My New Lifestyle - Something Completely Different

About a year ago I started educating myself about nutrition (human not dog).

My entire life I have been heavy. I am one of those people that loses weight, gains weight, tries every diet out there....low carb, no carb, grapefruit, soup, glycemic, weight watchers, etc. etc. looking for 'THE" diet that "WORKS" for me.

I AM THE POSTER CHILD FOR FAD DIETING FAILURE

So, after doing a whole lot of reading, research, etc. I have finally convinced myself that it is not a diet that I seek. What I actually need is to get a grip and to change my way of thinking and not try to fool myself. All I need to do is change my lifestyle.

I rejoined weight watchers a week and a half ago because truly their eating plan is sustainable and healthy. It hits all the right points and it is something that I can do for the rest of my life.

I rejoined Curves and work out 6 days a week. I enjoy working out and feel so much better afterwards. I also joined the Y so that I can mix up my exercise.

I have pledged to walk my dogs everyday unless it is too cold for them and me or its really poor weather.

I'm going to post periodically on my blog to keep myself honest.

This is a positive step in reshaping my body, my health and my mind. I'm on a new journey that I am excited to be taking.

It's Been A While

It's been quite some time since I have posted on my blog. No particular reason really. Things were just very very busy both at work and at play.

Meg and I had a good trial season. Meg Jammed her first Junior. Placed in her second Junior, and then placed third in our first Qualifying Stake. With limited trialing it was a successful first season.

I brought Meg home in October for a break and then at the end of November Meg flew off to Colorado to train with Kenny Trott at Horsetooth Retriever Kennels. As of a few weeks ago, Kenny, Marcy and the crew arrived in Texas for the "winter trip". So far so good. Meg is getting along famously and from all accounts working well.

I'm planning a couple of trips to Texas in the next couple of months and I'm really looking forward to it, as I didn't get to go last year.

Since Meg has been gone, Jett was somewhat depressed. She didn't have Logan to play with so....I am fostering a beautiful golden retriever named Porter. Porter is about a year old so he is still quite the puppy. Porter's future will be in the show ring. I'm just very fortunate to have some time with him.

You may recall the puppy fits I had with Meg with her determination to "be free". Well, Porter puts all of Meg's efforts to shame.

Today, I went out and bought a new door for the grooming room. I had Rona Hardware saw the top off at a point where Porter can't reach his paws up to. Tomorrow, the new door is being installed and Porter will spend his alone time in the grooming room with no way of escape.

Jett and Porter love each other. My plan is to put the two of them together in the grooming room. They can play, chew on bones, sleep....do whatever their little hearts desire. The only thing Porter won't be able to do is get into the food bins, chew up my boots, distress my cleaning lady, and in general,...get into trouble.

Although I sound like I'm complaining, Porter has been great company for Jett and he's very playful and very sweet. I've got him figured out though. He's smarter than he looks. I can no longer be sucked in by his antics. I was talking to Porter's owner the other day and I told her that Porter was exactly what I would consider a golden retriever to be like. His temperment is awesome. He is generally laid back and sweet. He doesn't fight with other males and he just wants to have fun. Porter makes friends with everyone he meets whether they be animal or human. He has such a gentle way about him. He manages to wrap everyone around his little finger. It's quite amazing actually. Marcy says that Miikka makes her laugh. Trust me when I say that Porter genuinely makes me laugh. I really enjoy having him around.

Sherhaven's Wee Highland Fling

Today, I said good-bye to my best friend after 12 1/2 years.

It's important that I tell you the story of Logan because sometimes people don't understand the bond that people and their animals build and what our best friends teach us and how they change us.

When I moved out to the country with my first dog Kinsey I decided that she needed a buddy and I waited for a year for the right breeding. I wanted a male golden retriever and I wanted to show him. That was the plan.

Along came Logan. He was pick of the litter and beautiful. I was short on cash because I had to buy a new car and I had just bought a house. The car was a surprise and not in the budget, but I really wanted Logan. I sold a family heirloom to purchase him (my aunt's engagement ring). My aunt loved animals and had a poodle at one time. I knew she would understand and I believed wholeheartedly that she would approve. I brought Logan home in August.

Kinsey and Logan forged a friendship quite quickly and we were a happy little family. I started taking Logan to show handling class and things were looking good.

When Logan was 6 months old I started questioning his vision. Shortly thereafter Logan was diagnosed with cataracts on both eyes, a circular nystagamus and a brain lesion. How, why we never knew. The plan for Logan changed and it changed for me.

When Logan was 18 months old he had cataract surgery however, sight for Logan was not to be. The surgery did not go well and he developed scar tissue over BOTH corneas. Logan's life from this point on was destined to be different.

I was told by many to "put him down". Others said, "send him back to the breeder and get your money back". Others could not believe that I would keep this dog. I never ever thought of giving him up or sending him back. Putting him down was not on the agenda.

I became literally Logan's "seeing eye person". We worked it out. We had a system. I clapped - he followed. I put a bell on Kinsey's collar so he could follow her. I moved furniture so he could get around. Logan was never left home - he was always part of the party. Logan even went hunting. He sat in the blind with me. He was never left out.

Logan swam and in fact, he would throw himself off the dock and retrieve bumpers by scent. He was a good swimmer. We all laughed because he and Kinsey would "tag team" retrieve. Kinsey would launch herself off the dock with Logan in pursuit. Kinsey would retrieve the bumper and hand it off to Logan who followed the claps and my voice and brought it back to me. We had a great time playing that game. He went on every walk, he came to work with me, he went everywhere. Everybody loved him.

He was afraid of the sound of the wind if it got really windy. It would send him into a panic. I would bring him up on the bed, put him under the covers and hold him. He would shake and shiver for a bit and then eventually he would calm down and go to sleep. Thunder was another thing that could send him off the deep end but the thing that really shook him up was the sound of the computer music when the computer came on and when it turned off. I just stopped turning my computer off when he was around.

Being blind, never stopped Logan. This is a dog with the most heart I have ever seen. He managed to slip out of a friend's house one time and went on "a toot". I got a panicked call at work and flew home to search. He was found approx. 1/2 mile from my friend's house swimming in a pond in someones yard having a blast. He wasn't worried - he was having fun.

Logan played with all the dogs and was the king of "de-poofing" toys. I have swept up more stuffing out of toys than I care to discuss. Logan loved shoes and needed to have a shoe in his mouth when you came in the door because he knew he would be chased by me to get it back. He would roll onto his back with the shoe in his mouth and a goofy grin. He would get his tummy rub and then give up the shoe. This was the routine. In the evenings he was my couch buddy. He got up on the couch and we assumed the position - me at one end and he at the other with his head in my lap. I would stroke his ears and he would groan. We spent many a night that way. He was a great comfort to me and I think I was to him.

Logan had a fabulous relationship with my nephew and my sister. He loved them. I don't think there was a single person that Logan didn't like.

In the last few years age began to tell on Logan. I always worried what would happen if he lost his hearing too. I was worried he would be in a world of his own and afraid. I worried about that a lot.

So in the last year his hearing do go. Not entirely, but enough that it could get him into trouble. We went to Plan B which included louder clapping and now his walks were on a flexi. He still rode out to the end of the flexi. He never clung in close - he just marched on. He became afraid of swimming which was hard to see so I went to ponds where he could puddle and to the beach where it was shallow. I walked in the water with him. He really like the water and I didn't want to see him lose that joy.

And snow....my how he loved the snow. He rolled in the snow endlessly. It became hard to walk him because all he wanted to do was roll!

In November, I had a scare with Logan but he bounced back and I breathed a great sigh of relief. I really thought that we had dodged a bullet. I knew whatever was ailing him would reappear but I needed it not to happen too soon.

Dogs are incredible creatures and I know they sense things and worry too. I was scheduled for surgery in early January of this year and he went to my sister's while I was in hospital. I could tell he was worried when I left him with Cathy. I was out of hospital 3 days later and stayed at my sister's for a week.

I brought Logan home with me to recouperate and he was my constant companion. If he hadn't been here I would have been totally alone. It would have been unbearable. He and I assumed the position on the couch and pretty much spent the last two weeks that way. I really needed him in these past two weeks and I believe he knew that. I think he waited.

This weekend, Logan took a turn for the worse and by last night I knew it was time. I sat up all last night with him just like we had for years - me at one end of the couch and he at the other with Logan resting his head in my lap.

This morning I took that horrible drive to the Vet and said good-bye. My heart is broken and I cannot stop the tears.

I can't tell you all the life lessons that Logan has taught me, but for sure he taught me never ever to not try. Logan always tried, always wanted to do stuff, always wanted to be active - he never gave up. NEVER. Until today. The spark left and he had given all he could. I think he hung in there for the last two weeks for me. I really do believe that. I believe with all my heart that he knew that I needed him. He was a friend that was "there for me" and that's what friendships are all about.

I just hope he knows how much I loved him and how much I am going to miss him. He was my buddy and there will never be another one like my Logan.

Our Big Win!

I'm so proud of my Meg.

At the second last trial of the year in these parts Elmingo's Prime Suspect (Megan) WON the Puppy Stake at Mountain Valley!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Meg and I. It's probably one of the nicest that I have.

Since the trial season is over, we're spending our time with some light training and hunting.

Next weekend is the big Dovetail Kennels Pheasant hunt and shortly thereafter it will be time for Meg to head south for the winter.

I'm going to miss her....

Noula - The New Star

This is a picture of a friend of mine, Margot, who, over the years has owned several Irish Water Spaniels. I met Margot, 11 1/2 years ago at Handling Class. I was learning to show Logan and Margot was teaching the ropes to Claire. Over the years, Margot has done obedience, conformation and field with her Irish Water Spaniels. For years Margot has been telling me how adorable Irish Water Spaniel puppies are and when Libby had her first litter this year, I went off to visit and was instantly "sucked in" by the IWS charm. Yes, Margot, they are adorable.

Margot kept one of these puppies and her name is Noula. Noula is also known as Noulie and affectionately called "Noodle". Whatever we call her, Noula is a doll and was the hit of training this past weekend. Below are a series of action photos of Noula's first swim and water retrieve.

This picture was taken of Noula on Saturday at training. She puddled around and spent a great deal of time at the line watching "the big dogs". She found it all very interesting and was very intent on watching what all was going on.

These next pictures were taken on Sunday when we trained at a local quarry.

Check out that water entry!!! Go Noula Go!!! Go Noula Go!!!

Amost there......

Got it...what a proud puppy and she turned right around and brought it back.

And away we go....let the games begin.

There you go Margot. Won't be long before she's ready for Master Hunt and maybe Field Trial???

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Better late than never!!! On June 25, 2009 my Logan turned 12 years old and I felt it fitting to celebrate this milestone.


So....I bought a Birthday Cake, some party hats and brought them along to the Mountain Valley WC's Tests at Christie Lake Conservation Area.


Once we all had a piece of Logan's cake, I made sure he got a corner piece!



Although Logan is blind, he is in extraordinary condition. He is happy and in good health. We walk everyday and he swims and retrieves bumpers with my other two dogs. He is my couch buddy and an all around good boy.


I'm already planning Logan's 13th Birthday Party for next year!

Meg's First Trial

If Marcy says she's been lazy about blogging I don't know what to say about myself. I have really been bad about keeping up to date.

Well, Meg went off to Dovetail Kennels in early May to start her formal field training. So far, so good. She is getting along well with everyone. She sailed through Force Fetch and Collar Conditioning and is now on 3 handed casting. She is getting stretched out more and more on her marks and is just tremendous in the water.

So after 4 weeks with Sandie we decided to enter Meg in the Longpoint Retriever Trial Puppy Stake. Pete Ferin handled Meg while I was at another Stake with Jett. I managed to run over to the Puppy Stake in time to watch the land series. Pete did a great job and in the end came up with a 4th place finish! The picture above is Pete and Meg walking to the line for the first mark.

Pete's pretty happy handling Meg. He adores Meg and she's quite fond of him. They make a nice pair. I have to keep reminding him that Meg belongs to me!