For several years, I have been wishing for, sometimes talking about "my dream".
What is my dream?
It's simple, really, it's also complex in some ways.
Remaining single allows me to choose my own destiny, mostly. My own life path, working toward what will give me the most happiness. I already have the first part.
My dream dog, PJ. Shortened version of Poseiden Jack.
It takes time to make personal dreams into reality. The whole dream life is:
A Doberman Puppy. ✔
A custom dream house (process started!)
A horse of my own.
My plan is to move further south, to live near the ocean, going to the beach when the weather allows. An architect is drawing up the plans & calculating the cost of my dream home.
4 Master Bedrooms, a great room, a small sitting room, spacious kitchen, a dining room that can seat up to 12 people.
It takes time, diligence, patience. Having lots of patience is my forte'.Being a passionate needleworker has built the quality of patience for me.
Some people will say that it takes a lot of patience to do the detailed, heirloom quality needlework that I do. While it may be a person that had patience to start with, that does this. My experience was more like, I wasn't a patient person.
Needlework built my patience.
This is the most recent project I finished.
The title is Gift of Peace from Lavender & Lace Designs. The designer is Marilyn Leavitt Imblum (RIP August 2012).
I stitched it on antique white 32 Belfast linen. I made a few changes to suit my taste. The shiny coin is a US quarter to show scale. The little white bird he is holding is a dove, symbol of peace.
Isn't he lovely!
Looking back at the designs I used to work from, many that required more skill were intimidating to me. Now, they are easy, diving in is fun, exciting. Time consuming, yes. I love it!
PJs bedtime is 2030 hrs.
Yep, just like a child, he has a bedtime routine. I cuddle him, read to him, give him a small snack. Then, put his blanky & pacifier in his crate. He makes a nest with his blanky, starts suckling it. Soon, he's snoring, making puppy like suckling noises.
So precious.
Did I mention that I love this dog so much!
He is similar to having a child in so many ways. Relishing each life stage, he goes through as it goes faster than a human baby. Today had its ups & downs.
Usually, I rise from my bed, get dressed, take vitamins, make PJs food. I get him from his crate, take him out to go potty, come in, he eats his breakfast while I check emails.
After that, he has finished his food, we go to the dog park. I don't want a yard full of doggie-doo, going to the dog park, I pick up after him. It's the law!
Well, today had a few "surprises".
PJ tried to tell me, I was less tuned in than I ought to have been. He was very quiet in the back seat. Usually, he is excited & squealing on the way to the dog park.
Then, I smelled it and it wasn't a dog fart.
Mmm Hmm.
Thankfully it was solid. First time for everything. It could have been much worse than it was. This, I fully realize.
Dog poo in the car!
I love my dog.
I love my dog.
He knew he was guilty, I knew I was just as guilty as I cleaned up the small mess in the back seat. I wasn't taking his cue as I ought to have. Wet wipes to the rescue.
Once I took care of things, PJ was happily running the length of the dog park. Front gate to back fence over then over again.
He is just so beautiful. I would say poetry in motion, he is more like a wild stallion running like the wind.
It was someone else who noticed.
Usually, I walk the whole time PJ & I are at the park. 10 - 20 laps.
I was at the back of the park when I saw someone come to the front gate then enter the park. PJ was there in a flash!
It was a guy who had been admiring PJ for awhile. Getting to the front, he told me how beautiful PJ is & who had trained him then where he could get a Doberman as beautiful as PJ.
At that moment, I was so proud.
All the dog poo in the car that I had cleaned up ceased to matter.
I put PJ through some of his commands. The guy was so impressed.
Then, I let him know that I had put a lot of work into him. That I began training PJ when he was 10 weeks of age, that he was presently 14 months of age. That I had taken 2 weeks off of work, froze my gym membership for 3 months. Just so PJ & I could adjust to each other then I could start training him. I slept by his crate with a pillow & blanket. He cried less in his crate though he still cried. After 2 months he actually loved his crate, went in voluntarily, no commands or coaxing needed.
It took time, effort, patience, cleaning up messes.
PJ IS a great dog, he became a well-trained dog because I trained him, myself.
Telling the guy who the breeder was that I bought PJ from, that it was a process, that it would take a bit of time. He seemed to be the patient type of person. Maybe, in time, I will see him at the dog park where our dobies can play together.
