Hoping that early snow is not a portent of a long, hard winter, we did have flurries on Halloween. I guess we had just a bit of the same in 2019, but usually when we had an early snow in California, we were hurting for decent skiing conditions even in December. I’m still getting used to the different weather climate out here.
I took advantage of a slight warming last week to get my yard stripped of the last vestiges of both the veggie and flower gardens. Not much to bring in, as we’d used most along the way and, sad to say, the tomatoes just sort of petered out. Crazy summer!
In the meantime, strongly feeling the absence of our Frosty and the encouragement of our kids (and the neighbors!), we began looking for another dog (as I mentioned last month)—this time a mature one (no puppies). I was looking for a small companion—the CE fell in love with an ex-breeder. 
A Pomeranian—one I never would have considered and she is proving to be the problem I expected she might. A 4 ½+-year-old with absolutely no history has apparently never been introduced to a house, never mind house training, commands, or even knows what treats or pets are. While she is extremely human shy, she doesn’t seem to have that problem with other dogs. Perhaps lived in a kennel all her life just turning out puppies? Who knows? This kind of shelter/rescue dog will take months of patience, kindness, and consistency. We’ve been at it now three weeks. According to the 3-3-3 rule, the first two big hurdles done. Hopefully, progress by three months. How do you go about house-training a dog that was never turned out to potty and won’t allow you to take them?
So you might have guessed where a bulk of my time went in October. Even deleting one post per week, I’m still backlogged and playing catch up. We did manage thirteen books in October, always including NetGalley books. I’ve experienced fits and starts with audiobooks but you’ll note one at five stars in the list below. (And as always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase or source info.)
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham (audiobook)
The Constant Soldier by William Ryan (CE 5* review)
Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown
Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose (audiobook)
Closure by Garrett Addison (CE review)
The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman (5*)
Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt (5* audiobook)
Rescuing Crockett by David Pyke (CE review)
Secrets of the Greek Revival by Eva Pohler
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris (audiobook)
Head Case by Bonnie Traymore (CE review)
Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black
The CE greatly enjoyed several of his books and I always enjoy my auto go-to Rosenfelt books (audiobooks especially). My vote for October, however, is going to Jonathan Kellerman’s The Ghost Orchid. Love the way the author plays off the main characters and maneuvers two negative victims to sympathic.
Book of the Month for October—The Ghost Orchid
My Reading Challenges page… I have 122 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (at this point two books ahead of schedule) and still at a 97% feedback ratio in NetGalley. My Reading Challenges page has suffered from neglect–again.
In another move of the social media upheaval separating from each other, I got a notice that Goodreads will no longer connect with your Facebook account. First the change of Later for Instagram scheduling, the disconnection from Twitter (BIG BLACK X) and the push to sign up for paid accounts, then the change in Canva with an eye on providing all that scheduling if only you’ll go “Pro.” Soon the privilege of sneezing will require a paid account or risk the redoubling of the work and effort to continue a simple blog. Any change at my age is difficult, but change that comes with increased expense, more so. How are you coping? Signed up for paid accounts formerly free?
As always, welcome to my new subscribers! And I never stop appreciating those who read and comment.
©2023 V Williams
Rosepoint Publishing 
I don’t know the answer to that question. We had a German Shepherd forty years ago that wasn’t trained and it was a doozy. I loved her so much!! 🥲 I’ve had cats since then, but I LOVE dogs!! 🥰
My mother was sick last week so I went to her house every day to walk her dog, a Cairn Terrier. He is the sweetest thing on four legs!! I told my husband I want to have him over for a weekend. I don’t know what we’d do about the cat. Doesn’t matter because by the look on my husband’s face I’ll be spending my time with little Cosmo at my mother’s house. 😅
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Thank you for the comment. It does seem as if we take one step forward and two back, but I do gradually see a slight lessening of the terror she came with. Thankfully, she does not respond to fear with aggression. She’s sweet, but still runs when we talk or move around her. Enjoy little Cosmos. I was getting my doggie pets in on other dogs, thinking I’d be doing the same soon with ours. Maybe next month.
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Oh, and our cat was very fearful and skittish when we got him, too. That was very new for us because our other cat was cool and confident. Three years later our new cat is a lot better. I couldn’t pick him up when we first got him. He’d jump out of my arms and run! But now I can pick him up and he’s fine with it. It took some time but he’s coming around from his frightened nature.
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I appreciate the encouraging words. She is still mostly running at the sound of our voices or encroachment into the room where she’s at. Timidly, however, beginning to enjoy some treats–apparently a first for her. Won’t generally take it out of our fingers, but if she interested, we’ll put it on the floor and she’ll grab and run. Still doesn’t know what a bone or toys are.
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Your little dog is so cute! Hope things start to gel with her learning the ways of living in your house and adapting. My sister had a Pom for many years, but then she got her when she was a tiny puppy. Super little dogs.
Snow already? We did have our first freeze here the other day. Too soon! haha 🙂
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Yes, definitely was not ready for snow! Last year wondering if we’d have by Thanksgiving or Christmas. You never know in this area. Yeah it is very different to get a mature dog. We’d always started with puppies too and had wonderful luck with each. Smart, sweet dogs, our last, Frosty, passed in Jan on her 17th birthday. Just about killed me and thought she would be our last. But missed her so much and having a dog in the house. Our kids suggesting we get another, our neighbors helping with looking. The best we can guess is that this is Punkin’s first experience in a house with humans. So much for socialization but at least she doesn’t appear to be at all aggressive, scared or not.
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Best of luck with the new addition, she looks very cute but I know looks can be deceptive 😉 Such a shame for those dogs kept purely as a breeder.
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Appreciate all the good luck wishes we can get. She is cute and I’m glad to say as scared and timid as she is, doesn’t show any fear aggression. Hard to guess at her history, can only see what we experience with her now. Runs when we talk to her, runs if we move. Difficult to even set up a routine since we can’t take her out yet. Patience. The name of the game. Thank you for the comment.
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