Proceed to Pack

Packing makes all of this a little more real. We’ve started boxing up the house a little at a time to make the task of moving our lives across the country a little less daunting. Up to this point we’ve only been talking about the move which sure seemed like fun when I described it optimistically all those times. But fitting it all in a truck is another story. And all I can think about lately is where I’m going to find more boxes and I’m tempted to steal my neighbors junk mail just so I have more packing paper.

Because I need a strategy for everything, I’ve decided I’ll move from one room to the next clearing out each and probably save the kitchen for last. The kitchen frightens me with all that heavy, breakable and not to mention expensive stuff behind those cupboard doors. I’m putting the oddly shaped items in our dining room for now because frankly, I don’t know just how to move them yet. Some stuff just wasn’t meant to be moved I think.

Once we’ve got a box full and taped shut, we put it in Bailey’s old room (not sure she approves). And speaking of approval, one thing we did discover over Christmas is that Bailey loves snow. Phew!

Packing: Day 1

(A modest three boxes completed. Baby steps.)

Packing: Day 2

Today I found Bailey’s old blanket in an unused dresser drawer that she used to sleep on as a puppy, too. And if you’ve kept up with B’s blog posts (such as Old Friends Die Hard), then you know that her “puppy love” occasionally turned into the need to annihilate. It was mildly shredded and mangled when I found it, so I thought why not let her do the honors of finishing it off. I set it down for her to smell, and her tail went wagging immediately with joy. She remembered her old friend. B would never tear up a good blanket of ours, but this one she knew was hers. I quick snapped a photo because I knew this would be the last time she saw it, and it made me think about how this move will be sentimental for everyone involved- even B.

Who knows what will turn up next.

A Dog’s Life: Old Friends Die Hard

Upon cleaning out Bailey’s old bedroom, and by that I mean the room she used to sleep in that included her crate and some old toys, we found an old plush, stuffed beagle we used to let her play with right before we put her to bed. It was mainly to distract her a bit before we left her in her room at night, and boy did she love that stuffed animal.  We’d prop it up, make it run around her, toss it across the room and she’d fetch it back, acting as if the thing was really alive and kicking. It was cute, but became unnecessary as she got older and didn’t need to sleep in that room or the crate anymore.

I’d forgotten about it until we did some cleaning and thought, wouldn’t this be a nice surprise for Bailey. So we called her over, “Hey B! Look what we found…your old friend!”

Labrador stuffed animal

She came galloping in and instantly displayed a proper ‘sit.’

Labrador stuffed animal

She instantly took the toy in her mouth, still covered in her dried spit from their last encounter. She looked happy, too happy…and then things turned sour for Mr. Beagle.

Labrador stuffed animal

That’s not the friendship I remember!

Labrador stuffed animal

Remembering the good ole days with Mr. Beagle. [Dont' they understand that once all this fun is over Mr. Beagle will be DEAD?!? Oh the horror.]

There’s more! Continue reading this post…