Living and working with therapy dogs
Annie and James enjoying their morning walk.
Annie turned 4 years old today. She started her day as she always does taking a morning stroll with James. And, for dinner, she enjoyed a steak. I felt it necessary to tell her not to expect steak every night! She’s a great little dog… smart as a whip and full of joy. She always has a smile on her face (really!)
Happy Annie turns four today.
James has been taking it easy since his surgery last Wednesday to remove a malignant (non-metastatic) tumor from his lower left jaw. He seems to be doing well and is happy. He continues on pain meds and antibiotics, and in true James form, he’s being a really good boy about the whole thing. He’s enjoying special indoors treatment with me while Trudi and Annie enjoy exploring outdoors. He does occasionally look out at them longingly… but I give him his favorite soft treat and he’s content. The vet will be checking on his progress in ten days.
Our Bright Spot friend Kevin will be stopping by to visit our hospice patient Mary with his two Golden Retrievers when they’re visiting with their assigned hospice patient. I’m sure Mary misses seeing James (she’s very aware when we miss a week). She’ll love a visit from Niles and Caber. They look like two small cuddly bears.
Our boy is home and the surgery went as well as could be expected. The hope being that all the cancer cells were removed with the gum and bone tissue excised from his lower left jaw.
He’s got to be on R&R for quite a while. The jaw is quite delicate right now with the removal of the bone section and needs to heal and rebuild. He won’t be doing any visiting for about a month. And, no rough-housing with youngster Annabelle!
I know the folks he visits will miss him a lot… and I will miss visiting – it’s a big part of my life and what makes me very happy. But – I’m over-joyed that James came through this well and he’ll resume his good work when he’s cleared by the vet to do so. In the meantime, he can rest at my feet while I’m writing my book and lie out in the garden while I’m weeding.
Waiting for her cupcake... She can smell them!
We are celebrating today!!! It’s Trudi’s birthday – and she’s 16 years old! She has lived longer then any dog I’ve ever had (my entire life!). She never ceases to amaze us with her sweet, quiet sparkle – and her ability to keep up with the other dogs. She remains top dog among the pack (now 3)… Princess Trudi, to all of us (aka great, great grandma to Annabelle – and Annie listens up when grandma speaks, aka Ch Oakley’s Trauma).
Trudi LOVES the famous Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (on the corner of Bleecker & Eleventh Streets in Greenwich Village – made famous on Sex in the City). I can attest to how yummy these cupcakes are, having stood in line at this bakery when in NYC for at least one hour (seriously, the line is a block long). Well, I didn’t go to NYC to get Trudi a batch of these famous cupcakes. My daughter, who used to live there, gave me the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook as a Christmas gift one year. Since then, Trudi has had her special cupcake on each advancing birthday.
Having been told 4 years ago that Trudi probably had 2 months to live, we have much cause to celebrate – and she can eat whatever her sweet, little heart desires!
James in the garden
This dog loves to be with me. We work together and play together. Twice a week we make our therapy dog visits. He accompanies me when I give a talk about Bright Spot. And, he’s my model therapy dog at my training workshops. At home, we take quiet, pleasure walks together listening to the sounds of nature. When I’m working from home, he lies at my feet. And, when I’m outside gardening (something I love doing), he’s right there in the garden with me. As the girls (Trudi and Annabelle) head out to the back field to explore, he heads to the porch door which leads out to the garden and stands waiting for me. Today was a terrific gardening day… warmth, sunshine, a gentle breeze, and James right there… He’s a great companion.
It amazes us that our little Trudi (now 15 years, 10 months old) made it through the severe winter we had in Western Massachusetts. Elderly dogs, just like elderly people, generally have a tough time in the cold, the dampness, the snow and ice. I remember that our two Irish Setters, Breezy and DD, struggled through the winter in their advancing years. Trudi, our little Energizer Bunny, just keeps on going!
Now that warm, springtime weather has arrived, she’s happier than usual. She’s the one who will go outside for long periods of time – just basking in the sunshine and clear, warm air. She’ll sit with her eyes closed, head up, a gentle breeze blowing her fur. I love to look out the window and watch her sitting there, so relaxed. She’s frail and wobbly on her feet – just like my little ladies I visit in the nursing home – but the sparkle is in her eyes, a smile is on her face – and she’s very happy just taking one day at a time.
What a glorious morning for a leisurely springtime walk with James. It’s a morning after a day of light, steady rain. I love strolling slowly along the country road with James at my side after a rain… the air smells so fresh… the trees are budding… the grass is greening… the streams are bubbling with crystal clear water. The sky is bright blue this morning – with the sun beaming down on us. We stand, quietly, both of us, listening to the birds chirping. This beauty of nature was not to be missed by our usual power walking strides. What a way to start the day!
Lots of melting go on…. finally the end of winter. It’s been in the high 50’s to 60’s most of the week and promises to be more of the same for the weekend. The dogs are loving it. Finally they can run around without sinking down two feet every few steps they take. Yesterday, they stayed out way past dark – just sitting outside looking around, wind blowing their fur. Happy dogs!
Annie gets a quick rinse. Five minutes and she's done. Love it!
Annie and Grandma Trudi always manage to find the muddiest spots to hang out in! What’s a little mud, anyway…… (!!!!!) ……So glad I have that dog tub! James is so much more of a gentleman – or perhaps he wants to spare himself the bath!
James loving the one-on-one walk
Here it is, March 2nd… it was still quite early in the morning (about 7:30 AM), the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the air was crisp – cold, but not bone-chilling cold. What a contrast from the icy conditions we had two days ago. I decided I’d share this early morning beauty with James and take a walk down to the end of our road and back.
This wasn’t our usual speed-walk. (In fact, most of the time I walk two of the dogs together to get them – and myself – exercised.) There was nothing quick about this walk… the two of us just moseyed along, taking it all in: it was so quiet, so peaceful, and so beautiful… not to be hurried. We’d stop along the way for James to watch the squirrels that ever-so-lightly scampered through the woods – or to gaze at one of the streams running down the mountain into the pasture below.
The beautiful stream by our house
James was as happy as can be – you could see it in the way he held his head, the spring in his gait, – he was literally smiling. It was a joy for me to see him so happy and to just stand still and breath in the clear, early morning air. Every day should start off like this…
ice-covered lantern by the doorway path
Beautiful – but at the same time treacherous…
This weekend, the last in February, brought a snowstorm each day, dumping an additional 8 inches on the ground. Now, today, the very last day in February, we woke to an ice storm.
Just yesterday, as I was picking up around the house, I decided to hang my snowshoes on the wall where I store them during the warm months of the year. (They had been placed in ready-position on the porch all winter long). This was done as a gesture meaning… March is coming on Tuesday. The dogs and I have had lots of fun this winter playing the snowshoe game – but it’s time to end it. We’re done…
view from the window
But, today’s ice storm proved me wrong… we’re not done yet. Encased in ice once again, we’ve got about 2 1/2 feet of snow left on the ground. The hillside forming the northern boundary of our property – the first area to show exposed earth around here – is still fully blanketed in white.
This is the type of weather most troublesome for the dogs. They have great difficulty getting footing… and right now, it’s pouring rain (has been all day), so the dogs have been making very quick trips out, only when needed, to do their business. When the rain stops, the snowshoes – invaluable in ice – will come down off the wall and be put, once again, into use making pathways for the dogs. I think I’ll leave them in ready-position awhile longer!
our snow-covered hillside encased in snow
As always, the dogs astound me with their ability to adapt to the situation at hand. They’ve all assumed their usual positions on their dog beds by the fire. Even so… I know they’d love a good romp in the hayfield unhampered by deep snow. All in due time… the days are getting longer, in spite of the snow and ice. And, the farmers are hanging sap buckets on the maples – the first sign that spring is around the corner!