Farewell, Old Girl...

Molly was old when she came to us. We adopted her when our neighbor Eileen had to go into a nursing home. We were never sure of Molly's age -- she could have been fourteen, maybe older, when we said goodbye to her on Friday.

I blogged recently about her -- a cheerful old thing, in spite of deafness and arthritis. But for the past few weeks, she's been increasingly confused. When she became completely incontinent, the time had come. 

Never easy -- but in this case we knew it was coming. 


Someone asked a few days ago for an update on our dogs and cats. It's odd to find ourselves down to three dogs after many years of having six. 

But I'll do a quick rundown of the dogs that have been part of our lives  and this blog for the past three years.

Sweet Bear ( the original of Ursa who lives on in the Goodweather books) and happy Jack have been gone about a year .

Dan, the Border Collie, Maggie, the Mountain Cur (original of Elizabeth Goodweather's Molly,)  and William (Elizabeth's James) remain. Dan's the youngest -- maybe four. Maggie is twelve, William is older -- maybe fourteen.

The cats Eddie and Miss Susie Hutchins both seem ageless.

 

Often appearing in my pictures are Otis (in front) and Ali Ali. They live with Justin and Claui in another house on our farm. 

So many happy memories . . .

 

Jack

Jack is gone. 

Last Friday he was operated on for what turned out to be a massive tumor, necessitating a three hour surgery.  He came home and seemed to be recovering. The next day he managed a few shaky steps outside, before returning to his bed.  He seemed comfortable, though still groggy, and we thought that all was well.  Later, unexpectedly, he had a seizure of some sort, perhaps a massive  stroke, from which he did not recover.

He was the most cheerful dog I've ever known and the only dog who made a habit of turning to thank you when you opened the door to let him in.  

Jack the Jester, we sometimes called him because he was foolish in ways that didn't seem right for a Border Collie.

  "What would the lads down at the pub say?" we would ask when he climbed in a lap for a quick snuggle.

Another member of Dog Club gone, alas! But oh, what fun they had!

And how much joy they have brought us, despite the inevitable goodbyes.

Still Reading . . .

Sunday, and I'm still reading the page proofs . . . and still really pleased with how good it sounds to me.



















More of the same -- cold outside, the dogs and cats and I clustered round the fireplace inside.
William and Miss Susie Hutchins . . .

. . . Ali Ali, Maggie, and Jack relaxing . . . they're really good at it . . .

Molly keeping an eye on things . . . and Ali Ali and Otis being snug -- another perfect December day.