Happy Fourth of July

July 4th we celebrate our Independence. We should also give thanks for all of those who have given their talents, gifts, and even their lives to enable us to be a free people. Our family, including "the boys" will have our traditional home-made ice cream to celebrate. The boys LOVE ice cream, but they have yet to experience my home-made fare. We will also follow tradition and watch the musical "1776" which recounts the story of the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence. I wish all of you who follow my blog a very Happy 4th! Those in my international audience, I encourage you to rent "1776" and enjoy a musical version of our history.

Weighin In

One of the boys had gained some weight the last time they were checked, so we gathered them up for a trip to the Vet to be weighed. I won't say which one was guilty, but we try to keep them at their peak weight for their bones and general health. The guilty party had gained weight instead of losing. Phil measures out their rations, so we must watch their treats more carefully. The non-guilty party has stayed the same weight. Notice the boy's car seats and seat harness that hooks into the seat belt. When our children were small, we made them ride in car seats and then seat belts. Our 4-legged children deserve no less.

Happy Father's Day!

The boys asked me to make their Dad a Lemon Meringue pie (one of his favorites) for Father's Day. They made him a card that read "Happy Father's Day Honorary Pup.......Love Andy and Roy" and they signed it with their paw prints. They didn't get to taste any of the pie since Mom thought all that sugar would not be good for them, but they enjoyed watching Dad appreciate his piece.

Playtime

The boys have a box full of toys and their Dad plays with them every night after supper. They particularly like to fetch "cookie monster" which is what we call the blue blob-like creature with three limbs. They can get a little jealous, so Dad has to hold one boy while he plays with the other and take turns. It is a little like kindergarten, where children must learn to share their toys and take turns. I think Dad enjoys playtime as much as the boys.

Liz and Herb's visit

One of the nice things about retirement is the time to visit with friends from time past. One of my school friends from the 60's, Liz, stopped by with her husband, Herb on their way to a family reunion in Virginia. The boys fell in love with Liz and got nice back rubs and lots of loving. It was fun to catch up with news of mutual friends and renew the ties of friendship which have lasted through the years.

My Grand-dog

I just got back from my trip to NYC to visit the girls and grand-dog, Finny. The girls threw a huge Memorial Day party Monday and fed over 30 people. We had all southern cuisine (hoppin' john, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, pecan pie, home made ice cream, corn bread and biscuits, etc.). Since both of my girls are excellent cooks, the meal was delicious! Finny was a little taken aback with all the people in the beginning, but finally decided it was way too many people to keep up with, so he went to sleep in a corner. When I returned home last night, my boys knew right off that I had been unfaithful to them. They could smell Finny and gave me the sniffing once over. They were not too scruffy from their lack of grooming, but I sure got a lot of fur this morning when we resumed our morning brushing session. All my boys (including my human "boy") seem glad to have me home.

Off to NYC

I spent over an hour today grooming the boys: brushing their coats, cleaning ears, and trimming toenails in preparation for my departure tomorrow to visit my girls. The boys won't get their daily grooming when I am gone, so I am sure they will be quite scruffy when I return next week. The boy's Dad will be taking care of them, so I am sure they will get excellent, spoiling care, but no grooming. (See my Mother's Day gift still giving the gift of beauty along with our Amaryllis just starting to bloom.)

Under the weather Andy

Andy has had a gastrointestinal upset for 5 days now. He loves to hunt out cat, rabbit, and whatever kind of poop he can find in the yard. I felt sure that something he wasn't supposed to eat upset his stomach. I have been treating him with Pepto Bismol and finally resorted to cooking him rice and feeding him that instead of his food. When he was still sick today, I took him to the Vet. He HATES going to the Vet. He stuck right close to my leg and then starting whimpering, so I took him up in my arms until it came his time to see the Vet. He crawled up my chest until his head rested next to my head and we waited. The Vet agrees with me that he ate something untoward in the yard that is upsetting him. He got some medicine to settle down his stomach and some bland dog food to eat. Hopefully, he will soon be better. If anyone knows how to stop him from eating poop, let me know! Roy hasn't developed a taste for such delicacies, thankfully.

Happy Mother's Day

The boys surprised with me an early Mother's Day present today! I LOVE Hydrangeas! Isn't it beautiful??!!

Relay for Life

Friday, May 4th was our county's "Relay for Life" to raise money to combat Cancer. This was my second year to participate. Only another cancer survivor can know what it was like to walk the "survivor's lap" between rows of cheering people who were cheering us on in our battle against cancer. I saw folks there in wheel chairs being pushed by their caregivers, those wearing hats to cover bald "chemo heads," some on crutches, and some like me, who looked perfectly normal. Last year I cried, this year I just appreciated the fact that so many people were cheering us on. Then came the very moving lighting of the luminaries. I had bought 4 luminaries: one each in honor of myself and my brother, and two in memory of my sister-in-law and husband's Aunt who helped raise him. I had already walked the track and found our luminaries and taken pictures of them. Then all the lights in the stadium were darkened and one could only see the luminary lights and those spelling out "HOPE" in the stands. Everyone was quiet as a bagpiper led us in a walk around the track. I saw some folks sobbing by their loved ones luminary as family members embraced. I walked in silence, thankful that I am a survivor and no one is sobbing by my luminary.