Happy Heavenly Birthday To Our Precious Dakota

 Dear Dakota, today, you would have been 15 years old. It is the second birthday in 15 years that you are not here with us. The photo below was taken a few days before your 13th birthday.....I never dreamed it would be your last on this Earth.

There isn't a day that goes by that your Daddy and I don't think of you, there isn't a day that goes by that we don't mention your name, there isn't a day that goes by that we don't miss you, there isn't a day that goes by where we don't still love you. We will NEVER stop loving you. .

Our precious Dakota, we miss that incredible smile

 and your Sheltie kisses. 

Daddy gave you this sign on your 9th birthday

It was perfect and I love it maybe even more now

 You were our FIRST Sheltie, you gave us 13 incredible years......you loved us til your last breath with all of your heart.

I should be making you your traditional hamburger for your birthday. You loved those traditional birthday burgers so much, and I loved watching you enjoy them.

Please never forget how much Daddy and I miss you

 and how much we still love you.

Happy Birthday in Heaven our precious Sheltie Boy.......

Never, ever forget how much Daddy and I miss you and love you. Happy Birthday precious Dakota,   love from Mommy and Daddy forever..........

National Walking The Dog Day

 Happy National Walking The Dog Day!

I am thrilled that so far Levi is a BIG fan of taking walks. In the early days of Dakota living with us, he liked walks until a garbage truck and some geese spooked him. That was the end of his enjoying walks. Dakota wasn't a fan of walks again until maybe the last two years he was with us. Nearing the end of his life he walked a lot, it was as if he was trying to make up for lost time.

Levi amazingly took to the leash pretty quickly. The weather here in Michigan hasn't been conducive to taking super long walks up until now. This weekend it was near 30 and the sun was out, the projected forecast is that we will be near 40 degrees fahrenheit by midweek.

(I know I should have held the phone horizontally instead of vertically, but with no sunglasses, trying to film, and trying to hold the leash, this was the best that I could do!)

Walking is great for both humans AND dogs! It's great exercise for both, in my case it helps me to get off of my sedentary butt!! I try to take Levi on a minimum of one 25 minute walk per day, there are days, (weather permitting), that I take him on two walks of the same length.  Levi is a high-energy Shetland Sheepdog and he is going to be larger than most Shetland Sheepdogs, so daily exercise is of the utmost importance! It is even more important because we do not have a fenced yard where Levi can run off-leash to his hearts' content. Our daily walks help ME and help to tire out Levi, which helps to keep him out of mischief!

Along the way on our walk on Sunday, Levi saw a woman who swore he was a Collie. Levi instantly wanted to let her know that he was NOT a Collie! (Nothing against our Collie friends but Shetland Sheepdogs are NOT mini Collies!)

There is nothing prettier than a moderately cold sunny, snowy day in the winter!

Walking your dog is also a wonderful way to bond. I often talk to Levi, sharing my thoughts and singing songs. He will look up at me, either being a fan of my singing or wishing I would stop, luckily he can't talk to tell me how he REALLY feels!

I think he appreciates it! Don't you?

Happy National Walking The Dog Day! Will catch up with you soon, have to go and take a walk with Levi!!

National Love Your Pet Day!!

 I know, I know, if you are reading this you are going to give the same snarky reply that I gave for the past 13 years. "EVERY DAY is NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY "and you're right. But this year, I'm looking at it less with the thought of giving a snarky reply and MORE from the viewpoint that we need to cherish EVERY SINGLE DAY with our pets because you never know if it will be the last. 

In my collage below, I am showcasing the pets who have shared (and are sharing) my life as an adult. My Angel Bobo (bottom right who passed in 2007, one day after his 18th birthday, he shared my life from 6 months old to age 18), Angels Dakota and Cody are  above him, (they passed in the summer of 2020 both at the age of 13),  and Levi and Roary on the far left. (Roary joined our family in September of 2020 and Levi joined our family in November 2020, both on the 21st of their respective months!!)

Losing a beloved pet is ALWAYS hard. When it is an expected loss it is horrific, when it is a completely out-of-the-blue loss it is a hurt that is simply indescribable. Many of you have experienced losing more than one pet in a short period of time as I experienced. Cody and Dakota passed within 9 days of each other. Having them both with us for 13 years and then suddenly having them both gone, was almost more than I could bear. May you never have to experience that type of pain, and to those who have, my heart goes out to you. It is the kind of a hurt that takes quite some time (if ever), to recover from.

So, this year, rather than giving my tacit "I love my pets EVERY DAY" comment (as we ALL DO).....I am simply grateful that  my home and heart are once again experiencing the crazy times, loving times, noisy and messy times, and yes, sometimes the extremely trying times that comes with the territory when you love your pet(s). 

The bottom line is, it's all worth it, isn't it?

Happy National Love Your Pet Day to all of you, I know I am going to be giving my boys extra kisses all day long,  and I hope you will give those babies of yours special kisses from ME!!

Our First Valentine's Day!!

 Hi all! It's Roary!! Recently, Mom was telling Levi and I that February 14th is Valentine's Day!!! She explained the history of Valentine's Day to us too!

AHHHH love is in the air!!!!! I can smell it!

I wonder if one day 

I will have a Valentine of my own?

Mom says right now I am too young.

All I have is this woofie

who has no respect for social distancing.

He's acting like he's at the movies

trying to cop a feel!!!!

LEVI: 

"Move on Mom, there is

NOTHING for you to see here!"

That was certainly 
NOT what I had in mind
when I said I hoped
one day I would have a Valentine!!!

Mom says that Valentine's Day

isn't just about having a lover,

it's about showing the people

and pets you care about

lots of love...

that's all well and good but

I hope you have better luck than I did!!!

From the bottom of our

furry , crazy little hearts

we wish you ALL

a Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

We LOVE YOU!!

Roary, Levi and Mom too!

Happy Chinese New Year 2021 (The Year of the Ox)

 Today marks the official start of the Chinese New Year, and...it's the Year of the Ox!

(Courtesy of  Maggie Swanson)

For the past few years I have been the lucky recipient of the GORGEOUS Chinese New Year cards that talented artist, and fellow blogger, Maggie Swanson (visit her Shelter Cats blog here), has been creating for TWELVE years!!

Are you born in one of the years listed below?

I am always enthralled when I see Maggie's artwork.  Maggie is a  brilliant illustrator, you can read about her, and see some of her gorgeous illustrations  on  her artist  website:

When I was a little girl, we lived in an apartment over our grocery store. My parents sold the basics: canned goods, bread, milk and eggs, fresh vegetables and meat. Customers sat talking to my father while he filled their orders. Sometimes they read to me or we colored pictures together. I spent a lot of time in my nest under the penny candy counter, drawing pictures and sneaking an occasional piece of candy when the coast was clear. I can't remember when I decided to become an artist. It was all I ever really wanted to do.

After graduation from Rhode Island School of Design, I spent three years at Hallmark Cards. In college I learned about drawing and painting and dreaming. Hallmark taught me to start and finish a job in a timely and professional manner. After that, I started my freelance career, and have illustrated over 100 children's books for many different publishers.

Now I live in Connecticut, USA with my husband Rick and our cats Mickey Mouser and Rufus the Red, and In my spare time I like to read, garden, and volunteer at PAWS, my local animal shelter. I also photograph and keep a blog about the shelter cats that I meet there. 

We can't thank Maggie enough for taking the time to think of us, and for sending us this darling card. Hoping it brings us some good luck!!!

Happy Birthday to our Dad!!!

 

ROARY: Ya know Levi, today is a special, special day!! 

LEVI: You mean we get more food?

ROARY: No, it's more special than that!

LEVI: I don't think there is any day more special than a day you get extra food.

ROARY: that's cause you're still a baby, I'm 3 months older than you are and I know A LOT more than you do! Today is special cause it's our Daddy's birthday!!!

LEVI: A birthday? What is a birthday?

ROARY:  A birthday is when you celebrate the day you came out of your Mama's tummy with your litter mates. Humans make a HUGE deal when someone has a birthday.

LEVI: That sounds like fun Roary, does it mean that Dad gets more food?

ROARY: Actually, I think he DOES! But, we have to do something special for him BEFORE he gets more food, because believe it or not there are things that are more important than food! 

LEVI: Like what? Eating poop?

ROARY: OMC you are completely disgusting, but then again, I already knew that. You aren't the most discerning about what goes into your mouth like I am, but I digress...by saying there are more important things, I mean like acknowledging someone you love  as much as we love Daddy. We have to do something to show  him we love him. My idea was since Mom is constantly annoying us taking photos, we should break into her computer and post photos for Daddy for his birthday!

LEVI: Of food?

ROARY: OMC you have so much to learn! Nooooo Big Head! Pictures of US!! Cause WE make Dad smile! Trust me on this Big Head, he's gonna LOVE THEM!! I'm gonna share my photos first, ok?

LEVI: Ok!

Dad you make me soar to new heights!!!

I love relaxing with you!

YOU ARE THE BEST DAD EVER!!

LOVE, ROARY

😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻

LEVI: so now it's my turn?

ROARY: take it away, and when you're done, take your wooly, big-headed self back to Ohio where you came from! (Ooops! I didn't say that, that was my evil Gemini twin saying that, not me!!) Go ahead Big Head, post your photos!

You always make me feel safe!

You are fun to give kisses to!

I love relaxing with you after a long day of peeing and pooping

👀👀

In my world, you are BETTER THAN TREATS! 

(wait, I'm not sure about that but I will say it if I get more food)

Now, do I get MORE FOOD????

LOVE, LEVI

🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

IF I FLASH YOU A SMILE DO I GET MORE FOOD???

ROARY: Oh you are exhausting!!! I can barely stand it! No Big Head, you don't get more food until I sing Dad his special birthday song!!!!

ROARY: 🎜🎝🎶🎜🎝🎶Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday deeeaaaar Daddy!!!! Happy Birthday toooooooo YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!!

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

LOVE FROM ROARY AND LEVI

LEVI: YAY!! Now that the obligatory birthday post is over I DEFINITELY GET MORE FOOD!!!!! Bring it on Dad, step up the pace, jump to it!!!!!! I'm STARVING!!! Oh and enjoy your special day but, enjoying it doesn't mean you shirk your responsibilities!!!!!! BRING ON THE FOOD!!!

 LOVE, LEVI

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂