My office is a bit tidier; papers organized and small gadgets rounded up. Dishes loaded in the dishwasher, dog water refilled outside (Pepper will splash it all out in the morning.

The task I've worked on this week is teaching Pepper to catch food when I toss it. She's getting better, and is an enthusiastic student. I'm using roasted unsalted peanuts and toss one to Zeke who usually catches it, then I make Pepper stay put so I can back up a little (because her instinct is to launch herself and catch the food millimeters from my fingers.) I do it periodically during the day, one or two peanuts per dog, giving her brain time to process the task. She won't learn it in one session.

I'm a year out from retirement now and am keeping busy and continuing the forward momentum, while acknowledging that having the contract work basically pays for my various misadventures and work on the house.