Wild Weather

In my last post I talked about how nice and warm the weather was.  This past week, the weather turned nasty.  Almost all week we were below 32°F.  On one day the wind chill made it feel like -1°F.  Yikes!

Luna handled the cold weather pretty well.  She stayed bundled up in her bedding and was very quick about her potty breaks.  The downside was that we were unable to take many walks and she has been more antsy in the evening than usual.

The past few days have actually been very warm.  We hit about 50°F yesterday which is just crazy!  Of course, the crazy weather didn't stop there.  This morning it was so windy Luna and I were nearly knocked over on our morning walk.  Good thing I was holding tight to her leash because definitely looked like she wanted to take off.  This evening it is going to get back to about 20°F so we'll be returning to typical winter weather.

Crazy weather!

Warm Winter Walk

Last weekend, the weather was unseasonably warm.  Mike and I decided to take advantage of the warm weather by going on a long walk on a new trail by our house.  The path we took led us over bridges, along streams, and through woods.  It was a easy walk with plenty of interesting things to look at.

It's so warm Luna didn't need her coat.

But the wind was a bit intense so we put the coat on.

The trail's end.  Time to turn around and head back to the car.

On a different note, I was coming home late one night last week and noticed the moon was extremely large and bright.  I snapped this picture on my phone.  Sometimes I wish it was easier to take pictures of the night sky because it is so beautiful.

Luna.

Meeting Stormy

Last week, Luna met Stormy for the first time.  I was a little nervous when I realized both dogs would be in the office at the same time because I wasn't sure how Luna would handle a Siberian Husky puppy jumping all over her.  She's been around puppies before, but this is a larger puppy and they would be sharing the same space.

There was no need for my worry because Stormy was a proper gentleman.  The two dogs circled each other sniffing and sniffing.  After a few minutes we put Stormy in his crate with no complaints.  Both dogs settled down with a bone and were quiet for the rest of the day.  At one point, Luna was running in her sleep while Stormy was howling in his sleep!  Too cute!

How did this little puppy get so big?! He's almost as big as Luna!

When it was time for us to leave, Luna and Stormy shared a sniff/kiss between the bars of the crate.  I'm looking forward to having both dogs in the office again.  Maybe next time we'll get them outside together for a little playtime.

Say good-bye puppies.

Answers to Questions You've Been Dying to Ask

I learned about the Third Annual Pet Blogger Challenge thanks to the blog Yes I Know, My Dogs Look Funny (thank you for sharing).  Even if you never thought of asking these questions, Luna and I are going to take a stab at them.  Thanks for reading!

1. When did you begin your blog?

•  Shortly after adopting Luna in July 2011.

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

•  I wanted to document the change in Luna from track dog to retired pet.  I also wanted to share pictures and stories of Luna with friends and family.

3. Is your current purpose the same? If not, what’s different? If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals? 

• The answer this question is kind-of-sort-of.  My goal of sharing Luna's life as she adjusted to home life was met.  The blog now focuses on how Luna continues to live a full and happy life after her accident.  My goal is to share her story of triumph over adversity and to brighten others' days.

4. How often do you post?

• Originally, I posted twice a week.  That was ambitious, but I had a lot to talk about in the beginning.  After Luna's accident, I had to post every day otherwise I received emails and comments from people all over the world who were concerned about Luna.  Now that things have settled down, I try to post at least once a week unless there is something significant to report.

5. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

If you publish on a schedule, why? How strict are you about your publishing deadlines? What do you do for inspiration when it feels like you’ve covered every topic?

• I sort of have a schedule.  I like to see that I've posted at least once a week.  If I notice too much time in between posts I force myself to sit down and write something.  For inspiration, I look through my phone's pictures.  More often than not there is a story behind my pictures that I want to share.

6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? How much time visiting other blogs? Share your  tips for staying on top of it all.

• How much time I spend on each post depends entirely on the post.  Usually, I spend less than an hour (maybe a half hour).  I want to keep my posts easy to read, lighthearted, and fun.  When it comes to visiting other blogs, I read new posts as often as I can.  I love keeping up with what others are writing about.  Please keep sharing new stories!

7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)?

Do you look strictly at the numbers, or do you have a way of assessing the quality of those interactions?

• I guess I measure success by the comments left behind and the number of steady readers.  It's nice to see big numbers on some posts, but I prefer hearing what my readers think of each post.  I just wish it was easier to respond to everyone's comments and suggestions.

8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue you’re having with your blog, what would it be?

• How do you take decent pictures and video?!  There are so many things I would love to share, but either my camera becomes a problem or Luna is camera shy when I get it working.  Argh!

9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013?

• I'd like to keep up a steady blogging schedule.  I think Luna, Mike and I should also have more adventures so we can report on shops, tourist spots, parks, and other things to do in NJ.

Cuddle Puppy

I've often referred to Luna as a "Velcro" dog. She loves to follow Mike and me around and wants to stay close when we go for a run. All good things.

Sometimes she takes "Velcro" to a new level when she decides it's time for cuddling. A few nights ago, Luna and I were lounging on the spare bed. I rolled Luna on to her back to pet her belly. Apparently, Luna was enjoying the attention because she stayed on her back with her head on my chest for a long time. In fact, it was very difficult to convince Luna that we should get up. Good thing Mike was around to get these pictures.

Winter Zooms

We had a couple of little snowstorms so far this season and Luna definitely enjoys playtime in the snow.  When we are on a walk she will periodically play bow and catch a case of the zoomies.  It makes us laugh every time.

Get ready to zoom!

High steppin' when it's cold.

Now that's a happy puppy.

Waiting for Mike to come back with the coffee.

The other day Luna's zoomies hit a new level.  She discovered the fun of running around the yard with a squeak toy.  That poor toy moose was shaken, tossed, plowed in to the snow, and ended up losing an arm in a tug session.  What fun!