Musical fosters

We moved Woody to another foster home when we went away for a week. I had my shoulder surgery right after we got back so he stayed with another foster for a while before returning to the first alternate foster recently. However, that person had an emergency appendectomy the other night and needed a break, so today Woody came back to us. However, Ted moved to a new foster home today to keep our numbers constant. 

Woody seemed very happy to be back and he played with Bailey and Maze. I think Ted will be better in a home with fewer dogs anyway. He doesn't care so much about the outdoor activity, Ted just wants to be with a person. 

Anyway, we had some dog movement around here today, and my sister arrived from Montana. I was happy to see that Bailey was very friendly and welcoming to her. 

A-Maze-ing

Maze (Della's first born) came to visit today. She's with us until Sunday. She and Bailey and Ted are having a great time together. That's good for all of us. 

I had my first physical therapy appointment today. It went well. He emphasized that this is a long, slow recovery, but he was pleasantly surprised at the range of motion I already had. I have at-home exercises to do, of course, which will increase in intensity as time goes on. 

Bailey's play is a bit in-your-face.

A high altitude pounce. Later I saw her do a double hop, where she bounced off her hind legs only and did a second leap, kangaroo style.

Ted and Bailey have been playing together a lot. He's sort of hanging back and watching Bailey and Maze engage now, which is smart.

Buttercups in the dog yard growing where grass doesn't.

Candace is sure a tough old girl. 

I've been sleeping upright in a recliner in the guest room. 

Bailey is in the bed next to me keeping an eye on me.

I'm going to try moving back to the bed in our room tonight.

On the road again

I saw the surgeon again on Friday. He showed me some cool but rather gross pictures of the repairs he had done in my shoulder. He seemed quite proud of them so I didn't want to tell him they were gross. He told me it went well, to continue wearing the sling until four weeks after the surgery when I'm up and about, but most importantly, he said I could drive again.

Saturday I drove Ted to an adoption event at Bonefish Grill in Charlottesville. I don't think we met any potential adopters, but the outing was a good experience for him and he was good with everyone he met. Woody was at the event too and he was happy to see me, but he's staying with another foster for another month yet anyway.

I start physical therapy on Monday. My sister from Montana is coming here next week. I been sleeping in the recliner in the guest room since the surgery, but we can move it into our bedroom. I tried going back to sleeping in bed the other night but my arm/shoulder/back wasn't ready for that yet. The recliner has been very comfortable. 

Three months and counting

If all goes according to plan, three months from now we'll be beginning our new life in France. August 1 is the starting date for our initial rental there. Clay submitted our visa applications today and we already have an interview set up in D.C. for May 13th. Three months seems both a long time and also an impossibly short time for all there is still to do. It's an exciting time, and a little scary too. 

By the way, we are planning a party on Sunday, July 6th, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., at Patch Brewing Company in Gordonsville for anyone who wants to come out and say farewell. 

The pictures today are of Bailey at Decipher Brewing this evening, where we went to watch the World Beer Cup awards. Bailey and I stayed outside because it was a bit crowded and loud indoors. I tried out a new package of treats that I had brought to her from France, some sort of dried chicken parts. She liked them very much. 

Back into the woods

I'm so tired that I actually tried to nap this afternoon. My shoulder hurts, my feet hurt, and I never felt so good. The only being as happy as me this evening is probably Bailey. What accomplished this seemingly contradictory miracle? A four mile walk in the woods. 

Friend/neighbor Jan offered to let us tag along on one of her walks this morning. I was thinking cautiously and suggested that we just do the two mile walk on the roadway at Pleasant Grove -- flat, even surface, easy walking. But providence intervened in the form of a police blockade that had traffic stopped on Rt. 53. Our plans pulled a quick pivot and we pulled into the Fluvanna library and started at one of the trailheads behind that parking lot instead. That proved to be providential in a couple of ways. First, the sun was too hot to be walking out in the open. The shade made for a much more pleasant experience. Furthermore, the simple experience of being in the woods was incredibly therapeutic. 

I hadn't been out for a hike since sometime before our trip to France. The last walk I took was before the trees and shrubs had fully leafed out. It was wonderful to see the woods fully greened up, from the trees overhead to the ferns underneath. Walking is energizing. We got started and I just wanted to keep going. We didn't break any speed records; in fact we really slowed down the pace when even Bailey showed signs of being tired, and we chose routes that kept us under the cooling cover of the trees as much as possible. We even made a point of visiting Sparky's watering hole, but she wouldn't take a drink or even touch the water. She's a dryland dog but she sure does love our walks. From the moment I put the Gentle Leader on her this morning, she was happy because she knew we were finally going on a walk once again. 

We both napped this afternoon but not enough to interfere with what I anticipate to be a good night's sleep tonight. My shoulder is sore this evening just from being jostled around in the course of the hike, but overall I feel better than I have in weeks.