When you get behind on the blog it is hard to know where to start to catch up. The biggest event that has happened in the last month or so has been the loss of my dear friend my aussie, Izzy. I want to write a sort of obit for her but not today. It is enough to say that this adjustment has been one of my hardest. I have journaled a lot as a way of therapy, random thoughts that no one will ever read...or will ever want to read. But some day when I am cried out and feel brave I will tell you all about my girl.
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The picnic preparations got off to a start about a week before the actual picnic. My nephew and niece came over from Choteau to help me get things ready. There are always 101 things that need doing from weed whacking to dragging out tables and wiping them down. Wednesday night after my shower, my nephew was showering. I kept hearing him splashing, I figured he had dropped the wash cloth and it was over the drain. When I walked into my bathroom I heard running water. As the lights came on I saw the dreaded sight of a toilet over flowing, thankfully it was just water. It was almost midnight but I did the only thing I knew to do when faced with a over flowing toilet....I woke up Darrin. Not that he could do much more than I could, but it made me feel better. As I tried to go to sleep my mind was whirring. I hadn't ordered a port-a-potty because it was looking like the turn out for the picnic was going to be small and I thought I could cut that expense by opening up the house. Now with so little time I worried there wouldn't be one available. After evaluating the situation the next morning it was clear it was time to call the professionals. I called our trusty sewer people, Eickerts. When I told her of my distress she calmed my nerves by saying "You have just taken the express route to the top of the list with an over flowing toilet". She went on to tell me they would be out this afternoon. They did have a port-a-potty available for the week end and she could have it delivered by NOON. I am not a terribly demonstrative person (unless you happen to be a dog) but I could have kissed this woman. True to her word about a hour later a truck pulled up and dropped off a nice blue outhouse....which was a really good thing because the kids didn't seem to understand that I was serious when I said not to flush the toilets or run any water. A few hours later the big truck pulled up in my yard. All I had to do was write the check. These capable men knew exactly what to do and before long we were back in business. Again I had the urge to kiss a total stranger but after smelling these two it was easy to hold back.

Trish showed up Friday evening with a whole car load of treats and auction items. She does a excellent job of soliciting donations from Billings businesses and in making arrangements to transport auction items for anyone not attending. I like to think Trish stops by to see me but when she nearly pushed me to the side and ran for the greyhounds I knew the truth. She was out there cooing in their ears and making a fuss over them. Saturday morning we were ready. People started rolling in with arms full of auction items and food for the picnic. It was really fun to see old friends again and to meet new friends. Sadly Brent was feeling a bit under the weather so he declined when we begged him to be our auctioneer. Sherri G. stepped up to the plate and did an excellent job of milking the generous. Greyhound friend Terri and her cute red headed son came and did pictures of everyone this year. Even Darrin and I submitted for the first time and had pictures done with our four brindle girls. Irene came and set up a really nice display for Collar Crazy....BTW when you see our foster dogs wearing some great collar it was probably donated to us by Collar Crazy so our fosters can look their best. I got to meet Sharon whose name I learned only after calling her Jack (Redsmoke Jack) and Nikki's (Wild Nikki) mom. I had to learn her name when she kept out bidding me...dang her!! I am sure being the auctioneer was really exciting for Sherri but her real excitement happened when she confessed her adoration of foster greyhound Mel and ended up adopting him. Mel wasn't the only one heading home that day. Adriane decided little Nitro Kristen was a perfect addition to her pack and her duo of greyhound girls became a trio. Camaro headed north and although she ended up not being a match for her intended family Elaine G. is fostering her and reports that Cami is the perfect dog and claims that she doesn't care if Cami ever is placed. Bach went out to be fostered but came back because he just couldn't overcome his fear of the slick wood floors. He is back at Tripps. Bach has settled right back into the routine. There is a temporary hold on him. He has moved a lot in the last month and now needs to just relax. Bouncing around can really throw a dog for a loop. Foster dogs Corbin and my little Tosha were picked up early Sunday morning and headed to Billings where they would wait for their families to come for them. Both are home now and look like they are perfect matches. The food at the picnic was great. If you didn't come you missed out. Carol makes the best potato salad known to man and Sharon made the cutest sugar cookies. She even made some greyhound shaped and frosted them in brindle!! I loved it!! She also showed up with bags of homemade dog treats which I am regretting not stealing. Glen and Wendy came with some grilled mushrooms that I saw Brent trying to get thirds of...unfortunately for him the mushrooms had already been discovered and went pretty fast. Big thanks to all who donated items and who took the time to come and participate. After the picnic we counted up just under 30 people and as many greyhounds were loping in the paddocks. The picnic wasn't as well attended as it has been in past years but it was every bit as FUN!! I hope next year will be bigger and even better. We are always looking for people who want to help out. If you have ideas to make it better or want to help organize the picnic for next year speak up!!