July 2022

July 1, 2022

Gracie has been putting up with my lousy mood this week as I’ve been dealing with a water leak issue from my condo to the unit downstairs. I was told about the problem by the owner last week. At the same time, he informed me he was leaving the next day to go to India for 2 months, and then he gave me access to his unit. Plumbers discovered a hairline fracture in the toilet in my main bath that appears to be the cause of the water leak into the unit below me. The ceiling in the downstairs unit caved in sometime between Monday and Tuesday. It’s all gotten so complicated – involving plumbers, water damage contractors, condo management, insurance companies, and a unit owner in India expecting me to coordinate everything ASAP because he said he has a tenant moving in next week. My week has been consumed trying to navigate all of it.

This has all come on the heels of having my water heater fail (so I had it replaced last week). In addition, on the hottest day of the year so far (earlier this week), my HVAC stopped working. (It’s fixed now.)

Honestly, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!! When it rains, it pours. Literally, in this case, with the water leak!

Thankfully, Gracie and I had a brief, but especially nice reprieve last evening. We enjoyed a free concert in nearby Wilson Farm Park with my friend Jane. Gracie soaked up TONS of attention from lots of kids and adults. She savored countless belly-rubs throughout the evening.

Here’s a picture of Gracie with her new chili pepper toy – a present today from Jane…

July 3, 2022

So, I walked into the living room yesterday and found some of Gracie’s handiwork….

Remember that comic I sent last week with the three dogs sitting at the bar? (Here it is…)

Now you DEFINITELY won’t need to guess which one is Gracie…

July 4, 2022

July 5, 2022

It appeared to me like all of the dog owners in the area were at Lloyd Park with their dogs yesterday! It was a dog fest!  I suspect the reasons were because 1) it was a holiday and people were off from work AND 2) it was a hot, but beautiful day, AND ALSO 3) because I heard more than one dog owner say they wanted to be sure to get their pooch thoroughly worn out before the canine-frightening fireworks started.

At Lloyd Park, everybody seemed to relish the spectacle of oodles of water-loving hounds frolicking in the cool creek. Some people even plunked down lawn chairs by the side of the stream to watch. Gracie eagerly joined in the fun. She had a blast.

We heard fireworks at nearby Wilson Farm Park last evening. Other than a bit of initial barking, Gracie seemed relatively calm throughout. I don’t know if it was because she was exhausted from swimming or because of her relatively calm demeanor, or a combination of the two – but I am grateful it didn’t turn into an ordeal of an evening.

In this picture from Lloyd Park, Gracie is in front with the yellow collar….

July 6, 2022

It’s a big milestone day for Gracie: she’s getting spayed today. I’m feeling sad about it, but I cannot fathom the prospect of having a litter of puppies around here. Gracie will be at the vet at least overnight. I miss her being around. To take my mind from it, I’ve been catching up on things today that are easier to accomplish when Gracie’s not here to interrupt me. So far today I’ve vacuumed the carpet, repotted some plants, cleaned the deck & guest room & bathroom, took a nap, got my hair cut, repaired the hole in the couch, shopped for groceries, did some laundry, washed a few windows, and finished reading a book. I exaggerate. I did lay down to take a nap, but I didn’t sleep.

It’s about 4:30pm and I just got a call from the vet. Gracie’s surgery went fine. She’s now waking up from the anesthesia. Looks like I can pick her up tomorrow. Yeah!!

July 7, 2022

Gracie is back from the vet, and she seems to be doing OK, though somewhat wiped out. I have strict orders from the vet to keep her on-leash when she is outside (do-able, I think), not allow her to be around other dogs (semi-do-able) and avoid any jumping (difficult) for 10 days. So, unfortunately, no doggie parks for us in the next two weeks.

I appreciate all your good wishes for her speedy recovery!

July 10, 2022

July 11, 2022

Gracie is doing well, her incision is healing nicely, and she has been getting more vigorous each day. Having renewed energy, it’s becoming more of a challenge to keep her activity limited. I’m counting down to the days when I can get her back to the dog park!

Happy dog (who needs a haircut) with tail in motion…

July 13, 2022

Gracie is definitely doing better. And she’s up to some new tricks such as serious counter-surfing when I’m not looking. In the past few days, I’ve found her with a piece of cantaloupe, tissues, multiple napkins, three washcloths, and a hard-boiled egg.

Now considering using the kitchen gate to lock her OUT of the kitchen!

July 15, 2022

My greasy noodle got a great report from Dr. Walker today. She now has the “all-clear” to be off leash, be around other dogs, jump around, go swimming, and get groomed. YIPPEE!!! While we were at the vet office, Dr. Walker knelt on the floor, hugged Gracie, and called her a “gem.” Gracie wagged her tail, licked his face, rolled over for belly rubs, and cried when he left the room. What a lovefest.

Gracie was thrilled to see her Aunt Tina today, too. And Tina spoiled her with lots of attention. We all took a fun trip to Teegarden Park where Gracie expended some of that pent-up energy from the last two weeks!

(Below) Gracie enjoying the dog park this afternoon. (Thank you for the photo, Tina!!)

July 16, 2022

Gracie had her first grooming session today!

Here’s what she looked like yesterday…

Here’s what she looks like now….

Not kidding – it’s the same dog… REALLY!

July 19, 2022

Gracie and I are spending time in central PA this week to celebrate Mom’s 94th birthday (tomorrow, July 20)!

Mom and Gracie waiting for a car ride….

Gracie with a favorite doggie toy from Mom…

July 24, 2022

Gracie and I had an especially good time last week with Mom in central PA. As usual, Gracie was REALLY spoiled by all the attention. Some highlights of the week included:

Enjoying a great 94th birthday celebration for Mom at Tom’s and Jan’s house. (Gracie had a good time digging a hole in the backyard.)

Hiking around Colyer Lake with Debra and swimming

Romping Tudek Park with her doggie friend, Jonas

Taking a dip in the stream at Mill Creek

Chasing tennis balls, sticks, and a frisbee on the Oaks grounds

Visiting with all of her favorite resident friends at the Oaks – especially Linda

But Gracie was pretty naughty, too. True to form, she chewed pretty much anything on her level that caught her fancy including a floor mat, the fringe on the living room chair, napkins, and the instructions for the air purifier. AND she stole a strawberry from my plate (which I realized AFTER I had eaten the rest of them on the same plate). AND after we found her in the hallway several times, we realized she learned how to open the apartment door by tugging on the flag hanging from the doorknob. AND even though she’s not supposed to be on the furniture, she would JUMP ONTO THE LIVING ROOM COUCH when I wasn’t looking and make herself comfortable. AND she would JUMP ONTO MY BED (the other couch) when I wasn’t looking and make herself comfortable there, too.

One day outside, I had Gracie off her leash briefly as we took a stroll around the Oaks grounds. As we approached the pond, Gracie did NOT want to be re-leashed and, despite my calling her, she ran directly into the stream feeding the pond. And she laid down. INTO THE MUD. Up to her chest. I finally caught her and re-leashed her when she came out. At that point, on spotting a nearby hose, we walked over, I turned it on and started spraying her. Gracie considered all this a big game and began jumping around. As I tried to hold her, her collar slipped off. At that point Gracie ran back to the stream and I had to catch her all over again, but collarless, which made it doubly difficult.

I FINALLY lured her in, re-attached her collar, adjusted it, and trotted her back to the hose. I turned it on again, and AGAIN, as I started to hose off mud-soaked Gracie, she bounced everywhere, thinking it was great fun. At that point, I lost my grip on the hose and it SPRAYED ALL OVER ME – soaking my clothes and shoes. Dripping wet, I finally managed to hose the mud off Gracie. BOTH of us shook some water off and then headed back inside – still dripping as we went – before drying off in Mom’s apartment.

I later found Gracie on the couch with Mom…

July 26, 2022

Now I have to go to my local library and explain that my dog chewed up the latest book I borrowed (“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir). I’m guessing they frown on things like this.

July 31, 2022

Gracie has been enjoying these summer days recently – from daily trips to the local swimming hole to playful visits with friends (canine and human)!

A video: A favorite game of stick-retrieval in Valley Creek….

https://share.icloud.com/photos/087SKmHDkPPzC9V1Lv32GWUgw

On very hot days, we’ve spent some lazy evenings in front of the TV. For Gracie, the TV doesn’t even have to be on. Here she is barking at her own reflection in the empty screen….