Thankful Thursday: Good Friends

One of the things I've always been grateful for is how quickly Katy and Bailey bonded. When you rescue two dogs so far apart, each with their own challenges, even with the best screenings you can't guarantee they will bond this way.

As Bailey continues his fight, he has his closest friend by his side encouraging him to enjoy each day, each moment. Katy has encouraged ball games, yard explorations, bones wars, and all kinds of other games. She is doing everything possible to encourage him to live his days to the fullest.

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Who Said Summer is Over?

We have been having unseasonable warm weather and we are enjoying the extra warm spell. Last year winter came early and while we love climbing through the snow there is something about a nice looong fall. We've been enjoying our extended summer activities and hoping the fall season stretches into winter as Mom loves the cool fall weather before the snow hits. She's not as fond of the snow cookies. She doesn't seem to understand their icy goodness.

Dealing with the Demanding Press

Even when we want a quiet moment of privacy, the press is constantly shooting pictures of us. Even the death stare doesn't deter them from snapping pictures of us.



Bailey is still doing well, eating, playing and chasing Katy around much to her delight. He is living life to the fullest and that is all we can ask.

Wordy Wednesday: We Thought We Missed the Snow Freaks Invasion

We came online Sunday reading about how Frankie and Ernie's Snowmen had escaped and were invading homes across Blogville. After doing our normal critter checks we did an extra check for snow freaks and we were in the clear.

Then out of the blue we caught this creature trying to sneak up the stairs. It seems he heard there was great snow here last year and while warm now, Mom regularly keeps the house air conditioned when necessary so he thought he'd be fine here.

We were ready to attack, but Mom thought he was soooo cute, she rescued him and thinks he will get along wonderfully with her collection of snowmen that come out every year at Christmas.

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One Day at a Time

We had an amazing weekend. If you didn't know Bailey was dealing with Lymphoma you wouldn't have guessed. The beef and rice diet has been agreeing with him and he has been very playful.

We are are trying to find a balance between denial and grief and live in the moments that will be cherished memories in the future. Lots of play time, cuddles, and silliness that are life with Shelties.

The dogs were groomed this weekend and there was that tense moment as we booked appointments for the next month, do we book one for Bailey or not? We booked. We can always cancel, but while he's never enjoyed groomings, he felt better after this last one. Again it is the balance between denial and pessimism. I don't know how long he has and why not make sure he is clean and comfortable for as long as he has?

Oddly enough while Bailey has been more playful, Katy has been more reserved. Other than chasing bunnies she has been much quieter and calmer lately.

On the bunny front they actually had a coordinated herding movement yesterday. Bailey who has always been more into the garter snake hunts than the bunnies joined in corning an escaping bunny for Katy yesterday turning it in an expert herding movement right towards Katy. Katy was so thrilled that she herded that bunny right to the fence and she and Bailey celebrated their bunny removal.

We thank all of you who have posted your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes. It has meant the world and more. Blogville is and continues to be a very special place for those of us who dwell here.

Our Hearts are Breaking

The call came this morning, the one we've dreaded. Our hopes had been raised all weekend and this week. Bailey had been his old self more than ever. He's loving the rice and beef diet. He's out chasing the bunnies. He's playing ball like he hasn't wanted to in weeks. Yet, the sad fact is that he has Lymphoma and we are looking at weeks to perhaps a couple of months with our beloved first pup.

I warned myself yesterday, when they called to say the tests were delayed because they wanted to do further testing. I hoped against hope they would tell me it was just being diligent because they hadn't found anything, but a little voice kept warning me.

That being said I'm grateful for this time of hope and enjoyment of his renewed energy, no matter how long it lasts. Even now it is hard to appreciate his renewed life when all I can focus on is losing him. This weekend I focused on loving him and enjoying his company. I appreciated what an amazing gift his life is to our family.

Right now all I can do is cry as I think about losing him and how horrible it will be not to find him constantly at my side when I need him. I want to go back to just loving him for how ever long I have him, but I can't stop the tears.

I know many of you have been there. My own Mom lost her dog to Lymphoma just this week. It is just hard to accept that Bailey won't be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's how close a time we are looking at. Not years from now, but simply the next holiday Halloween is even questionable. He loves greeting the kids when they come for candy. That's a tough blow.

We ask for your continued prayers for Bailey and Katy. I'm not sure how she is going to deal with all of this. She and Bailey have always been close and it has already been causing her stress.

No Official News But Liking New Diet

We wanted to thank our Blogville friends for all your prayers. As we said we don't expect any news from the vet until tomorrow, however, Monday's post was preposted over the weekend since Mom was going to be busy on Monday and wanted to make sure the news got out.

Bailey has been eating his beef and rice diet and hasn't been sick once since he started. He's also tolerating his meds. He's been more active since he started eating and that has made everyone hopeful, too. He even helped Katy flush out a bunny this weekend.

It's the first time in months he hasn't turned his nose up at his bowl. In fact instead of running away from his bowl, he's been fighting to keep it from being picked up off the floor, so he can have one more lick to clean up any last scent of the food. That alone is a wonderful change. That is the way he used to eat with the exception of the summer doldrums, the bowl often moving across the pad to get the last possible crumb. There are no guarantees, but the vet seemed to believe he wouldn't start doing better if the worse diagnosis was true.

We will know more tomorrow and we have lots to learn if it is IBS.

Prayer and Good Wishes Request for Bailey

Dear Blogville friends, we are asking all of you for your prayers and best thoughts. Bailey has had some challenges the past few weeks. While he's always been a finicky summer eater, not eating at all is not his way. At his vet's suggestion we've changed food and tried a variety of things, but his weight had dropped dramatically. This past week we took him in over several days for a variety of tests. At first we the were afraid a tumor was the only answer based on the things discussed. However, as tests have continued, we have hope that it might have a more treatable option as the tests have shown no cancer or tumors to this point.

The tough part is with the Labor Day holiday we will have no answers until Wednesday as they took lots of samples to test during an endoscopy on Thursday. We are feeling more hopeful as he has started eating since we started treating for IBS and he is eating rice and beef. Both vets we consulted decided regardless of diagnosis getting him to eat was a priority and if it is IBS getting him on the treatment and diet can only help. He even has gained back a little weight.

Katy has been really stressed out as Bailey has often been gone for a day at a time for his tests. While normally a healthy Sheltie barker, when Bailey has been gone she's stopped barking at all and is highly stressed until he's back home safe.

Happy 5th Gotcha Day Katy

Mom flipped the calendar and there it was, Katy's gotcha day. However, Mom was sure she must have made a mistake 5. How could it be five? That seemed unlikely, impossible, a copying mistake. Katy couldn't possibly be celebrating her 5th Gotcha anniversary. How did that happen!!!!


Well Mom it did. Katy came to us 5 years ago from New England Sheltie Rescue. So celebrate and accept that time flies when you are chasing your Shelties around.

Wordy Wednesday: Dealing with Rascaly Rabbits

Rabbits have been a challenge for us. Last winter they moved into the bushes in the front yard and made an icky mess pooping all over the front walk.

Sure he looks harmless enough, but he and his family are home wreckers. Don't let his cute charming features fool you. Don't use the sweet bunny names that people associate with Peter Cottontail, Easter treats, and other sweetness. This creature left alone in your yard is a problem.

This Spring they moved into the back yard perennial garden, but we've made that less hospitable. While we don't have regular access to the front yard, we've made it clear the back yard is ours. At first they thought picking the overgrown perennial garden would thwart us. Well, we just made paths through it and now with regular checks we are keeping public enemy number one at bay.

Bailey has provided mostly spotting services. Katy has been amazing at flushing and herding the bunnies to the exits. She has discovered most of their covert spots that were previously safe zones.

Now we know there are civilized bunnies out there. There are Bunny Bloggers right here in Blogville. Those are not the rascally rabbits to which we refer. These are not the rabbits that break into your gardens and cause havoc all over your yard. We fear talk of a union with the squirrels and chipmunks.

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Monday Mischief: Katy's New Bed

Katy has always been challenging when it comes to trying new things. It isn't that she doesn't eventually like them, but she has to be pushed to try something. Then nothing comes between her and the things she's adopted and don't pretend she ever didn't love it. Thus is the challenge of trying to see if she truly doesn't like something or if she just is challenged by the idea it is new and different.

It has become clear that the bed we bought for her when she was adopted is clearly not the bed of her dreams. Bailey had an early version of the same bed and loves it. Katy has never taken to it. She has always been a side sleeper and needs a bed she can spread out on. She and Bailey have a couple of mat beds downstairs that she loves, so we decided it was time to get her something she'd use upstairs during regular sleeping hours. However, bribery is involved.

She spends a little time each morning with a bone to get used to the bed. So far she seems far more interested in this bed than in any previous option we've tried. However, she hasn't surrendered just yet. She is still sleeping on the floor.

The Evil Cancer Strikes Uncle Shadow

Dear Paw Friends we are asking for all your dog prayers and wishes. Our Grandma's best pal Shadow, a Miniature Schnauzer has terminal cancer and grandma is devastated. Shadow gave Grandma the strength to get through the loss of Grandpa to cancer and she just lost her sister, Mom's Aunt, to cancer a couple of years ago. We are praying that Shadow has an easy trip over the Rainbow Bridge and that Grandma is able to deal with another loss to the evil cancer.

Wordy Wednesday: What to Do When Thomas the Tank Engine Invades Your Home

We have been away from blogging most of the summer and once again Mom apologizes. She's been off doing PT for her hip and knee and long stretches at the computer seem to aggravate the condition.

This picture was taken a few weeks ago when one of our favorite littles was visiting. He keeps a supply of Thomas Wooden trains at our house and while Bailey loves playing engineer with him, Katy is a bit more wary of where those train tracks and trains are traveling. While the small one was also thrilled with the construction equipment that was working down the street, including the highlight of the day, a street sweeper, Miss Katy decided a place of retreat was required from those dangerous machines. She tried to convince the little one he needed to join her, but no luck there. The little sheep do not recognize the dangers some times.

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DeCordova Park and Sculpture Museum Goes to the Dogs

Hi folks we have had a busy summer and haven't posted much, but we wanted those of you in the Massachusetts area to know about a art event that we can actually attend. Yes, Mom and Dad often go out leaving us at home with the excuse, that they don't allow dogs. However, while they were at an evening event at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA they discovered a special evening for dogs and their humans.

Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30 PM there is going to be a walk and tour with the curator. You have to promise to be on your best behavior to walk through the outdoor park. According to Mom and Dad the walks are amazing. They were in their dress up clothes last time so they were limited in how much walking they could do. This time they plan on wearing more exploring clothes so they can see more of the outdoor park. If you live in the are and want to find out more about the event there is more information here.

We hope the event is well attended and everyone behaves so more places will think of offering events like this so we can go with Mom and Dad instead of being told we have to stay home because dogs aren't allowed.

Happy 7th Birthday Katy

Happy Birthday Katy!!! We are so happy to celebrate your birthday with you today!!!

Honestly folks I thought Mom would forget to post my birthday with all that's been going on lately. Bailey and I stayed at an amazing doggy B & B this weekend. (Well that's what we called it, Dad says it was technically not a B&B as we had dinner there. However, if you saw this place, it could pass for a human B&B. Pool side seating and access to an all the first floor rooms in an old colony house.) It was a wonderful overnight stay and a perfect get away for my birthday while Mom and Dad attended a wedding we weren't invited to attend.

We've been spending lots of time with family lately and I've learned I like little ones. Who knew herding little humans could be so much fun. Not crazy about the screaming or the crying, but little people are kind of cool after all. The funny thing though is they want to share my toys, but they won't share their toys. Doesn't seem quite fair. However it is kind of cool that they like to throw balls and they don't seem to tire of doing the same thing over and over like adult humans. We seem to tire of the toss and chase game before the little tikes. That never happens when the adults play fetch with us.

Dog Dad has promised Bailey and I a Birthday party tonight with presents, bones, and birthday cookies. I can hardly wait!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Helping Paw

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Wordless Wednesday: Nap Time

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Friday Flowers: Crocus

After a long winter we had to start coxing Mom out of the house with promises of beautiful things to be seen. This was the first flower to catch her eye as the snow retreated and thus our first Friday flower post of the year. We hope you enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday: Ducky Wars

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Monday Mischief: Paws in the Park

Hi Everyone, we are back. We got lost in all the snow. Mom and Dad traveled and then we just never got back to blogging. However, this weekend we attended Save a Dog's Paws in the Park at historic Wayside Inn and it seemed to be a great time to return to the world of blogging.

We had a wonderful time at the event. It was a bit warmer than normal for May. They had plenty of water stations. Bailey drank quite a bit. Katy was pretty stubborn about drinking outside the house bowls.

This year Paws had an agility try out and Bailey had fun participating in it, especially when he discovered tons of abandoned treats inside the tunnel. He made the tunnel roll when he turned around to pick up a few he'd missed. With her black coat, Katy was feeling a bit warm and decided to opt out.

We wanted so badly to participate in the musical hula hoops game, but we arrived just after the closed the entry for the game. We had fun watching as the players had to walk around the circle and sit in a hula hoop before the music stopped. The little dogs really had the edge slipping under the bigger dogs as the music stopped and edging them out of a spot in the circle.

We were pleased to find several other Shelties at the event. We don't often meet up with other Shelties.

Treats were flowing freely at all the vendors and we didn't hesitate to use our cuteness to get as much attention as possible.

Save a Dog is trying to purchase the building they are currently in and according to an article Mom read this morning, this was one of their most successful fundraisers ever. We wish them nothing but success as they continue trying to raise the funds they need to have a permanent home for their great work.

For those of you who live in the Massachusetts area and enjoy these events the Whisker Walk is coming up Sunday, June 7th at the Lancaster Fairgrounds from 11-3. This is the biggest event of the year and we try not to miss it. You can find more information at their website here.

Welcome to Monday Mischief – The pet blog hop that wraps up the weekend! This Blog Hop is brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, and My Brown Newfies.

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Dog

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Wordless Wednesday: The Race Track

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Monday Mischief: The storm before the Blizzard of 2015

As we mentioned in a previous post Mom got behind with her Blogging. The weekend before the big blizzard we had another storm with wet heavier snow, just not so much of it. There was enough that our Jr. Sheep's Mom's weekend class was canceled, so we didn't get to play with our Jr. Sheep as promised. We were quite disappointed.

However, we did try to make the best of it by playing in the snow. Mom captured some pictures, but never got to post them. She decided they'd make a good Mischief Monday post.

We know not every dog loves snow, but we love playing in it, eating it, and yes, napping in it.

Welcome to Monday Mischief – The pet blog hop that wraps up the weekend! This Blog Hop is brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, and My Brown Newfies.

Blizzard of 2015

Mom has been very busy with Junior Sheep lately and hasn't done much bloggging. However, with the storm the sheep have been staying at their own home and Mom hopes to get some pictures taken for us to post.

This was the shot she got Tuesday of Bailey as Dog Dad was trying to measure our snow count.

Mom wanted to get some pictures of Dog Dad making the race track for us, but she never got out back to get them. She was looking a bit like a snowman after helping him snow blow the front driveway. Our race track is a square around the yard he shovels and tries to keep it clean for us so we have a place to play and do the potty stuff. Yesterday we discovered the snow was soft and fluffy and that when we banged into the walls it was like hitting a pillow. That started a game where we started slamming each other into the walls. It was great fun. Not something we can do with the usual ice walls we get.

Wordless Wednesday: Nap Time

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Pawprints in the Snow

We are finally get some light snow cookies. Nothing lasting, but Mom thought it would be cute to capture our pawprints in the snow. That is one disadvantage to snow cookies, she can't really track our movements in the summer. However, in the snow, it is hard to keep our movements secret.

Wordless Wednesday: Happy New Year

Happy New Year friends. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and we are looking forward to sharing 2015 with you in Blogville.

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