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Hokey Pokey

This week was celebrated by a trip to Petaluma for an archery shoot. I don’t normally do competitions as I’m just not very competitive. I went to spend time with people and see what the fun was they talk about. It was in fact, quite fun. They had novelty shoots like trying to hit a target from almost 100 yards out, speed rounds of attempting to fire as many arrows as accurately as possible in a 20 second time period, and a golf course for archery. The courses were broken into three sets of 20 targets each, with two sets completed on one day and the final set on the third day. That translated to a LOT of walking up and down the hills behind Petaluma. But we made fun of each other and joked our way through the 9.3 miles on the first day and about half that the next.

Where was Cardiff while I was out shooting my mouth off? She spent time with her Grandma, and laid the foundations for “shake”. We’re still working on it. The environment wasn’t very hospitable for doggos, with burrs, foxtails, ticks, and thistle everywhere (see images below). She had a much better time wrestling with her friend Gracie.

I brought the Casita, and spent two nights in it. I’ve decided the mattress is really not working; just too thin and uncomfortable. Everything else worked out well, and I’m getting better at figuring out how to pack and what to bring.

I definitely won’t do a wine bottle opener like this again. No one’s fault but my own: I’m apparently incapable of using this type of bottle opener. I shoved the cork down into the bottle and sprayed red wine over myself and the inside of the trailer. I was not amused.


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Progress?

Cardiff is learning so quickly, you can see prime examples of “sit” and “leave it” below

She is really enjoying getting out on walks, and we’re working hard to get better and safer at it. She likes playing on people’s lawns, and checking out the different grasses. I’ve chosen to not water my front yard, so it’s dirt and weeds for the most part. But no foxtails. not all yards are created equal, however. We were just 3 houses away when she stuffed her snozz into a bunch of dry weeds faster than I could react. Looking up at me, I could literally see the foxtail hanging from her nostril. Everything went into slow motion and I jump toward her saying “Noooooooooooo” only to have her shaker her head and sneeze mightily.

And what happens after a sneeze? Big inhale.

Zoop, up it went, as I tried to grab the little trailers on the back. See the detailed diagram below for the complex calculus resulting in an Emergency room visit and $525 to remove said foxtail.

Zoop!

I can’t say the experience was an enjoyable one for either of us. After getting home after midnight and a lousy few hours of restless sleep for both of us, she was raring to go, but I’m dragging a bit. The big bonus was her scheduled vet visit to complete her vaccinations this morning. Yay!

This dog is going to bankrupt me.

In other news, the lifting of the in-house restrictions is going well. I’ve removed the stairs’ barriers and started to put some rugs back in place. I’m hoping the trend continues and things don’t suddenly get chewed or peed on.

On a completely different topic, I received a text letting me know my NT#FL!X:053356 Subscript!ons need to be renewed. Yeah, I’ll get right on that.

The Casita is mostly packed in anticipation of the upcoming overnight trip this week. I’m trying to figure out the bedding situation, which is crazy-making. The bed is full-sized, but there are cushions that take up needed space to tuck the fitted sheet in. Am I expected to just let the fitted sheet flop around like an animal? Do I just use flat sheets? Seems like it’s harder than it should be.


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Pool party

Having the travel trailer and getting it ready to go make for interesting times. It still doesn’t even seem quite real, and I just kind of look at it sometimes. Firefly reference: if you watched the show, think of Kailee just looking at her pretty dress on the ‘Shindig’ episode.

With all the hot days, I’ve been spending even more time in the backyard with Cardiff. She’s become very familiar with the kiddie pool, and likes to walk around in it. She also likes to then come over to dry her paws on me.

I’ve got the biggest crop of peaches that appeared on the tree in the time I’ve lived here. There were literally a couple for the season both previous years, but several dozen this year. I chopped the tree way back to lighten the load and also devote more growing to the peaches Ieft on. I have no basis for making that decision, but it sounded good in my head. They certainly look good, and I’m picking them as they ripen.


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The Beagle has landed

Dad left a trail of fire from Texas and arrived after lunchtime today. My Casita is now in the driveway, and Cardiff and I are celebrating. We may even finish the bottle.

I have to really congratulate the guy that backed it into the driveway. First attempt with minor corrections in the path. Outstanding. Best driver ever.

OK, it was me. You have no idea how much I worried over being able to back that thing up. I’m going to need shoulder surgery to fix the damage I did slapping myself on the back. Were anyone around, they would have heard “Who the man?!” “You the man!”. There may even have been dancing.

Now I’ll start assembling all the stuff to go inside, and figure out what should be stocked all the time, and what should be packed each trip.


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