Sunday, April 08, 2007

manitoba spring

Now that most of the larger piles of snow are but flat areas of ice, Manitoban's are out and about and doing the springtime jig.


Yesterday, my children spent the evening combing through the yard and picking up all of the winter garbage and whatever else they could find that was left over from a large town ice rink directly behind our house. A large garbage bag full of tins and candy wrappers, and 16 (and counting) hockey pucks.



The sun was out in full force yesterday and finally did some of the necessary thawing. It's such a wonderfull sight to see the town coming to life. People are starting to show themselves on walks. They may have been walking all winter long, but the sun never stayed in the sky long enough for us to see them. Now it's light well past 8:00pm.




Sammy thought that it would be a good time to go out and catch butterflies. He spent much of the day swooping the net through the air in hopes of catching one. I told him that it may be a little early for butterflies. The look on his face is telling enough what he thought of that
idea.








This is the year that we get a puppy...maybe two. We finally found a local breeder of mini australian shepherds. We've been put on the waiting list for the next litter late this summer or early fall. That will give us time to get the house and yard ready for a dog.
I'm hoping for a male black or red tri, and the girls are hoping for a female blue merle. I'm sure we'd quickly fall in love with whatever we get.

Are there any butterflies where you are?




11 comments:

andrea said...

I can see Jane and Adam now, walking hand-in-hand with their matching blue merles ... *slap* Sorry 'bout that. :)

I want a red tri myself but bear in mind that there's as big a legend amongst Aussie breeders as there is amongst Irishmen: the redheads are the feisty ones. Bring 'em on I say!

We expect detailed posts from conception to adoption and beyond! I was born a redhead so I can make you comply ... hee hee ...

anna said...

I love the expression on Sammy's face!

Congratulations on deciding on getting a puppy! That's so exciting. Puppies are the bestest!

Romeo Morningwood said...

Red tri, Blue Merle? Sounds like you're picking out kitchen counters.
I know for a fact that kids at your school will be hauling in boxes of free 'farm' puppies in a month or so..."it's the most wonderful time of the year"

Anyway is it not true that Aussie Sheps are like any other border Collie types who desperately need to be stimulated or working every millisecond of their waking day or they will dismantle your home?

Wouldn't it be way easier for Joyce (since she will be the person at home and in charge of breaking it's spirit and cleaning up the remains of your furniture) if you just got yourself a lazyass Schlafhund?

Oops don't let her read this.

andrea said...

HE has some good points. Look carefully to the mom and pop for hyperactivity characteristics. My Aussie will be 10 this year and still can't be trusted to be calm in public situations. He can also still run a fast half marathon with the best of them.

Christine said...

We're having a snow storm as I type this. Ugh where is my beloved Spring?!! We had more snow this Easter weekend than we did on Christmas. Ok, I'm done complaining. A few weeks ago we had a week or so of sunshine and the snow melted, the kids finally found their toboggans which were buried.

We had an Australian Shepard for 16 years, she passed last year. Best dog we ever had. I think of her everyday. Puppies are so much fun! The kids are going to freak out! :)

Anonymous said...

hi from sydney Australia. Donna here!

Brian the Mennonite said...

Andrea,
It's probably good to know those things beforehand, but I don't see it as a hindrance right now. I'll love to run with it and my girls are quite active outside. It will cause our family to be even more active...which is always a good thing. Especially away from the artificial world of video games blogging.

I remember what you've written and shown in pictures about Adam. They'd make a great pair. Jane still thinks boys are gross.

Anna,
Pretty telling of what he's thinking, isn't it?
We can't wait to get one.

H.E.,
Hopefully we'll be picking out kitchen counters in a few years. Perhaps you could help with the paint colours.

I'm afraid that if we get a lazyass Schlaffhund, I'd become one as well. Active dog=active owner...I think. Sometimes I don't always understand the new Math.

Christine,
By now I'm sure the snow has already melted. It will make your spring a little less dry than what I think ours is going to be.

You had an Aussie? That's great that she was with you for so long. Did you ever have any trouble with her like H.E. is predicting?

Donna,
Holy Shrimp on the Barby, Lady! Where'd you come from? Actually I checked to see where you found me and you Googled Joyce and Brian Hildebrand. Very cool. Joyce has a blog too, you know. Her's is WAY better than mine and I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Her address is www.peenapotty.blogspot.com or you can find her in my sidebar links at Chronicles of Blunderview. Thanks for popping in.

Cream said...

The weather is definitely up the creek.
Here in the UK, it has been as warm as in July while it is snowing in Algeria and very cold around the Med.
I too love the expression on Sammy's face.
Semi-sad, semi-disappointed...

Christine said...

The snow has finally melted. :)

To answer your question about Cally, we didn't have any problems with her, other than when she got really excited her tale would wag so much it would slap our legs. She was abused as a pup though so she kept her distance with strangers. H.E gives good advice, look to the parents.

Anonymous said...

I have nothing against Australian shepherds, but why not a German shepherd pup? I will trade you a German shepherd pup for a table like the one I saw in your wife's blog. Or you could buy one (a pup, I mean). But I really admired the table I understood that you built. I probably even have enough wood to build the table - I just don't have the handyman to go with the wood.

My pups are ready at the end of this week.... A better temperament - calmness, agility and a love of activity you will not find among dogs.

If you are interested I will send you my email addy.

Occasional Reader

Bibi said...

Your puppy is adorable! (found you over at Andrea's)