Leila...15 weeks

I always tell people she makes a good first impression. I say it as if she isn't always on her best behavior. For a puppy, she is incredibly well mannered and very good at pleading ignorance.
Sometimes I find Leila wrapped in my clothes. Clean or dirty she will lay comfortably and dose off. This is Kate's fault, well, it's probably mine. I heard if you give them a dirty shirt to lay on it forms a stronger bond because it has your scent on it. She makes a great pillow


The watchdog is innate. I don't know if we can do anything about it. She only barks when she is serious and otherwise speaks with a quick "huff!" through the nose as if to say, "I see you!"
She has claimed the front window as her domain and nothing gets up or down the road without her knowing it.

Walking is one of my favorite times of the day. Walks before Leila consisted of frowning people with their daily plans on their mind. I now get smiles, waves, and whistles all directed at Leila. Yesterday a guy came out of his house and gave her two treats!
Below, Leila hunting moles that destroy our yard.
We are working on the ears. Katie and I couldn't go through with clipping her ears but they may stand on their own. One ear is almost always up and the other is trying. She can hold them both up but chooses the left over the right. She looks so good with them up.


She has been socialized and every time someone comes to our home she reminds us her bladder doesn't have full control of itself yet.

She really takes a liking to other dogs as well. Below, Jasper and Gizmo meet Leila and enjoy a fun evening of butt smelling, paw punching and wrestling. Leila is starting to learn that not all dogs like to play and swatting your paw at another can mean angry teeth and a bite.
Weekends are great! Usually it means, music on, cleaning, good healthy food, walks, adventures and of course... football.

Do these waffles say anything about Katie's personality? Very type A indeed!
Nothing like coming around the corner and seeing your puppy doing this! We nipped this one in the bud quickly. I couldn't help laugh though as my mind went back to our late pup Cassie.
At the end of the day a chew toy may get bitten all the way until she closes her eyes. Another day done. She knows 5:30 am is just around the corner.

Trinity church men's fall retreat

Last Friday I faced the mountains on the 215 expressway alone and excited to find what the weekend would bring. The last sign before I began the ascent read, "Last services until Crestline." The question is, what did Crestline have to offer? I was hungry and McDonalds was a safe option and off to the left. I choose to keep going in hopes to find a unique delicious diner up in the mountains.

I pulled to the shoulder and questioned a guy walking on a good place to grab a bite to eat. He was about my age, maybe older, and first impression said he had lived a rough life. He pointed west up a windy road and said "Paula's, her place is the best." I thanked him and guessed my way to Paula's.

It turned out to be great. The waitress was stereotypical of a place like this, 60+ years old, blunt with every word that comes out of her mouth and called you "hunny" after every sentence. I asked what was good and ended up with my favorite...fish 'n chips.
The sun rose late which made it difficult to get out of bed. The wind forced my head under my sleeping bag. Failure, a goal of running and catching the morning colors of the sun on the clouds would not be met.
I opted for the off road ride. I left the xterra, which salivates for moments like this, back at the camp and grabbed a seat to snap some shots with the camera.
Early Saturday there was a fishing derby. The guys below are part of the Light and Power group at our church. Its a ministry for the mentally challenged. They were so happy even though they only caught three fish total.This was the first sightings of fall in the Southwest. There isn't much in Loma Linda but the mountains reminded me what the rest of the country was enjoying.




Some picked up a paintball gun. In the end, those with left over ammo, lined up Civil War style and unloaded on each other.
It was foggy Sunday.

Jim is the men's pastor at Trinity. He brought great insight to the group and challenged me personally in many ways.



Some guys car was stuck on a stump. I guess they decided to pick it up to fix the problem.

Most of the members of my cabin.
Most of the group.

Halloween Happening...Take 3.

It is year three for Kate and I at our churches largest event of the year. Halloween Happening is an event the community looks forward to throughout the year and I'm always amazed at the turnout and how terrific it actually is.

This is before the gates opened. The set up was a week long process.
I'll be honest though. We didn't really want to attend. After all, Katie works there all day and the selfishness sets in. When all was said and done we enjoyed ourselves and people were blessed.

Katie and I were apart of the "trick or treat trail". This was our second year at the trail and it always seems to be one of the favorites. You can see Katie in the picture below. She is on the sidewalk- "the gate keeper."