An Encouraging Blessing Today

I was out and about with five of the kids for most of the day. First we did our usual work shift at the local emergency food pantry, and then we went on a trek to meet a family that I know from the internet! :) After a fun day and lots of driving, I got home to a generous donation for Marlee from a sweet woman named Susan. And to top it all off, she wants to knit Marlee a sweater! How cool is that?!

I have met some awesome people thanks to this site. What an encouragement! With this latest increase in Marlee's medication I have been wondering how the money was going to work out. Double or quadruple some meds, plus throw in winter needs for the doggie, and Christmas for six kids, and things start to look rather...interesting!

Thankfully, we created a straw bale dog shelter for Marlee for the times when she is outside. It only cost $15 in straw, plus materials we already had here at home. Marlee really, really hates to go into her crate or any other small places, so I didn't think she would be willing to use a dog house outside. The straw bale house idea was something I came up with, thinking the straw would probably be warmer insulation than a plastic dog igloo or whatever, we could make it bigger than a regular dog house (which might mean she'd be more comfortable going into it since she seems to really fear small spaces), and in the spring we can use the straw in our garden.

We don't leave Marlee out a lot, but since she has some bladder control issues, if we are going to have to be away from the house for a few hours, we usually leave her outside. She needs a place to get out of the rain and wind, and now she's got it. She still prefers not to go into it, but has shown that she is willing to if necessary. Fortunately, we're home almost all of the time, so it isn't much that she has to be out, but now I feel a lot better that she has her straw shelter available. Marlee has two buddies--cats from next door that love her and come hang out with her every day. The cats are very impressed with the straw (I even created a little niche in the back corner so they could stay cozy in there and still get to hang out with Marlee in the winter) and have already been enjoying the new pet hangout.

Our next project will be the ramp. My husband thinks he is just going to make a ramp for all of us to use, since there doesn't seem to be a good way to make a ramp that is just for the dog. She really struggles with going down the three deck stairs, and I'm sure once it gets even slightly slippery she won't be able to safely do it at all. So....my handyman husband will be hard at work figuring out a solution to this! If you have any suggestions, let us know. We're open to ideas. :)