Friday Shoot Out - Domestic Animals

I could have put hundreds of pictures on my post "Domestic Animals" because my life is my animals... always has been and always will be. The above picture is of my darling first pony Shilo. I was given him as a rescue pony and turned him from a naggy, underweight and very sad pony into a healthy, happy best friend. I do miss him.

This picture is a very old one of me aged around 10 riding a 14.2hh mare called Cindy at Erddig Hall stables.

Little Harry riding Splash who was all kitted up for the festive season.

Harry being prepared for his lesson on Splash with Lisa.

My beautiful and darling first dog Bobbi aged a few weeks old. She was the love of my life, we shared such a special bond. So sad when she died of lymphoma aged just 5, my heart broke in two that day.

One domestic animal making a fuss of another!

Poppy with her own little domestic animal. She loves these little teddy bears which belong to the boys. She specialises in stealing them and taking their eyes out then guarding them from the other dogs, treating them like her "babies".

Wilbur the terrible with Pickles in the background and the blonde guineapig is Jessica.

Not such a good picture but this is my little boys Russian Dwarf Hamster, Penny. He is called Penny because he was the size of a penny when Harry had him. He is an old man now being almost 2 years old.

This is my eldest sons hamster Blossom. She is a Syrian hamster aged about 5 months old. She had been playing in my dolls house.

Really great shoot out, I could have published more!

Tribute to Dogs Past and Present

There was a dog show in Rossett today, just a fun thing really. I would have liked to have taken one of my dogs but I am so so tired and I don't know why? Chemo is on Thursday 3rd September so this should be my "good" week. Mind you, if its anything like the Epi, I seemed to suffer from a cumulative effect of chemo. Anyway, enough of that stuff. Here is Wilbur and Pickles sitting together on the sofa. Its hard to believe that when Wilbur first joined our family almost 2 years ago, Pickles couldn't bear him to be anywhere near her.

Pickles is like a fluffy mountain goat at the moment. I only had the energy to clip Wilbur and I only did that because he was hot and bothered (he is a full action pup!). She is very much a "mother bear" dog. She tells all the children off who come to the house while staying at a safe distance from them. I think she is issuing warnings of "you must behave in my house". She is quite a character! She was and is my "3rd time lucky" dog.

Poppy belongs to my friend but she comes to my house on a daily basis while said friend is at work. She also stays some nights and weekends and is an integral part of our family. Harry decided to wrap her up in my dressing gown and she didn't mind at all. She is a characterful dog too.

It's hard to believe that this photo was taken 11 years ago in Erddig. I was pregnant with Joe in the picture and I am here with my mum, my darling first dog Bobbi and mums treasure of a dog, Suzi. I took mum to a rescue centre and she wasn't sure about having a dog again after losing our Ben and Sheba but I thought it was what she needed. It was love at first sight. Mum and Suzi had an instant connection. She was such a gentle and peaceful dog and I miss her.

Me and darling Bobbi on Red Nose Day!! What did we look like? She was my darling treasure of a dog. My little shadow. My little angel. Taken away too soon by cancer. She would have been 15 years old now. This week on 25th August 2009 was the 10th anniversary of her passing. I miss her with all my heart, she was such a special little dog.

Finally, rather ironically, my brothers/mums/brothers fiances dog Roscoe passed away this week. He had suffered a stroke and had been in decline for a few weeks. Sadly, his time came and he met a peaceful end.

I thank all of the dogs in my life for giving me their unconditional love, their support, their company: Patch, Ben, Sheba, Suzi, Bobbi, Sadie, Roscoe, Morgan and in life now; Pickles, Wilbur, Poppy, Al and Fudge. Without them, my life would have been / would be a much duller and sadder place.

A Miracle Happened

I have purchased a new scanner and have been busily scanning old photos (yet another thing I wouldn't have done if it weren't for Breast Cancer!). Pictured above is my first dog Bobbi. She died 10 years ago this coming August. She had leukemia and she was 5 years old.

Bob was my life. She got me through the most difficult times in my life when I felt so desolate and lonely. The walks we had through Darland Woods, me offering her my heart and her accepting, always doing funny things to make me smile. Eventually, after 5 years, the fertility treatment worked and I was blessed with my eldest son Joe. Bobbi even got me through labour which was fast and intense. No breaks in pain, just 2 hours of PAIN! She threw balls for me when I tried to bathe waiting for my husband to come home and followed me around like a shadow. We only just made it to the hospital in time because I insisted she be left with my mum just in case the labour went on too long. Half hour later, Joe was born!

She was with me throught the night feeds, always invisably attached to my leg! Imagine, having everything you want in this world..... a fantastic husband, nice home, the baby you always longed for and the dog you wished for when you were 8 years old then to find that it was all going to end... just like that.

I always called Bobbi "my gift from God" or "my wish come true" because when I was a child I prayed for a dog all of my own. It would be a girl, small and scruffy and she would want just me. Bob was all of those things and more.

I think that when her job was done with me (and that was to get me through the baron years) she was called back. Since my cancer diagnosis, I have felt Bobbi so close to me I can practically smell her and feel her hair in my hands. She was a miracle.

Talking of miracles, another one happened yesterday. As you know, post chemo, steroids out of my system, I was so tired I could barely speak coherently, could hardly walk but still kept fighting on which in itself is really hard to do. I found out about the neighbours plans on face book so I actually posted a comment myself hoping that my neighbours remembered that I was still fighting cancer....

The close remained quiet....... Having viewed FB it seems the party was taken elsewhere, not far but the house is on the main lane and detached....... Did they do this because of my comment? Did they do this because they actually considered me? I don't know and I never will. Sadly though the gesture was spoilt by a barbed comment this morning "great time, no complaints..."

Whatever miracles happen in life, I am just so happy that they happen, especially last night!