Hanging Out at Harvey

Make a note that if you move into a new home in December, Christmas may become a dim shadow on the calendar.  You know it is there but it lingers in an image that appears distant with many days from now to then.   Despite the rapidly arriving holiday, winter weather and DeeAnn’s return to work – the Harvey House is taking shape nicely.  Furniture is finding its final resting place, some having been moved to more spots than others.  Knick-knacks are getting displayed.  Dishes are put away.  And pictures are getting hung.  DeeAnn has does a fabulous job of decorating and organizing, no surprise on that note.

The dogs are becoming more familiar with the Harvey house and are adjusting to the rules.  One closet at Harvey is efficiently using all available space above the stairwell.  The closet consists of three large platforms and is equipped with coat hooks and electrical outlets.  The former owner shared that she stored all her crockpots and wireless printer in this closet, blending efficiencies between the kitchen and office needs.  DeeAnn and I joked that it would hold our dogs which brought some chuckles.  So of course we had to try it!   Lana & Kooper had stopped by one afternoon, a perfect time to line up the dogs for a closet shot!  We placed Helen on the very top and she parked herself there confidently and fearless, enjoying every moment of her high level position.  Rainie and Keltie entered and plunked themselves down without too much trouble, taking the second tier.  It was then I learned that Holly may be scared of heights.  Goodness, you would have thought we were asking her to hang by one nail over the Grand Canyon.  We were trying to get her to sit on the bottom step.  Kooper was a bit more brave with the request.  In time, we had our crew in the closet with some pictures to prove it.  I think our fun is done with that closet and the dogs couldn’t be happier, especially Holly.

As with any new environment, there is an adjustment to make.  New routines, new nuasances, new behaviors, etc.  The dogs are experiencing that with learning to stay back from the door when we go in/out, instead waiting on top of the landing; no sleeping on the upstairs couch, only the basement couch; and pottying in the backyard or frontyard but not on the sidewalk or driveway.  They are getting it, as are we.

DeeAnn’s first overnight  at Harvey was filled with adjustments also.  The Harvey house is quiet – no sirens, horns or backfiring cars like that of 24th Avenue.  Harvey is also equipped with tie-outs for the dogs and pottying areas in front & back requiring clean up in both spots.  On cold nights the process gets sped up.  And in new environments there are unfamiliarities, as in doors that lock behind you when shut.  On night one, DeeAnn locked herself out of the house, Rainie & Keltie alone inside.   Thank goodness for nice neighbors (nice neighbors who have nice babysitters) that answer doors when it is dark and share their phone to call a friend for help.  Holly (not so much Helen) thought it was great fun to get off the couch and go for a late evening car ride across town.  There is now a key hidden in the garage!

Now that Keltie is staying at Harvey, Holly is relying on me to have some fun around the house.  I am not cutting the mustard.  Two of Holly’s toys had small rips and stuffing was oozing out.  She loves those two toys, a baseball mitt and a long snakey creature.  Sewing is not my thing but I told myself I can manage to stitch a few inches on each of those toys. It was for Holly!   I started with the baseball mitt, Holly watching my every stitch.  When I finished, I gave the mitt to her and started on the other snakey creature.   As you have probably surmised, she had the mitt destroyed again before I had the snakey creature repaired.  The mitt is in the garbage can, the snakey creature back on the fireplace mantel, out of reach.  That way,  I can say my sewing held up for a full day.  I have no doubt my mother’s stitching would match Holly’s demands.   I told Holly that, and reminded her she was three years old.