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AND THEN THERE WAS BARNEY
Twenty-five years ago when I was dating my then boyfriend, I worried his dog wouldn't like me. He had a beautiful husky. This lover of the outdoors mountain man came complete with a striking dog – adorned with silver fur and blue eyes – striking in every way. She was well-trained, though certainly independent by nature. Guess what? She liked me! And that boyfriend eventually became my husband...
Our husky never took to our brown-eyed baby boy, however. And that dislike and a move across the state necessitated that we rehome her. Since then, we have been without a dog. We either did not feel we lived in a place that was fair to have a dog (lack of space) or the time to really commit to training and loving a dog as we thought it should be cared for.
Until last Saturday. Don't get me wrong – it wasn't an impulsive decision...exactly. We have looked, wondered, talked about getting a puppy for years. When is the right time to get a dog? What kind of dog? What goals should we have for our dog? And the conversation was always just that...conversation.
The search had perhaps upped a bit, however, when Mike and saw an interesting ad for puppies in a local paper. This family had a litter of pure-bred labradors. The dad was an excellent retriever and loved hunting (something that fit in well with our family tribe.) They had one male left, was I still interested? ...Was I?
I had not wanted to drive the two and a half hours one way to meet the parents and pick him out, but honestly, who can pick out a puppy anyway? They are all darling and cuddly and cute and desirable.
My husband was on his way to bow hunt for the day – he encouraged me that the decision was up to me – I would be the primary care giver. Was I ready for it?
I decided I would try it – sure, why not? Why wasn't I ready for it? The kids are nearly grown, I only have plans for working part-time anyway – surely the kids will help some, right? So – one of my 16 year old twins and I went for it and drove 2 hours to get the last puppy – and immediately we knew his name was “Barney.” We had talked about names – and it's interesting how a name we'd picked before we even knew the pup fit perfectly!
That said, I'm not going to lie. Barney's been with us 4 days now and it hasn't all been sunshine and roses.
I often struggle with insomnia – and this was also going on this week. Barney was peeing on the living room rug at an alarming rate, chewing on cords, basically going nutso – while we all tried to remain calm, re-direct, and train the best we could.
He's on a schedule now – and though whimpers sometimes – he is content to be in our presence. He is also getting brave enough to be alone sometimes. He sleeps well at night for sure! I take him out in the wee hours of the morning - but that's it! And those accidents – we are all managing them better. He is off the carpet now - and we have figured out his routines and rhythms better. He is even beginning to learn basic commands. As I write this – he is sleeping soundly on my lap.
But I am still having doubts. Was it the right time? Am I well suited for Barney? Will I be able to train him – not only so that he doesn't annoy the daylights out of everyone around him – but so that he is a happy, self-controlled canine. Can we really afford him? Husband was right – I am definitely the primary care giver.
Everyone else is busy (3 teenagers) and Mike works full-time... How will Barney do if I'm gone a day or 2 a week?
If we're not right for Barney – now is the time to re-home him. He is beautiful, sweet, and highly cute. It makes him desirable! People love puppies! I don't want to wait too long...
How do I know?
SEPTIC SYSTEM TO SUNFLOWERS?!
If you live in the country, there is most likely a piece of country life you choose to ignore but pray never fails... your septic system. We all like to take showers, wash dishes, and flush toilets without much thought, right? Much to our dismay, last fall our septic system of over fifty years failed! She had a long and faithful existence – and needed to be replaced.
It was nearing winter in the Inland Northwest, which means snow and freezing temperatures were just around the corner. We were under a time crunch. Could a new system be designed? Approved? Installed? Inspected? And up and running before the holidays?
After weeks of bailing water, rationing water, and counting the drops of water going down the drain – the big equipment arrived! The job was under way.
When I say, “Big equipment” I mean “BIG equipment!!” Not your typical garden tractor for this job. Our garden fence was ripped out, our apple trees were ripped out, a mountain of gravel was the new view out our dining room window – but the task was accomplished by the Thanksgiving Holiday – an extra blessing to count on the day of Thanks-giving, to be sure.
But what of our garden?! Now it was a pile of rocks otherwise known as a drain field?! Nothing too redemptive about that – except it being one of the prices to pay for modern conveniences. However, all that big equipment unknowingly did a little gardening for us.
Fall turned to winter, then spring – and while walking past the rocks on our new drain field, I noticed something that didn't look like a weed. What?! A “zucchini” plant?! As it turns out – there were many many “zucchini” plants – I was so excited!
Interestingly, the so called “zucchini” began turning their little faces to the sun – hmmmmm. That was very “un-zucchini” like – they must be... Sunflowers!! I had always wanted a sunflower field, and now the little flowers were coming up everywhere! Could it be?! There were far more sunflowers than I had ever ever actually planted around our 6 acres! I needed to pull some out there were so many! I was afraid they were going to choke one another out... The big equipment must have helped "plant" some volunteer sunflower seeds!
Now it is summer, and my first sunflower is beginning to bloom. I have taken to calling my sunflower field “the choir” because their faces are always turning to the sun, their "conductor." They are a daily reminder that while life is not always predictable, it is certainly redemptive. We were not given “lemons” in which to make “lemonade.” No, we were given a new septic system – which gave us sunflowers! Surely, just as sweet a gift...