This worked out different than I imagined

 So nothing quite happened as I expected it to happen when I drove to the Foster home to see Bentley. There was Bentley with his absolutely stunning colored coat and sleepy eyes. There was one of his sisters who was white and black in typical Terrier colors. 

Tucked into blankets was another one. The tip of her tail was white, three paws had a touch of white and ----  she had a few white hairs on her nose along with her chest.

She looked up at me and I knew right then that it was her I'd come for. I don't know how that happened or why but it did. She chose me when I sat down.

I had 'wanted' the one with the beautiful colored coat and I had thought I wanted a male pup. But her choice was me. It happens that way. I've been chosen by mules, dogs, and humans for some weird reasons. I knew it when I felt it.

Those eyes said. "Hey, I am here to steal your heart!"

She is so tiny and petite! I got a history of her vet check, vaccinations, and her date of birth. 

I visited a long time with the Linda the foster mom who does an incredible job of caring for her charges. We are following each other on FB so she can see how things go with us. 

Do you remember how sick and miserable I was on Christmas Eve? I was missing Rich so badly and had Influenza A. I was beside myself. Her birthday is Christmas Eve. [Charlie's is December 28th]

She cried for a while in the crate on the drive home and then was quiet and peaceful. 

The meet and greet was pretty anticlimactic, though Charlie decided that he really didn't want a lot to do with her.

We did some walking and potty stuff along with the usual puppy stuff. A lot of indoor - outdoor until she realized that she could go on the grass and snow like Charlie did.

After outdoor exercises and a meal. Pup sort of moved up by my feet and looked at me. I put her next to my feet and covered her up with a blanket.

Charlie deemed her safe to check out and ....sneaky doodled up to check her out.

....and she didn't move. She didn't attack with bared fangs and claws. She just looked at him sleepily and closed her eyes in comfort.

Her name on her paperwork is Brooklyn. I thought of calling her Brooky, Lena, ...I listed a question on Social Media and got 40+ offers of names. 

Overnight was good. We did a before bedtime outside walk and she did all the appropriate things she needed to do. I put her in her crate on a nightstand next to my side of the bed so I could hear her if she woke up.

Charlie took his place on the other side of the bed and we all fell asleep from our busy day.

At 1am, she started barking and crying. I'd slept in my sweats so grabbed a jacket and hat and took my charges out. Without hesitation, my new pup did her business and was ready to go back in.

We all slept well until I got up at 4:30 thinking it was 5:30. Back out and jobs done!

We did chow time in separate places and then play time and another trip out.

Charlie was conflicted. He wanted to be in the same area as me and her but he didn't want her to be too close. Here she is growling at her reflection in my stove and pouncing on the Kong.

Then they both crashed like good little dogs.

Charlie is pretty sure that the pup is going to eat him alive even though she has never tried to bite or scratch him.

He asked me why I brought a female Hannibal Lecter into our house. A tiny bundle of energy that curls up and falls fast asleep. He said she is just daring him to walk by so she can pounce. 

Well then. 

She has earned a name I can call out with two syllables.

Welcome Home

Hannah

Photo from the Foster Home she was at. 

This morning I woke up still missing Rich, still grieving, but the huge hole in my heart didn't hurt so bad. In fact I felt true happiness for the first time in months. 

Oddly enough, one more thing. 8 years to this day, I brought Charlie home to our home. How weird is that?

Sorry Charlie!

I've always wanted to use that phrase on a pet. My father coined that phrase many years ago when he created Charlie The Tuna.

Charlie came into our lives on the first of March. It was not planned. On the 3rd we had Steph, Steve, and the grand kids come for the weekend. Charlie got to play with their beagle, Angel.

I mean really, is this not cute? They really did so well together. I even thought of titling this photo as "Charlie's Angel". Oh how retro TV!

Charlie explored the great outdoors. I could not resist laughing at the size of him next to Rich's truck.

Little Puppy, Big Dreams.

How on earth will Charlie ever pee on that tire???

When we got the call that my MIL had fallen and 'can't get up',  the tone of everything changed. After a stay in the hospital and several evaluations, my MIL has been taken to a nursing home for rehab and further evaluations.
It has been a very stressful week with family.

But Charlie has been the source of laughter and amusement along with distraction.

Charlie discovered snow during the little blizzard we had. He got stuck in the deep snow and figured out how to make his way around in tracks and footsteps of humans.

Yesterday was nice in the afternoon.
When we got back from the VA. Charlie spent time with me outside exploring.

His potty training has gone very well considering all of the disruptions we've had this week.
He has excelled at crate training too.

He is learning ... or teaching me some Charlie communication. One or two whirls near the rugs at either door mean poop time. Sometimes a paw on my foot with a whine means pee time or nap time.
No problem, we are figuring it out.

He has developed a ravenous appetite.

I don't have any action shots of him tearing about with his toys but he spends a lot of time running around with them.
Sometimes he gets the zoomies. When he hits the slippery kitchen floor he simply drops onto his tummy and does a four paw drift as he slides and in a wink he is up and running the length of the kitchen.

He has begun leash and 'area' training. I wish I had a lighter rope to use. I think I will have to go see if I can find something at the hardware store.

What I mean by 'area' training is letting Charlie understand that he can only go about 20 feet from me and stay in that 'area'. He needs to keep an eye on me and pay attention.
He is too young for much, but he can learn to come when called and to stay close. He is doing that fairly well except when he is in the yard pouncing on pine cones and maiming them.

During this week, Charlie has acted like a therapy dog. He makes people laugh with his antics and without thinking, Rich scoops him up and carries him while petting him.
We know how well petting an animal can sooth the soul.

We've needed some soul soothing this week.

He is little. His heart is big.

And yesterday morning when he got under foot I must have stepped on his toes. He squeaked and I said a big laugh, "Sorry Charlie!"