then decided I’d get the exterior house paint ready to use once I finished working in the office. So I go downstairs to get the paint only to find that I have a water leak in the basement. Apparently the exterior faucet decided to water the basement. The carpets wet, the paint on the walls is bubbling and the ceiling…well, I suspect we’ll have to replace a good part of the ceiling. There’s a section about 8×8 that doesn’t look that good. Hopefully, I can get Guru to vacuum up the carpet today while I’m working on the windows.

Speaking of windows, the house is 12 years old and no work has ever been done on the windows. So I’m going to attempt to repaint them and repair the wood rot.

Sad windows

So far I’ve worked on the main level windows. I scraped, sanded, puttied, added wood filler to some spots and caulked. Now I just have to sand it down and repaint. Just call me “Al“. I’ve got all the lower level windows in process. I’ll probably have to replace some brick molding on one of the lower level windows in the back. So, I borrowed Dad’s miter saw. Power tools….. grunt, grunt, grunt……

I’m planning on taking a week off work probably the first week in August so I can do the upper level windows. I’m not sure my ladder will go that high up so I may have to figure something out for that. Did I mention I’m not thrilled with heights? Yeah. I have a friend who will come over and sit with me while I do the upper level work. He can help me line up the ladder and have the phone in hand to call 911 if I fall off.

Mom and I took a short vacation and went to Brookings, South Dakota for our annual pilgrimage to the Brookings Summer Arts Festival. We go up every year and stay with friends and have fun.  This year was no different.

The Brooking’s Festival is much bigger and better than Omaha’s Summer Arts Festival. I rarely attend Omaha’s ever.

Here’s a few pics I took.  I’ll post more details later.

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