Growing Pains

My baby's getting old.

No longer this cute gangly puppy, my sweet girl is now considered a senior citizen in the extra large dog range at the ripe old age of eight years old.

One of the hardest things about being a young animal owner is taking care of your pets financially.  I'll admit it's not easy to stomach vet bills while you're trying to work and go to school at the same time.  And you take your dog in to be seen and know they need the care being offered but it's a hard pill to swallow when you hear the bottom line.

As Fynn gets older, that is the other hard thing to watch.  I realize I never had it so good as when she was three - fit and happy, agile and no real issues to speak of.  I think this hits closer to home having just experienced her mama Vida's death.  For a while now I have been looking at Fynn and getting really sad about where she is at with her health and age. She is not as stable anymore on her legs. She will sometimes fall when the floor is slippery.  It's sometimes hard for her to get up into the car on her own and her knee that she injured when she was younger bothers her more.  And like all filas that long to please their owners, even though she knows you're telling her to get up, it is difficult for her to do so and she gets so worried.  It is so hard to watch.

So I took her in today to get some care and come to realize she needs more care which will in turn cost more.  Of course I will give her that care and thanks to student loans I can.  Regardless of that, the blow financially followed by the blow of watching her age was really tough.  And then I heard this song come onto my ipod...

Aside from the lyrics referring to father and the cheesy video, Paul Simon puts it perfectly.  "As long as one and one is two, there could never be a mother who loves her daughter more than I love you."  And snap, it's all in perspective.  As the doctor said, she could live quite a few more years and I want to have her feeling as best she can so she can enjoy those years as much as she can.  And true enough, nothing matters when it comes to her.  I would do anything to care for her... she is just that important to me.  Thanks Paul, for not only making me cry but for the reminder.

To make you smile...

Just had to share a post from one of my favorite blogs The Pioneer Woman.  She talks sometimes about her basset hounds Charlie and Walter and takes the funniest pictures.  So in honor of these amusing kids, here's a post to make you laugh;)

Jessie, Linda Ronstadt and the Joys of Fostering...

Dogs.

You gotta love em.

They are your biggest fan club.
They keep you company.
They make you feel good about yourself.
They make you laugh.
They know to comfort you when you're down.

One point dogs.

Humans.

We can do pretty awful things.  Unfortunately in rescue, we hear about the worst.  Recently, a dog within the rescue community had to be put down because her body had experienced too much to recover from.  You see, prior to being rescued, she had been thrown against a wall.  This poor little dog tried hard to overcome her experiences and managed to bless many volunteers' lives before she had to go.  I've also heard of people moving and leaving their animals in their vacant home with no plan for rescue.  I've heard of people dropping off their dogs in the middle of a desert area in the heat of summer where there aren't many people who pass by them.  And these are the least gruesome of the stories!

Minus one point for humans.  Boo!

This is why I work with animal rescue.  I volunteer and give voices to the dogs that can't speak for themselves.  And with my help and many others like me, we help to pull millions of dogs from terrible situations and help overloaded shelters by giving these dogs homes.  This is why I foster.  We all have a duty to take responsibility and unfortunately, we have to pick up where others are lacking.  But I have the faces of over 50 dogs I've helped staring back at me saying thanks.

Oh, and making me laugh... and smile... and... well... just look...


Introducing Miss Jessie.

She's an owner surrender and is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever fostered.

I mean just look at this face... the face of an angel.  Oh and did I forget to mention... she loves the sun?

I have a few of those sun baskers...

Yup, Miss Fynn loves herself some sun.

Anyway, Jessie was surrendered from her owner as she felt like she wasn't getting enough attention and thought it best to teach the babies in the household she didn't want to be tugged on.  Crazy notion! So Jessie is living it large with us... and she's ADOPTABLE!

And it's a good thing we have her because she's really helped our newest addition acclimate to life in our home.

Without further ado... introducing... Linda Ronstadt!

Wait... are you saying you can't see the resemblance?

How about now...?

Well either way, this little girl is named after Miss Linda Ronstadt and she has the vocal chords to prove it.  We are quite the talker!  She's a 3 month old miniature pinscher and is just adorable.  Jessie is helping her get settled in and teaching her the ropes.  Linda is totally enamored with her big foster sis.

Both dogs are ADOPTABLE!  Just sayin...

These cute faces keep me rescuing, including the one resting at my feet right now (Mr. Milo).  

And to leave you with a video that sums it all up... let's savor every moment we have with these precious beings.

Birthday flowers...

I am blessed.  Amid the hustle and bustle of going to school and working full time, I was able to have an amazing birthday week.  So amazing I just have to share.

It all started with this man...

Mmm mmm mmm, just look at this man.  Let's just take a moment...


My amazing partner gifted me with tickets to see Prince at the Showbox Market last Thursday night.  Now, to set the scene, the Showbox Market is a pretty small venue which made it pretty awesome.  Prince looked just this good... still... and he sounded great.  He put on such a show with all the theatrics you've come to know and love.  Oh Prince, you slay me.  I put my big-girl pants on, sucked it up and went to the late show that started at 11:30 PM.  I was not disappointed with his rock set and two encores, one being a medley of some of his hits.  I may have only gotten 4 hours of sleep that night but it was worth it.

Saturday the festivities continued at a bowling alley with friends, then dinner with friends.  Lovely day. Sunday, my birthday wishes were actualized as we did gardening.  Yes friends, I've turned into one who gets excited to garden.  I'm sure blog posts totally devoted to favorite plants didn't clue you in.  So my "study break" consisted of planting a couple of hellebores, moving plants around, pruning one of the trees and giving some compost love to some of our existing plants.  Here are our two newest hellebore additions...

 

Gotta love putting the education to good use.  Very gratifying.  These kids will be perfect in the shady area we put them in... if Fynn doesn't trample them.  One more gardening goal for the year finished!  Check!

And then to top it all off, for my birthday yesterday, I got flowers!  I am pretty sure I was delivered flowers for the first time in my life.  That makes a girl feel quite special.

And then I went home to not only a freshly cleaned house but another bouquet!  This girl here is spoiled!

We took a walk with our dogs (which is a little slice of heaven, my equivalent of smelling the roses) and went to dinner on Lake Union where mama got to have her wine... happy birthday me!  Shout out to my girlfriend for supporting me through this time as well as making me feel extra special on my special day.  Like I said... truly blessed.

Administrative professionals, hats off to you!

Did you know today is Administrative Professionals Day?  It is!

Yesterday my boss gave me a lovely bouquet of lilacs for my birthday which always falls around this other holiday.  I choose to see this gift as recognition of both.  After all, I deserve to be recognized for all the pain I go through!  So here's a post for the unsung heroes...


Dear Executives of the World,

There is a person or a few people in your office that deserve to be recognized.  I'm talking about your administrative staff.  Too often, these folks function beyond their job description and are the first line of defense against the world of customers.  They also help to make the little mundane tasks go away so that you can focus on "more important things".  Without this administrative element, your office would more than likely cease to function like the well-oiled machine it is.

All I ask is that every year you recognize that person or people on this one national holiday.  It is your responsibility to remember that date.  Put it on your personal calendar so as to remind you to get them something in honor of the work they have done for you.  Your appreciation will go far as we all know, if your staff is happy, you are happy.

Beth, Office Manager Extraordinaire



My dears, let's hear it for the administrative professionals!

I'm talking about the people that...

• mindlessly stuff envelopes for a mailing
• field phone calls of really pissed clients and effectively talk them down off the wall before they grace your ear
• manage the billing and often take the heat when charges are called into question (charges that would never be questioned elsewhere)
• wear multiple hats, managing to do jobs they weren't initially trained for while still being paid the small amount of the lowly assistant
• make miracles happen with schedules to make meetings and other priorities happen
• pick up your children and gas up your car when you can't
• fetch food for you so that you can remain nourished

And last but not least.... (drumroll please)

• pick cheese off of a salad that was fetched for you because, unbeknownst to the assistant, your mind should have been read and cheese should have been requested to not be included.  This is picking off fine cheese on a salad after being yelled at for not having the gift of ESP that most people don't have.

Oh yes, that happened.

See kids, this is why these helpful individuals need recognition.  So help a gal out and spread the Admin Pro Day cheer!  The person who receives it will be forever grateful.

And The Winners Are...

Winter Quarter is finally over and I realize I have yet to show my favorites in the conifer line-up.  Oh no!  First a little background... in the horticulture department of Edmonds Community College, the fine institution I am attending, plant identification courses are required.  In the fall we had broadleaf ID and winter quarter is conifer ID.  At first I was sure I would hate conifers but then I was introduced to some fabulous plants.  Conifers may just be some of my favorite plants out there.  I'll give my final verdict on that note after I take deciduous ID this spring.

So, to round off my ever-growing list of conifers I'm now in love with, here are my top four.

Let me introduce you to Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides' or the fernspray Hinoki cypress...

Through my conifer journey, I have realized I totally dig plants and trees that look like they've been bonsai'ed.  I like seeing the definition of the branches instead of just one big ball of plant-life.  The Hinoki cypresses satisfy that need.  And the cool part about the fernspray one is the branchlets hold themselves even closer to the branches so you can see even more definition.  And it is just very cool to see a conifer that looks like a fern.  I mean where did that come from?  Oh that's right, genetic engineering ;)  Here's a picture of the absolutely stunning one we have on campus.

My friend took this with her phone so it's not the best quality but I LOVE IT.  Just very awesome definition.  

The second runner-up is Cedrus lebani or Cedar of Lebanon.  

The form is just beyond cool and it holds its branches so straight.  Very cool.  Here are a few other pictures...

Cedar of Lebanon foliage and cones

The runner-up for the top conifer pick would be another cultivar of the Hinoki cypress.  I love Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Gracilis' or slender Hinoki cypress.  There are other forms that are similar that are great like the dwarf version or the dwarf golden version.  Upon my recent visit to a wonderful local nursery, I saw 6" versions of these that were absolutely adorable.  Here is what appears to be a dwarf version...

This foliage looks like cupped hands and it dances around the branches...

Here's the golden form...

The slender or 'Gracilis' form shows a bit of the trunk which is a beautiful red color.  I just love this.  And this tree is often bonsai'ed which is very cool.  

But I have saved the best for last.  My favorite conifer is the Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka' or the Hollywood juniper.  This one is very showy and takes on such cool forms.

These plants just grow like this, they have not been trained.  Sometimes there might be some shearing or pruning such as on the one on the right to make way for a walkway.  But most of the time, thankfully they are let to just grow in their own funky manner.  Two great specimens flank the doors of the Seattle Asian Art Museum...

And then there's this juniper - Juniperus squamata 'Meyeri'... another sculptural flashy specimen.

Just so cool with such character... characteristics I aspire to.

Hopefully you enjoy these cool plants as much as I do.

Ode to Vida

On September 20, 2002, a very sweet girl named Vida came into this world...

Her mama and papa were looking for an addition to their family and they knew Vida would be that certain special someone they needed.

Let's pause for a moment and adore baby fila brasileiros.  I mean really, the loads of skin and big ears, just too cute!  

Ah.

Just in case you need another example of cute puppy fila, here you go...

Everybody now... ah!

I met Vida a little while later as she came bounding into a hotel room after her big brother Ukiah who I've mentioned before... It seemed like at the time he was rather annoyed by the wee tyke bouncing around him but they soon became great friends.  They spent many years doing what fila's do... basking in the sun and in their case, watching their mama and papa surf...

Ukiah (in back) and Vida chillaxin at the beach

Along their beautiful lives, a little accident happened and as explained before, Fynn came into the picture.  For that I'm eternally grateful as this lovely gal not only carried my sweet girl but she took good care of her as a wee pup.

Vida taking care of her two pups.

Since then, my partner and I have had the pleasure of hosting Miss Vida at our "retirement home" (as we have a bunch of "senior" dogs) for the past two summers.  We spoiled Vida with lots of love and a few other treats:

Trips to the beach in Neah Bay.  I imagined this felt like a bit of home being back on the beach...

We enjoyed our evening constitutionals in the nearby cemetery as well as walks to the dog park and camping trips...

Tuckered but happy Vida at Magnuson dog park

We also enjoyed a lot of rest and relaxation!

I always thought this was such an attractive photo.  Pretty girl.  We always took lots of pictures to keep her mama aware of our adventures.

As fate would have it, my darling niece Vida passed this Monday, March 4, 2013.  Her mama made the brave and humane decision to end her pain as she was suffering a great deal from cancer.  I can only hope that I will be as wise and brave to make that call if necessary in the future.  She passed in Jennie's loving arms with her papa looking on and me calling to her from afar to join me for a walk.  

As my heart is still breaking, I am remembering the beauty that was Vida.  She was such a strong girl.  She was the ultimate princess as her papa spoiled her from day 1.  She had her mama wrapped around her little finger as she was treated like a queen every day.  She was stubborn (such a fila) and there was so much humor in that.  Vida would talk to you and tell you a story about her day when you got home... talk and talk and talk...  She would also curl up and loved to be a "Vida burrito" under her blanket where her nose would be bunched up against the side of the bed.  

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for my day, I asked Vida to send me some signs from her just to comfort me. Later on that day, my Pandora station flipped to the following...

Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey".  Vida and Ukiah were raised hearing Van Morrison's sweet refrains echo through their home or be the soundtrack to their road trip.  The lyrics touched my heart and made me think of Vida...

She's as sweet as tupelo honey 

She's an angel of the first degree 

She's as sweet as tupelo honey 

Just like honey from the bee.

And then I smiled through tears realizing, "my goodness, she certainly thinks highly of herself!"  That's my Vida.  I love her and miss her terribly.  I know she knows and is watching over us now.  

Vida Pita, know that you are loved even still and always.  Know that I'm forever grateful for the gift of my darling Fynn and for the blessing your life has been to me.

Love, your Auntie

Listening to her auntie and basking in the love...

Vida love her some Auntie time

Sweetest picture of her RainBow, pretty girl