Moral Dilemma of the Puppy Mill

Yes, before you get all crazy on me, we are getting a dog.  I know I know...Wilson was a handful.  I mean lets face it, he was more like a Great Dane than a Golden Retriever.  Regardless, Wilson is roaming some 100 acre vineyard with his girlfriend while my kids are longing for a dog.  Cats just don't cut it.  They are not interactive pets at all.  If all you get is a snuggle in the middle of the night, then they just are not affectionate and fun enough for me.

So dog hunting we will go.  Of course I started with craigslist.  When that yielded nothing but rottwiellers and pit-bulls, I moved on to kinder pastures.  Shelters are plentiful if you use petfinder.com.  They really are nice, but every dog I wanted, didn't want kids.  So that left me with little choice but the local paper.  Now I know that little dogs are all the rage right now.  I've had a few.  We are not talking teacup size just under 20 lbs.  But it is insane what people charge for a pet now days.  I didn't need a pure bred dog.  Just something small enough that could be carried around by one little girl.  Brighten needs animals.  She has wanted a small dog for 2 years now.  It's just part of her personality.  I'm sure she'd be happy with a horse if we let her, but a dog will have to do.  So small was important.  I found one that was a mixed breed.  And little old ignorant me, I think, oh they didn't fix their pets in time and what a cute little accident.  Boy was I wrong!

I go to take a look at this cute little fur ball and see which of the 3 dogs I wanted.  I walk up to the house(in the country) and I see a dog run with 3 pugs. Ok, not too bad right?  Then I get up to the house and there were 8 dogs on the porch.  Most of them were Chihuahuas of some kind.  They looked healthy and well cared for but I started to get a little nervous.

I was escorted in by a kind middle aged woman who obviously loved dogs.  The first thing I noticed is all the cages everywhere and the smell was pretty overpowering.  It didn't smell putrid, but more like wet dog food and dog breath.  All the cages had small dogs in them.  Several litters of puppies of all different breeds lined the walls.  This lady was no housekeeper that was for sure, but she did have linoleum floors which I thought was wise.  All of the cages were pretty clean.  I mean 15 or 20 cages of dogs.  I wanted to turn and run away, but something told me to stay.  She was kind and showed genuine love for all these little creatures.  She had an elderly fellow there that was completely deaf and was surrounded by medicine bottles ...literally.
So I took a look at 3 little mixed breed Shi Tzu/Maltese pups.  I fell in love with this little black and white one.  They were spunky and loving but then I had my moral dilemma.  I could buy this little boy and save him from spending one more minute in this puppy mill, but really, was it a puppy mill?  Should I have asked to see her license?  She was keeping the cages clean and none of the dogs looked uncared for.  Who am I to judge how this lady chooses to make her money right?  I am not buying a designer dog, just one that my husband will put up with that is small enough to be carried around by one nurturing little girl.  Hair dog...small dog...and wont cost me an arm and a leg.

My dilemma...is this right?

It's ladies night and I am DONE with diapers

Man, I feel like a blog slacker!  Not really.  I've been writing everyday in my Living Local Momma blog, but I feel like I am neglecting my friends and family... so sorry.


Picture me with a laundry basket full of projects and one heavy sewing machine.  Of course I did have a bag of goodies, complete with hummus, veggies, baguette, Hansens Cane Sugar Rootbeer, and some Girl Scout Cookies.  Sounds like a complete dinner, does it not?  Upon arrival, I was greeted by friends I hadn't seen in a while.  Hi friends!  We laughed.  We talked about funerals?  I've decided, we all know too much about them.  And yes, a snort even escaped from yours truely!  I can't even remember what was so funny now.  The amazing thing was that we all got something accomplished: Stacey, that 2010 calendar only 2 1/2 months late (don't worry, I have 2 from 2008 that I haven't finished), Tami, a fabulous spring wreath with a few egg friends to boot, Jenni, a spring sign and a gorgeous flowerpot, Paisley, the folding of the socks :), Melissa, a blog post!, Becky, some more pages in her recipe scrapbook and got schooled on all things food related, did I forget anyone?  Oh yeah...me.  I finally made a little cushion for a rocker on my front porch.  After I kicked the cats outside for good, they needed a place to cozy up for the night.  So amidst the laughter and discussion, I actually got something Done...that elusive word...Done.  Man I like the sound of that.  I made some placemats too, but didn't get all of them done, so I don't get to brag about them yet. (sorry the photo is taken at night, so not a great shot, but don't they look cute all snuggled up together?)

Now that I mention the word Done...did I tell you that Evan is fully potty trained?  Let the angelic chorus ring out with joy!  He even stays dry at night.  It only took about 300 pieces of candy, 4 dragons, 20 matchbox cars, a few other dollar store finds, and now we have no use for the pull ups crammed into his drawer.  Did I also mention that my soon to be 9 year old, who still wears a pull-up to bed, is also staying dry at night too?  Yes, I have been blessed.  I figured, if I kicked the cats out for peeing on my carpet, it was time to get my own kids potty trained....cuz I can't kick them out! LOL!  How did I do it?  Well, her's wasn't really physical, so I wasn't worried about damaging her fragile psyche.  Lazy plain and simple, was the cause of the peeing.  We caught her more than once with a full "diaper" before she was even asleep.  So I bribed her.  I gave her polly pockets, little fuzzy puppy figurines, jewelry making kits, anything to put her mind on getting that toy rather than sittin in pee all night long.  I was fed up.  Her room was starting to stink...and I'd had enough.  So now, no one pees in my house unless it is in the toilet.  We are really DONE with diapers!  It's been 12 years, 3 months, and 1 day since I have had to dispose of a diaper, let alone change one!  See I told you...angels singing...can you hear it?!

Another Blog?

Yes...for a month, I will have another blog sharing the adventure of trying to go local.  Yes, local businesses only, is where I will spend all my money.  No Target special end caps.  No bulk packs of paper plates from Costco.  No Big Mac from McDonalds, and yes, no pizza from Papa Murphy's.  So if you would like to check it out, I will be posting daily for a month at Living Local Momma .  By the way, I will be posting all the links in the sidebar instead of the actual posts...I haven't mastered wordpress yet.

Teacher...want an apple?

February 22nd seems like a really weird day to begin school, but that is just what I am doing.  Can't even soak it all in yet, but I am a real college student again...wow!  Looking back at my transcripts, I was a little horrified to say the least.  Ok, so not to sound conceited, but I am smart...so what is with the horrible grades?  Then it all started creeping back in.  My freshman year, I actually signed up for classes before 10 in the morning...bad move.  Then I didn't have the guts to withdrawal from my classes if I didn't like them.  Actually, I didn't want to loose the grants, so there you go.  What a waste.  And, I had some philosophical block against the grading system as a whole.  Why go to class if you already knew the material?  This is college right?  Anyway...sucks to be me.  I'm over it.
Now, I get to type away on my bed at 11:30 at night in my underwear and it's grand!  Sure, it's still about turning in assignments and quizzes (which I have already done 2 of both on my first day...they let us start on friday).  We have group discussions, blogs, videos, audio links, and tests.  It really is quite complicated, but I am willing to do this to get my degree from BYU-I and save like a gazillion dollars by not going to George Fox.  I only have one class, but starting in May, it's full speed baby.  It's kind of a non descript degree, but it will be in communications with a marriage and family studies minor.  It will get me into the counseling program at George Fox for a masters and that is all I care about right now.  Really...who couldn't use a course in conflict management?! LOL!
College for me was about forming lasting friendships, deepening my testimony, learning, working, and finding myself.  I did that.  And look what I've become?
 Besides going to class without leaving my bed, there are also some other benefits.  I don't have to worry about stupid boys and how they break your heart, or if I am going to slip and bust my tailbone on the ice in Rexburg.  Or how about finding decent clothing in a town that caters to potato farmers and cowboys?  And girl roommate drama...so glad I don't have to live with that anymore. So is it ok if I want to go buy a book bag and some cool pens, paper, folders, and highlighters?  I think I might start writing poetry again and waxing philosophical on all subjects great and small...watch out!

Jumpin on the Bandwagon

Oregon has one of the worst unemployment statistics in the nation right now.  But we have a job.  We are one of the lucky few that has weathered a very bad storm and come out the other end.  Patrick doesn't make nearly the amount of money that he made in Utah but it's not too shabby if I do say so myself.  We are able to pay all of our bills on time and in a 3 short months, we will have our bankruptcy filed and finished and we can start paying back some of the smaller debts that we owe.  It's a good feeling.  That being said...things are very different.  Our house is smaller.  Our priorities have changed.  We have paid for junker cars.  We go to the Movies in Newberg because it supports a local business and it's cheaper.  We have our kids enrolled in dance classes  in a local Sherwood company because it sustains our local economy.  It's not the best place around, but it helps our community.  Our family dentist is local.  He is not a part of a big corporate entity like Gentle Dental.  We have a fabulous toy and book store just down the road.  I'm doing my part to keep my local economy strong.  But I can do more. 

Something new my family is doing is supporting this local dairy.  Also, I am going to have this produce company deliver to our home every couple of weeks.  Instead of sundaes at Dairy Queen we can go to this cupcake store.  Starting March 1st, for one month, I am going green.  What that means for me is I will try and buy only locally grown things or shop at independently owned businesses.  Why?  Well I want to put as much of my money back into the local economy as possible.  If we all did this, I believe would could see a real difference in our economy.  Target, buh bye...same to you Costco...forget Joanns...and Michaels...I am going to Thriftway, the new produce stand in Sherwood, or this for fabric, or this for gardening supplies.  Can I do it?  It's worth a try.  I have a birthday to plan in March and I am going to have to spend more time researching to figure out where I can get things that I can't live without like chocolate that is made in Oregon... and what about a movie rental place?  Of course...no chain restaurants and in Portland, that is far better anyway.  The local barber instead of Great Clips...local mechanic instead of dealership...resale or boutiques for clothes instead of Old Navy...appliances at Walt's instead of Best Buy...Powell's instead of Borders...you get the picture.  If you want to take a look at a documentary go here.  As you probably can tell, I don't shop at Walmart.  So if I am jumping on a bandwagon...I don't think it's a bad one....unless you work for a big company.  It's ok.  I'm just one person.  And this is what I want to do, so I am going to do it.  Rock on my small business friends.  I'm in your court now.

Salivating At Target

See that green bread box on the bottom?  It will haunt me that I did not buy it....not to mention the spinny thingy for the silverware that would look great on my kitchen table.  I can even justify buying it because we don't have enough drawer space...

And those crocks would be perfect to store all my utensils in...again because of the lack of drawer space.  This is what gets me goin...not handbags or new clothes.  If you could see the puddle of drool on the keyboard, you'd understand. 

My Magic Place

Me likey the dirt.  Even though I own more than a dozen gardening gloves, I almost always just stick my little digits in the ground without protection.  It's like hugging your child in a snowsuit, you just can't feel them the same.  My first garden memory was as a 6 year old child and weeding a very large backyard with my brother.  Back in the day, our parents would kick us out of the house at the crack o dawn to weed.  This is when Kip got his first set of stitches because evidently, footsy pajamas cannot grip mossy, wet, deck wood.  Yes, they kicked him out too at the ripe old age of 1.  Now as a parent myself, I know exactly what they were doing on Saturday mornings, but still, I think it was a little over the top.  Anyway...so began my love affair with the green stuff that grows in Oregon.

We had Rhodedendron trees, not bushes.  And in the corner of the yard was an old shed that was completely covered in ivy.  There was also an old church pew and at least 15 tall evergreen trees.  It was my own enchanted forest.  Many a day was spent singing and frolicking in that backyard while filling up a bucket with weeds.  In many ways, all my daydream fairytales take place in that house and that backyard.  I even remember hiding from my mother because I went to a friends house and didn't tell her.  I knew she was going to be mad so I hid, and then pretended that I was there the whole time.  So that backyard was also my protector.  It's magic to me.

Today I put on my sweater and ventured outside.  Trying to say this as politely as I can...the yard is a mess.  We inherited a yard that was not fussed over and I refuse to let the first impression of my home be a 90% mossed covered lawn or overgrown bushes.  So today, armed with the clippers and rake, I went to work.  Found cute bushes underneath overgrown St. Johns Wort and raked away wet slimy leaves, all the while, watching Anderson and his friend ride bikes on the sidewalk.  As I was cleaning out a flower bed, I uncovered a little treasure.  Right before my big blue eyes was a whole bunch of tulips.  My heart leapt out of my throat and I might have did a happy dance right then and there ( plus I was listening to Justin Timberlake so I was in a dancing mood).  Earthworms and tulips, can a girl expect anything better?

Why was I so excited, well every home I have ever lived in long enough, I've planted bulbs.  I don't like winter...February and March suck the life right out of me.  So I plant bulbs because they are a reminder that Winter is ending and Spring is just around the bend.  Gone is the feeling of endless brown yucky death and hello to green, pink and yellow.  As I filled up the yard debris can to overflowing, I was left with a deep sense of satisfaction.  I can make this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.  My plans include heather, shrub roses, holly hocks, a flagstone path, a birdbath, and some lavender for starters.  We are going to tear out the moss/grass and go for the cottage garden front yard.  And maybe, just maybe, my children will look back 30 years from now and remember this yard as their enchanted garden, filled with magic too.