I have a sous chef

Keller has been annoyed. There are loud noises from the hardwood floor work in the house, the backyard is muddy (wait, she doesn't care about that! - until it's bath time), the house stinks with fresh paint, dad is ignoring her and playing with power tools, and mom is ignoring her and experimenting with Christmas delectables in the kitchen. But it's not that we're trying to ignore her. It's just how it is right now. We play, go to the dog park, talk, and then try to get her tired enough so we can do work.

She was, however, highly interested in being my sous chef this weekend as we madly baked to accomplish Christmas cookies. She is a faithful taste tester, and helped Dave take on the quality control responsibility. Which, in the end, makes her not annoyed anymore.

A Tired Keller is my Favorite Keller

Keller and Santi got together over at Seth and Sarah's on Friday night, after I took Keller for a beautiful 5-mile run during the afternoon. The leaves were still turning in some areas, and it was warm enough - but just cool enough with the wind - to keep switching between a long-sleeved shirt and my running fleece. So Keller was tired Saturday, and Santi even came over then TOO - so she was even MORE tired today (I love a tired Keller Puppy - my favorite kind of Keller Puppy!).

On the right, here she is enjoying her Halloween Treat from Grandpa and Grandma A. She gobbled it right down.

We also watched the game tonight. The Packers played the Chargers (and the Pack won, of course! 8-0 now!) and when they scored a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, I yelled really loud and started clapping wildly. Startled, Keller lept up and ran toward the living room windows, barking hysterically. Maybe it's her way of cheering. haha. Go Pack Go!

I see me

Keller was helping me take pictures of the now-empty backyard this afternoon. I got her unexpectedly in this shot, and I love her reflection. She can't put her snout against the door anymore because Dave plastic-ed the windows last night. :) But she can still neighbor-hood and trail-watch, so she's a happy girl!

Keller wishes you a happy Monday!

There's a dog in my spot

hey, you bed hog! Too funny.

A garden bug I don't mind

Holy cows, I'm sorry it's been over a month since we've updated. Here are some super cute pictures of my biggest garden pest....Keller. But I love her, so it's the one pest I allow in my garden!!!!

She loves to roam around in it and sniff after the various bugs. The grasshoppers always amuse her this time of the year. I used to freak out when she's run around in the garden, but I don't mind anymore. My plants are very forgiving and can take her. :)

We hope you had a great Labor Day!!! Keller has been helping Mommy train for the Twin Cities 10 mile race on October 1st. She's a very good running partner, especially now that it is cooler!!

Walkie Walk

I'm sorry this is sideways but it's too funny to not share. Keller knows English all too well. She recently caught on to the spelling of BATH. So, you can't spell it anymore and get away with it....

landscape helper

Keller was my assistant landscaper the past few days. She helped me convert the front entryway that was empty and loney-looking to a welcoming hosta garden. It's something I've been wanting to do since we moved in, and Dave didn't know I was up to it, so it was a bit of a surprise for him too (and free with the free hostas!) She was such a good helper! Here's a before and after.

How Keller and I roll after a long day's work

Homework caught up on and submitted. Grass cut. Rocks picked up for fire pit. Weed whacked. Keller to dog park. Last of the veggies and annuals planted. Now, we relax with fine grilled leftovers...veggies, vegan hot dogs, and marinated tofu. And stare at the manicured lawn that'll only need more work in a week, or less, the way the weather is going...

Safety First

Keller on the assist for updating our way out-of-date fire alarms. Yes, they were hard-wired, but they didn't have battery back-up, nor were they able to detect carbon monoxide. Dave went and bought new ones so now we can sleep soundly at night. :) Or maybe not. Did you know that smoke alarms are radioactive???

Check out those sexy floors! Soon-to-be hardwood. But for now, plywood.

Bombs away

Guess who I caught running in my garden today (here's the week 1 picture)....this little Keller puppy!

She found the gap in the fencing around the garden that Dave put up....bolted right after something and right on top of my sweet potatoes and rows of cucumbers and eggplant, across to the tomatoes, and bombarded the pumpkins while harassing the peppers. But how can you not love her. I mean, after she's done assaulting the assailant that wasn't there in the first place. If it would have been the rabbit that's been munching away on my plants, I would have just let her at it, though....

Roll out...with the top down.

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Storms rolling in, but sooooo summery out

Almost 90 today with dew points in the 70s. You better believe we went swimming.
I'll take this over the -20s anyday.

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What a gorgeous weekend! We are making the most of it with a dusk walk. Nummy. We love spring...

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Who's stealing my Nonnie and why?

Observe: Ann ("Nonnie") finds not just my running shoe, but Dave's slipper on Keller's bed yesterday. Keller was apparently missing the both of us. And it's just the one she takes, and she sleeps by it/them. Except for today, when she decided to actually chew on them (or as I just told Dave on the phone yesterday, "She's been good - she hasn't chewed any of the shoes for about a month....")

I learned something about Keller tonight. She doesn't tolerate not being the center of attention. Nonnie has Ella for the night and Keller can't figure out why she's not being given the cooing and fun. Ella also tested out those vocal chords tonight and Keller thought she had done something wrong, she cowered and stared at me as I alternated petting her, watching the Office, eating my dinner, and doing homework. Then she tries going over to Ella, cowering and wagging her tail. She's probably thinking, "Who are you and why are you stealing my Nonnie?!" My heart is sad for Keller. I wish she knew that she was still just as much loved. It also makes me realize that when we have kids someday, this is going to be a big change for her, and not an easy one.

Trip to Grandpa/Grandma's

Keller ventured with me to Neenah last weekend. Of course she was spoiled (duh!), and she didn't get a lot of running in, so she was a bit squirrely. So here she is in her squirrely self at Conni and Brian's, solo and with the kids. :)

P.s. she rarely smiles at the camera - so this is GOLDEN!

Ticky ticks

Ticky ticks is what I call ticks. I tend to add a "y" on the first word and double the first word when I talk to Keller.

"Do you want a treatie treat?"
"Want to go for a walkie walk?"
"Where's the squirrely squirrel?"
"Did you farty fart? You're a farty fart."

Etc.

Anyway. Where was I....oh yes. The first tick of the season got pulled off Keller. A nice wood tick. Early April...sounds about right! I know exactly where it came from, too: the dog park. I found it while giving her a bath (because she reeked like dead fish from the lake...and there are dead fish in there...I know because she found one today) and I thought it was a stubborn mud spot on her face. Wrong! Pulling ticks off doesn't gross me out anymore. It used to majorly. But I taped it up and set it aside for Dave to see, and now I can't remember where I put it...

Faily fail.

Keller shares her love in strange ways

My dog misses me during the day. Nonnie snapped these pictures yesterday and today. Keller's done this before - she'll pull out a shoe or two and either get the hankering to gnaw on it or to just...sleep by it. So that's what she did yesterday and today she decided to pull out my scarf...my slipper...my shoe....and then downstairs...she went through our laundry basket...and pulled out many of the fine undergarments in there.

I love her. This speaks mountains to me of her love for me (and hubby). Thanks to Ann for taking these pictures. :)

It was a bit cool today, but the sun was out, so Dave and I took an anxious dog for some exercise for the day. The Bloomington Dog Park continues to be an evolving mud hole...in spots. Tis the season. :) Keller, somehow, has become very well aware of where she's stepping - she hesitates before jumping over mud. I think she finally knows that if she gets dirty, it's BATH TIME!

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Hugs to Keller

Keller has not had the most fun week, but neither have mom or dad. If she could have come to the visitation, Broadway Pizza gathering, funeral, burial, and afterwards gatherings, she would have been much happier, because she would have gotten sooo much loving and probably a lot of food..oh, Keller pup.

Her daily fun this past week has been limited to playing with Nonnie and Papa and being on nightly deer patrol. That involves looking out the back windows, waiting for the 6-12 deer that prance through each evening, then whining forever for us to let her out to go play with them or something. But she has been out walking and running with me this week, which was good for her and good for me - helped clear my mind - except, for some weird reason - "On Eagle's Wings", which we sang at the funeral on Wednesday, kept repeating through my head during our run on Thursday. Haunting and peaceful at the same time.

Anyway, I'm grateful for Ann and Stu being around to help take care of her - and us - this past week. On the 24th, we celebrated 2 years of Keller being with us. We love you, baby girl. Thanks for bringing so much joy into our lives and making us smile, even during the tough times.

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Keller was no stranger to uncle Tyler. Here she is with him at Bob, Trudy, and Beth's last winter. At this specific point of the night, Keller was trying to steal Bob's cigar. I don't know what that means, but I love this picture. After we all graduated from college, we still managed to get together, usually at Bob's, since they lived in Minnetonka and it was a good meeting place for all of us. We had so many get-togethers that involved wine, hummus, cheese, beers, and for the guys, cigars. And many late nights where Keller outdid us all with her energy. :)

If Keller knew that Tyler had unexpectedly passed yesterday, she too, would be extremely saddened. Part of me tells me that she knows, however.

Keller's hobby

Keller has a hobby of staring out the window. She loves it and will stand or sit by the window for a looooooong time. She looks for squirrels and you know when she finds one because she starts whining. And there is a very high squirrel population around here. With the bond out back, there are also many geese, birds, ducks, and the daily parade of 6 deer right through the backyard. Nonnie and papa's window will need a good wipe down from snot goo when we leave!

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Little stinkers

We have a guest! Santi spent last night and today with us, and will again tonight before Seth picks him up tomorrow early am. We went to the dog park in Burnsville and these two went CRAZY. Thankfully, it wasn't as muddy as it was sloppy wet - and they both had their fair share of fun rolling in it, trampling through it, and were stinkin' wet when we were done. Both are now passed out, content, clean paws and all. :)

I feel the same...

...everytime I lay down to do homework too. (this image was not staged).

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Keller wishes you a thoughtful Lent.she considered giving up Bacon.

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B-Town Dog

Keller loves her new temporary home! We tell her that we are looking for new home that will have a very big backyard so she can chase squirrels. She keeps demanding that if we have to cut something out of our "high-of-the-list" priorities on our homes list, it would be less square footage in, more square footage out...for the squirrels!

Hide and seek

Keller and I love playing hide and seek. I hide the bone, she seeks it. Apparently she just wanted the bone to come to her in this case. Or she heard that uncle Seth was coming to get her to go see Santiago!

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Convo hearts - dog treat style

I got these cookies for Keller at PetCo when we were there a few weeks ago. Aren't they adorable? They almost look good enough to eat. Keller loves 'em. That's OK - I got my own Valentine's Day candy package in the mail - thanks mom and dad!

Keller's on day 2 of baths. 'Tis the season. We've lost so much snow this past week that everything is now mush. Poopy, slimy, smelly mush. So much so that it smelled like crap outside today.

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Rock stars

This is Keller and my new album cover for our rock band (kidding...kidding). No, but we're still rock stars. This is us after a very cold run this morning. The wind chill was around -20. I tried to cover as much skin as possible. We were out a little longer than expected, about 45 minutes. BRRR!!! But, we mean business in the winter. And Keller badly had to get outside. So did Steph. I always appreciate a sunny, although cold, winter day. The birds were chirping. Good for the soul.

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This is the face of a dog who doesn't care it's -5 outside, she wants to do something.

...but my studying trumps all. I'm a bad mom...except for the hour I took her to the dog park, and the twenty treats I let her eat today, and the rawhide she got to chew, and the stuff outside she got to bark at....

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Birthday Girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLER! Our baby girl is 2 years old today, and still such a baby as ever. Here she is with Dave this morning before he left for work. A bad case of camera-flash-eyes, but at least she looked at the camera. :) Love you, Keller Pup!

Revenge is bittersweet

While Dave has been in Chicago and Vegas, Keller and I have had much to keep busy with around home. I think she senses that he's far away, because everyday I came home from work last week, something was chewed up: pillow, carpet, ornaments. I call it revenge. She calls it fun.

So, to fight revenge, I kept her inside for most of the last couple of days. She was p'd.

On Thursday morning, we took the tree down, right away in the morning. After that, we made some doggie treats for her upcoming birthday. After that, we decided to go venture out into the cold for the dog park. Then she let me do a workout video at home.

On Friday, we got up early and I got the urge to purge the house of items we didn't need before moving. So, upstairs we went and plowed through the closet, the dresser, the shoes, the office bins. Keller was royally p'd off. But it was sub zero the whole day, and I wasn't ready to go out. Finally we did in the late afternoon, and Santi came over in the evening.

The bridge shot is from last Monday I think. Maybe the week before. Weeks just fly by around here. :)

Soon To Be 2!

Keller turns 2 in 2 WEEKS!!! WOW! Some things have changed, but others haven't. Such as this picture...she always, always, always sits two stairs up from Dave when he is putting his shoes on. :) I miss the puppy years (who am I kidding - we're still kinda in them) and I'm glad I've been chronicalling our adventures over the past two years. We love you, Keller!

Uncle Conte took Keller on Sunday and ran her for 5 miles and then played hockey with her for an hour. She loves chasing the puck. Also, Dave had taken her to the dog park, so she was one poooooped puppy last night. But she was bright eyed and bushytailed when I took her for a 4 mile run today (p.s. people need to be better about cleaning their sidewalks around here!)

Happy New Year 2011!

Keller had so much fun with Grandpa and Grandma Anderson and Auntie Lynnie that she assumed this zonked-out position on New Year's Eve while the five of us played a stirring game of Bingo. Don't worry, she was the usual rascal during Seth and Sarah's New Year's Eve Party. :)