Saturday Morning 4-H Dog Project

Wyatt Clay has wanted to do dog project for some time.  His dog has been a big part of how he relates to the world around him.  After losing Hopper Spark in the Spring, and bringing Shadow Paws home, he knew he had a LOT of work to do to get Shadow trained and functioning properly.

Shadow seems to really want to please him, and adores him (especially as her ticket out from the pound) but is six months old, and a Labrador Retriever mix, so very immature and energetic!  Today was the first day to attend dog project.  We have been nervous about how to squeeze it all in, but wanted to let him try.  The cuddled up in the back seat this morning and off we went.

 Shadow Paws began by being tremendously overstimulated right out of the car!  The leader was amazing, and set ground rules for Shadow and Wyatt, and Wyatt lined up with the others.  There are so many adorable dogs of a variety of species, and the kids are all so good and so welcoming.

Shadow settled in, and while clearly still very young and under-trained compared to the others, she only had to be separated out when she was walking backwards trying to play with the dog behind her.  We stopped on the way home for a different collar they needed, and Wyatt was glad to show me his homework of what they started this week.

Blogger was in the mood to only upload this one sideways again, but here they were practicing her laying down and staying that way when Wyatt was getting up.  It didn't help her focus any when he had her wave at me, but they will work more at home!

They have a lot of ground to cover in training, but this is a really positive group, the parents were all so nice (and funny) and I think Wyatt will learn a lot!

Friday Sunset on Tumamoc

My students in my Boot Camp class kept saying that we needed to do Tumamoc Hill as a group.  So will less driving this past week on my agenda (the kids on Fall break) I agreed that all of my students could meet at the base of Tumamoc for an extra opportunity to make up attendance points.

So after working in the fitness center yesterday morning, I ran home and picked up the kids to go with us.  We met at the base at 5:30, with some running up ahead and others walking at their own pace.  As we walked  the evening colors began to paint the sky.

This is the research station a little more than half way up/  Beautiful old buildings, including a greenhouse I will I could use!

Looking West toward the Tohono O'odham Reservation from a switchback.

Saguaros in the sunset light.

This was from the top, looking South East across Tucson.

And then looking West into the setting sun.

There were two in our group who were a little behind me.  We walked back down to see the finish at the top with them.  The group was such a great team encouraging the others!This sunset lit cloud was too beautiful not to photograph with the fingers reaching skyward.

On the way back down, I took this photo looking West over the lights of a little housing development West of Pima College.  It came out pretty cool, despite the elongated lights.

I am glad the students help me to it.  It was fun!  Hope you try it, it is such a beautiful time on the hill!

And the WINNERS are...

AND THE WINNERS ARE:


Yummy Bread from The Hen House: 

Toni Schenk

Two Bars of Soap from Patriot's Dream Farm:

Erin Brittain Bartley

Feed Bag Market Bag from Patriot's Dream Farm:

Bailey Martin

CONGRATULATIONS!  

Watch for more great contests and prizes coming!

Tack Shed Cleanout

I typically like to clean out all the sheds every Summer.  We never got to the tack shed this Summer, it just got too busy on us.  Bailey and Wyatt have been off of school for Fall break, so yesterday the unloaded everything from the tack shed.

I got home from work and bot dinner rolling as the debate began.  We discussed the policies laid forward among the four of us, and what the effect of the policies had been on our house.  Then Charlie headed off to check on his folks and the kids and I got busy.

We swept, scrubbed boxes, reorganized and even repacked the show box.  The label maker saw some use, baby supplies were checked and un-serviceable things were thrown out.  As you can see, Shadow Paws even pitched in and kept us company!

In the end, it was 10 o'clock when we made it back inside and the news was beginning.  I still need to put up a shelf and reset a set or two of the hooks, but I hope to do that with Bailey after I deliver eggs later today.

SO glad to feel like things are functional in there and we can find them, especially since I will be on duty when Charlie and the kids are away during hunting season!

The First Political Buttons

I would first like to say, this is not a post about politics.  Really, it is about cool history.  I love the creavtive ingenuity that comes with the political buttons and the fun sillies.  I loved trading buttons and pins when I got to attend the Olympics in Los Angeles.  On my way between one job and the other this morning, I caught a radio show where they were talking about the fist political buttons.

The first celluloid buttons (like the ones we identify with today- silly phrases and candidates names, etc.) first appeared on the scene in 1896.  They have been known to be down right mean, like one from the democrats when Reagan was up for reelection that stated No Mo Ron, as in no more Ron, but wrote it very clearly as No MORON.  They exist on both sides, no finger pointing, but have been known to be since ong before the current attack ads many of us have come to change channels over.

It might surprise you, but the first buttons were really much different from that.  When General George Washington ran for president, and was elected unanimously, he was known for wearing a certain American-made dark suit, with striking silver buttons.  For the general to have selected an American made garment was important, for sure, and people found their own special way to show their support.  The bought identical buttons to those on his suit, to wear conspicuously to show they were with the general.

The first political campaign button.  Pretty cool, huh?

So, again, I do not do politics on facebook, but I love cool creative stuff, whether it agrees with my political beliefs or not.  If you have a favorite one to share, a funny one, or a cool word puzzle on, go for it, share in the comments.  I will moderate to keep it friendly and fun. 

Have a great night.  Enjoy the debate, if you so choose.  And reardless of who you vote for, I hope you take the time to be informed past the ucky mud throwing, and then vote.

Hugs to you all!

Banned Books Week

Girls who grew up like me through the late 70s and into the 80s are often surprised to realize that Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret was once on the banned books list.  Those presently in the greatest question include To Kill A Mockingbird and The Hunger Games, which my daughter had read at school last year.

There are a lot of reasons why books make these lists.  Folks were outraged that Judy Blume would write a book in which a child would question her faith.  And yet, Judy Blume is acclaimed as a write for adolescent girls, who are at a pivotal stage and asking who they are, what they believe and how they fit into this world.  Her books tackle so many stereotypes and bullying and confusing interpersonal relationships, it is hard to believe that a parent would not welcome the chance to have an open discussion with their child from the springboard of a well written book.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a hard book, yet a classic in literary circles.  I personally like happy endings and generally lean toward books where there is at least a little humor.  Bailey had to read it for school, so I warned her that the subject matter was angry, intense and much more, but also a page from the history books of our country we should learn from rather than hide. She did have some questions.  But also asked why that teacher chose all depressing books with angry, abusive subject matter for the year.  I wondered the same.

The Hunger Games is so very popular.  Bailey had read the whole series.  She said it was probably on the list for being somewhat violent.  Somewhat?  More than somewhat.  When Wyatt wanted to read it because some kids from his class were, I thought it was above his reading level to understand, and that he might wait a while.  I will admit that I like that he loves his Boxcar Children books so much.  Funny, The Hunger Games really isn't any worse (in my opinion) than the Utopian theory books I read in High School classes.  Just the new generation of them.

I have known a number of parents who said to me that these books were a part of literary history, and who thought that it was appropriate for their children, at the right age, to read them. They could discuss how those words or subjects fit into their family's morals or belief system together, and the child could understand that approach to history.

So this is Banned Books Week.  And my children are off school.  Makes a great time for reading.  Will a banned book be on their list?  Maybe.  Right now Wyatt is reading a book about positive dog training (his puppy is very high energy) and Bailey has devoted a lot of time to a paper for English, so who knows.  Though we did talk about the significance of Banned Books Week in our culture and free society when we were at the library.  Will one be on your list?

An Introduction... the Hen House

I love when kids lead the way to a better world!

I wanted to take a moment tonight to introduce you to one of the sponsors of our current contest- our friends at The Hen House.

The Hen House is another small family operation, where eggs, breads and brittles are made and sold in order to raise funds for the children's favorite charities, and the children's ongoing projects (think, another version of a lemonade stand, but with altruistic and personal business goals!) 

They chose to help us to now to get the word out on their products in a final push before they plan to present a check to the Banner, MD Cancer Center hospital in Gilbert in November, so please check them out, and take a moment to like their page along your way to a great prize!

Here is the link to our current contest with them!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patriots-Dream-Farm/141620095849011?sk=app_228910107186452