Tempe- Our Star!

Tempe's trainer is advertising his business in a local magazine called Happy Tails. He's asked us to send a testimonial and picture of Tempe to post. She'll be in the December issue! The immediate picture below is the one we submitted with our testimonial. Below that are just other cute pictures of her around the house and in the yard.

Tempe's Happy Tails Picture

"I love my dad!"

Such a lady with her bone!

"Yummy."

Tis the Season!

This week Mike and I bought our first Christmas tree together! We went to a local lot where a Boy Scout troop was selling them and purchased it.

In addition to our "real" tree, we've also set up two small trees. One of which I had given Mike in our "round one" of dating. He put it up that first year, but it stayed tucked away until this year when I pulled it out again. The second tree is less that a foot tall and sits on a ledge between our kitchen and living room. I've lovingly nicknamed our three trees "Baby, Mama and Papa Tree".

Pearl, Charlotte and Tempe enjoyed watching us set up the real tree and surprisingly they've all behaved relatively well. No one has batted, swatted or intentionally chewed any ornaments (yet).

While the cats were more interested in the larger tree, Tempe was adorably distracted by the branches we cut off the bottom to make the tree fit better in the stand. Even though we discourage her from playing with sticks, I had to laugh and humor her a few minutes while she trotted around the living room, ears perked, tail wagging and head raised high. I could hear her thinking as she pranced proudly: A stick... and one inside!? Christmas is awesome!!

Who needs a whole tree when you have a stick?

 

I also made a wreath using some pheasant feathers we had and antlers Mike has gathered from his "sporting events". I added some little berries and some painted leaves. What do you think?

Our Wreath

Mama Tree

Baby Tree

Papa Tree

Tempe's Home!

Mike and I got a little taste of what parents-to-be must feel like as we anticipated a whole NINE days after buying Tempe before she could come home with us. Everyday we would ask each other, "Is it puppy day yet?!"

Well, yesterday was "puppy day" when our newest little girl finally came home. Her awesome trainer, Adam, brought her over last night. He was so thorough with Mike and me. The three of us sat at the table and talked do's and don'ts, rules, and issues for about an hour while Tempe rested in her crate outside. He graciously answered all the questions were threw at him with a straight, non-judgmental face. And believe me, there were some pretty elementary questions!

When we were done talking, we went to his truck where Tempe's crate was sitting in the bed. Adam helped her out of the crate and the three of us walked her through the yard and then into the house to meet our other two girls, Charlotte and Pearl.

As I suspected, brave Charlotte held her ground. She puffed herself, arched her back and stared down Tempe. Pearl we only saw for about five seconds before she high-tailed it to our bedroom. Tempe, meanwhile, sniffed in the direction of Charlotte, but really didn't pay her much mind. There was a whole house to explore!!

After the intro with Charlotte went as well as could be expected, we put Char up and let Tempe explore the downstairs where she'll eventually have full-run. Tempe was SO good. She didn't chew on anything, potty inside or scratch anywhere. She just walked around and sniffed.

When she "passed" the inside test, Adam took all of us outside through the front door. (Note: we learned that different doors should be used for different activities. In our house the front door will mean "walks and fun" and the back door will mean "potty times".) So, all of us went outside in preparation for a walk. Mike and I each took turns walking Tempe down and up the street while Adam watched. She's been trained not to pull on her leash and walk on the left side of us while our left hands remain casually at our sides. Despite being in a totally new place with so many delicious smells, Tempe kept pace with each of us and didn't try to pull us or set her own agenda. I was so proud of her and impressed with Adam's training.

Tempe and her new dad!

Tempe with Mike's and my feet in the background.

"Hey Mom! I like pets!"

When we went back inside, we visited a bit longer and then Adam left us (alone!) with Tempe. We were like giddy, new parents. We visited with Tempe and then put her in her kennel for the night. She's crate trained and was happy to finally go to sleep about 11:30. I think her former, "normal" sleep time was closer to 9, so she was a tired puppy. We were very blessed last night- Tempe didn't whine or cry once from her sheet-covered crate.

When Tempe is in her crate, we let the cats roam. For now, they are only in the same space together while supervised. Oh, and by "cats" I mean Charlotte. Pearl has peaced out to her "safe place" upstairs where we've put a puppy gate for the cats to go under and feel safe. Charlotte has preferred to stay downstairs and stare down Tempe for the time being. I think (hope) they'll be good friends eventually. Tempe has already shown great resistance in chasing Charlotte and even "talks" to her, which she doesn't do with Mike or me. Tempe even laid down (showing submission) when Charlotte was looking at her. Tempe hasn't laid down for us yet and we haven't asked her to do so. Adam told us that we need to let Tempe get comfortable before asking her to go into submissive positions (like lying down).

Puppy gate- to create a safe place for the kitties upstairs.

Looking at Charlotte and "talking" to her.

Charlotte didn't talk back... just watched.

Curious Char.

This morning came fast and both Mike and I got up early to take Tempe out (well, Mike took her out and I stood inside and took pictures and got Tempe's breakfast ready). Adam told us to feed her in her crate since it makes her feel safe and secure that no one (or kitties) will get her food. So, we do that.

A happy man and pup!

Adam also gave us crate instructions for the first four weeks. In order to acclimate Tempe, she's to be in her crate an hour and then out for an hour the first week. Week two is in her crate for two hours then out. Week three is three and three... you get the idea. This gets her used to us, her "safe place" crate, the house, the yard, potty breaks and kitties.

We are both extremely impressed with our newest little girl. Thanks for all the interest you've shown and support!

Our New Family Addition

Mike and I have been talking about it for a few months, weighing the responsibilities and also thinking about the impact that an additional family member may have on us and our two girls, Charlotte and Pearl.

After much discussion, we decided to start acting! Mike contacted Charlotte and Pearl's doctor who also raises puppies- different kinds of shepherds. Turns out, there was a 10 month old looking for a home. Her name is Tempe and she's a beautiful sable German shepherd. She's so smart and very affectionate.

Mike met her on Saturday while I was out of town and called me to say that he really liked her. "If I wasn't married, I probably would have bought her then," he said. However, being the smart husband he is, he made an appointment for both of us to go see Tempe (pronounced Tem-pea) last night.

When Mike and I first started discussing dogs, we went back and forth between getting one from the pound or a breeder. We also discussed puppy versus dog. Trained versus fresh-out-the-womb. In the end, we feel that Tempe is just what these first-time dog owners are wanting. She's young still, but is already VERY trained.

Tempe was originally bred to be a worker dog. Many of her brothers, sisters and cousins have gone on to have successful careers working as K-9 Unit dogs, with people who are disabled or as bomb-sniffers. Tempe was picked to be a bomb-sniffer dog. She even went to Ohio to a special program where her handlers wanted to place her at the Creation Museum where she would sniff out bombs and other similar threats. However, it turns out little Tempe had other plans... to live with us (where no bombs ever happen unless you count what Pearl and Charlotte create in their littler boxes at times)!

Turns out the Tempe's nature (or temperament, which is actually the full version of her name- Tempe is short for Temperament) is a bit more lovey-dovey and less working-girl. When I asked the trainer what her best attributes are he described her as "gentle, loving and social" which apparently didn't mix that well with the line of work she was intended to do. Her worst attributes? "She likes to eat sticks, which she knows she's not supposed to do." Ahh...

So, last night I met Tempe for the first time and could see why Mike was instantly attracted to the little girl. She's very smart and also very social and gentle. She's on the smaller side for being a German shepherd, but that's ideal. I wouldn't want a dog much bigger. We'll get to welcome Tempe to our home next week on Wednesday night, the 28th. That's when she and her trainer will come to the house. He'll introduce Tempe to our house and our other girls (Lord, please help us). Additionally, Mike and I will get our own training for a couple hours.

Here are some pictures of us with our newest family member!!

What Painting with a Man and Two Cats Looks Like

We have the luxury of having a "bonus" room in our house into which many items make their way. There is organized chaos in the various forms of: wrapping paper and gift bags, piles of books waiting for a shelf, archived files, unused instruments, fishing poles and memories from yesteryear. Around the organized chaos are more organized areas where there is an office on one side of the room and art studio on the other.

Many nights Mike and I go to the "studio" to paint. He sits at a table in one corner and I stand beside him at my fancy desk/easel that Mike and his dad made for me. We listen to whatever music blares from the iPod or computer and spend (sometimes) hours in our own paintings, resurfacing from time to time to converse, critique and offer suggestions to one another. I love it.

It was this week that I busted out my old (and new) oils and paints. I hadn't used any of the media since my senior year of high school. It was a little intimidating at first. And to be honest, at this point, I couldn't tell you the differences between the specific oils. I know each one has a different drying time and gloss, but those are to be relearned.

The girls, Charlotte and Pearl, usually join us so we're one happy family in the bonus room. The girls spend their time napping, scratching and preening themselves. Mike and I create new memories that are sealed within the colors on our canvases.

Sleepy Pearl with Mike behind her at his table.

Charlotte observing from under the desk.

Mike working on creating a coyote with ink, watercolors and acrylics.

A picture of manatees I just finished using acrylics.

Passed out Pearl.

My next endeavor... the picture above is its inspiration.

Night one: a fine, basic layer of paints and a paint thinner.

Night two: adding the oils. The bottom half of the picture and part of the fence is with oil and paints.

Night three: adding more background and making the man shorter.

Piloting a Mountain with My Best Friend

Two Sundays ago Mike and I took a drive to Pilot Mountain, NC, after church. The weather was perfect: low 70s with only a few clouds in the sky. We stopped at Jersey Mike's on the way there and did a repeat (kind of) or our engagement day... minus it being at Hanging Rock and Mike proposing.

One awesome thing about living in NC, and being so close to the mountains, is being able to take advantage of the different seasons. North Carolina has beautiful roads lined with a gorgeous, natural quilt in the fall. We drove the hour+ drive to see how the quilt was faring so far.

I really was hoping the leaves would be a bit further along, but what we did see was beautiful. It's probably peaking this weekend and next, but we still got a preview of some of the majesty. Check out our pictures!

Lots of green still...

There were *some* orange leaves!

He "posed" for me...

I held it up all by myself!!