Freckles July 2002 - May 2010

Who could have known when I posted the last entry about dogs & was remembering our Petey that we would lose our Freckles just a few days later.

Freckles was a good girl and that sums it up. She was my faithful companion. I looked forward to coming home everyday and finding her waiting for me at the door (I really looked forward to it after we lost Petey).

We owned both Freckles mom (Gwen- who is deceased) & dad (Bandit- who still lives at the farm). Lee decided that I could keep her and we have never regretted that decision. Freckles was a very smart dog. She loved to play fetch with a ball or a Frisbee. If you ever started throwing the ball/Frisbee watch out- she would just continue to bring it back to you over and over again.

Much like Petey, she went through her puppy stage too. Although, she was an expensive puppy. She chewed 2 pairs of my prescription glasses. We took these dogs with us everywhere so they were in our vehicles a lot. She chewed the cup holders in my car and the CB wires in Lee's truck. I had a new pair of shoes that were pretty pricey and I had them about a week and she chewed the side off of one of them. I guess she liked the smell of leather....I do still have these shoes.

We have a lot of good memories of Freckles.

The way she loved all of us especially the boys, every morning she would go with me to their rooms to wake them up with kisses. She had her spots that she always laid in & I have walked by them all week-end looking for her. Just a few weeks ago I bought her a new Frisbee and we have had such a good time throwing it around the back yard.

Freckles I love you & miss you so much!!!!!

This is Annie (white dog) & Freckles

A Dog's Purpose

Back in December we lost our beloved Petey. Petey was our Chocolate Lab that we had had since 2002. He was our furry baby, as I liked to call him, he was our baby before we had babies.

I received this email today. I don't know if the story is true but the message is definitely true. If you have a pet give them an extra pat on the head or throw the ball for them to catch. I sure do miss Petey curling up with me on the couch (he got most of the room). I even miss him coming to the dining room table while we are eating and looking at me with those big puppy dog eyes.

A Dog's Purpose? (From a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron , his wife Lisa , and their little boy Shane , were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home

.As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane , who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.

He said,' People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,' Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

What did you buy at the Farmer's Market this week-end?

Since I am at the Farmer's Market every Saturday I support other local farmer who also have product to sell.

Depending on which Market you are at depends on what you can find. But for those of us in this area the past 2 weeks there have been fresh, local strawberries. I brought strawberries home from the Market & so did Lee. Since we had so many I decided to make a Strawberry Shortcake. I must confess that I have actually never made a strawberry shortcake before. In the past I have gone to the grocery store and bought the little circular angel food cakes that come in packages of six.

So I looked through my many cookbooks to find a recipe for Strawberry Shortcake. I was going to make my pound cake recipe but I was so tired......My pound cake recipe is very good but it takes a lot of time and did I mention I was tired. Up at 5 o'clock for the Farmer's Market and on my feet the whole time (7 to noon). But I found a simple recipe & I actually had all the ingredients. Flour, butter, eggs & milk- you can't get much simpler than that.

I think the results were well worth it! I should have taken a picture of what it looked like today. There is a lot less of it. Needless to say Lee & the boys enjoyed it- everyone had seconds!