A LIFE WELL LIVED AND MANDY JO STILL GOING STRONG AT 16

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost in on the fields and winters drawing near.

His head is within our hand in his old way."

--Mary Carolyn Davies

****EXCITING UPDATE****

MARANDA

MARANDA (not Miranda) had her surgery today. FANTASTIC NEWS!! It turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy and not a tumor. So they spayed her and that took care of that!


Dearest friends,

Two days after my surgery something very sad happened to my adopted Grandma and Grandpa Peyton (Roxie, Sammy and Andy of Dachsie's Rule, grandparents). Their precious Lexie died. Mommy didn't find out about Lexie leaving for the bridge right away cause they thought Mommy had enough to be sad about. We cried and cried when we found out. Mommy asked Irene, my Grandma, if she would allow Mommy to have the honor of doing a tribute post to Lexie and share some pictures of her. My Granny said she would be honored. Mommy wants to share the pictures Granny sent and also the e-mail she got. It was very special and touching. Here is the e-mail copied exactly as it was written.

Dear Sarah,

I hope these pictures are suitable. The first 2 were taken on her 14th birthday, March 28. The next is a baby picture and in the last one she is 3, when we first got her. She was a marvelous gift from a wonderful lady who could no longer keep her.

LEXIE on her 14th birthday.LEXIE in her bed.
LEXIE as a baby.

LEXIE at 3 years old. What can I say about Lexie (or Pootie, as we lovingly called her)? She was so smart! She could tell time - really, she could. She ruled our lives with a velvet, but stern, paw. She knew when everything was done and exactly when to start. No dalling! Doing something once made a tradition. She was dedicated to her work (we called her Cinder-Pootie because she worked so hard). She loved cleaning plates and knew exactly how many there ought to be. She disapproved mightily if we stayed up too long or stayed away past dinnertime. But, she always forgave, always loved us anyway. And we loved her tremendously!

She died on May 24, just 4 days short of 14 and 2 months. She died as she lived - with great grace and dignity. I had carried her out (her legs were failing her) that day to do her business before our nap. She rubbed her back and then settled down to nap in the warm sunshine. She seemed so comfortable, I decided to let her enjoy the sun for awhile before I carried her back in. Ten minutes later I came out t0 check on her. She had followed the sunbeam right up to the rainbow bridge. I'm sure she and Samantha are great friends by now.

We miss her terribly!!

Much love to you and Mona! The Peyton's.

P.S. We are so thankful that Mona is doing so well!! She is so precious.

*******

Mommy and I don't know what more to say, except that we will miss her and the stories about her antics. Mommy choose her quote of the day because it made sense to her. They are always with us, in our hearts!!

Now on to a happier note. Anybody who has followed my blog for very long knows Mandy Jo. She has been on it a lot through the years. Mandy Jo, we think, is 16 years old. She is considered a forever foster with DROH, cause most folks don't want to adopt a slow senior dog, but she is still available for adoption if someone with an open heaert and lots of love to share comes along. Ha!! Slow ---no way does that describe Mandy Jo. Nobody messes with her and she is in charge of everybody, dog or human, it doesn't matter. These pictures were taken at the doggie play date at Aunt Judy's the day after my surgery. Notice the toys and stuffies on the blanket? She gathered them all up and dared anybody who tried to come near the her to take them. Her nickname is "the Pistol". DROH almost lost her earlier this year with a stomach infection and all she wanted was to be held, which is very unusual for her. She stayed with Aunt Judy, when her fosters went out of town, while she was sick. We were spending the weekend at Aunt Judy's and Mandy Jo came over to Mommy to be picked up. She had never let Mommy touch her before but I guess she just needed some of Mommy's special loving medicine cause she laid across Mommy's chest for hours. I was a little jealous cause every time I tried to get in Mommy's lap, she would bare her teeth at me. Mommy said we have to be nice to our elders.

Just to show you who's boss.....Mandy didn't even get in trouble for drinking out of Paula's Diet Dr Pepper cup........Twice!!

Like I've said before, if I can live my life half as well as Lexie did and as Mandy Jo is I will live forever.

Love, kisses and {{{huggies}}} to all........Mona