The 28th of March

It’s the 28th day of the month and yet it may well be the coldest part of it. However, the weathermen are telling us that we'll trend warmer after today and we should be into the 70s by Thursday. But that’s when we could have some strong thunderstorms as an intense storm system barrels through our region. We'll see if they get it right. 

~We had several snow-squalls blow through on Saturday~

Life at our house has of course taken on a little bit of a slower pace. I'm getting more than enough rest, and have just enough going on that I'm not yet bored being at home. Not that this could or would ever happen at our house! 

~Ree and Tiggy the cat napping together - Why do I make the bed?~

But how I would love to be outside - Because I can't help but feel strongly that if I'm going to be home, I need some warmer weather! And I think the locals (below) would agree! 

~The Locals~

Todd on the other hand, is okay with whatever the weather is, he just wants to be outside. 

I do have to add that there's been a bit of a change with Todd recently. When we put him into his crate, to be fed, etc., he has started to whine and bark. Could it be that at almost 11 years old, he's outgrown being crated? What do you think? 

Guardian Angel Wings?

Many thanks for your kind and supportive comments on my last post and for cheering me on as I heal from my recent surgery. You all are the best!💓

I know I'm going to have to get into some kind of routine while I'm home for about a month. But I'm still feeling pretty tired, so napping is at the top of my list. 

~Throwback Thursday for National Puppy Day - Todd as a brand-new puppy~

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, who also owns one of Todd's siblings said that the white fur on their side are "angel wings." I'd never thought of them that way. But I've been giving this some thought and I'm wondering if that's true. 

Right now, while I am putting this post together, Todd is lying at my feet, sleeping; and whenever I get up for something, he wakes up and follows me wherever I go. He never goes to bed until I do, and sleeps next to me until I get up. So, maybe they are wings and Todd is my guardian angel who keeps watch and makes sure I am okay. What do you think?  Can a Scottish Terrier who has so much spark, is full of fun and mischief be an angel? 

At Home for Now

This post has nothing to do with our dogs. It's about me. So, please forgive me from veering away from the usual topic.  But I've decided to share a little bit about a personal "journey" I've been on the last year. 

It was about this time last year I started having signs of something being wrong that at first, I just ignored. When the symptoms didn't go away, I knew I had to see a doctor. I also knew I could not do as my Mother had done when she had those same things happening to her, when her Mother had them, when my Aunt had them and my cousins too. 

So, fast forward thru waiting for appointments, tests and consoles. None of the test results were 100% conclusive, because they only showed precancerous changes - But with my family history, and my symptoms, I felt strongly in my mind and heart that I couldn't follow the path that other family members had, including my own Mother and wait and see if things worsened or just do nothing, and then, it may be too late to do anything curative.

So, I did something; last Friday I had a "preventative" surgery to remove any chances of cancer occurring. It was a difficult and very personal decision - So personal, that it's not easy for me to talk about, but I feel like I should. But I struggled and prayed about the decision to have surgery for months. I tried to have faith in what I knew to be the right thing to do. But in those quiet moments, the doubts would always find a way to creep in. 

~My lonely hospital room~

Even after the surgery, I still had doubts that *maybe* I'd made the wrong choice. But on Sunday morning, I noticed that blooming in my weedy flower bed, is a single daffodil. I know it's not unusual to see daffodils blooming in March. But it's unusual because I've never planted any daffodils, or had any in my yard in the more than 12 years we've lived here.

Daffodils blooming are said to signify new life and resilience because they are survivors who have weathered the winter storms -- And this one being a bit worse for wear, I feel like is a reminder, just for me, that everything is okay. And that maybe I'm like this single daffodil, a "weathered, resilient, survivor" and I'm going to be okay and continue to bloom too.  

So, I'm home and off work until at least until mid-April. I'm feeling pretty well, and I am up around. Friends have provided meals, and so we are very well fed, and I am so very grateful and thankful for their kind thoughtfulness. Let the healing begin. 

~Gerbera Daises from a friend~

New Chapters for Jaycee

Thank you all for your comments on my last post and cheering Jaycee on as she begins a new chapter in her life. You understand all about having a dog like Jaycee --  A great reminder of why I love the blogging community! 

Its been a pretty good week for Jaycee. We are working on her housetraining, and getting her used to having a routine. It's slow progress, we take a few steps forward, only to go back one or two. But we're only about a week into this, and we're not in a hurry. I know it'll come together for her. 

One step Jaycee took as she begins her new life was to be spayed on Friday. She did well, but was nauseous when she woke up from her surgery, so we decided to let her spend the night at the vet's office. 

~Waking up from surgery~

I picked her up this morning. But I was second guessing not picking up Jaycee last evening. A winter storm that produced snow from the Plains into a powerful "bomb cyclone" was blasting the East Coast with heavy snow and high winds at the same time I was trying to get to the vet's office before they closed for the day. There were total white-outs along the way, making the drive pretty dicey. 

Thankfully I got there and back without too much trouble. I was so glad to be home. 

And I think Jaycee is too! Even if she's not happy about wearing the dreaded "cone of shame" that she shouldn't feel "shame" about wearing. It's all about her starting the next chapters of her life. ❤

Jaycee Arrives at Golden Pines

Just over a week ago, from a farm in Pennsylvania, 8-year-old Jaycee arrived at Golden Pines. Used for breeding her entire life, she's now learning all about another kind of life that includes living inside and one that will not involve puppies.

Understandably Jaycee is tentative and nervous but is proving to be a quick study, quickly learning about treats and different kinds of food - She doesn't (yet) like carrots, green beans or other vegetables - But she does like cheese, bread and loved crunching on ice cubes yesterday. She is also not shy about asking for attention, and giving you her big paw to hold. ❤

For the most part, Jaycee is healthy. She is a big girl, over 100 pounds, and needs to be spayed after she loses a few pounds. And as you maybe can see by the below photo, she is missing a lot of her chocolate-colored coat. 

Intros to our group have been very slow, and aside from Jack having a bit of an attitude towards her, (not unusual) she's getting along with the other dogs just fine and learning about cats. Our girl Ree really wants to play with her. 

~Ree hoping Jaycee will come back and play with her~

Jaycee may have quickly learned to trust us, but she's not trusting everyone she's met. If I have any concerns it's that for some reason Jaycee doesn't like my brother. We were pretty sure that it had something to do with his having a beard; probably resembling the Amish who are part of her past. Without my asking, my brother shaved off his beard. I thought that was a very kind gesture because he's had that beard for a very long time! 

The other person that Jaycee seems to be afraid of is our dog-walker. "Lydia" thinks that it has to do with Jaycee being alone and confined when she comes. Jaycee did much better the second day she came by giving her lots of treats which is encouraging. I'm hopeful that both my brother and Lydia will win Jaycee over in no time! 

~Jaycee, all smiles one week later~

 Welcome to Jaycee and onto next week!

And as a postscript, I'll add that I practically NEVER know who previous owners were or exactly where my foster dogs come from with Lab Rescue - But this time, I accidentally found out and out of curiosity I looked the owner up online where I found that he'd been fined a couple of times for keeping his dogs in too small cages. Despite that, I'm grateful that Jaycee was given to the rescue, and has the chance at the life all dogs deserve. Sadly not all dogs like Jaycee get that chance.  ***Know where your cute puppies are coming from.***