Lots to Talk About

I was away on a work conference yesterday. Unfortunately, I forgot to mention that during my last post. I went to a staff development workshop that was held at the Nashville Public Library. It was a really great day. Nashville Public has a beautiful, rather new buidling that was built from a remodeled downtown shopping mall. Even though the building is new, they built it in an old style. It looks like it could have been there for years. It's just so fabulous. I love to attend workshops there, and I jump at the chance to attend. The workshops were great, and so was the lunch they had catered in for us. They catered lunch from a little cafe on the bottom floor called Provence. I think that I've mentioned them before. Anyway, they have fabulous breads, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and cookies. We had great roasted turkey on their famous bread, chips, drinks, and homemade Scottish shortbread. It was yummy. My coworker, Kim, and I rode together, so I had company on the drive into downtown. Nashville Public also gave us these really neat lithographs of their building. All in all, not a day wasted.

Meet Fergie

A big chunk of news from the Richardson homeplace is our new fosterdog, Fergie. Fergie is nearly three years old, and has never lived in a home environment. She is a red heeler mix. She just finished nearly four months of obedience training with Jennie and me at Kindred Spirits. Casey and I thought that it would be a good idea to get her used to living with a family, along with our menagerie. We are trying awfully hard to improve her adoptability. Casey brought her home on his day off yesterday. So far, everything has gone really well. Bear absolutely adores her. He has been following her everywhere. They had a real big romping and playing session yesterday in the living room. I think Bear feels that he has finally found a true playmate. Fergie seems to like Bear just fine too. The cats all seem to like her fine, but she's not too sure about them just yet.

The funniest thing happened last night. Fergie has been crate and kennel trained, so Casey and I brought her crate, thinking it might offer her some extra security in a strange place. Well, Bear has just been nuts about this crate. He's never been crated or kenneled, except at Kindred Spirits. Anyway, he's decided that the crate is a very cool place indeed, and Casey and I are having a hard time keeping him out of there for Fergie. When Fergie decided it was time for bed last night, she crated her own self. I was fixing a Kong with treats for her to have in there with her. I opened the door to put it in, and in shot Bear. He just hunkered down in there with Fergie and would NOT come out. It was a rather cute sight, both Bear and Fergie sitting side by side, looking out of the doorway. I ran to get my camera, but they both came out before I could snap the shot. So, things are in a little upheaval at the house right now, but I think it will settle down rather quickly. Tonight, I'm sure, will be quite interesting around the home.

I've finally gotten the first batch of Celebration Pet Day pictures downloaded. I'll post a few here, but hop on over to the photoblog to see the majority of them. Everyone have a great day!!