My Grama's Soul

Part of celebrating Memorial Day...is having memories. Sophie we will ALWAYS miss you!! Jo

"Don't cry because it is over.  Smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss This is a photo of our two beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  Sophie, in front and Skyler behind.  Soph...as we call her is 14 and Skyler just turned 5. These two pups have given us such joy it is hard to describe in words. Today, unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to put our older girl, Soph, down.  It is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner must make but we know it is our final loving responsible act. Tomorrow morning we will have the vet come to the house and lay our girl to rest. I know it will be the saddest of days but one that any pet owner must ultimately face in the end.  I titled this post as I did choosing the words I chose for these reasons. I need God's HELP in seeing me through all this sadness:  just as God helped me pick Soph as a puppy all those years ago. I want to THANK God everyday for having...

Look what has just popped up again in my garden!  I am always amazed that amaryllis  bloom yet again here in AZ. These were purchased two years ago at Christmas time.  They bloomed indoors then so I put them outside in my garden just on an outside chance they might  bloom there as well.  They did......both last year and again this year.......they bloom both in November and around April.   Sweet Skyler chomped on one of them and destroyed an entire bud....but it survived in spite of him.  LOL LOL BYTW...he is currently at Boot Camp for two weeks to learn some important "doggie lessons"..  The trainer brought him by the house this morning and we got to see him put through some of his paces.  He looked so great and like he was having a ball!!!  We will have him  back  the Saturday after this one.  We miss him tons...but know this is really good for him.  Not sure if Miss Sophie misses him or not.......

UMMMM......please notice the wonderful cameo of my darling niece around my neck...oh my~~ oh my goodness.....I digress in my story.  Anyway....the reason for this little missive is due to a recent exasperating note I have received, as of late,  from Miss Sophie  You all remember her don't you....that wonderful Cavalier King Charles who had the PERFECT life.....until Little Mister..aka...Skyler came on the scene. She writes and I quote... "Oh Auntie.....I had the perfect life of a 10 year old spaniel.... Endless pampering People food on very, very many occasions Always got my own small bowl of rice when we ordered Chinese food Slept in the big bed with my humans..and I might add...had it all to myself Was coddled, caressed and loved totally and singularly for the first ten years of my life Never had to share my humans OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER with anyone else AND THEN HE CAME Little Mister, Skyler..... ...

The above sign best describes our dogs to a "t"..... however....Our new puppy, Skyler, is now enrolled in school...Yep...he starts this Friday. I'm fairly certain he won't know what hit him...so to speak.  He is now seven months old and needs to be trained in walking with a loose leash.  He knows how to sit, will come when summoned (most of the time LOL LOL) and knows instinctively how to fetch....but there is much for him to learn so he can become a "great" dog.   Both of our Cavaliers are "love bugs" and like nothing better than to give us face hugs.....well maybe there is one thing they like better...... Yep, you guessed it,......being a COUCH POTATO. Will keep you posted on "little man's" progress. Have a great day, Jo

A few of you have asked about seeing a picture of our Skyler and our Miss Sophie.  This pic was taken 2 days ago....they are both sharing Sophie's bed in this photo.  He is growing like a weed...and is probably 4 times as long in length as when we brought him home. Miss Sophie is the Alpha-dog and she let's him know it....when appropriate......GOOD FOR HER....I SAY!  teehee Have a wonderful weekend. Jo  

Our Miss Sophie Those of you who follow me know we have just adopted a new puppy......Skyler. He's a little male Cavalier with the same color markings as our beautiful girl above. Sophie will soon be 10 years old...so she is getting up in years for her breed.  She also has some health issues which have been addressed with surgery...but her ability to romp and run around is no longer there. So you can only imagine how it is with this little guy's appearance in our home.... He is now 4 months old and full of it as only a puppy can be.  He chews, barks, digs, rolls over endlessly and runs around like a crazy man while playing during his day.  He so much wants to play with our older girl...but alas....it is not to be.  So like the bright girl she is Sophie has devised her own method of playing.  She simply stands still wagging her tail and barking occasionally as he runs around her in circles barking and jumping back and forth to play....it...

I believe....nothing.....makes you see the world through new eyes like a new baby or a new puppy.  They don't miss a minute of anything and notice everything. We brought sweet Skyler home Thursday afternoon to stay.  His personality is so very different from our Miss Sophie I can't believe it.  He puts everything in his mouth....Sophie almost never explored plants and leaves that way.  He cries occasionally because he misses his litter....she never cried...not once. He comes and lays on my shoe when I am in the kitchen working....just to be close to me....Sophie never did that either.  Oh don't get me wrong....our Sophie is a real lover....but just in a different way. The breeder explains it this way....the little girls...."love you"....but the little boys...."are in love with you."  big difference..... Everything is going well so far....and boy are we busy, busy, busy....lol lol... Love it though! Just a short up date ...

Yep......another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel......meet Skyler......here he is at approximately 6 weeks. Here is a picture of him this week...  We will be picking him up by the weekend...and we are pretty excited. As you know...our Miss Sophie is getting up in years and we so love this breed....we wanted another.  We have done some test visiting at our house and it has gone fairly well.  Although...since Miss Sophie is such an adult dog she really could care less if there is a puppy to play with...but not me....Oh Boy.....I love playing with puppies and babies....not necessarily in that order..mind you.  LOL  LOL Here is Miss Sophie....she will ALWAYS be the "apple of my eye"...but we are getting ready for this new pup! Hugs from here....I'll keep you posted. Jo

Well.....the above pic is not mine....it is from the wonderful Suzanne at Privet and Holly.... BUT....I SO LOVE THE SIGNS!! not to mention that cute, cute baby... ok...onto the post.... This may not be very exciting to any of you.....but it is certainly exciting to me. Today....while out to lunch with very dear friends...I had someone inquire about where I  bought my lovely necklace.  I said  "I MADE IT" and....the best part is....it is out of recycled junk!! Her comment was "Do you have a web site...It is wonderful!!"   The above piece is made from the top of a bag balm can, part of an old napkin ring, an old earring, an old jewelry clasp and some of my mom's old pearl's...with a few beads to top it off.  The best thing is it is ALL recycled stuff excluding the few beads I had to purchase at Joanne's.   Needless to say...I was very flattered at a complete stranger's interest. She asked for my card ......  Here is...

We have one of these......yep.......a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Here she is.....doing what she does best.....hogging the sofa and the pillows.  She will soon be nine, and it seems as though she is becoming so much more demanding as she gets older.  (Kind of like me.....I guess).  Anyway....she is a love and is such a gentle creature, one would hardly believe how she has changed over the years. Each year seems to bring out yet more personality.....she now barks when she wants company on the sofa or the bed....she has to have a lick of my lip balm before we go to bed and she refuses to drink water from her bowl.  She prefers a glass....with ice! Our vet recommends we feed her a raw diet mixed in with vegetables and potato or rice.  Well.....she now has decided she doesn't like potato....so if I add a little to her food.....she picks out each piece and sits it down on the floor....beside her food dish.  My friend tells me ........ she WANTS GRAVY....