Mixed feelings

This picture was taken earlier, probably in October or early November. The girls always slept some in the car and were such good buddies. I lost my little beagle Tuesday when the decision to put her down peacefully, was made. Not an easy decision, but a necessary one, I was comforted by my buddy Barb, who was visiting for a few days. Beagle butt had seemed perfectly healthy until last Thursday, and in fact we had just visited the vet last month. After a series of tests and an x-ray, it was apparent that she had multiple issues, two of which were an enlarged liver and a baseball sized growth in her lower abdomen. No symptoms were evident until she lost her appetite and began to vomit. At 11, we didn't feel that she could endure the surgeries and medications and the prognosis was just not good with other results from the blood work.

Barb being here was a great comfort, and my friend Pat came from CO the next day. The three of us have spent a lot of time together and we have weathered many an emotional storm together. But we have had such good times too. So on Wednesday, we hit some antique shops, some flea markets, the bakery, and we had PIE. After a good lunch, we had PIE. We always have room for dessert or chocolate and when you can have both that is even better, especially if it is Chocolate PIE!!. I saw a sign in one of the shops which I have to paint for my porch. There wasn't an author listed for whom to give credit. "If you aren't selling chocolate, get the heck off my porch." I love it!!!

The Mr. and I have had a lot of 4 legged critters in our 45 years together and the unconditional comfort they give cannot be measured or expressed in words really. Unfortunately, they have such a short life-span. The joy they bring with their antics and the sadness that comes with their passing produces mixed feelings, but I know that as long as we are able to care for them, they will share our home with us.