Good bye Rock the dog, Hello Rock the Patio

This weekend we worked really hard and put in a rock patio outside our french doors my parents recently installed. It is amazing how adding a door can make you love your house and dirt pit of a yard. Having two dogs for the last month coming in and out from our dirt lawn caused us to move into action. We rented a tiller which promptly didn't work at all in churning up the dirt. So we dug it out by hand. Then we went and got a load of sand (thanks Mike for letting us borrow your truck) spread that out, placed the stones, and then had to dig and flatten each stone. Once we were done we realized it really did need a border. Damon is working on that this week. It was exhausting work for one weekend but worth it. We also took a trip to the dump we want the house to look as good as possible since the house next door is for sale. We want good neighbors. It doesn't seem like houses are selling quickly in Yakima (or anywhere, probably). We are probably stuck in our house for awhile so we are thinking about refinishing the hardwoods and Damon is looking through brochures for a hot tub. Jeez he pays off his car and thinks he is rich. On Monday we had a big treat - Rock got to go to his forever home. We had an email today that said he is doing great - no accidents and getting along just fine. Hope that continues since he peed on our bed and couch Friday night. We had some good days with Rock (now named Dempster) and some horrible days. The top three were: 1. The day he pooped in his crate and Damon came home to it smeared all over 2. The night he peed in his crate and got let out and ran all over the house 3. Friday when we came home to our bed being peed on and the couch. Yuck. All yuck. But he is sweet and lets hope he got all of his bad behaviors out on us. I know some of it is our fault - no dog wants to be in a crate for 16 hours a day after living on acreage. We learned that our house isn't big enough for another dog and we can't be a foster family for dogs. And if we do ever get a another dog it won't be a catahoola leopard hound. Too much time, too much missed work, and too much money. We had another crisis this week, Tarn came home from doggie day care with a wound in his arm and had to go to the emergency vet. He got some meds and a staple and seems to be healing nicely. I started classes again Monday. That is exciting and a lot of work, dang so much work. Today I was sick from work. Pilates was cancelled and I slept until 10 am. It was so wonderful-I must have been tired! We finally turned off the cable so for my sick day - no TV. I had to go to the gym to watch the View. I was sure sick. Video is of Tarn helping with the patio.