I Fell in Love at Walmart

He stole my heart! ❤

Sorry it’s so blurry. This little guy was running in circles on his leash! It’s an iPhone “Live” photo but I don’t know how to load a moving photo (or even if I can)!

A Photo a Week Challenge: From Above

From Nancy Merrill Photography comes this new challenge:  It’s amazing how different things can look depending on our location. This week’s challenge is to find a unique perspective from above.  IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO THAT ARE TAKEN FROM ABOVE YOUR SUBJECT.

Bobby
02/29/2000 – 03/29/2012

 

Citrus Bowl Parade

 

Salt Lake City Capital Building

 

Salt Lake City Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

 

You are not forgotten!

It was just brought to my attention a little while ago that today is National Pet Memorial Day. I just couldn’t let today go by without paying tribute to the many four-legged companions I have had the privilege of spending time with throughout my life. Each contributed so much to my life. As difficult as it always is to say goodbye and let go, I would not trade that time with each of them for anything. When I think of my animals, I am always reminded of the poem, The Rainbow Bridge. I’m a firm believer that all animals go to heaven (not just dogs!). In order of their demise:

HAPPY

Happy was the first dog I had. I was about three years old. I remember my Dad coming home with a puppy and saying he was for me. Interestingly enough, if memory serves (old conversations when I was older) I believe it was his birthday! But for whatever reason, I named him Happy and for ten years he was my constant companion and playmate.

GIGI

Gigi was a funny-looking little scrap of a dog. I kept asking my parents if I could get a dog. It had been about two or three years since I lost Happy. My parents kept saying no, we didn’t need a dog. But, being the obstinate child that I am (yes, I said am, not was), I took my $5 I had saved up, took a bus across town to look at some puppies that were in the paper. The rest, as they say is history. My parents got over their mad and let me keep her. Of course, she ended up becoming more of my Dad’s dog than mine! But only because I was a teenager and we all know how that goes!

CAESAR

Well, after I had been out on my own for a while, I decided I wanted another dog. I was going to go looking for a Mastiff. Then I saw an ad for Great Dane puppies. I went, I saw, I bought. Another good choice! He was not only my best friend, but was an excellent protector! I trained him well (obedience – he didn’t need to be trained for protection, that comes naturally to dogs). It was always interesting to see people’s reactions to him whether we were walking down the street or he was hanging out the side window of my VW Beetle!

PUNKIN (YorkiPoo)
POOKI (B&W Party Poodle)

Years later, I just had to fill that void again. I was living in Dallas at the time. I saw an ad for Poodles and Poodle mixes so I went to look. I did not know what a Party Poodle was but it was love at first sight. I named her Pooki. After about six months, I started feeling guilty about her being by herself during the day while I was at work, so I went back to the lady and bought Pooki a companion. A little Yorki-Poo I named Punkin. More loves of my life!

GEORGE

This is a baby picture of George. I had never owned a cat in my entire life. Suddenly I had three. George was brother to Midge (still living) and Zuzu.

BUG

I had to include little Bug. He wasn’t with us a long time. He was one of those cats that showed up out of nowhere and just decided he was going to keep us. We fed and cared for him but he did not like staying in the house so, much to our chagrin, we let him come and go.

MOXIE

Moxie came as brother to Charlie and Freckles who were recently spotlighted on an earlier post. Both he and Charlie had urinary tract issues as young kittens. We were able to save Charlie (he is the most expensive animal I have) but Moxie did not make it.

BOBBY

We lost Bobby two summers ago to cancer. Bobby a/k/a Psycho. There is something so very special about Boston Terriers. But then I say that about every animal. His passing is still fresh.

ZUZU

My little (really big) kitty. She was part of the trio that were the very first cats I ever owned. She was so loving. She passed away last summer and the pain of her passing, too, is still fresh.

I still miss each of my little friends and I look forward to the day we are all together again.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Companionable

When I saw this Weekly Photo Challenge: Companionable on The Daily Post at WordPress, I knew I just had to post about a few of my little companions. I have had so many wonderful little animals to come into my life and bless me. It would be way too long a post to try and present all of them. So, today I present the most recent. Allow me to introduce Bobby, Emmy and Pippin, our rescues!

Bobby was our Boston Terrier. I’m sad to say we lost him last year to cancer at the age of 13. He was a leap-year baby, born February 29, 2000. Next to him sits our little Emmy, a Maltese we acquired back in 2000 at 3 months old from Florida Poodle Rescue. She turns 13 this fall and gets more ornery and lovable with each passing year! Our Poodle, Pippin, came to us one day about ten years ago out of nowhere. He came to our front door, a skinny, matted little mess and let me bring him in and clean him up. We tried for weeks to locate his owner to no avail. We had people tell us they had seen him roaming their neighborhood a few blocks away from us for the week prior. I was appalled that he could have been left alone for so long. A trip to the vet could not conclusively give his age but he guessed maybe around one year at that time. They share our home with five cats!

Backyard Memories

It’s a beautiful mornin’ ahhh
I think I’ll go outside a while
An jus’ smile
Just take in some clean fresh air boy
Ain’t no sense in stayin’ inside
If the weather’s fine an’ you got the time
It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day
Either way
It’s a beautiful mornin’

The Rascals

It truly is a beautiful morning. The sun is streaming through my window, the air is crisp with a very slight breeze and the temperature is 63 degrees F. I’m just kicking back listening to the chirping of the birds in the neighborhood. It sounds so sweet. It smells so clean. It’s the perfect combination that’s making childhood feelings and memories spring to life. I’m transported to another place and time. Has it really been so long since I noticed? Just listen to those birds. And the squirrels chattering. It’s not just chirping, it’s music. Ah, early morning. Time to get up and go out to play!

Here I am with Happy, my best friend and faithful companion of ten years in the backyard of my childhood home. Great memories of that backyard. That’s where my mother would sunbathe on her quilt while teaching me the alphabet and to count to 100. My mother kept a beautiful flower and rose garden. She had every color rose and I can still smell that beautiful strong rose scent. I don’t know all the different kinds of flowers she had. But I remember the beauty. I’m just sad that I have no pictures of her garden.

Dad had a big strawberry patch. I remember he built a frame with chicken wire to set over the patch. He said it was it was to keep the birds from eating the strawberries and to keep a little girls hands out of the patch. Hmmm. I suppose he meant me but it didn’t work! It’s amazing what tiny little fingers can reach through. I can remember a time I was in the kitchen with my Mom. She was standing at the sink cleaning and preparing fresh-picked strawberries for dinner. She had me seated on the kitchen counter next to her. As she cleaned each strawberry and I ate it, I told her, “Mom, you’re the best cook!” I guess she liked that because I can still hear her laughter after all these years.

I’m sure my Dad and my brother would have different memories of the back yard. Since it backed up to the wall of the Upper Arlington High School football stadium, they were always having to clean up the back yard and the garage roof following every activity held in the stadium!

The only picture I have of my childhood home was taken in the winter. I’m posting it here even though it doesn’t fit with my spring theme! What an influence this house has had on me and my taste. I adore English Tudor. If I could have this house in a warm climate, I’d jump in a heartbeat!!