Friday, January 1, 2010

Looking Back At 2009

2009 will not go in the books as one of the better years for many people, but it did have it's moments.

The year started off badly with Monty's unexpected death. I really missed my big boy. I hadn't realized what a help he was to me in keeping things peaceful in a house full of lively dogs. This was something you would never have see when Monty was on duty.


Portuguese Water Dogs are notorious counter surfers. Many dogs will check for goodies left unattended, but PWDs seem to have perfected the art. They can be very sneaky and take one item without disturbing anything else on the plate.


This was the first piece I bought from the talented Michelle Toland. I quickly realized that she had captured the personality of the breed in her work and I became a big fan.

As the muddy spring went on, we celebrated Fudge's birthday without a visit from the Good Dog Fairy. Then we had to deal with a root canal on Sky.





Samba turned seven in March and in April there was a tremendous increase in interest in PWDs, when the Obama's welcomed Bo to the White House. We had a lot of e-mails and phone calls, but the furor finally died down and we got back to normal. Bo has brought a few changes to our lives. Now when we go out in public, people recognize the dogs as PWDs and ask lots of questions. We've also found many more written articles mentioning the breed and more breed specific items in the stores.


Once the weather warmed up and the grass turned green we played some baseball. Fudge wore the cap with the big P for Portugal.


Bailey was our pitcher and Morgan took lots of turns at bat.



On June 10th we celebrated the first annual Bandana Day. We invited our friends to send us their pictures wearing a blue bandana or anything blue and we had over seventy dogs and cats join us. It was a lot of fun.



When summer arrived we started our trips to the lake. Decked in bright orange life jackets, everyone got a chance to swim. The reviews were mixed. Sky liked the water as long as he could touch bottom. Tess and Norma Jean liked it as long as we were in the water with them. Lola and Noah both enjoyed swimming but wouldn't retrieve any items. Fudge enjoyed it and would retrieve a little.



Bailey was her usual curious self and wanted to go into the woods to look for rabbits. Samba took to the water as if she'd been born in it. It was as nautral as walking for her and the big surprise was Morgan. She became our star swimmer and she and Samba were in quite a competition to retrieve anything we threw.



Summer brought some other good things, too. The pack discovered watermelon.



This turned into one of our favorite treats. Icy cold watermelon on a hot day really hits the spot. Even Tsar, who wouldn't stick his head in the pink dish, found that he enjoyed watermelon.



Then summer was over and it was football season.



Surprisingly, Morgan turned out to be a fierce football player. Even the younger, stronger dogs couldn't keep up with her.



October was full of activities. One of the biggest ones was when Fudge and I earned our first title in Rally.


We'd been working on this for two years and this time we did it.


On October 26th there was a big celebration when the pups turned three years old. We had pumpkin muffins and everyone had a very good time.


The scary Mr Punk Man visited at the end of the month. He just appeared one day and the dogs were all very curious about him. Then a few days later he was gone.

November started with birthdays for Morgan and Tsar, but things took a bad turn when Samba became very sick. Samba is doing well at the present time. She can open her mouth all the way and can even catch her ball. She's trying to gain back some of the weight she lost and we hope she starts growing back some of the hair that fell out.

One very sad note, another PWD named Digby, who was also suffering with the same disease as Samba, didn't make it. His Mom reported to me that he died on December 27 just before his second birthday. As you can imagine, the news upset me a lot and a good friend helped me put it in perspective.

December came and brought Christmas.


The dogs got lots of new toys and treats. Rob and I also got some new toys and treats.


This is one of our gifts from some good friends. Isn't this neat. It's a real street sign and we're going to hang it on the fence.

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't as productive in 2009 as I would have liked, but I wasn't a complete slug. I knit the stacking cats for my niece and I made a few other gifts. Now that they're all safely in the hands of the recipients, I can show some of them.


I did several cross stitch pieces that I made into pillows.









I also knit a bunny for a friend. I liked the way she turned out.



So, now we're on to 2010. I went back and looked at the resolutions I made last year and my record is only so so. A couple I stuck to, a couple I sort of half accomplished and some I didn't even attempt. Instead of dwelling on them or making more that I won't do, I've decided to resolve the following: In 2010 I will try to enjoy life more.

Now there's a resolution I can get into. Happy New Year everyone. We hope that this year is one of the best ever, for everyone. Come back and visit with us for more silly adventures

19 comments:

gMarie said...

The only thing I'm going to resolve to do is be nicer to me :) Glad to be in the "good friend" category - it's a nice place to be.

Love the photos, you and your dogs are amazing and inspiring. Be nice to you :) g

Sam said...

What a lovely post recapping the year. You had some good moments, and you had some bad, too. Hopefully the good will far outweigh the bad in the coming year.

(We did Rally tonight for the first time in ages! I put a video on my blog.)

Scrabblequeen said...

Happy New year to you and all the PWBs! Loved your year in review!

Molly the Airedale said...

Airedales are pretty good countersurfers too, only not us! We're angels! The Michelle Toland piece is just beautiful and so are all of your mom's cross stitch pieces!
Happy New Year! We hope 2010 is a wonderful year for all of you!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

soulbrush said...

oh gosh time does fly, i remember it all, and it has enriched my life going through these past months with you and the gang. i remember the challenge to try and fit the right name to each dog, oh how i failed there, still confuses me like crazy, but i love your guys. and i was one of the lucky recipients of a cushion with my snuffles embroidered on it, one of my best pressies ever. so here's wishing you, rob and everyone a wonderful doggie year ahead and lotsa great posting.

Janet said...

What a lovely post! I love the cross-stitch pups. Happy New Year!

SissySees said...

What a lovely post. Bassets are generally clumsy counter cruisers, but not Sis; she must have PWD coach somewhere...

We love our pillows. Gretchen will actually ask to see them, funny precious girl.

Here's to a very kind 2010 for all of us!

Lapdog Creations said...

Great post... great pics! LOVE those cross stitch... gorgeous!

LizzieJane said...

Wonderful post Sue. It was fun to look back and see all the fun things that the gang got up too. I hope the coming year will be a good and fun one for everyone.
x

Stella said...

Thats really the story of every year, isn't it? Some good things and some not so good and some BAD.
We just have to do what we can!

So, you are going to have more fun this year! How do you do that? Is knitting fun? Is cross stitch fun? And the dogs, are they fun?
I think your more fun year is just more of all those things. Oh, and maybe sewing! Un,huh!

Happy, new you!

cheers and hugs,

Jo and Stella

Martha said...

What a great review of your year. Some sadness but in the main never a dull moment!
We loved the little ornament of the counter surfing portugese water dogs!
Your xmas projects looked wonderful - we admire your patience!
Our mum saw a kit for a basset hound and one day when she has more time she will give it a go.
The end results are simply stunning.
How you manage to find the time we dont know.
All the best for 2010
love
Martha, Bailey & Mum xxxx

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

This is a wonderful post and you and Rob are special people - not everyone could be the fantastic pack leaders that you both are.

I loved the cross-stitch pictures that you made in to pillows - I have a pattern for Lilly - maybe his will be the year I do it - I imagine it on red.

Happy New Year, I look forward to reading more of your wonderful blog in 2010. You have touched my heart.

Lynn

Sue Bridges said...

Happy New Year to you all, I love to read about your wonderful family. Sue x

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We think you accomplished a lot - thanks for the year-in-review post. It is always nice to recapture those memories.

Woos, Phantom and Thunder

Marjie said...

No resolutions here either, other than to get my dearly beloved through his illness and myself through my spinal problems. I am proud of you for getting Fudge to his first ribbon; that's quite an accomplishment! And your needlework is simply beautiful. Happy New Year!

bbes tribe said...

What a wonderful look back at 2009. We really enjoyed it. We are glad to have you all for a friends and want to wish for you a great New Year. Thanks for visiting us. Looks like Chica will be staying with us. M & D decided they wanted to keep her after only a few hours. We wonder if they are too soft in the heart to foster. We will probably get another foster before too long.
Love & tailwags
Ernie, Sasha, & now Chica

Dughallmor Beagles said...

Wow, as usual an action-packed post........where to start! Loved your recap of the year....some sad moments but of course these make us appreciate the good times all the more. Many congratulations on Fudge's title, we knew you could do it, but still, really well done!
You guys are the BEST! Thanks so much again for the beautiful pillow, it really will be treasured.
All the best for a fabulous 2010, with much love and slobbers xx♥

parlance said...

A good resolution! I hope it is achievable. A lovely overview of the year, some things sad and some things happy, just like life overall, I guess.

Dianne said...

Yes, it was a big year for Porties. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about your whole crew, and the pillow---it is lovely. Thank you again, so very much. I will treasure it always!