Dashing in here to tell you that Mom is on the way back home to Michigan. We had a good visit, and I am exhausted.
Near the beginning of our visit, the gardener and I took Mom on a cruise on the Desert Belle on Saguaro Lake.
We saw some landscape typical of the area. You can only get a view like this from the lake or by hiking fairly far.
Swimmers are not allowed at this lake, but it would be fun to boat, jetski, etc. The problem is, if you go in the summer, they only allow a certain number of “vehicles” on the water, so if you’re not there by 5 or 6AM you might have to wait for hours for your turn!
We also took Mom to California to see son and ND (new daughter). We thought we’d take them out to dinner because their wild little dog Theo and the two cats are pretty chaotic in their condo. But when we got there, my son said, “Oh, by the way, there’s another dog here.”
“What?!” That was me being astonished.
“Um, yeah, we’re fostering him.” Son was walking ahead of me into the building so I couldn’t see his face.
“Fostering???!!!!” I’m sure I looked disbelieving and he could hear it in my voice because he caved right away.
“OK, Mom, we had to keep him. He’s the one I told you about.”
And then it came back to me that my son had called a couple of months ago and asked if I could take a 16-year-old dog who had nowhere to go. The owner was Taking Him to the Pound! Any 16-year-old dog shows up at the pound, and he won’t last an hour before the shelter does away with him.
Now, I am a pushover with animals, but I do know how to draw the line (kinda) because the parade of animals in need of homes is endless. So I asked the gardener, he said no, and then I “had” to say no. I figured my son would watch over the situation and somebody would work it out if I didn’t hear any begging.
I didn’t hear any begging because son took him home to ND who was not pleased until first son and then ND fell in love with the little guy. His name is Gary, and he’s a Jack Russell terrier. They didn’t tell us for two months because last fall I’d said (with my lack of tact), “Good thing you guys are looking for a house because you can’t have any more animals in here” (they live on the 3rd floor so are looking for a house).
Of course, the gardener and I fell in love with Gary right away. And, yes, my son and I are a LOT alike.
My mother got a kick out of seeing son’s lego collection. It’s pretty amazing. I know what he’s getting for his birthday this summer!
He loves toys and puzzles like his mama ;). We’re going to hunt through the storage space this summer for his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle collection. Love those guys!
Back in Arizona Mom and I spent a lot of time scrapbooking together. Luckily, I had enough photos that were of interest to her for scrapbooking–and I have a lot of supplies.
These are pages I was working on for my daughter. I’m really behind, but I’ve made a scrapbook for each year of her four years at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner).
As you might expect, Perry was a little overactive for my Mom being here, but in general, he was a good boy, even when he had to be put in my office. He held still for a few pix.
I know I promised to write every day in 2018, but it was impossible with Mom here. I start back up TODAY. #amwriting
I am loving the fact that we bloggers can re-connect after time lapses (although you have been way better at it than I’ve been!) I really appreciate you, Luanne!
Ah, thanks so much, Julie. Hugs to you!
Welcome, Gary! What a cutie. Perry is so gorgeous. I’m an animal lover (pushover), too. Four rescue cats later… 🙂
Hahahaha, you do get it, Cheryl! Perry and Gary are such opposite stories with Gary being a pet with one person into old age and Perry being a very young stray who appeared feral. But they are both the sweetest new family members :). We are at six cats now (eeks).
I believe it was Hemingway who said: “One cat just leads to another.” True.
I don’t know if I’ve ever hear that before. It’s perfect! So so true. Like Lay’s potato chips.
Awww–that puppy face! And Perry is so cute, too. You might be exhausted, but it sounds like you had a good visit with your mom, and it’s nice that you also got to take her to see your son, ND, and all their babies. 🙂
Right? They are both adorable–and completely different, of course. Not just that one is a dog and one a cat haha. We had a good visit. It went fast. She was determined to see the kids!
🙂
So nice you had some time with your mother. And Gary is indeed pretty cute!
Thanks, Carrie! He’s a really sweet little guy and SO very attached to my son already. It’s like he’s physically connected to his heel haha.
By the way, thanks for the Twitter share!
Sou ds lime you all had a blast. What a great visit!
It was a good visit. Now she is almost home to the rain, right?
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! I love hearing stories about men who love animals as much as I do. You raised him right! Glad your “mom visit” was good too. Now the house can return to normal!
I like it when men love animals, too! Actually anybody ;), but yes, men too. My son went with me for animal welfare fundraisers and to boycott the circus when he was young. He’s a sensitive soul. When our pet rat died, my daughter insisted on seeing the body (she was 8), but he couldn’t bear it and he was 12.
Clearly a busy, if exhausting, time. Our daughter’s Scooby, a Jack Russel cross with something else, was rescued by Matthew from an unstaffed police pound where he had been left alone over the weekend.
Oh, I am so glad they rescued Scooby! What a sweetie. How people can do that abandonment stuff is BEYOND me.
Yes
I’m happy you had time with your mother, Luanne.
It’s such a pleasure to have her visit for a few weeks. She’s a pretty easy house guest. When it was both my parents, three days was enough because my dad Wore Me Out. But my mom isn’t like that at all.
Beautiful pics, Luanne. So happy to hear you get a chance to write today! xo
Thanks, Rudri! I feel so tired after these three weeks, though, and now the plumber has been here for a couple of hours already. Fingers crossed for that time today, please! xo
Me happy your son decided to home Gary! He is so cute and cuddly 😛
And yes, Perry is a wonderful guy <3
Have a beautiful Monday!
Sid
My daughter asked me today if I was mad at her brother over the dog. I laughed and said, “No!” I was actually thrilled that he stepped up and took him. Perry is a cuddlebug, as you know! You, too, Sid!!
Gary is a darling, and your son is a good person. I’m happy for you that you had a good visit with your mother and that now you can relax and get back to normal – not that you weren’t normal, but …. 😉
Yeah, you’re right, I am not normal, BUT more normal when I don’t have a house guest ;). I get so much more tired by everything now than I did even five years ago. Gary is such a sweet little boy! And Theo was difficult to walk on a leash, but now it’s so much better because he follows Gary’s lead (pun intended).
Things have a way of working out. 😉
LOVED your post. You left me wanting more…
Rae! You say the nicest things! Happy new week!
Sounds like a wonderful visit, Luanne.
It was wonderful to have Mom around. Not to mention (OK, I will) that I beat her three different days at Bananagrams ;). She came pretty close though . . . .
Hahaha! 😀
Sounds like a fun time. You’ve raised a good son.
He is a good one! Very proud of him.
Aw, Gary is super cute!
I’m glad your son has your love of animals, Luanne. <3
Me too. Gary is a sweetheart and the marking on his head is beautiful.
What fantastic, fruitful, love-filled trips you had, lucky you! Family = da best! Now re Gary, he’s adorable – my first thought was the late Carrie Fisher’s dog, also Gary. He’s here: http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/carrie-fisher-dog-gary-photos.html
Perry looks sooo sweet and innocent! 😀
Good to go away, but good to be back too, right?!
I forgot that her dog was called Gary! Son’s dog was (re)named for my son’s friend. There was a reason he had to have his name changed. He doesn’t seem to mind. It is good to be back!
Glad you had fun. And promises are meant to be broken 😉
Luanne, I love this update! I really look forward to hearing about the adventures in your life. I have to admit, when you were telling the story about following your son into the condo and hearing the words about “fostering” Gary, i thought, aha! Like mom, like son. How wonderful that you both have hearts that expand to take in those four-legged creatures who need it. Your narration of time with your son reminded me somehow of times with my older son (who is gone) but in a good way. Thank you for that gift. Loved reading this! 🙂
It sounds like a wonderful time with you mom! Good to have so many nice moments shared with her. So delighted that your son takes after you with a compassion for animals. 🙂
I would have been a BIG sucker for Gary!!! So adorable and doesn’t look his age at all. It’s so cool to see your son following in his parents’ footsteps. Big hearts can’t lose!
They keep posting pix of both dogs and one of their cats, and they look SO cute together! It’s as if they’ve always been together.
A lovely post. Glad your son acted as he did.
Thank you so much, Cynthia! I am so glad he did, too. Gary is so happy with them. They are posting pix of all the furkids–so adorable.
Luanne, I’m so tickled about this post and now, hope no one already suggested this: you must write a children’s book using your skills or writing and the incorporation of scrapbooking! Watch “Paddington 2” and it has the central covered item is an antique pop-up book of Paris in the 1900’s. ❤️ I loved Gary, the dog!
Oh, what a fun book that would be! I wish I had the artistic talent for it. But guess who does? YOU do! Isn’t Gary just the sweetest? Oh and now the two boy dogs are best friends!