Slacker blogger

So it seems we continue to be busy with life...and just not so into posting these days. Ebb and flow, right?

But for a quick update of what we've been up to...


Playing at the school playground that's up the street from our house...


Sabine's still been into creating outfits for me (might not be able to see it here, but there is jewelery placed to go with it too -- a necklace and bracelet and earrings)...


We finished the Dealing with Dragons series by Patricia Wrede -- mostly read by Bret to Sabine at bedtime, but sometimes throughout the day when we're on a roll! It has a very feisty heroine -- reminds me of some girls I know! Just started the Inkheart series...


We had a really fun trip to the coast a few weeks back when we were having mock spring here. Vivian's posing with the skim board. Bret pulled both girls along the water to let them experience the fun, then Vivian proceeded to take an hour-long nap, snuggled up on our blankets. Sabine and Bret explored the driftwood, and Sabine made friends with another little girl. We each brought a bag of Catalina ashes to sprinkle -- on the path, and around the beach where she loved to dig.

We also had a fun trip to Great Wolf Lodge in WA -- a local homeschooling parent set up a trip with great group rates, so we jumped on it. Aside from the flat tire we got on the I-5 on the way up there it was an amazing trip (thank goodness Bret was a speedy tire changer -- we were no where near an exit, and fortunately the flat was on the passenger side, 'cause it was scary having all those big rigs speed by!).

Sweet doggie portrait

Street Roots is an organization I like. I try to buy the paper from vendors whenever I see them. This past October they held a silent online auction and I bid on and won a custom pet portrait by artist Renee Hartig. I sent her several photos of Catalina, and surprised Bret with this lovely rendering of our sweet friend. It's now hanging in our kitchen, where Catalina can keep an eye on everything (sadly, no longer licking up my cooking spills!)...

Goodbye...

...sweet friend Catalina.

We had our mobile vet euthanize Catalina yesterday at 1:30 at home. She had been having a tough time off and on for the past few weeks (vet suspected cancer of the spleen, but figured x-rays may or may not confirm it, and at her age (2 months shy of 16 years) and in her condition, the x-rays might have had a negative impact on her health). As some of you know, she also went through a rough bout of vestibular syndrome this summer, when we thought it was the end.

Apparently, having "Cat" in her name made her think she had 9 lives. :)

She ate a chicken dinner on her last night, and Bret had slept with her on the floor a few nights before (when she was having a tough time...but she "bounced" up in the morning to have another coulpe of good days). She got to take a some good trips to the coast this summer, and always had a wag in her tail and an excitable bark. Espeically when playing in the sand. She will be missed, and joins many of her dog (and cat) friends beyond.

Interestingly enough, our mobile vet was also the vet for Cynthia Rylant when she lived in Portland, and he euthanized one of her old dogs. She is the author of Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven -- beautiful books about losing a pet -- and numerous other books. Now I just need to find where I put my copy of Dog Heaven...

Happy dog

That's our girl, Catalina. She doesn't get out as much as she used to, but sure loved going to the coast and playing in the water a few weeks ago.

Daytime igloo fun

9 out of 10 dogs love playing in igloos with little girls...

Sabine and Birch bringing in supplies...

Birch inspecting the supplies.

Getting outside

This is how we get to the trailhead (1/2 mile or so from our house). Vivian in the lead on the Bobike seat, followed by mama, Sabine, and geriatric dog Catalina (she gets to walk once we get to the path, but it's too much for her to try to keep up with the bikes on the way there.) All I can say is good thing it's not too far to the trailhead, and that it's relatively flat!


"Mutt mits" double as nature collection bags for the girls.