Planning Stages

A) Making a plan is always a good thing.
B) A husband and a wife don't make plans the same way.
C) There's always going to be trouble.

I try to resist my inclination to plan every moment of an upcoming trip, although, according to my husband, I'm not very successful. It's really just the outline I'd like laid out. When are we leaving? Straight shot or with side trips? How long will we be gone? I don't see the problem.

However, once that's figured out, all kinds of possibilities start to percolate in my brain. Depending on the route taken, think of all the sight-seeing we could do! We took an alternate route on the way back from our son's home (Colorado) last July, and saw parts of this beautiful country we'd missed on other trips.

Hills, valleys, scenic overlooks and national parks; and just think of all the history to be seen! Old buildings in big and little cities and towns; historical markers, museums, everything has a story behind it. (I'm pretty sure there's an outlet mall not so far away as well.) And I can't help wanting to visit the people who might be nearby as we fly through on the highway. Perhaps a pause for a visit with an old auntie, or lunch with a friend. We have to stop for lunch anyway and who knows when we'll come through here again?

So our trip plan has managed to be laid down, somewhat jointly. I recall pulling my hair and throwing up my hands at one point. The next day a couple of missed details (mine) were addressed and it was done. It's going to be a very nice trip. We'll be visiting our son and his family in Colorado, and spending some time with some of our favorite party people in Phoenix. Plus, we'll escape the dark and cold back in central Wisconsin and that is a wonderful thing!

This trip is the first we're taking after Ron retires. We'll have plenty of future trips to work on our planning skills. Being married 42+ years, I'm pretty sure we can handle it!

Mary

The Black Dog

I'd like to introduce you to our old farm dog, Bandit. He is "The Black Dog."

As a puppy, Bandit was a solid black, fluffy bundle of energy. His parents were both large animals, black Labrador and German shepherd. He matured into a beautiful dog who could keep strangers at bay with his massive shepherd-like appearance. He topped out around 100 lb....less in the summer and definitely more in the winter. He was intelligent and attuned to the people in his life. He took to his job as farm and watch dog comfortably and instinctively, but was a much loved member of the family as well.

When Bandit was 7 weeks old, he was destined to go to a family who had lost a treasured pet. But it just didn't work out that way. Delays occurred, people went out of town, and, somehow, he wound up visiting our dog-less home when a dog-sitter was needed. Then the family decided they didn't want a dog after all.

In the meantime, this tumbling, barrel-chested puff ball is burrowing his way into our family's collective heart. He played, he cuddled, he fetched! And in between, I'm making the frantic phone calls: "When's someone coming for this puppy? Well, he can't stay here; I don't want a dog!"

But he was making headway with me too. Did you ever have a puppy that never messed in the house? Come on, right? Nope, seven whole weeks old and he never had an accident of any kind. At night he stayed in our room with the door closed. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and he'd be crying, so I'd get up and take him out. Business, done, he went right back to sleep. Hmmm, and Ron and the kids already love him...

One evening I walked in on a conversation taking place in the kitchen. Ron and Aaron were sitting side by side on the floor, leaning against the cabinets and petting Bandit who was stretched out across their laps, loving every minute of it. Then the fateful words: "Aaron, don't you think you should tell mom you want to keep this puppy?"

"Ron Dassler, I heard that!" A pair of faces snapped up to look at me--one smiling innocently and one not so innocently. "What? Don't you think Bandit would be a good puppy for Aaron?" He's still grinning at me when he asks this because he knows I won't (can't) say no: "All right, you just remember, whatever happens, you did this, not me!"

Famous last words, but never a regret. Memories of a big dog sitting at the tip of the tallest snowbank in a driving snowstorm, his nose in the wind. Remembering how strong and fierce he could look. Fond memories of him playing with Ron and the kids in or out of the house. Sweet memories of him sneaking across my lap to lay his head on my shoulder to get his morning hug as I drank my coffee at the kitchen table.

Bandit was the best, our Black Dog.



I'll post a few of our special Black Dog stories soon.

Mary

Things to ponder....

I've been thinking about what I want this blog to be.

"Bits and Pieces" is all the little things that come together and make up what my life is and has been. It's a diary of my past and a journal of my steps toward the future.

With those intentions set, I'm going to try to write a bit every single day. Some of the time I'll be retelling stories from our years living on the farm, surviving marriage (without going to prison) and raising children to the best of our ability (again--- without going to prison!). Other times, probably more often, I'll just put down my thoughts on the past or upcoming day.

Tomorrow I think I'll start out with a story; A Black Dog Story.

So Pretty!

I love looking at snow. LOOKING AT! And yes, riding around on a snowmobile or quad in it is fun too. But mainly, I like to look at it, especially when it's fresh or still falling. This particular snowfall is light and lovely. However, Christmas is gone, New Year's too, and I just don't need this anymore! I'm ready for spring and getting more of the yard done. Can't do that with all this white stuff all over the place!

All that whining out of the way, I think I'll get the quad out later. I'm pretty sure the plow is back on it. Could be entertaining as long as I don't break anything or run over the dog... I'll let you know how it goes!

Long time no type....

It's been so long since I've posted here that I decided to delete it all and begin anew. :)

Ron and I have made a major change in our lives! After living in our old farm house since Christmas of 1975, we've built a new home back in the woods of our property. It's wonderful to be able to spread out and have plenty of room for company to visit.

Another big change about to occur is Ron's retirement! He's counting down the days to his last day of work: March 2, 2011. The actual retirement date is some six weeks later because he has vacation time he'll be using up. So, sometime during the first week of March, we're heading out on our first extended trip of our new status! We'll be going out to visit Aaron and his family and also heading from there to Phoenix to spend some time with cousin/friends, Gary and Cathy. Although we don't have the details nailed down yet, the plan is to be back in Wisconsin for Easter. Exciting times for us! More to come....