never say never.....

Well, here he is, meet Sir Charles Pantsalot de-Butters, just call him " Charlie". The newest addition to our family. He is the yellow golden retriever and we rescued him from a life somewhat unknown and uncertain to us. If only his legs could walk us through his travels I am sure they could tell a tale. In the photo you'll see the dark cinnamon golden retriever that's our Toby.

He is thrilled to have a new brother from another mother :). Charlie is two and filled with years of love. He is 97 pounds of rockin' love....his eyes engulf you and hug you with each glance.

It's been nearly two years since we lost our 12 year old golden Jorge. She was my dog love of a lifetime or at least one of them. If you are ever lucky enough to find love in a dog, you understand the feelings that fill this post.

I said not again, it hurts too much, then all of a sudden a life jumps out at you and if you don't answer the call you'll never know. What is love if you don't jump once in awhile and take that chance. A chance of the heart.

There are a million, a zillion reasons why not to get another dog. But one reason stood out and made none of those material reasons matter. He needed me. No. He could have had anyone. I needed him. I think that in a pet search, all though we as humans seek out the pet, if a pet is lucky he will pick you. You will become his human, and you will be a better person for it.

You can learn alot from a dog. Mostly, it is how to love without reason, without anything holding you back. Just love. Unconditional love is one of life's true treasures, one of the few places you can find it is a dog.

When we first seen him, he took a sniff and didn't let go of my heart. He has been here nearly a week and it feels like he had always been here.

I am his and he is mine. We needed each other. Here we are.

It is just plain crazy to have 2 1/2 dogs, a friend emailed me and with a sweet email and it declared owning 3 dogs was hillbilly. Well, I agree. I am proud to be hillbilly and plan to maintain my status.

Twice the food, twice the vet bills, twice the toys , twice the treats, and twice the poop.

Twice the love.

Make room, I think Charlie is here to stay.

-L.

oh this photo.......

oh this photo.........makes me happy and kinda thoughtful.

As the bears played at the zoo, Bella shot a ton of photos, you never know what you'll get. You have three playful bears and a goldie locks snapping the shots. I must say this is a favorite...

I can relate to this crazy bear.

the zoo sleeps

Yeah the zoo sleeps. We went for a visit and everyone was sleeeping. Lazy days of spring.

It was the funniest thing, nearly everyone we visited was napping.

zoo day!!

We spent our day at the zoo...What a wonderful start of our season. This is a favorite place for our family and this year we were so lucky, we had been given a membership for Christmas. Love Love Love it!!!!

We spent much of our day like this....the girls spent the day taking pictures, like crazy! I know Bella took 199 photos...I took photos of them taking photos.

The day was just beautiful for us here and it was so refreshing to "get away" and we had a wonderful day. I will say you know your old when you can drive 200 miles and still find people you know.

We so enjoyed the day and funny thing is at our zoo, we have a working farm. It is a favorite. I think mainly because, it is hands on for the most part. I am still amazed that there are sweeties asking if "that's a pig?" and the poor thing is just a cow, with a moo or two...We loved the babies!!! If only the zoo was more hands on, I think my girls would have loved to roll the bears, and swim with the dolphins.

We'd love it if you'd all remember the zoo this summer. I know it can be expensive, but they need our support too, and these days I think I'd love to give my spare dollars to a grizzly rather than a politician.

It just plain feels good to be out and about...to hear the birds sing, to get some vitamin D, to have the windshield covered in bugs. Spring is here and life begins anew.

-L

good dog

"oh for the love of a good dog!"

When you decide to get a dog...when all the things are right for you....maybe? But somehow I think if a dog is lucky in life, the dog picks it's owner.
In a field of 14 puppies, I ask which one are girls? Little did I realize while the owner was trying to point out the girls. The biggest boy had already chosen her. 13 wild crazy puppies running in a field, one is on a lap in the middle, not budging, only instantly in love. He had our heart the moment we opened the door. Or maybe Bella had his, it's hard to say but that was the end of the search. As we turned the truck around he was named and that was it.

6 years later this boy is still chewing, pooping and running in the yard as if it was his first year out. Maybe it is his unpredictability is what we love to hate, but whatever it is he his ours and we are his.

Just look at this face...could a girl love her dog anymore? I think not.
If you are lucky enough in your life to pick a pet as a child, there is no connection far greater.

This dog....
He is everything that could drive me crazy mad.
He is everything that could make me love a dog beyond measure.

With this dog what you see is what you get. Nothing more. He puts it all out there, so often in life wouldn't it be good to just once be able to put it out there. Hold nothing back, let it all go..

The things I admire about him:
1. He sleeps alot
2. He eats alot and loves it every time without remorse, he eats with pure joy.
3. He doesn't worry about his weight. He keeps his dishes clean, clean, clean.
4. He loves you every single moment.
5. He lets you think your the smart one.
6. He plays like a child.
7. He always smiles.
8. He waits for us all the time and never complains.
9. He protects us quietly.
10. He is 90 pounds of pure, unworried love and joy.

He is Tobon Keif. "Toby" Tobikins Tobbs Big guy Tobbers and a few words my husband owes the swear jar for ..

If there ever was a dog that would mark ones life it's this one. When we brought him home he instantly had a partner with our other dog Jorge. Until she passed I never thought much of a dog grieving. But he so did, he grieved for her, hard, as have we. Now that we have been without her for awhile, he has really stepped up to the plate and shined for us.

He still will drive us crazy. But I think that every once in a while he realizes that we need it.
It is a crazy love...

-L.

a garden of 90

About 90 years ago God planted a tiny little seed on earth...

This small seed grew, and flourished survived many wars, the depression,
hunger, and loss all at a very young age.
Our seed also lived to see great joy, pride and love.

With what little she was given she grew into this beautiful woman who was
filled with convictions, courage, compassion, creativity, generosity and most of all
honesty.....

She was honest with herself, who she was and what she believed in.
During her years on earth she worked its soil and its surroundings to plant a garden of
her own. She held the her garden together with strength and love.

This beautiful seed was my Grama, her garden was this big family filled with all these
different seeds for this earth. Each is unique and strong in their own way. Many
of her children have grown to plant this earth with children of their own, to enjoy the ride.
Even after her children grew and moved on to families of their own, she continued
to plant to this earth. In her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and in her flowers. What a beautiful place this is thanks to her.

We have so little time on this earth, it is important that we follow in her footsteps and
plant with compassion and understanding. It is our time to grow love and people, to mark this earth with honorable things. Although each of our gardens grow differently, some are small and some are large. She will be so very proud of what she has accomplished in her garden.

As she travels to heaven, God will be proud and he will thank her for the beautiful garden she planted for the past 90 years. The world will rejoice knowing the mark she left, is as beautiful as each flower she lovingly planted and waited patiently to grow.


During the warm months on earth Grama spent all her time in the yard. She was tending, mending, planting, guiding, nurturing, and holding far more patience than most could understand.

I asked her once "Grama how come you plant so much?" She looked at me and said simply with a smile in her eyes, "This gives me something to do, it's what I love to do--to plant."

As a little girl I didn't think much of it, except they're just flowers. But later in my life she came to my house for a visit. Asked in the Grama tone " Why haven't you planted your flowers yet? A home needs flowers, things to grow in it." She was right....days later I ran out and planted flowers in the front. At the time I thought I figured out her secrets....not even close...
It wasn't until a few years later after much delay, I planted a seed on this earth of my own.
My house was then a full home. The flowers out front, then has purpose to grow and flourish.

Although my garden will not grow with as many children "seeds" as Grama's has I know that my little piece on earth is thanks to her. I can now plant flowers too, while my seed on this earth grows. Flowers to my Grama are the little blessings of life. It doesn't matter how many flowers you plant on this earth what matters is the reverence we have for them.

My Grandmother was filled with a deep respect, love , and honor for this life. I find it only appropriate that we give her back to God in the growing month of April. She often said that April was a bad month for our family and in alot of ways I agree. That however is only because I am one of her seeds still left on this earth to feel the loss. I also think that if we took a step out of the garden on earth, we could "see" that April is a beautiful month for our family. The family that we have lost, the family that is blessed for heaven. I have decided to celebrate April and plant some flowers of my own at my home garden.

Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe. Grama's faith for this earth was beautiful and it could grow anything.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Thank you Grama for teaching me to speak my mind....Regardless

-L.

a loss for us...

Today it is a beautiful chilly day here for us.

The sun is shining and the earth is awakening slowly to the

smells and color of spring....It is beautiful......

As the flowers bloom and rise to the heavens, they will grow

richly with color and they will dance in the sun.

My Grandma passed away this morning.

She was a pure heart, a peacemaker, a nurturer, a family center.

She is at peace...

She was waiting for Easter, for spring, for all of her children, for her time.

She felt all of this and then with all her strength and guidance,

she waited for each of us....

Days and weeks her home was filled with all of us not knowing

where to turn, what to say, or how to let go. She was still teaching

and guiding.

Finally at a moment of her peace, in her home, in her jammies, she

was alone and the family rested. She took her last breath with us and

reached for God. Even in her final moments she taught us to be proud

of who we are and can be. She reminded us to be proud of ourselves

even in dying. Although she was alone from us, she was surrounded

by her family who had gone before. She was never alone.

She was still just taking care of us.......

And she was gone.............

I believe she died this way on purpose. I believe she didn't want a

heartbreaking moment for anyone to be haunted by. Her last breath

was her own and she was free.

There are few people in ones life that are made of "all good". I am so

very proud to say to you she was one of my "all good".

We all know we are going to die, we just find it to hard to believe. If

I believed she would leave me I'd have told her every day I loved her.....

Rest my sweet Grama..........

-L.