14

Chance woulda been 14 today.  As it is he has been gone a month now and we still miss him everyday.  He loved the extra jerky treats and french fries that he usually got on his birthday…and maybe even a piece of chicken, or spaghetti squash or baked carrots…all his favorite foods.

No birthday photos this year and no picture with the witch hat on Halloween…he hated that hat.

Last summer I had a photo made into a canvas.  When I got it I showed it to Chance…he was not impressed.  We didn’t know where to hang it so it ended up on the fireplace mantle.

 

 

Chance: Happy Birthday to ME!

Today is my birthday, I am thirteen years old today.  In eight weeks I will have lived with Far Side and Far Guy for 13 years.

I am getting old, feeling my age a bit but I still go for walks and I can play ball as long as I don’t jump in the air…Far Side just rolls the ball for me now a days. I take pills that make my arthritis better and I can go up and down the stairs most days.  I need help to get in and out of the vehicle.  I still like to go for rides.

Far Side says I am a little spoiled.  Now who really knows for sure.  I have plenty of food and special treats and a warm place to sleep and good company.

December 26 2004

This was back when I was so lonely at night that Far Side laid on the couch all night with one hand inside the laundry basket where I slept.

Someone put me in an airplane March 2005

Driving a boat  in 2006 probably on Lake Kabetogama

In a snowbank December 2008

Among the daisies 2009

Chasing water drops 2010

My magestic on a rock photo in 2010

 

2012 on a foggy October morning in Indiana

October 2013

October 2014

October 2015

October 2016

Happy Birthday to me!  This is my official 13th birthday photo. Not sure how many more birthdays I will have.  Far Side says everyday is a gift….hope my gift is a little bit of cheese …or some spaghetti squash…or peanut butter!

Chance :12 years old

It is my turn again today!!!

Today I enter my 12th year.  I was born in a barn near Aldrich Minnesota, I had lots of brothers and a sister and a great place to play and little kids to play with.  I grew and grew.  Then Far Side and Far Guy came to visit all the puppies…I walked up to Far Guy, he picked me up and didn’t put me back down.

I had to pose for the traditional birthday photo. She got lots of photos with my eyes closed…I am not an easy model.

This year she decided that I needed to lay in front of the Euonymus bush…it might be the prettiest spot in the yard to show me off…at least that is what she said.

And here I am at my black and white best.

12 years old is the average life span of a Border Collie…I made it!  I have some back leg and hip problems…sometimes my old legs just don’t want to go up or down the stairs.  I take a medication and an aspirin.  I have a vest with a handle that I can wear and someone will help me up and down the stairs.

I still play ball some days…some days not so much.  I have a nice bed to sleep on, sometimes I sleep there and sometimes not.  Most days I get to go for a ride!

Rides and treats are my favorite things…Happy Birthday to Me!

Chance: Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my day!  I am ELEVEN years old today!  I am an old guy now, sometimes they call me an old fart.

I am a spoiled boy.  At my elderly age my ears must be cleaned on a regular basis…with mineral oil…and my teeth get cleaned often. I like my rides every evening /late afternoon…my sorts are out if we don’t go for a ride.  I moan and groan like it is the end of the world…WELL it feels like it is….then we usually get to go!!!

I have important jobs. I walk with Far Guy everyday, first we get the mail and then we go for more walks later in the day …about 2 1/2 miles…I have met some other dogs while walking…one dog gets walked while his owner is in a golf cart.  Far Side walks too some days… just not as far.

My arthritis is worse some days than others…some days I limp a little and sometimes jumping in the car is really hard….but I still get there!

Far Guy didn’t think I would make it through the winter last year…but I surprised him. 

Far Guy worked on a special “spot” for me most of the summer while I chased the dirt and the shovel.  Two big buckets were filled with dirt and brought in to the workshop/greenhouse and one day when Andy stopped by he dug the “spot” a little deeper…until Far Side said “Good enough.”  It is all covered with a board now so someone won’t accidently fall in. ( I bet if Far Side fell in she wouldn’t be happy…in fact she might get cranky crankier.

Miney and me.

Miney is still my best friend…then Odda, Little Elvis and Putz…I like them all….and my sisters and kids and balls….and Far Guy and Far Side even when she is bossy (which is most of the time).

Happy Birthday to me! I don’t know what they have planned for me…but I know there are some homemade pumpkin treats that will be calling my name.

Chance: Happy Birthday to me!

Yesiree today is my birthday!  I am now ten years old.  I am older than Far Guy if you count in dog years.

Here is my birthday photograph!

I am doing great for being ten.  I have some arthritis especially in my front left shoulder and one of my hips.  I take a special pill everyday to help. 

I wake someone up every morning when I have to go out…a nose in the face usually wakes one of them up.   Then I come in and wake the other one up…so they are all awake.  They watch the morning news half asleep…sometimes we all take another nap.  Then it is time for breakfast…I can usually get a bit of peanut butter toast from Far Guy and a sliver of cheese from Far Side….then it is time to get the mail.  After mail we play ball and most days go for a long walk.  I play ball off and on throughout the day and then we might go for a ride…at 5 to 5:30 PM someone should be cooking cause I am getting hungry.   I keep them company in the kitchen by dropping my ball so they can kick it for me.  I get a treat after supper IF I have finished all my food.   Then later in the evening IF I whine I can usually get another treat out of one of them.   Sometimes they forget and they each give me a treat…those are really good days!

I am rarely left all alone.  I cry howl carry on like I am dying whimper loudly.  Most days I go along in the car…unless it is too hot.

Here are some great photos of me!

Chance December 26, 2004

Spring of 2005, Far Guy is teaching me how to “drop it” in his hand.  We worked on that a really long time…I finally got it and will drop a ball in some ones hand…BUT I will try to fool them …I would like them to try and grab the ball out of my mouth.   It is not allowed but I still try.

Here I am in the daisies!   Summer 2014

Here I am stalking a ball…waiting for it to be thrown. October 2014

Did you know I am a singer?  Well I am!  I am probably singing Happy Birthday to me!

Chance: Happy Birthday to me!

Hiya!  I am NINE years old today.  Can you believe it?

Yessiree nine years ago I was born in a barn in central Minnesota.  I had lots of brothers and a sister and as we grew up we had the run of the whole barn.  Lots of little kids lived in the house and would come to the barn to play with us. I LIKE KIDS.

I picked out Far Guy as soon as he came into the barn on December 26, 2004.  They were there just to “look” at puppies. I walked right up to him and he picked me up and didn’t put me down.  The rest is history.  Far Side had no say in it whatsoever…even though she was smitten with my brother who was hiding behind a hay bale and wouldn’t come out.

I am a little spoiled.  I don’t like being at home alone, I don’t get into mischief..but I do serenade the neighborhood.  Mostly I am allowed to go along everywhere…except if it is too hot in the car.

I wake everyone up in the morning by sticking my cold nose right in their face.  After everyone is up, I settle in for my morning nap until it is mail time.  I play ball after getting the mail and sometimes “chase me.”  I play ball off and on throughout the day.

I like to eat right at 6 PM, and someone should be cooking by 5:30 or before.  They should also be making me some of my favorite vegetables…spaghetti squash or carrots.

I like to go for rides and my day is not complete until we go someplace.

Far Side worked hard one day taking a perfect birthday picture.

She says I am really really handsome when I want to be with my eyes open and everything. 

I growed up to be a pretty nice dog…must have something to do with my owners:)

Chance: Eight is Great!

Today I am eight years old! Life is still good.  I play ball everyday and walk with Far Guy to get the mail. We go for rides and I bark at horses and cows.  At home I herd the squirrels and chipmunks and sometimes I chase the Pileated Woodpecker away from the suet feeder. Some days I am a greeter at the museum..everyone loves me there and knows my name.

I like to be fed at precisely 6PM..no sooner ..no later.  I love all kinds of vegetables on my dry food but spaghetti squash is my favorite!  If no one is cooking I walk around looking pathetic and hungry until someone decides to cook. Sometimes Far Side says “You are not starving to death..there is dry food in your dish.” Sometimes she tells Far Guy..no extra vegetables for him till he finishes his own food.  She is one tough old lady with lots of rules.  Rules like NO Jumping on the elderly.  No pooping in the yard..I am supposed to poop in the poop area at the edge of the woods.  No going out after dark without a leash..she is saving herself from skunks. I am tired of hearing about that stupid skunk I chased last year. Remember Chance how bad you smelled?? YES, YES.. put on the freaking leash already.

I spit out my baby aspirin every night unless it is covered in cheese or peanut butter.  The baby aspirin makes my joints feel better and the cheese  or the peanut butter makes the aspirin go down better.

I am not sure what kind of wonderful celebration I will have today..but perhaps it will involve a new ball and some extra treats.  I am worth it!

At least my birthday was not forgotten like last year:)

Chance’s Forgotten Birthday 2011

Chance: Happy Birthday..I am Six! 2010

Chance’s Birthday 2009

Happy Birthday Chance 2008

Chance: Forgotten Birthday

HELLO it is I the handsome blogging Border Collie..whose birthday was totally forgotten.

On Tuesday October 25 I was seven years old.  No celebration..no atta boys.  Finally on Friday ( three count them three days late) Far Side said “I think one of these days it is the boys birthday!”  ( The boy..meaning me..as I am the only boy they have ..other than the Grand boys.)

She checked my record..and sure enough my big day was history.  They forgot. What happened that was so important?  Nothing..they are G.E.T.T.I.N.G. O.L.D.

So what happened on my birthday?  We played ball..we play ball everyday..I got treats..I get treats everyday..we walked to the mail box..of course we do that everyday too..except Sunday ( I think that the mail should go seven days a week).  So I guess nothing special happened..except I turned 7:(

Chance: Happy Birthday to me..I am six!

Guess what happened exactly six years ago today???  I was born!

Betcha didn’t know that..well neither did Far Guy or Far Side until I picked out Far Guy the day after Christmas in 2004. 

Okay!  You can all say AWWWW all together now..I was really cute!!

Fast forward six years…One of my favorite games next to playing ball is jumping for water in the lake..

Far Guy splashes water into the air and I try to catch it in my mouth.  It is a really fun game and I like to play it until my tongue is hanging in the water.  Far Side took these photographs last summer and was saving them for a special day.

Jumping for joy..just because I can!

Sometimes Far Side gets a little wet..and she giggles..

I get a little wet too..Far Side says there is nothing better than the smell of a wet dog. She is a true dog person.

I am a very happy dog.  I have lots of balls in all colors, I play ball many times a day…it is my job.  Border Collies need jobs!   I  sleep indoors every night where it is safe and warm. I get brushed and my teeth get cleaned.  I chase squirrels and chipmunks out of the yard but I hardly ever bark, I am a silent stalker. If I bark either I want something or I am announcing to the neighborhood that I am outside and I am on duty and something is out there.  I go on adventures almost everyday even if it is only a walk to the mailbox.  My food dish is never empty, but I only eat when everyone else eats their supper..cause I am just a tad spoiled. Far Guy gives me special treats, but not too many of them because Far Side says I have a sensitive stomach. He is not allowed to sneak me any extra treats..and I do not eat table scraps..unless of course it is spaghetti squash or French fries..I bet I get some French fries today:)

Here are some of my other birthday blogs.

Chances Birthday 2009

Chances Birthday 2008

Chance's Birthday

I wonder what it was like, if it was day or night, if he was born first or in the middle or was he the very last. Was he hind legs and butt first or did he enter the world like a diver..with his little paws tucked by his head? Did he breathe and squeak right away.. or did his Mom have to rub him half to death with her rough tongue. Was it cold in the barn? At least it was dry, and safe. Those first few weeks of his life, the small children must have handled and played with him every day. He loves children, except when they cry, crying makes him nervous his ears go down and he moves away. That day in the barn when we went just to "look" he walked right up to Far Guy. The rest is history. As for his name, I had the name Chance picked out for a number of years..John Wayne had a dog named Chance in one of his movies. So he was named a long time before we actually got him. We were dog-less for three very miserable years, there is nothing worse than two dog people without one. He ended our dog-less life and our daughters finally got a brother.

December 26, 2004

A Chance Story: We got him on December 26, 2004, he was just eight weeks old. That next spring, he became a greenhouse dog, he would go back and forth between the two greenhouses. One day, I thought he was with Far Guy, and Far Guy thought he was with me..we started hollering..I blew my whistle ( Whistle means Come=Cookies). He was not showing up.. my heart was in my stomach..where could he be? Was he asleep someplace? Did we lock him in somewhere? He was nowhere to be found. Then I saw him at the edge of the driveway, all stretched out in a peculiar position. Far Guy said "OH SHIT, DID HE GET HIT BY A CAR? " Maybe, but he was moving. Far Guy ran, I kinda ran, I am not a good runner. Chance was stuck. He was definitely alive ..but stuck..trapped in a tomato cage.. one of those wire ones with a tapered end..he went in just fine..but couldn't escape out the other end..he was too scared to back out. He was in a real pickle. He had managed to inch the cage out of the woods little by little..trying to get to us. Far Guy and I were his heroes, rescuing him from his unexpected confinement in a very evil tomato cage. Needless to say, we collected all the evil things and put them away in the grain bin. In retrospect it was pretty funny, at the time ..it was not funny at all. He is not a very vocal dog, he never barks unless someone or something strange comes in the yard, he is not a yappy barker like the Shelties were. He is quiet, sometimes too quiet..although he does whine and cry and carry on like he has just lost his best friend when Far Guy leaves without him. It is so pathetic, and might even make me shed a tear or two..if it weren't so over dramatic. He should be in the movies!

Chance in Duluth October 12, 2009

Chance is a pretty lucky dog, we have the time to spend with him, to throw his ball for him and to take him on little adventures. We take him almost everywhere with us. He wakes up every morning, raring to go..excited just to be awake and more than happy to wake us up so the adventures can begin.

Chance October 24, 2009

Today Chance is Five Years Old! We will probably take him into town to celebrate today..possibly to his favorite place.. Burger King for some French Fries! He doesn't get them very often, and when he does we make them last for about three days! :)

Happy Birthday Chance!

Chance December 26, 2004

Loving to sleep among a "litter" of boots and shoes! 2005

Chance is four years old today! We were dog people without a dog four years ago, we were pathetic..we had been dog-less for three years. Far Guy kept talking about a Border Collie, I was a Sheltie person, but I had a Collie when I was growing up. All our previous dogs were very attached to me, we had a good bond because I was home more than anyone else. Now Far Guy had some time..so we decided on a Border Collie, perhaps he could form a really good bond with a new pup. We researched the breed and decided a pup with some energy would work for us. Far Guy loved the way they herded sheep, but he had no intention of buying any sheep. We just wanted a dog as a pet. The day before Christmas 2004 I noticed an ad in a local paper, the day after Christmas we just went to LOOK at this litter. The Border Collie Mom was friendly and outgoing, the farm wife and kids were nice, and the puppies ..oh my..they were born in a big old barn and had the run of the place..along with many children of all ages. There were six or seven pups, some curious, some hiding, some chasing their brothers and sister. I say sister because there was only one little girl and she had been spoken for. We weren't set on a girl anyway, a boy would be just fine. I am looking around trying to decide who I liked the most, I wanted to cuddle with the one that was hiding, I wanted to play with the ones that were playing. In the meantime Far Guy had been chosen, one of the pups walked right up to him and wagged his tail...Far Guy was a goner! I kept looking at all the other choices.. "Oh honey, look at this one, look at that one." He said "Yes dear" all the while holding this one little pup. " OK, OK, your new dog just picked you! " We left with our "Chance" at being dog owners once more:)

Chance "Flying" an airplane 2005 Chance and Far Guy "Mutual Admiration Society" 2006

Chance always has his eye on the ball! Playing Ball is his JOB!! Border Collies Need jobs!

Chance on vacation! He goes everywhere with us!! That would be me holding the leash, and two of our grand-daughters..guess who Chance has an eye on? Yup.. Far Guy had the camera! And the crazy dog is the only one looking at the camera! Northern Minnesota 2006

One of my very favorite photographs.. our daughter Jen took this of Chance and Savannah our oldest grand-daughter in Minnesota in 2006. Chance also loves to catch water in his mouth, he doesn't swallow it..he just leaps in the air to catch it!

Happy Birthday Chance!