Surprise! It's a boy (dog) !

We’re on the way back from an Iowa weekend, and I wish we could have stayed longer.  It was beautiful and green and sunny, and despite all the driving, every bit of it was enjoyable.  Especially the part about us bring home a four legged friend!  Welcome to our world Arnie, the blue heeler + something unknown wonder dog!  Right now he’s sitting in the back seat looking contented and wise.  No barks, no peeps, just wet nose nudges now and then to remind us that he’s there.  

This is before he decimated half of that chew toy. 

Hanging out in Theresa's kitchen.

Arnie had a little bath and sat out side in the sun after he may or may not have rolled in a skunk in Theresa's back 40 acres. 

Chillin' on the bench, basking in the sun, what a life. 

You may be interested in our spur of the weekend adoption story: Dubuque, IA is home to one of the most brilliant and successful animal adoption schemes.  This would be the animal shelter in a mall phenomenon.  Yes, Arnie was adopted after we enjoyed an Auntie Annes parmesan dipped pretzel.  We decided to walk into the shelter, not with the intention of adopting anyone, but Arnie, with his speckled red and brown coat and big eyes spoke to us.  We aren’t even allowed to have dogs in our apartment so it shouldn’t even have been on our minds, but there was something about him that demanded our attention.  He is 1 or 2 years old, and has the best temperament.  He is the perfect amount protective, and is a people dog.  He wants to be close to us, sitting in the middle of us, and sniffing everything.  There’s so much more, but I hope you get the gist.  We are thrilled with Arnie.  

"I am here!"