Happy Anniversary Molly!

After Jackson and Brandi had left, we were discussing Molly and realized - it's been a year already! I find it hard to believe our spoiled, outgoing, hoodling dog arrived here just one year ago, head hung low, standing and trembling - so afraid of us. It has not been easy at times, after she backed away from me and defended a corner of the kitchen when I went to put a leash on her, when she went darting off to the neighbors with us in merry pursuit - David said he had some second thoughts as to the wisdom of this decision. But he got over it, and so did she. We moved gradually with her training, she eventually allowed me to leash her, (thank goodness!), stopped darting off into the road, and learned to leave the cat alone. sort of. From there she's transformed into my hiking buddy, hitting the trails with great anticipation and joy. She enjoys seeing her pal Libby and even though she won't allow anyone she doesn't know to touch her, she doesn't freak out either. Adopting a dog from a rescue group is almost like having a child - you get so much joy from the happiness they radiate on a daily basis. Molly takes nothing for granted, not her food, not her bed - but she is so delighted at meals it's hard not to smile as she does her great leaping and bounding. That is not say she walks around like a refugee, she believes she deserves everything she gets and if you're not performing up to standard, has no trouble letting you know it. With all the guests we've had and friends over, she has been gradually getting better. With Brandi and Jackson I gave them her favorite stinky treats - a rather hideous concoction of  little round things that are made of fruit and bison - and that warmed her up. Anyone that would hand that over has got to be a friend. In the spring we'll be back out on the trails again or if a warm weekend should happen. Pearl will be forever missed but Molly fills the hole she left behind quite nicely, doesn't she? She loves her Reuben and the two of them spend most of their days raising merry hell. Fetch has turned into a complicated game which involves very little fetching and a lot of chasing, barking, and rolling in the mud.  She often sleeps with her head resting on Reuben's  back, the face of contentment. So Happy Anniversary Miss Molly, we're sure you're grateful for the home, but not as grateful as we are for being allowed to host you.