In Memory of Cadi

The most recent rescue bunch of puppies came to us in such sad shape. A little black Lab mix, A little blue Heeler mix, and 4 sweet fuzzy little girls. Both boys were sick with colds and worms, but they were older and had better immune systems. The little girls however weren't so lucky. They hadn't been bathed and their fur that was suppose to be fluffy and soft was matted and sticky. They didn't want to eat... they were vomiting and had terrible diarrhea. We got them cleaned up and Sunday morning they all went to their new foster homes to be taken care of and brought back to good health. This of course is much more difficult than it sounds... especially when you're dealing with such fragile petite babies as these were. Unfortunately we lost little Cadi last night. She just wasn't strong enough to overcome her illness and today is crossing onto Rainbows Bridge.

I can at least say that her last days here on this earth were good despite her being sick. She knew that people were caring for her and not just leaving her to lay in her own filth. She went to her final resting place fluffy and soft and is at peace.

I'm sorry little Cadi. I'm sorry that humans are so full of themselves sometimes that they just can't see they lack compassion. I'm sorry that out of all the thousands of people that live here we couldn't get just one person to volunteer some time and help us get you out of that shelter. I'm sorry that I said I would only drive two hours and not four to get you, because if I had just known how bad your life was.... I'd have driven all day. I hope you forgive me. I told our boy Blaze to look for you this morning. He'll keep you warm and be your new best friend. Rest in Peace Little Girl..... this is for you.

Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die... author unknown

Meet YingYang

I'm trying something different this time. My faithful companion SNAFU has finally gone to join those other computers wherever old computers go, and spend eternity free from viruses and worse.... coffee spills. I can't even remember when we got him. He must have already been an adult, because he never got any bigger. He traveled with us to Italy and DownCounty many times. He made a few trips to Florida and I'm pretty positive he went with us to Nashville once. I would have to say he was a well seasoned traveler. His last days with us he had started to slow down a bit and when that fateful day came we just couldn't resuscitate. So moving right along...... I decided that maybe there was some sort of cosmic thing going on because of his name. SNAFU doesn't exactly bring to mind pleasant thoughts. So this go around.... I chose to name my new best friend.... YingYang. The good with the bad.... an even balance.... a more harmonious relationship with my little electronic buddy. He's not as large as his predecessor, and I do believe he'll stay this small. The important thing is..... he came to us already blahg trained. A few of his keys are small and some even in different places, but that just makes him unique.

He loves to be petted, and as you can see my hand pretty much dwarfs him.

His favorite place to lay is on top of the mouse pad..... silly little YingYang.

You can barely see the mouse pad beneath him. I should probably get him a larger bed.

This morning he was waiting for me when I came upstairs.

There he was on the table with his screen up ready for his day of adventure.

He had even fixed me coffee. SNAFU was afraid of Coffee.

I told him that today we'd be saving puppies. He likes saving puppies.......

as long as they don't try to chew on his cord.

Now I'm back on-line and ready for more exciting things to happen.

SNAFU brought an incredibly interesting world into my home and taught me many things, but YingYang.....

he tells me I haven't even begun to see the world.

I can't wait!!!!!

Shining Moments

Lately I've been feeling a little under-stimulated. I actually started to get depressed thinking I really was just one of those poorly educated locals who waste every day one day at a time with no actual goals or purpose. Living my life uninspired and worse uninspiring. Just like many of you, I considered my life thus far had been built out of blocks of "individual moments". Memories and events I could look back on and say, "That is what made me who I am today"!! Wrong, I am who I am today because of who I was when I felt like nothing. It's surviving our every day humdrum existence that makes us who we are, but not by just surviving it, by making it the best humdrum, chaotic, stressful existence possible. We all choose to look back on those moments in our lives when we were happiest. Doing things and going places ultimately defined us as successful. What you need to look back on from time to time are those moments when your world was dark..... when fate had delivered you almost unbearable pain. Then try to remember how you survived that time. What you'll see is that these moments, although usually repressed, are your shining moments!! You got through it, but was it with the help of family and friends, or was it with the help of a higher being? Or, was it because of your own inner strength? We're all survivors, and granted we don't always recover on our own, but we do possess the ability to do so. So, just in case any of you were thinking your life was stressing you out and your goals or your direction didn't seem so exciting..... maybe this is one of YOUR shining moments. Take today and make sure it's memorable.

Goodbye my Little Friends

Well the day had come. The pups were to meet and go home with their new families. Steve and I loaded them into the jeep with plenty of blankets.. their toys, birth certificate and bags just in case we had poopage on the way. Just across the bridge I stopped for the first of three stops in order to remove the smelliest gift a puppy could give. Oh the Gods must have been laughing... after those other two perfect road trips, I so proudly told everyone about... karma had come back to kick me down south. We arrived plenty early to the Petco, so we just set up comfortable camp in the parking lot. These little bunnies are comfortable anywhere, but that might just be because they trust me completely. Of course I had to remove a couple more stinky blankets, and no sooner did I finish fluffing their little bed in the back of the jeep, they were all asleep once more. Sweet little bunnies.

Beth arrived, we gave the puppies their next set of shots and loaded them into the cart for their trip into the store. We still had three pups to find homes for.... Winnie, Nona and Roxie. Applications had been filled out, but the approval process still needed finished and more importantly, those people needed to show up. One by one, as the hours passed, I lifted each pup and passed them to the outstretched arms of their new parents. With each pup, I held them close to my heart so they could hear it one last time. I kissed them goodbye and wished them lots of love. Each time the tears swelled, but I kept them hidden. After all, they weren't being put to sleep, they were going to their new exciting life. It was still painful no matter how hard I tried to make myself believe it wasn't. Eventually the two families that adopted Nona, Roxie and Winnie arrived, made their decisions and headed out with their newest family member in their arms. Roxie and Nona will be sisters in the same home... Yay for them!!

Three O-Clock rolled around, I folded up the empty kennel, picked up the discarded puppy toys, folded the quilt and looked around one last time hoping there was still just one puppy hiding somewhere waiting for me to sneak them back home. No such luck though. I said my goodbyes to the other fosters and headed home. It was a quiet drive and only once along the way did those tears I told you about earlier ever surface. That was about 5 minutes after I left until 5 minutes before I got home. I had another little episode this morning, but I know they're fine and I did a good job and I just have to warn anyone who thinks I need consoling..... don't worry. I won't respond well to words of encouragement right now. My babies have been cut out of my heart and I'll get over it in time.... my own way. I aware that my job is done and I did a good one, but I refuse to be convinced they're in a better place.

Anyhow, I had a few other pics I thought should be posted, but I'm suffering photoheimers this morning... which means I can't remember where the hell I filed certain pics. Here's one of Highway. I got the bow tie off a stuffed animal and had a few pups pose with it on. Highway was just so handsome!!

My Perfect Ten have all moved on. I've already received one call this morning from a panicked new mom. Little Midge apparently had been crying for two hours and they just didn't know what to do. I suggested a little peanut butter to distract her from her loneliness. I haven't heard back so it must have worked. I hope I hear from them all and I hope they send LOTS of pictures. My house has fallen almost silent and although my heart still hurts.... Dash n Roux and Steve are giving it reason to keep on beating. Sigh!! Goodbye my little bunnies, my little piggies, my little friends. I wish you health and happiness and most of all, Unimaginable amounts of Love.

Fun Shots!!

I've been getting hounded to have my picture taken with the pups, so here it is.

There were several taken, but I thought this one with little Roxie standing on my shoulder was terrific. She thinks she's a mountain goat!!! Wed was a fun filled day int he sun for all the pups. Here's Nona and Midge practicing to fly.

I'm sure if they'd had more time... they'd have taken off!!!

Just a little more of this stump that used to be a butterfly bush and we might be able to get off the ground!!!

Meanwhile.... in the sun on his favorite blanky, Newby had managed to wrangle himself a spot all his own and was looking just a little too relaxed. Wait.... is there such a thing for a puppy!! LOL!!

Tomorrow's Friday and the last day for the pups here at puppy boot camp. Saturday they'll all be taken to meet their new parents, and once again... our home will fall silent. Well maybe not silent, but a lot less noisy.

Pupodyssey Continued

In case you missed the last post.... I took all ten pups, Dash n Roux to my Moms last week. Three hours in the Jeep each direction and they were ALL perfect!! No piddles... no Poo. The day I was packing up to go, I let them all outside since it was near 70 degrees. What a blast they had.... Most of the snow had melted off and the grass was nearly dry and warm. Roux took it upon herself to teach the pups how to run and roll. In fact, it was Roux they were all chasing when they discovered snow for the first time.

I'll let the video at the end of this post show you what fun they had, but I had to post these two pics. Miss Nona was hanging out at the well on the warm concrete. I called her and got her to step a few feet away, and then...............

....she said screw this and high-tailed it right back to her safety zone. She eventually let go and had as much fun as her siblings were having.

Here's the link to the video on You Tube.

Pupodyssey

I really think I should call Guiness, because I drove three hours each direction with 12 dogs in my jeep and not one puddle or poop. One of the pups did throw up, but it was solid. I just can't believe I made it down there and back without having to stop every hour to clean up little stinky messes!!! As I was pulling in the driveway, I called Mom to let her know we were coming... LOL As soon as I stopped the Jeep... I started putting puppies on the ground. I knew they'd all have to go.... and REALLY BAD!! At first they were a little hesitant, because this would be their first encounter with anything other than the floor in my dining room. 30 seconds after they were on the ground..... GONE>>> Well not really gone, but going... and Really fast. They were so funny, because they wanted to eat and chew on EVERYTHING... Sticks over three foot long were being dragged across the yard.... Leaves were being consumed in large doses.... Hedges turned out to be the most fun. I Love Puppies!!

Since it was still a bit too chilly for little pups, I got busy and set up the puppy playpen in the middle of the kitchen. Getting all the babies in it was a challenge though, because I first had to FIND them. Mom was a big fan of the playpen, because now she could sit and pet the little guys without being mobbed by sharp little claws. Sharp little teeth were a different issue.

Before long though, just as puppies always do... they made a giant pile in the middle of the pen and fell sound asleep. After spending six weeks with these "adorable" fat little babies.... I can Truly appreciate sleep time.

The visit went well, no doggy incidents that couldn't be fixed. They were seriously aided in their quest to be properly socialized. We covered at least 8 new surfaces, and I don't know how many new noises. By the time they go to their new homes they should be able to adjust pretty quickly. I didn't add them to this post, because I'm still trying to edit the video, but I have some pretty good pics of them playing out on the lawn..... and in the snow!!!! They'll come next!!