KIRBY - A Loved Companion

I cannot omit sharing these pictures of such a fine dog.  

Boy or boy did this dog steal my heart and though he has now been gone 2 years, he still has my heart.

To love a dog (pet) is a tremendous blessing. 

To have a dog love you back is greater.

I am thankful.

I am missing you Kirby.

Miss You Big Boy

My Kirby.

Gone for 1 year today but still with me daily.

My Kirby.

Gone for 1 year today but still with me daily.

It's Sour

Giving thanks that Dori made it home in safety last evening.
Long drive, dirty car
but safe!!
One of her first requests was sourdough hotcakes for breakfast.
Yes mam.

This was her first trip home since beloved dog Kirby passed. I knew it would be hard on her. The girls would always call when they drove into the neighborhood so Kirby could be waiting for them on the front porch. The heart(s) is still very tender.
Dori expressed her love and tribute this morning in a carving on our railroad tie.

Counting my blessings
on a busy day.
Praying for the JCK's safe drive all the way from PA to GA this day.
Oh the blessing of a loving family.

Highly Recommended . . . Really!

My heart dropped - really dropped!

This week my dear friends Alicann and Russell gave me this book "In honor of Kirby".

I was immediately touched by their love and thoughtfulness but after Russell was gone and I unwrapped the book and saw it I was sorrowful and couldn't bring myself to consider reading this book. I just knew the book would be about a great dog and end with it dying.

That's my story and I'm still crying over it.

How quickly my heart changed; I've finished the book. I loved it. I cried hard. I came to realize my grief at this time is still so very normal and that I'm part of a large group that shares my feelings. I don't have to be ashamed for not "getting over it" sooner. I will never get over Kirby's passing. I will just be able to better cope. I look upon my life with him with gratitude. I says prayers of thanks.

I told myself I wouldn't blog about Kirby's passing anymore than I did at the time but well, as Trevlyn told me as she set up this blog for me 4 years ago "It's your blog Mom, you can say whatever you want".

I'm so thankful for my kind friends and their sharing this with me. Thank you!

You will love this book. It's a great read and so, so much more than a book of dog stories. The author, Dean Koontz is internationally famous though I've only read this one book and it is not his usual style of "dark thriller".

Here is just one quote from his book...which is actually a quote from one of his other books -

"On the importance of the human-dog bond and on the reason why we give our hearts to them knowing what is to come, a character in my novel The Darkest Evening of the Year says this:

"Dogs' lives are short, too short, but you know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog, and there's going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence, because you can't support the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion. There's such beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware it comes with an unbearable price."

Happy day, msk

Thank You

Though I do not feel up to blogging and pretending to be happy over some new recipe or flowers in the garden I do very much feeling like saying-

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

for your kind and tender blog comments, Facebook comments, calls, prayers, cards and even treats delivered to the door.

YOU ARE SO VERY THOUGHTFUL AND KIND

It has gone a long way to help a shattered heart start to mend.

I may sound melodramatic to some but to those who know me they understand the extreme bond of love I had with this faithful companion.

Big, inside dog, cuddler, watchdog.

Squirrel chaser.

R.I.P.

Most beloved pet passed about 4:30 a.m. today. I do not know what to do with myself. Thank you for your prayers, comments and kindnesses.

Happy day, msk

Needing Your Help...

...for my darling, noble, faithful companion KIRBY. He's at our dear vet Greg Benson, North Ranch Animal Hospital, Scottsdale, AZ extremely ill.

Kirby needs your prayers please, please.

Happy day, msk

The Love of A Dog

This past weekend I stumbled upon this movie on t.v.

Hachi, A Dogs Tale.

I knew right from the start that I might not be able to handle this movie.

I'd never heard anything about it.

But it has a dog in in.

I'm a dog love.

I'm a Kirby lover especially.

My thought is a movie about a dog will usually make me cry or

at least, get very tense trying not to cry.

We're talking headache.

Have you seen this movie?

Did you know anything about it?

I watched it.

I cried.

I then went and brushed Kirby for a very long time.

I cuddle my dog Kirby.

Oh but it can be both an incrediable blessing to have the love of a dog in your life

and great pain at a passing.

Happy day, msk

Here's one of my daughter Trevlyn's photos of Tessa and Penelope from last week in Utah. I just loved seeing these little girls have fun together and look forward to creating many, many more occasions for togetherness and bonding for all the GRANDS.

Tuesday. A fine day in the valley of the hot sun.

Big Kirby...and I do mean BIG...he looks 5 lbs heavier since I went to Oregon, and I had a shortened, hosed down walk. Okay, just so there's no misunderstanding, Kirby was hosed down not I. He seems to be panting and slowing down so after our joint walk he came inside and I continued. Yes, Arizona is HOT in the summer. No denying it but I'm dreaming of my AZ winter and know you'll want to come stay with me (or Skippie...thanks for the comment Skippie).

I'm noticing a couple of praying mantis' around when I'm watering. They really fascinate me and knowing they are good at eating bugs makes me really like them. I sent one scrambling for safety after I unknowingly hosed it last evening. Felt sorry.

I got Trevlyn's recipe for chocolate chip cookies and baked some early this a.m. before the oven being on was unbearable. She said this was her current favorite.

Are you always looking for a better chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Do you have one to share that is "knock your socks off good"?

Wow, I better "publish" this post quickly while I still have a connection.

Until later. Sending love and hoping you find much to smile about and blessings to count.

Happy Day from MSK

Fun Weekend

Yes, I know it is Tuesday but this is still a blog on the fun, fun weekend. Having all three daughters home was super.

Trevlyn spearheaded this craft of fabric covered teapots as we'd seen at Anthro*pology. This one she made for Dori. Check out her blog to see the other two...just scroll down a couple posts.

Kirby and I had company on our walk again. Miss T spent the night and though she didn't have walking shoes she so wanted to come along. Dori let her hitch a ride when little legs got tired.

Thought you might like to see some of the pretty flowering trees in the "hood".

Kirby walked through the Cape Plumbago which has a sticky quality to it. Doesn't he look festive.

Okay, this is getting a little silly so I'll stop-besides, a carload of grands is on the way over for a swim and I've a little pool prep to do.

Don't Mess With My "Boy"

This is my boy dog. He is loyal. He is my walking companion. He is soooo loved. His big sisters (my 2 youngest daughters) call home from Utah and ask me to put the phone to this boys ear so they can give him messages of love.

A NASTY BARK SCORPION stung my boy on the snout last night.

My thanks to dear friend and vet Greg B. who so willingly took my call last night and talked me through the care of my boy. This dear man has come to my boys rescue on several occasions. I really am grateful.

Blessings on your head Greg B.

My thanks to YOU who knew of our distress and added "the boy" to your prayers. Yes, it is so good to pray over our animals.

More "Grand" Photos

What a treat that each morning Kirby and I had Owen, Andy and Javi for company. Here's Owen with Kirby. The grands are so loving to this dog and Kirby gives the love right back.

These are the boys ready to go to the Diamondbacks ball game at Chase Field. What a great time we had.

The home run with bases loaded had us all on our feet, cheering and whistling. That home run cinched Chris Young as Owens "favorite player". It was so fun to have the roof open and watch the pretty night sky arrive. We stayed for the super fireworks afterward and were not disappointed.

Here's Miss P in her wonderful daddy's arms.

The night before found us showing the family support for Morgan...

Jake...

..and Bryan getting their advancements in Scouting. Sorry I can't upload my photo of Bryan; he received/earned his Star rank. Yeah for the Boy Scout grands.