June 2020

Another month has gone by with us close to home. Most of my assignments are virtual. I go out for an on-site interpreter assignment about once or twice a month. If it wasn't for going to the barn we would be stuck at home. The virus continues to spread especially in areas that have opened up too soon (states down south.)

This month Sophia was able to participate in a dressage schooling show. This is only her second off property show on Nicki. The organizers did a great job spacing riders to ensure the riders were spaced out and not too many people were at the barn at the same time. Kudos to them. Sophia rode training level three and first level, test one. She did an awesome job. I am so proud of her. We will be doing a rated show at the same venue in July in hopes of qualifying for a regional championship. And they hoping that regional competition doesn't cancel like everything else has!

Sophia finished out the school year strong. Steve did too. They both hit their grove with online classes. The school did a drive by celebration for them with signs and balloons. Teachers were curbside waving. Each student got a gift bag with a mask!

Sophia was on the yearbook committee this year. They struggled to complete the book as so many pictures had not been taken. There were no pictures of the clubs and the candid shots were limited but they did an impressive job working virtually to put together a wonderful keepsake.

Our pets are all doing well. Loki is still pushing boundaries with the cats. Boba and him are playing more, sometimes a little too rough but for the most part it is going well. Loki still isn't a fan of the crate. We are working with a trainer and hope that we get this resolved so we can go out for walks or even just ice cream as a family.

May update

Another month with very limited going ons. School and work are still virtual. We aren't going out except to go grocery shopping and even that is very limited. The only change this month was the barn opened and they are able to teach lessons in small groups. Sophia is back at the barn three or four days a week. This makes all the difference in her life. She is much happier. It also makes all the difference in our lives as we drive her back and forth and spend more time out of the house (both pros and cons)

Here are our annual May 1st photos in front of the azaleas.

 The biggest news this month was we adopted Loki. We have been looking for a puppy for quite some time. When we lost Kaegogi in June of 2018 we considered getting another dog but realized we are so busy it would be hard. With Covid-19 and the stay at home orders it seemed like a perfect time to bring a puppy home. Evidently we were not the only ones who thought that. Every time we would see a cute puppy on Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet they would be gone before we could even get our application finished. Steve's friend's mother knew a director of a rescue and put us in touch with her. She sent us a picture of Loki and Steve fell in love. 

He was supposed to travel up from the south on April 17th but missed the transport. We were told it would be about two more weeks and we were willing to wait. Unfortunately on April 24th we were told he had parvo and was hospitalized. They weren't sure he would make it. They contacted us on May 2nd and said he was home and doing well. He would be traveling to the area the week of May 4th. He arrived in on May 7th and we brought him home on May 8th. He is super sweet. He is going to be a BIG boy. He is thin after suffering from parvo but no doubt he will fill out. I was a bit worried about Boba accepting him but thus far they are doing good. The cats teaching him so boundaries too. He loves to cuddle and seems very smart. He doesn't like the crate but we will continue to work on that.

I was not able to get my Pasta Plus birthday dinner as they have closed during the quarantine. Steve picked up a delicious dinner from Carrabbas for me. The dessert was out of this world! My Mother's Day/Birthday gift was some bleach! Amazing how the value of things change during this pandemic. In all fairness I didn't want anything this year.

Sophia continues to work on the activity boards for the therapeutic riding center as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award.

The pets are all doing well.