Close to My Heart

It's been just over 3 months since we said goodbye to Scooter and I still think about him all the time. I wanted to get a little reminder of him, and I remembered one of my best friends got a necklace when she had to say goodbye to her beloved Great Dane. She got a little charm in the shape of a paw print, and it was actually a little urn. You can put ashes or hair from your pet in it, and then you'll always have them with you (hopefully that doesn't sound too creepy). I mentioned to Jenny one day that I would love to get one of those charms for Scooter, and not long later I got a package in the mail. Jenny surprised me with a charm! I'm so lucky to have great friends. I love the charm, and I love that I think about Scooter when I wear it.

Until We're Together Again

This post isn't easy for me to write, which is why it has taken me almost a week. On Wednesday, the 26th, I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 15 years. Scooter's body just couldn't keep up with his spirit and he was having a hard time doing basic things, like standing up and walking. So, I did what any loyal pet owner would do, even if it was hard for me. Wednesday morning David and I took Scooter to the vet's. We sat out in the car and I hugged and kissed Scooter while the vet helped Scooter ease out of this world.

It was hard to do, especially because Scooter has been with me for half of my life. I got him the summer I turned 15. Mom took me "just to look" at a puppy being fostered by a local rescue organization. Of course it was love at first sight and we brought him home with us, much to my dad's surprise. He was 7 lbs of cuteness and attitude.


I can remember spending time after school training him out in the yard. He learned to "play dead" in about 10 minutes. He was smart, which also sometimes got him in to trouble. Let's just say he did his fair share of chewing things in my room! It didn't take long before we were best buds.


Scooter loved going camping with us. He loved to swim and when we would let him out of the tent in the morning he would make a beeline for the lake!


Scooter has been with me just about every step of the way. He went to college with me, he moved to Vermont with me, and then moved back with me when that didn't work out. When I first moved to the area where I live now, I didn't know anybody. Scooter was pretty much my only (local) friend at that time. He went every single place I did. He'd sit in the passenger side of my car and look out the window. Every now and then he'd crane his head backwards to look at me. I'd scratch him on the chin and he'd turn back to the window. Sometimes I'd have to stop quickly and I'd tell him, "look out boo boo" and he'd sit down quickly so he wouldn't slide into the dashboard.


I swear he understood me when I talked to him. He knew me so well.


He loved to play ball! He'd pop rubber balls so he could carry them around more easily, and he would play any chance he got.


David loved Scooter too. He knew how important Scooter was (is) to me and he proposed to me with Scooter's help. The three of us went down to the river one day and David played fetch with Scooter. He handed me the stick to throw, and when I looked at it I saw, "Will you marry me?" written on the stick. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect proposal!


I took the picture above and below on that day. It was a perfect day.





And I knew I couldn't get married unless Scooter was in the wedding. He was an honorary bridesmaid (er, bridesdog?) and wore a flowered collar and leash.


I am so glad I have these memories and pictures of that special day.


He had been with me every step of the way up to that point, and I wanted him to be included as well.


It was hard to see him age, because I hated to think that he wouldn't be with me forever.


I never thought of Scooter as old, even when he looked old. I always saw him as the same Scooter.


This picture below is our last picture taken together. I took it on Tuesday night while we were getting some more snuggle time in.


It has been a hard week for me. It just doesn't seem real that he's not here anymore. I find myself going to look for him, or waiting for him to walk around the corner. Elmer and Buford were playing too rough last night and I got ready to tell them to settle down, since they always used to get in Scooter's way. One night I put Buford in his crate and said, "Night Scoot." Those are the hard things, because those things just come naturally and then it's a hard reminder that he's not here with us. Today Buford took a car ride with me, and as I slowed down to turn back into our driveway I said, "look out, boo boo" out of habit. It's getting a little easier every day, and I've been thinking back on all the good times and memories we had together. It helps that my family and friends have been so supportive. David has been my hero through this whole thing. I don't know how I would have done it without him. He has definitely been my rock.

I had Scooter cremated, because I just didn't want to bury him here when I know this won't be our house forever. I have a few plans for his ashes, like spreading some in a couple of our special places, and putting some under a special plant in the yard. I'm thinking it'll be a peony, since those were the flowers in my wedding bouquet. I know I'll smile and think of him every time I cut a vase of blooms.

I'm not a religious person, and I had never really put much thought into heaven, whether it existed or not. As I laid in bed on Wednesday night, I thought there must be a heaven, because how could our loved ones just cease to exist? I think he's somewhere right now, playing with all of the other dogs my family has lost over the years. He's swimming, playing ball, and bossing around other dogs this very moment. If ever there was a dog that deserved to go to heaven, he was it! I'll miss him so much. Love you, Scoot.

Buford- A Work in Progress

I'll start off by showing a picture of the world's best dog. Scooter, of course. He may look a little past his prime, but he still makes sure to keep everyone in line. If you step out of line, look out, he'll give you the business. Just ask Buford. Buford is a work in progress. He's got great potential, but right now there's a little struggle going on to unlock the potential. That sounds deep, doesn't it? Buford is about 9 months old and definitely acts like a puppy. He really tries hard to obey the rules, but sometimes he just can't help himself. We've been working with him a lot more lately in order to whip him into shape. And no, we don't whip him. ;-) I am going to start walking him every day to make sure he gets enough exercise. Oh yeah, and to make sure I get enough exercise too. He has started coming outside with me every day to do chores. Milking is his favorite chore. ;-)

Busy Sunday

We took advantage of the sunshiney day yesterday and got some chores done outside. Let's start with June. She's due any day now, I had her due for today, the 14th, but it could be any time this week. I needed to clip her udder so it would be easier to see and easier to milk (you know, hairy milk isn't appetizing).



She doesn't really like her udder being clipped, but it looks so much better.


The lambs got their tails banded and the whole family got moved outside. Purl is now healing up beautifully from the stitches she got after she lambed. I have names for the lambs, but I'll do another post about that.


David and his dad tackled some of the brush that creeps into the yard every year.


Buford attacked Elmer.


And Scooter kept watch over everyone, making sure we were doing what we were supposed to do.


I cleaned out the chicken coop. I can't wait until it's warmer out so I can pressure wash the whole thing and paint the whole inside. I'm not sure why I only did the floor when we built it.


And I got a few new chickens. These are the too-small-to-process broilers from some new friends. They'll stay here for a few weeks until they're big enough.


I can't wait for the next sunny weekend day so I can cross more things off my list!

Our Two Weird Dogs

Elmer and Buford are good dogs. Really, they are. But they're weird! They're pretty entertaing and I sometimes manage to snap pictures of their weirdness.

The other day I was in the basement walking on the treadmill (yes, I do believe Hell did freeze over!), and I brought Buford down with me so I could keep an eye on him. I gave him a rawhide bone to keep him busy, and I put the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs so Elmer couldn't come down. Elmer was pretty upset about it, so he camped out on the steps to be as close as possible. Looks comfy, right? Not so much.


I don't really think Elmer feels things like steps in his side. I caught him napping in the sunshine between the kitchen and dining room, and I don't even think he cared he was laying on the step down.


And yesterday I saw him napping on the couch, resting his chin on the coffee table. He was sound asleep.


And Buford....he loves apples. We bought a bushel and a half of apples a few weeks ago, and they're sitting in bags on the mud room floor. Buford has decided they make good snacks, so now and then he'll go in and grab one.


Elmer is always curious about the apples, but he hasn't figured out how to get one for himself.


He makes short work of them!


He's a good puppy...most of the time. :-)


Brotherly love...


And Scooter loves Buford, but only when he's sleeping.

Scooter got some custom made non-slip booties today. I'll show you how I made them in another post.

I Love Saturdays

I love Saturdays because you have the entire day to do whatever you want. It's not like Sunday, which is really half weekend/half weekday. Yesterday, David and his dad hung the hammock on the stand for me. It was such a nice day I couldn't wait to head out there and start relaxing!

I brought out a quilt (we got this one on our honeymoon) and a pillow so I could be comfortable.


I also brought something to snack on.


But before I even had a chance to sit in the hammock, look what happened!


I kicked them out and then got set up. You can't sit in a hammock without a pull-rope. See, now you can pull the rope to rock the hammock and it barely takes any effort!


Ahhh.....this is the life.


Scooter relaxed right along side me.


I love you, Saturday.

Purl's Family Reunion

Purl went on a road trip yesterday to the next county over to the farm where she was born. She is going to stay there until the first of November so she can get bred! I was originally thinking of just breeding her back to her son and using the lambs as freezer lambs, but I decided that if I could breed her to an unrelated ram, I could sell those registered lambs as breeding stock at a higher price.

Purl's breeders were nice enough to let her come back to the farm to be bred. While I was there, I got a better look at Purl's mom and sisters. Boy, they really look alike! Their faces are very similar. Her breeder said Purl's mom has had triplets several times, so I have high hopes for Purl this breeding season! It would be great to have triplets.

I felt a little sad when I dropped her off. Not only because I'll miss her (two months can seem to take forever!), but because I wondered what she thought about things. Was she scared in a new place? Does she remember her flock? She certainly seemed to settle right in, and when the group was turned out on pasture, she went right to grazing. I'm pretty sure she did remember the flock. I read this study a few years ago and it seems like it is true because Purl settled right in so fast.

Scooter also came along. I can't go on a road trip and leave my best boy at home! He likes to lay back against the seat and watch the scenery pass by.

Water Dogs (and Kids)

I'm way late in posting this. Like almost a month late! Way back at the end of April we got a heat wave. It was HOT. We decided to take the kids and dogs down the road to the river.



Scooter loves the water. He always has. He runs right in and just loves to swim swim swim!


Turns out Elmer loves the water too!! He jumped right in after Scooter. Of course the competition of getting the toy helped his nerves. :-)


The kids had fun wading in. It was too chilly to swim though. After all, even though it was 90* outside, it was still April and the water was cold!


They loved racing to get the toy!!


Elmer was a really good swimmer.


But most of the time Scooter barked so Elmer would back off. He's bossy like that.


Bossy, and very focused.


The one drawback to Scooter swimming....after he comes out of the water he HAS to roll in sand.


Thanks, Scoot.