Updates

We had our heat wave last week.  It lasted two days.  Eleven inches of snow fell the next day.  A nice neighbor helped us plow out our driveway.  We have a snow pack of 30 inches in our yard and around the driveway and sidewalk - it is too tall to measure.  YIKES!

I know we live in Minnesota, but this is ridiculous!  The average temperature on Saturday should be 34 degrees.  The weather guessers say we will be lucky to stay above zero.  That's right, another polar vortex!  The guessers hope the temperatures will be more normal by Thursday, March 6.  I sure hope so.  We have plans!

Last blog, I mentioned my concern about not having a valentine.  I am happy to report, that has changed.  The following day, my other neighbor friend, Hobey Baker came outside.  We ran to meet each other and exchanged kisses.  That's good enough for me!  I like Hobey very much, I don't get to see him often because his parents work strange hours.  He likes to run like me and he is very fast!

We sold some more books this week.  A nice woman from out east was looking for a book describing her kidney transplant.  She was a teacher and wanted to talk to the children about it.  That's where we come in!  Rudy's books to the rescue!  She loved them so much, she purchased more for other people.  We are keeping in touch.  That makes us all feel good about fulfilling our mission.

We hope the snow melts by June, so until then; we hope everyone can stay warm and snuggle a puppy.  In a pinch, a cat will do! :)

Love,
Boomer!  the Mellow Yellow Lab

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  I know I am a day late, but it took a long time to thaw out my paws so I  could type.  Yes, the weather has been very cold again, but after the snowfall today, we are actually getting a heat wave next week!  Usually temperatures in the 30's and maybe 40 wouldn't constitute a heat wave, but after this winter, it does!

I hoped to have a valentine this year.  I thought my next door neighbor dog Gertie was my girlfriend, but now I'm not sure.  I ran out yesterday to give her a valentine's kiss and she was more interested in running up and down the fence line with me.  She is a bit young.  I wonder if they have an online dating service for dogs.  Mommy said she would be my valentine, so I guess that's all right.

Daddy did a fantastic job on his big talk at the church.  Everyone told him that, too.  I'm not surprised, I know he is great.

Our new web-site has been up for almost two weeks.  We are still making a few modifications here and there, but are happy with the feedback we are getting.

Mommy is still working on feeling better.  She has made progress, but is not back to 100 percent yet.  I am still giving her plenty of kisses for energy and I'm sure that is working well.  I want her to be completely better for her birthday next month.

I included a picture for your enjoyment.  It's my Valentine to all of you.

Stay warm.  If you can't, keep the ice out from between your toes!

Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab

Big News!

We have big news to announce!  We have officially launched our new web site!  It's still located at www.RudysLittleWorld.com, but it has a whole new fresh modern look.  Daddy worked very hard at it for many months, learning and viewing tutorials.  And and researching along the way.  Mommy helped a little with the content and pages, but most of it was all Daddy!  He is an all-star!  He is also giving a big talk at our church on Sunday.  Mommy is his coach.  I support him by resting on his feet when be reads and writes.  He is going to do great; I wish I could be there to hear him, but I can give him kisses before and after.

Last week we sold 20 books to a Child Life Center in North Carolina.  We were very excited.  It had been a little while since we had a big order like that.  I know Rudy was happy; he always liked to share his stories.

Mommy's on round two of being sick.  She can't seem to shake this bug going around.  When people have a low immune system because of a transplant, it is easier to get sick.  I have been keeping an eye on her too, so I have been a busy puppy.

We got a bunch of snow last week, so I have some fresh powder to play Frisbee.  I hope the deep freeze ends soon.

Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab

In Loving Memory

One Year

Another wave of cold weather is upon us.  This time they are calling it an "Arctic Blast!"  If we get much more of this, I think they will run out of cute names to call it.  I hope warmer temperatures are ahead so I can get back to my Frisbee playing.

We are very excited to be working with our new illustrator.  We met with him last week to share our visions.  I think we are on the same page and we all feel very confident that we can achieve our goals.  Mommy sketched out her vision for the cover, Daddy and I think it is fabulous!

Daddy is making a lot of progress on our new web site.  We are anxious to get it done so we can launch it!

A year ago next Thursday, January 30th, our sweet boy, Rudy went to heaven.  We are trying to stay busy with activities and work, but we can feel the anniversary approaching.

We still feel a pang in our hearts as we sense his presence.  Sometimes we laugh at memories, sometimes not.  That's the kind of impact my big brother has on everyone.

A lot has happened this past year.  We created some new happy memories, but can't help feeling that they would have been even more special if Rudy was still here.  I have fun playing with my old friends and even making a new friend once in a while.  I love wrestling with Daddy and giving Mommy kisses.

Maybe one day I will have a new little brother.  We know it has to feel "right" for all of us, and we know we will all feel it when it happens.  In the meantime, we are content with the status quo (big word, huh?).

Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab

Rough Start to 2014

After the tough year we had in 2013, we figured we would catch a break in 2014.  Safe assumption, don’t you think?  Well, we were wrong.

The first 8 days of 2014 dealt us a few major blows.  First of all, Mommy has been sick since the beginning of the year.  We thought she might have been a bit run down, but when the fevers and body aches kicked in after two days, we knew it was the flu (H1N1).  I made sure she stayed well hydrated and rested a lot.  I was very quiet and watched over her, just like Rudy would have.  Her fever finally broke and she is on the mend – weaker though.  She doesn’t remember much about the time that passed.

The second bad thing was something called a polar vortex.  Polar air, which means really cold air, has covered the whole United States.  It was minus 44 degrees in my back yard.  Bad weather means a lot to me because it cuts into my Frisbee and fun time outside.  I think this weather has put everyone in a bad mood.

How is that for the start of a new year?  Not looking good, is it?

In the meantime, we still have plenty of things to keep us busy.  Daddy and Mommy have doctor appointments and Rudy’s anniversary is coming up on January 30^th.  Daddy should be starting school again soon and he’s been reading more at church.  We are also working hard on our new web site. 

We have a new illustrator joining us for our project due out this Spring!  We are very excited!  We still hold out hope for a better year in 2014.  Fingers and toes are crossed!

Love,

Boomer! The Mellow Yellow Lab

One More Blog

Since it is December 31, I thought I would write one more blog for 2013 to summarize the year.  Two words come to mind, change and firsts.  It was a year full of changes without our sweet Rudy, which lead to a year full of firsts.

One thing has remained constant, the weather has been crazy!  We had a late Spring - snow on the ground in May.  Our summer was too cold or too hot, never in between.  Fall was nice, but short.  We are experiencing our second round of multiple sub zero days in a row.  The forecast states we will have another starting next week.  I know we live in Minnesota, but this is not normal!  When it is this cold it hurts my feet.  The ice freezes my toes together.  OUCH!

My kitty friends gave me two new blue toys.  They are smaller then me and I pretend they are my little brothers.  I have met a couple of new dog friends and a couple new humans that invited me to sleepovers a few times.  I played Frisbee at home in my backyard and hung out with neighbor friends Hobey and Gertie.

Mommy and Daddy kept up with Rudy's Little World and I started writing the blog.  Rudy was a good mentor.

Another part of my life that has not changed is I know how much I am loved.  Mommy and Daddy have always and will always love me and my brothers, this will never change.

Mommy got a shirt that says, "All my children have paws."  And she wears it with pride.  She also has a necklace with all the birth stones of me and my brothers.  She never takes it off.

So in a year of changes, 2013 was full of love.  I know 2014 will be too.  Other than that, who knows what is in store.  I would be happy with the love and more nice Frisbee weather!

Happy New Year, I hope it's full of love for you.

We echo the sentiment of our good friend Helen, we "truly hope 2014 will bring blessings exceeding the number of trials that 2013 held for you."