Shiloh’s (formerly Timber) profile picture through the Ozaukee Humane Society.
Announcing the New Member of our family!!…
SHILOH
It’s hard to believe…but after almost 4 years…she is here!! Another doggie for John and me to love!!
Shiloh is 2 1/2 years old, had eight puppies recently, and came from Tennessee. I believe some of her pups are now up for adoption through the WI Humane Society. In case anyone is interested!
For the last year, John and I began talking more and more about bringing another dog into our lives. So while on vacation in AZ it was during the last two weeks before we were to come home that I began to peruse Petfinder.com.
I’d been looking every day since we got home, perusing Petfinder and rescue organizations when earlier in the week Shiloh’s (formerly Timber) profile popped up through the WI Humane Society. I was immediately smitten with her eyes and sweet face! And just the size we were looking for and under 40 lbs.
While she is timid about meeting new people, she wagged her tail as she slowly approached me when I met her. And as she warms up she is very sweet! And she seems to have really taken to John!
She is also timid around other dogs, so in the future, after she feels settled in here she will need guidance with that.
We are providing her with the love and space she needs and giving her pets as she wishes. She is also getting used to our home, a new yard, new smells, and her new people… and us getting used to a doggie again!
Here are a few pics of her from her first few hours with us. I’m so happy to see moments of her relaxing!
Settling in…
She loves to see where John is…
Chilling out on the deck last night…The crossed paws made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
She took right to the blanket John put out for her.And so a new adventure has begun!!
She made the trip all the way from upstate New York. A sweet offering from Maria Wulf of Bedlam Farm.
It was about a week before we were set to leave Arizona and head back home to Wisconsin that I read a post on Maria’s blog about her ric rac cactus.
It was a year ago that she received a cutting from a ric rac cactus that her friend Emily has. Look how that cutting has grown in one year!
Photo credit: Maria Wulf
I commented on her post how much I loved it and thought perhaps I could find one in Arizona – since after all, we were in the cactus state! I’d never heard of this type of cactus and it brought me back to childhood and how my mom used to sew many outfits for me and my sister. I can’t say as I recall specifically any rick rack on the outfits she made for us, but seeing the shape of the appropriately named cactus brought to my mind cherished memories of my mom sewing.
It was about a day later I received an email from Maria offering me a cutting of her ric rac cactus if I couldn’t find one. Well, I jumped at the chance and the kind offer.
Not only do I admire Maria herself, and her artwork, but I love how she shares about the dogs, cats, and animals on Bedlam Farm. She definitely is also a Nurturer extraordinaire!
So to have a cutting from her of the cactus that came from her farmhouse at Bedlam Farm, that came from Emily, who is a collage artist and a baker, and I enjoy reading her blog too, well, it feels like a lovely trio of online connections that for years have brought me joy.
And now I have the ric rac cactus to remind me not only of the kindness of others I’ve never met in person, but also a reminder of the special connection we share all because of the internet and our love of animals, writing, and art. Plus the special memories of my mom sewing when I was a little girl are what I will think of every time also when I look at this sweet cactus.
Roadrunner in Clarkdale, AZ along the Verde Valley Railroad
I placed the metal sculpture of a roadrunner on the counter as if he was precious cargo.
In my heart, this is not only because of my love of animals but the memory that comes with having had the recent opportunity to see a real live roadrunner in person. A first for me!
The man ringing up my order for this unique bird said, “These birds can be really mean and will eat just about anything.”
He went on to tell me that they will eat tarantulas and scorpions.
I thought it awfully brave of the roadrunner to eat two creatures that many fear. But I also mulled over what he said in terms of them being mean, as I don’t care for an animal being described in this way.
Being mean because he is doing what is necessary to survive? Having done shadow work around animals I fear, I would have been curious to know what the man’s description of the roadrunner meant for him.
But thinking about the statement of being mean, I thought about times in my life when I’ve been mean. No pun intended, but many of those times, I didn’t “mean” to be. It was coming from a place within me that I didn’t like about myself.
So alas, I felt called to defend the roadrunner and write a post about him.
The day I saw the real live roadrunner was when we were waiting to board the train that would take us on a four-hour ride through Verde Valley in Arizona. Which by the way, was an awe-inspiring experience!
Near the entrance where our tickets for the train were being collected were three bird handlers showing three beautiful birds and educating those interested about the bird wildlife of the area.
Hard not to be in awe so close up to these gorgeous creatures!
I enjoyed hearing about this Kestrel who needed to be rehabilitated because of an injured leg. Because her leg never healed fully, she became a voice to educate others.
So that roadrunner? Was he part of the show? Nope! But he sure did steal the show as everyone was vying to get a photo of him as he strutted along the pebbles behind the woman with the owl. He sure did capture my attention too as I was quite excited to see one!
Shopping in the eclectic town of Jermone, AZ, it was at a nature-inspired store that I spotted this roadrunner metal sculpture and just knew I had to bring him home with me.
Now every time I see him in my garden I’ll be reminded of this special memory. Not only that, it will be a lovely reminder during times I may feel down and out, that I too am a survivor, and when I think I can’t move through a difficult experience, I can. He will also remind me of the importance of being seen and heard and that it matters.
The man in the store sharing the roadrunner as being mean is a reminder to look deeper into myself when I have these same thoughts about something in my own life. Where is that really coming from? So often, it is a shadow aspect of oneself and one that is trying to protect us.
Doing a bit of research about roadrunners I learned that a unique feature is their feet. Not only do their two toes point forward, but they point backward also. Which way is he heading?!
This brought up for me how life can feel like we are taking one step forward, and then two back. But life isn’t a straight line, but rather back and forth, give and take, learning lessons, and moving forward again. It’s all good and part of what makes up life!
I love the Warner Brothers cartoon image of roadrunner also and how he is depicted as a trickster. How one minute he is there, and the next minute, he is gone like a flash of lightning. I can’t help but associate this with how short life really is. We are here…and before we know it…we are gone. So make your statement, be you, and appreciate all aspects of life and who you are!
