While We Wait

Let me say that waiting is not easy!  Knowing the first leg of the trip is over and SHE (Garbo), the chosen one, is safe and sound in Michigan, that on the other hand gives us a feeling of delight!

There, at Oneida Acres, she is playing with other dog friends and her sister Fire!  Playing in piles of leaves while Brigitte and Denver try to rake... there is NO fear whatever when the tractor is rumbling,  the leaf blower is howling or the four wheeler is driving around.  A tuff little cookie this little girl.  Good we say, as brave and tuff girls have no fear of flying.

On the third day of December the last leg of the journey will be done.  She will be home at long last.
She will miss all that fun activity on the farm we are sure, most of all Brigitte and Denver Doxtator who are the BEST Great Pyrenees fans, the BEST Great Pyrenees breeders, the BEST promoters of this amazing breed on this side of the big water.  That is our opinion.  We are so grateful for their help.
Without their involvement it would have been much more complicated getting Garbo from Sweden to California.  Thank you!

We meanwhile, have had a brief and fun visit with old friends from Sweden.  Have visited the Historic  Museum in Palo Alto.  It was impossible not to chuckle at the sign posted about Americans being too busy to watch too much TV!  Then shopping for Kalles Kaviar at IKEA,  among other things.  Now we are making plans for Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to the food frenzy... after that I vow to staple the lips.  Since the activity level has been so minimal these last three months... man oh man, this morning I grabbed a pair of jeans from the bottom of the pile...... could hardly get the zipper to work!  Must have been a faulty zipper?

It is a good thing Garbo is coming!  No more slouching around here!  Up and at it!  Get a move on! And yea.... more vacuuming!

Admittedly it is hard to sleep, visions of Pyrre Pups dancing in my head!

Wonderful Neighbours and Fabulous Friends

The last couple of months have been odd.  Not filled with the regular three times a day walks, no nose nuzzles from the beautiful boy, less contact with people and I have had the hardest time controlling the flow of tears, often overflowing  at the strangest times and for the most weird reasons.

The last couple of months have also been filled with sweet words of sympathy from friends, family and virtual strangers.  Messages of condolences in the form of cards, letters,  text messages, phone calls as well as via social media.  Messages from you who understand how huge this loss is, this loss that hit us so unexpected, so out of left field and so hard.  As sudden death does!

He took up a lot of room this big beautiful guy!  Our beloved Vi'Skaly's Ralph Lauren!  Not only literally and  physically, but in our hearts.  There will never be another one like Ralle.

There is a young Mother who lives on out street who have confessed to me that she has been so fearfully frightened by dogs, ever since she had a very bad incident, being bitten by one, long ago.  She has since told me that Ralle cured her of her fear.  The other night she and her little daughter came to see me, bringing Banana Bread and a handmade card in the shape of a heart, saying Thank You for allowing them to love Ralph too.

Truly,  the outpouring of understanding and caring from you, our friends, you know who you are......  have been amazing and heartfelt.  We thank you for the tender thoughts, the sweet sympathy!  We feel warm and grateful!  Thank You!

Now looking forward!  A new life, a new chapter, new adventures ahead!  I have to stop this moping! NOW!!
We and even some of our neighbors, not forgetting many of our family members and most assuredly Mister Kitty are looking forward to meeting our new little STAR!

There was initially a lot of thoughts about trying to find a Great Pyrenees to rescue.  Contacted the Northern California Great Pyrenees Rescue Organization for possibilities but there was always one  issue or another.  Dogs who did not get along with other dogs for example.  Might not like cats , etc.  So no go there!  Consideration also given to other breeds and we visited some local rescue shelters ....... No, it had to be another Pyr!  It is true, we are simply sold.  Committed to these gentle white giants.

When Brigitte and Denver of Oneida Acres told us they were adding a new puppy from Kennel Vi'Skaly's, suggesting we get one too, well the rest all fell into place!  Brigitte arranged with a friend to travel to Scandinavia for a puppy pick up and as this is being written they are preparing for that long hard journey.  I wish we could spare them that arduous trip..... always remembering that the word TRAVEL is derived from the word TRAVAIL  meaning; difficult experience, painful effort, strenuous or toil.  We know, we know!!  Yet, once here, once in their "fur-ever" homes life will be good.

It is with breathless anticipation we await the arrival of  our Garbo and her sister who will become a super star of Oneida Acres!  Rumor has it that Garbo is a  curious, devoted and a very brave little girl!  We have a feeling she is going to be "hell on wheels" ! :-)

Welcome Garbo!

Waiting for Godot? .. No No ... We are waiting for Garbo

Arriving from "then" to now.  A bit in a blur and a bit of a whirl.
The last two months zipping by like all the other months, filled with everyday chores, work, celebrations and a few fun outings.

The grapes have been picked from the grapevines around the region setting the remaining grape leaves afire!  Weather remaining splendid with fabulous day temps and some now rather cool nights.  The heater has been turned on a couple of times.

Mister Kitty comes to snuggle in bed at night sometimes.  A new behavior.  Cozy!

The last tomatoes have been harvested and consumed.  Peppers growing in our little garden picked and strung up to dry in the kitchen, adding a splash of red!  Mexican style.

Our kitchen has had a lot of activity lately.  We have been fortunate to be on the receiving end of "tons" of peppers of various kinds.  Jalapeno Peppers, Red Peppers, California Peppers, with a few Pimentos and Thai Peppers thrown in for good measure.  Those have been transformed into Taco Relish, Pickled Peppers, Roasted Red's and California Peppers.  The pickled versions to be added to the hard working mans lunch box.  The roasted peppers now stored in the freezer, to be used as  welcomed additions to soups, stews, spicy hummus and salads.  I feel rich!

Last night the Mother of the future chef as well as the current shark and whale counter, delivered green onion starts.  Those were planted right after I got them and seem to be doing well, in spite of the fact that Mister Kitty had to nibble on the tops of every single little plant.  Fingers crossed.

All this, while we wait for Garbo!  As this is being written we have an envoy winging his way to Copenhagen.  On the 12th he will meet up with "The Vi'Skaly's Two," one of them being our Garbo.

The now close to four month old girl puppies will then be flying to Detroit in his company and will be received by Brigitte and Denver of Oneida Acres, to start brand new American lives!

It is with a great amount of excitement, anticipation and frankly, a wee bit of fear we await the new  "little" family member........ what the heck have we gotten ourselves into now????

We can't wait to find out..... waiting ... waiting .. waiting!