Heidi – Page 5 – The Dackel Princess

And Just Like That…She’s Home!

Thankfully, I gave myself two days of flying and sandwiched in a day of driving to get my new dackel baby girl, Heidi!

I’m not sure that I could have done it in two days, so this was perfect! I got to my hotel on New Year’s Even, settled in, and got my “free Dinner & Drinks” It hit the spot after a day of travel.

At about 3-4 AM there was a Tornado warning for my area in Tennessee! Well, this girl is a Northerner and I was a tad rattled. But nothing could keep e away from my appointed task. Getting my darling Heidi!

I picked up my Highlander Rental and headed toward Kentucky, to my friend’s home. She lives in such a beautiful spot. Sad to see the devastation that the tornadoes a few weeks back caused.

Anyway, the weather on New Years Day in Tennesee and Kentucky was bad. Rain, winds, and the tell-tale black skies scared this girl. But not enough to put off my trip to get my new baby!

Despite the weather, I made great time, and then, there she was. There was our Heidi!

I got to meet her Mommy, Daddy, and even her Grandma Tadee! I would have taken any of them home. They were all special. Especially, Daddy Ralph and Mama Luna!

We were watching the skies and the weather reports, so I opted to take Heidi and head back to Nashville. I returned the rental car (Loved that vehicle!) and stopped by the Delta Terminal to register Heidi and get our boarding passes. We got back mid-afternoon and settled into our room.

I went to sleep curled up with Heidi about 9:30 and slept until 2 AM when Heidi woke and was hungry and thirsty. So I fed and watered here, made sure she used the wee-wee pads, and then she fell back asleep.

I did not get more sleep as I fretted about our flight home. We left our hotel at 5:15 and got to the airport in no time. But it was there that Heidi and I had another weird thing happen.

When I got to the Security area, I was told to remove Heidi from her soft crate, which I did. Then I was told to go over to this female officer who said she wanted to swab my hands. Okay…then she swabbed Heidi’s paws. So weird, but it was later explained to me that between Covid, Ukraine, and other weird political things, apparently, our security level is elevated.

I stopped to get my car at Mandy’s and the kids got to meet Heidi. It was a love fest by all.

Savannah and Quinn with Heidi!

Me with Heidi and Savannah!

I got home at 12:30 PM and then settled in to begin house training Heidi. She is doing remarkably well. She has just wee-wee’d for the last time tonight and I think it’s time for bed.

It’s been wonderful and exciting and it’s like Heidi has always been with us. We are so very lucky!

The Countdown Begins

The plans are made. My bags are packed. I go to the grocery store later today and do the last load of laundry. Very early on Friday, I drive to Mandy’s to leave my car and off I go. To say I am excited is an understatement!

Heidi, here I come!

This & That ~ December 15th

I feel quite remiss at not writing before now. I’ve been rather worried and upset the last few days since the Tornados tore through Kentucky and the heartland of America.

You see, little Heidi, with her birth family and the breeder, who has become a friend are in Kentucky and they were very close to the epicenter of the storms, Mayfield, KY.

Luckily, the breeder, Gail, and all her pups and all of her family came through okay. But so many homes in her town were severely damaged, and there is no power or water. I fear that will be some time to come back.

So, since my middle name is “Worry-Wart” I have just felt really unsettled. I realized it was getting to me last night at about 12:30 AM when I woke and could not get back to sleep. I sat up for a while, watched a little TV, and eventually fell back asleep at around 3:30. But today I feel a bit tired and I know I have to give this to God. Me not sleeping is not going to help anything.

My grandchildren are visiting Disney. How wonderful! I’m getting pictures several times a day and they are having a great time. But I was suddenly amazed because my granddaughter looks very much like a pre-teen. Gone is my little girl! Wow!

But here is the other thing about Savannah. She has always been beautiful, but as she grows into a young woman she is strikingly beautiful.

Okay, I know. I am her grandmother and I look at her face and see the beauty of her face and soul!

I am thrilled to see that Quinn at least still looks like a little boy. I’m not ready for him to grow up and become a teen!

So that wraps up the last few days. I hope you are all well.

Fingernails!

In recent weeks I have been planning everything for my trip to pick up Heidi. Right down to getting my hair trimmed, colored and my nails done.

My nails were longer than I have ever had them, and I was looking forward to a crazy wild manicure.

That was before Wednesday when I caught my left index finger and tore the nail down past the quick! (Insert scream and bandaids for the bleeding)

I resolved to ignore this and still have long nails on the nine other fingers. Then today, in the space of one hour two of my nails split! Ugh!

At that point, I trimmed them all lightly and have filed them. I will still have Becca give me a good manicure with pretty polish. And truth be told, they were almost too long for easy typing. So, I am looking on the bright side!

I am done Christmas shopping. Yay! A few items are off to be delivered, but as far as thinking presents for people, I am done.

Jack and I are not exchanging gifts. We are getting Heidi and that is a present that we both will enjoy.

I have set up everything for Heidi and before I leave I want to put my pull-on boots by the door as well as my slip-on jacket and hat. Oh yes, Jack hates the new snow hat, but you know, it’s warm and for running outside to house train a puppy, it is good enough!

My breeder sent us the cutest picture of sleeping Heidi being sniffed by her Daddy, Ralph!

Isn’t that the sweetest thing?

Happy Tuesday

Yesterday I spent time sorting through brick-a-brack around the house. Over the years it seems that I have acquired a lot of really cute, but junky crap! I also have more vases from all the lovely flowers I have been sent. How many clear bouquet vases does one need?

So, I got some old boxes (yes, I save those too!) and started filling them with all this stuff. So far, I have four large boxes of stuff.

I want to continue this cleaning and on Thursday or Friday, bring a large load of “stuff” to our recycling center’s rehoming room. You know, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Little Heidi is continuing to grow and change and I am counting the days until I fly out to get her. Her wonderful breeder is raising those little babies with love, a sense of adventure, and such care. I feel so lucky to be getting one of Gail’s babies.

Little Heidi taking a nap after playing in the yard.

With each picture, with each puppy report, my heart swells with love. I feel like the luckiest of new puppy-mommys!

My plan today is more junk thinning, and also to dig out my doggy-poop bags and get those in my suitcase. Yes, believe it or not, I have started to pack for my New Year’s Eve trip!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Introducing Heidi!

Before I sat down to write this post, I reworked my Header for the Blog. It was time to let Arnie rest in peace, and go forward in life.

So, here we are introducing you to the newest member of our family. This is Heidi!

Heidi is six weeks old now, and in 4 short weeks, she will be on her way home from beautiful Kentucky.

I am flying down on New Years Day to pick her up and bring her home. I can hardly wait!

I’ve been so lucky because the breeder of Heidi’s litter has kept me involved right from the start. Pictures have come often of Heidi making me feel happy once again.

When you lose your much-loved fur-babies so closely together, it just does you in. But watching her grow throughout these last weeks put a real spring in my step and a smile on my face.

So, my little dackel baby, you will be coming into a home where you will be cherished and loved beyond measure!

The Weekend Wrap ~ November 22nd

The weekend seemed to fly by and on Sunday night I realized I needed another weekend day to accomplish everything I’d wanted to get done. I did, however, get a lot done and will finish up things on Monday and Tuesday.

My little Christmas tree is now up and I love the glow of lights from the kitchen where I have it set up. Since we have an open concept home, we can see the tree from both the family room and the kitchen. There is just something about Christmas lights that make me feel peaceful.

I will tell you that each day little Heidi is growing and becoming a propper puppy running around and getting into everything! When her name is called, she recognizes it and comes to the breeder.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am that little Heidi will be coming home in just about 40 days! Then a new chapter of my life will begin.

All my reservations are made, and I can hardly wait for the adventure to begin!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you found a little happiness, laughter, and joy.

Introducing Heidi!!

Heidi is nearly four weeks old now. Technically I guess, she is three and a half. But I like to think more about 4 weeks because then it is only six weeks until I bring her home.

I thought today I would introduce you to the newest member of our dackel family.

Here she is on the 22nd of October. She is the very smallest one with the red collar.

I remember seeing her the first few days, and feeling like I already knew this pup. I know that sounds strange, but it’s like my soul knew hers.

She is the very smallest in her litter, but she has been mighty and brave as she would fight for a nipple. Little pups are born with their eyes sealed closed and their ears too. What they do in those first couple of weeks is all instinct.

After their eyes opened and they began to hear, they would eat their fill and then settle into pig piles to sleep. Heidi is the one with the smallest head.

I’ve joked with her breeder that “She be small, but she be mighty!” Yes, that’s my girl!

Heidi November 14th. 2jpg This photo was taken on Sunday morning.

She is now up on her legs and starting to really move around. Apparently, she is a little growler!

Her beard and hairy paws are beginning to show and in another week she will start to look like a true Wire-haired Dackel!

I will keep you all posted as to how my little darling is doing. Six weeks can’t go by fast enough for me!

I want to thank Gail, the breeder of this beautiful litter of pups, for allowing me to use these pictures.

The Friday Five ~ November 12th

Another week has flown by. I was busy getting things done, as well as thinking and daydreaming about Heidi. So, here goes my list for this week.

I made all my reservations for my trip. Including a rental car. I feel good about all that I have accomplished.
Heidi’s new dog carrier arrived and it is perfect. I also sent a soft blanket to the breeder to use over the next few weeks. That way, when I bring Heidi home, she will have something that smells like home to her!
I have several larger crates that I will clean and one I will set up before I leave. The other will be for later when she’s a bit bigger.
The time change is kicking my butt! I am finding that I just cannot get used to the change. By 8 PM I am wiped out and ready for bed.
This weekend I will wrap all the presents for Mandy, Matt, and the kids. Then I will be dropping them off next week when I am at Physical Therapy. Unfortunately, I will miss seeing everyone at Christmas this year, but I simply have to take precautions. I do not want to get Covid or bring Covid with me. So I am living in a slightly tighter bubble these days.

So that’s it for this week. Stay healthy, stay safe, and enjoy the weekend!

Plans

I’ve been busy the last few days. Busy doing what you might ask? well, it is now 52 days until I depart Boston to fly to meet and bring home my new Dackel-Baby, Heidi!

When all of the Covid lockdowns began I switched all my bills to my Delta Skymiles Card. I also bought my groceries with the same card. I’ve been racking up the miles and so I wanted to see what I could do with my flight plans.

Well, I will be flying First Class with my new Puppy Baby when I bring her home. Using my Skymiles, my round trip will cost me $11.20. The cash amount is for taxes, which cannot be paid with Skymiles!

Once I had my flights, I set about getting a motel room in Boston, with Park, Stay and Fly, and then set about to rent a car in Nashville, to drive to the breeders home and pick up Heidi. I also needed a hotel in Nashville for the night.

I will admit the excitement is wonderful, but a certain amount of nervousness goes along with that. This is my first ever, completely solo trip. At nearly 63 years old (next week), I have always traveled with someone, be they parents, first husband, second husband, kids, cousins, sister, or friends. But this is me. Just me. And it is both scary and exhilarating!

So yes, the reservations are made and in 52 days the adventure begins!