Todd - The Birthday Boy

We had what I consider a milestone birthday this past week. Todd turned 12 years old. Twelve. I can't believe it. How can my puppy be 12 years old? 

At 12 years old, Todd still takes life seriously. Age hasn't changed him too much, he's just as proud, brave, independent and opinionated as he's always been. He is after all, a Scottish Terrier. 

However, being a Scottie, Todd is by nature, reserved, and a bit aloof towards strangers. But he has gotten better over the last few years - The last month he's mostly accepted the new dog walker who has followed the advice to win him over with lots of treats. 

~Notes left by our dogwalker~

But that aside, Todd is still active and playful and loves a fun game of ball. And I have to think he'd not approve of my telling you that in our one on one moments, he is gentle and affectionate, and he really loves a good massage. He will (sometimes) tolerate my affection, of 'allowing' a kiss on his head - He clearly objected to that even 2 years ago. 

Something so 'un-Scottie' Todd also wouldn't want told is that the age of 12 has mellowed him a tiny bit. For example in the mornings he's not always in a rush to jump off the bed and get the day started. He's sleeping more when outside in his favorite spot, but still enjoys sitting and watching the world go by.

It's thought by some that 12 years old for a Golden Retriever is a milestone birthday. By their reaching that age, it's an indication that there is a likelihood that they'll live to be 14. For Scotties, it's said to be the same thing. But I'm trying not think about me and Todd having more days behind us than in front. 

However, I am worried and concerned about the continuing issue we're having with his clogged sinuses. We've invested in air-purifiers for our house, and we have an appointment with an allergist at the end of May - their soonest appointment. So, we'll just take each day as it comes, and hope we'll be able to figure it all out so there are plenty to enjoy with Todd, our most unique and high spirited character at Golden Pines. 

Happy 12th Birthday Todd!

**This is where I add that I take the same photo of Todd every year - With the same hat, a cookie, in a chair at the table. At some point, I'll make a collage of all of them. ❤

An Easter Lily Update

Easter Sunday. We are cruising right through April and spring and hoping that the weather will finally stay warm. Spring is showing up more and more every day. This twinleaf flower (below) opened for the first time a few days ago, and already a little pollinator found it!

Aside from the cold temps that won't go away, power outages and wind, we're doing pretty well. 

Our newest arrival, Lily has settled in with our crew.

~Ree on the left, Lily middle, Milo on the right~

Our biggest concern has been Lily crying when she's not with us. A video of that is below - Lily is in the other room, and that's Daisy in the video. We're not sure why she's crying, when she must know that we're nearby, and she's free to come and be with us. It happens at random times during the night or day, and we're not sure what the trigger may be. Any thoughts?

 

However, the good news is, is that the more time that has passed, Lily is not crying as much as she was at first. But she has days when she does cry, and all we can do is call or go to her and reassure her, which seems to help. Lily is a really sweet girl, she is always eager for and loves attention, and she's right up front for treats and her meal too, and of course she'll do what we ask her to do. 

Lily really loves joining the crew outside for the daily game of ball  -- That's her on the right. 

and then she enjoys relaxing in the cool grass afterwards. Lily seems happy. 

~Iva left, and Lily on the right~

And we're happy that this sweet girl is part of our household. ❤

An Addition

 My last post talked about a subtraction in our household. Thank you all for cheering Jaycee on as she starts the next chapter of her life. But this post is about an addition. 

You'll remember that the lovely Daisy joined our household in late June 2022. 

~Daisy June 2022~

Daisy was given to the rescue by her family because she was "having accidents" in their home. And, because they were renovating their house, they didn't want those "accidents" to occur in their remodeled home. It took several months for us to sort everything out medically for Daisy. And I'll add that no expense was spared for those answers, and in the end, what was really a simple but tenacious infection was cleared up with antibiotics - With very, very few "accidents" in our house in the meantime.  

All that made Daisy available for adoption. She would fit into most any household. Daisy gets along with everyone and everything, because she's so easy going. She knows all her manners, having been to advanced obedience, or "finishing school" as I call it, she always does what she's asked. I really could go on and on about Daisy's good qualities, but you get the idea. 

The thought of Daisy leaving kept making me a bit choked up. This was because I or we, including the dogs, have loved Daisy since the day we met her in June - When I got her home that rainy day in June, she was wet and it was a little crazy and chaotic, and all she did was sit there and smile at me ...  I took her picture (below) and at that moment she stole my heart. 

~First photo - The day we met Daisy~

I just couldn't let Daisy go, and I felt so selfish in considering keeping her. But in a conversation with a longtime friend, who is also the rescue's foster-home coordinator, I realized it really wasn't. The heart knows what it wants, and how some things are meant to be. So, we pulled the proverbial trigger and adopted Daisy. She is here to stay. Daisy is truly a gift for all of us in our household. And one I am beyond grateful for. 

Welcome to Daisy as a permanent member of the Golden Pines Gang 

A Subtraction

For nearly a week we kept a secret at our house. And it was that Jaycee, our foster girl for Lab Rescue, that we had for just over one year, left us last Sunday for a 'trial adoption.' We decided on a "trial adoption," because of some of the insecurities that Jaycee has that didn't and don't make her a fit for some homes. Added to her not always liking some people, for reasons that only she knows, made a "trial adoption" a good option. It gave the family an "out" if it didn't work - and of course, Jaycee would be returned to us. With so much on the line, I just didn't want to jinx anything out there in the cosmos, so we silently kept  all fingers, toes crossed and paws crossed, and hoped it would be a match for Jaycee.

It was a cold and snowy day last Sunday when "Semi-Retired-Couple" and their Lab Ian, made the more than 2 hour drive from Annapolis Maryland to our corner of Virginia. They spent nearly an hour alone with Jaycee, walking her around our property, and just getting to know her, while I watched from the inside. 

"Semi-Retired-Couple" decided that they and their boy Ian wanted to take Jaycee home. So, I took their photo together....

and with a kiss on top of Jaycee's head, she was put into the back of their car and I said good-bye and they were off. 

It didn't take as long as I thought it might for "Semi-Retired-Couple" to decide that they wanted to adopt Jaycee. I will confess that I tried to get them to hold off for a few more days, but their hearts knew that they wanted Jaycee to stay with them - With their saying more than once, how much they already loved Jaycee, and how well it was going, I knew it was time for me to let her go.  

~Jaycee now at home~

"Semi-Retired-Couple" could not be any more perfect for Jaycee. I liked them right away. They are previous adopters from Lab Rescue, and with no children, being home most of the time, not too many comings or goings and being no strangers to dogs like Jaycee, who as a retired breeder girl, can be shy and unsure of herself, they really are perfect for her. 

It was and is bittersweet, and we miss Jaycee. But those hard and discouraging days where I felt like her family would never come, are now replaced with the joy I feel at knowing Jaycee is where she should be.  

~On our way home -
A first photo of Jaycee, when we met in March 2022~

**And I know that some of you may be wondering why we didn't adopt Jaycee. It goes without saying that we loved and adore Jaycee. But she just wasn't a fit for our home. As hard as my brother and our dog walker tried to be friends with Jaycee, for reasons only known to her, she just didn't like them, and was afraid of them both. Unfortunately they both stopped trying to be her friend, something I wasn't happy about it, and I tried to understand. And with that, I felt strongly that Jaycee should be in a home where everyone loved her, and she loved everyone. All dogs deserve that. ❤ **