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[Pamela]

Speaking of kids' books, I read the Harry Potter series so I'd know what my nieces were talking about.
 

[Michael]

I never DID get through even one.    I did go to see the movies with Rachel, but just could not get into reading them....and I tried more than one, more than once.   

[CYNDI]

After repeated attempts, I gave up on trying to read fiction.  It didn't go over too well when I worked at the local library.  My daughter still makes fun of me for saying the Lion King was 'too animated'.  Oh, but a nonfiction book that really touched my heart was Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien.  True story.  Awesome book for bird lovers!

[CYNDI]

Well, my husband and I are officially certifiably crazy...we got another dog.  Our Toby that past in October was a standard Australian Shepherd.  Since we love the herding breeds but are getting 'up there', we decided to downsize.  We got a miniature Australian shepherd.  We went to look at a litter of 8-week-old puppies and when my husband came back from getting my purse from our truck, he brought in a 4-month-old female pup that was a 'left-over' from a different litter.  We fell in love. They had been calling her Bella, her mother was named Luna, so we named her Bella Luna.  She bugs us constantly to play with her, makes us take her out in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, makes a mess playing in her water dish and tearing the stuffings out of toys and we love every second of it!  She loves our two older grandsons and is very wary of the 2-year-old!  I am working out of my house again and am a devout 'homebody' so it's worked out great.  She goes everywhere with me and inside alot of places.  She loves life:  loves to play, explore and be with those she loves; she never wastes a minute... a real example to follow!

[JerryR]

That is just super Cyndi!  Congratulations!

I am so very happy for you!  Aussie's are just super dogs - big format or small.  They exude so much intelligence and love.  I have a friend with a full-size one and he always shows me he is the boss with his commanding and somewhat intimidating bark when I first walk into their home (good watch dog) but I have him upside down on his back with his tongue hanging out and the funniest smile on his fuzzy face while I rub his belly within 5 minutes of my arrival!  LOL  Great dogs.

I hope you have many good years together ahead!  Congratulations..

Jerry

p.s. I read one time that people live long lives because it takes us so long to figure out how to love properly..... dogs are born knowing how to fully give their love to us - so their lives are very brief!  (think about it! )

[Michael]

Precious animals..

I have not been around much. Lots of 'stuff' going on right now, including having to put our 14 year old min. schnauzer down.  it was so hard...but it was time. She was miserable and hurting, and even biting...with what teeth she had left.  It was awful to be there but I felt I had to be.

Not a replacement, but about three days later we got "ebby".... he is about 12 weeks old now and weighs 1 kilo.  He has learned to play fetch and is quite the little clown.  I buried Heidi next to Genesse near a big blueberry bush. It was hard in the snow and ice, but I could not bare to have her treated any other way.    Maybe genesse will teach her to pick the best berries and she can teach genesse how to play fetch HER way...take the ball and run. 

[JerryR]

Wow that's a cute pup Michael and I am so sorry for your loss.  We too have owned Schnauzers in the past and loved them very much. Those of us who deeply love dogs understand how you feel.  We lost one of our most beloved Shelties a year ago last November and we still miss him.  We now have the remaining two original Shelties (da girls! ) both of whom are in bad shape sadly due to age related degeneration and both of whom will likely have to be put down in the next couple of months if not weeks.  It's a sad thing but it's part of life I guess.  The years between were filled with such love and happy moments!  It is those things we will remember with time.  We will still have our rescue Sheltie and crazy loving doggie Luke; he's young yet and he's a real affectionate buddy.  If you love dogs as we do, it is difficult to have an empty home without at least one (if not more).

I love the pup photo!  LOL - so hard to believe that most of them go from black balls of fur as pups to silver adults.  Now that's quite a color transition!   

Kind regards,

Jerry

[Pamela]

Michael - I am so sorry about you losing Heidi. We have been through that and it's really rough. 

Your new pup is amazing. Will he really turn silver? He's so black!

[Susan]

That's very true, Michael.

Pamela, your discussion of your dog had me in tears.  It reminded me of my poor dear fluffball (cat) last year when she got mouth cancer... I knew it was going to be tough, she soldiered on as best as she could... but then one night she spent the entire night sleeping behind the couch, curled up in a ball.  She'd never done that before, and I knew that the analgesic I'd given her wasn't working anymore, and that it was time. Hardest thing I ever had to do, yet I know she'd have thanked me for it in the end.

Pets give us so much unconditional love, bring smiles to our faces...even the wild creatures do that.  I'm forever watching ocean birds with great fascination, crabs, dolphins...everything.  We have to remember that we are stewards on this wonderful planet, and to respect nature in all its aspects.