http://tigaslitter.blogspot.com/

check out how big those puppies have grown. My goodness how they change!! I don't have a car to drive but when I hear my husband's schedule for the rest of the week and next = will see if we can stop for a visit. I think the pictures will amaze you.

Yeah Judy and Yeah Tiga for taking good care of them.

Mary
This is my second note today

Today was another nice day. Due to MS I was not as active as I would like. Emma and I did get outside a great deal anyway. Greg worked a lot on the gardens and the yard. I helped plant and weed as able. He always does the bulk of the work now that I have MS. It helps my spirits to feel like I help at least a little bit. He likes the moral support even if I sit in a lawn chair and chat as he works. Emma just loves being outdoors and seeing what is going on. she helped get the tools like the little hand shovels and bring them back and forth from Greg to me, or just pick it up for me.

I realize I have to practice "put" with her. I just don't do it enough. I though I better look through the list of cues she knows and brush up on any we don't use often. When my phyiscal abilities vary - so does my use of some of the cues. "get it", "bring", "give", "sit, drop, stand - - the basic ones we use often. I realize she knows a few from me now too. Like let's go to the car and lets go play. She varies which door of the house she heads to if it is "play" or "car" ha ha. Sometimes I let her run ahead a bit - other times I expect her to stay right at my side. She handles that well also. She is just an awesome dog.

I don't know anyone personally in Iraq right now or in the armed services. It is a day I think of the soldiers and their families. The nurse in our cabin at camp has a son in the national gaurd. she was talking about when he was in Iraq. They are not sure if he will be called back or not. How brave they are to stand up for our country. I support and care about our troops even though I disagree with this president. I also feel proud to live in a country where you can disagree...a strength of democracy is the diversity of opinions we can express. My prayers today are with those willing to go serve throughout the world.

Emma and I will have a quiet night I think. We are going out to get a sandwich at a local placee and then will be home. I hope to go to bed early. Last night we were up later since Dan came home, Mike, Tia and the girls came also. Dan took Emma out and their dog Lily came also - oh did Emma have fun running around. We had a nice evening.

Family and friends are certainly a gift. Emma is part of that picture for me. From morning till night she is just so much fun to be with. I can't imagine life without her.

Enjoy the rest of Monday. May your week go well for you. Special prayers are with you who have served in the arm services, and/or have family or friends serving now.
Mary and Emma

Sunday

I am very dizzy today due to MS. I feel like I have been on one of those rides at an amusement part that make you dizzy. I also have a headache. Emma's help in picking things up and her support in staying right by me is very appreciated. I am sure I will also nap today. One thing when you know the cause of symptoms (MS) that makes it easier to deal with. I just hang on to my cane or the walls for support ha ha.

I was just outside and it is perfect weather for planting. My husband just ran to get potting soil and we will be ready to do that. That is in the front yard which is not fenced. I have Emma on a flexi with me. The neighbor dogs go unleashed when their owners are outside but then go into other people's yards. They even go to the bathroom in others yards. The owners clean it up if they see it but it is so disrespectful I think. They are watching them better so they don't come across the street to our yard very often. Most my flowers are in the front and sides of the house.

This time of year we get to visit neighbors and that is fun. The next door ones we don't see much in the winter so it is fun to catch up. We have been neighbors almost 27 years!! These neighbors use to have a beautiful sheep dog but have no dog now.

My boys are coming tonight I think, and Mike's family. I am trying a new chicken recipe. I hope they like it. Greg says there are hamburger pattees and broughts if they don't. Greg is the big cook in the family for family gatherings. I don't mind trying new recipes on him first. I hope it tastes good. Sophia I heard is out of town so I won't see her.

Emma can tell that I am having a bit more problems. The dizzy feeling and difficulty walking is obvious. She is being so attentive. She is the greatest dog ever. I doubt I will have time to write later. We are suppose to have good weather tomorrow too. Today it is a bit cooler but sunny. Perfect for working in the yard. Lots of our neighbors are home and doing just that.

Have a good day. Mary and Emma

From the minute Emma woke up till now as we head to bed - Emma has had the best day. She is very focused, attentive, and enthusiastic about her work. she has been at my side and enjoying the day too.

We thought it was going to rain so we got outside. We helped weed. My husband did most the work, he also mowed. We went shopping for some flowers tonight which we hope to plant tomorrow. We cooked on the grill and were outdoors a lot. Turns out we did not get rain though much of the state did. Mid afternoon the sun came out. It was windy but a pretty day where I live anyway. I think it motivated us to start a bit earlier today on outside work when we thought it would rain. I mostly am the moral support. It's a good thing my neighbors know I have MS. I think I look like a bum watching my husband work away. He says he likes the company. Emma of course loved being outdoors.

In the past few days Emma has been to Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, A Garden Store, Cub (more than once), Wallgreen's, the dry cleaners....we are trying to get some things for our bathroom and take care of other chores and errands. We did take time to nap. Yeah we needed that of course. Greg is doing all the driving and where possible I use a scooter so I can handle the large stores.

At Cub tonight there were so many young children delighted to see Emma. It seemed almost like everywhere I turned I would hear a little voice say "OH A DOGGY". She also generates smiles from many adults. They sure like to tell us stories about their own dogs. It takes a few minutes to answer questions but I didn't mind at all tonight. I think Emma helps educate people about helping dogs.

Now they say no rain tomorrow. Good I have some flowers to help plant. This weather that is 70 or so is great for me with MS. Though I like warmer weather as it gets to be 80 or higher my MS symptoms get so much worse. It is nice to have windows open and hear the birds sing, and kids outside playing. We had a good day.

This is funny. We were home till after dinner. I told Emma "We're going in the car now". I barely finished the word "car" and she was at the front door. I know she knows the word car. As when we go outside to "play" or I ask her "do you need to go out?" she heads for the patio door. I told you she was so darn smart.

We were going to go to a movie tonight but opted to grocery shop and get flowers for tomorrow. It got cool tonight and brr I was sorry I didn't bring a sweatshirt. Emma was happy to go with and did a super job all day. She was just the best service dog today -- the best of the best. maybe she slept good? She sure was at her best.

Tomorrow I think my son Dan and Mike and his family are coming for supper. So if I don't have time to write - don't worry. We got the first of the summer corn on the cob, beef brisquet and other things to make a good meal for them. i hope nothing changes their plans. Emma and I will have to squeeze in a nap so we are bright and energetic when they arrive!

I better go to bed as we plan on early church service tomorrow. Have a good Sunday. Relax and enjoy - - - Mary and the church dog.

Emma woke up today with an attitude. She seemed to have decided she needed time off. Maybe an early holiday weekend. When i asked her to pick something up for me, or do things like help with laundry - she looked at me like she had not a clue what I was talking about. Or maybe just not any desire to work for me. I don't know what got into her.

Even when we went outside for a long time. Did she want to fetch a ball? NO WAY.
She seemed distracted and more interested in sniffing around.

By late afternoon I decided to go out to do some errands and meet a friend to visit. Well then she was eagerly at the door ready to go. It was like she was back to being her old self. She was willing to cooperate, follow directions, and was displaying good behavior.

Tonight she is being so playful. I had some of her toys put away and brought them out. Just like kids she is so excited to see them again. ((I kind of rotate things). She likes playing but those darn balls are still her favorite things.

We went out again tonight to look at samples for the bathroom. No the tiling is not done. Looked at sinks, counter tops, and flooring. I am having trouble making decisions. Well one of the clerks spotted me and said "OH EMMA is here". I was surprised she remembered Emma's name but she has helped me before. I had Emma practice greeting her by sitting, staying, and shaking hands. I don't practice that enough. Emma did fine.
The sales woman also remarked at how great Emma moved with the scooter and following my direction. A sharp contrast from the way she was at home in the morning ha ha.

It was a beautiful day so we did get outside. Tomorrow it is suppose to rain. We are in town this holiday weekend and glad to have time to get things done. Though I still get so frustrated with my limited abilities and energy. I am slow as a turtle and tire out so fast. But I do what I can I guess. Greg does work part of Sunday but will have Monday off.

Hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend.
Mary and Emma