Puppy Dog Tales and Other Wild Adventures

As the summer winds down and our grandchildren have started filling their backpacks with school supplies, a quick review of the past weeks' adventures tend to bring us to our new lives as owners of an active, adventuresome Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Astro. Grandpa, soft touch that he is, agreed to take Astro when Marie's family found out that pets were not welcome in the Navy housing they would move into. We've now had Astro 2 1/2 months on our own, and he's managed to kill seven of our beloved squirrels, a wild rabbit and a bird or two; enrage our neighbor with a four hour stint of barking and howling while we were gone; jump out of our car when we were going about 15 mph so he could chase a deer that caught his eye, and fall out the pickup window. Tom is definitely the alpha male in our little pack; Astro shadows Tom everywhere, even waiting patiently at the bathroom door. I've had to fight for my place as the beta "male" in the pack, often having to gently push him off "my" spot on the couch or through the door. We've loved it when he seeks shelter from flies, the vacuum, or pesky visitors by crawling under our bed!! Astro has forced us into good habits; we walk every morning at the marina which is an adventure in and of itself. When we return, Astro makes a quick circuit of our entire yard and our neighbor Michelle's yard. The picture doesn't do justice to his ability to become airborne as he flies around his circuit. We've purchased a small cow bell for his collar to signal unwary victims that flying Astro is on his way.

(See his tail just at the edge of the bed skirt?)

My last few weeks have been concerned with catching up on some sewing projects; just yesterday I was banned to my sewing room for the day because professionals were shampooing the carpet. A fate worse than you know what!!
Aunt Joan and I volunteered to contribute some items for a silent auction that will help defray the cost of our upcoming (gulp) fiftieth high school reunion. So you see the totes, clutch purse and apron that are headed off to the auction. If someone doesn't take pity on me and buy them at the auction, one of you may find them in your Christmas package!! I've also started #9 and #10 of the grandkid quilts.

These are the first two blocks of Kobe's quilt which will be a red, white, and blue blue jeans quilt. In honor of my Grandmother Ethel Chase, who had none of the fancy gadgets or patterns that I have access to, I'm going to design Kobe's quilt in the style of a 30's quilt. Designing is really the most fun part of making a quilt. Brenna had the opportunity to choose the colors of her quilt, and she found a pattern style that she liked--flowers, buttons lace, etc. I'm handquilting her quilt so I can sit in the evenings in MY place on the couch beside Dad and fend off Astro.

As for Dad, being Dad......Yes...I tried to tell him....No...he didn't listen. Any problems? No...not yet anyway. The gazebo is beautiful.

Hope your summer has gone as well....Love from Mom...who, on days like that hides in the sewing room with the blinds down!!

"An optimist is someone who figures out that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster; it's a cha-cha."

Love to you all.