Pic(s) of the Week: It's a Jeep Thing...

During a visit to the neighbor's house, Mia was introduced to the benefits of a joyride. A little glimpse into the future, perhaps? Oh boy...

Mia and Summer

Still trying to catch up and put together a Thanksgiving recap. Stay tuned!

Fall on the Farm

Ok, it isn't really a farm. Yet. But one can dream right? Actually, I think 15 acres qualifies me to call it a farm, even though we don't farm anything. Except maybe doggie play time.

Anyway, the other morning I looked out the front room window and was greeted by this beautiful sight...

I have never seen these trees so vibrant. The pictures still don't do them justice. This year, we have had an odd year when it comes to fall foliage. Either the leaves dropped before they changed color, or they were really late in changing. Regardless, I cannot recall in recent memory our Bradfords looking this gorgeous.

I am so glad I took these pictures, because they dropped half their leaves the very next day. So Mia and I decided to go out and play in the leaves.

Angel had fun too!



We had our first snow flakes today which means fall is quickly coming to a close. We were lucky enough to have great weather to be able to enjoy it this year.

Sunday, we are off to Denver to spend Thanksgiving with my family. So come back here after the holiday for a recap!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Change

It is funny how change works. Some change seems to take forever, but more often than not, change comes fast and furious.

In the last couple of weeks that is exactly what happened.

As you know, I have been going to school to receive my Masters degree in Teaching. I am very close to the end and it was time to take the next step into actual classroom experience. So this summer, I went through the motions to obtain my Substituting Certificate. And, two weeks ago, I got my first Sub job.

To say I was nervous was an understatement. However, as luck would have it, a friend of mine from school needed a sub for her fourth grade class and asked that I be offered the gig. Because we are friends, I was able to prepare much more than normal. She gave me explicit instructions, their daily routine, and a heads up about any issues I might encounter. I couldn't ask for a better first day. It went without a hitch and the kids were great.

After that first day, the calls kept coming. So far, I have been asked to sub for third grade, Special Ed and PE. It feels really good to finally get over that hump and officially start my new career.

In addition to subbing, my freelancing gig has been pretty steady. So things have been really busy.

As a result, Mia is going to daycare at least three days a week. It has been harder on me than her. She is thriving in a more social environment while I am a little bummed that my time with her is changing. However, what was originally going to be 6 months as home has turned into 2 years. I am so blessed and lucky to have had the time with her.

Everything happened so quickly. Two weeks ago, I was mostly stay at home mom. Now, I suddenly have two steady part time jobs. It will be a challenge to get used to working again and getting into a new daily routine. But I am really excited to embarking on this new journey in life and seeing where it leads.

Pic(s) of the Week: A Halloween Cow

Not every kid can make a cow look this cute.



Trick-or-Treat!



There isn't much to say here. The pictures tell it all...




Can't wait 'til next year.

Ghost Dog

This weekend seemed the perfect time to introduce you to our own little ghost here at the Schnelle house. Well, he's not really a ghost.

This is Ghost Dog.
See him? The big white one.

Yep, that's his name. Ghost Dog.

Ghost dog got his name because of his eerie presence. But I must back-up and tell this story from the beginning.

About a year ago, a family moved into the property behind us and brought with them two Great Pyrenees dogs that served as herders and protectors for the livestock there. They would wander into our yard once in a while with a herd of goats tagging along. The goats were pretty destructive, so we would often have to chase them back home. Back then, both the dogs were thin, lanky and skittish which made them a little bit creepy.

It was on one such occasion that our friend Cindy, who was staying with us at the time, helped us chase them out of the yard. She made the comment that the dogs were like ghost dogs.

A few months later, one of the dogs was left behind when our not-so-nice neighbors moved out suddenly (we found out later that they didn't treat their animals very well at all). He was left to run wild. Of course, the poor thing was pretty traumatized from being abandoned and he became very skittish and shy. The woman who owns the property placed food out for him in hopes to lure him in and develop trust, but he has yet to let any humans near him. Regardless, he sticks around the area, eats the food and still looks pretty healthy. Amazingly, healthier than before he was left.

Yet, he remains extremely elusive. You will catch a glimpse of him here and there, but only a glimpse, then he quickly disappears. Like a wild animal. Once in a while we will surprise each other, but he only stops to look at me for a second before loping back into the woods.

Hence, Ghost Dog. It stuck. The woman trying to catch him now calls him Ghost Dog too. It's his name, and it is perfect. Who knew?

While he is skittish with humans, he has made good friends with all our dogs. Recently, he began showing up early every morning to partake in the canine romp in our yard. I was never able to get a really good look at him until now. Still, if he sees any sign of human movement he takes off. But, I was lucky to sneak out on the porch the other morning and snap a few fuzzy pictures.

And yes, this is what our yard looks like every morning. Two of the dogs are ours, but the others belong to neighbors. Heaven.


He is so beautiful and majestic and huge! He towers over all the other dogs.

I was even able to get a couple of seconds of video.



It warms my heart to see him have so much fun. Our hope is that he someday trusts us enough that we can get him the proper care and love he needs. In the meantime, I am happy just to watch him from afar.

So if you think you see a white streak from the corner of your eye, or see something in the shadows, or an eerie movement in the dark, it is probably Ghost Dog lurking about.

Happy Halloween!!