This weekend, in one of our crazier schemes, Jason and I welcomed  Even With a Kiss (called Evee) into our lives. It's been a whirlwind, to be sure, but despite the stress it's already worth it.

Thursday, my mother-in-law (Judy Lauborough, mom to two corgis of their own) reposted a Facebook post from the Wallowa County Humane Society in Enterprise, OR, advertising that someone was offering a private adoption of a 2 year old spayed female red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi. She was already crate trained and the owner was only looking to try to find people who could give her more attention than she was able to now due to her own fostering responsibilities and family challenges. I asked Jason if he wanted me to call the lady in the listing, and he said yes, so I did and left a message, not expecting to hear back.

As I was shutting down to leave work for the day, my desk phone rang (which was a surprise since I'd left my cellphone number, but I figured she'd just used caller ID or hit redial) and I answered. She and I spent an hour talking. Apparently, she'd been inundated with calls from all over the country - some from interested parties as far away as Delaware and others from well-meaning corgi enthusiasts who were angry she wasn't giving her back to her breeder (not being privy to the circumstances surrounding her birth and ownership and frankly, in my opinion, it wasn't their business). She'd chosen to call two people back and I was one of them.

I could tell that it was a hard decision for her and that Evee was a beloved pet and member of the family, but she wanted to do what was best for her little girl. With 2 other older corgis and a foster with some behavioral issues, it wasn't fair to neglect her, and as we talked she came to the realization that Jason and I were the type of situation she'd want to place her in: it's just the two of us, and the cats, and Evee would be spoiled and loved on and taken on long walks and cuddled endlessly. She agreed that Evee could go to us.

There was a hurdle, though: we are in the San Francisco Bay Area and Evee was in Northeastern Oregon in a very remote location that's not easily accessible. It turned out that both Jason and myself had taken Friday off anyway and had plans to spend the day driving around the Valley (that's the Napa Valley for you non-locals) and have a fancy dinner in town. We threw those plans to the wind and as soon as I got home from work we set down enough food and water to last the cats, packed up clothes and supplies, and drove over to his parents' house to get a crate and other doggie things and took off.

I'm not going to lie - it was a grueling trip, though the scenery was stunning. Obviously, we didn't see much at night and stopped at Grants Pass, OR around 1am to crash for a bit. We were up again around 8am and on the road not long after. Highlights of this leg of the trip were seeing Mount St. Helens (which I hadn't realized was so close to Portland), the absolutely stunning weather (sunny and 70 degrees), and driving through the Columbia River Gorge which is some of the prettiest country I've ever seen. The plateau wasn't as exciting, but once we got off the freeway and headed towards our destination, we were rewarded with the sort of rugged beauty you just can't get along the interstate.

We arrived there right before dark and got to meet Evee and her family and it was love at first sight all over again. She was affectionate and cheerful and greeted even us strangers like she'd known us for ages. It was settled: Evee was going home with us. There was paperwork and talking and a bag of Evee supplies - along with one of her favorite blankets - and then we departed, leaving her former owner heartsick. I knew she cried the moment we pulled away and I ached for her, even with my own excitement at having our own new family member.

The trip home was uneventful, and I periodically kept her former family updated on her progress. Evee, for her part, was an absolute angel in the car - a natural traveler. She was alert for a while but then she went into her crate and stayed there until we stopped and then she wanted to explore everything. We stopped that night in Salem, OR, and continued on, stopping in Grants Pass to visit family. This allowed Evee some time running around a back yard, though the Westies were a bit spirited for her, I think. Then it was back on the road, this time getting to see Mt. Shasta in all her majesty.

We ended the evening with a stop in Napa at the in-laws to let Evee meet her cousins - and I mean that literally! It turns out, she shares a grandmother with both of the boys (Merlin and Logan), which makes them cousins! And she's more distantly related to Keri as well. While she was a little unsure at first, she quickly settled into the family and by the time we got home, she was zonked. It was a huge adventure for our little girl.

In such a short time, Evee has adapted well to our household. She's figured out the stairs surprisingly quickly and for the most part, she leaves the cats alone - though they seem to want to try to provoke a reaction from her from time to time since they're not sure about this red fluffy thing we just brought into their home. Still, last night everyone survived bedtime without much incident, and this morning feedings and walks went well.

I am excited to get home and be greeted by her sweet little face and wiggly little butt (Evee has no nub, you see).