Wistful Wednesday : Chance

We were very fortunate to have a wonderful dog in our lives for a good long time.  Yet it never seems long enough.

Dec 26 2004 shortly afer we brought him home with us after he chose Far Guy.

He brought much joy into our lives everyday. He was singing for Far Guy!

He loved balls…especially the pink ones…and blue ones…fact is if it was a ball that was thrown he probably loved it. He would play ball outside or in the house…he didn’t care just as long as you threw it!

 

He was a loyal friend who would share everything…yes even his beloved balls, toys and his food and water dish with Miney and Little Elvis.  He loved it when they visited!

Most of all he was Far Guy’s faithful companion.

He liked me well enough but he had a special bond with Far Guy. I think it was a “guy” thing.

He tolerated me and my camera.  I think I must have thousands of photos of him.  Here you can see his big heart on his shoulder…he was loved by so many people!

Saying goodbye was hard…  we are incredibly sad, our hearts are broken.

Wistful Wednesday: Lake Michigan

A long time ago eleven  years ago I took some photos of Far Guy and Chance walking on the shores of Lake Michigan in October of 2007.  Chance was three years old.

It was a breezy Fall afternoon and we all needed to stretch our legs.  I love the sound of the waves and could have stayed there for hours!

We had a nice walk along the shore.  We had been visiting friends and relatives all over Indiana.  We visited relatives in Georgetown, friends in Hymera, Warren, Ossian, Goshen and South Bend.  It was a real visiting trip.  Many of those old Indiana friends are now gone… we still have the relatives! We hated the thought of going through Chicago to get home so we headed up the Lower Penisula to the UP and then home.

2 to 68

Just like that!

Far Guy was just little back in 1952, he was two years old…I can see both Savannah and Mikey in that expression.

A few weeks ago we did not know if Far Guy would make it to his 68th birthday…but he did and I took some photos to mark the day.

My fellas

Happy 68th birthday…glad you made it!

Getting well soon

Far Guy is worse.  He is in ICU and getting good care for respiratory distress.  We are hopeful that he will be back taking Chance for walks to get the mail soon.

He caught my cold and although he started on antibiotics and prednisone it was not enough to keep him breathing well on his own.

Since he has Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency and only 21% of normal lung function he needs some extra help to get over this health hurdle.

A prayer or two or three would be appreciated.

Wistful Wednesday: Far Guy’s Birthday

Today is the day, 67 years ago Far Guy was born.  He was a “blue baby” now we know what that means.  It was the first sign  that he had Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency. Back then they didn’t know about such things and just called him a “blue baby.”

Far Guy and his sister in 1953

Don’t let the sweet smile fool you…he was a handful.  Typical boy into everything and had to try everything at least once or twice.  He often wishes that he had the Lionel train cars that were sacrificed for small explosions(Firecrackers) and those that were set on fire in the basement.

His Mom used to make him a birthday dinner, he always asked for shrimp, there was a french fryer in the basement  especially for french fries or shrimp. She would make him some kind of orange sherbet dessert…it was spread in a pan and put in the freezer until it was served…brownies with hard (boiled chocolate) frosting was another of her birthday specialties.

I asked him to do a photo shoot with Chance.

 

Stop petting the dog!

All together say awwwww

Happy Birthday to our best friend!

Chance: Someone is sick

Hiya!  It’s me Chance the blogging Border Collie.

Far Guy went to the Doctor and got three bottles of pills.  Guess someone was right when she said he better get his butt into the Doctor.  He has a fever and a bad cough that keeps him us awake all night.

I am just fine.  It’s not catchy is it?  Must not be… Far Side is just fine…she did join us for one nap time but that was because of the coughing all night business…it was hard to listen to and hard to sleep through.  She must have had a really good nap cause she drooled on her pillow and everything…just a little…a very ladylike drool…not at all like a drippy dog drool that leaves a puddle on the floor.

I go out to play ball with Far Side when she says it is time to go out…then I go back to my spot.

Just incase someone wakes up and wants to scratch my back or rub my belly. 

We had Chicken Soup and fresh flatbread for supper last night and Far Guy is taking all his pills and drinking juice until he says “It is sloshing around in my stomach, how much more do you want me to drink?”   Far Side says he might be a tad cranky…but he is on his way to getting all better.

Chance: Happy Birthday Far Guy!

I needed some help with a special birthday greeting for Far Guy…he is older today.  I think we are almost the same age now.

Chance

Jennifer created this wonderful birthday wish for our Dad!  Isn’t it just perfect…just like me!

Chance the scout

Chance where have you been?  Were you out for a walk all by yourself?

“Nope I am the scout!  I am on duty.”

What are you scouting ?  Turkeys or squirrels?

“I am the advance scout for Far Guy, he is carrying the US Mail.”

“I am ready at the drop of a dog bone to protect all the mail and the males safe passage.”

You are a good scout Chance.

“I know.  Neither the snow, rain, wind or freezing temperatures or even Sundays stop me from taking my walk to the mail box.” :)

Chance : The Life Jacket

Hiya!  It’s me Chance the blogging Border Collie! 

Do you remember that silly super gift Far Side got for Christmas?  That orange thing that they made me wear around inside the house.  When I was all trussed up like a turkey it was hard to walk.  Sometimes I just sat down and refused to move.  WELL the darn thing has a handle at the top and they could lift me up….and if I walked around in it for a little while they gave me a treat.

Getting all trussed up and buckled in for an adventure in Bass Lake.

The lure of the water is something else..no time for sitting down.

Hey Far Guy follow me! Old people are easy to confuse.

I was a good boy and came when I was called.

Then I did it.

Far Guy grabbed ahold of me and I drug him safely to shore.  I think maybe he had something else in mind..like perhaps taking me out a bit deeper??  Nah he wouldn’t do that to his best friend would he?

Far Side said “Let’s not push it.  Let’s end this session on a positive note.”  So they took my life jacket off and I wandered around scarfing up smelling goose poop:)

Chance: My Turn

It is my turn! Finally!  I haven’t gotten a chance to blog in a long time. 

Far Guy has the flu..and he is the one that got the flu shot..Far Side doesn’t have the flu yet..she skipped that flu shot after it made her shoulder go all crazy last year. She got really good at throwing the ball left handed.  If they both get the flu I might have to blog full time. 

I can walk on top of the snow banks now without sinking.  That last thaw formed a wonderful crust on top of the snow..so now I can explore the woods again.  Far Side says “Stay in the yard.” I usually do..but once in a while I just have to chase a bunny or a squirrel. My tracks leaving the yard are self incriminating.

How could anyone stay mad at this handsome lookin’ face for long?

It snowed just a little this morning..enough for Far Side to contemplate hibernation.  She wouldn’t hibernate while Far Guy is sick..would she?

Somebody has to keep feeding the birds that are eating us out of house and home..especially with their voracious appetite for Niger Thistle Seed.  Far Side wonders if they row each bag over individually nestled in their own personal hammocks? 

Now it’s  time for me to sneak into the bedroom while Far Side isn’t watching..so I can snuggle with Far Guy and make him all better:)

A New Friend

We have a new friend, she lives down the road at Hooch's house. She is eight weeks old. Her name is Odda 2, she is a Bernese Mountain Dog. Odda 1 died when she was just sixteen weeks old, she had a defective heart. ( It was very sad) This new pup was supposed to be called Bella..but everyone kept calling her Odda instead of Bella..so Odda 2 is her name! We have visited twice in a week, she has no manners..yet, and her little teeth are like razor blades. Hooch is teaching her some manners, he is a tough teacher, and made her cry yesterday. It sounded terrible, and Hooch was in big trouble... Hooch may be in for a big surprise when she gets bigger...and bigger she will be! Chance did really good with the new pup, of course she thought seeing someone the color of her Mother was pretty interesting. He just moved out of her way, when she got too "nosy."

All tails are up! Hooch, Chance and Odda 2
Chance and Odda 2

Run Odda 2 Run

She is pretty cute!

I think it is wonderful that I can live vicariously through my neighbors new puppy, I can visit, and play, and go home. Kinda like being a Grandma! No whining at night, no accidents during potty training, no new puppy smells ( Gosh I love the smell of a new puppy.) Sometimes I would like to have my very own dog. Chance loves me, but he is devoted to Far Guy. They are best buddies, and sometimes it is down right nauseating the interaction between my husband and his best friend. The other evening I was busy with something, and they were having a "talk"..it went like this. "Well, buddy, I guess it is time to cook something for supper, you are getting hungry aren't you dude?" grr..grr.. "Nope, she doesn't cook anymore." grr.. grr.. "I guess thirty- five years of cooking almost every night burned her out, so now it is our turn" grr.. grr.. pathetic arn't they? :)