A Couple of Big Changes

We have spent the last several days cleaning out the rest of the toys we have kept here at the house for many years.  In the past we have cleaned out and replaced toys as the grandkids grew, but this time, ALL the toys, games, puzzles, dress-up clothes…they’re all going.  Luckily I have a niece who has three children who will really appreciate these items.  So far I have about 12 grocery bags, 1 garbage bag, several plastic bins, and a couple of boxes of stuff to go.
























Cinderella is really NOT evil – but she looks that way with the flash in her eye lol!!

Change is inevitable but sometimes it seems it happens all too soon, and sometimes, very suddenly.  When the kids were all here at Christmas, we realized it had been quite some time since they had been in the “playing with toys” stage.  They are growing up and we have to roll with that.  Not always easy but every age has its own joys and sorrows.  Seems like only yesterday they were babies, then toddlers, little kids, and now they are mostly grown.

It feels good to get rid of more extraneous stuff and to give it to someone who will actually get some use out of it.  But it is certainly bittersweet to have a house where toys are a thing of the past.  Now it’s all video games, iPods, music, and a little art thrown in for good measure!

But that is not the biggest change.  We were only going to look – honest!  BUT…we found a lady who was trying to find a new home for her two mini-Australian Shepherds (two years old).  She has a 7 year old and a baby and she was having a hard time keeping up with the kids and the dogs – plus a couple of cats.  I just happened to be browsing the Aussie breeder site when these two popped up.



The breeder is one I have watched for a couple of years and have gone back to her website several times after we lost Poppy and Rusty.  She is located at the coast in Florence but these two dogs were located in Eugene. 

The owner, Sarah, brought the dogs over this morning to meet us and we fell in love.  They are only about 20-25 lbs. each so about half the size of Poppy and Rusty.  The girl, Jewel, is a blue merle and the boy, Ollie, is red.  They are littler mates and the owner wanted them to stay together.  What could we say??















The male went to me right away and the female seems to prefer Russ.  They are sweet dogs and both have hauntingly beautiful blue eyes.






I know we said Poppy and Rusty were our last but we have so much love to give a dog that we just couldn’t hold it in any longer.  Yes, it complicates life a bit and is an added expense, but the truth is, we like having dogs in our life.  We can never replace Rusty and Poppy but these guys will earn their own special place in our hearts and lives.  Welcome home, Ollie and Jewel, welcome home.