Knit By God's Hand: Solo weekend, Outside time & we have a Graduate {Weekly Check in}

SOLO WEEKEND
This past weekend, Ricky headed to Nashville on his own. Why? He went to rock out with one of his grandsons & his daughter. How cute is it that his grandson wanted his Pappy to go to the Metallica concert with him! I love that so much! I bet you dont hear that from a lot of grandfathers!

Ricky left early on Saturday but I rode behind him so we could grab some breakfast together before he hit the road. Panera is empty on a Saturday morning at 7:30am FYI. Sane people are still sleeping on the weekend.

He drove his truck down because he was going to help with some final moving out of the Nash Gang's old home.... I would have just DIED driving 3 hours in this truck. Its the bumpiest riding vehicle in the world. I get sick in this thing just going to the grocery. It doesnt phase Ricky .... so smooth sailing sir.

He got to Nashville & they got some things handled & then concert time... in an outdoor arena - in a storm! They had to take shelter for a bit & Ricky said it was so crowded, he couldnt even raise his arms to scratch his nose. Nope - no thank you - I'll go sit in the middle of the storm. Me & crowds dont mix. I would feel like every bit of air was sucked out of the room.

Regardless - they got to ROCK ON till the wee hours - soak & wet too.... but he said the concert was great. Love to see the good ole rock bands of the past are still out there showing what they still got.

These 3... the Vincent genes are strong

What did I do while Ricky was gone.... I had plans to go to Aldi's & take my time shopping. Maybe hit the book store? ... but it was just such a YUCK day. I literally did this all day long...

And watch the KY Derby! .... it makes me such a nervous wreck watching the horses run on such a sloppy track. I hold my breath every time.

I had to take my mom her laundry over & I ended up sitting with her & watching the actual Derby.

They make Churchill Downs look so beautiful every year. - Congrats Sovereignty!

ALL THAT MUD!!!!!!!!!!!!

MARVEL
We took off Monday since Ricky had a day away & we had things to get done - get my car maintenance done, pay property taxes (BIG BOO!) & its rare that when I get a day off, a good movie is playing. We lucked out having Thunderbolts at the theater. We got there for the first showing of the day - 10:20am - & let me tell you - THATS the time to go. There were only 5 other cars in the whole parking lot.

I just love Marvel movies. They're so good - funny! - & this one had a really deep & powerful message with it too. Total thumbs up!

GRADUATION!!!!!
Our boy graduated his training class. I was a little iffy when we got here. Actually, the run through the week before, Rusty was just not as good as he was the weeks before. Monday, he had been stuck inside all weekend with the rain we had for days - so his energy was pent up & during the warm up, he was doing awful. I just laughed. What can you do? .... but he pulled it together & did a good job. Ricky did too - its a lot on the handler too to control the situation. But he pulled it off!

Doesnt he look so proud of himself?

He actually won 2nd play in the trick competition too. Now, the dog that won, they did tricks outside of the few that the trainer taught up. Ricky wasn't aware we could do our own tricks & Rusty was first in line to go. Ricky was like, "if I had known, I would have brought the frisbee" - which would have been cool because this dog jumps 5 feet in the air to catch the frisbees! Missed Opportunity. But its fine. He still got a bag of treats & a new toy & we know our boy is talented.

We'll miss going to the class weekly. A new class actually started the next night for beginner Agility & we thought about doing it - but with summer coming up & class being on a Tuesday, its not convenient for us right now.... we may do it later... but I also hate getting him out of the "training" mindset.... who knows. We may be a late add in to the class. We also know the trainer leading that class & love her & shes INCREDIBLE with her dogs & agility.

Rusty's testing's scores. I'm so mad about the -3 on the Leave it - because Ricky didnt do a forceful command... He was just quiet in front of the crowd. Now, when we say LEAVE IT at home with food right next to his face, he turns that nose up & away every time. I dont think Rusty even heard him. That -3 is on Ricky - not Rusty!

The -6 on the Heeling on Leash... I count half of that to Rusty on his pent up energy. He just was on the go & unfocused. He always walks right next to you - & this time, he kept wanting to pull ahead. He never did that before - ever. Of course, this is the day he choses to be aggressive. The other half. I blame Ricky - because of course I do..... because my boys, any of my babies, can do no wrong! Nope - not to me!

& the -2 in the Recall was because of the leash handling - Ricky! LOL - Now, poor guy - this just confused him so hard on the hand work on the leash. Right out - grab left over hand - pull left - pull right - walk backwards... in FRONT OF PEOPLE? It just twisted Ricky up every time. I actually thought this was Ricky's best go at it - he practiced on it hard!... but still got a -2. I'm proud of you honey! It was confusing. The walk backwards on that, I know if it were me, I'd fall & probably hurt my back & twist an ankle - so he did better than I would have! --------- Regardless - RUSTY PASSED! 189 out of 200. You couldnt get below 170. .... I think! Watch it be 188 LOL!

I'm gonna frame up his graduation diploma! LOL

GOODBYE DOGWOOD
We've always had the most beautiful little dogwood tree in our fenced in back yard. I always love seeing the blooms every spring. The last few years, we noticed the bark looking a little sketchy... & last year, it had a HOLE at the base. A hole big enough, you could put your fist inside the base of it. How it stood through the year is amazing to me.

It got all bloomed out this year & we were checking it out & Ricky looked at the bottom........TERMITES. All over it. All IN it. Nope - nope - BIG NOPE. He got the chain saw out & had to take it down. & then he got his blow torch out & burned the area up to get those little boogers. Built a little fire pit over top of the stump & now my back yard looks so bare without it. ... sad to see the tree go.

APRIL OUTSIDE TIME
Last year, I tried the 1000 Hours outside... & man, it sounds simple & easy enough. But when you spend the majority of your day in an office, you dont get as much outside time as you think. I think I only got around 350 hours last year - how awful is that? So I've been trying harder this year to get as much outside time as possible. April - I did really well! 49 hours & 26 Minutes! & I'm at 108 Hours for the year! Already doing better!

Those weekend hours are whats helping me!

BEREAL OF THE WEEK
I know not many are on this app - I still love it - just for the memory sake of it - I may try to post one of my pics for the week. Or you can just join & be my friend LOL ... its worth it for the year in review they put together.

FUNNY AI
Last week, I posted the pic of my dogs being "humanized" on AI... & my friend Miranda & I were texting about it & her dogs looked SO CUTE as people. Then she asked me if I turned myself into a dog. She did & she became a Golden Retriever - like full stop - a dog. So I try my pic to see what happens...........

OH MY GOODNESS.............. I know I laughed for 15 minutes straight.
I didnt ask for a human body - or GLASSES - but this was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time

LATEST READ
I had this saved from Kindle Unlimited for the longest because of the synapsis & then use a BOTM credit to get the hardbound book. I love having both to read. A book in my hand at home - a Kindle version for on the go. I'm book-spoiled. But this book was MUCH spicier than I expected. MUCH! But the story line was interesting - & a little dark & twisty. Who would have thought with a skull on the front - right? Very magical. Very New Orleans background. I will probably read the 2nd book in the series - but I wont be in any rush. & definitely wont buy the hardbound book for that one.