Want to ride my bicycle?

This picture still makes me laugh...a lot! The boys discovered this bicycle built for 2 at AGR, and immediately wanted to test it's speed and maneuverability. I was laughing uncontrollably as they took off down the street.



Being the gentleman that he is...my hubby took me for a spin around the block...



Sally got this great action shot of us racing up the AGR house (and trying not to fall around the corner!)



Without a doubt, we are all still kids at heart.

Pets- good for your health

I tend to blog frequently about my dog, Bumble. She really is that wonderful, and more importantly a member of the family.

Quick walk down memory lane...

Freshmen year of high school, our black lab had just suddenly passed away. My twin sis and I wanted another puppy, and Dawn specifically requested an Australian Shepherd. So, after looking in the local paper, we found a litter that was a few months old in North Lakeland. One afternoon, my Dad took us to the house to check out the little fluffy pups. It was love at first sight for Bumble and I. She was tan, fluffy, spunky and had beautiful green eyes! I picked her up and insisted that she was the best puppy in the bunch. Of course, Dawn picked up another puppy, she was white with tan spots. She thought Bee was the best puppy and it became apparent that neither of us wanted the other pup, and making the decision between one of them was going to be impossible.

So, you guessed it, we ended up driving home with 2 puppies in the truck, and two happy gals. It was a rocky start with Bumble, she was very spunky in her young age, and very moody sometimes- she did not being told No.

We stuck out the Bumble adolescent years, and soon I was leaving for college at UF. My first apartment would not allow dogs, so I sadly had to leave Bumble at home with my Mom. It was hard being away from her, but I visited on weekends and holidays. I could tell that she really missed me though, emotionally it took it's toll on Bumble.

After graduating with my BS and MS from UF, Mom said, "It's time for you to take your dog up to Gainesville." I agreed, and in August 2005, I made the trip south, picked up my dog, and brought her to my apartment in Gainesville.

She just celebrated her 12th birthday in December, and is still going strong. Bumble often visits with her sister, Bee, and absolutely adores her Dad (as evidenced in previous posts)! I can't imagine life without her around, and love coming home to a happy dog, frantic to finally see me, and proudly displaying her bone.

I follow a pet photographer's blog, and today she posted a great article on the health benefits of owning a pet. I fully agree- Bumble makes my life better (and my cat too), and I bet my husband would also agree. He loves that dog so much.

Check out the article: http://www.erinvey.com/bark/bonding/

I know we will always have a pet in the house, and I want to adopt the next one...

"It must be Summertime"

Last week was Spring Break at UF, and I took some much needed vacation days the later part of the week to hang out with the husband and in general just get things done around the house. Prioritized at the top of my to-do list: shave the dog.

Yes, poor Bumble, but all that fur just had to go. She did manage to get some sympathy from a random guy soliciting in the neighborhood...I told him, "don't worry, I am only shaving her fur, it will grow back, and she will thank me later."

My next-door neighbor, however, fully appreciated my efforts and said, "Well, it must be summertime! We do the same thing to our dogs." He, at least understood that I was at my wits end with the constant shedding and tumbleweeds of fur in the house.

It took almost 2 hours...and a lot of patience....



That is a Publix bag FULL of Bumble fur...



To add insult to injury, I bathed her right after I was done with the clippers. She hates water and especially hates getting a bath. But, it was much needed....here she is, right after her bath, rolling around on the floor.



And another supporting factor to the new, bald Bumble- her fur is extremely electrostatic. Not only does she shed, A LOT, her hair sticks to you, and won't just brush off. It is super annoying. I looked this morning, and there is even dog hair stuck to my chair at work! I carry them in with me in the morning. Crazy. At least I know that Bumble is always with me...no matter what.

A few final shots, later that evening, all dry and looking fabulous!





Note: My husband requested the lion tail, he insists that leaving her long hair on her tail would continue the shedding problem. I don't think she is impressed with her new look.

Yes, it is definitely summertime...and my hair free, carefree dog is proof of that! :)

I caught the biggest fish...

This past weekend my husband and I drove to Homosassa to meet up with his Dad, brother, half-brother and Keli to stay and go out on the boat- a weekend of sun, fun and fishing! We definitely got our fill of the first two activities....but, the fish were not biting as much as we would have liked. It was nice and sunny (and I failed to put sunscreen on my legs the first day we were out, not smart), but the water was still chilly, and I think that affected the bite.

After a long and slow day of fishing, 2 eagle rays (we think they were eagle rays) swam up on the boat, and my FIL decided to attempt catching one. Sure enough, the ray took the bait and subsequently took off trying to get away. Sam (my half-BIL), thought this was super exciting and of course wanted to reel him in. James had to motor the boat after it, until Sam could stronghold it up to the boat (with his little 7 year old muscles). Eventually the ray grew tired and Sam reeled it in.





Getting it on the boat was the easy part...now the guys had to get the hook out. My husband is a pro (I always have to get his help with any catfish I catch!), so he went to work on the ray.



Sam's original excitement about his catch fizzled slightly with talk of staying clear of the ray's "stinger". We were not 100% sure if this ray would sting upon contact with the tail, but Sam was not taking ANY chances. I wanted to get his picture with his "big catch", but I think you can see how nervous he was about keeping a safe distance in this picture:



And finally, the release...and boy was the ray happy to be back in the ocean!



After that....Sam made sure to remind everyone that he caught the biggest fish...the entire weekend.

I snapped another picture of him hard at work on Sunday- it is a rough job, the life of a fisherman!



And he made sure to guide us home on Sunday...there may be a career as a captain in his future...

Special Birthday Wishes

Today is a very special day....and I am dedicating this blog post to my husband.

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Hope you enjoy celebrating another year in your 20's.

Check out this picture from one of your past birthdays...wow, I think we look older now. Older in a good way of course!



I love you.

Complete Bliss

A man and his dog....these two are inseparable, literally. He was gone for about 24 hours this past weekend, and needless to say, Bumble was very sad and insisted on cuddling once he returned.

A quick review of her signs of dismay at his packed bags and departure:

She watched him pack the overnight bag...thought maybe if I am good he will say the magic words, "want to go for a ride in the car."

Hmmmmm, it doesn't look good. Mommy is still here, she is not packing. He is going to leave without me (her tail has now stopped wagging, she lays down near the front door, sad face on and in full effect pout mode).

OK, he left. But, maybe if I lay by the front door, and stare at it, he will come back. PLEASE....dad....come back.

It is my bedtime, still no dad, guess I will go lay down in the bedroom.

OH, do I hear a car....(runs out into the living room and presses her nose to the front door, head cocked).....is he home. Gosh I hope he is home....hmmmmm, nope, I don't hear a car door. Must have been a false alarm.

SIGH....Mom is boring, guess I will go back and lay down in the bedroom.

And repeat that a few times until I went to bed Saturday night. She did cuddle with me on the bed, but I know she was secretly wishing dad was home. What can I say...she is a daddy's girl!






They looked so happy and peaceful...I just had to snap a few pictures. I can happily report that Bumble was chewing her bone Sunday once dad returned....life is perfect once again.

Happy Anniversary

Congratulations and Happy Birthday...I am preparing for back-to-back celebratory events February 22 & 23. Is the month over yet? Just kidding, I am very thankful for all my family and the marathon of events that occur during the shortest month of the year.

To add to the craziness, my Mom and Danny decided last year to get married on February 22. It was a Friday, my Mom was getting off work, and they called up Pastor Tim and asked if he would marry them in the church. Sadly my Sis and I were not present, but they did send pictures:

Happy 1 Year Anniversary you two lovebirds!

And, Happy Birthday Danny (on Feb. 23). Oddly enough, Danny shares the same birth day (not year) with my late father. Funny how life works sometimes...I think God intended us February birthday people to stick together (except for Bill, my sister's husband, but then he shares August with the rest of my family).

Have a great weekend Mom and Danny! Don't party too hard... :)