Emma and I went to the movie Gone Baby Gone. It was well done but very suspenseful and disturbing in some ways. It is not the movie that I would have picked to go to but I wanted to get out with my friends. As my mother use to say "I go where the car goes". Greg works more than 12 hours today. A busy time for him at work. He worked a long day yesterday as well.

It did not rain today and I think that rain was expected. Emma enjoyed being outside with me when we got home and in the morning. The recent weeks with rainy days have helped our yard that was impacted by the drought of the summer. Emma is happy to romp and roll in the grass and leaves. She sure enjoys the yard. I like that she gets me outdoors more often than I would have on my own.

Like always it amazes me how great she does in a movie. There was a part that really startled the audience. She did lift her head up and stirred a bit but did not make a sound. I was so proud of her as the rest of us gasped in surprise. She is such a great dog to take in public.

We have book club tomorrow. I am trying to do a few chores tonight. I wish the sun would shine I am sick of gray days. Yesterday we had some sun. I am not sure what is predicted this week but sun helps my mood for sure. Emma though keeps me cheered up even on a cloudy day.

Here's hoping you have/had a great day.
Mary and Emma

Friday we were out of the house most the day. I had a medical appointment to start with. Then we went to Lowe's and Costco. We met up with a friend and went to lunch at a wonderful place in St. Louis Park called "Yum". That was a great title as it was yummy food. We had the best acorn squash soup. We of course chatted up a storm.

Next stop after lunch was Half Priced Books where we browsed and selected books for almost an hour. Emma was so patient. There were lots of people in the stores as it is MN teacher convention so no school days. Lots of children admiring the dog everywhere we went. We next headed to the dollar store just to pick up some fun things. We really had a great time. We concluded with going to my friends home for awhile.

I found out my kids were coming for dinner. Mike, Tia, Rosa and Dan. My friend brought me home for a quick late nap. Then we had a lovely evening with the kids. Rosa is so cute as she continues to refine her new skill of being able to walk. The big girl's birthday is next week.

Emma gets extra loving when my kids come over. She seemed happy about that.

Emma was awesome all day. When we were shopping at first she pulled some and wanted to have her position a bit in front of where it should be. It took some gentle reminders to get her where she needed to be. We kidded we thought she was so excited to be in stores. I think it has been several weeks since we had been out shopping. We tired her out too.
Once we got home she was pleased to run around in her yard of course. Then I think she was as happy as I was to curl up for a nap. We are quite a pair.

Emma really has been good witht the command get the cane. It's not really hard for her but sometimes I prop it up, or a friend grabs it, and I forget to ask her to do it for me. She is eager to please with that. We keep working on get the leash. She will do it when we are alone but when with someone she tends to see if they will grab it first. Now that I can't drive we so often have someone right with us.

I am tired after such busy days. I am writing this on Saturday and I think we will be home all day. I have some quiet chores to do. We also need a long nap after a busy few days. I am not complaining - it was good for my mental health.

Hope you have a good weekend. Emma is doing just great. She will help me with laundry today and it is suppose to be great weather so we will play outside.

Mary and Emma

Another rainy October day where I live. Brr a bit chilly also. Painters were suppose to come to work on my house trim outside but it is suppose to rain tomorrow. Eventually I hope the weather will be nice on a day that they can come.

For some reason the water exercise really tired me out today. It felt so great to be in the water. We have an exercise routine that includes streching that is about 60 minutes long. We stayed in the pool and extra 15 min just relaxing, doing gentle gentle exercise. It was great.

One of the women is headed to Arizona for the winter. She likes to treat and take everyone out to lunch before she goes. We all went to the Sunshine Factory and oh was the food good. The company was even better. We took our time and chatted and enjoyed the food. It was a big treat as we usually do fast food or like bruegers or a sandwich shop nearby.

Emma was very good and rested under the long table. All of a sudden one of the ladies laughed and said Emma's movement was tickling her. Trouble was she was way down at the end of the table. Emma had moved so quietly I didn't notice. I don't know how she got past all those feet. There were 11 of us. (Imagine treating 11 women to lunch) She returned quickly to the spot where I had her originally when I called her name. She knew where she belonged. All the women like Emma and consider her one of the group. I however don't want her to have a habit of moving around at a restuarant. This was the first time she ever did that. Sometimes she moves a bit just to change position but really Emma. I would be curious to know what she was thinking?

We also were able to go to the library today thanks to my friend Kathy. Emma's presence creates excitement as children of various ages notice her. She did a great job though of staying focus as she worked with me. We didn't have a lot of time. I explained she was a working dog and we did not take time to meet any children. There were so many we would have been there a long time if we did. Emma is so good with children that she would have loved to meet them all I think! There was no school today in MN due to teacher convention so the library was a busy place to be.

We came home to a nice clean house. I love cleaning days - I mean when a woman comes to clean for me. She is from Maid Pro. She did a great job. My regular person no longer works for the company so I was surprised to get someone new. It looked so good that was a nice thing too. Vacuuming and scrubbing are just too hard for me. Greg is so busy with his work, shopping, errands, and other things around here. This help is so crucial to helping me at home. I know I have mentioned this before but no one could appreciate the help as much as I do. I need it to.

Now we have some laundry to tackle. Colder weather means more loads of sweatshirts, sweaters, jeans and I am a bit behind. Never a loss of something to do around here. I wonder how I managed with all my kids at home. I did daycare before I was a teacher too. Of course I was healthier and younger ha ha.

We of course napped and are going to have a quiet evening. It is a cool wet night. It was good to get out today but nice to be home. Swimming, Lunch, Library? What a great day.

Have a good day. Mary and Emma

Emma and I went out to an early dinner with a friend of mine. How fun to get out and chat and enjoy a nice meal. Emma did well. She likes a booth best but they only had a table available. At times the movement of the staff down the aisles around our table was distracting for her. Still it always amazes me how well she does. The floor was nice and clean so that is nice also - no stray food scraps.

I am thinking of the first night I had Emma. The upcoming graduates have their first nights with their dogs tonight. I was nervous and excited. Emma was so enthusiastic when she met my children. To help her learn who was her master they could not feed her, take her out, pet her, or give her attention. She was so cute that was hard to do. She walked around with her favorite ball from her foster home and went from person to person wanting to play with them. I did play with her, but here were other young people and she wanted to play like she did with Judy's children.

I remembered how eagerly she followed me around the house, and the yard. She was like my shadow. She was so much fun. She even settled in and slept well.
I was thinking here today she still is at my side most of the day. At times she will sleep under the dinning room table with her eye on me in the kitchen or dinning room - but most times she wants to be very close to me.

Today I was crocheting and she was so close to me on the couch. Her whole body was touching me. She loves having her back against me. I thought we have the couch, a love seat, the floor but she loves being very close to me. Even now as I type this she is right on the bed in this room. Not touching me (bed is more comfy than the floor) but always in the same room.

I was so excited that first night but I love her even more now. How could I manage without her company and her help? Off to play with Emma.

Lots of rain is predicted - stay dry and warm.
Love Mary and Emma

Barking Dogs

I babysat a few hours today in the morning. I realized a neighborhood dog was outside in the rain barking non stop. Okay on and off rain but the dog was out hours. Rosa fell asleep and then the noise seemed worse. Lily and Emma even barked a bit indoors as their seemed to be now more than one dog barking outside. Ugh. I quieted Emma and Lily down quickly. I hope for everyone's sake the other dog is not leftt outside for hours just to bark. Poor dog.

Emma is so cute. When Lily is outdoors (she is tied up and brought inside promptly if she barks) and wants to come in - Emma often will nudge me. I think sometimes she hears Lily before I do - especially if she is in the kitchen.

We were home in time to nap and that was great. It was a dark rainy day so it felt good to take a nap. Sometimes I sure wish I didn't need the naps but the fatigue due to MS I sure do.

I want to say a special thanks to the foster homes. The wonderful people who care for the puppies and train them to be service dogs. Every day I treasure Emma's skills (thanks so much Judy) and I know I speak for other graduates as well. We have such great dogs due to the nurturing, socialization, and training they get. Think of all the practice that goes into those years with the dogs. Amazing.

I believe I am correct that some foster homes are going to be spending their final night with their dogs. I think the new graduates will be bringing home the dogs tomorrow. I remember how nervous/excited I was that night. i got my house ready like company was coming - I was so excited.

Yet, part of me knew it would be difficult for Judy and others to part with their dogs. Yes you know that day will come when you agree to train a dog - but I would guess their is some mixed feelings. Pride that the dog is trained and ready to serve his/her role as a service dog. Yet, a few tears of missing their daily routine.

How do you say thanks
To those individuals and families
who gave time, love, time, affection, time, socialization
time, and training??
What an awesome gift they are giving to another person.
The gift of an awesome companion and helper.
A dog that will literally open doors in their world.
A dog to lift their spirits and help them be more independent.
What an investment they have made in the life of another.
How do you ever say thanks enough?

To those of you who are foster parents - my huge thanks.
Emma sends hugs and kisses to Judy her foster mom.

Hope you have a good day.
Grab a nap if you can.

Mary and Emma