August 2, 2022
August 16, 2022
I’ve taken a pause in the Gracie updates while we’ve moved Mom into her new room at the Oaks. Gracie posed an added challenge in the whole process, as she got her nose into EVERYTHING. All-in-all, I suppose besides the multiple chewed-up pens, bites left in a floor mat, a chewed cord on my BiPAP, and stolen napkins / garbage can contents / toilet paper, the damage wasn’t TOO severe.
Along with Mom, Gracie and I will miss Mom’s old apartment. But we look forward to spending more time in Mom’s new abode as well as Tom’s and Jan’s lovely home and extensive yard. And Gracie is already endearing herself to residents in Mom’s new environment.
Today I finally had the time to return the mutilated book, Project Hail Mary, to the Exton library along with a brand-new copy for them, I explained to the librarian my dog chewed up the original one. She said to me, “We usually prefer that you don’t buy us a new book. But it’s OK, we’ll take it.” So, I replied, “OK, So I guess this isn’t the first time this has happened?” She smiled and said, “You’d be surprised how often it happens!” She said she’s gotten copies of dog training books that have been destroyed by dogs.
“HA! HA,” I laughed -“That’s REALLY FUNNY!” I was too embarrassed to tell her I had ANOTHER chewed up book by Gracie from a different library that I still need to return. The title of that one? London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency
I’m afraid I’m going to have to refrain from visiting libraries for a while.
August 18, 2022
What it’s like to own a dog on the Main Line….
August 21, 2022
Gracie has been enjoying some cool dips in local streams during the hot days this past week.
In the picture below from yesterday, she’s retrieving a stick in Valley Creek. She will do this non-stop until I get too tired! While we were there, she met a one-year-old Australian Shepard named Frankie. Gracie and Frankie (like the name of the TV show) became instant friends – chasing each other creek side through mud puddles and splashing in the stream! I didn’t get a picture of it, but Gracie came home covered in mud. A bath ensued for Gracie, followed by a serious bathroom cleanup, then a much-needed shower for me.
Gracie loves to lie down in the water chest deep. It seems to be a Golden trait. Today, she basked with multiple golden retrievers in Little Darby Creek at Willow Park Preserve in Radnor.
August 25, 2022
Unfortunately, my greasy noodle has acquired an ear infection, so she is prohibited from going swimming over the next week or so until the infection is gone. By the way, THANK YOU Beth Bower for giving me a heads-up that floppy-eared dogs are prone to this! Thanks to your warning, I knew the signs. My vet confirmed the diagnosis today and said Gracie probably got it from all of her swimming lately.
For months, I’ve been scoping out great places where Gracie can swim. Now I’m onto a new mission to find the best off-leash dog friendly areas where we can AVOID streams.
On the bright side, as Tina has pointed out, this probably means a lot fewer baths for Gracie coming up – and a much cleaner bathroom.
Missing the creeks….
August 29, 2022
August 31, 2022
I forgot to mention last Friday was National Dog Day! In celebration, I gave Gracie extra hugs that day and took her for a long hike in the woods of Valley Forge Park.
Gracie’s ear infection is getting better. While she heals, I’ve been avoiding streams where she can swim. (Made easier by this year’s drought.) However, if there is any water in the area where she is unleashed, even if I’m unaware of it, Gracie will manage to find it. This has happened on a few occasions this past week and Gracie was in the water before I knew it. Fortunately, each time, the water was shallow enough, her ears didn’t get wet.
In the pictures below, Gracie’s enjoying a good time frolicking with a Corgi in the baseball field at Teegarden Park. It’s surprising how fast those Corgis can run on their short legs!!
Raising Gracie 