Learning New Things ~

One of the great things about starting my designing business again is the opportunity to learn new things. Today I learned how to make a pdf file, and put a link up on my Needleart Blog so anyone who wants the little freebie chart can download and print their own copy. Here is the picture, and you can click on the link in the right column to go to the From the Heart Needleart Blog and get a copy of the pdf file for your very own. Now you are all set to grab a needle and floss and go learn something new.

 Look at this cute picture I found on my camera. See, I told you he was a sweet boy.

Future Dog Trainers ~

Yesterday I had a visit from two sweet little girls, and their parents too. Kymber had a dentist visit so Sydni and her dad played at our house awhile. They were so excited to get to see Gus too. These tiny little girls can get him to do whatever they want. He obediently goes to the kennel, or the backyard when they want him to. It is really fun to watch them wrap their little arms around his middle or his big neck and try to get him to move. And the funny thing is, it works! Of course they know where his treats are and he gets double treats when both of them are here. He really is a sweet dog and is so patient with them. Yes, he it totally spoiled, but look at that face. You'd have him spoiled rotten too.

 Look at these cute little pictures of Kaden that Jen took the other night. He is such a happy little boy!

My grandkids ~

Wow, yesterday was a fun and very full day. I got to spend one on one time with each of my little grandkids (also known as babysitting). First came Kaden. He enjoyed sitting in the bouncy chair, drinking his bottle and looking at Gus.

 

Gus liked looking at Kaden too, but got bored with that and just ended up laying down by his bouncy chair.

 

I think Gus will really have fun with Kaden when he grows up a little bit more.

Michelle came to town and I got to watch Kymber while her and Jennifer went shopping with the other kids. They had Michelle's amazing double stroller with Sydni and Kaden and I had time with Kymber. She is such a fun little girl, and she loves to talk, and she loves flowers, and she loves to play games, and she loves Gus. Here are a few pictures of our afternoon.

The pictures aren't the best, I had my iphone camera and funny lighting, but it was so much fun watching these two just totally enjoy being together. She loved feeding him his dinner, and evidently Gus has no food aggression whatsoever. This is a trait that can be passed down, so his puppies should be just like him.

At about 8:30, Michelle picked up Kristine from Mutual and they went to do a shopping errand. It was  time to play with Sydni.  By that time the clothes were off and she was just running around in her diaper. She is a busy little girl, so basically I just ran after her, trying to keep her from getting into trouble. She is so smart and understands a lot and can say a lot of words too so it was fun to spend time with her. Isn't she a cutie.  I love her  big brown eyes.  None of my kids have brown eyes, and she is the only one of the grandkids (so far) that does. It looks like she might be getting her mom's curly hair too.

My girls are both amazing moms, and it is fun to be able to watch these little cuties and give them a little bit of a break. And you know when I watch little grandkids I don't worry about cleaning or laundry or any of those other fun jobs that I usually do, so it works out great for all of us.

Gus ~

It's been so long since I've put up pictures of Gus. He has really grown. He is 10 months old now and probably full grown. I caught him being naughty and sleeping up on the couch this morning, so I took a few pictures before I sent him out to the backyard.

First trip to the mountains ~

Summer has finally come to SE Idaho and we took advantage of a beautiful day to get away to the mountains.  We were expecting crowds of 4-wheelers and motorbikes, and planned to just enjoy the mountain with all of them, but for some reason there were very few people out enjoying the day. This was Gus's first time out hiking, so we were curious to see what he would do. He loved it. I had him ride up on my lap so we would avoid the carsick episode from our last drive to the canyon. 

When we drop Rod and his bike off, we usually drive straight down to the pick up spot before we start hiking. Today Rod told me about a look out spot that was down the trail a little ways, so we started hiking right there.  He was right, it was beautiful.  Gus loved hiking. He did the typical hound dog nose to the ground hiking and I snapped pictures along the way. I don't trust him off of the leash yet, so he had to stay with me. He would stop and check out every little smell.  After this first hike, we drove down the canyon and waited for Rod to finish his ride. After about 10 minutes I could tell Gus was anxious to get moving again, so we went on another hike up the trail and ended up meeting Rod on his way down. Two hikes in one trip is quite an accomplishment for me and my short dog, but we loved it and can't wait to get out again.

I can't leave this post with out filling you in on every last detail.  Gus did get car sick on the way home so he has earned his new nickname "Barfy". But the good sure out weighed the bad,  (and he wasn't sitting on my lap at the time) so we will do it all again.

Totally Random Post ~

Well maybe this post isn't totally random, the pictures all have a common theme.  They are all about our grand daughters. We love it when they come to town.  Our regular routine gets thrown out the window and we just take time to enjoy them.  Saturday it was warm enough, (ok it got up to 39', but that is warm here) for Rod to get some trim painted and Kymber got to "help" a little bit.  Sydni wanted to help too and was headed outside barefoot to play in the gutter. Her Mom quickly got her redirected inside to help us. Isn't she a cutie with her little blond pigtails.

Michelle and I worked on centerpieces for a Relief Society Dinner Thursday night.  I'll get a picture of them to share.  They are pretty cute.

This picture of little Sydni is from a week or so ago. She is such a BUSY little girl and this grandma was so glad she slowed down enough to fall asleep. When they come over their favorite thing to do is play with Gus. And he loves it.  As long as they stand up and are taller than he is they get along just great. He puts up with everything they dish out and comes back for more. Kymber is basicly the boss, she puts him in his kennel when she is done playing with him and she will randomly decide when he needs to go to the backyard and bosses him around until he gets there.  If talking doesn't work, she gets ahold of his collar and pulls him to the door and pushes his little fanny outside. Of course she makes sure he gets plenty of dog treats so all is good.

New Puppy Portrait ~

I got Gus to sit still the other day for a picture.  Actually I had his bowl of dinner sitting there and he had to get his picture taken before he could eat. Maybe that is why he has such a concerned look, or maybe it is that he still has too much extra skin. He is growing so fast, but his skin is growing faster.  No kidding, when he lays down by the fire, which is 90 % of his day, his skin lays in folds on the carpet. Actually Bassets are bred to have baggy skin and long ears, so you can tell he is a quality dog. I think it just makes him cuter. I put together his pedigree chart the other day. It was fun to see how many champions he has in his family. We are still trying to decide if we should breed him or just go ahead and get him fixed.  Isn't this face worth passing on to more cute puppies.

Actually, I have a Great Grandpa Gus. We would go visit them on the numbered streets here in Idaho Falls when I was little.  So it would be kind of fun to have him be a "Grandpa Gus" too.  And no, he wasn't named after my grandpa. Kristine named him and thought He looked like a Gus.  I guess he does.

The Big Reveal ~

You've been waiting and now, after one whole year, the big kitchen remodel is complete.  Well, I do have a few nail holes to fill, but we are done.  And here is the proof.

It's a Work Day ~

And Gus is helping.  Well, not really, he is trying, but he gets in the way and hauls off the tools. But he sure is cute doing it.