a thousand thanks | #rubyrubyruby

two months ago, we adopted a dog.

a Rhodesian Ridgeback-meets-field lab mix.

we {re}named her ruby.

and if there is something to be said about this experience, it’s that ruby has come into our home + lives to make sure we aren’t sleeping through the party.

at the time, i was feeling stuck. he was all-consumed with work. and the lovelies were distracted with anxious tendencies. collectively, we thought a dog might help spring us loose.

well, her fresh spirit certainly has changed our saga…

and crazy is now a familiar part of our ordinary routine.

a post dedicated to her top moments so far. . .

{1} i LOVE a wide open window. turns out, so does ruby. day one, she kept jumping out them. never mind blinds or screens – a simple leap and she was out like butta. in a word, it’s bewildering. with fall around the corner, the closed window nonsense has to stop. but for now, when one window opens, its door closes.

{2} day three, we had her groomed. since ruby’s first few years of life were spent chained in a yard, everything is new for her. especially the imitation of living things. one glance at this menace and she barks wildly. like that dog is totally harshin’ her buzz. i can’t say i fully understand it, but she’s committed to her dislike.

{3} realizing she was easily excitable and our hands were {more than} full, we took her to *the best* local dog training facility. where, after only a couple minutes, we were asked to leave through the back door. she was too excited – translation: not trainable. it’s taken me a minute to get my hands around that one. but two months living with her and this i now know for sure: she LOVES people so much, her energy cracks worlds open. {and not everyone is ready for that.}

{4} rabbits run our hood. they are everywhere. and ruby’s developed a Smeagol-like/”my precious” obsession with them. when she sees one out the window, our pet dog exits stage left; wild animal assumes its spotlight. for a while, the blinds were kept closed, too. which only led to. . .

{5} frustration. specifically, hers. and so she slipped upstairs quietly to take it out on a few stuffed animals. in a toyland lottery of choices, all we found her with were two little, unsuspecting bunny rabbits. they now live a top shelf life.

{7} as for leaving home, well, that is tricky. because we also adopted an evil-Knievel hijinks of a dog. she can get out of her crate. her method: she leans against the door, pushes it up with her body, and springs free. sure, we started tying knots and zip-tying the doors shut, but she’s often at the back door to greet us when we get home. the girl has skill. magical ones.

{8} after being a month-ish into it all, i thought we’d uncovered most her tricks. until i stepped outside to hang a summer wreath, and she jumped on the inside of the door, pawing the deadbolt locked. keys, phone, life inside. me? outside for 3 hours. hostage situation came to mind several times while i watched ruby come undone at being left inside while i was locked outside trying to keep her calm. blinds were broken. cushions + rugs were tossed about. and all i felt were various layers of misery piling on me…

when we all finally agreed we were ready for a dog, we wanted a mover and shaker – a spirit that rocked and swirled the energy around here. and she has made sure we lived our way into that thinking. being a comfortable distance now from the fresh hell it all began as, we couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible experience of being exactly where we are now. fully present. fully engaged. and on our toes.

a thousand thanks, ruby.

xo