therapy horse!!!!!

It's a little hard to see how pretty the day is when you are sad... but life goes on... I'll go on, I know... I've been threw this before.... and Camille loved warm fall days... she would have loved to be outside with me today..... in the sunshine... so, I'll go out for the both of us.

I had promised Kass that I would come and play with Reagan while she took Cal to the doctor's for his grow appointment. And I must say spending time with my little grand did help. He's so sweet... he told me he knew I was sad that Camille had gone to heaven... but he also informed me that his two kitties, Linus and Nora are in heaven and even though we miss them.. they are in a very special place. He's right, they are... we just have to get used to them not being here...

We played on the swings... I got him to "pump" and he was pretty happy that he can make the swing "work" now... 

We played trucks in the sand box and then when Kass got back, we went to lunch... and then onto visit with Meme and Beepa.... 

I brought Calvin's stocking with me, and found that kass has already hung the stockings, so I'm glad I got it done.... they look pretty cute together, and it won't be much longer before ol Santa will come to fill them.

I made all these stockings.....

On Sunday.. Mocha and I had a very special appointment... I had signed her up to be tested as a Pet Partners therapy horse... we went over to the college where I had Livy tested. 

The weather was turning off, they're saying snow is coming in. I blanketed Mocha for the trailer ride.

I wasn't sure "how" they would be testing a horse.. with the dogs, you can go right inside a class room I figured with Mocha we would be testing outside. But no... they wanted her brought in as well. She had "gone" in the trailer, so I figured she would be "empty".. but who knows with a horse.... 

The hallway we had to walk threw was tile and shiny, the footing for a horse not great. They offered to put down mats for Mocha, but I knew if she went slowly and she trusts me, we could get across the floor. And we did. It also speaks well of how she and I work as a team.

The test was nearly what they test the dogs on... except she didn't have to sit or down stay.. but she did have to stand stay, and back.. and handle loud noises, and people crowding her... and some tail pulling... and threw it all, little Mocha was her usual calm self, and probably thinking.. "what ARE these people trying to do".

She passed it all with flying colors!!! and impressed everyone there.. other than two cats.. Mocha was their only "non-dog" for the day. She even earned a "complex" rating which says she can pretty much handle anything....so, once we get threw the paper side of the registration, we are officially a pet partners therapy team... certainly a bright spot after the past couple of days...

Livy will still be my main therapy animal, but now Mocha can go along when invited and that will be such fun.... good job little brown horse!!!

Sweet Camille

So... how do you sum up thirteen years of love, memories.... good bye... and looking at this photo and seeing where it all began... and wondering, where did the time go... but maybe that is what our dogs do for us. They make us think, appreciate.. love.. understand.. and so, Camille has done her time on this earth and I know (in my heart of hearts) has reunited in Heaven with the other dogs that have gone on before her. And me... though I also know that one day I will see her and Hunter, and the others... I am forever changed while I remain here. 

I go threw my photos... trying to choose just certain ones.. but I have so so many, because we did so so many things. She was a show dog.. earning obedience titles... she was a therapy dog and brought so many smiles to people... she helped me raise my own children and went on to the grandchildren... she raised puppies, both ours and service dogs... she was a credit to her breed and to the world of dogs...

she was part of what I always called the "second crew".. my first four being Diggie, Beau, Frosty and Randi... and the second group, being Moxie, Hunter and Trevor and herself.... as the old ones have moved on.. and the new ones step up.. the crew changes... to be honest, after losing Hunter in august, I assumed Trev would be next and never thought our Cam would go ahead. 

She loved so many things... the snow, and walks in the woods and living near the beach and then moving to the farm... she went with the flow of life and did much to share all of this with me...

She like being at camp..she wasn't much of a swimmer, but she loved being there...

As a therapy dog, we often did what I called the dog and pony show... Camille, Livy , Mocha and I made a good showing if I say so myself. Because they were all so easy to handle, it could have all three of them together and I can't even begin to think of the smiles that they brought

And babies.. she loved little kids, and when Abi came along and lived with us for a while at the farm.. they were always together... I love this photo of them peeking out the window... I always called it "looking for Santa"...

And then the service puppies came into our lives.. and little Cam took them under her wing. We raised a number of puppies together.. and she always went to the graduations to see them off....

As she began to age, I could see retirement was coming, so Livy came into the picture.. and Cam showed her the ropes, and over the past few years.. Cam has began to be truly retired and I could see that she was truly OK letting Livy take it over... I remember this is how it went when Moxie retired and Cam stepped up... 

And then age stepped in... a year ago we discovered heart issues... so meds came into play... teeth were another problem that we go threw.. and she rallied every time, but I could see the grey in her face and loved her all the more for it. 

She had an ulcer in her eye that was taking way too long to heal. We saw a specialist and on Wednesday we finally got the "it's all healed".. but he notice (as Ed and I had) that her breathing was off. I had already gotten a appointment with our vet, thinking that her heart meds needed changing.. however, he encouraged me not to wait. He worried it might be pneumonia, so I got an appointment sooner.....

The news.. was in simple words.. devastating ... X-rays showed many many tumors in her lungs and some in her chest... the word cancer came up.... it was the tolling of a death bell.. I was in shock. I was told to take her home... say goodbye and not wait too long. It was aggressive and I think they feared we could get into a critical situation all too fast. So... we brought her home.. last night she slept in her little bed.. beside mine... today was photos... love, and all the "bad" foods she wanted (not having really eaten in a few days, I was happy to see her enjoy those)..

And as the sun began to set at the end of the day today... Little Camille went away with it. I see in this photo she was tired... she had done all her good works.. she was ready to head to a better place and allow the next "set" to have their time. 

I will never know how you say goodbye to good dogs..I guess you don't... you carry them with you all the rest of your own days... you remember all the things they brought to you and you try to carry that on...

so, my darling little girl.... Still Pine's S'more Sweetgrass, RN, CGC, CGCA, therapy dog...you will forever loved.. forever remembered...

please give Hunter and Cole, and Moxie my best... say hello to Diggie, Beau , Frosty, Randi, Holly and the others that you knew here...

and one day.. my little girl... I will be with all my good dogs who are waiting....

 Camille   5/10/03-11/17/16

santa!!!????

so.. it would seem that Santa is going to be paying a visit and giving a chance to all the good little doggies and kitties who want to come and tell him their secret wishes...

But just who exactly is this bearded man.. because we all know that the "real" Santa is very busy this time of year and simply can not be at the north pole and making personal appearances too.... therefore, he must get some help with these visits ... someone who can pass on all the secrets....

Somehow it doesn't really matter to these "folks" whether this is a Santa helper or the real deal.. they have just all arrived to make the visit... and it would seem that we have a big audience waiting to see Santa!!!

It's a good thing that Sam has offered to help Santa with all the friends who want to come..... funny they all seem to know just who Sam is... maybe that's because along with the doctors... Sam takes good care of all of them.

Santa is very used to animals... I hear that he has several of his own (other than reindeer)... and that would include a mini horse.. so when this little fellow came ... Santa was not at all surprised... 

It was good that Sam was there to help.. some of the doggies thought they wanted to see Santa.. and then changed their minds at the last moment... but Sam helped them share their wishes.. after all... everyone must have a chance...

Other doggies had no problems jumping into Santa's lap... maybe just bit too excited... but since Santa knows that all doggie manners come from the doggies owners... he can over look a bit of extra excitement... though the owners may have to go on the naughty list!!!!

There was quite a crowd that made their way threw... from the very small to the very large.. Santa had time for each one!!!

He even saw them in groups... like the cocker crew from Sweetgrass Farm!!! but some how I think these little doggies had a pretty good idea who Santa was... and they know he already knows all their secrets...

And as it turns out another little group came to visit Santa too.... seems that he know these little chaps quite well... and I have a feeling that they knew him too...... right Cal????

Santa had a very fun day visiting the Down Maine Vet clinic... and so did I... and the doggies and grands too... and I hear that he might even be planning on visiting again next year!!!!  Thanks Santa... (aka Rum!!!)

Livy at the library....

Livy and I have been having a great time promoting the reading dog program. We are busy at school and are waiting to hear from another school with the possibility of bringing the program there. But, today, we were invited to the library for the preschool reading program, needless to say, Livy is alway happy to be with kids

She loves all ages, and seems to know just how to approach them....

I think she knows when she is the star.... she sat so quietly and was really paying attending when we were introduced and I was talking with the kids about "reading with Livy"... 

Of course, this age group doesn't read just yet, so we read the story to them. The librarian had found a few books on dogs, and one in particular was on working dogs. It told about service dogs and therapy dogs, so when we got to the therapy dog page, I set Livy us to look like this

Love teaching her this trick, the kids just laughed and laughed thinking Livy was truly enjoying the book herself.

They went onto crafts.. making a paper dog puppet, Livy was so curious and stood at the table watching all the going ons.... 

This little chap loves dinosaurs and could tell me so much about them. He has a favorite book that he has memorized and so he asked if Livy might be interested in hearing about dinosaurs ... of course, I told him... Livy likes to listen!!!

She sat with him for a while .. while he "read"... but this is exactly where good reading skills begin.... encouraging them to know the books, and then someone who will sit and listen....

And Livy doesn't care if she hears the same thing over and over again!!!!

We are really enjoying this venue and I feel so honored to all be a part of it. It's a great way to give to my community and be able to be with my little dog as well.....really need to get those books written about Livy!!!