Looking Back.....

It's hard to believe that it has been over a year since my friend Pat O'Brien passed away. I miss her greatly and think of her often. This past year has seen me move from Bradenton to Englewood. I have a good friend who owns a pet shoppe and I was asked to work the store on Mondays. Great job and I have met some super people. My pet sitting business is doing well and life in general has been good.
I am looking forward to camping in April and to a cruise to Nassau in November. I also have a 50th class reunion the beginning of October in Kentucky and hope to be able to drive up for that. My dogs are doing well and like their new home. I miss them a lot when I am sitting for other people, but I think they know my absence is temporary and Ed is with them.
My son Michael and his wife Kim will be here for a visit the first week in July which will be a special treat. They will celebrate their 4th anniversary while here. We will be sure to do something special for the occasion. And with any luck I will go to upstate New York for Christmas this year.
So, like I said, living la vida loca ..............

Another lost friend

February marked the end of a 23 year friendship with one of the greatest ladies I have ever known. We met a month after my move to Florida in '89. We worked together for only a very short period of time, but the friendship remained in place. She stood by me when a bad marriage went really south and was happy when a new partner was by my side. She shared my grief when he was lost to me after what seemed like a very short 18 years. And now, she is gone also. No more trips to St. Pete window shopping and spending hours wandering through book stores - a passion we shared. I think of her often and smile remembering the good times we shared. Rest in peace my friend.......... 

Another has left us........

It is always sad to lose a member of the family, but it was time to let Phantom go. He was 17 and the last 7 years that he spent with us were probably the best of his entire life. He was to go to California into rescue but never made it any further than New Mexico. He became Bob's constant companion, even sitting in the computer chair and watching TV with his tall friend. When Bob passed away, Phantom seemed to be lost for awhile. But then, my cousin Elaine came to live with our family and Phantom found a new companion. He was the ambassador for schipperkes, never having met a human he didn't like. Hopefully he is at peace now and his spirit is reunited with Bob.

Are the snowbirds ever leaving........

Seems as though there are more of them than ever this year. Won't let you out on the road even if you want to go in the opposite direction of the way they are headed. So afraid you will get to the beach 5 seconds before they do. I know there are some nice ones out there as some of them are my pet sitting clients - but the majority need to pack up and head back north......

The new mastiff girl has headed off on hopefully the last leg of her journey. Georgia has been adopted by a family in Vero Beach that had recently lost a mastiff. They were looking for a companion for their remaining dog and she seems to have fit the bill. They came over to see her and she took to the lady quite well. I hope that this is her final home as she has been shuffled around a lot and needs a loving forever home.

Starting a new pet sitting job on Sunday with a rottie girl. She seems very sweet and I am looking forward to being with her. Bookings have come in well for the summer months with just enough time in between for family time for me.

At this writing, all the four legged members of my extended family are doing well and I hope they stay that way. I am unable to attend the annual schipperke get together in Valdosta this year due to other commitments. I hope to be able to make it next year.........

As time goes by...........

It seems like no one is keeping up with their Blogs anymore. Everyone has entered into the world of Facebook and their thoughts - good,bad and indifferent - are out there for even more to see. I still enjoy the personal aspect of the blog knowing that there are but a handful that read it. And maybe that is a good thing. Everyone doesn't need to know all that goes on in my corner of the universe.

Pet sitting has been moving along fairly steadily and I have bookings for the summer months. I have picked up two new clients, one being fairly steady as he is on several boards and travels. The other is a snowbird and extremely nice. Great little dog also. A breed I have not worked with before.

We have a new addition to the mastiff side of the family. Her name is Georgia and she is a rescue. Came to Steve as a very shy and frightened girl. She has been in the pack for 7 weeks now and is coming around. Another foster that has found her forever home. She had been shuffled around too many times to have it happen yet again. She is a very sweet lady and extremely attached to Jack already. She follows him wherever he goes. Not sure whether he really likes that or not as he does think he is the center of everyone's attention. I have yet to be able to take a good picture of her as she seems to be camera shy. She takes off whenever she seems me with my Iphone or camera in my hand. I'll get a good picture one of these days. She can't outsmart me forever !

The rest of the pups are all well. Phantom is now 17 and still holding on. Hasn't let us know yet that it is time to let him go. My stepdaughter in Michigan is not quite so lucky unfortunately, as she and her husband had to let their elderly shephard cross over. I know how difficult that was and my heart goes out to them.

Not much else happening. Have two friends that just moved back to Florida from California and I really need to go visit them. And another friend and her husband from New Mexico are now here living in Silver Springs. Good visiting time coming up after my next round of pet sitting. I have been spending a little time on Facebook and have connected with people from my high school graduating class. I am hoping for a high school reunion next year. I have not been back to Kentucky since graduation for longer than a week to visit my parents and not at all since they moved to Florida in 1976. I am sure the small town hasn't changed much however. It will be good to go back if the reunion occurs................

Updating.....

The past few months have gone by quickly and have been fairly eventful - some good, some not so. The end of May we lost a member of our furry family, Bits. I'm not sure of the cause, just thankful she went quickly and hopefully, painlessly. She is missed greatly by us all. She was the ever present greeter of anyone who came to the door.

Pet sitting has been going very well. I have been busy most of the summer and it is carrying through September. November is partly booked and December has filled up also. The house where I am sitting now is in the country with lots of acreage and many deer in the yard. So peaceful. I can understand why someone would want to live out here.

Steve's daughter has been in the states since June and was in Englewood visiting for a few days. Wednesday was a mystery day planned by Steve. It was a lovely day, highlighted for me by a boat ride from the mainland to Palm Island. We had lunch at the island restaurant, followed by a golf cart ride around the island, a visit to the beach for shark teeth and back to the restaurant for ice cream. When we went back to the mainland, we headed to Boca Grande for another walk on the beach. Storm clouds moved in very suddenly and the three of us almost got blown away. Blowing sand is a great way to exfolliate your body !! We topped the day off by having dinner at Nicola's Restaurant in Englewood.

We finally got some rain here, but were spared the hurricane this time. We all have something to be thankful for........

Dreamcatchers

There is an Native American legend which says: "When a human dies there is a bridge they must cross to enter into Heaven. At the head of that bridge waits every animal that human encountered during their lifetime. The animals, based on what they know of this person, decide which humans may cross the bridge....and which are turned away."

May all of my friends be accepted by these animals..........