Sunday Stuff

Mary-Ann Sontag February 9, 2025

Yesterday Cindy brought her puppy, Jerzy, over for a playdate with Lincoln and Maple. Jerzy is from Suzanne’s girl, Shiloh, and is a great grandson of Cindy’s beloved Taczi.

I was glad — as always — to see Cindy but was especially happy to be able to show her the progress of the former shed that her skillful team transformed into my new office.

It is still coming together (in terms of the decorating), as evidenced by the pile of tools on the file cabinet, but you can get the idea…

That office has been a game changer. I love having a separate work space, and it is especially nice when I am doing Zoom sessions. So much gratitude to the Heintzbergers and Cranfords 🙏❤️

I took Capella on a walk at a local park this morning and then popped in at the bagel shop (owned by Bright Star Dallas’s family) and check out what was on the counter — Super Bowl bagels!

😂

I want to give a shout out to Bright Star Zuber. While his humans may not own a bagel shop, Team Zuber was extra busy these past few days.

Not only did Zuber finish his CD (obedience title) but he also earned a High in Trial while doing it AND that CD gives him the BMDCA Working Dog Award. That is a super awesome accomplishment that represents another link in an unbroken chain stretching back through generations of smart and talented Working Dog Award Berners 🌟

Thank you, Team Zuber!

Happy Sunday to all 🩷

When Leaving is Additive

Mary-Ann Sontag February 8, 2025

Living in civilization again is amazing. Yes, there is traffic but I am working remotely and so I can plan around it. I miss my wildlife, especially the deer, but I have a squirrel who visits (for walnuts) and I named her Nutmeg

I miss my Montana friends but I visit Missoula for work regularly and so that helps. I also have GREAT friends in this area — I am so lucky.

Being close to these two is a dream come true.

There are so many services here. Trader Joe’s!!! Do you know there is not a single Trader Joe’s in Montana?! The Boise Food Coop is close by and the parks!!!

Boise has so many great parks.

I am about two miles away from Boise K9 Fitness and Rehab — Sparkle is working with one of their physical therapists. The kids are helping out by encouraging Sparkle during her exercises.

Capella starts dock diving lessons at that place next week 🐟

One of my favorite parts of living here? RECYCLING!!!!!!!!

In Montana, I had to load up my recycling and drive it 45 minutes away — and then unload it. I am not sure it was a net benefit to the environment, come to think of it, but that is what I did.

Not here — I now have curbside recycling and I take full advantage. Wheeling out my recycling cart makes me almost giddy.

AND if that were not enough, I have curbside garbage pick-up as well — how modern! In Montana I had to load up garbage and drive it to the can, which was about 1/4 mile away.

I feel so fortunate to have connections to two places — Montana and Idaho — that hold so much and so many that I love. I did not really have to say “good-bye” in order to say “hello” and that is pretty darn awesome.