Max Arrives at Golden Pines

With losses always seem to come additions. And we have a new one at our house. This past week we welcomed another Max to Golden Pines. 

~On our way home!~

Max turned 14 years old in December. He was given up by his family because they felt that their move about 800 miles away would be too much for him --they even considered euthanizing him. But they instead contacted the rescue. With only 2 days before their move, there was a little bit of a scramble to get Max picked up. And since I live just over the border of West Virginia from where Max lived, and I was available, I had no problem agreeing to take Max temporarily until another foster home can be found. ~I know, I know, "temporarily" is something I've said before.  🥰

Max is a really nice boy. But on Tuesday night when I finally got him home, he was really nervous and shaking. We put off the intros to his new packmates and settled him into our spare bedroom for the night, and for Wednesday when I was at work. It's now Friday and he's still unsure about everything, but is doing well as we're slowly getting him used to the rhythm of our household.

Of course I don't know what this chapter of Max's story will be, or where it will be spent. He does have a few concerns as far as his health is concerned. But until all that is sorted out, Max is just fine with us - And I can't help but grin because we now have a Jack, a Jack-Jack, and Max and a Max. How confusing is that for these four boys? 😊

My Brown Eyed Brother

You all are the best! Thank you to those who stopped by to check on us, and see how we were/are doing. Honestly, I think about blogging every day. And your checking on us gave me the needed nudge to get a post that I've been thinking about, written and posted. 

I will start by saying that I feel very lucky, and blessed. I'm grateful for my blogging friendships, and for my friendships that I have in my life. I'm also grateful for my family, in particular, my brothers. I was reminded of that when my oldest brother Steve passed away a few weeks ago. I do not have a sister, only brothers - Two of which have now passed away. With each of my brothers, throughout my adult life, I have been lucky to have different, but good, continued relationships with each of them. But of my 4 brothers, my oldest brother Steve was the one I was the closest to for years. I think it was because we were very much alike - It even became a family joke that it was because we both had brown eyes like our dad, while my other brothers had blue eyes like our Mom. 

Because Steve and I liked and disliked many of the same things, we always had great fun when we got together. He worked hard at his job with a commercial printing company, working 3rd shift which lent itself to our talking on the phone multiple times during the week while he was going home in the mornings, and I was on my way to work. Unfortunately that changed when his health started to decline during the holidays. It became very difficult for him in a lot of different ways. But I did my best to stay in touch and be a cheerleader for him. Some days I felt like I succeeded, other days, I know I didn't. 

I'd hoped to go to Florida to visit my brother to try and lift his spirits. A friend who travels to Orlando regularly told me how it could be done in a day, for less than $200. She knew it all, right down to where to park at "Dulles International Airport."  The plan was to leave early morning, fly nonstop, arrive by lunch time, spend the afternoon with my brother (and catch up with my sister in law) in the hospital, and take the last flight home in the evening and be home by 11 o'clock. I was all in and bought my ticket. Sadly my brother passed away the day before I could put that plan into motion. 

I am of course heartbroken at what is a sad loss for our family. But within my grief is my gratitude and thanks for having four good, kind, caring men to call my brothers. I love being their sister. And I'm grateful for my two younger 'blue-eyed brothers' that cheer me on when I'm feeling down, up or anyway in between - Just as I try to do for them when they need it. Together we have shared the loss of our oldest brother. I know this grief and the ache of this loss will ease for the 3 of us as life goes on without Steve as part of it.  But we will always miss him because he was our brother.

Thank you again friends for thinking of us! Your checking in gave me the needed nudge I really needed to get this post written. It wasn't easy because I just wasn't ready to share another loss that is felt deeply and personally. But I feel better having shared this with you, and I am looking forward to telling you our new-news.  Stay tuned! 

A Snow Day!

We were treated to one of my most favorite things last week. A snow day. I always find myself wishing for them - I missed out on snow days as a kid because I grew up on an Army post, and our schools were never closed -- but we were always so hopeful! 

~Ree~

So now, as an adult, I obsessively watch the weather reports, totally consumed with excitement and hoping for the projected snowfall total to increase. The magic of a snow day has truly outlasted my childhood—I feel it as strong as I did when I was a kid. 

~Milo, really loves the snow!~

So, when we got the snow - about 6 inches - that was predicted, I got to stay home from work! And so of course I pulled out my snow boots, and mittens, and the dogs and I played in the yard. And below, you can see that Jack-Jack (Pony) played with my mitten. 

I felt the magic of a snow day span through decades, and land in my lap. 

~Enjoying the snow, Lily (front), Daisy and Jack-Jack~

I savored it as long as I could.

~Daisy~

Because it was back to work the next day. At least our parking lot was plowed. --Can I confess I was hoping it wouldn't be? 

But I'm hopeful for another one ...... Sooner rather than later, which may come on Sunday. Stay tuned! ❄

~Jack-Jack aka Pony~

The Makeover

As we all know, it's almost the end of the year -- How can that be? Its been a long year but it’s gone by in a flash. A lot of things that I wanted to get done, I haven't and I have to accept that. There's always next year to do better, right?  

~A wreath making class a few weeks ago~

However, one thing that was on that "to do list," was getting Noodle groomed. It was put off for several reasons mostly because I wanted him to be at his best physically. With acupuncture and cold laser and a massage every couple of weeks, and a small area around the amputation finally healed, he was finally at his best. 

I didn't want just any groomer. I needed one that could accommodate Noodle's "handicap" of not being able to stand the whole time. So, I asked on a Facebook page and there was one that came recommended for a number of reasons. "Sandi" had a tri-pod and totally understood the limitations they have and as the shop owner she had no problem with spending the extra time Noodle would need. 

~Noodle before~

Finally the day of the appointment came -- I'll add that Sandi put us on her cancellation list and got us in pretty quickly. And fast forward to the big reveal and all I could say is "WoW!!" and then I said WoW again. What a difference.

~Noodle after - WoW!!~

Everyone at the shop treated Noodle like a rock-star and they could not have been more accommodating, any more friendly (to the both of us) and could not have made Noodle any more handsome - and made a bit cold too which is why he's wearing a coat and a tee-shirt. 

We are the groomer's newest fans and given their Facebook post that's below, I think they're Noodle's too!