Kipper Is Growing

Kipper is growing by leaps and bounds. I don't know exactly how much he weighs right now, but he's taller and longer than just a month ago. And, his winter coat has finally come in. The fur on his back is thick and wavy.

We're currently in between dog obedience classes. But I'm still working with him on heeling, sit, down, and stay.

Reading Despereaux

Sunday, Brendan decided to read aloud the last of The Tales of Despereaux. My parents used to read aloud to me when I was a child, and I'd forgotten what a pleasant afternoon can be had, relaxing and listening to someone read a good book aloud.



Thanks, Edward, for sharing a wonderful story with us.

Christmas 2007

Christmas was as jolly as ever this year. We found a lovely tree at La Bella's:

Valerie and Michael are here for the week. There was much conversation, dog walking, and good eats.

Little Sue was thrilled with her My Little Pony Skywishes, the only thing she asked Santa to bring.

Brendan actually had some time to relax and enjoy the season.

More Kipper and Sue

Child and puppy are doing better and better together ...

Soccer Is Done

Sue's soccer experience so far has been mostly running around at the tail end of the pack of kids, looking kind of lost. But during the last couple of games this season, she really started to get the hang of it, getting into the fray, and even kicking the ball a couple of times. Hurray!

Kipper and Sue

Kipper is settling into the family quite nicely. We start doggie obedience training in two weeks, and Kipper gets fixed around then too. Although in general he has been very good for a puppy, it's been lots of work, and I'm really looking forward to when he's a bit older and more under control. That said, it's wonderful having a dog in the house again -- the eager puppy face at the door when you come in, the soft warm presence on the sofa in the evenings, the bouncy goofy pup playing in the woods.

Sue had a stomach virus this week. She spent most of her time on the sofa, with Kipper. They are getting to be good buddies.

Puppy Love

Well, after months of looking, we finally found a rescue puppy. Last Saturday we drove to Harrison, NY (Westchester County) to see a puppy billed as part Springer Spaniel, part lab. The puppy is adorable, and we brought him home. However, it's much more likely that he's a mix of Border Collie and something else, Pointer?

Sue is a combination of excited, proud, affectionate, and jealous. In many ways it's like having another child in the house.

The vet gave him a clean bill of health, and put him around 18 weeks old.

The rescue organizations called him Bobo, then Timmy. We're calling him Kipper. And Little Guy. And Little Man. And Poochie. It'll be a miracle if he ever learns his name.