Yesterday I was rewarded with some pup posts to my Facebook page as well as the ability to see some others celebrate their first birthdays via posts made to their humans' FB pages. And today I celebrate one of my own! Remedy turns three today! Things have been crazy busy around here and I'm afraid my blog has been pushed to the far back burner. One of these days maybe I can generate some gigantic post that serves to catch up on the news of the past couple years... There have been litters, along with events that occurred during the time frame of each, which have been logged on the pages of "past litters". There have been storms both named and even those without name that required extensive time and clean up. I love my many trees but have come to realize the love I have for them quickly dissolves when I discover them no longer standing! There's been a new addition, Galtero, whom I've made reference to on my home page but have yet to develop a page just for him. Heck, I haven't even developed Getka's page. Both, however have had their share of time and entries made to Facebook. So many places to log events and goings ons. Maybe too many. And the time flies! But today, I took some time to celebrate with my girl Remedy. She was my farm dog -my one and only for the day, as I wrapped up the bulk of the tree that fell during Irma... There's still a good chunk of it left to be dealt with but I have completely stripped it and burned it's canopy. The rest held in place for someone with bigger muscles and bigger better chain saws than I've got. Hopefully in the end I'll at least get some fire wood out of the deal. I'm fortunate for sure. When it fell, although very close to the barn, it hit nothing other than the ground and failed to block any needed pathways. Yeehaw!!! With the tree project behind me, I'll be off to the next project which may or may not include looking for a new job. Just another event in a long list. A job held just shy of 20 years forfeited a couple weeks back. Fortunately, another event, the sale of some property in Idaho made that event doable. It seems for a while now I've been saying I didn't have time to work... I said it quietly for fear people would think I was crazy but it was how I felt. It didn't take long... maybe a week before I realized it wasn't really true. I had time to work but it was quickly apparent, once not working, that I always had time to work but no time to live. Always trying to do too much with too little time. Something had to give. Now I play catch up, enjoy my dogs, get some training in and tackle some projects. No rest for the weary. But in the end I'll find time to live. I've already, in two short weeks, noticed a difference. I spent one day last week in my kayak, paddling down river with some friends on the Rainbow. Just what the doctor ordered! Today I worked around the homestead but found time for a photo shoot and a dinner date with Remedy. She liked the last of my cone but wasn't really in for the plain burger I purchased her. My goal for the next birthday that rolls around is to bake a proper dog cake and have a party for all to enjoy. But for now... here's My "Sweet Remedy" on her third birthday. "The one", the orange collared girl, now wearing "diamonds", who's always got my back!
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Happy Birthday Ritzy! Her paperwork tells a different story... off by two, but I know for a fact today's the day! Ritz turns two!
Oh Boy... It seems time doesn't stand still and when I think of updating the blog there are ten more things that need to be added. But for today, with a fresh litter of pups in the whelping box and all that entails there's only time left to wish my girl Remedy a happy second birthday! Birthday wishes go out to her litter-mates too! Happy birthday Amos, Baron, Castle, Greta, Knox, Nitro, Noble, Scout, Snoop and Stella! Hope your people were good to you. I know they were and in general are birthday or not! Remedy probably thinks I'm slacking but she did get some one-on-one mom time and a game of Frisbee. She's due for an outing but it'll have to be a delayed birthday celebration. At least she didn't have to share her birthday with the "even eight", our newly acquired residents.
Boss standing by his kids as they pose for the traditional 1st day of school photo shoot! I've got some 'splainin' to do.... Back in January a pup by the name of "Boss" was returned to me. And what a love of a dog he was! To recap my thoughts regarding Boss, I draw on a blog post I made shortly after he rejoined the pack here in Hawthorne. An excerpt from that January post follows: "And once in a while they come back! Boss has returned home... For the life of me, I don't know how they were able to let this guy go. Such a sweet pup... calm and eager to please and quite well trained for a youngster. It's obvious the couple I originally placed him with cared for him and spent considerable time in training. But in the end, they came to the conclusion, they "just couldn't give him what he needed and deserved". Boss has been on his best behavior. His only behavior it seems. I described him to Sharon one day as "an old soul". A nine month old pup with an old soul.... He's one of Lexi's last pups and I see so much of her in him, I don't think I can let him go.... I know I don't want to. If at some point I find the perfect home and feel he would be better off with another, I'll do what's best for him. And another heart, my own, will break".
Well, eight months later, that time and family has come! A bittersweet tale. -My nephew Max and his family were visiting his parents, my sister and brother-in-law, a month or so back. While I enjoyed the posts that included scenes from my old stopping grounds in Washington State, little did I know the subject of Dobermans... or more specifically, one particular Doberman came up. I received a FB message from Max July 4th stating "Mom has been telling us about Boss. We'd like to talk to you about him" -My initial thought; "no, not my Boss man"! But after talking with Max and considering Boss I quickly came to the realization that they, Max and his family... and Boss, deserved each other! I would miss him; that went without saying... but Boss, the gentle and loving, well behaved dog that he is, is very well suited to be an only dog to a first time dog owning family! So it was decided. Boss would become a Johnson. As the weeks passed and conversation ensued, Max one day said to me, "He sounds perfect for us; if it wasn't you describing him I would say it all sounds too good to be true". The truth of the matter; I noticed within the first few days of life with Boss that he was in fact a very special dog. With that said, a week ago today, after a planned vacation was complete, I drove up to Tennessee while Max drove south from Michigan for a meet up in Chattanooga. It was a short trip but an enjoyable one. I hadn't seen Max in a few years and knew he was extremely excited to meet and greet his future dog. We arrived early in the day. Max arriving about an hour ahead of us, had already settled into the room we were to share for the night. When Boss and I arrived, we entered a very nice but very "hard", as in "no cush" lobby and stopped for directions to the room. Boss walked along side me, tall and proud, and entered and rode the elevator like he owned the place. I was so, so very proud of him!!! Then we met Max who came prepared with food, bowls and toys obviously intent on making a good first impression! Seems it was love at first sight for both man and dog! The day was planned to include some time for the two to get to know each other. Once we were all settled into the room, it was time to go! I handed over the leash and we ventured out for our first stop, a hike at Ruby Falls. Next stop; a scrumptious dinner at a trendy little dog friendly eatery downtown Chattanooga. It had it all, outdoor seating and most importantly a large pail of ice water placed on the ground that simply appeared without me even noticing. Following dinner it was back to the hotel for a little play, some pointers and lots of talk about Boss and Dobermans in general. At some point in the evening I ventured out to the car and was told upon my return that Boss was a little antsy like he was "looking for me". One of my concerns coming to fruition. Toward the end of the evening though, Max himself left the room and Boss had the same response. Apparently he had already claimed his new dad as part of his pack! I knew @ that instant, watching Boss worry for Max, that all was right in the world!!! Then morning came as it seems it always does and it was time for me to say farewell. I've got to admit, a few tears have been shed as I've adjusted to life without Boss. But then the photos started rolling in and I knew in my heart of hearts Boss was in the best possible hands and a better decision could not have been made! Boss has gained a loving family that includes a guy who has waited a long time for a dog. And he's inherited a couple kids who by the photos I've seen absolutely adore him. Boss has broadened his horizons! He's settled in with ease and Michigan has gained one fabulously awesome dog! The Boss!!! I'm happy to say he's still family! Lots of updates sitting on a back burner and lots going on. It's seems I'm just going and doing and not making or taking time to jot it all down. But this particular thing I just can't ignore! It must be done and done on this very date! Happy Birthday To My Three Year Olds! Reposted from a Facebook memory... gotta love memories! Happy 3rd Birthday to the pups that started it all! It was a new experience for all of us. I had researched and prepared -But even so, the day was filled with a certain degree of anxiety!!! I carried with me a ton of hope for a delivery free of complication and fingers crossed for my girl Lex to prove to be a loving and capable mom. It was an exciting time too... I'll never forget the arrival of our first pup. Progress! And Lex basically took things from there while I watched and waited -and my feelings of unease dissipated. Her abilities soothed me as I soothed and encouraged her. Lexi was a natural. And for me, while raising pups was something I've always thought I'd enjoy, I can now say through experience, I absolutely love assisting my girls to raise their pups! It truly is the one thing in life I've gained the most enjoyment from. Happy Birthday to my first 11 Girls and one seriously out numbered Boy! Alphabetically -Alice, Fiona, Griffin, Lucy, Pepper, Persephone, Raki, Raven, Risa, Sadie, Scarlett, and Sheba!!! You've made me proud! |
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