Copland

The Sgt of the local RCMP and his family left for Mexico a week ago and we've been house sitting ever since. The family will return on December 18 and we have a lofty goal of relocating to our own accomodations by then. This may be an ambitious goal since the apartment still needs: 3 coats of paint, light fixtures connected, carpet and tile installed, unpack all the boxes and assemble all the Ikea furniture. I've lost count on the number of times we've moved but on the positive side, it's always been a move a short distance away:)
The RCMP quarters are subsidized and maintained by the Federal government. The house is large at approximately 3500 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and a large family room in the basement filled with toys. The dwelling rests inside an RCMP compound and it is comprised of 3 houses for members and the RCMP building itself. The perimeter of the compound is secured by a metal fence.

Although there are many advantages of living here, there is one challenge - the dogs. They're both high maintenance mutts. Jack is younger and has a good temperment; however, Sady is an old, eccentric dog set in her ways. Sady needs eardrops twice per day for an infections she's currently fighting. Initially, it took both of us to administer the drops but I can now do it on my own. They need to be fed twice per day, let outside 3 times per day and walked at least once per day. I know this sounds like typical care most animals receive, but there's an added layer of complexity when man's best friend absolutley refuses to eat unless moist dogfood is carefully mixed into the dry food. Letting the dogs out always lets in cold -20 degree air and the only way to execute this taks is by luring them both outside with a special doggy treat. Walking dogs in these temperatures is even less desirable.
Although we were warned that Sady bites, we have all been bitten. My altercation with Sady occured when I found her trying to rip open the second bag of garbage. She miticulously spread the trash bag so evenly that not much of the floor was left exposed. I mistakenly grabbed her by the scruff of the neck when her head quickly spun around to sink her teeth into my forarm - yes it did hurt and skin was broken. At first glance it would appear adorable how Sady follows me everywhere I go but this also means I constantly the putrid odour of her ear infection in my nostrils. Finally, we discovered that Sady loves to relieve herself in two rooms of the house so we need to be diligent in shutting the bedroom door and always keep a watchful eye when she's in the dinning room. All that said, I'm not complaining, just explaining, because we truly are blessed living here in the interim.