Bopril

A Doggone Life

Our fur babes are clearly a leading topic on this website, but there are other canines in our lives. We thought you might be interested to see some of the other sweet faces that make up our extended doggie family.

This is Lucy:

 

She is MIL's fur kid and she's hilarious. Equal parts clumsy, sweet and crazy, she makes every trip to the lake an adventure. We are working hard to establish a friendship between Lucy and Jack - suffice it to say they aren't currently the best of friends. Lucy and Cooper however? They get along just fine (and present quite the hilarious juxtaposition). They chase each other up and down the dock as long as we'll let them:

 

And this sweet guy is Simon:

 

He is the gentlest, best behaved, all around awesome dog. He even puts up with Jack's snarkiness and never thinks of retaliating when our little guy nips at him. He's equally sweet with kids too. I think he would swim in the lake until the end of time if his Mommy would let him. 

This little cutie is Sadie-Lady! She is Cooper's girlfriend and Jack thinks pretty highly of her too:

 

She's sweet and hilarious; we don't get together with her very often, but when we do, doggie daycare commences and the three little ones chase each other maniacally until they all pass out from exhaustion. 

And this old girl is Sydney a/k/a "Puppers the Beast":

 

We got her when I was in high school and she was just a wiggly little pup. All these years later, she's still the sweetest girl and her entire body wiggles with glee when you walk into a room. She doesn't get along incredibly well with our fur babes, but they've improved over the years and can now be in the same room together without total chaos ensuing.

We also have Lou and Harry the pugs and George the Golden-doodle, but sadly, I don't currently have photos to share. Suffice it to say they are plenty cute and sweet just like the rest of this pack I've outlined.

I have said it before and will say it again: life is infinitely better in the company of furry friends.

Weekendings

We pondered the crazy weather which had us conjuring images of tailgates and football games, crunchy leaves, a variety of soups and full, beautiful mums. Some of my favorite weather, but months too early and thus not overly comfortable (or welcome).

I stood in a porta-potty line at a street festival and recalled days gone by when I was lost in the music, comfortable in my surroundings, at home in the crowds. I sighed, rolled up my jeans to avoid "debris" and wondered how time moves so quickly (and muttered "I'm too old for this" once or twice). 

I laced up my sneakers and surrendered my thoughts to my ipod and the pavement for five good miles; I visualized a healthier me and felt good about a small step in the right direction.

Always fascinated by the connection of mind, body and spirit, I picked up the Quantum Wellness cleanse and read it cover to cover, nodding in understanding page after page, relishing the comfort of a mutual understanding, a state of mind brought to life on the page and the resulting click when its contents registered familiar. Tears poured down my face as I read the chapter titled "Awakening" because this lovely author was able to articulate with such grace every reason I've wholeheartedly embraced a vegetarian lifestyle. It was validation I didn't know I needed, encouragement for a part of my soul that doesn't know how to ask for support. I can hardly wait to begin the actual cleanse and see what happens and Internet, I'll bring you along when I do.

I started to think about my upcoming trip to Boston, making lists in my head and seeing the images of Cambridge, Beacon Hill, Newbury Street and the Freedom Trail through my camera before I ever even board the plane. The break is needed, and I plan to make it a good one.

Hubby took Coop to the vet for his check-up and while we lamented the price tag of the visit, we sighed with relief at his good health and happily filled his prescriptions to keep those liver levels in check. And then I thought of Sydney, my sweet girl, and remembered the wiggly pup of 13 years ago that stole my heart with a glance and has never let go. She wears time on every inch of her body...a muzzle covered in grey, a slow ramble where there used to be an unstoppable dash, but the eyes...those soulful eyes can still whisper secrets and show me past, present and future. I fear she's nearing the end and I can't embrace it, not yet. I'm not ready to let her go, but its not about me and I know if I'd let her, she would show me that. Dogs are awesome that way.

Sunday was a quiet jumble of errands, walks, doggie play and movie watching. We saw Away We Go and its humanity stays with me still. Amazing, beautiful portrait of family and of love. 

And now we're all back to the grind, but trying to keep the peace, the stillness, the joy of the weekend in tact, hoping its magic will color the week ahead.

And you?