Still Adjusting

I haven't posted in the past few weeks mainly because I have been spending them trying to adjust to simply having a dog. I love my border collie endlessly and wouldn't trade her for anything. In fact, I am wondering how I ever got along without her. That being said, adjusting my schedule, routine, even my house to having a dog is a long slog.

This summer has been particularly humid; humidity affects me much more than heat does. After walking Olive it takes a bit of time to recover before I can do things like practice my fiddle playing. That has been cutting into my practice time. Housecleaning seems to be a bit more problematic than it used to be also. Not only is Olive tracking dead grass, leaves, and twigs into the house (to say nothing of her shedding), I am less inclined to lug the vacuum cleaner around after a walk in the hot humid weather. I am looking forward to drier fall weather.

Border collies are a very active breed and require a lot of exercise. I normally take her for eight short (about one third mile) walks per day, followed most of the time by playing for some ten to fifteen minutes with her foam rubber "saucer". I really don't mind the walks, as they are much needed exercise for me. Adjusting my schedule around them so that I can get my housecleaning and other things done is a challenge.

I will probably be adjusting at least until we have been together a full year. Winter will pose a challenge, particularly if this coming winter is as severe as last year's. How will Olive react to a decorated tree in my living room? How will I get my Holiday shopping done? No doubt I will find a way, but the first time for any event with a dog will be dicey.

Of course, I am not the only one adjusting. Olive seems to be adapting well to my routine. She has been eating well twice a day, has learned to not bother me when I am napping or sleeping, mostly keeps quiet while I am practicing my fiddle or watching TV in my downstairs room (which she cannot get to due to the spiral staircase). She is starting to learn not to pester me to throw her ball when I am eating. Little by little we are adjusting to each other.

Happy Birthday Olive!

Olive was born, so I have been told, on August 1, 2011. I wished her a happy birthday when she jumped onto my bed to say "good morning", but was unsure how else to celebrate. I took her to the dog park, which she loves, where we found quite a few dogs with their people frolicking before the day got too hot. Olive chased some tennis balls, made friends with a dog named "Lady", and was as pooped as I have ever seen her by the time I called her to go home. I was glad I had brought a bottle of water and her canvas dish, as she seemed especially thirsty. Since we got back I have been indulging her desire to play catch with the foam rubber saucer, play catch in the house with a light rubber ball, and go for walks every two hours. I keep telling myself I should do it because it's her birthday; isn't that, though, what I do every day?

Under other circumstances I would have taken today to drive out to the Falcon Ridge folk festival near the point where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York come together. There was a time I would go with my tent and stay for the entire festival. Now, however, I am still recovering from my week at Ashokan fiddle camp, it seems like a long drive, and beside that, how could I run out on Olive on her birthday? I am still contemplating going out there for Sunday, but will have to see  how I feel in the morning.

Since getting home a week ago Olive has settled back into what passes for a normal routine. I took her back to Candlewick on Tuesday for the day while I went north for a fiddle lesson. She seems to have taken to the place as a child might take to school: happy to go there, happier to go home at the end of the day.

I have been asked why I chose a border collie as a pet. The truth is that after Nanne left Olive with me to "foster" for a month, she decided that she liked it at my house and wanted to stay. I did not choose her; she chose me. Today on her birthday I can honestly say I am so glad she did.