Grandpa's Summer Vacation - Memories During the Snow Days - By Abby the Lab

Bud meets Buddy

Abby the Lab here with a little story of Mom's 94 year old Dad  "Bud" that she's going to write up for me.

Mom's extended family has always had a home somewhere in the mountains, sometimes a full time residence for someone, sometimes, a summer or winter place. This is their favorite, built by Mom's Cousin L, from the remains of a shack she bought with some land. Mom's dad has spent many a holiday there for a long time, but not last year  as his health seriously declined.  He didn't think he would ever see it again as it's such a long trip and Mom's brother always came with him, making that two day drive each way and helping him in and out of the vehicle. But with her brother going to the Rainbow Bridge  to meet up with Barkley a couple of weeks after he journeyed there, her Dad doubted there would be anyone willing to make that long trek, twice in just a few months. Mom is willing, but with the flights back and forth to the West on the long weekends to make sure he is safe and happy, there just aren't enough vacation or leave days to use to do it all by herself.

But Mom and her cousin hatched a plot that involved 48 hours of driving for the round trip, a quick kidnapping (after coordination with the doctors for a pre "snag" check up and extra supplies.)  With the assistance of a strong, dashing man and a little cattle dog, they made it  in two days, with a stop to visit some great grandchildren along the way.

" Hey Bud -  you'll be staying in the summer "Guest Cottage" 

Here's your room, we were just kidding about the guest cottage.

 And the view of the back 40 is pretty nifty.

 Some things don't change, though the round rock collection is growing.

And the hives.

Here's my granddad in his bee hat, babe magnet every time.

He thinks he looked more dapper in his WWII uniform (that's him on the left) but he's happy anyway.

Because our family motto is sweet and clear.  Just Bee Happy!

So much to do over the summer.  Fourth of July!  Somehow I think alcohol was involved in this.

Some time at the lake. Bud let the youngsters play in the water.  He was just happy to sit in the warmth and share a glass a wine with one of his local friends.

 Mom's family doing their best to ensure the store's beer supply stays fresh.

 There's always evenings at the social club.

Or time at the old swimming hole.

 No, we didn't have bacon for breakfast.  Honest.

Mom calls, seeing what we're having for supper.

 The mountain air is invigorating.  Let's go for a walk on this deserted road with our humans.

There's no traffic at all, just some happy dogs.

Bud and cousin L. get to walk each day too, with a little help from C. who is a registered nurse. 

And their squadron of rescue dogs.

After the outdoor time, a little snack is in order.

Someone is always baking up something.

And a little relaxing as evening sets in.

Camera shy Dottie and Girlito the cat.

The summer flies by, quicker than we imagined, leaving on galloping hooves (like Buddy and Taxi the horse)

 Happy 94th Brithday to Bud!  Homemade Cake!

This is Mom's "family"  that shared in my summer and his special day. Only one of them is related by blood, the rest adopted, sharing a last name, or simply their lives, part of each's other's pack, rescuing one another, in so many little ways.

Before long, it would be time to head back, Cousin L. driving Bud north where they would meet Mom, who flew out from Chicago to meet them and take Dad to the Beach for the last of his summer fun. While Dad was gone for the summer, Mom got his whole house cleaned and repainted as it had a lot of smoke damage from a kitchen fire. She has a full time home health aide now so he doesn't have to worry about cooking.   She also put in new appliances for him so he doesn't have to wash dishes by hand any more or bend down to get something from the freezer. Her Dad is welcome to live with us and with L., but he wants to spend the remainder of his days in the house he shared with two wives and two children that he all outlived. Mom, the baby of the family, adopted late in his life, is doing all she can to make that wish come true, while keeping him safe and healthy.

But first, one last trip to the creek.

I just know there's a salmon in here somewhere.  I saw a bear do this once.

Good dogs - good memories - good times.

Abby the Lab

Black and White Sunday

Blog Hop Hosted By-

Snow Saturday

We're Home and Dad's here!

Mom got a break from being on duty and we got to go home to Chicagoland. I don't always go with Mom to her crash pad, as she travels a lot, but I got to this time and we had a lot of fun together in the evenings and I got lots of walks with my dog walker that comes by during the day. But it's  been over two weeks since we've  been home and I really missed my Dad.  He said there's LOTS of snow left, even though it's warmer, after 20 inches came down last Sunday.  I was rescued  quite a ways south of here so I hadn't seen a lot of snow.  Let's see what I think of it.

That looks pretty deep.

Look, I'm Jaws!  do dee do do do dee do do do dee do do

 Dive Captain Nemo Dive!

 I am the master of my destiny.

Everything's upside down!

Hey - there better not be any embarrassing pictures for the blog. 

I'm making snow angels. 

Just one more Mom- please?

The classic yoga pose - canine contortion

OK, I'm pooped.

It's getting late we need to get inside so my ears and paws don't get too cold.

 I'm a bear - a big furry bear.  Can I have a bear claw?

I love snow!

There's SNOW place like HOME!

Search Dog Foundation and a Shameless Plug for my Mom

Mom had a busy year. It started sad as Barkley the Lab went to the Rainbow Bridge, with her only brother following, leaving her the primary care-provider to her 94 year old Dad.  With a new husband and a hundred year old house, two grandkids, dog hair and adopting me, it was busy. (Did I mention Mom likes coffee? Actually do any of you remember that Saturday Night Live skit where the guy replaces the blood in the hospital patients' bag with Folgers Crystals? Yah, that's Mom),

Oh, and she puts this shiny gold thing in her black bag and goes to work 4-5 days a week, sometimes in the middle of the night.

Whew!  No wonder she likes wine, chocolate and dog kisses on an evening she doesn't have a stack of laundry!

Anyway. Somewhere in there - she wrote a book.  It's a book about a dog, but it's really a book about growing up, finding her way back to faith and family and an unexpected love story, of both the two and four legged kind. She worked hard to get it done so her Dad could read it before he too, was gone and he did.  He cried and patted me and gave her a big hug.

The Book of Barkley was just nominated as a finalist in the Bookbzz Prizewriters Competition in the biography memoir  class.  The winner gets their book mentioned on TV on international book day and a cash prize.

Mom said if she wins--- the cash prize is going to Search Dog Foundation   Click on their link to see all the wonderful things they do to help both animals and humans.

Please vote for Mom's book and for a good cause.  Consider picking one up if you haven't-- for even if you don't vote, all of the monies from the book sale go to animal rescue/welfare/education.

The link to vote is below (just click or go to bookbzz.com) and you can just vote once between now and Feb. 28th.  Thanks so much for voting and sharing this for your friends that may like to vote.


http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-biography-memoir-vote/


Abby Lab

Sunday Black and White

 

 

 

Our Blog Hop Hosts Nola and Sugar - Thank You! 

Pin IT!

Barkley in full hoverdog mode

Mom has her first Pinterest account.  Her marketing assistant from Outskirts Press helped her set it up and she can now start adding Pin's.  If you want a Pin of your pet, pet book,pet project or pet peeve, please let her know.  cliodna58(AT)gmail(DOT)com and provide the picture. She has a couple of wonderful dog book author's here but she didn't want to pin them without their permission.

She's also open to having another board on there with any pet related businesses any of you may have.

She's sort of new with this so be patient with her.  I know I am, especially when there are treats.

http://www.pinterest.com/lbjohnson8/

Canine Dating Advice

It's hard to find a fella I love as much as my Dad, but I need a date for the dance.

Yente Ruby--I hope it's not too late for you to fix me up for the Heart 2 Heart Dance.   I should have asked you right away for your wonderful matchmaking services.  I mean look at lucky Sarge and Cinderella.

But no  - I went cheap and went to one of those online dating sites, Snoot.com and THIS is what they sent me for a possible date match.  I am sure he has a nice personality but. . . .

Abby the Lab

The Blogville Heart 2 Heart Dance is coming up.  If you haven't signed up go on over and visit

• Murphy and Stanley