Another Birthday to the Land of Oz

The youngest of the 3 girls enjoyed a little adventure to the Land of Oz all her own.  She really opened up on this trip too, taking it all in and babbling about everything.  It was fun for her, and for us.

It was a good trip, all together.  She is still really young to have too much of an impression of the movie or the characters.  Though she is a little hesitant to say so, her favorite appears to be the Lion.  She will tell you she likes the very same as her sister, but she is definitely infatuated with the coward.

Her favorite part of the entire trip was likely the playground she found at the end of the yellow brick road.  When we suggested that she was being missed and we should begin to head home, she told us that did not fit with her schedule.  That has never happened.

We still have another trip to make out here.  Her older sister went when she was 3 and cannot remember having gone, so wants to go again for her birthday.

Rescue Puppy

Meet the new latest addition to the pack that we busted out of jail about 3 weeks ago for her 4-month birthday. She is a Pure-Bred Tennessee Brindle Labrador Catahoula Shepherd Chow Hound, more commonly known as a Super Mutt.  The photo above is before we had the opportunity to meet, when KC Pet Project found her in the woods struggling to survive.  She is growing fast and there is no telling how big she is going to turn out.  We are prepared for whatever happens.

This more recent photo shows her deep infatuation with ice. No frozen treat is safe around her.  We discovered this when it hailed only a couple of days after she arrived.  She ran into the yard and immediately began to gobble up all the hail stones she could crunch.  It may have more to do with water, in general.  She is in love with this form of liquid, jumping in it, attempting to gobble it all, launching herself into the lake, or just running as fast as she can through it.

As with any child her age, she is curious and playful, easily hurt and offended but not for long, and desperately wants to know her boundaries and is constantly testing them.  This one is definitely a quick learner but obstinate in her own way, coming when is called, when she feels like it.

Water games are not her only pastime, so is fetch, running in circles, chasing her tail, jumping on people, chewing on everything, sniffing and eating everything in her world, hiking with me, and hunting rabbits and squirrels. 

She also developed a crush for the friendly and old pit bull across the street and absolutely loves to romp around with him, testing her strength and agility.  She usually ends up on her back in submission though.  If he is not in sight and she is out front, she will sit and stare at his house waiting for a glimpse of her heartthrob.

There is another too right next door, but she does not get to see that old girl much.  That Staffordshire comes around to visit occasionally though, having her own crush on our pup.

It will be interesting to see how she grows and evolves.

The g-kids are still taking stock.  The oldest rolls on the floor with her giggling while her face is licked incessantly.  The other older two are still a little shy though but love to help walk her and keep her in line.  The youngers are still too young but will probably enjoy her company.

Time will tell.

Anil Dash on The System

"When trying to understand systems, one really eye-opening and fundamental insight is to realize that the machine is never broken." ... a simply basic truth.

I only recently began following this blog and am enjoying these insights from Anil Dash.  His points seem to always strike at the right moment.

We are far past due in reflecting "on the systems around us now that we are cursed with the horrible truth that all of them are working correctly." 

I would suggest that the "system need[s] to be dismantled, so that it can be replaced by a system whose purpose is to do the right thing."

Creeping Deer

She got the dog all worked up this evening, creeping through the trees like that.  This deer did not quite seem to know what to do or where to go, standing frozen for several minutes, finally breaking her gaze long enough to dart off into the bushes.

Lightning above the Trees

A look up at the lightning this evening.  A good capture remained elusive, though this is a pretty satisfying catch.