Trouble on a Tuesday - The Advantage of Being Lighter - by Phod

 Dear pals,

One of the things I have been doing since becoming an only dog, is needing to go outside in the night more often. My people aren't sure why this is, they wonder if it is I think that Lee isn't here so someone should do it. At any rate, my people hope this phase passes.

As I mentioned yesterday, last week the snow was still pretty deep in our yard. Wednesday morning around 1:30 am, I needed to go out, so Lady took me. I discovered I could walk across the yard and explore places I haven't been able to go for months.

I was out wandering on the lawn, having a great time, and Lady was getting a little impatient. Something about having to get up at 5 am, and this was a business trip and not a play trip. I wasn't really listening because I was too busy sniffing. Lady finally, after about 15 minutes, decided to come and get me.

Well Lady weights more than 77 lbs, so when she started to walk to get me, she sunk up to her knees (and may have twisted her knee a little). She realized this wasn't going to work.

She tried calling again, but I wasn't listening. So she decided, the only thing she could do, was to crawl out to get me. So she crawled across the lawn, put me on leash, and crawled back with me reluctantly following. 

We got back inside around 1:50 am, Lady was soaked and a combination of frustrated and amused. 

I lost my off leash privileges in the night until the snow is almost gone. No regrets!

your pal, I got a lot of sniffs to catch up with Phod

Mischief Monday - I Was Just Visiting - by Phod

 Dear pals,

You know I am a good boy and I have been really missing Callie and her people. The deep snow has kept me from going over and visiting them.

Last week, the people took me up to the sugar shack. Lady left me to sniff around while she went inside to say hi and when she came out, I was missing. She knew I couldn't have gone too far as the snow is still really deep in places.

After a short search, Callie's boy D called out that I was on the front porch. The snow is way to deep for Lady to walk up. She gave my leash to D and as he is a bit lighter at age 9, he brought me back to the driveway.

Then we went to hang out in the shack.

It was nice to see everyone, but it was a little hot.  So far it is not a great season, we will see if it starts to flow better.

your pal, the friendly neighbourhood Phod

Nature Friday - Welcome Spring - When Will The Snow Be Gone

 Hi pals,

This was the snow situation as of Tuesday this week.

On the road

It is disappearing. We have some funny stories to tell you next week about the disappearing snow and mischief. Hailey wasn't the only one who could cause mischief.

As of 7 am yesterday, this is who we had for our when will the snow be gone contest. If anyone had a guess later that day Lady will add it. She just isn't going to have time to get back to it before this post goes live.

We will see who this years winner is!

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this hop! 

Grief - by Zaphod

Dear pals,

It has been a weird week. Last Friday morning, I came to tell my Lady, Lee was not ok. I just came and gave a sad stare at my Lady and she understood. That is when Lady saw Lee really couldn't get up or really didn't want to get up. This led to a very long day where the people were sad, and Lee was just lying on her bed, not wanting to eat or drink (not even eat the pizza Man bought - it was good). Then the people left and came back without her. 

Checking out the melting snow

Since then, we have all be sad. I do look for her (especially when my people come back from going out, I wonder if they brought her back). I sniff her favourite pee spots to see if there is any fresh pee. I have accepted her favourite bed in the closet, when before I didn't like a bed in there. 

Mostly I keep to my routine. I spend most of the day in the closet, which is what I did before. I come out for short periods to eat and do my business. I tolerate extra love and my people trying to play with me. I take my short walks and hope to see the neighbours when I do go out. Other than a little checking, I seem to be doing ok.  Lady thinks that is because I understand in my own way.

Pretending to want to play to make my people happy

In Lee's honour, because she started this all, we will keep the name of the blog as the Hailey and Zaphod Chronicles. Both Lady and I are trying to figure out who we are with Hailey as our bosses.

Thanks again for all your love pals.

you pal, Zaphod, who is sad and ok

Wordless Wednesday - Last Moments Together

 

Thank You

Thank you all for your kind words and love sent our way the past few days. It has been a difficult time, but being surrounded by all the love has made it easier. It is amazing to me that this difficult, crazy pup who we loved fiercely and also tried our patiences like no other being has or likely will, could touch the lives of so many people, all over the world. What an amazing thing.

Thanks to Ann for putting this colleague together. 

Thank you to Dalton and Benji for this.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

Thank goodness, a virtual hat

"May you always hear, even in your hour of sorrow,, the gentle singing of the lark."

In Loving Memory of Hailey Bug

Hailey Bug
January 13, 2010-March 14, 2025

Peacefully, surrounded by love, Hailey crossed to the rainbow bridge yesterday. While her neurological conditions let us know this was coming, we were not prepared for how sudden the decline was.  Thursday, she had a fine day with the longest walk she had in weeks. The evening she started to indicate she was not well and by the morning, she told us it was time to let her go.

Rescued from a high-kill shelter at 3 weeks old in Ohio, Hailey lived in multiple foster homes in the US and Canada before finding her way to our home and hearts. While our love for Hailey was limitless, she was not an easy dog. There are many stories on this blog to show how challenging she could be. Besides the anxiety (which resulted in 2 holes in the wall and more destruction than one can count), she was a free spirit. She wanted to do what she wanted. When given the chance she would run free, without a care in the world. While I, the Lady, spent countless hours walking with her, and training, she never listed to me the way she listened to Man (which wasn't perfect, more slightly better). She clearly knew she was the alpha in our pack. 

She would like to be remembered as a fierce hunter, as that one time she got the groundhog. She tried many, many times to get other animals. Once, even trying to climb a tree.  In her dreams she was always chasing something. I hope she caught them all. 

In spite of the challenges and the repeated lesson in patience we got living with Hailey, she was also a wonderful dog. She was smart, too smart, and playful. She could be very loving.  She tolerated the hat tax well. Perhaps her greatest gift to us is the connections we have made with many of you reading this post today. You are people we would have never had an opportunity to know in this vast world, if not for our shared love of our pets. For that, I will be eternally grateful. We feel the love with a capital L from all of you, and we know you share our grief, as we have shared yours. 

In Hailey's memory, take some time to sniff the air, give someone a belly rub, and find joy. She could always find joy. 

If you have a favourite Hailey memory, we would love to hear it.

The heartbroken, Lady, Man and Zaphod

Thank you to Ann for creating this for us. 

Nature Friday - Then and Now

 

Go to Tuesday's post to see all the details of our annual contest.

Here is our front yard around the same time over the past few years. 

March 21, 2021

March 19, 2022

March 12, 2023

 March 13, 2024

Yesterday

Every winter is different.

 

Thanks to our pals Rosy and Sunny hosting this event. 

Visit Fail - by Phod

 Last Friday after my failed visit to the vet, I had a failed visit to see Callie.

What Cali, you want me to come and visit?

Man this snow is deep.

.

I am coming Callie!

Oh no, I am stuck.

Man to the rescue.

This is hard.

Who made the snow so deep?

Someone should make a path.

We are almost there. 

Sorry Cali, I will have to come in spring!

I didn't learn my lesson, later in the day, I got stuck outside our house behind the deck post. Lady had to come and rescue me and when she was trying to lift me up, I may have freaked out and snapped at her face as I threw myself backwards. 

your pal, Phod, who didn't have a good winter week. 

PS Go to Tuesday's post for our annual, when will the snow be gone contest! 

Wordless Wednesday - The Boys

 

When Will The Snow Be Gone?

 

It is that time of year again, time for our when will the snow be gone contest. 

Put a comment below by March 20th when you think the last of the snow will melt in our yard. There is a prize for you or a donation to charity. 

The winner will be the closest day without going past.

If you pick a day that is taken, Lady will assign you the following day. 

Let's celebrate the snow melting - it has been a hard winter! 

Mischief Monday - A Road To No Where - By Zaphod

 Dear pals,

I was so mad, I didn't talk to my Lady for 2 days. This is what happened. 

I am not talking to you Lady

Weather context: Tuesday and Wednesday had been mild days, so things started to melt. We had rain! Thursday, things started to freeze and it got snowy, so this made things slippery. 

Thursday night, Lady and I headed out for my Librela shot. The vet is about 25 minutes away. The roads weren't great, but Lady drove a bit slower and we were safe. We passed an accident. Just as we got to the edge of the town that my vet is in, the firefighters made us turn around, the road was closed.

For those of you who don't live in the country, sometimes the only road to somewhere is the highway. So with the road being closed, we couldn't get to the vet.

Lady pulled over and called the vet and said we couldn't get there. They were very kind and rescheduled for Tuesday. Lady called Man to let him know what was happening and then we headed back on the road.

Well, we got to the first accident we had seen and the firefighters told us we had to wait while they cleared it away. So we waited, very impatiently, for about 30 minutes. We were stuck on the highway between 2 accidents. The firefighters told us to be careful as the roads were very slippery. 

This was our view for 30 minutes - See the car way up on the snowbank?

From here the 25 minute drive took about 50. Lady went really slow. At times the snow was blowing in a way that she couldn't see. It is a curvy hill, mountain road she doesn't know as well for most of it. It was scary for her. We saw a third accident. 

At some time, someone pooped in the backseat and this poop may have gotten on my tail. There was no safe place to stop and clean up, so we just kept going, with the smell of poop. 

Finally, almost 2 hours after we left, we were home, safe. We didn't even really slip. 

I was so mad at Lady, I wouldn't even talk to her, especially after she cleaned me up. 

Lady would like to say, she had no idea it was going to be so bad. If she had known we would not have gone. It was the worst driving conditions she had been in all winter. 

you pal, Zaphod, who did not enjoy just driving around in a snowstorm to no where!

Nature Friday - Missing Colour

 Dear pals,

Our world has been a lot of black and white and grey. It has been a hard winter, which seems to match the hard things happening in the world.

Our world more days than not

We went through the camera roll and found a little colour from the people's trip to the Canary Islands. 

May we all find a little colour in these grey days.

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this hop!

your pals Lee and Phod

More Snow - by Phod

 Dear pals,

We got more snow last week. Not as much, but at least 5 or 6 inches. While in my youth I made lots of snow angels, in my old age, I stick to the face tunnels. It is best in the fresh snow. 

your pal, the snow loving Phod

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Dog

 

A Real Life Conversation

 

After Hailey has been barking to get Lady to do things the Lady doesn't want to do.

Lady: You are not the boss of me.

Lee: I am so the boss of you and I will be the boss of you until the day I die and then my ghost will come back and boss you.

Lady: You are right. 

This is completely true if I look at my life the last 14 and a half years. Hailey has been in charge. She is said when we walk, where we walk, how long we walk. We picked a house based on her needs. We picked a second dog based on her preferences and needs. We go out, we go upstairs, we go downstairs, we sit in certain places, we do all the things to make her happy. She clearly is our boss. And I know it is getting worse as we just try and make her happy and comfortable in these last weeks. 

Mischief Monday - No Diet For Me!

 Dear pals,

I mentioned last Thursday that I was on a diet. It wasn't a full diet, Lady and Man were just trying to feed me more inline with what the vet suggested. However, the amount of food the vet suggested left me hungry. Furthermore, when Lady and Man tried to switch me to just the food that should help my kidneys, it didn't make my tummy feel good. Since we are all about the quality of my life, I get to eat what I want, when I want, within reason (sometimes I would eat too much and make myself sick). I also get more table scraps now. 

Lady wonders if other people have crazy food spots like us. It is taking over the island!

Currently to feed me looks like:

• Some kangaroo (not pictured here as it is in my food bucket  (this makes up 1/3 of my food)
• Some of my kidney care food (another 1/3 of my food)
• 1/3 is some special food to help my tummy, and then my topper which is currently a rabbit fish mix.
• On top of that I get my probiotic and some of the Ultra beef topper that also help my tummy

If Phod's food is any different, we switch, so Lady is having to do about the same for his (just less Kidney Care). Gone are the days of one scoop of food and Lady and Man are done. Now there is measuring and mixing.

your pal, the less hungry, Hailey Bug

FFF Nature Friday - Leaving Their Tracks

It is Aunty-Yam's FFF and Rosy and Sunny's Nature Friday.

A poem by Lee

No matter where I go

Even in the very deep snow

The turkeys leave their mark

I could follow the smell in the dark

I like to follow their trail

Because even though I am frail

I dream of catching one

It would be a lot of fun.

Turkey wing print on the snow bank

Turkey tracks in the snow, the drag marks are my back toes

You can see the trails they are making through the yard

Another wing print

Excuse Me

 This new diet isn't working for me. Give me some of your toast.