Happy birthday, Drexel!

It's hard to believe that Drexel is only two years old. Drexel came to us from Guide Dogs for the Blind as a young puppy. We were raising him to be a guide dog, but he had other plans. He "career-changed" due to scent distraction. He just couldn't seem to keep his mind on working when there was a smell to distract him. We were asked if we wanted to keep him as a pet, and we readily agreed. He is a wonderful family dog.

Here's a look back over the past couple of years:

meeting Drexel for the first time

There's a reason we call him "Drexel the Adorable."

at one year old

Though Drexel learned basic obedience (and more advanced commands in his formal training), he did have his puppy moments:

styling in his working gear


Returning (on Valentine's Day!) for formal guide dog training

Flying off the puppy truck to return home to stay

Now Drexel helps other Guide Dog puppies learn good house manners.

Happy birthday, Drexel! May you have many more to come!

Thankful thought: I'm thankful for Drexel, and for the Guide Dog for the Blind organization.

Ten Things of Thankful: 39 Years Edition

A political map of the world circa 1987. The Soviet Union takes up a sizable portion. A lot has happened in the last 39 years. The Berlin Wall came down. The Soviet Union collapsed. The Twin Towers fell. Technology has changed: landlines and phone booths are practically extinct, and random questions can be answered in seconds by asking Google, Siri, or Alexa. No longer do drivers keep the Thomas Guide in their cars; navigation systems will give turn-by-turn directions, and recalculate when the driver doesn't follow the directions. Some cars don't even need drivers. While many shoppers do their shopping in-person, some simply log into Amazon and have their item show up on their doorstep--sometimes within hours. I've seen pieces of the Berlin Wall. I've traveled to places that used to be behind the Iron Curtain. I've been to Ground Zero. I no longer have a house phone, and have looked up the answers to countless questions using my cell phone. I do not miss the stress...

Ten Things of Thankful: April Showers Edition

A red peony bud prepares to open fully After an incredibly dry winter, we had a bit of precipitation this past week, in the form of falling snow. We didn't have much, and it didn't really stick, but we'll take water however it wants to come. Fortunately, my peonies seem unaffected by the cold snap, and are ready to put on a show here soon. 1. I'm thankful for moisture. 2. I'm thankful the flowers are still going to bloom. I don't know how the colder temperatures will affect the fruit crops. The strawberries look like they are still planning to set fruit. We'll have to see what happens with the peach, apricot, pear, and apple. (The apricot only bears heavily every other year anyway, and I think this is an "off" year--though I could be wrong.) Strawberry plants in full bloom 3. I'm thankful for anticipated berries. We continue to clear out and otherwise prepare John's parents' house for sale. I've been going through old photos and...

Tuesday Time to Tackle: DIY Swamp Cooler Pump Replacement

Yesterday morning, despite having the swamp cooler on all night long, we woke up to 81 degree temperatures inside the house. John went outside to inspect and announced that the swamp cooler pump had stopped working. Fortunately, replacing the pump is a quick and simple do-it-yourself project.

Thankful Me

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