Hi Again

We're still here. Rob and I have been literally tied up for the past week. Each of us has had a small black and white spotted dog tied to us at almost all times. It makes it hard to type on the computer or do most anything else, but this is important so we're doing it.

Dr B suggested trying pheromone spray as a first step. I have to admit that I have little faith in this stuff. I tried it with Monty years ago when he showed some early signs of aggression and it had absolutely no effect. Dr B said that he wasn't a believer either until a colleague talked him into trying it. He found that it works on about 60% of the dogs he tried it with.  Guess what! Syd seems to be in the 60% group.

We spray it on the collars of each of the girls twice a day. It had an immediate effect on Syd. She calmed down and slept all evening the first time we used it. Mac showed less of a response to the spray but she's not the one with the problem. It's been a week now and the girls can be in the same room together without growling and posturing. We can walk them together but we feed them in separate rooms. I don't feel that we're at a point yet where they can be together off leash but that may happen someday.

We're also working on the training that Dr B told us about. Right now it's simple stuff, coming when called, and sit-stay. Both girls are doing well on that but we're not rushing it. If Syd is going to continue living with us, she needs to be able to handle her stress and feel safe and relaxed around the other dogs. I know this will take time and a lot of work but it's worth the time and effort.

On a happier note, Miss Morgan wants to thank everyone who sent her birthday wishes. She also wants to show off her new line of designer fringed toilet paper. This one was completed this morning.
She says that she can also do paper towels as she showed us yesterday. We went out feeling smug about closing all the bathroom doors, but forgot about the paper towels on the table. Morgan didn't forget.

My Energizer Bunny

Miss Morgan Magoo is fourteen years old today.

There were times during the last fourteen years that she gave us some scares, but she's still here and going strong.

She still runs with the girls, though she can't always keep up anymore.

She's a fantastic swimmer and won't quit till we drag her out of the water.

She still loves to catch bubbles.

She still hunts for lizards and catches them.

She still likes to shred toys.

And speaking of shredding, she still enjoys a roll of toilet paper when we forget to shut the bathroom door.

She still likes to chew up sticks.

She still leads the group in song, just as Tsar taught her.

We love you Morgan and we hope we get to spend many more birthdays with you.

Happy birthday sweet girl.

For Tsar, Samba and Sky

In April of last year Tsar left us. A year ago today we lost Samba. Five days later Sky joined her.

We Have A Secret
Author Unknown

We have a secret, you and I
that no one else shall know, 
for who but I can see you lie
each night in fire glow?

And who but I can reach my hand
before we go to bed
and feel the warmth of you 
and touch your silken head?

And only I walk woodland paths
and see ahead of me,
your small form racing with the wind
so young again, and free.

And only I can see you swim
in every brook I pass
and when I call, no one but I
can see the bending grass.

The Ship Of Life
by John T Baker

Along the shore I spy a ship
As she sets out to sea.
She spreads her sails and sniffs the breeze
And slips away from me.

I watch her fading image shrink,
As she moves on and on,
Until at last she's but a speck,
Then someone says, "She's gone."

Gone where? Gone only from our sight
And from our farewell cries.
That ship will somewhere reappear
To other eager eyes.

Beyond the dim horizon's rim
Resound the welcome drums.
And while we're crying, "There she goes!"
They're shouting, "Here she comes!"

We're built to cruise for but a while
Upon this trackless sea,
Until one day we sail away
Into infinity.

I miss you guys so much.

Catching Up On Events

We've been quiet for a few days but we've had lots of stuff going on, so I'll try to catch you up on some of it. First, the winners of the contest we told you about back in September. The Stirling Hill Print Company held a contest for the best pet pictures. They chose three winners to receive prints of their pets. Over the weekend I received an email announcing the winners. They didn't give me the names of the winners but have posted the winning pictures on their sire. Here they are.

Yes, that's Tsar. His picture was chosen and we're so pleased.

A lot of you have been asking me about Sydney. It's a difficult situation but this morning I met with Dr B and we discussed her problems. He had a few suggestions. First we're going to try a pheramone spray to try to calm her anxieties in a natural manner. We have to treat both Syd and Mac since they now bristle when the see each other. He also gave me a long printout on behavioral protocol for dog aggressive dogs.

The pheramone spray, if it is going to work, will start showing some change in just a few days. The training protocol takes a month or more. We also discussed some anti-anxiety medication that we can try if nothing else works. We agreed that if all that fails, Syd may just be happier as an only child. But we're not giving up on her till we've tried everything available. Wish us luck.

Morgan went to see Dr B this morning for her six month checkup. She is amazing! She has lost two pounds, probably because she runs every day now with the Portie girls. There were no new problems but one of the cysts we've been watching for about a year has grown. Though the doc is convinced that it's benign, he thinks we should remove it now as it will soon be too large to close nicely. She'll go in early next month to spend the day and be pampered. Dr B says he'll use a local and she'll need a couple stitches but will be home early in the afternoon and no more big ugly cyst.

The doctor was amused to hear that Morgan has been getting into trouble lately. Over the weekend she stole a pair of socks from the laundry basket and chewed a big hole in them. She got into the trash can and pulled out some paper towels and tore them up and she went into the bathroom, grabbed the end of the toilet paper roll and papered the kitchen and hallway. Morgan will be 14 years old later this week and wants everyone to know that she can still create a mess like a puppy.

I'm forging ahead with my Christmas stitching and doing it may get me into the mood. Today I need to wrap some gifts. Rob and I and a couple of the girls are going to celebrate Christmas on Wednesday with J and T and Gracie and Runtley. An early Christmas party may be just what I need to get into the season.

So that's what's happening around our place. We hope you're all having good days and lots of treats.

Tough Decisions

Rob and I have been dealing with a tough decision. Sydney isn't getting along well, growling and snapping at the other dogs and we're trying to decide what to do about it. Giving up on a dog goes against everything in me, yet I've come to accept that Syd would be happier as an only dog.

We've had scuffles between Syd and Mac in the past that didn't amount to much but things are escalating and it's becoming a tense situation for all the dogs as well as the humans. Last weekend we had a serious incident where a neighborhood dog charged the fence and my whole pack tried to defend their territory. We had the perfect example of 'pack mentality'. When they couldn't get at the other dog to drive him off, fights broke out in our pack.  Mostly it was benign except for Mac and Syd. When Syd snapped at Mac, she retaliated and Syd was badly bitten. We rushed her to the vet and once the bleeding was controlled and she was cleaned up, the injuries were minor. Still, this is a situation we don't want repeated. We're keeping the sisters separated which involves a lot of shifting of dogs from one place to another and keeping both girls on leashes when in the same area.


After several days of thinking and discussing, we've agreed that Syd will probably have to be rehomed. This isn't easy. There are a lot of dogs looking for homes these days due to a poor economy. Syd would need a home with no other pets and no small children. She'd also need a place with a safe area for her to run as she prefers spending time outside. She probably would not be happy as an apartment dog. She would be happy with a calm person who wants a cuddly lap dog and gives lots of belly rubs.

On Monday we'll meet with Dr B to see if he has any suggestions. Perhaps offering her something for anxiety would help the situation. If not, then we'll proceed with looking for a safe and loving home for the little girl.


Mac gets along with all the other dogs and is much less high strung than her sister. Nothing much seems to phase her except having her sister snap at her.

An Adjustment

Wow, it's November and I'm still stuck back in September somewhere. All year I've been playing catch up and not succeeding. Now daylight savings is behind us and it gets dark early. The days are relatively warm but the nights are cold. The wind  is blowing hard and the leaves are flying thru the air.

It seems like it was November just last week. Last November was one of the worst months of my life and now suddenly it's here again.

I'm part way thru another Halloween cross stitch and was thinking about making another bunny but suddenly I've come to the realization that the holidays are approaching really, really fast. I have to switch gears and get ready. I have tucked away my current cross stitch and am thinking about something more seasonal. I have also sorted thru my yarn stash for reds and greens and hope to cast on tonight.

It's a good time to sit near the fire with an afghan across my lap and a dog or three at my feet and get on with holiday stitching, but I just don't feel it. Has the year end sneaked up on you, too? Am I the only one having trouble making the adjustment?

Couples

Romeo and Juliet

Lancelot and Guinevere

Mickey and Minnie

Napoleon and Josephine

Rhett and Scarlett

 Cinderella and Prince Charming

Desi and Lucy

Antony and Cleopatra

 Kermit and Miss Piggy

Rob and Me

27 years today