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Saturday, June 27, 2009
The rest of the day
Chicago!
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Twins tour
Got a chance to check out the progress at Target field today...
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Day trip
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Saturday, June 20, 2009
Play time still shot
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Thursday, June 18, 2009
TCOTC (Twin Cities Obedient Training Center)
Jon and I decided it was time to get Eko into obedient training, so last night was our first class. After leaving work later than I needed too, rushing over to my parents where Eko had spent the day, and feeling as though I was driving like a maniac, I made it right on time.
Last night was collar fitting and practicing the basics. Eko did great. He sat, he loose leash walked with me, he even demonstrated with the instructor. There were plenty of other dogs there that kept his interest, but he was still able to concentrate and respond to my commands. Then... the best part! He was SO tired! He laid down in the car and immediately started to fall asleep. Once we got home, he found a blanket on the floor and curled up. He looked so comfortable that I thought I better do the same. 1 week down - 8 more to go!
Last night was collar fitting and practicing the basics. Eko did great. He sat, he loose leash walked with me, he even demonstrated with the instructor. There were plenty of other dogs there that kept his interest, but he was still able to concentrate and respond to my commands. Then... the best part! He was SO tired! He laid down in the car and immediately started to fall asleep. Once we got home, he found a blanket on the floor and curled up. He looked so comfortable that I thought I better do the same. 1 week down - 8 more to go!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
(post)Hike
Gaining the title of "Delinquent Blogger" is something Eme and I regard very highly. We haven't been officially tagged with that honorable title, but it is more something we concocted due to our blogging negligence. We are trying to get better, really! But for now you'll just have to endure this 3 week old post...
In the midst of busy work schedules we had the chance to sneak away for Memorial Day weekend to our cabin with Pete and Heidi. It was a fantastic weekend relaxing and enjoying God's beautiful creation. If someone were to create a theme for the weekend it probably would have been something like "Relaxing DQ." Did you know different Dairy Queen's charge different amounts for "extra stuff?" Well, they do.
Big Stuck Turtle
Beaver slapping his tail at us
Friday, June 5, 2009
"Enola Gay*"
In case you thought we were kidding...
This is on the way back up.
I'm talking to Eko to come up the stairs when I say "come on buddy." I'm not trying to egg on the crazy mom robin.
*For Clarification
Here's on the way down the stairs.
This is on the way back up.
I'm talking to Eko to come up the stairs when I say "come on buddy." I'm not trying to egg on the crazy mom robin.
*For Clarification
Holy Dive Bombing robin, Batman!
Ok, this thing is really getting out of hand. We have abandoned our normal "let Eko out the back door and down the steps to go to the bathroom" route for other means of egress. But last night after work I went outside to enjoy some time on our deck while talking on the phone. As soon as our patio door opened, the OVER protective mother robin flew out from under our deck and came around for her first diving mission at me and Eko. I quickly stopped, dropped, and rolled right back into the house. Ok, so I stopped and ducked. But I did go back into the house to grab my weapon of choice...The Racket.
I went back outside so enjoy the evening and to stand my ground. Because, after all, this is MY deck!
There she sat. About 10 yards away perched in the pine tree watching my every move. There I paced (I kind of like to walk around while talking on the phone. I'm not sure if it helps keep me entertained or what...) on the deck watching her every move. We were at a stalemate.
After a few minutes my phone conversation ended and I headed indoors to tell Eme how crazy this bird is when the robin rage continued.
Just as I opened the screen door the robin left her post and came whisteling by my head flapping her wings and kicking up all sorts of dust in her wake of terror. Ok, no dust...but it was frightful nonetheless!
I quickly shut the door with me inside and realized I left poor Eko outside to fend for himself. Even though he's about 2-1/2 feet tall and in no way could reach her unborn eggs she wouldn't relent. She flapped and hovered for what seemed like an eternity (about 3 seconds) and then retreated to her perch as I opened the door and started swinging like John McEnroe!
I grabbed Eko and we safely made it indoors.
A few hours went by, we all got ready for bed, and then went to bed. That's when the real nightmare began!
I had a nightmare about this crazy robin! I was on the grass and she was perched up on the deck staring me down like Clint Eastwood in one of the Spaghetti Western films. I started to run to safety when she came at me. Thankfully I had The Racket and I started swinging like my life depended on it! After a few minutes of her flying around my head I finally gave her a whack and she flew off. I was thrilled at my triumph! I even snagged one of her feathers in the strings of my weapon. This was going to be perfect! I was just about to head inside so I could take a picture of it for the blog! (remember this is just a dream)
Then HE came. That's right. The father, who has been nonexistent to this point, showed up to protect his wife and about to be hatched children. There he sat. Watching with those black beady eyes. Lowering his head into the attack position. My heart sank. I raised my weapon and readied to defend myself. He kept lowering his head, ready to attack. I stood my ground waiting. He stayed on the railing waiting for the right moment to unleash his fury. It was a draw.
Then I woke up! It was over! What a relief!
So is it so wrong of me to have urges of pushing this nest of eggs off the deck beams? Or possibly move the nest further away? Or to have a strong desire to whack mommy robin with The Racket to teach her a lesson? According to Wikipedia "only 25% of young robins survive the first year." And the "average lifespan is about 2 years." 2 YEARS! It's probably because they spend so much time dive bombing and not enough time resting, eating and relaxing!
These eggs need to hatch. And the mother needs to move on. But in the mean time, we are stuck going out every other door in our house to let Eko out other than the patio door. He is getting confused as he dribbled a little bit inside for the first time in a month. This madness must stop!
I went back outside so enjoy the evening and to stand my ground. Because, after all, this is MY deck!
There she sat. About 10 yards away perched in the pine tree watching my every move. There I paced (I kind of like to walk around while talking on the phone. I'm not sure if it helps keep me entertained or what...) on the deck watching her every move. We were at a stalemate.
After a few minutes my phone conversation ended and I headed indoors to tell Eme how crazy this bird is when the robin rage continued.
Just as I opened the screen door the robin left her post and came whisteling by my head flapping her wings and kicking up all sorts of dust in her wake of terror. Ok, no dust...but it was frightful nonetheless!
I quickly shut the door with me inside and realized I left poor Eko outside to fend for himself. Even though he's about 2-1/2 feet tall and in no way could reach her unborn eggs she wouldn't relent. She flapped and hovered for what seemed like an eternity (about 3 seconds) and then retreated to her perch as I opened the door and started swinging like John McEnroe!
I grabbed Eko and we safely made it indoors.
A few hours went by, we all got ready for bed, and then went to bed. That's when the real nightmare began!
I had a nightmare about this crazy robin! I was on the grass and she was perched up on the deck staring me down like Clint Eastwood in one of the Spaghetti Western films. I started to run to safety when she came at me. Thankfully I had The Racket and I started swinging like my life depended on it! After a few minutes of her flying around my head I finally gave her a whack and she flew off. I was thrilled at my triumph! I even snagged one of her feathers in the strings of my weapon. This was going to be perfect! I was just about to head inside so I could take a picture of it for the blog! (remember this is just a dream)
Then HE came. That's right. The father, who has been nonexistent to this point, showed up to protect his wife and about to be hatched children. There he sat. Watching with those black beady eyes. Lowering his head into the attack position. My heart sank. I raised my weapon and readied to defend myself. He kept lowering his head, ready to attack. I stood my ground waiting. He stayed on the railing waiting for the right moment to unleash his fury. It was a draw.
Then I woke up! It was over! What a relief!
So is it so wrong of me to have urges of pushing this nest of eggs off the deck beams? Or possibly move the nest further away? Or to have a strong desire to whack mommy robin with The Racket to teach her a lesson? According to Wikipedia "only 25% of young robins survive the first year." And the "average lifespan is about 2 years." 2 YEARS! It's probably because they spend so much time dive bombing and not enough time resting, eating and relaxing!
These eggs need to hatch. And the mother needs to move on. But in the mean time, we are stuck going out every other door in our house to let Eko out other than the patio door. He is getting confused as he dribbled a little bit inside for the first time in a month. This madness must stop!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Suggestions Welcome
I have never been so frightened by any bird, in fact I normally really like birds. However, we have this robin nesting underneath our deck, right by the top of the stairs. Since all of you know we have a growing puppy, trips outside are every couple of hours. Well... this bird is VERY protective and has taken to dive bombing us EVERY time we take Eko outside. Way to go robin for protecting your eggs, but do you realize this is our deck and not a tree branch!!!
Tonight, for me at least, Jon already has had a close encounter, was the closet she has come yet. Seriously, within 2 feet. She dive bombs on the way down the stairs and then has you try and enter the house again. This time I was at the patio door, rushing Eko inside, when I knew she was headed straight for me (I can see her little birds eyes glaring, it's nerve recking). Scariest thing was that I reacted with a yelp and started to close the sliding door, not realizing my poor puppy was only halfway inside. (no harm done, he made it, but it was close)
We started keeping a tennis racket on the table next to the door for added protection. Until her eggs hatch, I'm afraid we may need to find an alternative to the back sliding door. What stinks, is when training a dog, consistency is king, and switching it up now may be even worse. Although... my death scream might start to scare the neighbors. This feels like a lose-lose situation.
Tonight, for me at least, Jon already has had a close encounter, was the closet she has come yet. Seriously, within 2 feet. She dive bombs on the way down the stairs and then has you try and enter the house again. This time I was at the patio door, rushing Eko inside, when I knew she was headed straight for me (I can see her little birds eyes glaring, it's nerve recking). Scariest thing was that I reacted with a yelp and started to close the sliding door, not realizing my poor puppy was only halfway inside. (no harm done, he made it, but it was close)
We started keeping a tennis racket on the table next to the door for added protection. Until her eggs hatch, I'm afraid we may need to find an alternative to the back sliding door. What stinks, is when training a dog, consistency is king, and switching it up now may be even worse. Although... my death scream might start to scare the neighbors. This feels like a lose-lose situation.
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