Dancing in the New Year

Have fun ladies, bring in the New Year in style.

Overall, it has been a great year.


We were quite sad to say good bye to Duncan when the evil cancer monster took over.


And we where so delighted to have the twins join us. Yeppers, they make our world so colorful.

Not sure what lies ahead, but we'll make it good no matter what.

So go ahead ladies, shake your bootie and make a few new friends on the Saturday Pet Blog Hop.

The Pet Blog Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Many, many thanks to the hosts, the Pet Blog Hop rocks.

Please join us, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your three hosts
2. Check out some of the our fellow bloggers, leave them a comment and tell them you are visiting from the Pet Blog hop
   
3. Add your blog to the Linky
4. Copy and paste the html code into your html editor

November

Bentley • April 7, 1997 – April 6, 2004

November is National Canine Cancer Awareness month.

As I thought back, I realized that the evil beast has taken way to many of our babies.

Phoebe • October 1, 1991 – November 27, 2005

Gracie • September 15, 1994 – March 25, 2006

Cleo • December 22, 1995 – March 28, 2008

Fonzi • October 4, 1999 – February 10, 2009

Barbie • April 16, 1996 – October 13, 2007

Duncan • April 22, 1999 – May 14, 2010

And so, as I looked a little farther, I learned that one in three dogs will be diagnosed with canine cancer.

The National Canine Cancer Foundation is raising money for research grants to help find a cure.

Who knows, maybe if we can find a cure in canines, we can find a cure in humans.

Good-bye our trusted friend

I remember the day you got off of the Homes for Hounds truck and pranced into our home. I thought you were the most beautiful dog I had ever seen.


Of course, you came with a bit of history, you had an attitude, some sleep aggression and maybe a bite under your belt. We were your third or fourth adoption stop. But when you hit the acre, you knew you were home and you just fit right in with the rest of the pack.


Of course, you were a bit of a scaredy cat. You hated, hated, hated the fourth of July. Every year we cranked up the TV, the radio and all of the industrial fans just to hide the noise.

And when something was going on over at the high school you wanted nothing to do with the back yard.

You quickly earned your claim to fame, opening up the back door by standing on your hind legs and opening it with your front paws.


You were so beautiful. Your head was shaped much like Picker's, your uncle.


I wanted to so badly to take beautiful pictures of you, one right after another. But you were the guy with your nose to the ground.


Always.


When it came time to get a drink, it must have tasted better if you stood in the pool, even on the coldest days of winter, you wanted to stand in the pool to get your drink.


You have been a card-carrying member of the Double-Digit gang for two years now. You were far too young to leave your membership behind.



But somehow, just all of the others, we know that you have returned to the gardens. Duncan, you always had a smile on your face. You were one happy hound dog. We miss you more than you can imagine, we love you big guy.

Duncan aka Guest Star • April 22, 1999–May 14, 2010

The Rainbow Bridge

The Double-Digit Gang

It was time to take another double-digit gang picture. Lighting was perfect, cooperation wasn't so perfect.

Seven dogs, ages 10 to 13.5. Two black, two white and fawn, one white and brindle, one fawn and one brindle.

Many, many images and I don't think one shot was produced with all of them looking at me.

Duncan and Murphy exchanged a few pleasantries. The lump that continues to grow in leaps and bounds shows up quite well here.

Here's the line-up: Left side, back to front - Roxy 13.5, Buddy 12.5, Blender 11, Murphy 12

Right side, back to front - Jori 10, Adam 10, Duncan 11

And this one is the family photo, yes even Karen and I are card-carrying members of the double-digit gang.

Happy Birthday Duncan!

And just what are you trying to tell us young man?


What's that? It's your 11th birthday? Happy, happy birthday big guy.


You can have whatever you want and we will do our very best to make it a good one.

Two words I hate

We know the drill all too well. We know the signs, we know the symptoms.


Saturday it was a slight limp. Sunday it was a lump.


Tuesday the diagnosis was our worst nightmare. Duncan has osteosarcoma.


Our promise to Duncan, as it has been with all of the others, we'll watch his quality of life, we'll keep him as comfortable as we possibly can. We'll do our best to make sure we're a day to early and not an hour to late.

We're so sorry Dunk-a-dog.

Cancer sucks.

Nose to the ground

Monday morning. I've got my nose to the ground and I'm totally prepared for yet another brutal week at work.


On a side note. Miss Slinky has generously allowed us to add another food to her repertoire of freshly cooked chicken and chicken gizzards.

Yes, cottage cheese in a ceramic bowl was acceptable tonight. Seriously, she's doing awesome, she just knows how to make us dance.

Hey Mom, What's a Bordello?

Is it like the cough shot we got before we went to Camp Lisa?

No Duncan, you're thinking of bordetella, you got a kennel cough vaccination.

A bordello is, well, ummmm, a place where ladies of the evening made money.

There were many individual bedrooms, and each lady had her own room.

A red light was lit on the outside of the building so that gentleman callers knew when the ladies were available.

Mom! Did you guys stay at the bordello?

Yes Duncan, we stayed at the bordello. Your Momma K even met a very nice gentleman.

OMG EVERYBODY! OUR MOMS ARE HOOKERS!!!!!!!!!!

Duncan, Duncan, not so loud, it's OK. The Red Garter has not been a bordello since the mid-1940's. Now it's a bed and breakfast.

We rented a room, much like a hotel, and ate incredibly yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

It was a very nice place.

Phew, I feel so much better now.

Be afraid, be very afraid • part 1

It's that time of year, when you have to move about cautiously.


Watch over your shoulder...


and stay low to the ground.


Move forward ever so slowly...


Ready to run away on a moments notice.


Trust no one.


And be fully aware of what lies ahead...

To be continued.