Judgy McJudgerson

I've been gone awhile again.

I can't seem to get my blogging groove back.

I start, I stop, I start again, and I stop.

Over and over it goes.

This time though, I've been taking some time getting my ravens ducks in a row.

Yes, those are ravens on my bird bath!

After Christmas, I started to clean house mentally and took a long hard look at myself. 

One of the things I've realized is that I've always been a Judgy McJudgerson and sometimes that side of me shows on this blog.

Not all the time, mind you, but I know when I'm doing it, because I'll hesitate before I push publish, knowing full well that when I do it'll chap some hides.

Then, for whatever reason I'll just say "screw it" and poof! I verbally vomit all over this place.

That is not what I'm going for here.

Or anywhere, for that matter.

Anyway, it's a hard job to change my judgmental ways, since I come from a long line of McJudgersons, but I'm getting there.

Slowly.

I just want to be a better person and for this blog to be a place that will hopefully make people feel good.

I think that package says it all ;)

love,

rue

PS

Thanks to all of you for your sweet words on my last post about Mini's passing. It means a great deal to me that you care and that some of you even shared your stories about your fur-babies passing on. My heart goes out to all of you.

The last picture I took of Mini.

All dogs go to Heaven

At least that's what I believe.

Mini passed quietly away on December 5th.

She had been failing to the point where she wasn't enjoying life anymore and we knew it was time.

When she went to Heaven, she was lying in her favorite chair, with her head in my lap, as the vet gave her the gift of forever without pain.

She was 13 years old.

That's a long time to have a dog in your life and I'm thankful for it.

I'm not sure I've ever shared her story...

We had just moved into the first house in Ohio. Annie had gone for a walk with Shiloh and somewhere along the way, a little puppy had joined them.

We had two dogs at the time and I didn't want another one, but she wiggled her way right into my heart after finding out how she ended up at our house.

You see, we asked around the neighborhood and some people told us that the neighbor down the street had a habit of buying puppies for his daughter while she was visiting him during the summer and when she would leave he'd let the puppy go.

We went to the house to confront him, but he wouldn't answer the door.

The garage was open and there was the leash tied to a pole.

She had no water or food.

That did it.

She was ours.

I called her Mini, because she looked like a miniature version of Shiloh.

Now, she's in Heaven with her brother, Shiloh

and her sister, Fluffy.

Some of you might remember them from my last blog.

I tried to find a picture I had of all three of them together on a chair, but sadly it's missing. 

Maybe it'll turn up one day.

Anyway, I'm thankful she found us and had a good life where she was loved and taken care of.

Bubba was heart broken for a while, but he seems much better now and I've stopped looking for her under the kitchen table or in the living room, but I still go to hand her a treat when we're eating sometimes.

But I'm sure that'll stop eventually, just like the tears did.

Well, until I sat down to write this post.

When I brought her ashes home from the vet right before Christmas, I talked to her all the way home about how it was the last time she had to go for a car ride and that she was in a better place.

When I got home, I kissed her little box and placed her with Shiloh, Fluffy and another sister of theirs, named Hildy, that none of them knew in life.

All of their ashes will be put with me when it's my time.

It makes me feel better knowing that we'll all be together one day.

xo

rue

Summer in pictures

It's been a hot and busy summer...

of baking...

growing a pot of peppers, tomatoes and basil...

surprises that popped up...

wildlife...

and working on the potting shed.

Of dogs acting goofy...

or napping...

or posing...

And when it's too hot we're working on this house too.

Details soon ;)

I hope you're enjoying your summer and if you're not, remember that autumn is right around the corner :)

xo

rue

Breakfast with the pups

Whether we're at my house or his, every Sunday we cook a big breakfast...

with a large audience.

Of course, Bubba has the best view in the house...

until it's time to sit down and eat.

At that point, he's down underneath the table begging ;)

I feel a lot like Mini looks right here.

But, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

;)

xo

rue

Road trip to Williams

A few weekends ago, we decided to take a trip to Williams, Arizona.

Also known as, the 'Gateway to the Grand Canyon'.

And it happens to be part of Route 66.

We hopped in the car and headed up North.

Williams is a sweet little town with most of its historic buildings still intact.

First stop... lunch at Cruisers Cafe, because more than just about anything, I like to eat.

As you can tell, the restaurant is full of 1950s nostalgia.

The food was pretty good too. 

After lunch, we decided to walk around town and check out the sights.

Like this Elvis, that kind of looks like a zombie.

There were lots of nicknack shops in the old buildings...

a hotel or two...

and a an old steam engine on display, by the train station.

This is where you can take a train up to the Grand Canyon or ride The Polar Express during Christmas.

Afterwards, it was getting really cold and by that, I mean it started snowing.

So, we got back in the car to check out the side streets.

We saw an old repair shop...

an old building with "a lady of the evening" hanging out the window...

a sweet old church...

an old abandoned school...

and an old house.

Before we headed home, we decided to venture even father out and ended up going through an old tunnel, while a train went over us.

And then down the road we went...

 to go home.

By the way, do you see the cloud shaped like an elephant?

Or maybe it's just me and I'm nuts ;)

xo

rue