Well it is August already. It is hot and humid and not much fun to be outside. I hope you are somewhere cool. AC would be best but in the shade with a breeze at least!
We had a Celebration of Life for my friend Mohawk last week. It was bittersweet. A cloudy and rainy start to the day kept a lot of folks from coming but as we all met at the Coop, where he worked, to ride together to take him to Freedom Park....the sun came out and the clouds disappeared. It was as it should be for a ride to salute a fellow rider and very special person!!! God smiled on that ride!
I don't know how to say it except that I expect it was the only Jodi could get through it....but she orchestrated everything. I am sure she delegated many things but from the line-up of the procession to the proceedings of the day.....I could see her guidance, even though some others said the words, prepared the food and set up the tables and chairs. I understand that.....she was saying good-bye to her husband and friend and she wanted it to be perfect. It was!
It was the kind of event Mohawk would have approved of. A ride, a few special words, good food and then a whole lot of good memories and hugs shared. The families that he made came together with his, and their friends, to celebrate a life well lived. I was happy for all of them!
The reality that he is gone is still eluding me - though I try to realize it. He will not be coming back. I can't hope for him like I can for you.....because he is dead and I know that. It just doesn't feel real yet. I know it will someday....just as I know someday I may have to face the reality that you will never come home again. How do I do that? Maybe it will all feel real in time....you being lost sure fells real.....but Mohawk being gone is still abstract for me.
I guess I will just keep talking to you from time to time. Maybe the reality will come through doing that. It is so different knowing what has happened then not knowing. Maybe the difference will allow me to accept his passing even though I still hold hope of seeing you again because I have no answers yet, where you are concerned. I miss you......I will miss Mohawk very much too!
We don't lose friends - human or fur covered without hurting. I do hurt......😢😩😖😥
Starskey
At Freedom Park summer 2010
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Mohawk
Howdy little fella. I have t talked to you for a while. I probably should talk to you more often but you are so special to me that I sometimes feel regular everyday type stuff is not what I need to share with you. I am wrong on that! If you were here I would be sharing every single everyday type thought, feeling and concern with you....and daily love and confirmation. If I talk to you more often then maybe I will never find myself where Mohawk found himself.....
Who is Mohawk? He was a very dear friend of mine, and of many others. I (we) lost him this week. He made a choice that I can't understand and I have kept the reality at arms length for several days now. I can't do that anymore. His death is real. The way he died is real. There is no one to blame and I am not angry at him anymore. I understand where he was because I have been in that dark place myself. I thank God that my options were different - though it didn't feel like that at the time. It was just my choices that were different......again I thank God because it wasn't always me making that decision - it was Him! Or maybe me with his guidance?
Knowing that desperate state of mind, I can only feel sorrow now. I am sad that he did not feel he could trust his friends enough to contact one of us. I would have listened! I would have held him, cried with him, done the brain scramble with him or what ever he needed to get past that point of no hope. He never called. He took it all by himself. I am sure he asked God why but I don't think he listened for God's answer or recognized God's directions for him.....or he misunderstood them.
I know that he felt no one understood or loved him at that moment but we all did....we would have told him so if he had only given us the chance! Depression is a horrible thing and when you feel like the bottom just fell out of your world it is hard to hang on long enough for someone to reach you....I know that feeling!
Especially when you are alone and no one knows how confused, how lost and desperate you feel.
People think that just because you are not isolating yourself that someone should notice. We all think we should have noticed. Often we do but our own lives prohibit our involvement to the extent the other person may need....or we just aren't in the right place when we are needed. Mohawk was alone on that road in the night....alone with his God - but more so alone with his despair and confusion. I can't blame him for his choice to take his own life....but I will always wish that he had chosen not to.
You know that I have been in that place before. I have blamed myself for whatever went wrong all my life. I even blamed myself for you disappearing. Are those the thoughts of someone with a rational mind at that moment? Of course not - but that is what depression can do. Rationality doesn't stand a chance against pain, fear or depressive thoughts that turn in to destructive behavior.
I will always wonder. I think we all will always wonder if we could have made a difference. I can't stay stuck on that thought or it will feed my own depression and I don't need that! That was why I started my conversations with you in the beginning. They became a way for me to express my thoughts without falling apart. A way to express my desperation in a safe way for me. I would tell you this in person but you are still "lost" and so I write to you.
This week I lost a friend. A very dear friend and I am saddened but no longer angry. God did not take him from us. Mohawk chose to go on his own. I so wish he hadn't. I wish he had put it all in God's hands and waited for His guidance.....but Mohawk didn't and all I can be now is greatly saddened and work to forgive him. I think I can do that.....because I understand where he was, even if I do not agree with his choice in the matter.
This week I lost a friend. I still love my friend. I am no longer angry with my friend - just with his choice to leave this world. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered for all the wonderful things about him! His smile, his laugh, his devotion and dedication; his caring for his friends; how he supported others; for all the wonderful memories he made with so many!
Mohawk - Please Rest in Peace now! rest in peace now
Who is Mohawk? He was a very dear friend of mine, and of many others. I (we) lost him this week. He made a choice that I can't understand and I have kept the reality at arms length for several days now. I can't do that anymore. His death is real. The way he died is real. There is no one to blame and I am not angry at him anymore. I understand where he was because I have been in that dark place myself. I thank God that my options were different - though it didn't feel like that at the time. It was just my choices that were different......again I thank God because it wasn't always me making that decision - it was Him! Or maybe me with his guidance?
Knowing that desperate state of mind, I can only feel sorrow now. I am sad that he did not feel he could trust his friends enough to contact one of us. I would have listened! I would have held him, cried with him, done the brain scramble with him or what ever he needed to get past that point of no hope. He never called. He took it all by himself. I am sure he asked God why but I don't think he listened for God's answer or recognized God's directions for him.....or he misunderstood them.
I know that he felt no one understood or loved him at that moment but we all did....we would have told him so if he had only given us the chance! Depression is a horrible thing and when you feel like the bottom just fell out of your world it is hard to hang on long enough for someone to reach you....I know that feeling!
Especially when you are alone and no one knows how confused, how lost and desperate you feel.
People think that just because you are not isolating yourself that someone should notice. We all think we should have noticed. Often we do but our own lives prohibit our involvement to the extent the other person may need....or we just aren't in the right place when we are needed. Mohawk was alone on that road in the night....alone with his God - but more so alone with his despair and confusion. I can't blame him for his choice to take his own life....but I will always wish that he had chosen not to.
You know that I have been in that place before. I have blamed myself for whatever went wrong all my life. I even blamed myself for you disappearing. Are those the thoughts of someone with a rational mind at that moment? Of course not - but that is what depression can do. Rationality doesn't stand a chance against pain, fear or depressive thoughts that turn in to destructive behavior.
I will always wonder. I think we all will always wonder if we could have made a difference. I can't stay stuck on that thought or it will feed my own depression and I don't need that! That was why I started my conversations with you in the beginning. They became a way for me to express my thoughts without falling apart. A way to express my desperation in a safe way for me. I would tell you this in person but you are still "lost" and so I write to you.
This week I lost a friend. A very dear friend and I am saddened but no longer angry. God did not take him from us. Mohawk chose to go on his own. I so wish he hadn't. I wish he had put it all in God's hands and waited for His guidance.....but Mohawk didn't and all I can be now is greatly saddened and work to forgive him. I think I can do that.....because I understand where he was, even if I do not agree with his choice in the matter.
This week I lost a friend. I still love my friend. I am no longer angry with my friend - just with his choice to leave this world. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered for all the wonderful things about him! His smile, his laugh, his devotion and dedication; his caring for his friends; how he supported others; for all the wonderful memories he made with so many!
Mohawk - Please Rest in Peace now! rest in peace now
Thursday, September 17, 2015
What's really important
Good Morning Sunshine! Oh we have had many sunny mornings but this one just feels special. I have been helping friends for the past six weeks and I can't believe how much I have learned about myself and what is really important in the process!!
My friends had been investing and collecting for years. Some of the most cool antique things, big and small, and some totally unique stuff began to fill their farm buildings to overflowing. They have built a new home and sold the place with all the buildings - so they had to empty them but had no where to put that much stuff. They finally agreed to have an auction. It took two days to sell it all but it took us 6 weeks to get it ready to sell.
It was a bigger adventure than I expected it to be! It also got us talking and thinking about what was really important in life.....things were not high on the list and we really found ourselves wondering why some things were even saved, let alone so many of them. We had a lot of fun discoveries as well....and some really special ones too. A box of letters written during WWII to various soldiers by some female pen pals were really special. We didn't read them but we carefully saved them. That is something you do save but then you find the proper place to put them - like a museum or memorial or something.
It seemed like for everything we moved there were 5 more things to consider behind, under or inside of it. It was easy to get frustraited. The desire to cry came over me often....because I was well aware that I had some of the same kind of stuff in my home and it made me mad, sad and overwhelmed all at the same time. The best thing I did each day was to come home, from helping my friends, and take on one similar project at home while I was still in that mindset. I have made progress but not the same as we all have made working together. I think that is key. We all do better with support and help....but I do continue to make progress on my own.
My friends were preparing for a huge auction sale. I don't have enough stuff for that and little of what I do have is valuable enough to auction. I am not even sure if I can sell a lot of it. My friends had more of an incentive to accomplish their purging and discovery project than I have in my personal one.....but I recognize the similarity in my own situation. Even if there is no new house to move to I still have crap that I need to part with. It is stuff I no longer need or use and probably never will. It is just taking up space in my home and my life.
Why do we do things like this? I was not raised to save or collect this much stuff. I was raised to save the important things like photos. It was me that took that farther and to excess. Helping my friends not only opened my eyes to it but gave me the incentive to continue and complete what I had started clearing in my own world of clutter. It isn't easy! There are emotions attached to some of it and there is the guilt of having acquired it in the first place. It is depressing to face the truth of the time, money and energy wasted over the years.
We would get a plan of action going only to find, part way in to it that it wasn't going to work like we thought or like we wanted or needed. We had to make adjustments all the time and jump from one project to another depending on weather, help available, auction needs and a hundred other things...but we adjusted. Some of us were better at it than others. I saw one friend give up control of almost everything to get this done. This had to be the hardest thing he has ever done because he has always been a doer and in control of the things around him. To see him give that control away and tell someone else they were the boss was amazing to witness. I was so very proud of him and prayed for the same kind of strength!
Other friends came to help. One special friend suffered a health set-back a few years ago and has had to learn the fine art of adjusting in almost every phase of his life. I appreciated his insight and humor when we did have to make adjustments. I learned that I was far better at adjusting than Jeff is and I can still get multiple projects completed. It isn't like engraving something at the same time as assembling something.....it is more like leaving something incomplete to go do something else to keep everyone working.....not insisting on completing one thing before starting another.
I have learned that things are only things. Their value to me is totally different than THIER value to someone else. I discovered that friendship is far more important than anything else. I found that working together makes even tough jobs easier and less painful.
My friends had been investing and collecting for years. Some of the most cool antique things, big and small, and some totally unique stuff began to fill their farm buildings to overflowing. They have built a new home and sold the place with all the buildings - so they had to empty them but had no where to put that much stuff. They finally agreed to have an auction. It took two days to sell it all but it took us 6 weeks to get it ready to sell.
It was a bigger adventure than I expected it to be! It also got us talking and thinking about what was really important in life.....things were not high on the list and we really found ourselves wondering why some things were even saved, let alone so many of them. We had a lot of fun discoveries as well....and some really special ones too. A box of letters written during WWII to various soldiers by some female pen pals were really special. We didn't read them but we carefully saved them. That is something you do save but then you find the proper place to put them - like a museum or memorial or something.
It seemed like for everything we moved there were 5 more things to consider behind, under or inside of it. It was easy to get frustraited. The desire to cry came over me often....because I was well aware that I had some of the same kind of stuff in my home and it made me mad, sad and overwhelmed all at the same time. The best thing I did each day was to come home, from helping my friends, and take on one similar project at home while I was still in that mindset. I have made progress but not the same as we all have made working together. I think that is key. We all do better with support and help....but I do continue to make progress on my own.
My friends were preparing for a huge auction sale. I don't have enough stuff for that and little of what I do have is valuable enough to auction. I am not even sure if I can sell a lot of it. My friends had more of an incentive to accomplish their purging and discovery project than I have in my personal one.....but I recognize the similarity in my own situation. Even if there is no new house to move to I still have crap that I need to part with. It is stuff I no longer need or use and probably never will. It is just taking up space in my home and my life.
Why do we do things like this? I was not raised to save or collect this much stuff. I was raised to save the important things like photos. It was me that took that farther and to excess. Helping my friends not only opened my eyes to it but gave me the incentive to continue and complete what I had started clearing in my own world of clutter. It isn't easy! There are emotions attached to some of it and there is the guilt of having acquired it in the first place. It is depressing to face the truth of the time, money and energy wasted over the years.
We would get a plan of action going only to find, part way in to it that it wasn't going to work like we thought or like we wanted or needed. We had to make adjustments all the time and jump from one project to another depending on weather, help available, auction needs and a hundred other things...but we adjusted. Some of us were better at it than others. I saw one friend give up control of almost everything to get this done. This had to be the hardest thing he has ever done because he has always been a doer and in control of the things around him. To see him give that control away and tell someone else they were the boss was amazing to witness. I was so very proud of him and prayed for the same kind of strength!
Other friends came to help. One special friend suffered a health set-back a few years ago and has had to learn the fine art of adjusting in almost every phase of his life. I appreciated his insight and humor when we did have to make adjustments. I learned that I was far better at adjusting than Jeff is and I can still get multiple projects completed. It isn't like engraving something at the same time as assembling something.....it is more like leaving something incomplete to go do something else to keep everyone working.....not insisting on completing one thing before starting another.
I have learned that things are only things. Their value to me is totally different than THIER value to someone else. I discovered that friendship is far more important than anything else. I found that working together makes even tough jobs easier and less painful.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Renewed HOPE and Dog Park
Good morning Starskey! There was just a wonderful report on the news about Boozer. He is a beautiful boxer that disappeared from his home 9 years ago. He was found and taken to a shelter by someone in Colorado......over 1,000 miles from his family. The shelter checked him and found his microchip. The rest is now history....Boozer is back with his family again!
It is the stories like this that keep me hoping and praying that this will be us someday! You are not just a missing dog - you are a missing member of our family! We are not just a family, or pack, that is missing a member.....we are missing YOU! That is significant! You are the one that changed our lives forever and we so much want you back home so very much!
They didn't tell the whole story behind how Boozer got so far away from his home. No one may actually know. They do know that he was picked up by a man who took him to the shelter in Colorado, where his chip was read and he was reunited with his missing family. This is what dreams are made of....true stories with happy endings. I am a dreamer and I will always have hope to be reunited with you!
Boozer looked healthy and cared for during all or most of his 9 year separation. I can only pray that you are having a similar experience wherever you are right now. I pray you are well, that you are fed and that you are loved....how could you not be loved? You have such a gentle and playful nature and that magic about you.....maybe it is that star you wear that makes you so special. God put that there you know....and He is watching over you, even now. I have to trust in His plan for both of us. I still pray that, besides keeping you safe, He does plan to reunite us in this life. I know we will be reunited in the next life but that is a long ways away!
I took Pele with me down to spend the weekend with my parents. It was Dad's 86th birthday and I hadn't been able to spend one with him for a long time. Mom and I left him to his paper reading and we took Paucha and Pele to the Marshalltown Dog Park. WOW is that place neat. You would have loved it too. Paucha knew some of the guys there but Pele was a little shy at first. Then some more guys came and the playing and running began!
A Great Peranize (spelling?) was there. He was pure white but reminded me of Dufus because of his size. He rolled and played with a lot of the medium sized to smaller dogs just like Dufus did with you! It was fun to watch (and remember). Dufus lives in Britt now. I don't know how he likes town living but he has a houseful of kids so I bet he is happy.
Back to the Dod Park. It is huge! The Big Dog side is at least 2 acres, maybe more, and the small dog side was about an acre. It was all fenced and had big old trees that shaded most of it. There were benches for us two legged pack members. The water bowls were around the hydrant by the fence....and poop bags dispensers here and there all around the perimeter with big waste cans to put the "stuff" in on your way out. You enter, on leash, in one common area and then choose which side you will go to - Big or Small. Just inside that gate you choose everyone hangs their leashes and if is free run zone.
Of course we want to the Big dog side.....Remember Pele used to live with a Pit, before he came to live with us and Buck the Lab. Big guys don't intimidate him at all and they play better anyway. There was a pair of Dane pups on the Small side because no one else was there but everyone met them sniffing through the fence. Some of the regulars were there so Paucha knew them and introduced Pele. They had been there a while already so we're getting tired of running and playing much. Then some new guys came so Paucha and Pele joined them on their run abouts.
Mom and I visited with some of the folks at the benches and watched the boys play. Had to go pick up their poop, when they stopped long enough to do that, and then they ran some more. We were there a couple of hours! They were having such fun and it was such a beautiful afternoon. There were more dogs there than she had ever seen at one time. It was a great day for dog parking and just enjoying.
We love you Starskey and we very much miss you and want you back in our home. Please do something to get yourself checked for your chip so folks know how to find us so we can all be together again. Stay safe until that can happen. We love you! Until next time little buddy ❤️
It is the stories like this that keep me hoping and praying that this will be us someday! You are not just a missing dog - you are a missing member of our family! We are not just a family, or pack, that is missing a member.....we are missing YOU! That is significant! You are the one that changed our lives forever and we so much want you back home so very much!
They didn't tell the whole story behind how Boozer got so far away from his home. No one may actually know. They do know that he was picked up by a man who took him to the shelter in Colorado, where his chip was read and he was reunited with his missing family. This is what dreams are made of....true stories with happy endings. I am a dreamer and I will always have hope to be reunited with you!
Boozer looked healthy and cared for during all or most of his 9 year separation. I can only pray that you are having a similar experience wherever you are right now. I pray you are well, that you are fed and that you are loved....how could you not be loved? You have such a gentle and playful nature and that magic about you.....maybe it is that star you wear that makes you so special. God put that there you know....and He is watching over you, even now. I have to trust in His plan for both of us. I still pray that, besides keeping you safe, He does plan to reunite us in this life. I know we will be reunited in the next life but that is a long ways away!
I took Pele with me down to spend the weekend with my parents. It was Dad's 86th birthday and I hadn't been able to spend one with him for a long time. Mom and I left him to his paper reading and we took Paucha and Pele to the Marshalltown Dog Park. WOW is that place neat. You would have loved it too. Paucha knew some of the guys there but Pele was a little shy at first. Then some more guys came and the playing and running began!
A Great Peranize (spelling?) was there. He was pure white but reminded me of Dufus because of his size. He rolled and played with a lot of the medium sized to smaller dogs just like Dufus did with you! It was fun to watch (and remember). Dufus lives in Britt now. I don't know how he likes town living but he has a houseful of kids so I bet he is happy.
Back to the Dod Park. It is huge! The Big Dog side is at least 2 acres, maybe more, and the small dog side was about an acre. It was all fenced and had big old trees that shaded most of it. There were benches for us two legged pack members. The water bowls were around the hydrant by the fence....and poop bags dispensers here and there all around the perimeter with big waste cans to put the "stuff" in on your way out. You enter, on leash, in one common area and then choose which side you will go to - Big or Small. Just inside that gate you choose everyone hangs their leashes and if is free run zone.
Of course we want to the Big dog side.....Remember Pele used to live with a Pit, before he came to live with us and Buck the Lab. Big guys don't intimidate him at all and they play better anyway. There was a pair of Dane pups on the Small side because no one else was there but everyone met them sniffing through the fence. Some of the regulars were there so Paucha knew them and introduced Pele. They had been there a while already so we're getting tired of running and playing much. Then some new guys came so Paucha and Pele joined them on their run abouts.
Mom and I visited with some of the folks at the benches and watched the boys play. Had to go pick up their poop, when they stopped long enough to do that, and then they ran some more. We were there a couple of hours! They were having such fun and it was such a beautiful afternoon. There were more dogs there than she had ever seen at one time. It was a great day for dog parking and just enjoying.
We love you Starskey and we very much miss you and want you back in our home. Please do something to get yourself checked for your chip so folks know how to find us so we can all be together again. Stay safe until that can happen. We love you! Until next time little buddy ❤️
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Summer weeds!
Howdy little buddy! It is summer again and I am missing you badly! Everybody at Freedom Park still asks about you. Wow - you made a lot of good friends on your weekends over there with us. They keep asking me if we have found you....and I have to tell them "NO but still looking and hoping". I guess that is where we still are and where we will remain until we find you or learn what happened to you!
The Bedstraw is all over the place in the timber, under the Day Lilys and in the long grass that we can't mow....and the burdocks too! Missy managed to plant them in so many places, after her daily patrol and collection of burr seeds in her long coat. I don't know if I will ever get rid of them all. The burrs babies are having babies now!
Buck doesn't seem to have much trouble with them. With his short hair a dip in the pond and a good roll in the grass gets rid of most of them (and plants them). Pele', on the other hand is a collector like Missy - even with his summer haircut. He ha a similar soft undercoat that really hangs on to them. It doesn't help that he is the little guy so he has to climb and run through things that Buck can see over. At any rate....I spend a lot of time each day cleaning them both up so they don't bring them in the house. Or cleaning up the ones that got in and are stuck to carpet or furniture.
Some days my big black dog looks part green from all his collecting but his do brush out pretty easy. Pele', on the other hand, is a magnet for the weeds. After a run through the timber and around the pond he looks black from all the stickers....even with the summer buzz haircut. I feel bad having to get them off him but Buck's tongue just rubs them in deeper when he tries to help so I have to get them off of him. Burdocks are the worst for the little guy.
Damn it Starskey....I miss you!!! I am still learning of rescues and vets around here that you might have been taken to if you were picked up by an Officer or were a pest to someone. That makes me so frustraited because it means I didn't get your information to them. If they had you, or knew about you, they didn't know about your home and the people that loved you because we couldn't contact them.
I think I know how helpless people feel when they lose a pet when traveling! We were right here at home and didn't know all the places you could have been taken to so how could they when they are in a strange place? I met a lady who travels with her dogs and is compiling the information on "animal friendly" places, especially for dogs. She has a blog too at www.GoPetFriendly.com so she can share what she learns with other pet owners who travel, or just want to take the rest of their family with
them. Remember when we traveled together? It was fun wasn't it and for many of us, fur balls like you are our family!!
There was an event to meet other bloggers and some authors last week so I went. I didn't get around to everyone but I talked to some very smart and special people. Joy Newcomer told me that my memories and letters to you might make for some good children's books. I had never thought of anything like that. This wasn't started to write a book - it was started to help me cope with losing you and the pain and guilt that went with that......but I see all the fun memories I have written about and all the antics of Ike, Buck and Pele' and I realize this blog has done exactly what I needed for it to do for me....keep you alive in heart, keep hope alive and still proceed with a life that you aren't here to share!
It is still my hope to be reunited with you in this world....but until then I plan to keep remembering the wonderful things about you and the things that we did get to do with you while you were with us. You introduced me to a world I never really knew - even though I had loved many pets before you.
I've told you before but you touched us both in a very special way that no other family member or beloved pet ever has! Is that star on your chest magic? Or those expressive ears? Or that totally loving look in your eyes? Or the fact that you picked us out....we weren't looking for another dog -
much less one that would wind up in the house. Something about you was and remains very special indeed. I love you and I always will.
Other bloggers to visit|
Injoyblogspot.com
GoPetFriendlyBlog.com
ASlightlyBetterWife.blog.com
The Bedstraw is all over the place in the timber, under the Day Lilys and in the long grass that we can't mow....and the burdocks too! Missy managed to plant them in so many places, after her daily patrol and collection of burr seeds in her long coat. I don't know if I will ever get rid of them all. The burrs babies are having babies now!
Buck doesn't seem to have much trouble with them. With his short hair a dip in the pond and a good roll in the grass gets rid of most of them (and plants them). Pele', on the other hand is a collector like Missy - even with his summer haircut. He ha a similar soft undercoat that really hangs on to them. It doesn't help that he is the little guy so he has to climb and run through things that Buck can see over. At any rate....I spend a lot of time each day cleaning them both up so they don't bring them in the house. Or cleaning up the ones that got in and are stuck to carpet or furniture.
Some days my big black dog looks part green from all his collecting but his do brush out pretty easy. Pele', on the other hand, is a magnet for the weeds. After a run through the timber and around the pond he looks black from all the stickers....even with the summer buzz haircut. I feel bad having to get them off him but Buck's tongue just rubs them in deeper when he tries to help so I have to get them off of him. Burdocks are the worst for the little guy.
Damn it Starskey....I miss you!!! I am still learning of rescues and vets around here that you might have been taken to if you were picked up by an Officer or were a pest to someone. That makes me so frustraited because it means I didn't get your information to them. If they had you, or knew about you, they didn't know about your home and the people that loved you because we couldn't contact them.
I think I know how helpless people feel when they lose a pet when traveling! We were right here at home and didn't know all the places you could have been taken to so how could they when they are in a strange place? I met a lady who travels with her dogs and is compiling the information on "animal friendly" places, especially for dogs. She has a blog too at www.GoPetFriendly.com so she can share what she learns with other pet owners who travel, or just want to take the rest of their family with
them. Remember when we traveled together? It was fun wasn't it and for many of us, fur balls like you are our family!!
There was an event to meet other bloggers and some authors last week so I went. I didn't get around to everyone but I talked to some very smart and special people. Joy Newcomer told me that my memories and letters to you might make for some good children's books. I had never thought of anything like that. This wasn't started to write a book - it was started to help me cope with losing you and the pain and guilt that went with that......but I see all the fun memories I have written about and all the antics of Ike, Buck and Pele' and I realize this blog has done exactly what I needed for it to do for me....keep you alive in heart, keep hope alive and still proceed with a life that you aren't here to share!
It is still my hope to be reunited with you in this world....but until then I plan to keep remembering the wonderful things about you and the things that we did get to do with you while you were with us. You introduced me to a world I never really knew - even though I had loved many pets before you.
I've told you before but you touched us both in a very special way that no other family member or beloved pet ever has! Is that star on your chest magic? Or those expressive ears? Or that totally loving look in your eyes? Or the fact that you picked us out....we weren't looking for another dog -
much less one that would wind up in the house. Something about you was and remains very special indeed. I love you and I always will.
Other bloggers to visit|
Injoyblogspot.com
GoPetFriendlyBlog.com
ASlightlyBetterWife.blog.com
Friday, March 20, 2015
First day of Spring
Howdy there Young Man!
It is still chilly out but the snow is gone and the sun is shining! How are you doing? We're pretty good here but the boys aren't happy with me. Yesterday was Vet day. They never mind going because Gene gives them plenty of treats for being so good but this time was Heartworm tests, shots and that dreaded nail trim.
We had just enough snow all winter that they didn't wear them down. They have a head start on summer now and always manage to keep them worn down pretty well running around in the summer. Weekends at the camper help too. Since the snow is gone all the burdocks are uncovered so Pele' comes in stuck to himself most of the time. I have had to begin giving him his summer cut a little early because there are so many stuck to him that I have to cut them out of his fur....or pull them and you know how that feels. Shorter hair just works better whenit comes to weeds I hope you have kept your shorter fur so you aren't going through the weed thing.
The geese are here now. That will probably mean the coyotes will stay away now...if they know what is good for them. Those ganders can be nasty. I am wondering if Pele' will remember that this year or if he'll have to get tweeked or chased by on to remind him. Buck just gives them a wide berth when going around the pond. I still remind Buck that if a black dog with a white star comes to visit that he is suppose to at least be nice. Buck is a pretty good guard...and he usually checks things out before deciding whether to growl or not.
Pele' is just a lovable idiot but he'll be the loudest one barking at you. He thinks that just because he grew up with Sid (the giant Pit) that he is tough. Well I guess he is the fierce hunter....chases down rabbits pretty regular but he is still the little guy with a big mouth.
Your house kennel is still here and the summer dog house (unheated). I'll be unplugging the heated dog house now that days are warmer and dogs are inside at night. You need to come home and meet your new packmates! you will fit right in between them for size. I suspect you'll run the race track with Buck and then go hunting with Pele'. You'll fit right in! The race track has changed now that the pond is not frozen anymore. It will go back to being a circle track around the pond.
Your mother's owner has been helping us redo the kitchen so we have been able to share some memories of you and he told me how sneaky you were as a baby! He had to keep you fenced in living in town. Out here you found the joy of running free. I often wonder if that is why you are still gone....even though we were outside with you. You had never left before, but you had never played in snow before either!
As the grass gets green and the flowers begin to bloom I will be thinking of you and your curiosity about the flowers, the garden, the frogs and bugs. As a pup you were very much like Pele' is all of the time....but I also remember my little shadow that followed me wherever I went and wanted to help with everything I did. I miss you Starskey.......Please come home!
It is still chilly out but the snow is gone and the sun is shining! How are you doing? We're pretty good here but the boys aren't happy with me. Yesterday was Vet day. They never mind going because Gene gives them plenty of treats for being so good but this time was Heartworm tests, shots and that dreaded nail trim.
We had just enough snow all winter that they didn't wear them down. They have a head start on summer now and always manage to keep them worn down pretty well running around in the summer. Weekends at the camper help too. Since the snow is gone all the burdocks are uncovered so Pele' comes in stuck to himself most of the time. I have had to begin giving him his summer cut a little early because there are so many stuck to him that I have to cut them out of his fur....or pull them and you know how that feels. Shorter hair just works better whenit comes to weeds I hope you have kept your shorter fur so you aren't going through the weed thing.
The geese are here now. That will probably mean the coyotes will stay away now...if they know what is good for them. Those ganders can be nasty. I am wondering if Pele' will remember that this year or if he'll have to get tweeked or chased by on to remind him. Buck just gives them a wide berth when going around the pond. I still remind Buck that if a black dog with a white star comes to visit that he is suppose to at least be nice. Buck is a pretty good guard...and he usually checks things out before deciding whether to growl or not.
Pele' is just a lovable idiot but he'll be the loudest one barking at you. He thinks that just because he grew up with Sid (the giant Pit) that he is tough. Well I guess he is the fierce hunter....chases down rabbits pretty regular but he is still the little guy with a big mouth.
Your house kennel is still here and the summer dog house (unheated). I'll be unplugging the heated dog house now that days are warmer and dogs are inside at night. You need to come home and meet your new packmates! you will fit right in between them for size. I suspect you'll run the race track with Buck and then go hunting with Pele'. You'll fit right in! The race track has changed now that the pond is not frozen anymore. It will go back to being a circle track around the pond.
Your mother's owner has been helping us redo the kitchen so we have been able to share some memories of you and he told me how sneaky you were as a baby! He had to keep you fenced in living in town. Out here you found the joy of running free. I often wonder if that is why you are still gone....even though we were outside with you. You had never left before, but you had never played in snow before either!
As the grass gets green and the flowers begin to bloom I will be thinking of you and your curiosity about the flowers, the garden, the frogs and bugs. As a pup you were very much like Pele' is all of the time....but I also remember my little shadow that followed me wherever I went and wanted to help with everything I did. I miss you Starskey.......Please come home!
Friday, March 6, 2015
Spring is coming
Hey there Starskey......been thinking about you an awful lot lately. Not exactly sure why so much now because I think of you daily and always wish you well. It has just been different lately for some reason. I hope you are well and fed and warm and I still hope that someone somewhere will look for your family and bring you home to us!
There was a snowfall a few days ago that reminded me of the day you disappeared. It was fresh white fluff like what you went romping through that day. It was your first snow and you really thought it was neat. Dad got the tractor out to plow the drifts in the drive. You helped him get it out then you came bouncing over where I was scooping the sidewalk. You were having such a good time!
I scooped the sidewalk, a wide path to the doghouse and then went to clear in front of the garage door so your Dad could get closer with the loader. He pulled up and asked me where you were. I looked at him and said I thought you might have gone to finish helping him when you stopped helping me. That was when we realized you were gone and we didn't really even know for how long.
We immediately got in the vans and drove around looking for you. We didn't see you and neither had anyone else. They had all been pretty busy clearing snow themselves! That was when I called the Sheriff and the radio station. I made posters and put them up all over town and made smaller ones that I delivered to all the neighbors within 2 miles. The grandkids found places on the internet to post lost pet information and I called Home Again.
I got lost for a while too little buddy.....lost in depression and desperation. I chased down sightings of you from Thompson to Garner and all over Forest City for months. The biggest problem was that folks would call in the evening to tell me they saw you on their way to work that morning.....do you know how hopeful but futile those follow-ups were? You must have wondered where I was and why I didn't come get you. Starskey - I was trying!!! I still am trying!
It is melting today, just like it did after you vanished. We walked the ditches then and gravel roads until we were satisfied that you had not been hit by a car or something. Not finding you dead kept us hoping. I have often wondered if you met a sad end like Ike did,,,,,off the road and because of an illegal trapper. That thought just makes me mad.
There seems to be a lot of coyotes around this year. Bucky keeps barking at them to stay away and we put Pele' on the runner cable when he goes out at night. I had a talk with Buck about you and told him that if he sees you - you aren't a coyote, even if you might look kinds scrufty and that he may have showed them where to find the open water in winyer but that you might really want to come home....and that he should go meet you and let you know it's okay. Don't think he heard me well though. He has claimed this home for himself now and you'd probably need some help to get to know him. He has 3 lab cousins at Rene's house that he enjoys being with....but you would be new to him.
If you stop by the pond, for a drink of water, stick around for daylight when we can see you and can help you out. Your doghouse is here and the heater is on so feel free to warm up for the night. We do so miss you and would so much love to have you come home to us again. You taught us a lot and we are grateful for that. I keep your pictures on the computer in case anyone askes me about you. The porch swing is waiting for spring to come and then it will be here to swing in together again. That is still your special thing because Buck doesn't like to swing and Pele' is always too busy.
Be safe my Starskey and know that you are still loved and wanted! Thanks for letting me share the memories. I'll try to think of happier ones the next time we talk. God Bless you!
There was a snowfall a few days ago that reminded me of the day you disappeared. It was fresh white fluff like what you went romping through that day. It was your first snow and you really thought it was neat. Dad got the tractor out to plow the drifts in the drive. You helped him get it out then you came bouncing over where I was scooping the sidewalk. You were having such a good time!
I scooped the sidewalk, a wide path to the doghouse and then went to clear in front of the garage door so your Dad could get closer with the loader. He pulled up and asked me where you were. I looked at him and said I thought you might have gone to finish helping him when you stopped helping me. That was when we realized you were gone and we didn't really even know for how long.
We immediately got in the vans and drove around looking for you. We didn't see you and neither had anyone else. They had all been pretty busy clearing snow themselves! That was when I called the Sheriff and the radio station. I made posters and put them up all over town and made smaller ones that I delivered to all the neighbors within 2 miles. The grandkids found places on the internet to post lost pet information and I called Home Again.
I got lost for a while too little buddy.....lost in depression and desperation. I chased down sightings of you from Thompson to Garner and all over Forest City for months. The biggest problem was that folks would call in the evening to tell me they saw you on their way to work that morning.....do you know how hopeful but futile those follow-ups were? You must have wondered where I was and why I didn't come get you. Starskey - I was trying!!! I still am trying!
It is melting today, just like it did after you vanished. We walked the ditches then and gravel roads until we were satisfied that you had not been hit by a car or something. Not finding you dead kept us hoping. I have often wondered if you met a sad end like Ike did,,,,,off the road and because of an illegal trapper. That thought just makes me mad.
There seems to be a lot of coyotes around this year. Bucky keeps barking at them to stay away and we put Pele' on the runner cable when he goes out at night. I had a talk with Buck about you and told him that if he sees you - you aren't a coyote, even if you might look kinds scrufty and that he may have showed them where to find the open water in winyer but that you might really want to come home....and that he should go meet you and let you know it's okay. Don't think he heard me well though. He has claimed this home for himself now and you'd probably need some help to get to know him. He has 3 lab cousins at Rene's house that he enjoys being with....but you would be new to him.
If you stop by the pond, for a drink of water, stick around for daylight when we can see you and can help you out. Your doghouse is here and the heater is on so feel free to warm up for the night. We do so miss you and would so much love to have you come home to us again. You taught us a lot and we are grateful for that. I keep your pictures on the computer in case anyone askes me about you. The porch swing is waiting for spring to come and then it will be here to swing in together again. That is still your special thing because Buck doesn't like to swing and Pele' is always too busy.
Be safe my Starskey and know that you are still loved and wanted! Thanks for letting me share the memories. I'll try to think of happier ones the next time we talk. God Bless you!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Another December without you
Starskey my boy.......I should say my man. You are almost 5 now and you have been away from us for almost 4 years now. It seems like an eternity and although life goes on - We still miss you terribly and still hold out hope that you will be identified and returned to us!
We have had a couple small snows but nothing big yet. Bucky loves to run in the snow and Pele does a pretty good job of keeping up but he gets sidetracked easily. His newest project is the rock pile and all the places he can get in to or make bigger. I know you are too big to be in there but I find myself wondering if you are close and trying to come home but these guys don't know you and won't let you.
They don't mean to be rude! You still have many things here with your scent on them....if it lasts that long. Your summer house and it's pad, parts of the football, your kennel and pillows and that big bone collection Missy left for you and that you added to! This is still your home....you just have fellows to share it with now....ones that you will like and have fun with......if we can just get you all together.
You have no idea how much you have changed our lives. You, the first animal allowed in the house and the first pet to touch Jeff's heart as you did. Since you have been gone we rescued Ike and shared our love, and what you gave to us, with him for as long as God would let us. Buck is still here and we are blessed that he was rescued and then given to us to care for. He is a good boy and very well behaved.
Because you helped us learn to trust and love more then we ever had before, Buck got to come in the house right away. He spent a long time sleeping on the floor at our feet before he was allowed in the housefurniture. Now he takes turns with Dad as to whether he is on the couch or next to me in the recliner. That never would have been possible if you had not broken through all the barriers and beliefs he held about dogs in the house!
Pele was always in Robin's house after she rescued him as a baby.....but after a year with Pele, Sid and Pokey she felt over-dogged so she brought him to us. She knew he would be loved and she hoped he would help us stop missing you so much. Well that part didn't work....we miss you as much as we ever did but we do love the little sinker and he loves us and his packmate Buck. He isn't too sure about the house cats though but he has a good feline friend in the shop that pesters him and snuggles him too!
On Thanksgiving I gave thanks for all my family and friends and for all the blessings that God has provided me in my life. You were one of thoseblessings you know. You came in to our lives for a reason. I am not sure what that was unless it was to open our hearts and home to other animals in need. You did that well. I just hope the Lord sees fit to allow you to come back to us.
You'd fit right in between Buck and Pele and the three of of you could explore the rock pile and both burn piles together. Buck likes to chase the deer and squirrels. Pele is a mouser and a good rabbit hunter. As part Border Collie you would love the herding they try to do. Maybe you can teach them something!
We love you and miss you! Tell someone you need to get back home! Until next time my love. Stay safe, stay warm and be smart!
We have had a couple small snows but nothing big yet. Bucky loves to run in the snow and Pele does a pretty good job of keeping up but he gets sidetracked easily. His newest project is the rock pile and all the places he can get in to or make bigger. I know you are too big to be in there but I find myself wondering if you are close and trying to come home but these guys don't know you and won't let you.
They don't mean to be rude! You still have many things here with your scent on them....if it lasts that long. Your summer house and it's pad, parts of the football, your kennel and pillows and that big bone collection Missy left for you and that you added to! This is still your home....you just have fellows to share it with now....ones that you will like and have fun with......if we can just get you all together.
You have no idea how much you have changed our lives. You, the first animal allowed in the house and the first pet to touch Jeff's heart as you did. Since you have been gone we rescued Ike and shared our love, and what you gave to us, with him for as long as God would let us. Buck is still here and we are blessed that he was rescued and then given to us to care for. He is a good boy and very well behaved.
Because you helped us learn to trust and love more then we ever had before, Buck got to come in the house right away. He spent a long time sleeping on the floor at our feet before he was allowed in the housefurniture. Now he takes turns with Dad as to whether he is on the couch or next to me in the recliner. That never would have been possible if you had not broken through all the barriers and beliefs he held about dogs in the house!
Pele was always in Robin's house after she rescued him as a baby.....but after a year with Pele, Sid and Pokey she felt over-dogged so she brought him to us. She knew he would be loved and she hoped he would help us stop missing you so much. Well that part didn't work....we miss you as much as we ever did but we do love the little sinker and he loves us and his packmate Buck. He isn't too sure about the house cats though but he has a good feline friend in the shop that pesters him and snuggles him too!
On Thanksgiving I gave thanks for all my family and friends and for all the blessings that God has provided me in my life. You were one of thoseblessings you know. You came in to our lives for a reason. I am not sure what that was unless it was to open our hearts and home to other animals in need. You did that well. I just hope the Lord sees fit to allow you to come back to us.
You'd fit right in between Buck and Pele and the three of of you could explore the rock pile and both burn piles together. Buck likes to chase the deer and squirrels. Pele is a mouser and a good rabbit hunter. As part Border Collie you would love the herding they try to do. Maybe you can teach them something!
We love you and miss you! Tell someone you need to get back home! Until next time my love. Stay safe, stay warm and be smart!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Patricia B.
Patricia....
I can't seem to log in to you as a follower of my blog for Starskey. I am getting a new computer and wondered if you had saved all our communications about all my furry family....and the feathered ones too. If so .....please email them to me. Use mctrophy@wcta....you know the rest.
I may look in to having them put together and published......At least for family. Thanks!
Later...............Lee
I can't seem to log in to you as a follower of my blog for Starskey. I am getting a new computer and wondered if you had saved all our communications about all my furry family....and the feathered ones too. If so .....please email them to me. Use mctrophy@wcta....you know the rest.
I may look in to having them put together and published......At least for family. Thanks!
Later...............Lee
Another First Snow
Hi there Starskey!
The first snow came on Dec. 10 again....but was just a little one. It has gotten added to each day since. It is now deep enough that Pele is more then belly deep. It does remind me of the day that you disappeared so I can't help but think about you. I am sad that you are gone but so very grateful that you were here!
Pele snuck out with Buck yesterday and took off. It scared me but he had his blaze orange coat on and he was with big brother Buck so I knew he wouldn't get lost.....but he was naughty to sneak out like that. I think they plan it together too.....Pele tucks himself under Buck's belly so when the door opens we can't see him and out they both go....stinkers anyway! I wish you could be here with them!
They stay around home but they have to run through every bramble and thistle they can find....and you know how many we have! Buck's fur is like yours so he can roll in the grass or snow and get most of them out - but Pele is kind of like Missy. Not as much hair but it is long so he can get parts of his body connected to each other in weird ways with the brambles. Buck will help him get rid of some of them but I usually have a lot of work to do too.....I think he likes it so gets them on purpose. He gets special attention from both of us. He is not a dumb dog that's for sure....just a naughty one.
There is another example of something you brought to us.....I grew up with lots of pets in the house but Jeff didn't. He had a special furry friend when he was a kid but as he grew up he just had the livestock animals and they were for selling or eating. That place in his heart where his special friend lived never had the chance to grow.....he wouldn't let it.....until you came to us. You opened up that place in his heart again and helped it to grow! Thank you for that!!! You changed him and changed our lives forever!!
Buck is out helping (?) Jeff put the chains on the tractor in case it snows some more. Pele is laying on the couch beside me having a nap. That is a good feeling....to have a warm pup beside me again! He doesn't like the porch swing...so that is still "our" place. You wouldn't recognize your old play area. This summer we put a cement slab in place of the palettes we used to use as a deck. Then we added a brick patio on to that. Not all of your playground is gone.....just part of it. Your favorite grass wrestling place with Dufus is still there.
The little maple tree we planted outside the back door has grown big. It shades the patio and grass really nice....but there are still sunny spots here and there. Do you remember the campfires we had at the park. You used to lay beside them and enjoy the warmth with us. We made a place for campfires by the brick patio so we can sit around a fire and enjoy our old memories and make some new ones. Missy and Jack would have enjoyed that.....the only fires we used to have with them were when we needed to burn the brush pile. I would sit in the grass and they would sit on each side of me and we would watch the fire together. That didn't happen as often as our campfires did.
The sun just came out. It makes it bright outside as it bounces off the snow. I cut up a lot of wood yesterday from the maples we took down beside the garage last month. I need to go stack it and clean up the brush to go to the brush pile. By next summer it will be dry enough to burn with our oak in the campfire. It would be really great if you were here to share the fire with us!
Buck has come in to warm up so now I have both boys inside. They are laying on their pillow in front of the fire together. I still miss you and wish you were here to complete this day. I love you Starskey.....I always will. I just wish you were here! My heart still misses you........This blog and my posts to you help me feel a bit better because I can't miss you any less....no matter how life goes on.
Jeff used to think this kept me stuck in the bad depression I got in to after you disappeared. I think he has learned that it really helps me to get my thoughts and my pain expressed. I should have started it earlier then I did and maybe I wouldn't have gone so far down that dark path in the firsts place. I know it doesn't bring you back to us.....but it brings back good memories and helps we deal with the ones that hurt. Technology has it's advantages.....I just wish it had done more to find you and help you to get back home. I love you. I miss you. I pray for you. Maybe someday.......
The first snow came on Dec. 10 again....but was just a little one. It has gotten added to each day since. It is now deep enough that Pele is more then belly deep. It does remind me of the day that you disappeared so I can't help but think about you. I am sad that you are gone but so very grateful that you were here!
Pele snuck out with Buck yesterday and took off. It scared me but he had his blaze orange coat on and he was with big brother Buck so I knew he wouldn't get lost.....but he was naughty to sneak out like that. I think they plan it together too.....Pele tucks himself under Buck's belly so when the door opens we can't see him and out they both go....stinkers anyway! I wish you could be here with them!
They stay around home but they have to run through every bramble and thistle they can find....and you know how many we have! Buck's fur is like yours so he can roll in the grass or snow and get most of them out - but Pele is kind of like Missy. Not as much hair but it is long so he can get parts of his body connected to each other in weird ways with the brambles. Buck will help him get rid of some of them but I usually have a lot of work to do too.....I think he likes it so gets them on purpose. He gets special attention from both of us. He is not a dumb dog that's for sure....just a naughty one.
There is another example of something you brought to us.....I grew up with lots of pets in the house but Jeff didn't. He had a special furry friend when he was a kid but as he grew up he just had the livestock animals and they were for selling or eating. That place in his heart where his special friend lived never had the chance to grow.....he wouldn't let it.....until you came to us. You opened up that place in his heart again and helped it to grow! Thank you for that!!! You changed him and changed our lives forever!!
Buck is out helping (?) Jeff put the chains on the tractor in case it snows some more. Pele is laying on the couch beside me having a nap. That is a good feeling....to have a warm pup beside me again! He doesn't like the porch swing...so that is still "our" place. You wouldn't recognize your old play area. This summer we put a cement slab in place of the palettes we used to use as a deck. Then we added a brick patio on to that. Not all of your playground is gone.....just part of it. Your favorite grass wrestling place with Dufus is still there.
The little maple tree we planted outside the back door has grown big. It shades the patio and grass really nice....but there are still sunny spots here and there. Do you remember the campfires we had at the park. You used to lay beside them and enjoy the warmth with us. We made a place for campfires by the brick patio so we can sit around a fire and enjoy our old memories and make some new ones. Missy and Jack would have enjoyed that.....the only fires we used to have with them were when we needed to burn the brush pile. I would sit in the grass and they would sit on each side of me and we would watch the fire together. That didn't happen as often as our campfires did.
The sun just came out. It makes it bright outside as it bounces off the snow. I cut up a lot of wood yesterday from the maples we took down beside the garage last month. I need to go stack it and clean up the brush to go to the brush pile. By next summer it will be dry enough to burn with our oak in the campfire. It would be really great if you were here to share the fire with us!
Buck has come in to warm up so now I have both boys inside. They are laying on their pillow in front of the fire together. I still miss you and wish you were here to complete this day. I love you Starskey.....I always will. I just wish you were here! My heart still misses you........This blog and my posts to you help me feel a bit better because I can't miss you any less....no matter how life goes on.
Jeff used to think this kept me stuck in the bad depression I got in to after you disappeared. I think he has learned that it really helps me to get my thoughts and my pain expressed. I should have started it earlier then I did and maybe I wouldn't have gone so far down that dark path in the firsts place. I know it doesn't bring you back to us.....but it brings back good memories and helps we deal with the ones that hurt. Technology has it's advantages.....I just wish it had done more to find you and help you to get back home. I love you. I miss you. I pray for you. Maybe someday.......
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Thanksgiving
Hello Starskey - wherever you are. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day so I am seriously thinking about the things that I am thankful for in my life. You are high on that list. I don't need to repeat the things I have already posted....I wrote them so I didn't have to keep reliving it but can always remember the good times! Life does go on and even love changes but is never forgotten.
You were responsible for opening up hearts......and houses......in a way that I never believed possible. What you left behind was a more open heart and a more willing mind when it came to fur covered family members. We have more now...and some of the same that were here with you. Midnight is still trying to teach the kid how to ring the bell to go out. Buck caught on quick but Pele just refuses to do it.
Both dogs are not only in the house....but on the furniture! Well Pele is anyway. Buck is half way on and half way off. His back feet are braced on the floor with his front feet on the blanket covering part of the couch and his head in my lap......that is Major! You broke down the house barrier in Jeff's mind so you got these guys inside to work their own magic on him. It was Pele first....because he had lived in a house before and knew to behave,,,and he isn't that big anyway. Jeff still objects to Buck being even part way on the couch.....but unless somebody gets down on the floor with him....that is where her has to come for his loving. I don't mind at all - except for the licking part. He feels the need to lick things until they are wet.....pillow, arm of chair, me, whatever. What is it with the licking anyway?
Back to the Thanksgiving part......Thank you for choosing to spend part of your life with! You changed ours for the better.......I can't tell you how much. We have loved all of our pets and cared for them the best we knew how at the time.....you taught us new ways to love and care.
Thank,You for loving me at a time when I wasn't sure I was still lovable. I thought I couldn't do much right but it was enough for you. You loved me with no questions asked or demands made....you just loved me! Thank you for saving all the bones Missy stashed. Ike was grateful and he left them for Pele. Thank you for teaching me the power of simple things like a walk with my dog. Thank you for the wonderful greetings I received even if I just came back out of the shop.....you were always glad to see me. Often I needed that more then I realized.
Thank you for being you! You may be elsewhere right now but I can't look at the porch swing or the plastic summer outdoor shelter without feeling a glow in my heart. You made a permanent home in my heart - and Jeff's too! Wherever you are right now.....I hope you are warm, safe, happy and that you know how much you are loved and valued and cared about!
I do wish you would go to the vet and get your chip discovered. I would be even more thankful to be able to have you back at home with us. You'll love your new brothers......and they will love you!
Thank You Starskey - for coming in to my life and for changing it to the better. I miss you.....
You were responsible for opening up hearts......and houses......in a way that I never believed possible. What you left behind was a more open heart and a more willing mind when it came to fur covered family members. We have more now...and some of the same that were here with you. Midnight is still trying to teach the kid how to ring the bell to go out. Buck caught on quick but Pele just refuses to do it.
Both dogs are not only in the house....but on the furniture! Well Pele is anyway. Buck is half way on and half way off. His back feet are braced on the floor with his front feet on the blanket covering part of the couch and his head in my lap......that is Major! You broke down the house barrier in Jeff's mind so you got these guys inside to work their own magic on him. It was Pele first....because he had lived in a house before and knew to behave,,,and he isn't that big anyway. Jeff still objects to Buck being even part way on the couch.....but unless somebody gets down on the floor with him....that is where her has to come for his loving. I don't mind at all - except for the licking part. He feels the need to lick things until they are wet.....pillow, arm of chair, me, whatever. What is it with the licking anyway?
Back to the Thanksgiving part......Thank you for choosing to spend part of your life with! You changed ours for the better.......I can't tell you how much. We have loved all of our pets and cared for them the best we knew how at the time.....you taught us new ways to love and care.
Thank,You for loving me at a time when I wasn't sure I was still lovable. I thought I couldn't do much right but it was enough for you. You loved me with no questions asked or demands made....you just loved me! Thank you for saving all the bones Missy stashed. Ike was grateful and he left them for Pele. Thank you for teaching me the power of simple things like a walk with my dog. Thank you for the wonderful greetings I received even if I just came back out of the shop.....you were always glad to see me. Often I needed that more then I realized.
Thank you for being you! You may be elsewhere right now but I can't look at the porch swing or the plastic summer outdoor shelter without feeling a glow in my heart. You made a permanent home in my heart - and Jeff's too! Wherever you are right now.....I hope you are warm, safe, happy and that you know how much you are loved and valued and cared about!
I do wish you would go to the vet and get your chip discovered. I would be even more thankful to be able to have you back at home with us. You'll love your new brothers......and they will love you!
Thank You Starskey - for coming in to my life and for changing it to the better. I miss you.....
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
You are loved...
Starskey my boy....just when I think you may have left my mind - my heart kicks in and reminds me otherwise! You will forever be in my heart so therefore in my mind as well.
It is a sunny fall day with leaves all over the ground. It is the kind of day where you would have been running all over the place and enjoying the sounds your feet make in the fallen leaves. It is also cold out so you would come in for snuggles and to warm up before you would ring your bell to go out for another round in the leaves. Pele enjoys such adventures now but his outdoor runs are short. His winter coat is just starting to grow and he is short enough to collect all the burrs....that have to be brushed out before he can come in the house.
Buck is understanding that his days of easy running are limited so he is taking advantage of all the run time he can get. The race track around the pond is his favorite but he has to check out the timber and long grass too. Burrs don't stick to him as bad (shorter hair) so he doesn't have that problem....and he so loves to run! When the snow comes he'll have to create packed snow trails to run on and I bet he makes a lot of them as well as sharing the deer trails.
I sure do miss your communication with your ears. That made understanding what you wanted easier. I just plain miss everything about you! Wherever you are, I pray that you are happy. I also hope you know that you are loved!!!!!
You are welcome to come home any time....in fact we wish you would. Buck and Pele have heard all about you and would love to meet you and have you as their brother. Life has reduced the amount of time I have to continue to search for you so I pray that you are safe and happy and continue to hope that someday your chip will be discovered and you will begin the trip back in to our lives. Be safe my boy! I love you.....
It is a sunny fall day with leaves all over the ground. It is the kind of day where you would have been running all over the place and enjoying the sounds your feet make in the fallen leaves. It is also cold out so you would come in for snuggles and to warm up before you would ring your bell to go out for another round in the leaves. Pele enjoys such adventures now but his outdoor runs are short. His winter coat is just starting to grow and he is short enough to collect all the burrs....that have to be brushed out before he can come in the house.
Buck is understanding that his days of easy running are limited so he is taking advantage of all the run time he can get. The race track around the pond is his favorite but he has to check out the timber and long grass too. Burrs don't stick to him as bad (shorter hair) so he doesn't have that problem....and he so loves to run! When the snow comes he'll have to create packed snow trails to run on and I bet he makes a lot of them as well as sharing the deer trails.
I sure do miss your communication with your ears. That made understanding what you wanted easier. I just plain miss everything about you! Wherever you are, I pray that you are happy. I also hope you know that you are loved!!!!!
You are welcome to come home any time....in fact we wish you would. Buck and Pele have heard all about you and would love to meet you and have you as their brother. Life has reduced the amount of time I have to continue to search for you so I pray that you are safe and happy and continue to hope that someday your chip will be discovered and you will begin the trip back in to our lives. Be safe my boy! I love you.....
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Have you been listening?
Starskey my boy!
I have been thinking of you a lot but I have been so busy that I haven't been able to write to you. I've been talking to you instead. Have you been listening? Have you heard me? I don't know whether to hope you have or not. Hearing me could mean you are at the Rainbow bridge with Ike. If you can hear me any other way I sure do wish that you would come home! I miss you!!!
We had snow on December 10th. It was pretty but it made me sad. All I could think of was that same date in 2010 when you were frolicking in your first snowfall - and it was the last day that we saw you. I have wondered if you went to look for Dufus to play in the snow with you - he was at home you know. No - we've already talked about that. I don't want to go there again.
That snow has melted now. We have gotten a few more little snows but nothing we get excited about. Pele' is a tougher little dude then I thought he might be. He wants to be outside almost as often as Buck does. Pele' has to go on the trolley though because he gets naughty if we let him loose. He dug up all of Randy's flowers around his gazebo last fall. Randy caught him on his wildlife cameras so we have pictures to prove it.
When you come home there will be some new rules. Do you remember the collars that Pockey and Paucha wear at Robin's to keep them inside their invisible fence? Well we have some of those now too. Our invisible fence is different then theirs but it works the same way - you get a correction if you go outside the boundary. Ours won't use wires in the ground (too many critters that might wreck them). Ours uses radio signals. We'll start with one that will give you all 3/4 of an acre of free run area - and we'll add more later so you can still go to the shop and the timber. Yes, they are water proof so you can go swimming too.
Pele' wore one when he lived at Robin's house so he'll remember what it is. Buck came from a house where he had the underground kind too so he'll know what that correction means. The ground got frozen too fast so I couldn't get the boundary flags put in. I didn't think it was fair to make the guys find the boundaries the hard way so until spring we'll stick with the trolley runner and leashes. I also have training collars so if somebody starts doing something they shouldn't be doing. I can tone them - that is all they seem to need if anything at all.
It is about making things safer for you guys. You can still run around the farm, swim in the pond, chase the squirrels and all the other great dog things - and you'll do it in a safe and protected place! Not that our great big yard isn't a safe and protected place - but you went somewhere (on your own or with help) and I don't want to risk that happening again. I have already learned I can't trust Pele' to not visit the neighbors! This will give you more freedom then a regular fence (or a kennel or a leash). We can even take it camping with us!
Oh how we miss you! You transformed our lives. Buck and Pele' are benefiting from many of the lessons you taught us - and most of the things that we discovered together....and Dad and I are able to enjoy them more because of you! God knew what He was doing when He put you in our hearts and let you choose us to love.
Wherever you are now - I hope the people there know how special you are and love you as much as we do. That way I know you are safe! But I still want you back home with us - where you started and where you are missed.
I got more then a little upset today when Pet Link had me update your information (and mine). There was a link to an Animal Hospital site that I had never seen before so I checked it out. I entered your ID chip number and the site said it did not monitor for that.....not monitor for what? For that brand of chip or your number? You are listed on both Pet Link and Home Again - and both of those sites are monitored by them. What's up?
Have you been close but unable to be found because your chip number isn't being looked for or that brand isn't checked for or doesn't show up on scanners? What is the deal here? Do something - crap on the rug or get fleas or something. Get yourself in to a vet office and insist on getting scanned.........your chip may have migrated under your skin but it is still there.
I posted that on the Animal Lovers Linked In group. Maybe somebody there will know what's going on.
I am going to keep writing to you (and keep talking to you when I can't write) because that is what keeps me from going goofy. I also keep writing to you because I hope that someday - someone will read it and know where you are or where to look for you.
By the way - the bones in the yard are new ones and you and Pele' will have to share them - I bet you'll lay side by side and chew on them.....Buck could care less. He is more interested in the deer and turkey and whether he can get a reaction out of them by barking. Sometimes he does and sometimes they just look at him...............
I love you Starskey! We're all waiting for you......
I have been thinking of you a lot but I have been so busy that I haven't been able to write to you. I've been talking to you instead. Have you been listening? Have you heard me? I don't know whether to hope you have or not. Hearing me could mean you are at the Rainbow bridge with Ike. If you can hear me any other way I sure do wish that you would come home! I miss you!!!
We had snow on December 10th. It was pretty but it made me sad. All I could think of was that same date in 2010 when you were frolicking in your first snowfall - and it was the last day that we saw you. I have wondered if you went to look for Dufus to play in the snow with you - he was at home you know. No - we've already talked about that. I don't want to go there again.
That snow has melted now. We have gotten a few more little snows but nothing we get excited about. Pele' is a tougher little dude then I thought he might be. He wants to be outside almost as often as Buck does. Pele' has to go on the trolley though because he gets naughty if we let him loose. He dug up all of Randy's flowers around his gazebo last fall. Randy caught him on his wildlife cameras so we have pictures to prove it.
When you come home there will be some new rules. Do you remember the collars that Pockey and Paucha wear at Robin's to keep them inside their invisible fence? Well we have some of those now too. Our invisible fence is different then theirs but it works the same way - you get a correction if you go outside the boundary. Ours won't use wires in the ground (too many critters that might wreck them). Ours uses radio signals. We'll start with one that will give you all 3/4 of an acre of free run area - and we'll add more later so you can still go to the shop and the timber. Yes, they are water proof so you can go swimming too.
Pele' wore one when he lived at Robin's house so he'll remember what it is. Buck came from a house where he had the underground kind too so he'll know what that correction means. The ground got frozen too fast so I couldn't get the boundary flags put in. I didn't think it was fair to make the guys find the boundaries the hard way so until spring we'll stick with the trolley runner and leashes. I also have training collars so if somebody starts doing something they shouldn't be doing. I can tone them - that is all they seem to need if anything at all.
It is about making things safer for you guys. You can still run around the farm, swim in the pond, chase the squirrels and all the other great dog things - and you'll do it in a safe and protected place! Not that our great big yard isn't a safe and protected place - but you went somewhere (on your own or with help) and I don't want to risk that happening again. I have already learned I can't trust Pele' to not visit the neighbors! This will give you more freedom then a regular fence (or a kennel or a leash). We can even take it camping with us!
Oh how we miss you! You transformed our lives. Buck and Pele' are benefiting from many of the lessons you taught us - and most of the things that we discovered together....and Dad and I are able to enjoy them more because of you! God knew what He was doing when He put you in our hearts and let you choose us to love.
Wherever you are now - I hope the people there know how special you are and love you as much as we do. That way I know you are safe! But I still want you back home with us - where you started and where you are missed.
I got more then a little upset today when Pet Link had me update your information (and mine). There was a link to an Animal Hospital site that I had never seen before so I checked it out. I entered your ID chip number and the site said it did not monitor for that.....not monitor for what? For that brand of chip or your number? You are listed on both Pet Link and Home Again - and both of those sites are monitored by them. What's up?
Have you been close but unable to be found because your chip number isn't being looked for or that brand isn't checked for or doesn't show up on scanners? What is the deal here? Do something - crap on the rug or get fleas or something. Get yourself in to a vet office and insist on getting scanned.........your chip may have migrated under your skin but it is still there.
I posted that on the Animal Lovers Linked In group. Maybe somebody there will know what's going on.
I am going to keep writing to you (and keep talking to you when I can't write) because that is what keeps me from going goofy. I also keep writing to you because I hope that someday - someone will read it and know where you are or where to look for you.
By the way - the bones in the yard are new ones and you and Pele' will have to share them - I bet you'll lay side by side and chew on them.....Buck could care less. He is more interested in the deer and turkey and whether he can get a reaction out of them by barking. Sometimes he does and sometimes they just look at him...............
I love you Starskey! We're all waiting for you......
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Mud - Stinky Pond Mud!
Oh how you would enjoy Pele's adventures if you were here. He, too, has found the pond to be a source of great entertainment and adventure. No, he doesn't go swimming like you and Buck - he just plays around the edges in the mud - yeah - that stinky mud and he is having a ball.....
I have the distinct feeling that you would enjoy participating in his adventures in the mud too - but I think you would swim in the water to wash most of that mud off before you came bounding up to the house. Pele' doesn't do that - he just comes in all his mud covered glory and expects me to let him in the house like that. He hasn't even figured out that a dip in Bucks swimming pool gets most of it off - even though that is where I take him to rinse him off every time he comes home covered in that stinky goop. He is awful..........
I think I would have to be angry with him - if it weren't so funny to watch him leaping in the grass and jumping after all the frogs and dragon flies. The pond is so low from no rain that the exposed dirt around the edges has started to grow grass. That makes getting to the muddy parts so much easier for a smaller guy - but it also frustrates Buck when he wants to get to the water for a swim....and he isn't appreciating all the stinky mud I keep rinsing off Pele' in his swimming pool. I think I'll have to find a wash tub or something for Pele' rinsing.
The grass in the pond dirt isn't real tall but it is tall enough that all we can see is the tip of Pele's tail in it - until he attacks his real (or imaginary) prey. He does that with great energy and enthusiasm, making a huge leap from where he was to where he is going. That is when we can see his whole body above the grass. Once he lands again all we see is the grass quiver and shake then suddenly go still, as a head pops up and looks around to see if anyone saw that.
Last night he actually caught a frog by the hind leg. He didn't kill it. I am not sure if he even hurt it because he carried it a couple feet and then let it go in the water. Do you think he figured that the water was where the frog belonged - instead of in his own private playground. I don't know...... He sure likes the pond edge (where the mud is) and the shorter water grass that now grows in the exposed dirt. He seems to spend a lot of time there.
He hasn't figured out that he can go all the way around the pond yet. The dam scares him because he can hear the water going out the overflow. He plays on the house side of the pond down by the weeping willow tree (great place to play hide and seek) but seems to like the field side the best....that is why we can see him so well while he is playing. Buck waits until Pele' is happily busy in his mud playground so that he can do his BIG RUNS. They are so much more fun and he can go so much faster without the little tag-a-long.
Buck runs at full speed through the pasture, around the pond, through the timber, around the shop, past the house then across the dam, through the other timber and around the pond again - without stopping. That is his favorite route though he sometimes varies and makes a trip in to the corn. He goes in on the north end and comes out on the south end - but the rows go the other way. I hope he isn't knocking down Steve's corn! I don't think he runs in there - I think that is more of a reconnaissance mission to see who else has been around. You know - the deer and the racoons, or maybe just that darn cat.
This all seems to take place in the early evening for both of them. That must be why they are both so willing to go to their kennels at night - they are pooped from their adventures! During the day they nap alot and take short excursions together. They patrol all four corners and all sides of our property - but do not go in the road. The ditch is as close as they get to that and I am not complaining! I'd hate to have to put their training collars back on them and have to remind them to stay away from the road that way. They apparently learned that lesson quickly.
It is going to be another beautiful day outside today. I can get some garden work done and maybe even some yard work. I'll find that old wash tub and fill it full of water to rinse Pele' in and change Buck's pool water so he has clean stuff to lay in. Pele' definately needs a real bath soon because rinsing gets the mud off - but not all of the stink and he is starting to smell really bad. Maybe today.........unless he begins to have too much fun again and rinsing is all I have time for.
Who would have thought that this terrier mix fellow would find such happiness and fun in such simple things - and entertain us in the process? Terriers can be little terrors - but Pele' seems content to catch a rodent from time to time (that must be his day job) and to play in the stinky pond mud to chase ellusive (and some fantacy) creatures along the pond bank. I know I feel safer knowing that he is guarding me from all of the frogs and toads!
Starskey - come home and play with Pele'. Yes - even in the pond mud. Maybe you can teach him to swim to get some of it off. You can race Buck too. I don't think you would slow him down any by tagging along on his BIG RUNS if you go along.
Starskey - We miss you and we're still looking for you!
I have the distinct feeling that you would enjoy participating in his adventures in the mud too - but I think you would swim in the water to wash most of that mud off before you came bounding up to the house. Pele' doesn't do that - he just comes in all his mud covered glory and expects me to let him in the house like that. He hasn't even figured out that a dip in Bucks swimming pool gets most of it off - even though that is where I take him to rinse him off every time he comes home covered in that stinky goop. He is awful..........
I think I would have to be angry with him - if it weren't so funny to watch him leaping in the grass and jumping after all the frogs and dragon flies. The pond is so low from no rain that the exposed dirt around the edges has started to grow grass. That makes getting to the muddy parts so much easier for a smaller guy - but it also frustrates Buck when he wants to get to the water for a swim....and he isn't appreciating all the stinky mud I keep rinsing off Pele' in his swimming pool. I think I'll have to find a wash tub or something for Pele' rinsing.
The grass in the pond dirt isn't real tall but it is tall enough that all we can see is the tip of Pele's tail in it - until he attacks his real (or imaginary) prey. He does that with great energy and enthusiasm, making a huge leap from where he was to where he is going. That is when we can see his whole body above the grass. Once he lands again all we see is the grass quiver and shake then suddenly go still, as a head pops up and looks around to see if anyone saw that.
Last night he actually caught a frog by the hind leg. He didn't kill it. I am not sure if he even hurt it because he carried it a couple feet and then let it go in the water. Do you think he figured that the water was where the frog belonged - instead of in his own private playground. I don't know...... He sure likes the pond edge (where the mud is) and the shorter water grass that now grows in the exposed dirt. He seems to spend a lot of time there.
He hasn't figured out that he can go all the way around the pond yet. The dam scares him because he can hear the water going out the overflow. He plays on the house side of the pond down by the weeping willow tree (great place to play hide and seek) but seems to like the field side the best....that is why we can see him so well while he is playing. Buck waits until Pele' is happily busy in his mud playground so that he can do his BIG RUNS. They are so much more fun and he can go so much faster without the little tag-a-long.
Buck runs at full speed through the pasture, around the pond, through the timber, around the shop, past the house then across the dam, through the other timber and around the pond again - without stopping. That is his favorite route though he sometimes varies and makes a trip in to the corn. He goes in on the north end and comes out on the south end - but the rows go the other way. I hope he isn't knocking down Steve's corn! I don't think he runs in there - I think that is more of a reconnaissance mission to see who else has been around. You know - the deer and the racoons, or maybe just that darn cat.
This all seems to take place in the early evening for both of them. That must be why they are both so willing to go to their kennels at night - they are pooped from their adventures! During the day they nap alot and take short excursions together. They patrol all four corners and all sides of our property - but do not go in the road. The ditch is as close as they get to that and I am not complaining! I'd hate to have to put their training collars back on them and have to remind them to stay away from the road that way. They apparently learned that lesson quickly.
It is going to be another beautiful day outside today. I can get some garden work done and maybe even some yard work. I'll find that old wash tub and fill it full of water to rinse Pele' in and change Buck's pool water so he has clean stuff to lay in. Pele' definately needs a real bath soon because rinsing gets the mud off - but not all of the stink and he is starting to smell really bad. Maybe today.........unless he begins to have too much fun again and rinsing is all I have time for.
Who would have thought that this terrier mix fellow would find such happiness and fun in such simple things - and entertain us in the process? Terriers can be little terrors - but Pele' seems content to catch a rodent from time to time (that must be his day job) and to play in the stinky pond mud to chase ellusive (and some fantacy) creatures along the pond bank. I know I feel safer knowing that he is guarding me from all of the frogs and toads!
Starskey - come home and play with Pele'. Yes - even in the pond mud. Maybe you can teach him to swim to get some of it off. You can race Buck too. I don't think you would slow him down any by tagging along on his BIG RUNS if you go along.
Starskey - We miss you and we're still looking for you!
Monday, August 20, 2012
The football
Good Morning Starskey....it is a beautiful sunshiny August morning with temps in 40's. It will get up to 70's today but cool down again tonight. (Isn't that September weather?) Your cats are loving this. Instead of taking advantage of Buck and Pele' being kenneled at night so they have full run of the house - they go out at night and come in when the sun comes up. If they weren't all "fixed" I might wonder what all they were up to at those hours, but that isn't what I am writing to tell you about today - it was just a bonus to let you know that they were all a-okay.
Do you remember that football that Phillip left here. No - not the Nerf one that you chewed up in a day. I mean that real official pigskin football - the one you worked all summer to disassemble. Yeah - that one.......well Pele' has found more parts to it. You hid them pretty good because Ike and Buck didn't find them but Pele' is relentless. When he is on a mission nothing is buried too deep nor hidden too well.
I told you he found the air bladder and enjoyed shaking the stink out of it as much as you did - but now he has also found half of the "pigskin" cover - and is still looking for the rest. Apparently the skin doesn't shake as well as the bladder but he is not chewing it either...I wonder if it is real pigskin afterall. At any rate he is dragging it all over the place like it is his new best friend. He only tried to bring it in to the house once - now he has found a "safe" place right beside the door to stash it when he comes in - and to check it or pick it up when he goes out.
You have to remember that he is only half your size (but still slightly larger then Midnight) so dragging that chuck of football skin around looks like he has something major in his mouth. I guess it is major to him......it was to you! Where did you bury/hide that anyway? I know where the bladder was but not the chunks of the outside of that poor football.
You started on it as a teething pup and learned nothing more then how to hold it down and gum it to death. As you grew I began to see teeth marks show - mostly just scrapes. It took you a while to figure out that the pointed ends were not the best place to do any serious work at destruction (or disassembly) of a football - and those seams were so tight! Then you found the laces. Even then I began to wonder if your project was just something to do, a goal, or lifetime entertainment.
You took your time with it and did get it apart without tearing the skin - so there is still two pieces of skin, still stiched together, out there somewhere. I think if you had taken it apart and separated all the pieces - none of them would have been large enough to be much fun for anything - or even a good trophy for all your hard work.
Did you think you hit the jackpot the day that air bladder came popping out? I actually think you were kind of ticked off that there was another round thing (with no laces) to have to deal with. It took you several weeks of chewing on that tough rubber bladder to pop it - and the escaping air scared you silly. It made a funny noise and moved around a little bit all by itself. When you put your paw on it - it made more funny noise and you jumped back to study it for a while.
Eventually it lost enough air that your paw no longer made it sound funny so after you pawed it six ways to Sunday - you figured it was safe to pick it up. I will never forget that day. It hung limply in your mouth and you had no idea what to do with it. I think you first shook it in an effort to wake it up again or something - because it sure didn't look like it was going to be very interesting or fun in this condition..........but we both know what happened when you shook it.
It slapped you up both sides of the head and made an whole new sound. You decided that was pretty cool and you shook it and shook it and shook it until I thought you might hurt yourself. You were a happy boy and that rubber bladder became your favorite toy. I didn't tell you that shaking the thing has an instict for you and that you were simulating what you would do to kill prey if you were hunting. That probably would have taken all the fun out of it for you so I just let you play and practice.
You were shaking that bladder as you frolicked in that first real snowfall on the day you disappeared. You left it down by the clothes line. I saw it in the spring when the snow melted but couldn't bring myself to move it from where you left it. I think Ike found it and moved it up in to the Day Lily patch before he left us. That is where Pele' found it - on one of his mouse hunts.
I offered to buy Phillip a new one but he said he wasn't worried about it. He had to have somebody to play catch with anyway and the girls just weren't in to that. He would come and watch you carry the darn thing around and kept track of your progress with it. He though the bladder shaking was pretty cool too.
That silly football has given so many of us such pleasure that I think it was just meant to be disassembled. Thank you for the diligence to get it done and all the entertainment in the process - and since. It is little things like this that keep you in my heart and keep me hoping that someday you will get back home to carry on the project and play. There is a basket ball here now and Buck isn't much interested in it so it is still round and full of air.......
I love you Starskey and I am still looking for you!
Do you remember that football that Phillip left here. No - not the Nerf one that you chewed up in a day. I mean that real official pigskin football - the one you worked all summer to disassemble. Yeah - that one.......well Pele' has found more parts to it. You hid them pretty good because Ike and Buck didn't find them but Pele' is relentless. When he is on a mission nothing is buried too deep nor hidden too well.
I told you he found the air bladder and enjoyed shaking the stink out of it as much as you did - but now he has also found half of the "pigskin" cover - and is still looking for the rest. Apparently the skin doesn't shake as well as the bladder but he is not chewing it either...I wonder if it is real pigskin afterall. At any rate he is dragging it all over the place like it is his new best friend. He only tried to bring it in to the house once - now he has found a "safe" place right beside the door to stash it when he comes in - and to check it or pick it up when he goes out.
You have to remember that he is only half your size (but still slightly larger then Midnight) so dragging that chuck of football skin around looks like he has something major in his mouth. I guess it is major to him......it was to you! Where did you bury/hide that anyway? I know where the bladder was but not the chunks of the outside of that poor football.
You started on it as a teething pup and learned nothing more then how to hold it down and gum it to death. As you grew I began to see teeth marks show - mostly just scrapes. It took you a while to figure out that the pointed ends were not the best place to do any serious work at destruction (or disassembly) of a football - and those seams were so tight! Then you found the laces. Even then I began to wonder if your project was just something to do, a goal, or lifetime entertainment.
You took your time with it and did get it apart without tearing the skin - so there is still two pieces of skin, still stiched together, out there somewhere. I think if you had taken it apart and separated all the pieces - none of them would have been large enough to be much fun for anything - or even a good trophy for all your hard work.
Did you think you hit the jackpot the day that air bladder came popping out? I actually think you were kind of ticked off that there was another round thing (with no laces) to have to deal with. It took you several weeks of chewing on that tough rubber bladder to pop it - and the escaping air scared you silly. It made a funny noise and moved around a little bit all by itself. When you put your paw on it - it made more funny noise and you jumped back to study it for a while.
Eventually it lost enough air that your paw no longer made it sound funny so after you pawed it six ways to Sunday - you figured it was safe to pick it up. I will never forget that day. It hung limply in your mouth and you had no idea what to do with it. I think you first shook it in an effort to wake it up again or something - because it sure didn't look like it was going to be very interesting or fun in this condition..........but we both know what happened when you shook it.
It slapped you up both sides of the head and made an whole new sound. You decided that was pretty cool and you shook it and shook it and shook it until I thought you might hurt yourself. You were a happy boy and that rubber bladder became your favorite toy. I didn't tell you that shaking the thing has an instict for you and that you were simulating what you would do to kill prey if you were hunting. That probably would have taken all the fun out of it for you so I just let you play and practice.
You were shaking that bladder as you frolicked in that first real snowfall on the day you disappeared. You left it down by the clothes line. I saw it in the spring when the snow melted but couldn't bring myself to move it from where you left it. I think Ike found it and moved it up in to the Day Lily patch before he left us. That is where Pele' found it - on one of his mouse hunts.
I offered to buy Phillip a new one but he said he wasn't worried about it. He had to have somebody to play catch with anyway and the girls just weren't in to that. He would come and watch you carry the darn thing around and kept track of your progress with it. He though the bladder shaking was pretty cool too.
That silly football has given so many of us such pleasure that I think it was just meant to be disassembled. Thank you for the diligence to get it done and all the entertainment in the process - and since. It is little things like this that keep you in my heart and keep me hoping that someday you will get back home to carry on the project and play. There is a basket ball here now and Buck isn't much interested in it so it is still round and full of air.......
I love you Starskey and I am still looking for you!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Life goes on but I miss you
Good Morning Starskey, Ike, Missy, Jack, Scooter, Ebony, Apatchie, Pepper, Ming, Willow, Spook, Pally and all my beloved furs..........Buck and Peludo (Pele') are doing just fine. Spook II and Booger were glad when Midnight came home. He was gone for 3 weeks - but came home fat and sassy so he must have had good hunting.
WE GOT RAIN. It was during the night and it was no real great amount but it is the first rain we have had since I last spoke to you. We have been in desperate need of it and I have had to be watering the garden and flowers to keep them alive. All my flowers in hanging baskets died in the heat over the first week of July - when we were gone and all our "tenders" were gone as well.
I will take full credit for this rain because yesturday I watered all my flowers (inside and out), planted the last few in the rock garden, weeded and watered the garden and scrubbed and refilled Bucks pool with fresh cold clean water. He spends a lot of time in there whether it is clean or dirty but I like it better clean! I think he does too....
I watch Buck and Pele' play together and I am so reminded of you and Dufus. The size contrast is similar as when you were a pup - but Pele' isn't going to get any bigger and Buck is full grown too so they will stay like this. Missy never played much with Jack but she would let him play while she watched and often encouraged. Sometimes Buck does that too and Pele' is real good at entertaining himself.
Your old football bladder has been rediscovered and Pele' shakes it with the same vigor that you enjoyed. He likes his balls and if I am not there to throw them for him, he bounces them around himself so he can chase them again. He has even discovered plastic water bottles are fun to chew - they make noise!
I spend half my evening cleaning burrs off the boys. They come off Buck faily easy (with the brush) but it is an effort to get them off Pele'.....and there are so many!!!!!! I have watched them and Buck is the leader with Pele' following close behind. I think Buck runs through the stickers and burrs on purpose - just to get the little guy all stuck together. Oh well, that is one way to get some one on one attention later....and then they go right back out and do it all over again! I don't remember you getting that many....but then Dufus had long hair and he probably avoided those areas, whereas Buck and Pele' spend most of their time in the timber and weeds..... Why? Oh yeah - squirrels and mice, among other things.
There are some mice living in or near the wood pile. I figure they must be Huffmeyer Mouse cousins sent to pester Pele'. Buck really could care less but once in a while Pele's vigorous searches get him curious and he actually pulls a log or two off the pile for him. You know that the wood pile is located under the deck and up against the hill.....that gives all the mice full run under the pallets and deck boards by the back door....all the way to the RR ties along the sidewalk and from there to the RR ties holding up the bank by the front door. They also have all the ground under the day lily leaves (that's like extra thick tall grass). They run back and forth under all this and even stick their head out once in a while to make sure Pele' sees them! Darn Pests!
Pele' actually caught one of them once. He was so proud of it that he laid on the rug by the back door with it for a couple of hours before leaving his treasure for other matters.....or was he trying to intimidate the remaining Huffmeyer Mouse cousins? I removed the treasure before it became fragrent. Pele' didn't seem to notice it was gone when he came back from his other adventure. I know that some cousins remain (or visit) because he still barks at the wood pile or runs back and forth barking at the cracks between the boards of the pallets and the deck.
Buck is my squirrel chaser. He will chase them from tree to tree to tree and they better not come down! Pele' has his mice and they share the frogs and toads. Those green things are just interesting and entertaining you know. They taste bad but they hop around and are fun to pester. It becomes a whole different matter if one of them goes swimming in your pool though. They have a whole pond to swim in and Buck uses a very small part of to lay in......but he has a small pool (compaired to the pond) so what do they think they are doing invading his space????
I actually think the frog got in there by accident but the slick plastic sides made it hard for him to get footing to get out. Buck would lean his head in to look at him, just as the frog would make his attempt to jump out. The frog didn't get out but Buck jumped back a couple of feet. I have to admit that I sat and watched the silly game for a while before I figured the frog might be getting tired and Buck might actually try to catch him....so I rescued the frog. He gratefully hopped off in to the day lilly leaves. Buck gave me a thankful look and proceeded to climb in to his pool and lay down - thus reclaiming HIS territory.
No, Pele' isn't interested in the pool or swimming. His thinner and lighter colored fur make him less hot on these summer days.......and he doesn't even particularly like car rides. Can you even image that????? If I go near a car - Buck is right beside me - just in case. Sometimes he even leads me to the garage.....begger!
Pele' is a pretty smart fellow. He suspects the car is involved when I call them but have my hands full. He'll come to me and if I head to the garage (or if I am in it) he puts the brakes on and getting ahold of him after that is a challenge. Once he is in the car he picks a spot and goes to sleep.....while Buck stands with his head out the window gulping air. Pele's preferred spot is on my lap but that is not allowed. He manages to lay between my bucket seats, although there is no console (just the emergency brake lever) and lays his head against my leg. Okay that will work until we have to stop or turn and his "perch" no longer feels safe. Then he moves to the other seat and curls up.
Buck still has his head out the window and is good for up to 50 MPH and then he can't gulp fast enough or something. He lays down and rests but as soon as he feels the car slowing (stop sign coming) he is back up with head out the window. He dosn't like hog confinements either - when he gets that whiff he sneezes and keeps his head in until we pass it.
Life goes on around here but we sure do miss you and your personal contributions to life in our home. I think you would like the new guys! The bones you and Jack left have been rediscovered by Pele' and get carried around the yard so I have to do the bone hunt before I can mow. I really don't mind. Old toys and treasures have been rediscovered and get played with again. Used beds are still cozy and old "wet dog" towels are still handy. Pele' may not swim but if there is wet grass - I have 2 wet dogs to dry.
Starskey - Come home to us soon. I do have have windows on both sides of the car in the back seat for my black dogs to stick their heads out and enjoy the air. Pele' will be a front seater. I miss you Starskey.............Mom
WE GOT RAIN. It was during the night and it was no real great amount but it is the first rain we have had since I last spoke to you. We have been in desperate need of it and I have had to be watering the garden and flowers to keep them alive. All my flowers in hanging baskets died in the heat over the first week of July - when we were gone and all our "tenders" were gone as well.
I will take full credit for this rain because yesturday I watered all my flowers (inside and out), planted the last few in the rock garden, weeded and watered the garden and scrubbed and refilled Bucks pool with fresh cold clean water. He spends a lot of time in there whether it is clean or dirty but I like it better clean! I think he does too....
I watch Buck and Pele' play together and I am so reminded of you and Dufus. The size contrast is similar as when you were a pup - but Pele' isn't going to get any bigger and Buck is full grown too so they will stay like this. Missy never played much with Jack but she would let him play while she watched and often encouraged. Sometimes Buck does that too and Pele' is real good at entertaining himself.
Your old football bladder has been rediscovered and Pele' shakes it with the same vigor that you enjoyed. He likes his balls and if I am not there to throw them for him, he bounces them around himself so he can chase them again. He has even discovered plastic water bottles are fun to chew - they make noise!
I spend half my evening cleaning burrs off the boys. They come off Buck faily easy (with the brush) but it is an effort to get them off Pele'.....and there are so many!!!!!! I have watched them and Buck is the leader with Pele' following close behind. I think Buck runs through the stickers and burrs on purpose - just to get the little guy all stuck together. Oh well, that is one way to get some one on one attention later....and then they go right back out and do it all over again! I don't remember you getting that many....but then Dufus had long hair and he probably avoided those areas, whereas Buck and Pele' spend most of their time in the timber and weeds..... Why? Oh yeah - squirrels and mice, among other things.
There are some mice living in or near the wood pile. I figure they must be Huffmeyer Mouse cousins sent to pester Pele'. Buck really could care less but once in a while Pele's vigorous searches get him curious and he actually pulls a log or two off the pile for him. You know that the wood pile is located under the deck and up against the hill.....that gives all the mice full run under the pallets and deck boards by the back door....all the way to the RR ties along the sidewalk and from there to the RR ties holding up the bank by the front door. They also have all the ground under the day lily leaves (that's like extra thick tall grass). They run back and forth under all this and even stick their head out once in a while to make sure Pele' sees them! Darn Pests!
Pele' actually caught one of them once. He was so proud of it that he laid on the rug by the back door with it for a couple of hours before leaving his treasure for other matters.....or was he trying to intimidate the remaining Huffmeyer Mouse cousins? I removed the treasure before it became fragrent. Pele' didn't seem to notice it was gone when he came back from his other adventure. I know that some cousins remain (or visit) because he still barks at the wood pile or runs back and forth barking at the cracks between the boards of the pallets and the deck.
Buck is my squirrel chaser. He will chase them from tree to tree to tree and they better not come down! Pele' has his mice and they share the frogs and toads. Those green things are just interesting and entertaining you know. They taste bad but they hop around and are fun to pester. It becomes a whole different matter if one of them goes swimming in your pool though. They have a whole pond to swim in and Buck uses a very small part of to lay in......but he has a small pool (compaired to the pond) so what do they think they are doing invading his space????
I actually think the frog got in there by accident but the slick plastic sides made it hard for him to get footing to get out. Buck would lean his head in to look at him, just as the frog would make his attempt to jump out. The frog didn't get out but Buck jumped back a couple of feet. I have to admit that I sat and watched the silly game for a while before I figured the frog might be getting tired and Buck might actually try to catch him....so I rescued the frog. He gratefully hopped off in to the day lilly leaves. Buck gave me a thankful look and proceeded to climb in to his pool and lay down - thus reclaiming HIS territory.
No, Pele' isn't interested in the pool or swimming. His thinner and lighter colored fur make him less hot on these summer days.......and he doesn't even particularly like car rides. Can you even image that????? If I go near a car - Buck is right beside me - just in case. Sometimes he even leads me to the garage.....begger!
Pele' is a pretty smart fellow. He suspects the car is involved when I call them but have my hands full. He'll come to me and if I head to the garage (or if I am in it) he puts the brakes on and getting ahold of him after that is a challenge. Once he is in the car he picks a spot and goes to sleep.....while Buck stands with his head out the window gulping air. Pele's preferred spot is on my lap but that is not allowed. He manages to lay between my bucket seats, although there is no console (just the emergency brake lever) and lays his head against my leg. Okay that will work until we have to stop or turn and his "perch" no longer feels safe. Then he moves to the other seat and curls up.
Buck still has his head out the window and is good for up to 50 MPH and then he can't gulp fast enough or something. He lays down and rests but as soon as he feels the car slowing (stop sign coming) he is back up with head out the window. He dosn't like hog confinements either - when he gets that whiff he sneezes and keeps his head in until we pass it.
Life goes on around here but we sure do miss you and your personal contributions to life in our home. I think you would like the new guys! The bones you and Jack left have been rediscovered by Pele' and get carried around the yard so I have to do the bone hunt before I can mow. I really don't mind. Old toys and treasures have been rediscovered and get played with again. Used beds are still cozy and old "wet dog" towels are still handy. Pele' may not swim but if there is wet grass - I have 2 wet dogs to dry.
Starskey - Come home to us soon. I do have have windows on both sides of the car in the back seat for my black dogs to stick their heads out and enjoy the air. Pele' will be a front seater. I miss you Starskey.............Mom
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Summer is here - I miss you!
Well, summer is not only officially here but the heat is coming too! UGH.....Oh - the swimming pool is full and so is the half barrel. We got some rain last week so the pond got some fresh water too but it still gets warm....but Buck says wet is wet and it feels good either way.
Pele' has had 4 camping weekends now and has claimed his spot in the camper. He is a social busy body and has to check on everything and everybody.....kind of like you! He also seems to be almost as popular as you....everybody knows him and Buck and welcome their visits. That is a good thing - the welcome part I mean. They can go camping one more time before the Rally but then the roads will get too busy for them to visit folks and escort vehicles. They will go stay at Jerry's with the Bostons while we are gone for the rally.
Mouse finally taught the boys to run in the grass so their feet didn't get sore. Mouse is getting old and slower but she isn't going to miss the boys when they come - or the action of getting ready for the rally. Her bloodhound bay, followed by Buck's lab voice, followed by the Pele' voice (squeek?) is sure a contrast. Last weekend they sat on the hill in the shade and said hello to everyone who came and went.....I wonder what the people all thought of the trio?
Pele' reminds me a lot of you. He is so curious and now that he has figured out that he has free run at home - he comes in full of stickers (just like Missy) and with his ear stuck to his forehead and his tail stuck to his leg and all sorts of odd things. I think he does it on purpose to get the attention to remove them...that means getting brushed and loved. They all come out easy - not like Missy where they would get wrapped up in long hair and the undercoat too. He won't need a summer haircut to be comfortable....
Pele' has a lot of Jack in him too. He is a digger and he is relentless when he has something he is after. The chipmonks and shrews mess with him by hiding in the wood pile or under the equipment he can't wiggle under to get them. I think he has made hunting near the house and buildings tougher for Midnight and Sassy because everybody stays hidden from "the dog" so they can't catch them....but nobody looks like they are starving or suffering.
Sassy keeps bringing her kills to the back door of the shop. I wonder if she is bringing them to Pele'? Since he had never been around cats before - Sassy has become a "distance" friend but I am not sure he knows that yet. She sits in the chair on the outside of the shop kennel when he's there and they just look at each other but if he comes in the door and she is moving around - he chases.
Hope Pele' gets "catasized" soon. In this heat he'll be in the house more then out and you know how that will go over with Spook and Booger. They have learned the bell code too - if the bell on the door jingles it means he has either come in or gone out and they can plan their activity accordingly. They don't care about Buck - he just lays there and they walk around him.
If he is sleeping Spook will come down and watch him. Booger just checks him on her way by to the food and litter. Midnight knows the guy is his size so he sometimes messes with him and undoes the progress made for a while.......Darn Cat!
I just wish you were here to be a part of all of this, instead of me having to tell you about it. You have some good things and lessons to teach Pele'.....and you could learn good things from Buck. It would be so wonderful to take our walks together again and watch how you boys work things together. I suspect that you and Buck would do squirrel patrol, while you and Pele' would do mouse and snake patrol....Oh, those would be such wonderful walks!
I miss you Starskey - no matter how many others are here to share my heart - there is a special spot that is only yours. In reality, I miss all of you guys at the Bridge and I have many spots in my heart where you remain. Take care of each other and keep Ike out of trouble!
All my love.......Mom
Pele' has had 4 camping weekends now and has claimed his spot in the camper. He is a social busy body and has to check on everything and everybody.....kind of like you! He also seems to be almost as popular as you....everybody knows him and Buck and welcome their visits. That is a good thing - the welcome part I mean. They can go camping one more time before the Rally but then the roads will get too busy for them to visit folks and escort vehicles. They will go stay at Jerry's with the Bostons while we are gone for the rally.
Mouse finally taught the boys to run in the grass so their feet didn't get sore. Mouse is getting old and slower but she isn't going to miss the boys when they come - or the action of getting ready for the rally. Her bloodhound bay, followed by Buck's lab voice, followed by the Pele' voice (squeek?) is sure a contrast. Last weekend they sat on the hill in the shade and said hello to everyone who came and went.....I wonder what the people all thought of the trio?
Pele' reminds me a lot of you. He is so curious and now that he has figured out that he has free run at home - he comes in full of stickers (just like Missy) and with his ear stuck to his forehead and his tail stuck to his leg and all sorts of odd things. I think he does it on purpose to get the attention to remove them...that means getting brushed and loved. They all come out easy - not like Missy where they would get wrapped up in long hair and the undercoat too. He won't need a summer haircut to be comfortable....
Pele' has a lot of Jack in him too. He is a digger and he is relentless when he has something he is after. The chipmonks and shrews mess with him by hiding in the wood pile or under the equipment he can't wiggle under to get them. I think he has made hunting near the house and buildings tougher for Midnight and Sassy because everybody stays hidden from "the dog" so they can't catch them....but nobody looks like they are starving or suffering.
Sassy keeps bringing her kills to the back door of the shop. I wonder if she is bringing them to Pele'? Since he had never been around cats before - Sassy has become a "distance" friend but I am not sure he knows that yet. She sits in the chair on the outside of the shop kennel when he's there and they just look at each other but if he comes in the door and she is moving around - he chases.
Hope Pele' gets "catasized" soon. In this heat he'll be in the house more then out and you know how that will go over with Spook and Booger. They have learned the bell code too - if the bell on the door jingles it means he has either come in or gone out and they can plan their activity accordingly. They don't care about Buck - he just lays there and they walk around him.
If he is sleeping Spook will come down and watch him. Booger just checks him on her way by to the food and litter. Midnight knows the guy is his size so he sometimes messes with him and undoes the progress made for a while.......Darn Cat!
I just wish you were here to be a part of all of this, instead of me having to tell you about it. You have some good things and lessons to teach Pele'.....and you could learn good things from Buck. It would be so wonderful to take our walks together again and watch how you boys work things together. I suspect that you and Buck would do squirrel patrol, while you and Pele' would do mouse and snake patrol....Oh, those would be such wonderful walks!
I miss you Starskey - no matter how many others are here to share my heart - there is a special spot that is only yours. In reality, I miss all of you guys at the Bridge and I have many spots in my heart where you remain. Take care of each other and keep Ike out of trouble!
All my love.......Mom
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Meet Peludo
Hello Ike, Starskey, Missy, Jack, Scooter, Saint, Pepper, Apachie, Pockie and all my feline family. We have a new addition to the family. His formal name is Peludo (like the soccor star) but we just call him Pepe' (or JYD - Junk Yard Dog). He was my Mother's Day gift (?) from Robin.
How do I describe him? Bigger then Midnight (but he doesn't know that yet) but smaller then Jack. That is pretty close. He looks like a cross between a Scottish terrierr or a Schnauzer and a Chihuahua. How is that for a mix? He is so ugly he is cute! He has been living at Robin's with her Pits since September but now she has taken in a stray Boxer and felt "over dogged". She thought he would be happier to just deal with one big friend (Buck). She was right - he is now Buck's shadow. Buck does enjoy having a playmate again but isn't sure about the shadow part yet.
I figure Pele' has survived a year of raukus activity and play with two Pits so he and Buck should be fine. Buck is requiring some reassurance from time to time and I can remember when all of you did the same, when a second canine came to live here. In the end you became best friends and often inseperable. A black retriever and a Sch/Chi do make and odd couple but so did an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell - and that pair took care of each other for years!
Pepe' is bonding with the house, his floor pillow and his new surroundings. He treads very carefully outside - wondering with each step if he will be shocked. Robin had wireless fencing and he can't believe he can move around here freely....so he does it carefully!
I wish you all could meet him. Starskey - you and Jack would love him! He is just your type. We would walk right under Ike, which would keep him guess about where he was. Missy - he would drive you crazy so just go find a place to lay down and watch the idiots play. He is growing on Dad because he will ride the golf cart...something only Jack and Starskey have ever done willingly.
We all raised the girls right didn't we! They love animals and they rescue the ones that need it - just like we always did when they were growing up. Robin has 3 big ones now and Rene' has 2 big ones and 2 little ones and some cats....and I still have room in my heart for more if there is no one else that needs or wants their love.
I miss you all, especially when the weather is so nice and more time is spent out of doors, where we would walk and talk and play together. Memories of our years and special times together wash over me and I smile and feel all the love. Take care of each other! Keep your eyes open for lonely new comers to the Bridge. They may not have gotten rescued and loved before they had to go to the Bridge. You can make them feel welcome and cared for there, even if they weren't before they got there.
Nothing is worse then being alone and feeling scared. You all made sure that I was never alone and you comforted me when I was sad or scared. Do the same for newcomers to the Bridge - you all know how, in fact you are experts at it.
With all my love - Mom
Here are pictures of Pele'
How do I describe him? Bigger then Midnight (but he doesn't know that yet) but smaller then Jack. That is pretty close. He looks like a cross between a Scottish terrierr or a Schnauzer and a Chihuahua. How is that for a mix? He is so ugly he is cute! He has been living at Robin's with her Pits since September but now she has taken in a stray Boxer and felt "over dogged". She thought he would be happier to just deal with one big friend (Buck). She was right - he is now Buck's shadow. Buck does enjoy having a playmate again but isn't sure about the shadow part yet.
I figure Pele' has survived a year of raukus activity and play with two Pits so he and Buck should be fine. Buck is requiring some reassurance from time to time and I can remember when all of you did the same, when a second canine came to live here. In the end you became best friends and often inseperable. A black retriever and a Sch/Chi do make and odd couple but so did an American Eskimo and a Jack Russell - and that pair took care of each other for years!
Pepe' is bonding with the house, his floor pillow and his new surroundings. He treads very carefully outside - wondering with each step if he will be shocked. Robin had wireless fencing and he can't believe he can move around here freely....so he does it carefully!
I wish you all could meet him. Starskey - you and Jack would love him! He is just your type. We would walk right under Ike, which would keep him guess about where he was. Missy - he would drive you crazy so just go find a place to lay down and watch the idiots play. He is growing on Dad because he will ride the golf cart...something only Jack and Starskey have ever done willingly.
We all raised the girls right didn't we! They love animals and they rescue the ones that need it - just like we always did when they were growing up. Robin has 3 big ones now and Rene' has 2 big ones and 2 little ones and some cats....and I still have room in my heart for more if there is no one else that needs or wants their love.
I miss you all, especially when the weather is so nice and more time is spent out of doors, where we would walk and talk and play together. Memories of our years and special times together wash over me and I smile and feel all the love. Take care of each other! Keep your eyes open for lonely new comers to the Bridge. They may not have gotten rescued and loved before they had to go to the Bridge. You can make them feel welcome and cared for there, even if they weren't before they got there.
Nothing is worse then being alone and feeling scared. You all made sure that I was never alone and you comforted me when I was sad or scared. Do the same for newcomers to the Bridge - you all know how, in fact you are experts at it.
With all my love - Mom
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Hi guys! It is the most beautiful morning!!!! It makes me think of both of you and the mornings like this that we have shared together. You were each "only children" so our mornings together were really special to me and my memories of such mornings are precious indeed!
The sun is shinning, it is a little cooler then it has been but that is okay. The geese are back and there has been a pair of swans on the pond every morning since I finally found you Ike. This morning there are two pair of swans! God is good and I am at peace with my wonderful puppy memories. The swans don't stay but they keep coming back and the geese don't seem to bother them so maybe they will nest somewhere nearby.
It is the first week of April - about the time each of you came in to our lives - Starskey in 2010 and Ike in 2011. Starskey - do you remember the Motorcycle Expo? You were the official greeter and everyone fell in love with you on sight. You were a 4 month old puppy so how could they not fall in love with you? Ike - it was during the next Expo that I put your name on the adoption papers and you came to live with us a week later. I fell in love with your spirit and gentleness while you were at the Humane Society. The 2012 Expo was last weekend and Buck went with us.
Starskey, I think you must have been coaching Buck because he became this year's official greeter and a very popular attraction for all....and he was so good that many vendors gave him gifts - new neck scarfs, lots of dog treats and special attention. He was thrilled yet very well behaved. I was as proud of him as I was of you!
Ike, you never attended an Expo - but that wasn't your scene anyway. Too many people to get excited with and too much time unable to run free. When Buck got home he opened the race track again and has been using it alot so I think your memory was waiting here for him. Now that he has somebody to race with again he is racing all over the place. Thank you for bringing him back out of his depression.
Dad mowed last night and you both know what that means - chase the tractor and try to catch all the snakes, mice and whatever else gets stirred out of the grass. Sometimes I think Buck was just chasing the grass that blew out of the side of the mower - he was covered in it and loved it. Fresh cut grass means rolling time...and there was a lot of that going on too....or was that rolling in the goose poop - or both? At any rate he was running and you know that is what makes him happy. It seems that he is happiest when chasing something - or when being chased so, Ike, I guess you are with him there too.
The squirrels are out looking for all the acorns and walnuts they couldn't get to with both Ike and Buck on duty. They are running Buck ragged as they leap from tree to tree and scamper across the ground. He is thrilled of course. I am not sure what he would do if he caught one - that was always your part of the job Ike - the rabbits, squirrels and other things that couldn't move as fast as your long legs could move you. I think Buck just helped stir them up for you. He'd rather chase them then catch them.
The weather is a little cooler then it has been - but it has been a weird winter anyway. The tulips are up but not blooming yet. The daffodils are blooming and the lilacs will soon be - so it is about mushroom time. Mushrooms in April? Like I told you - it has been weird....Okay guys - it is time to stop sitting here and remembering you when I can go outside in the sun and do it much better.
I love you and I miss you but if you have hooked up with each other and found Missy and Jack and Scooter - I am guessing you already know what a beautiful morning it is. My memories of you all are happy ones that I will treasure forever. I Thank the Lord for bringing each of you in to my life. He brought you all in different ways and he left each of you as long as he could. Some for many years and some of you for only a few months. No matter how long or how short a time you were with us - your love and your trust were special. What you brought to my life was both the same and different at the same time and always wonderful and full of wonder. I love you all and I miss you all - and I will meet you all again in my heart on every Beautiful Morning!
The sun is shinning, it is a little cooler then it has been but that is okay. The geese are back and there has been a pair of swans on the pond every morning since I finally found you Ike. This morning there are two pair of swans! God is good and I am at peace with my wonderful puppy memories. The swans don't stay but they keep coming back and the geese don't seem to bother them so maybe they will nest somewhere nearby.
It is the first week of April - about the time each of you came in to our lives - Starskey in 2010 and Ike in 2011. Starskey - do you remember the Motorcycle Expo? You were the official greeter and everyone fell in love with you on sight. You were a 4 month old puppy so how could they not fall in love with you? Ike - it was during the next Expo that I put your name on the adoption papers and you came to live with us a week later. I fell in love with your spirit and gentleness while you were at the Humane Society. The 2012 Expo was last weekend and Buck went with us.
Starskey, I think you must have been coaching Buck because he became this year's official greeter and a very popular attraction for all....and he was so good that many vendors gave him gifts - new neck scarfs, lots of dog treats and special attention. He was thrilled yet very well behaved. I was as proud of him as I was of you!
Ike, you never attended an Expo - but that wasn't your scene anyway. Too many people to get excited with and too much time unable to run free. When Buck got home he opened the race track again and has been using it alot so I think your memory was waiting here for him. Now that he has somebody to race with again he is racing all over the place. Thank you for bringing him back out of his depression.
Dad mowed last night and you both know what that means - chase the tractor and try to catch all the snakes, mice and whatever else gets stirred out of the grass. Sometimes I think Buck was just chasing the grass that blew out of the side of the mower - he was covered in it and loved it. Fresh cut grass means rolling time...and there was a lot of that going on too....or was that rolling in the goose poop - or both? At any rate he was running and you know that is what makes him happy. It seems that he is happiest when chasing something - or when being chased so, Ike, I guess you are with him there too.
The squirrels are out looking for all the acorns and walnuts they couldn't get to with both Ike and Buck on duty. They are running Buck ragged as they leap from tree to tree and scamper across the ground. He is thrilled of course. I am not sure what he would do if he caught one - that was always your part of the job Ike - the rabbits, squirrels and other things that couldn't move as fast as your long legs could move you. I think Buck just helped stir them up for you. He'd rather chase them then catch them.
The weather is a little cooler then it has been - but it has been a weird winter anyway. The tulips are up but not blooming yet. The daffodils are blooming and the lilacs will soon be - so it is about mushroom time. Mushrooms in April? Like I told you - it has been weird....Okay guys - it is time to stop sitting here and remembering you when I can go outside in the sun and do it much better.
I love you and I miss you but if you have hooked up with each other and found Missy and Jack and Scooter - I am guessing you already know what a beautiful morning it is. My memories of you all are happy ones that I will treasure forever. I Thank the Lord for bringing each of you in to my life. He brought you all in different ways and he left each of you as long as he could. Some for many years and some of you for only a few months. No matter how long or how short a time you were with us - your love and your trust were special. What you brought to my life was both the same and different at the same time and always wonderful and full of wonder. I love you all and I miss you all - and I will meet you all again in my heart on every Beautiful Morning!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ike has gone to "The Rainbow Bridge"
I am not ready to say Good-bye to my dear friend Ike. He will always be in my heart and in my memories even though he is physically gone from us. Someone else took him in a cruel and unnecessary way that I will never understand.
Ike - I love you......you helped to bring me back from that very dark place that I went after Starskey went missing. You saved me and loved me and trusted me and taught me to live and laugh and love again. I will be forever grateful to you for that. Your silliness and energy made life fun again. Your devotion and gentleness were comforting and heartwarming. Your high spirits were infectious.
Your puppyness had it's issues. Not many puppies weigh 60 pounds and stand 24 inches high at the shoulders - but then you were not just any puppy. You came in to our lives last April at just over 4 months old and already half grown compared to any other dog. You were with us through your first birthday in December and until February 15, 2012. There was never a dull moment. You were either entertaining us, loving us or peacefully sleeping - not too many in betweens with you. You went all out on everything.
Jeff lost a pair of old shoes (Thank you!) and the steering wheel on the golf cart will never be quite the same but we managed to keep enough toys and chew things around for you to be well entertained. Buck is taking care of your yellow Kong Balls. He sleeps with them. He didn't start playing with any of your toys until this week - and still a little hesitantly. Buck didn't see you Saturday but I think he knew when I returned home that the search was over. He has missed you as a playmate and buddy and has been kind of dumpy since you've been gone. He hasn't left my side since I came home from picking you up.
The race track from the squirrel tree to the hill behind the house has been quiet. Buck walks it now and then but he hasn't started to run it again yet - you aren't here to race with him. The pond is filling up with water again and the geese are back to nest. Buck sits where you showed him to sit to watch and guard them. Funny how a puppy can teach an older guy new things. You did teach him what was important about living here - Yes, he still rings the bells to go out and he can't bring himself to eat from your bowl. Was that a respect thing he didn't finish teaching you? You sure didn't have any problem eating from his bowl.
Okay - now I am crying....I have sort of been numb since Saturday when those people found you and came to tell me where you were. You were just across the road a little ways and yet so far from being able to be found. That is okay - I have needed to cry. I have needed to feel again.
The people who found you were working their dogs near the public hunting area (there's no hunting seasons open now so it is safe). They spotted something odd just across the fence and checked it out - there you were in that horrible trap. They came and told me where you were. When I got there and saw what they saw - I called the Sheriff and he sent a deputy out to meet me. We took photos, tripped all the remaining traps so nobody else would get caught and I brought you out of there.
As I stood there I looked around me and I could see Mike's house, John's house, Dan's house, the new house that was just built and our shed - all less then a half mile away in all directions and most were less then a quarter mile away. All these families have pets and some have kids. There is nothing where these traps were set or anywhere near to them - no livestock to protect and so close to a public hunting area where people and dogs would be during various hunting seasons. I just don't understand.......and I was a little set back by the way the Deputy said maybe somebody was just trying to put a dent in the coyote poulation. I have a shotgun for that - I don't need baited kill traps! Did they think they would be less responsible if someones pet got caught in an unnecessary trap then if they shot actually them? I just don't get it.........
Ike - is Starskey at the Bridge with you? He's the guy with the star on his chest. The last reputable reported sighting of him was along the blacktop headed toward town - right past the home of the owners of the land where the traps were set. That is right across the road from another public hunting area. Are they setting baited traps in other places? Is that were all the missing dogs in our area have been going because it isn't just you two that have gone missing in the last few years. How did Scooter, Missy and Jack avoid this cruel end? None of them were as restricted and trained as you were - and they all lived to ripe old ages with us.
I know - You can't tell me anything and I know nothing for sure so I shouldn't blame anyone in particular. It just seems to add up - but that is not why I started writing this....
I need to thank you Ike - for bringing me back from that dark place I had gone. I need to thank you for loving me, for making me laugh, for trusting me and for adding to my life. I hope your 10 months with us were as happy for you. You ran, you played, you chased squirrels, you swam in you own private pond. you grew stronger and healthier. You were in less pain from your hips because of your activity (and some meds) and you began to bulk up pretty good and gain some massive leg muscles. That must have had to do with the greyhound in you...it was that hound in you that got you in the most trouble I think. That nose of yours was always high in the air and working. What all did you smell anyway? I think it led the Lab in you astray from time to time - and maybe led you to your own end.
I will miss you dear friend. The grass is getting green and the tulips are sprouting. This is about the time of year that you came to me - and now you are gone. Did you give Buck tips on planting the garden or do I have to do that? He is more of a hole digger then you ever were so he might just help plant instead of chasing empty plastic plant containers.
I have a lovely urn for you. You'll sit right next to Missy's urn so you can both continue to keep track of things around here. Some of your ashes will go to Freedom Park - the one place that you were allowed to run free and unrestricted. By the way, Chopper passed away last month and she is there too.....you probably already know that. Is she as bossy at the Bridge too?
What else to say???? I guess it is just time to stop talking and just feel it and remember all the wonderful times. I'll see you again someday - will you meet me at the Bridge and help me find all my other beloved furs? Scooter, Missy, Jack and the cats Pally, Ming and Willow have been there waiting for a while. Tell them where you came from and then you can all share your own good memories together.
I love you Ike...........I will take care of Buck - I promise.
Ike - I love you......you helped to bring me back from that very dark place that I went after Starskey went missing. You saved me and loved me and trusted me and taught me to live and laugh and love again. I will be forever grateful to you for that. Your silliness and energy made life fun again. Your devotion and gentleness were comforting and heartwarming. Your high spirits were infectious.
Your puppyness had it's issues. Not many puppies weigh 60 pounds and stand 24 inches high at the shoulders - but then you were not just any puppy. You came in to our lives last April at just over 4 months old and already half grown compared to any other dog. You were with us through your first birthday in December and until February 15, 2012. There was never a dull moment. You were either entertaining us, loving us or peacefully sleeping - not too many in betweens with you. You went all out on everything.
Jeff lost a pair of old shoes (Thank you!) and the steering wheel on the golf cart will never be quite the same but we managed to keep enough toys and chew things around for you to be well entertained. Buck is taking care of your yellow Kong Balls. He sleeps with them. He didn't start playing with any of your toys until this week - and still a little hesitantly. Buck didn't see you Saturday but I think he knew when I returned home that the search was over. He has missed you as a playmate and buddy and has been kind of dumpy since you've been gone. He hasn't left my side since I came home from picking you up.
The race track from the squirrel tree to the hill behind the house has been quiet. Buck walks it now and then but he hasn't started to run it again yet - you aren't here to race with him. The pond is filling up with water again and the geese are back to nest. Buck sits where you showed him to sit to watch and guard them. Funny how a puppy can teach an older guy new things. You did teach him what was important about living here - Yes, he still rings the bells to go out and he can't bring himself to eat from your bowl. Was that a respect thing he didn't finish teaching you? You sure didn't have any problem eating from his bowl.
Okay - now I am crying....I have sort of been numb since Saturday when those people found you and came to tell me where you were. You were just across the road a little ways and yet so far from being able to be found. That is okay - I have needed to cry. I have needed to feel again.
The people who found you were working their dogs near the public hunting area (there's no hunting seasons open now so it is safe). They spotted something odd just across the fence and checked it out - there you were in that horrible trap. They came and told me where you were. When I got there and saw what they saw - I called the Sheriff and he sent a deputy out to meet me. We took photos, tripped all the remaining traps so nobody else would get caught and I brought you out of there.
As I stood there I looked around me and I could see Mike's house, John's house, Dan's house, the new house that was just built and our shed - all less then a half mile away in all directions and most were less then a quarter mile away. All these families have pets and some have kids. There is nothing where these traps were set or anywhere near to them - no livestock to protect and so close to a public hunting area where people and dogs would be during various hunting seasons. I just don't understand.......and I was a little set back by the way the Deputy said maybe somebody was just trying to put a dent in the coyote poulation. I have a shotgun for that - I don't need baited kill traps! Did they think they would be less responsible if someones pet got caught in an unnecessary trap then if they shot actually them? I just don't get it.........
Ike - is Starskey at the Bridge with you? He's the guy with the star on his chest. The last reputable reported sighting of him was along the blacktop headed toward town - right past the home of the owners of the land where the traps were set. That is right across the road from another public hunting area. Are they setting baited traps in other places? Is that were all the missing dogs in our area have been going because it isn't just you two that have gone missing in the last few years. How did Scooter, Missy and Jack avoid this cruel end? None of them were as restricted and trained as you were - and they all lived to ripe old ages with us.
I know - You can't tell me anything and I know nothing for sure so I shouldn't blame anyone in particular. It just seems to add up - but that is not why I started writing this....
I need to thank you Ike - for bringing me back from that dark place I had gone. I need to thank you for loving me, for making me laugh, for trusting me and for adding to my life. I hope your 10 months with us were as happy for you. You ran, you played, you chased squirrels, you swam in you own private pond. you grew stronger and healthier. You were in less pain from your hips because of your activity (and some meds) and you began to bulk up pretty good and gain some massive leg muscles. That must have had to do with the greyhound in you...it was that hound in you that got you in the most trouble I think. That nose of yours was always high in the air and working. What all did you smell anyway? I think it led the Lab in you astray from time to time - and maybe led you to your own end.
I will miss you dear friend. The grass is getting green and the tulips are sprouting. This is about the time of year that you came to me - and now you are gone. Did you give Buck tips on planting the garden or do I have to do that? He is more of a hole digger then you ever were so he might just help plant instead of chasing empty plastic plant containers.
I have a lovely urn for you. You'll sit right next to Missy's urn so you can both continue to keep track of things around here. Some of your ashes will go to Freedom Park - the one place that you were allowed to run free and unrestricted. By the way, Chopper passed away last month and she is there too.....you probably already know that. Is she as bossy at the Bridge too?
What else to say???? I guess it is just time to stop talking and just feel it and remember all the wonderful times. I'll see you again someday - will you meet me at the Bridge and help me find all my other beloved furs? Scooter, Missy, Jack and the cats Pally, Ming and Willow have been there waiting for a while. Tell them where you came from and then you can all share your own good memories together.
I love you Ike...........I will take care of Buck - I promise.
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