puppies

What Does Your Dog Do When You Are Not Home?

When you are away all day, what does your dog do? Play? Bark at every sound?

I have suspected that mine sleep most of the time when I am gone. They also sit on the stairs in our hallway where they can see the driveway through the window, waiting for someone to come home! Thankfully, it has been quite some time since everyone has been gone long hours at the same time but I sure do remember what it felt like knowing that the dog was alone for 8+ hours a day. I hated it.

Many years ago I actually PRAYED that the Lord would send some kind of entertainment for our yellow lab, Blondie. I was desperate! When we got home from work there were paw marks down the dining room wall. My only guess was that there had been a spider on the wall just high enough to get her attention but out of her reach! LOL A one time blessing but I was looking for a daily solution.

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When Your Dog Has To Be At Home Alone

When we finally got a second dog it lifted the guilt quite a bit but not everyone can, or wants to, have two dogs. So, what can you do to make their days go better?

Leave the television or radio on for some familiar noise. It isn’t real company but the background sound may be comforting.
Leave fresh water and food.
Leave a light on, in case you don’t make it back home until after the sun goes down.
Leave SAFE toys. That is a tough one since one dog’s “safe” toy can be the next one’s trouble. You know your dog so choose those toys wisely.
Keep dangerous items out of reach. We have a basket of medicines on the table when we are home but it goes inside a safe cupboard each time we leave the house. Our 1 year old puppy is a paper-eater, too, so I have to do a search for napkins, newspapers and such to get them out of the way way before we go out the door.
Find reliable help. You can have a friend come by to let the dog out to go potty. If they love walking, perhaps they would be willing to walk the dog for you. There are professional dog walkers for hire, as well. If you are not going to be able to walk your dog after work, have someone do it for you.
Buy a pet cam. Our son has a video system that he uses to check in on his dogs while he is at work. It gives him comfort to know that all is well. On one occasion, he called us for help as he discovered that the electric had gone off in the house. We went right over for him to check on the house and his pets.
If your dog must be crated for several hours, get him a very big cage. My yellow lab, Sadie, sleeps at night in a crate that is sized for Great Danes (they call the size “ginormous” LOL) She has had some problems with joint pain and we want her to be very comfortable. With this super-sized crate, she can stand up and move around. Sadie is such a good girl that we wouldn’t crate her at all but at night we do it for our own safety. We don’t want to trip over her if she moves around the house. The puppy? Her crate is also big (it is the 42″ model) We just love spoiling our girls!

Now, this is really fun. There is a new interactive pet cam. It is the Petcube Pet Camera that Flings Treats! Pet parents can see and hear their pets and even talk to them. When your dog responds with panting or a bark, you will hear it and see it. You can have a regular doggie-conversation!* And, get this, you can even toss him a treat! No joke. That’s what this big boy [below] is waiting for in this picture. My dogs would be doing exactly what he is doing …. listening and waiting for that treat! (Do cats do that? I have never owned a cat so I don’t know.)

So, how do you handle things when you have to leave your pet for a long day? Do you have someone help you?

What are your pets doing while you are away? #dogs #cats #video #home Share on X

Enjoy!

5 Super Simple Ways For Pet Owners To Get Organized

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We love our fur babies, don’t we! Yes, we love them, we cuddle them, we play with them and we buy them toys. Heck, I just bought my puppy a sweater! Never thought I’d see the day that I would buy clothes for my dog but she looks so cute in it.

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With all the joy our beloved pets bring to our lives they also bring more paraphernalia to stash and lots more cleaning to do. But we don’t mind. It’s part of being a pet parent.

Just as with our own stuff, there comes a time where we need to find a place for all the gear. Organizing your pet’s things can be fun – really! Here are five simple ways to keep your puppy’s [or kitty’s] belongings organized and easy to find:

Hooks – use decorative hooks for hanging leashes, collars and dog apparel. Aren’t these little doggie behinds adorable? For those who like a subtler look, a nice pet command station may be up your alley.

Baskets – wicker baskets – and fabric ones, too – are lovely to look at and so convenient for stashing pet toys. They are perfect for Fido’s or Fluffy’s vitamins and medications, too.

Cleanup Pail – place a large pail just outside the door to the house or in your mudroom that will hold their shampoo, pet cleanup bags, brush ( I love the furminator!) and towel for those muddy paws!

5 simple ways to get your dog's and cat's stuff organized! #pets #dogs #cats #organizing #tips Share on X

Doggie Travel Bag – keep a “doggie on the go” bag packed for your pooch. Whenever you want to hop in the car and take your dog with you, it will be packed and ready!

Treat Jar– make it easy for you – and not so easy for your fur babies – to get to their treats by putting them in a decorative container right on the kitchen counter. I really like this one!

Got any great tips on how you organize for your furry friends?

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Enjoy!

Welcome Our New Puppy

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Being a work-at-home mom has its advantages. You can do things that you could never do if you had a 9-5 job outside the home. You can take time off for school field trips whenever you want to, for instance. How about this ⇒ you can work in your pj’s! You also can take breaks to clean out a closet, load the dishwasher, do the laundry or walk the dog. None of those things can ever happen in a traditional work setting. And – ta da – you can also get a new PUPPY!

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Adorable puppy mixed breed: Australian Cattle Dog, Boxer, Bulldog

Today that is just what we did. We got a puppy! Say “hello” to our new bundle of joy ⇒”Bailey!” She is an 8 week old mix: 40% Australian Cattledog, 20% Boxer and 20% Bulldog. Isn’t she pretty? Her story is kind of interesting.

My niece was pregnant with her 5th child. She was finding raising a young dog – “OB” for Obi Wan Kanobi of Star Wars fame – and four young children a bit overwhelming. So she and her husband decided to adopt a second dog to keep OB company. Seemed like a great solution.

Well, the little Australian Cattledog they adopted, Leia (yes Princess Leia!) was pregnant with pups, unbeknownst to them. It wasn’t till they could see the puppies moving in her tummy that they figured it out. Surprise!

Dog pregnancies are just 8-9 weeks long and only a few short weeks later 8 bouncing baby boy and baby girl PUPPIES were born! 10 dogs and four kids in the house. My resilient niece and nephew had a lot on their hands.

Our new puppy is so cute! #AustralianCattleDog #Boxer #Bulldog #mixedbreed #dogs

Now this is the part that I found fascinating. Apparently dogs can be impregnated by more than one male. Leia started out in a dog pound where they did not separate the dogs so, you guessed it, more than one doggy daddy!

It appears that there were 2 dads. My niece had the puppies’ DNA tested, as the prospective families wanted to know their new pet’s heritage. Three of the dogs are a mix of herding dogs and German Shepherd. You can see it. They are almost 5 pounds heavier and very fluffy.

The other 5 puppies, of which Bailey is one, are Australian Cattledog, Boxer and Bulldog. When I was a little girl I had three boxer dogs so hearing that made me very happy! And, though she doesn’t have any Labrador Retriever in her, her mannerisms and face do remind me of our beloved labs. Can it get any better than that?

You will think I am crazy but I swear that she asked to go out to go potty today. New home, only 8 weeks old and learning the ropes already? Probably not but it sure seemed like it.

This work-at-home mom just got a new PUPPY! Fun back-story to this little fur baby #doglover #puppies Share on X

Thank goodness for dog crates. We have one near my in-home office (in the kitchen) and another upstairs in the bedroom where Sadie’s crate resides.

Sadie, our lovely green-eyed Yellow Lab, only sleeps in her dog crate at night, which really is for our sake. She’d love to sleep in our bed with us – all 100 pounds of loveliness. She takes up so much space it gets hard to roll over and, if she slept on the floor I am concerned she’d change her location in the middle of the night and one of us could trip over her. Not a good idea. Good thing she loves her crate. I just bought her a super-sized one that is made for a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog or Great Dane. She has lots more room to move around.

Tired Australian Cattle Dog puppy mixed breed taking a nap.

Though we have been in and out the door ALL day long, little Bailey is now curled up next to me on the couch while I write this post. Another perk of being a work-at-home-mom!

Are you a work-at-home mom? Are you a dog mom? Loving it?

Tell us a little about your life!

Enjoy!

Best selling dog supplies for happy dogs #pets #dogs #ad

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Make An Adorable “Welcome Doggie” Busy Bag For A New Puppy

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Love puppies? Think about when you first brought your little fur baby home. She was cuddly, licky, snuggly, squirmy and truly a baby.

pets, pet care, dog care, puppy care, pet owner

If you haven’t had a young pup in a while, memories may have faded into everything fun. We all loved it, didn’t we? But with her youth comes messes. She poops – she pees – she may even have an upset tummy once in a while and your new little love, who doesn’t know anything, lets it all happen on your beautiful clean rug.

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My little gal, Sadie [100lbs of yellow lab loveliness] was just the size of a big tea cup when we met her 4 years ago. Of all the silly things, this picture of her doing her business is the first one I took! Believe me, the lawn is not the only place where that happened – not by a longshot.

She is what inspired me to make this new-dog busy bag for my brother’s family. They are getting a new puppy and plan on naming him “Boomer” Cute! As we all know, when puppies don’t have enough to do, they find things to do. Sadie did! I remember the day she first discovered mud. She enjoyed every gooshy minute of it. As you can see by the picture below, she got on the carpet before I could catch her. Aren’t those muddy paws adorable? Of course, the carpet needed some TLC after I captured it on film.

puppy care, carpet cleaning, dog busy bag

Then there was the day she brought a TREE into the house (OK… part of a tree.) She needed to chew and took it upon herself to solve the problem – thankfully it was a tree and NOT the furniture! With that experience in mind, I decided to make a busy bag for the new arrival including the most important part: STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover.

STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover is the best way to be prepared for the inevitable messes pets will make. Whether it is the occasional piddle or poop on the rug or muddy paws, Stainmaster cleans it up great. Not only does it do an excellent cleaning job, leaving an invisible protective shield protecting your carpet from resoiling, but it deodorizes beautifully, too.

Check it out after you use it. There will not be a trace of sticky residue where you applied it. None! I only wish I had had it when Sadie was little. I use it all the time now and, guess what? It also works great on other everyday kinds of stains like coffee, grape juice, jelly, ketchup, chocolate syrup, motor oil (YES!) and soil.

You can find Stainmaster products at your local Target. That is where I bought my first bottle!

So, while I was there, I got the brilliant idea to buy one of the red Target recyclable bags to use for my new pet busy bag! Made it so easy:) Next, I went to the pet supplies section of Target and bought some dog toys including teethers and chew toys plus a few plush toys, as well. Along with the stain remover, this will make a great starter gift for their new arrival.

How ever did Sadie figure out those were DOG toys, anyway? I thought had been discreet. Oh well, I may have to give them to her and go buy some more for Boomer. LOL.

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yellow lab, labrador retrievers, puppies, pets, crafts

How To Make A New Doggie Busy Bag

Contents of a New Dog Busy Bag

Plush dog toys

Tough rubber ball or bones

Doggie chew teethers

Rope toy

Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover

Supplies

Red Target Store Reusable Bag

Tacky glue

Variety of colors of felt squares

Template (2 copies)

Self adhesive felt alphabet letters

Large googly eyes (2)

Directions

Lay the felt letters on the bag for placement.
One by one, remove the backing and adhere the letters to the bag.
My letters were big so I only had room for “DOG.”

puppy busy bag tutorial, how to make a dog busy bag

Print out a clipart picture of a dog*
*Do an internet search to find the dog you want to use!
Make 2 copies so that you can keep one as a reference.
Cut apart the other copy for your pattern and lay the pieces out.

One at a time, hold them on a piece felt with one hand and cut around the shape.
Lay each piece down flat somewhere, after it is cut, to keep track of where every piece goes.

Starting at the bottom of the dog – in this instance, the neck and collar – dab glue onto each part and place it on the bag.
Press gently.
Complete the process of creating the dog’s face.
Glue two big googly eyes on.

pets, dogs, puppies, DIY projects, gift ideas, busy bags, puppy

Let it sit for a few hours to be sure that the glue holds.
*You may want to check to be sure that the glue did not go through to the inside. I did not find that to be the case with mine but if it had happened, I would have put something inside to let the air flow while it dried.

Fill you bag with doggie goodies and a bottle of Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover.
Now you are ready to go!

Do you know someone who has a new puppy? It’s the perfect time to introduce them to Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Cleaner – they will be so grateful!

How to make an adorable doggie busy bag to take your fur baby's toys and things with you. #crafts #doglovers Share on X

THE BEST PET VACUUM I HAVE EVER OWNED!

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I Miss My Dog

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Our neighbor may be getting a 12 week old puppy named Ivy. She looks like this. A beautiful black lab — except no white on her. Just as cute as this little lady is, though. Adorable!

Seeing her picture reminded me of how much I miss my dog, Lexi.

Lexi was our 135 pound, awesome English yellow lab. What a sweetheart. When she’d come up to me and gaze into my eyes it was like she could see into my heart. There was strong communication there.

When Lexi joined our family, she was probably 4 years old. Her age was an unknown because she had been held captive in a puppy mill. Living in something like a chicken coop, she gave birth to litter after litter.

Her owners looked at dogs much differently than you and I. Dogs came under the category of cattle or other farm animals and that’s how they treated her. They didn’t give her a name or record her birth-date. She had never been on a lawn, in a house or even played with a toy. She ate out of a trough. So, when she was rescued, along with the other adult dogs they had, she was in the Letter L group. Our son was the one who named her Lexi.

Lexi was rescued by a wonderful organization – Rudy’s Rescue. Previously, I had been in touch with them, expressing our desire to adopt another yellow lab like Blondie. Oh, I knew the next one wouldn’t be exactly like her but I was hoping and praying to find one a lot like her.

Blondie’s Story

Our first lab, Blondie, had died at 10 years old. We missed Blondie terribly.

We had her from a pup and saw her through 5 years of diabetes that included her going blind in one horrible day! That is a whole nuther story but suffice it to say that we were able to get her surgery and she regained her sight!

After years of caring for her needs meticulously, we were knit so close with her. Her loss was huge. I’d “see” her everywhere. In her favorite napping spot. Outdoors. Indoors. In my dreams.

Lexi’s Story

Amy is the name of Lexi’s rescuer. Her group became aware of this puppy mill and the horrible conditions the dogs were living in. She saw Lexi in the chicken coop and, over time, negotiated her release, along with the other adult dogs (the pups were sold, I assume.) She knew of my search and sent me a picture saying “this may be the one.” I could hardly wait to meet her. She was the one. Lexi and Blondie could have been twins.

It took Lexi a long time to become a “real dog.” She was so traumatized that she was in shock, I think. Her eyes were glazed over and she cowered in her crate, where she felt safe. She took to our youngest son, Zack, right away.

The first time she barked, I cried. Finally! She sounded like a dog! A couple of weeks later she began to trust me and it was another 2 years for her to warm up to anyone else in the family, including my husband. That was a long, hard wait for him. He missed Blondie as much as I did. When she finally felt safe with him, he became her best buddy. She loved him dearly and had to have “daddy time” every evening. She insisted on it, bumping his arm whenever he stopped petting her. She wanted more!

Fun “Lexi” story: Lexi, the Skunk and Me

Big girl Lexi with her new little pal, Sadie

Sadie’s Story

Sadie: so tiny!

Next, we got a puppy. Sadie. Another yellow lab. Sadie made all of our lives complete. Lexi was the mommy. Sadie followed her like a little puppy should. They slept together. Guarded the house together. Played together. It was perfect.

Big Lexi napping in her crate with puppy Sadie

Lexi and Sadie taking a little snooze.

But, in January 2015, the inevitable happened.

Lexi died of cancer.

Lexi got rectal cancer. I should have known something was wrong long before I did. She’d groan a lot but I attributed it to old age. Eventually, the problem became visible and the doctor confirmed she had cancer. We kept her comfortable with pain killers and babied her as best we could. Eventually, it became obvious that she shouldn’t have to keep on going like that. It was time.

She was in so much pain, her breathing labored. I had to do the very thing I did not want to do: make the appointment. Saying goodbye was going to be hard but it couldn’t wait.

I set it for 3:00 pm that day but I prayed. “Lord, she feels safe here with me. Please take her here before we have to go.” And, softly petting her head, I told Lexi it was OK to go. I would see her again. She lay right at my feet in the kitchen and breathed her last. God answered my prayers and she was gone. I will always be grateful for that.

Sadie isn’t quite the same, now. She misses Lexi, too. I think Lexi’s strength was her security. She could boldly bark at strangers, and hide behind Lexi. That type of thing. It is as if part of her personality left with Lexi.

We do have our sons dogs, Murphy & Troy, come for playdates – which she loves – and my granddogs, Indie and Bear come over and my brother’s dog, Jake, comes by, too. But seeing Ivy’s picture today reminded me that we have a puppy-sized hole that needs to be filled. Not just now, not yet. But someday soon, I hope.

Enjoy!

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Tough Day?

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Today was good.

Today was fun.

Tomorrow is another one.

…Dr. Seuss

How was your day?

Pet Hair – Tips for Dog Owners On How To Keep Your House Clean

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Shedding pet fur is such a nuisance. It sticks to everything: clothes, carpets, furniture. It can seem like an unending process to keep it cleaned up.

So, what’s the solution? Not have a dog? What are you kidding? No dog-lover will ever agree to that!

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Life without a dog is…

No one to greet you at the door with a wagging tail and big “smile” on his face
No one to follow you eagerly from room to room, wanting to play. (He wins!)
No one to beg for treats. (He wins!)
No one to want a walk when you are too tired. (He wins?)
No one to ask for a ride in the car when you just want to sit down and do nothing. (He wins!)
No furry-someone to cuddle with on the couch while you’re reading a good book? (You both win.)

Sweet little lab puppy #labradorretriever #puppy #dog Ducks 'n a Row

Who can resist this sweet little face?

No, there HAS to be another answer to the pet hair problem.

Surprisingly, it isn’t always the long-haired breeds that produce the most. Some of the short haired dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, have two coats. An outer and an inner coat. This serves as insulation from extreme heat and cold. However, as the seasons shift, the lower coat also does…all over your house.

Shedding is an important part of the natural process for dogs and cats, too. Dogs, especially, can produce enough excess fur that you’d think you could build a whole ‘nother dog from it. Really! Shedding, especially for the shorter haired dogs, happens all of the time to a degree and in abundance at the change of the major season. Resource: Why Dogs Shed

Keep your dogs well groomed! #doggrooming #pethair Ducks 'n a Row

There are some methods and products that will help you control the unwanted pet hair in your house.

First, keep your dog groomed. Occasional shampooing (don’t overdo it lest you dry out their skin) and frequent brushing, especially in shedding season, will help. Plus, your dog will love the attention. Resource: Caring for Your Dog’s Coat
Tip: the Furminator (pictured below) is an excellent dog grooming tool. Gently removes fur before it sheds! Makes your dog’s coat look so nice, too,
Next, stay on top of the project. If you let your house go for days, the build-up may seem insurmountable. It’s not but it’ll be a much bigger job.
Vacuum the house frequently. If there is a lot of fur on the carpets, or it is stubbornly sticking to the carpets, carpet powder does wonders.
Vacuum Tip: the Shark Liftaway Navigator Vacuum is the best I’ve ever used. Removes ALL pet hair with ease. Empties like a dream! Click here for my Shark Vacuum review.
Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Odor Eliminator for carpets with “vacuum booster” is like a magnet. This by far is my #1 choice for getting up pet hair from carpet. Sprinkle it on. Wait up to 30 minutes. Vaccuum it up. The pet hair clings to the powder and pulls it all into the canister. It works great and does remove the pet smells as well.

Three tools that I have found to work well…not perfect, but pretty good, are:

Magik Lint Brush— though created for clothes, this little tools works great on upholstered furniture in removing pet hair. Gets 99% off with ease (nothing’s perfect!).
Pet Hair Sweeper — the Pet Hair Sweeper does a very good job on sofas and other fabric-covered furniture. It is disposable but each one lasts quite a while. I’ve heard that some people have found a way to edge the fur out from inside and get more use out of it. That’s up to you if you want to try it!
Libman Precision Angle Broom — I had my angle broom for the floors in my house but, in desperation, decided to vigorously sweep the stairs and see what would happen. My stairs are navy blue and the white dog-fur from our yellow labs gets thick. Using back and forth strokes, the fur was literally “flying” off the stairs and onto the floor below. Then it was so easy to just vacuum it up!
A Clean, Damp Sponge — yes, simply swipe a clean damp sponge across the surface of your sofa’s and upholstered chairs to remove hair. If there is a lot of fur, bring along a pan of clean water to rinse and squeeze the sponge out.
My Favorite Vacuum Cleaner is a Bissell <- – > gets pet hair up beautifully and empties with ease!

Got to get the #pet hair out of your house but don't know how? #cleaningtips #dogs #cats Share on X

So, how have you been taking care of your pet hair problems?

Dog grooming tool: the Furminator #dogs #dogrooming Ducks 'n a Row

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Any purchases made from Amazon through Ducks ‘n a Row will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you” for your business…Sinea

Photo Credits:

Girl and Dog by marin on freedigital photos

Yellow labs Lexi & Sadie, on sofa by Sinea

Yellow lab puppy dreaming by on flickr creative commons

Puppies being washed by winthaya phonswat on freedigital photos

Help! The Devil Won’t Let Me Organize!

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Yes, that’s right. It’s not my fault. Someone’s out to get me and it has to be the devil! Who is more opposed to order and in favor of chaos than he? Just when it looks like the coast is clear, “life” gets in the way and all my well-intentioned plans go right out the window. Today, puppy mischief put me over the top.

Yes, we got a puppy. The devil did not make us do it – it was our idea – and we are so glad we did but why can’t she follow the rules? Just as she catches onto things, she gets bored and starts projects of her own. Today was “rug day.” I think she was definitely taking advantage of a situation. I’ve been battling a cold and outdoor time in the snow was just “potty and in again”. She was bored. So, she chewed on rugs and carpets and moved them around a lot.

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Five month old SADIE enjoying “RUG DAY”!

Big-sis dog LEXI totally not interested in RUG DAY, sleeping right through it.

Then my dear old dad and my much younger dear husband both had stays in the hospital. Dad 3 or 4 times. Hubby? One for 8 days with followup in-home nursing care for a month. How do you plan for that? You don’t!

Now, I have a cold. It’s a mild one but it slows things up.

So, what do you do when LIFE HAPPENS?

How do you move ahead when the tide is pulling you back?

BRILLIANT-ISH IDEA: using my own strategy featured in “Take Control, Clean a Drawer” today I took on little tasks that have been looming in the background – things that need to happen but NEVER happen because I’m too busy doing everything else. To start with, I finally mounted the cute sign I got from my kids for Christmas. It’s been leaning up against the wall waiting to find a home.

Don’t you love it?

I measured, leveled and hung my new plaque on the kitchen wall.

And there it is!

And then I began the not-so-fun task of cleaning my window blinds in my dining-room Not a great sick-day activity but they’ve been really bugging me. I have a bridal shower coming up in my home for my granddaughter, Sara. Better get started on them now. Tomorrow I’ll finish. (“Please, Lord?”)

Though I didn’t make great strides, it feels so good to have accomplished two things that have been waiting and waiting for attention.

Got big plans?

How’s your to-do list look?

When life gets in the way, how do you handle it?

When life gets in the way and #puppies get bored, what do you do? #family #tips Share on X

Enjoy!

“Let not your heart be troubled”…John 14