Taming the Beast

Inspired by my friend who is starting her blog- which I am VERY excited to read and share- and VEGBEE- whose blogs you MUST check out- I am here and ready to blog again!

I am brimming with joy and, shamelessly, a bit of pride as I announce that I have tamed The Beast. That would be my Montgomery Ward 1969 model sewing machine. This is the same machine that I grew up sewing on. The one that took many trips to the repair/maintenance shop and still behaved erratically. The one that I have considered many times throwing from the highest window I could find. The one that, after about an hour and a half of poking, dusting, brushing and oiling, is now purring like a little kitten.

Mind you this kitten still has claws. I have, since last night's maintenance session, bent needles and clogged thread. But I am delighted with my machine and quite sure that I do not need that new one for Christmas after all.

I am even pretty sure that I could take on the Christmas Dresses for my girls this year. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I think I would not be doing my life justice if I did not at least mention the German Short Haired Pointer/English Springer Spaniel, Jasper, that is throwing himself against the door to be let in at this very moment.

Talk about a BEAST! I cannot count the miles I have jogged, run and climbed through over grown bushes, to capture this dog after one of the many times he has escaped. You may say, "Well, given the breed didn't you know what you were getting yourself into?" Well, no! I asked the owner of the mother of the pup if this was a calm breed and he said yes. I had never really heard much about the breed before.

Let me make this abundantly clear to all:

A German Short Haired Pointer/English Springer Spaniel IS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, NOT, NOT A CALM DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, Jasper is very intelligent and he is mine. Now that I see that there is no way God is letting me out of owning this dog, I commit to care for him, love him and above all train him.



Here is a picture of him when he was much smaller, much cuter and less disgusting. Never mind the face that he is peeing on my kitchen floor in this picture. A fact that my daughter pointed out to me as I was showing her what a cute picture this is.

Jasper is the true beast in this house and it is only with the help of a good friend and a good dog training video, or ten, that I will be able to handle this dog. But things are already getting better. He is already a "good" dog, someday he will be a great dog.

Hmm...I was just about to wrap this up but realized that I can't quite yet. As I typed "great dog" I couldn't help but think of my GREAT DOG that I had to say goodbye to almost a year ago.
It makes sense to mention that when I got Buddha he was a lot of trouble! He was without manners and was a hyper, crazy dog, maybe not QUITE as out of hand ad Jasper. He cost me hundreds of dollars before I got him under control. In the last half of his life, everyone fell in love with him. His good manners, gentleness and sweetness had everyone by the heart.

So, here is to a true friend, protector, and the best dog ever. The first true commitment I ever made.

Buddha
1995-2009