Heart expansion

I’m delighted to report that we (Someone and I) have adopted a new dog – meet Mick. Mick is an 8-year-old border collie. He’s incredibly smart and playful, trained extremely well, and an outstandingly good boy. Gracie is learning to tolerate him, thanks to her training last summer (we sent her to charm school for a few weeks) and time she has spent with Leo, Erin’s dog. 

Mick

Good boy, Mick!

Rare photo of Emily with Gracie

Mick seems to be happy living with us. Mick and Gracie share their love of walks. I (and sometimes both Someone and I) take them on a walk every day for at least 30 minutes. It’s their favorite thing to do. Gracie is 12 and starting to lose her hearing so I think at some point, she will be grateful to have a companion who can hear. 

We are a month into winter at this point. Other than that cold snap we experienced when we returned from Florida in December, winter has been incredibly mild (like, 40 to 60 degrees most days). I’m grateful for mild winters because these cold months can be such a long haul! I can be happy outside in the cold if there’s no wind and I’m dressed warm enough.  I love tromping through the woods in the cold winter because the poison ivy is much less of a factor (leaves and vines are much easier to see) and the snakes are all hibernating. Just writing these words makes me want to saddle up my dogs tomorrow and go for a nice long hike!

Someone and I drove over to visit baby Catherine today (and her parents, of course). We didn’t stay long, but long enough for that sweet baby to work her magic on me. Catherine is about 15 months now, so she’s asserting herself more and becoming more vocal about things she likes and wants. She loves books and has a lot of them. She shared some of her favorite pages with me. Her special affinity is for moths and butterflies, spiders, snakes, ducks, and cats. She also recognizes the letter V. When it came time for us to leave, Catherine walked us to the door. I hugged Sarah and our son-in-law, kissed the top of baby’s head, and told her good-bye. She looked up at me with those gigantic eyes and reached up to me, so of course, I picked her up. How could I resist? Then, she clutched me as if she didn’t want me to go. My heart completely melted in that moment. That was seven hours ago, and I’m still thinking about it. That grandbaby!!

Sarah with Catherine

sweetness overload