My dog is famous

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You have to scroll through a little bit as more pictures keep getting added. She was number 10 last time I checked, but she could be further back now. She is the mininature long-haired doxie "Felicia the pumpkin," as my husband wrote, "Straight out of the pumpkin patch."

Felicia and Me

Walking the Dog

Since I can't go to the gym at the moment because of the physical therapy for my knee, I have developed the new habit of rushing home from work to walk the dog. These walks hardly qualify as exercise since long-haired miniature dachshunds are not known for their long legs or endurance, but they do clear my mind. I've learned on these walks that my 2 1/2 year old dog knows a lot more about living than I do after 29 years after practice. Unlike me, my dog does not measure her walks in terms of miles covered or calories burned. While I'm using our time together to unwind from work, my dog uses our time to engage with God's creation using all five of her senses as much as possible. And I do mean all five senses! My dog savors every moment we are outside, taking every step unapologetically, even when her frolicking requires us to stop at every other tree. I envy her carefree appreciation for living. While I am busy doing, my dog has mastered the art of being.

In addition to bonding with the dog on our walks, these last few days, I've been enjoying the changing seasons. While my sinuses certainly don't fully appreciate springtime in Maryland, the rest of body does. One of my two favorite times of the year occurs as creation slowly rouses from its winter slumber, and all that was dormant begins to burst into new life again. The changes the spring brings remind me of the countless new beginnings that God offers His children. No matter how many times we stray or fall, He restores us to new life in Him, to our beauty in Him, just as the flowers and the trees are restored to new life and colorful beauty each spring.

Walking the dog has simply given me a great excuse to be outside. In the fall, I am outside every day coaching, but during the other three seasons, I typically spend my afternoons safely tucked away in a climate-controlled gym. This year, I am remembering how much I enjoy the outdoors. The community where our new house is located maintains wonderful trails through the woods around our neighborhood, and I've enjoyed exploring these quiet pathways and marveling at the first breaths of warm air on my arms and the sight and sound of birds dancing and singing through the trees. Experiening the complex beauty of God's creation always draws me closer to Him who created it all.

Our Little WMD

I've mentioned how destructive my dog is on this site before, and now I have visual proof. Last night, John and I bought a three-pack of bones for our little angel, and we gave her one to gnaw on while we watched a movie. We gave Felicia the bone because she had been having problems digesting the plastic ring that she had most recently taken to destroying.

Here is the small arc that is left of what used to be a full circle:

And here she is with her bone in all her chewing glory:

Here is what was left of the bone a mere ONE hour after we gave it to her (compared to a full bone from the three-pack that we purchased):

Here is what was left of her bone after one hour and 30 minutes:

And here she is again with the "I haven't even begun to chew" look on her face:

Keep in mind that this bone was designed for a dog 4-5 times Felicia's size. No challenge is too high or too difficult for our baby! Oh, and if you're wondering what all those brown specks are on our carpet, those are pieces of sticks that she brings in through her doggie door and shreds with her teeth. We do vacuum, but the clean floor doesn't last long with Felicia on the prowl.

Stalwart German

My dog Felicia impresses me. She is a miniature long-haired dachshund, but even with her short legs, she can walk further and faster than many longer legged dogs that I've known. A few times a week, John and I treat Felicia to a 2-mile walk at a nearby park. The first time we took her there, I was worried that she wouldn't be able to make it. Two miles is a long way for tiny dog to travel without a rest. But Felicia did more than just make it. She trotted along at a pace that gave John and me a workout, too. We thought she'd sleep most of the evening after that walk, but she wasn't worn out or tired from her exertion at all. I can't get over how sturdy she is for being so small and petite. I'm pretty sure it's the German in her breeding that makes her so stalwart. And I'm pretty sure it's the German that helps her make her presence known whereever she goes. Felicia spent this past weekend with her three cousin dogs at my mother's house. Even though all three of these dogs are significantly bigger than Felicia, Felicia outstands all of them in her destructive capabilities. Felicia can destroy clothes, shoes, belts, papers, and toys with one quick snap of her jaws. With only slightly more effort, she destroyed an entire section of carpet in my former bedroom when she was locked up this weekend. It appears she was trying to dig her way out under my old bedroom door. It also appears that she almost made it. While I sometime resent having to stow my possessions out of her reach, part of me is proud of Felicia's fiery personality because I credit it to our common German heritage. Nobody expects such a small creature to pack such an enormous punch. And she does it all while softening hearts with her charming tail wagging and adorable good looks. It's hard to be angry at a such a carefree little animal, even after she shreds your house.