Minnesota Peep

Adorable Red Australian shepherd waving hello to all who wave at her. ❤️

HI MOM!! Sassy, stop with the border collie impersonations!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤣💖✨ #DogsOfBluesky #WhyYesIAmAnAustralianShepherd #AustralianShepherd #Dios

How To Begin To Move Forward: Why Self-Regulation Comes First When something traumatic happens, our nervous systems don’t ask for meaning. They ask for safety. This is my reflection on what it means to self-regulate first — before processing, before problem-solving, and before trying to help others. Through lived experience, nervous-system insight, and lessons from my dogs, I explore how psychological safety shapes our ability to move forward in hard moments. This is a piece about spiraling, grounding, and why calming your nervous system isn’t selfish — it’s foundational.

How To Begin To Move Forward: Why Self-Regulation Comes First

Timeline cleans with snowflake-sized baby lagoon jellyfish.

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🎥 jelliesfarm www.instagram.com/jelliesfarm?...

I love how they were synchronized prancing. Those tails!! 💖

I am Pretti Good: On Legacy, Fear, and Showing Up Anyway What does it mean to leave a legacy — really? In I Am Pretti Good, I reflect on responsibility, fear, growth, and the quiet power of showing up imperfectly. From mission statements and personal gro…

❤️💜🩷🧡💛💚🩵💙
#PrettiGood
#ShowingUp
#Legacy
#IntentionalLiving
#ImperfectHumans
#PersonalGrowth
#CommonGround
#CarryItForward
#WhyIWrite
#Humanity
#Hope

A white measuring cup with bright yellow label stating ¼ cup of trail mix snack. It is borders with a hint of pink clouds and stars. There is a message in elegant scroll that says Faith, Hope and Love. There is a heart shaped piece of trail mix emphasized with a golden heart, for it is also heart shaped.

After a sad convo w/ husband friends scared, especially 4 their children. We ended it by reminded to choose hope.

Then I went to grab a snack…& this honestly just happened, jumped out while pouring.

Sometimes the smallest things feel like a quiet reminder that love and hope are still here. ❤️ #Hope

Borrowed Belief: How Struggle, Mentorship, and Voice Shape Our Culture Embrace your mistakes. They might be the secret to your success.

I used to think everyone else had the rulebook. Turns out we’re all improvising.

I wrote about imposter syndrome, mentorship, and how struggle becomes a gift we pass forward.

#TheGiftInStruggle #Mentorship #ImposterSyndrome #LearningOutLoud #GrowthMindset #PsychologicalSafety

😂 Due to my imposter syndrome or otherwise known as drive to succeed through doubt and fear, I have completely we-written this blog post. Give it another try if you dare!!

Team Jassy sitting on a fluffy white faux fur rug. Sassy sitting in of mom showing off her new trick title hardware. They have been dropped into a night scene with fireworks exploding behind them. Mom’s sparkling glitter pink shoes adding some pizzazz.

Team Jassy sitting on a fuzzy brown chair. Sassy sitting in of mom showing off her new trick title hardware. They have been dropped into a tranquil garden scene. With greenery all around, along with pink and white flowers. Sassy with a slight head tilt, so she can be as cute as possible.

Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI) hardware officially landed!🏅✨
Next up:
- Circle Right, Circle Left
- Back up
- Cover your eyes
- Distance Sit or Down
- Put Away Toys
- Cover up (with blanket)
- Bow
- Handlers Choice: Model walk
- Head down/sleep
- Play dead

#DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs
*My photos AI bckgnd

Breathing taking! 💖

Inspired by a John Candy documentary, I was reminded how simply listening & truly seeing someone can change a life. That idea helped me say yes to something new. Dan and I are excited to be accepted as volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters & ready for this next adventure. 💛 #ListeningMatters

BIG FIGHT AT POLAND’S WROCLAW ZOO!!!

So peaceful ☺️

The good life asks only this: live well, do no harm, and grant the same grace to others.

In a world that often feels heavy and divided, choosing empathy, truth, and kindness still matters.

Empathy over cruelty, truth over noise, humanity over fear

Small acts of care are never wasted

#ChooseLove

Sassy the red bi Australian Shepherd sitting on the hearth of the fireplace with her mom proudly wearing her Novice Trick Dog metal around her neck. We are siting under a sparkly golden Happy New Year sign draped across the mantel. There are some fun starts and fireworks around the photo to give it a festive celebratory feeling. Sassy is wearing a colorful circus ring leader hat with sparkles and fun colorful feathers. Mom has on a glittery shirt and a sparkling headgear that says Cheers!

🎆🎇Happy New Year!🎇🎆

Starting this year with gratitude & joy as Team Jassy (Jen+Sassy) earns our first official title: Novice Trick Dog (TKN)

Every trick-every lesson-every moment together has meant so much. Here’s to learning, growing, & celebrating the journey-not just the ribbons. #DogsOfBlueSky

Building Trust with Your Dog: Lessons from Sassy Interesting conversations are happening all around. On Christmas Eve, one question kept surfacing: how will AI change our world? I tend to worry about the worst, though I fight that instinct. Somew…

Ode to Jedi (my reactive dog): Building Trust with Your Dog: Lessons from Sassy #DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs #ReactiveDog

Building Trust with Your Dog: Lessons from Sassy Interesting conversations are happening all around. On Christmas Eve, one question kept surfacing: how will AI change our world? I tend to worry about the worst, though I fight that instinct. Somewhere beneath it, I quietly hope for the best. Sassy is now nine months old. How is it going? Beyond my wildest dreams amazing. I’ve learned so much from so many people — and then I put it into practice.

Building Trust with Your Dog: Lessons from Sassy

Interesting conversations are happening all around. On Christmas Eve, one question kept surfacing: how will AI change our world? I tend to worry about the worst, though I fight that instinct. Somewhere beneath it, I quietly hope for the best. Sassy…

Strong on Their Own: Building Puppy Confidence in Multi-Dog Homes The post discusses a subtle form of dependency in puppies where they rely on an existing dog for guidance rather than their human. This can lead to issues with confidence and independence later on. Prevention involves fostering a strong human-puppy bond through structured experiences, ensuring the puppy learns to look to their human first for reassurance.

Strong on Their Own: Building Puppy Confidence in Multi-Dog Homes

The post discusses a subtle form of dependency in puppies where they rely on an existing dog for guidance rather than their human. This can lead to issues with confidence and independence later on. Prevention involves fostering a…

Sassy the red bi Australian Shephered sitting with her tall Christmas tree head back with a gold star on top. She is wearing her classic style green and white sweater she got Christmas Day from her Uncle and Auntie. She also insisted on wearing her light up Christmas bulb neck lace. Her golden eyes smiling with Christmas sprit.

Sassy hopes all of your Christmas wishes came true!! ✨💖 #DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs #MerryChristmas #CuteDogs #AustralianShepherd

Sassy the red bi Aussie with her friend Eddie the King Charles spaniel grabbing a photo with Mr and Mrs Clause. Thor mom’s also snuck into the photo. A whole gaggle of BFF’s in this photo. ❤️

Sassy and Eddie wishing you Happy Holidays!! 🎅🏻🧑🏻‍🎄 🎄🐾 #DogsOfBluesky #Dogs #Santa

In case you needed a smile today…Sassy’s first “Hello World”! ❤️ #DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs #AustralianShepherd #TrickTraining

Some moments are too cute not to share. I can’t teach “Strike a Pose,” but Sassy hears “Selfie!” and instantly just knows. 🤳🐾

She might keep me on my toes, but I swear she lives to make me laugh.😂❤️

Good girl, Wild Red Sassafras. My heart is full. 💕

#DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs #AustralianShepherd #Love

Sassy sitting on the ottoman after I asked her to retrieve her bone, waiting to hand it over. I made a few squeaky noises to get a cute little head tilt. Also, she still has one ear that pops up pretty often. Hoping it settles in a down position soon!!

Sassy’s officially in winter mode!
Her first snowfall was just a light dusting—pretty meh in her opinion. But now that we’re getting a few real inches, she’s ready for round two! Not a summer fan, but she is absolutely loving winter. I’ll grab some video so we can all enjoy! #DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs

Red bi Australian shepherd hanging out on the porch of a warm yellow orange glowing lit colonial house. Where the light white door sports an orange and yellow white lighted wreath. Pumpkins line the 4 steps up to the stoop, where large floral arrangements sit on each side of the door. Two tall pillars frame the scene and a fun Happy Thanksgiving is written a cross the steps. Sassy sits with one ear up and one down, waiting to greet you as you arrive, with millions of puppy kisses.

🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛 Hope your heart is full with blessings and your days filled with gratitude. 🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛❤️🧡💛
#DogsOfBluesky #Dogs #Thabksgiving #Blessings #gratitude

Finally got it!! ATP racer in her new swift concept bike, painted neon pink of course.

Image of the 100% challenge completion screen stating 164042 feet of climbing completed!!

Concept bike ✅

I should have had this at the beginning of the year, but life wanted it to be more challenging for me. 😁 No worries, I made it! On to my next goal! #Zwift 🚴🏻‍♀️

A colorful acrylic painting in progress. The artist is fighting a battle, trying to remember as life imitates art, even if there is a mistake, they will grow and come our the other end all the better for it. The painting yet incomplete has a row of purple snow covers pine trees on the right, lining a path that is just being created. The sky filled with pinks, oranges and what will be a sun burst with hints of a cloudy menacing sky.

Working on my mindset. I am wondering how I am going to mess this up. 😂 Acrylics are so forgiving. Even if I mess it up, I will learn a new technique and make something unexpected beautiful. Instead, I will believe everything will turn out as it was meant to be. 🙏🏻 #art #AcrylicPainting #Growth

Sunlit ripples sweep the field,a quiet, shimmering sea.

As I pass, the grass-tops sway and wave hello with glee…

And when I turn to leave the trail, they wave goodbye to me.

I pray my steps stay soft & slow, so wonder calls me near

that I may never wander past & miss nature’s quiet beauty here.

Tiny red by Australian Shepherd puppy, crawled into a small cubby in my desk at my feet. Gaining up at me as she ponders life.

Red bi Australian Shepherd now almost fully grown, resting peacefully oblivious to the fact she had to squish herself into her familiar resting place.

She still isn’t sure how the universe could be shrinking so quickly, but she’s handling it surprisingly well. #DogsOfBlueSky #Dogs #AustralianShephered #TheIncrediableShrinkingPuppy

Sunlit ripples sweep the field,
a quiet, shimmering sea.

The meandering breeze stirs distant memories
the grass whispers back to me.

As I pass, the grass-tops sway
and wave hello so free…
And when I turn to leave the trail,
they wave goodbye to me.

Sassy ❤️’s “Trade Game” on demand. I take=you give. Who is training who? Now learning “Bring Me”+ bonus “Wow Game”. Smart & always adorable, even if she thought about running off with my glasses. Obviously burning outfit tomorrow, bad 🍀 😢 #DogsOfBlueSky #AustrlianShephered #Dogs #DogTraining