Officially Lab-Less!

Well, we are officially Lab-Less! Deizel went home with "Pennsylvania Couple" this past Thursday. I thought they were really nice, as were their 2 dogs. Deizel responded really well to all of them, which I thought was a good sign!

~Deizel meeting his new family~

I've heard from Pennsylvania couple every day, and he has settled in really nicely to his new life, home and family! I was sad at his leaving and do miss him and having a Lab as part of our household.  But I think Deizel is where he's meant to be, and I could not be happier about that.

~Deizel (middle) and his new family~

I also couldn't be happier about how Max is doing.  He's now just over a week past his surgery.  I've discontinued the pain medication, and he's still on strict crate rest.  To give him a break, we take off the "cone of shame" and keep him leashed at our feet while we're watching tv.

Going up or down steps of any kind is not allowed, so Max is lifted when going in or out.  On Tuesday he'll see the vet and have the staples removed.  Then we'll see if he's ready to move onto the rehab part of his recovery.  I think he's ready.

And Todd may not look like it at the moment, but I think he's ready for whatever comes next too - He's a Scottie afterall!

It's feeling like fall today, as rain falls this evening.  So, I'll end this post with a photo from a pumpkin-patch that I took this past weekend and wish you all a good week!

The Foster Boys

Our foster-boy Max had knee surgery (a TPLO) on Thursday.  I picked up a very happy Max on Friday after work.

~On the way home!~

The instructions from the surgeon was/is strict crate-rest and confinement.  Max was exhausted, so following those instructions and getting him settled in that first night, wasn't difficult at all.

By Saturday, Max was feeling better and more rested. So, he set about doing what all dogs do when confined with not much to do, and that was to escape the dreaded "cone of shame." With skills that even Houdini would envy, he was getting pretty good at it.  So he's now sporting a "donut" which is connected to his collar and it seems to be staying in place. So far anyway.

In the middle of the busy week, I heard from Lab Rescue about a family interested in Deizel.  I'll admit to being surprised.  For several reasons, we've (of course) thought of keeping Deizel.  But honestly, we'd just hadn't not acted on making him a permanent addition. I'll also admit that we just didn't think that with all the dogs Lab Rescue has available for adoption, someone would pick Deizel so soon.  

But "Pennsylvania Couple" did.  They have two other dogs, (both Black Labs) and one of them happens to be blind -- Which probably explains why they noticed Deizel on the list. I've talked at length to "Pennsylvania wife" and I really like her.  She and her husband are really excited about meeting Deizel and are coming on Thursday afternoon.  I think they would provide a good home for him.        

Todd of course doesn't care about any of this.  He's been concerned with the would be intruders or moles - He's "made dead" two of them the last couple of days.  He's certainly a busy Scottie!

Most of the time.

Normal Programming to Resume

Its been nearly a week since George left. I’ve been so touched by the number of people who sent e-mails, and here on my blog and on Facebook have stopped their busy lives to share the grief I've felt.  I am reminded of how common we all are – even the most stoic among us knows the feeling when a dog, or a cat, horse or bird is lost.  In this alone, I have found healing. Thank-you for that.

We'll be back to "regular programming" this weekend and I'll post an update on Max who had knee surgery today.  Thank-you again for your friendship and for stopping by! It really does mean so much!

Simply Remembering George

While so many are remembering the events of September 11th, I do not in any way intend any disrespect to that, but I am remembering our boy George that left us on Friday.

We first met George on April 11, 2015.  His arrival story can be found here. His previous home had called him "Biggie," and the rescue knew him as "Big Georgie". I never called him Biggie, feeling it was just a little insulting to him.  I did of course call him Georgie as a nickname.  But to me, he was simply George.

George was originally a foster dog via Lab Rescue, but I knew not long after I met him, that he was not leaving our house.  I'd felt at the time that the change would be unfair for a boy of his respectable age of about 13.  But more than anything, George had quickly found a place in my heart, and our home too.  We officially adopted him not long after he came.

His easy going and laid back personality meant that he got along with all the dogs. I'd long thought that if our household had an anchor, it was George.  He was steady, calm, and pretty unassuming.  He was focused, but went with the flow of the household and never seemed to mind any change in the routine.  But in true Lab fashion, he loved his mealtimes, as you can see in the video below.  It truly was his favorite time of the day!

George was my shadow and followed me everywhere I went.  He slept next to the bed on my side from just about the first night he came.  His "extra large size" meant George was a big presence, and a great comfort in sad times.

George was a dog that was not part of the spotlight.  He didn't mind that. He was perfectly content to be in the background and watch the world go by.  But that changed this past April at a rescue parade.  That day he walked around the show-ring as an audience applauded him.

He received a beautiful rosette afterwards just like a "real show dog"  It was a fun day and is a favorite memory of just the two of us.

George loved to lay in the sun on hot days and soak up its warmth.

I'd say that he felt like a baked potato when he'd come back inside -- But actually he felt more like a soft warm pillow that just came out of the dryer.

But in any weather and in every season, George remained unflappable, never changing, never seeming to mind anything.  Not even the bad weather.

He silently soaked up every day and moment, and was always watching me and everything else so intently with his big brown eyes that to me were so wise and soulful.

The lump appeared on his gums in early June.  I knew what it meant.  That our time together would be coming to an end.

A friend reminded me to not see it that way, and she sent me an article that pointed out that George didn't know he had cancer. Dogs live so much in the moment, and so I tried to live each day remembering that too; hoping and praying to extend those days with George.

I read all that I could about this particular kind of cancer.  I talked to the holistic vet, and tried different herbs that I'd not used before.  I feel that they did work to a point.  But sadly and unfortunately, it was not a battle that could be won.

~Un-edited photo of "the lump."~

Through it all George remained stoic, never wavering in his devotion, and totally focused on the moments and life.  But in the end, he could be brave no more.  It was time for me to "be brave" and let this boy who meant to much to me, go.

It's now two days later and I'm realizing that his loss is going to take some time to get over.  Maybe it's because it's coming so close to the loss of my precious Sheba.  Maybe it's because he was our first Black Lab.  Maybe it's because of his extra-large size and personality that had a way of grabbing your heart.  Maybe it's all of those things and many more.  But I think that it probably comes down to just one simple thing...  He was just simply George and I simply loved him.

A Sad Good-Bye to George

Friday marked the end of two very long days, and a day that I truly was not ready for.  It was one that came less than a month from losing our precious Sheba.  I said good-bye to George.  He'd been doing pretty well, and silently I was celebrating because the herbs that I was giving him to slow the growth of the oral tumor seemed to be working. But a few weeks ago, I realized that the tumor was getting bigger. Unfortunately no matter what supplements and medications I tried increasing or adding, they didn't work.

~A first photo of George, April 2015~

The last couple of weeks had been hard for George for several reasons that were all related to the tumor. I talked to the holistic vet, and we decided to increase the amount of pain medication he was taking, and add one more herb.  It helped, and he was able to get the rest he really needed.  But by Thursday he was getting more and more reluctant to get up and was needing more help. Friday, he didn't want to get up at all, and he didn't want his breakfast, which was a first.  I knew it was time to say good-bye, even though I wasn't ready.  Not that I ever would have been.

~July 2015~

I called the Mobile Vet and he came. He felt that the cancer had probably spread internally and that nothing more could be done. With a shake of his head and so much like the gentleman that he was, George quietly left this world for the next.

~5-12-16 -- One year and one day after we met George~

What came afterwards was truly a unique and special experience.  The service that will cremate and return George's remains to us, came to the house after we let him go.  The vet left about 30 or so minutes prior to their coming, which meant I was left alone with George.  It was without a doubt the perfect chance to say that final good-bye and not feel the rush of being at a vets office, or having anyone around.   Time truly stood still in those solemn moments and the house seemed filled with peace and calm as I said all those things to him that come only from your heart in moments of sadness.  I also allowed the dogs to see George one final time.

~March 2016~

When George was taken from our house, I walked with the two gentlemen outside,  I noticed a butterfly in our garage. It lazily and magically fluttered around the door of the garage going inside and out, I couldn't help but watch it as it floated around the van the two men were driving. In the Old World, the butterfly was thought to be the spirit of the dead.  Other legends say it's a sign of transformation.  I could only think at that moment of the quote that says "Butterflies are free."  ........  

Fly free my handsome Georgie until we meet again one day at the Rainbow Bridge.

~One of the last photos taken of George 9-16~  

End of Summer Weekend

A 5-day weekend coming to an end.  I could have gotten a few more things done, but I just didn't.  

I did get all the needed errands done. I also picked up a "farm share" of vegetables given to us by good friends who are out of town.  We are getting spoiled with the generosity of people giving us fresh vegetables.

~A sampling of what I had to choose from~

We had no real plans this weekend.  We just planned to be home.

I did something we've not done in awhile because its been so hot -- I got out the tennis balls, and played a good round of "Chuckit" with Todd.  He can actually put TWO tennis balls in his mouth.  Something that not many Golden Retrievers can even do.

The weather really could not have been more perfect!  Hurricane Hermine totally missed us.  

Cool mornings allowed us to have the widows open overnight.

~Deizel enjoying the morning~

There was even time for a nap or two.  At least Mo, our foster cat tried to take a nap.  Todd never can pass up the chance to harass him.

It really was a nice and relaxing weekend!

~Josh!~

I hope you are all rested up ....

and that you also enjoyed your weekend!

Skating into September

We did it!  We quickly skated right through the week, and right here to Friday and Labor Day weekend!

It was a full week that had me opening up my horizons a little bit and experience the wonderment that are cotton candy grapes.  Have you tried them?  They’re exactly what they sound like. Grapes that taste like cotton candy. I first heard about them from the doctor I work for who could not stop raving about them.  I was skeptical.  I'm also not a cotton-candy fan, and I was secretly thinking that the grapes were probably pumped up with some kind of chemical additive that would make my liver or stomach shrivel up in 10 years.  But I tried them anyway.

Again, I know not everyone is a fan of grapes or cotton candy. And, I totally agree with what you may be thinking, that no grape should smell or taste like cotton candy -- But they really do, and (again) even though I'm not a fan of cotton candy, they really are pretty good!  They have just the right balance of sweet cotton candy and grape that has made me a fan along with so many others!  I'll also add that they are non-GMO grapes. They’re all natural and were bred by a company that specializes in breeding new grape varieties -- And they're only available for a short time, so look for them.

Okay ... Now that I've got that covered, lets move on.  I think George (below) is ready!

The rescue has approved Max's surgery on his knee, that I've scheduled for September 15th.  In preparation for the surgery and what will be several weeks of recovery,  I had him groomed.

The groomer got a little carried away and his coat is shorter than I'd wanted.  But by the time Max will need to be groomed again, he'll be fully recovered.

I'm glad that it's all approved and planned, and a busy week is done.  We can now just relax for the long Labor Day weekend that marks the end of summer.  I'm not sure where the summer went.  But it really had its highs and lows, and with it in our rear-view mirror, I'm looking ahead to the fall.

I'm not looking forward to the cold weather, but I am looking forward to life slowing down a little bit, if that's possible.   And Deizel, (below) is just looking forward to his next treat!