the CATS and Feeny weeny

well, it HAS indeed been awhile..and yes I PROMISE myself to keep this blog going! Wedsnesday is here again, the day has dawned cool and beautfiul and I am going to plant my new BOSTON IVY plant which they say will grow big and bushy. BUT before I plant it I will make sure that it is not poisonous to my dogs....I want it to grow and cover the outside of the dog fence on the east, so as to block from view the stray cats who populate my neighbors broken window well. Phoenix (feeny weeny) is a good dog for a neighborhood and hardly ever barks except when she sees those cats, who taunt her by sitting and preening themselves at the edge of the window well of my neighbor's house. And ....of course,....woulnt you just know it, my neighbor is NOT hospitable in any way shapr or form and especially not when dogs are barking!
I also am DEFINITELY going to get to work on finishing the painting of the dining room today!

My Zazzle Panel

finally figgered out how to make this thing work! I'm getting LESS technocratically challenged every day! Look at the "zazzle panel" at the bottom!

saying Good-bye

Rainbow Bridge:
Kaylar's Christmas Angel
Dec. 13 1992------March 13 2007

The Newfoundland: beauty without vanity. strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the wisdom of man without his vices...(Lord Byron)

She will be sorely missed by Jenna and Phoenix and little Zoey and of course me, I am lost without her. She passed peacefully with the aid of the vet this morning, when it became clear that she was in pain and the quality of life was fast fading. It is easier, knowing that I was with her and she seemed to understand.

Angel was a good friend and partner and life's companion. She and I were close, we knew each other from "cover to cover". She was a courageous and efficient search dog, and always knew exactly what she was doing. I could count on her. She was gentle to all who met her and all who met her loved her.She has left behind a legacy, her daughter Jenna, who is so much like her when she is searching that I catch myself calling her "Angel". I guess when all is said and done,when we take on the love and life of a dog to be our friend, and we know we will have to say good-bye sooner than we ever want to... it is good to know there is a "Rainbow bridge" and to know that she has not gone but is waiting beyond the light.

A new start

I am a technological misfit and have problems even figuring out how to set the time on the coffeepot let along figure out how to switch all of my blogging efforts to a different format! (which just happened over the last two months or so...) so anyhow NOW I figure I will finally get going on this blog, which I actually began in January of 2007! (I figure nearly six months is long enough!)

This is intended to be a blog about my newfs and living with these wonderful big hairy dogs who fill up not only a lot of space in the house but also a lot of space (nearly all of it) in my heart! I lost my dear Tasha just recently (read about her in my OTHER blog) so the house is a little bit empty and there are only 4 bowls now to fill in the morning,m the three big ones for the newfs JENNA, ANGEL, AND PHOENIX and the itty bitty one for Zoey the rat terrier. (you can see them all in the pix I have included...Phoenix is the one who is laid out on the couch, Jenna is the one with the rope toy in her mouth, and Angel is the dear old dog who is providing a warm spot for her best friend Zoey to curl up in...)

Living with this crowd is sometimes fun, sometimes a hassle, and all of the time a blessing. My life just wouldn't be nearly as fulfilling if animals did not share it with me, especially NEWFOUNDLAND animals. How do people without pets do it? You know, they say when you pet an animal, your heart rate slows and your blood pressure drops...it's good for you, and good for them.
Take some time now, go and PET your pet!

till next time.....

OH and don't forget to click on the title...you will be taken to a wonderful site where you can find neckties and travel mugs with your favorite dog images!

DOGS gone by...

Yesterday I needed to look up a picture of an old friend and so I got down into the basement and dragged out one of the many boxes of old pictures I retain from the days of the "before digital camera" era. I can see why there is such a craze for scrapbooking and I would bet I could fill literally dozens and dozens of scrapbooks with all the old dog show snapshots and family birthday pictures...I am not organized however and trying to go through that large box of photos is a dautiing task.

Glancing through all the pictures was a trip back into history. All the dogs that have gone before this time.....all the dog shows, all the traveling, all the hoopla. Now it is a time to reflect back. Can't say I'm sorry. But can't say I don't miss it, either. It's just that now, with my four newfs that I have left, and my settled and somewhat predictable routine , my life more nearly resembles that of a normal person!