Let’s Gab: June 2021

Meet Rhubarb!

I am beyond excited to introduce the new heart melting, crumb licker upper, ankle biting, food obsessed mascot of the Live Eat Learn headquarters…meet Rhubarb!

When June began, I never would have dreamed it would end in me becoming a #DogMom (along with #SleepDeprived #AnxiousResearching #PoopInspecting). But then Rhubarb happened, and she flipped my world upside down.

It all began on Memorial Day weekend. Two friends and I made a spur of the moment decision to flee rainy Denver in search of sunshine for the long weekend. So we drove 4 hours south to Creede, Colorado. We drank coffee as we putzed through the shops, finally deciding on a quick hike around the mountains towering over the town.

When we finished hiking we headed to the nearest patio bar. And while usually a cold beer is the best way to end a hike, that day it was Rhubarb.

Standing outside of the patio was a young guy holding two puppies. I *obviously* asked to pet them, at which point he informed me that the brown one was up for adoption. His farm dogs, an Australian Shepard and a Red Heeler, had babies and the rest had been adopted out the night before at the rodeo.

And guys, I am not an impulsive person. But the more I held her the more I fell in love and after half an hour of sitting with her on the sidewalk, she was mine. (Could it have had to do with the grand ole time we had dog sitting last month? Maybe.)

Needless to say, our girls weekend instantly transformed into a puppy weekend that oscillated between “I love her so much” and “dear god what have I done?”.

So after a long first night together in a cabin, followed by a long car ride back (she was clearly unfazed by both), Rhubarb Basil Bond landed in her new home of Denver!

All 3.5 lbs of her! I will admit that I’m pretty sad she was taken from her mom and siblings sooner than is recommended (the farmer separated them at about 6 weeks after weaning at 4 weeks). But it just means we’ve been extra aware of how we’re socializing her (that is, when she’s not sleeping).

I try to take her almost everywhere with me – to smell all the smells of Goodwill, to people watch at Denver Beer Co, to the drive-in at Red Rocks, and even on a little (very little) hiking expedition. I’m counting down the weeks until she finishes her vaccinations so she can really start exploring her world!

All Over The Map

One of my biggest hesitations while adopting Rhubarb was that I had two trips planned in June, but my friends and sister stepped up and were absolute superstars in taking care of her while I was away.

I visited my old home of Alaska, taking a whirlwind trip around Anchorage and Seward (lots of photos and stories from that trip here).

And I made a quick stop to see my favorite people in San Antonio, Texas. Every year, San Antonio has a colorful, loud, and happy weeklong celebration called Fiesta. It happened to fall on the days that I was there, so we partook in all things Fiesta (like watching the Riverwalk Parade, drinking beer at the Gartenfest, and collecting Fiesta medals).

We also snuck in a little Riverwalk parade of our own, complete with Rhubarb’s golden retrieve cousin, Blaze.

And now that I’m back in Denver unpacking all that happened this month, I’m excited to stick around here for a bit. I’ve been watching Denver come back to life this spring. And let me tell you, this city is alive!

I saw it at the Rockies game, and at my first Red Rocks concert (the first full capacity show since shit hit the fan), and over Pride Weekend. It was colorful and energetic and full of life and I am here for it.

But with that said, I need a good nap first. I’ll take a note out of Rhubarb’s book.