RIP Joulie, my little FuzzySheep

For some inexplicable reason you always smelled like bananas when you were a puppy.  We called you “JoulieNanas” until the end…

You were my first dog – my first, not belonging to anyone else, mine.  You stood up on your back legs and danced a little “WiggleButt” dance for me when I first saw you.  Your body was all white save for your head and one large heart shaped patch on your flank.  I knew you had to be mine.  You were always at my heels, doing silly things, eating things you weren’t supposed to.  You would always lick my nose if I held you up and asked “Joulie, do you love me?”   As you got older, you got fuzzier and fuzzier.  You started to look like a little tiny sheep, especially in the winter when your coat was thick and long.  You became my inspiration, and started my love of all things lamb and sheep.  I was holding you until the very end, and I swear I smelled those bananas again.   I know I did the right thing, that you’ve found peace and comfort.  Your Gibbs was waiting for you and I know you two crazy little leprechauns are chasing squirrels and climbing trees. 

This is the last picture I have of you.  Your LittleMiss took it while playing with Mommy’s camera, and I will treasure it always.

Rest peacefully my little FuzzySheep.  I’m sorry I couldn’t fix you.  Be at peace, and watch over us always. 

Which do you prefer?

Hey guys! I just got my quilt back from the longarm service... and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Did I say I loved it?  Of course, now I am second guessing my inital binding choice, and I picked out another possibility. I thought I'd ask you to weigh in and tell me what you think I should pick.  I know most of you read from a reader, but if you could pop over and click the poll for me, that'd be great!  :)

Just a little sneak peak of the quilting:

5 Years

Yesterday was my 5 Year Blog-versary, and I had planned to do a week of giveaways and contests in celebration.  5 years and over 500 posts.  Wow. 

I sat and thought about it last night, and my heart just is not in it right now.

My little Joules (pictured in the back) – the sweet and sassy little FuzzySheep – is not long for this world.  We’ve been spending a great deal of time at vets and specialty vets.  The final diagnosis is that she has some sort of neurological damage (whether it’s a tumor or an injury we won’t know, I don’t want to put her through the MRI process).  From what we can tell, it appears the issue has been ongoing for a while, most likely at the brain stem, and she’s just been able to deal with it until now.  Indications point to her whole right side having been numb for maybe even years, and that she may have been blind in her right eye for some time – explaining why she never complained when she somehow lacerated her eye.  She’s even broken teeth without seemingly even knowing. 

It’s hard to watch.  I know she’s still in there.  She still does the silly things she’s always done, like try to chase the ball that is 15x bigger than her or attack the water hose whenever I turn it on.  She can’t walk well anymore, bonking into everything and anything that’s in her path.  Her skin is covered with unexplained scabs and sores, especially around her eyes.  She falls face first into her food and water.  All the while, not a sound of complaint.  Just sad, sad eyes. 

I don’t know why I’m telling you all this, really.  You all don’t need to hear this, but I need to get it out.  I don’t know what to do.  I know I am going to have to make a decision sooner rather than later.  But when?  She doesn’t complain.  She still does silly things, and only makes the occasional mess in the house. 

I wish she could talk to me.  Tell me what’s up…

Flowery Good Times

Days like these make everyday worth it…

 

We were headed to the Renaissance Faire this weekend – and when LittleMiss asked it was, I described it as a place to see people dressed up and watch how things were done a long, long time ago.  She asked if they were wearing costumes, and if she’d see any fairies.  The past few times we’d been to a RenFaire, the fairies were out in abundance, so I answered that we might be able to find some.   She immediately decided that she wanted to dress as a “Flower Princess Fairy” so she’d be able to find all of her fairy friends.  

Of course, I happily complied!  I just added a big flower to her existing flowers and ribbons headband from the faire last year.  The wings were Tinkerbell wings from DisneyStore.  I made the tutu for her at Christmastime.  I raided my ribbon drawer and a silk flower arrangement and threw together a quick “Flower Wand”

She looked super adorable.  I just wish I could have convinced her to wear a different shirt. 

She got lots of “awwwws” and the few fellow fairies we came across at the Faire all stopped and bowed to her.  She didn’t get it, but it was fun for us!  Lots of people took her picture as she pranced and twirled around the grounds.

Somebody came to visit me…

But she wants to keep her identity a mystery for now…

You guys up for a toga party?

TOGA TOGA TOGA!

With time to spare!

Xiris took the kids out of the house on Monday, and I was able to finish the quilt, getting it pressed and trimmed, and the backing put together, with plenty of time to spare.  It worked out great too, because the quilter was in the shop when I dropped it off.  She was able to help me quickly pick an all over pattern and thread color – and I trust her eye because she does this for a living.  I can’t wait to see it.  She said it’d be back to me pretty quickly, we just have to wait for the batting I want to come in.