For all you dog lovers out there

I am not what you would call a 'reader' by any means. I never seem to have the time to sit down and relax enough to enjoy a good book. Don't know why, after all I am retired, just a retired person that always has a list that has to be followed and accomplished. True, I always have to have a 'project' going ~ that's me, and that's my nature. But, when I saw this book I think it called out to me and I am so glad it did. "A dog's purpose", by James Cameron. It's been a very long time since I picked up a book and then had trouble putting it down. After having recently lost two of my canine family members, Sebbee and Kelsey-Mama, this book has made me see their 'passing' in a totally different light. I have had dogs since birth and can't remember even one day in my life when I never had that wonderful 'bonding' between dog and human. They have always been there....I have always had a dog beside me. I've had 12 dog's who have come into my life and when they passed on they left something for me - each and every one of them. I currently have 4 dogs now. I will never be without a canine companion. I highly recommend that if you love dogs and have ever lost one of your best friends, you need to read this book ~ seriously! I'm not one who even recommends books. That should say something in itself. I cried, I laughed, I was comforted. It was the most totally engrossing and most heart-felt book I had ever read. But then - I am a dog lover and have been since day one. After reading this book I know that Shep, Shep II, Buckie, Breezy, Bree, Chinook, Buckie Bear, Lassen, Cedar, Kodi, Sebbee and Kelsey-Mama had a purpose - to be born - to make my life much better.
A review of the book:

A tail-wagging three hanky boo-hooer, this fiction debut by James Cameron proposes that a dog's purpose might entail being reborn several times. Told in a touching, doggy first-person, this unabashedly sentimental tale introduces Toby, (a feral mutt) who's rescued by a woman without a license for her rescue operation, so, sadly, Toby ends up euthanized. He's reborn in a puppy mill and after almost dying while left in a hot car, he's saved again by a woman, and he becomes Bailey, (a  golden retriever) who finds happiness and many adventures. His next intense incarnation is as Ellie  (a female German shepherd) who becomes a heroic search and rescue dog. But the true purpose of this dog's life doesn't become totally clear until his reincarnation as Buddy (a black Lab). A book for all age groups who admire canine courage, Cameron also successfully captures the essence of a dog's amazing capacity to love and protect. And happily, unlike Marley, this dog stays around for the long haul.

 

So there you have it - dang it - go out and 'fetch' this book, you'll be happy you did!

Thanksgiving 2010

My son Sean, daughter-in-law Tammi, and grandchildren Shadwic (Shad) and Kaihla came to visit for 4 days. It's been our tradition for years to spend Thanksgiving together. It's a nice break for them to spend time in 'Nana's Forest'.  As usual ~  we sauna, have a nice meal, and hunt for a Christmas tree. Tammi decorates the tree for me. This year was an exceptional Thanksgiving holiday because as usual Tammi wished for some snow and well.....we got it. She's more or less referred to in our family as the 'Snow Queen' because any time she hopes to wake up to snow - we do.

Since we had so much snow this year it would have required us to have chains to get to where we usually search for our tree so we kept the search a little closer to home, no problem.... we had already previously decided to try another location anyway. This year was the deepest snow we have ever encountered in our Christmas tree search.  

This was our first location, but we quickly decided it wasn't the greatest spot seeing how we were literally walking over manzanita bushes and sinking in the snow.

It got to be too difficult to go any further as you will note by the photo of Sean and Shadwic 'taking a break'

We eventually found a nice area where Shad led the way, braving his own pathway in 'untouched and untraveled' snow.

Nana wanted a Doug Fir for her Christmas tree this year, and we had to shake snow off the trees just to see what they looked like.

We all had fun, as we usually do.

We found plenty of time to build a snowman.........

..........do a little quadding in the snow.............

...........a little sledding...........

....and a little sauna-time.

I've had some pretty severe carpal tunnel symptoms in my left hand for the last week or so and Tammi and Sean cleared my driveway and walkway prior to going home. By that time it was pretty much solid ice. Can't thank them enough.

Sean taught his son Shad the first basics of 'shooting'. He's only 5, so of course we used the little pink Daisy BB gun my friend Laura gave me for Christmas (apparently I had been whining too much about not having my Red Ryder rifle anymore and she got tired of listening to me whine) Shad didn't care if it was pink or not. It was fun watching Sean teach his son how to correctly point the gun when not in use, how to sight it in.....it reminded me of many years ago when Ralph had bought Sean his first .22 handgun and taught him how to shoot. Shad shot all the balloons we set up for him and even managed to get a few shots into the little bulls-eye target I made him.

It was a great Thanksgiving and I miss the kids already!

The 'Discovery' of Fort Bear

I would say that the grandkids discovery of Fort Bear was nothing less than 'awesomeness'. Sean and Tammi took the kids for a walk around Nana's property looking for 'something new ~ a big surprise'.

After walking the entire perimeter of the property they found it.  I should probably rephrase that to say that Shadwic and Kaihla found Nana ~ up in the trees.

By the looks of the kids facial expressions they were pretty excited!

Sean took a photo of Shadwic, Kaihla, Tammi and myself in Fort Bear.

Shadwic wanted to take a photo so he took a photo of Kaihla, Mommy, Nana, and Daddy.   Not a bad photographer for a 5 year old.

By the look on my son's face I think he was just as excited as the grandkids.  

The next day we received some snow so Tammi, Shadwic and Kaihla checked out Fort Bear in the snow.........

while the three young pups played in the snow.

Yeah, I think 'Fort Bear' was a huge success!

*Sorry about the quality of the video - but you get the idea...LOL*