Mischief Monday - Abandonned - by Lee

 Hey pals,

Just letting you know that Lady abandoned us on the weekend and went away for 87 million years. Besides leaving us and messing up our routine, it means she didn't get any blogs ready or red us your blogs. She thought a girls weekend to Niagara Falls to celebrate two of her friends birthdays was a better use of time. She will be back by next week apparently. I will decide if I am going to talk to her. 

So you remember my face until she gets back.

Not thrilled at her, Hailey Bug

May the 4th Be With You

 Thankful we are that Lady used old pictures this year.

Hat tax from years past.

Nature Friday - April Showers Brought May Floors

 In spite  of all the frosts and the fact some creature dug up some of the Lady's bulbs, Lady is happy she is getting some of her spring colour. Gardening is an area she is very much a work in progress.

Why do I have to pose with them? Where is Hailey?

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this event. 

Getting Old - by Lady

After my angels Loki departed at age 8, and Gemini at age 6, my goal in life had been to have a dog who lived until at least 10. I remember joking that I may have to adopted a senior dog to make this happen, as I didn't have much luck previously. 

Now I am living with 2 senior dogs. I know I am watching our last moments together as I see them both slowing down. As I write this, I should clarify I don't see any immediate threat to their health, however, at the same time, nothing would surprise me. 

I am looking at this stage of my dogs life as a gift. I am blessed that overall they are both happy and comfortable in their golden days. Phod needs his arthritis shot, has decreased stamina -there is no fetch and our walks get shorter. He avoids extra stairs and sleeps almost all day, and sleeps much deeper (he fails as a guard dog now, usually in our closet. He still has his moments of play and being silly, but they are shorter too. His vision seems pretty good, but his hearing is not what it was. 

I have taken your seat

Hailey has never fully recovered from her neurological event. She is still tippy. She doesn't run and jump like she used to. She is dragging her back paw more noticeably. Her stamina is much less and is clear she doesn't see as well. She has become a picky eater, who would have imagined that. The upshot is, she hasn't destroyed anything and I am not as worried she will. Also, while she may make a little dash to the neighbours or into the bush, we can trust her off leash way more because we know she isn't going far. 

Annoyed I am taking her picture

What I miss most besides the cuddles on the couch neither want to get on, and my full time work supervisor in Phod, is the long walks. Some times I admit, I resented those long walks when they needed to happen. However now I know physically and mentally I was healthier when I was doing them. I admit, I love these 2 with all my hearts and they will spend the remainder of their days in my care, I do think about getting a third, younger dog, for a walking companion. Man, plus knowing Lee and Phod wouldn't appreciate this, prevent me from doing it. I need to stop being lazy and just take myself for a long walk, I hear it is possible.

In spite of the changes, I am so grateful to have this chapter with them. I would not change it for the world. I have even less understanding and compassion for people who dump a dog just because they are old. It may be true that old dogs are the best. I am just going to cherish the moments we have. 

Wordless Wednesday - Lake Life

 

Trouble on a Tuesday - Interfering - by Lee

Dear pals,

Lady has a terrible habit of interrupting me while I am enjoying the sweet, sweet grass.

She says it upsets my stomach. She reminds me sometimes I need some assistance pulling some grass out of my backside.  I reminder her I am a senior lady in my golden years and I will do what I want. 

The grass at the side of the house, right by the opening to the sceptic system is the best.

your pal, the grass loving Hailey Bug

Mischief Monday - The Ears - by Phod

 Dear pals,

My ears have been a little itchy and the Man tortured me by cleaning them. It was terrible.

I can't imagine how they got so dirty!

your pal, Phod

FFF Nature Friday - Special Edition

If Aunty-Yam's FFF and Rosy and Sunny's Nature Friday falling on the same day wasn't special enough, today is also Aunty-Yam's birthday!

We are sending our warmest birthday wishes across the pond. 

Look up in the sky and see

Happy Birthday wishes from me,

They are floating on the clouds so far

To bring them to where you are,

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Happy, Happy, Birthday, Hooray!

Evening Walks

 Evening walks are great. 

You know what makes them even better?

Sharing them with friends.

Wordless Wednesday - Spring Is In The Air

 

Sun Break - by Phod

It has been awful cloudy and rainy here the past week. Lady says it is a good thing because we didn't get enough snow and the water levels are low. Places in Canada are already having droughts. The grey skies and wetness can have an impact on people's mental health. It is important when you get a break and the sun comes out, you get out and enjoy it. 

If you get some sun today, go out and enjoy it!

Phod

Mischief Monday - My Favourite Toilet - by Lee

 Dear pals.

As you know we live on 3 acres, surrounded by bush and field. There are many places to walk and do my business.

Do you know where my favourite place to go is? 

Plotting my escape

Callie's lawn! As often as possible, I try and sneak over and do my business there. Somedays I will refuse until my people take me on a walk by her house. Yes, I have decided Callie's yard is my toilet. 

Phod waiting on the path between houses to see if he can come over too

Lady says it isn't neighbourly to do such things. I say, they don't care (Callie's people have said so much). I guess we should be lucky to have such friendly neighbours. 

Your pal Hailey Bug

Nature Friday - Spring

 Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this. 

Spring is slowly appearing. 

Lee walking on some flowers

Growth in the garden

Now for a funny story. Lady works in the city 2 days a week. At her office there are a pair of geese this time of year. Her colleagues have named them Charles and Camilla. Lady was working at her desk, and one of the silly birds was pecking and pecking on the window. It did this for like 15 minutes. Clearly they aren't very bright birds!

Thank You!

Wordless Wednesday - Zaphod

 

Trouble on a Tuesday - Girls Misadventure

Dear pals,

Lady got this idea on Sunday that it would be fun for her and I to go on a hike. She has seriously damaged her elbow so is very limited to what she can do physically and  this is not good for the rest of her body or her head, so she thought a nice walk would be fun. 

I was suspicious from the moment she moment she said let's go and snuck me out while Phod and the Man were sleeping. 

There were some good sniffs,

and some interesting art.

I even found a little snow. 

Now this sounds ok, but there were 2 major problems. Problem one: Mud - while we mostly hung low due to all the rain of last week, there were some soakers.

Lady won't be wearing those shoes to the office this week

Problem Two: Because Man was not with us, I had to be extra concerned and nervous and freaked out and all the things. I could not relax and enjoy it. We passed a few people and I barked once but seemed fine.

Hating my life

I hated being there, I hated I couldn't jump into the car and I had to be lifted, and I hated having to wait in the car for 2 minutes while Lady ran into the corner store to get buns for the Man. Phod hated being left behind, although Lady was able to confirm that if we stayed on the outer loop, Phod would be able to come next time. So there was a lot of hate. Lady said she had a nice time and it was what she needed.

I hope next weekend, Lady just stays at home.

your pal, Hailey Bug who did not like this hike

When Will The Snow Be Gone - Winners!

 We interrupt our regular Mischief Monday post to say, we have a winner for the when will the snow be gone contest!

The last of the snow disappeared on April 13, in spite Mother Nature's attempt to bring more in the gross wet snow we had that day. 

Out in the gross wet snow

Snow gone from the last stubborn spot.

This year's winners, with a guess of April 17 are Phenny and Nelly! Congratulations to our friends who have recently left the blogging world, but can be found living their best lives on other social media challenges!

Thank you all for playing! It is always a fun way to welcome spring!

Nature Friday - Solo Adventure - by Lee

 Dear pals,

On Easter weekend I got to go on a solo adventure with my people. Phod was asleep in the closet and didn't know we had gone until we came back and I smelt a little funny. Lady has some guilt about leaving him, but the reality is, the old pup doesn't have the stamina he once did and would not have been able to hike like I did.

It started with a car ride to a place I had never been. 

It was less than 15 minutes to the Denholm Falls Park. Lady had just discovered this even existed last fall and had been waiting to go. We looked at the map of all the trails and then headed out. 

The first stop, a very short way from the start, was the falls. Callie's people had said it wasn't that impressive, but I thought with the snow run off it looked pretty good!

Then the hike really began. It was a very steep hike up a mountain in places. The leaves hid loose rocks and sticks and roots so one had to be careful with one's footing. We saw a few people (you can see over Man's shoulder) and I even met one dog on the path. 

How did Lady get in front of me?

The view from the top was stunning!

If you look at the rocks I am standing on, you can see the marks left by glaciers 10 000 years aog. 

It was decided not to do the full hike up the back side of the mountain as Lady and Man didn't know how steep it was or how much I could do. They are blaming it on me and my old self, but I think they say that because it is nicer than saying how out of shape they are. So we began the step decent down. Lady said she would take walking poles next time she went. 

Proof Lady was with us

Overall, the hour and a half or so we spent hiking was lovely. I had a good time and really enjoyed this solo adventure. I heard hints that I may get a similar opportunity in the future, as it is clear I still have some hike left in me!

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this event and letting me share a new part of the hills with you.

your pal, the hiker, Lee