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.......

Well.....we "old fossils" finally got the tree up.....not decorated mind you....JUST UP.  LOL LOL   I don't remember these artificial trees being so heavy...of course we usually have someone help us with this...but this year....we are braving it alone.  Well....we will have a little help from my sweet grandson who is going to help decorate the thing over the weekend.  I really don't care what it looks like as long as the darn thing doesn't fall over from being lop sided or something.  (O: Julian doesn't have a big tree at his house so we always have one here for him.  In fact...we saw him just the other day..and the first thing he said was "grandma.....where's the tree".  Sooooo gramps and I got busy.   Our livestock are helping too....with encouragement.... O.K. maybe not exactly helping..but they are encouraging...don't you think?? hugs from here. Jo

Artist:  Sharon Lynn Williams No......not that kind of hangin' out......LOL We are really not doing much of anything right now....packing up is finished, have visited with friends and most of them have headed for their respective homes for the winter.  Skyler is now in his third lesson in class. This was the sign Miss Ellie has waiting for us the first day.... We are making some progress....but he is FAR from being the teacher's pet...I might add. (O:  He does keep us busy...but..... I'm actually not very good at just hanging out....you would think by now, at my age, that I would be more comfortable with that concept.  I'm the kind of lady who always has a project, or has to be doing "something".....to waste time is very uncomfortable for me.  Guess that is a lesson I'm going to have to learn.  As I get older, I'm quite sure I'll be doing more Hangin' Out...so I best learn how, huh??  LOL Wanted to cl...

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

See.......I told you so! LOL LOL This is "little man" as my wonderful soul mate calls Skyler, our new puppy. Well~~~ We have finally arrived at our destination in Montana.....six days driving two to three hundred miles per day....it is good to be in our little spot.  Our dogs do really well traveling, although, I believe Skyler was a bit car sick yesterday....he wouldn't eat or drink and looked a little "green around the gills"... but he is certainly better this morning....as frisky as usual!! lol lol We are parked a little ways from our condo....our friend, Bud, lets us park in his RV Man Cave so we have the run of the place and it is great for us and great for the dogs. This year, we have rented the condo...for the first time....our neighbors from AZ will be here in a few days to stay there the first two weeks in August.....so we have to skidaddle  and meet the cleaning person and spiff up the place a little. The weather is cool, cool, cool ...

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...

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

1.  Always greet the day with gusto 2.  Enjoy every meal you eat...to the fullest 3.  Ask for love when you need it 4.  Forgive, forgive and then forgive some more   5.  Take a little rest ~~ everyday 6.  Don't soil your nest 7.  Always appreciate those you love 8.  And last...but not least....bark...ahhh....speak up when you need to Thank you sweet Sophie for bringing so much joy into our life. Hugs, Jo black and white photo:  Tumbler