Phew! Soooo Tired!

So much has happened this weekend that we can all hardly keep our eyes open!

First I will start with Madelines big day! The Paws for a Cause walk was today. We arrived a little late and unfortunatly missed the pancake breakfast, which was sad because that would have been Julien's favorite part! But we made it for the walk, and when we got to the booth to drop off our "offline" donations, the ladies said "oh good! you made it! we were wondering where you were!" Which we thought was a little strange that they knew who we were, but it is the Kootenays, and we had a nice story on our profile, so we thought maybe they just took note of who we were. So we walked a little bit, but our training didn't pay off, and we couldn't complete the walk, it was just too warm and although we were walking beside the lake we couldn't get down to it to cool off. Madeline made a new bulldog friend named Ruby, she also didn't finish the walk, so we all just hung out in the shade and waited for the other dogs to come in.

Our Julien shirts looked great, and we made sure everyone took note! After the walk was bobbing for weiners and some dog Haiku readings. Although Madeline had also trained for bobbing for weiners and was totally ready to clean house.....we didn't get to participate...we were in the last heat and someone ducked in front and stole our spot when the whistle was blown. It was very disappointing. We were so prepared.

After the events they started to announce the rankings of the fundraisers! So we sat and listened and clapped. And when they got to adults, the 2nd place fundraiser had a total way lower then ours, so I nudged Tommy and said....I think we might be a winner here! And low and behold we were the highest fundraisers! We were totally shocked and surprised, but so thrilled to be able to honour Julien with this achievement! We got our pictures taken, and Madeline also had a little photo shoot with the Nelson Daily Times, we will have to remember to get a paper tomorrow.

So now I will back track to....last week!

Last Saturday we got a wonderful email, from our wonderful breeder and friend, Kandie! She had a puppy, one left! That needed a good home! And he was already old enough to go to his forever home! We immediatly responded with a resounding YES! Although there will never be anyone, who can even compare to my Julien, I couldn't even imagine letting this little baby slip through my fingers.

We spend the week shopping, making blankets and playing the alphebet game to come up with names.

So without further ado, we would like to introduce Dorian and welcome him to our family!

We drove all weekend, all the way to Edmonton and back in two day! CRAZY! I don't know how people drive long haul for a living, it is so exhausting. We got to meet Kandie, and so many wonderful fur boys and girls! Including a Dog D'bourdeaux, I'm not sure of the spelling, picture "Turner and Hooch"! What an amazing dog! Our little peanut stole every remaining piece of my heart that Julien didn't take to heaven. I love him. Tommy loves him. Madeline.....well.....he's alright....she guesses, as far as puppies go....

She is being a very good girl and we are sure to tell her that approximatly 476 times a day. We are so blessed.

So after a long journey home, we arrived to our bed at about 5AM this morning, and a puppy that was READY TO PLAY!!!!!!!! How can you not love every minute though! I've heard friends talk about baby brain, and we definitly have puppy brain! He is so adorable! I'm totally frantic and looking for a bubble to place him in...

I can already tell that he is extremly intelligent, and know what he wants, and how to get it! It is so neat to see how he is his own personality, so different from Julien and Madeline! I can't get enough!

So here are some pictures of the cutest little peanut on earth, Dorian.

Purla's Moving On Up!

We have a cat. She came with our house. Some people get the appliances, we get small felines. She's sweet and old, and doesn't like to spend more then a few hours in the house, no matter how cold it is outside.

This year, the little lady has been spending more and more time on the porch, and she is getting thinner and thinner. So Tommy and I decided we needed to move her into some retirement living. It is only partial assistance, she will recieve her meals, and we will do her laundry, but she will still have to bathe herself and go to the bathroom on her own.

The nice thing about moving into a previously enjoyed property, is all the stuff they left behind. So I drew up some plans and went scavenging for supplies in the back 40.

We found everything we needed from wood, to carpet to paint! And the roof is the old piece of our portable dishwasher that has been "hanging around" for a year and a half.

And Tommy really really really enjoyed his new compressor and brad nailer. This house is built to withstand hurricane force winds. The brad nailer came with 1000 staples, 1000 2" nails and 1000 2.5" nails....I think there's a few left.....

So we finished the final coat of paint tonight, Madeline tried it out for comfort! And we delivered it to the building site...a la manufactured home....this ain't no trailer!

I'm not sure how to get her to use it, we put her food dishes on the porch, we are hoping she will venture in on her own. I'm sure she will love it when she goes inside and sees the pillow with the kitty pillowcase and the leopard prints blankets!

Hopefully I can get a picture of her inside it some day!

The Shirts!

Here they are! The bestest shirts ever, with a picture of the bestest puppy every! Madelines' could use a little altering, but I'm not sure if I know what to do.

I love them! Especially the blue on white turned out awesome! We're going to be the best team ever!

Appalooza 2009

Phew. Tommy and his parents went to town on the apple trees on Saturday. I tried to warn them. But nobody would listen to reason. "Stop" I said, "some can stay on the trees" I warned. But it was like they were in an apple trance. It was like wasps to a sugary drink.

Thankfully Sunday was rainy, so we set up a assembly line, and put everyone to task. Mom and dad U were coring, peeling and dicing. Tommy was pastry boy. And I was making applesauce. Seven pies and about 15 tubs of applesauce later, we had not even made a dent in the apples.

So we sent them home with a box of apples, and we still have three hugs boxes of apples left. We are thinking of giving people pie making kits, which would consist of a box of apples and a recipe card! Maybe we will deliver them in the middle of the night anonymously! Ha!

The house smells like apples. And everything is sticky. Even Madeline wasn't picking the dropped apple pieces off the floor!








We also got a gift from above on Saturday. I will suspensefully say no more, yet. I have to get dressed and we are off to pick up a tree. Can't say no to free firewood!

New Computer!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

Mom and Dad U, have donated us sad computer disinclined people a "new to us" computer! It is very fancy and black. The keyboard and mouse are wireless! AND it is fast! 50.6 Kbps as opposed to our old one, the fastest we ever got was 45.8! Its SUPER FAST!!!!

So, of course the first thing I had to try was to upload a picture and VOILA!!!! It worked! In less then half an hour! Unbelievable!

Sadly though, I was trying to upload the pictures of our Team Julien shirts, and for some reason my Madeline folder did not transfer over....but I still have all her recent pictures on my camera, we just need to install the program onto the computer for the camera. So in lieu of that, I have uploaded a picture of Julien and I at his very first Dog Jog! He was so tired by the end of it I had to carry him to the car! (We were smart for the next one and brought his wagon!) He was such a peanut!

So I will put the new pictures up later when we get this program installed....

Tommy and the inlaws are picking about a thousand apples right now....and think they are going to have a pie making festival....enjoy. I will go take some pictures of them and keep you posted on how it tastes.

Go Team Julien!

Yay! Our Team shirts for Paws for a Cause arrived today! They were specially designed for us by Minou Pitou! (You too can have a shirt designed for you!) They look awesome. I am trying to upload a picture....but alas, dial up.....and a poopy computer are ruining my life.

Anybody know anything about java script?????

Dear Julien,

I ONLY WANTED YOU

They say memories are golden
well maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories,
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you
you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.

Author unknown

Tonight we lit a candle for you Julien.
It has been one month since you left us. It is lightening and thundering and I said to Tommy, as we sat on the porch, that if Julien were here, he would be butting in to sit between us, as just after I said that, Madeline came over and did exactly that. Purla came and sat with us too. She will likely be next to see Julien, we are giving her lots of messages to take to him. I sat out for a long time, I hope he is not afraid of the thunder. He was never afraid before, until our roof broke, and then this summer he was a little nervous, but without mommy....who knows. I miss you baby, I love you so much. Kisses to heaven.
Mommy