Missing Two Very SpecialDogs on Thursday

All this week, I've been listening to Heidi by Johanna Spyri on my iPod. It's just one of the many, many books I have enjoyed (for free!) from Librivox. I listen while I'm at work, either cleaning the sticky fingerprints off of the cases in the mornings, or while editing photos and crap and other mindless very important work on the computer.

Anyway, as I was listening to Heidi earlier this week, the following sentence jumped out at me:

". . . the grandmother said . . . 'the heart is comforted with the assurance that some day everything that we have loved will be given back to us.' "

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this. It almost took my breath away when I heard it. Literally, it stopped me in my tracks.

You see, April is a month full of memories of loss for me. I almost want to crawl into bed on March 31 and not leave it until May 1st. I know I shouldn't feel this way. I know I have so many things to be thankful for. I know that I am so very lucky when it comes to my family, and the fact that my parents are in such good health, and Emma and Tara are as healthy as can be. Still, the incredibly unreasonable and selfish part of me wants more. I desperately want my dear Scarlett who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 4, 2003...

...and my dear Mellie who crossed April 14th just last year. I miss these sweet girls more than words can say. Why do I so desperately long for something I know I can never have? I guess if I knew the answer to that, the makers of Prozac would be out of business.

Speaking of loss, there are still no sign of Ducky the Duckster, that little floozy. Even Napoleon has stopped coming by. I've heard another rooster crowing from somewhere farther away than Napoleon's house. I would think it was that crafty little Napoleon (who lured away my sweet, innocent little Ducky) throwing his voice, but it's a very different "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo," so it's definitely a new rooster in the 'hood. Maybe Ducky took up with this new rooster? I'll have to do some investigating. If I don't blog for a while, it's because one of my neighbors had me thrown in jail for trespassing. Bake me a cake with a file in it, will you? Chocolate would be my preference.

Riding in Cars with Dogs

"Is there any felicity in the world...superior to this?"

Marianne Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility

I am listening to the audio book Sense and Sensibility on my iPod, and this phrase came to mind when I uploaded this picture of Emma and Tara in the car today.

Emma had a regularly scheduled checkup at the vet this evening, and Tara came along for the ride. Tara has been limping a little bit lately, but mostly we brought her because there was no way we could leave her all alone in an empty house. They are both in good health (thank God) and, other than getting her booster shots (Emma) and having a thermometer shoved up her butt (Tara), a good time was had by all. The girls are still looking around and wondering where Mellie is, and I wish I could explain it to them. Then again maybe not. Which is worse...hoping for her return, or knowing that she is not coming back...

What a difference a week can make. Last Thursday night we were sitting in the same waiting room with Sweet Mellie, knowing she had just a few days, perhaps hours, left to live, and we couldn't stop crying. Tonight, everyone in the waiting room was laughing so hard, we were practically crying again.

This man brought in his Vizsla (beautiful dog) for an emergency appointment. No, that's not funny. It seems she got a toenail on one of her back legs caught in something and ripped it off - blood all over the floor. Again, not funny. The man was big and muscle-y and had a shaved head, and was giving the poor girl commands in German and jerking on her choke-chain if she would so much as wiggle out of her sit-stay position. Really, really not funny. If you are laughing, kindly leave this blog space. They took her back, and Dr. M. fixed her up (wonderful man, have I mentioned how much I love this man?). They brought her back into the waiting room with this big wad of gauze & tape on her foot. She was dancing and prancing around and shaking that foot like nobody's business. She would hop, shake, and then stick it straight out in back of her like she was pointing game, only in reverse. It was the funniest thing--everyone was in hysterics. Her owner was so embarrassed, but didn't dare correct her with all eyes on him and his silly dancing dog. Hard to be tough and macho when your dog is acting like she is auditioning for the circus!

I'm off to knit some squares on the blanket. Pictures and a full report tomorrow...or the next day...

Blankie Update Friday umm, Saturday

First, thank you to everyone who is sending good thoughts and healing energy to sweet Mellie. She is having a run of good days - eating, sleeping through the night - and I have to attribute it to the positive energies she is receiving. Thanks very much.

Since it has been more than a week since the last blankie update, I took the blankie outside and took a picture of the whole thing laying on the driveway stones. I don't know how long it's been since I posted a full-size picture. Anyway, there are 18 new squares on the blanket. Seems like a lot, but it is two week's worth, so not really.

I was just coming in from the mini photo shoot, and look who appeared.

That's my sister S. on the way back from taking Mellie for a special ride. She loves car rides, and lately it has been all to Doctor's appointments, so as a special treat she got to go to the post office. You do realize I'm talking about Mellie, not my sister, don't you? It would be pretty pathetic if my sister were to run around in circles and whine and "wooo-woooo" at the prospect of going for a car ride. She's been eating really well - chicken nuggets or cheese omelets, and vanilla ice cream (melted in the microwave) for her crushed up pills. Again....I'm talking about Mellie, not S. Ha!

This week I have discovered the joy of audio books - I downloaded Pride & Prejudice onto my iPod, and have been listening to it while knitting, cleaning, and riding in the car. It's fabulous. Yes, I have read it about a half dozen times, and have a couple of versions of the movie, and practically have the 1995 BBC production (Colin Firth - be still my heart) memorized, but one can never get enough of Jane Austen.

I went to http://www.librivox.org/ and they have tons of audio books to download for free. Yes, FREE! They have volunteers who read a couple of chapters, or an entire book, and they are available for us book-lovers to enjoy. I love it so much that I went out and bought a headset and microphone, and downloaded the recording software so I can record for them. I haven't chosen a book yet - I'll let you know how it goes.