Gosh I miss him...

Mr. Morris was such a huge part of my late adult life. 14 years of everyday adventure. As a Jack Russell, he was always on the go. Go

go

go...was Morris's motto until the last year of his life.

His vet told me that a JRT will be like that. They'll go with boundless energy and then then stop. When they stop, then worry.

Yesterday morning I wasn't thinking of him at all. But when I opened my laptop and logged in. Facebook reminded me that Morris's birthday was today. Indeed it was and he would have been 16? Wow. 

I meant to take his page down but when I look at it, I just end up browsing his page and photos.

Crazy.

So I spent part of the day recalling our friendship and browsing all the Flickr photos of him all the way back to the day I brought him home.

It's true. Charlie is in our lives now and he has grabbed our hearts like no other. It was with great purpose that I chose a wonderfully different kind of dog. 

After all...how can you not love this face?

Yes, I miss Morris and nothing can replace him or his place in my heart.

Thank you Charlie for helping to fill that space that hurts and filling it with your silly ways and your pure unselfish devotion to Rich.

Your devil may care attitude and hunting instinct, and your ability to take over the whole couch with such a tiny body.

So life goes on. We miss those we love.

And we find reasons to carry on....

Laugh love

cry

and smile.

Miss Dixie ~ and Mr. Morris

Just because I am writing about Dixie, doesn't mean I love Mr. Morris any less or that he is not wanted!

After all, he spent the past weekend basking in glory on the couch with some of his favorite people.

He is the essential lap dog and commanders the couch most of the time these days.
He went out to play with Scout on one of the subzero days and the two dogs chased each other until suddenly Morris couldn't move. Scout's feet got cold and Morris could barely walk.
Since then Morris has been quick to do his outdoor business and back to his perch on the couch with the polartech fleece blankets.

Dixie is my black and tan hound dog that was never trained to hunt. She does have a nice cozy outdoor house that is bedded deep.
I thought she would like to accompany on a hike to go get the mail yesterday.

At first I was afraid it would be too cold for her, however she rarely stops moving long enough to get cold. ...Well, except for digging for mouse nests in the meadow grasses!

Now there has to be a classic Dixie 'Ears Flappin' shot in any hike we go on. I just adore those hound dog ears.

After checking around for mouse nests and digging one or two up, we went up through the woods towards the road. This is often how I get the mail in the winter. I can incorporate a hike up the to the ridge through the woods and effectively stay out of the cold winds.

I must say, Dixie sure does a lot of running and joyful leaping on our hikes. She is always the happy hound. It is very hard to get a good shot of her with the snow and bright sunlight too.
We went up the trail and onto the road.

Deer hunting season is over in our area so Dixie and I can resume some of our longer hikes. I don't want to go very far right now as the median temperatures are hovering just below zero.
I would hate to have Dixie injure her feet in this cold.

We made it to the road. I had forgotten how much I converse with my hiking partners when they are dogs. I keep a running commentary with Dixie.

"Good girl Dixie! You are the best!"
"Come here let me hug you!"
"Oh dear Dixie, you could use a nice bath!"

I must admit, she is a stunning dog. Every time she hears my voice she wags her tail even if she is concentrating on something she scents in the woods.
Note the green collar. It is a training collar. I only use it if she takes off chasing deer. However I discovered on this dead end road that hunters had been tossing deer carcasses into the woods.

Dixie couldn't contain herself with all that dead stuff piled under the snow. She raced down into the woods and started digging up deer bones. I only had to 'touch' her once when I yelled "NO! Dixie!" and she dropped the bones and came back to my side.
I hate it when people use dead end roads to dump things.

However, I do love having her company. Who wouldn't love having this charmer walking with them?

She really helps complete the beautiful scene.

We leashed up when walking back towards home. She is one of the easiest dogs to walk on leash.
She never pulls. Ever.

Here I just stopped walking and asked for a 'sit'. I must say that she has been one of my best students for dog obedience.

Dixie is my 'velcro' dog when we are on leash. And she is very huggable.

Just look at her face.

Yes, we did get the mail and Dixie spent time with me while I was choring and watering the stock tanks.

Morris? He is doing pretty good. His health is slowly declining. I can't wait for a warm up so we can take some walks together with Dixie like the old days.
Although, probably not the running and chasing they used to do together...

Just

This ... today.

Working at it.

The weather today is supposed to be a wintery mix of weather. I really don't mind it at all.
Yesterday was cold and breezy. The sky was overcast.
Perfect for hiking into the valley.

I got out my camera backpack and shoved a Crazy, Happy, and Terrible into it. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do, but at least I had a purpose for hiking in the blah brown season.

I headed of course to the creek with the toys. Ideas began to roll around in my head.

The idea of doing a last book with Morris and his toys seems like a good idea to me. I don't find it morbid or sad, but something I can get involved in with my whole heart.
I'd been waiting for an idea to pop up in my head since the last adventure story called The Long Journey. A story about unwanted toys and how they came to live with Morris.

For this final book, Happy the Hedgehog will make a comeback. Morris's long search for his puppy-hood buddy will be resolved.
Of course Terrible Tiger and Crazy Squirrel play an integral part.

This idea helps me deal with the eventual loss of my best friend. I think that by doing this story now, I will have a lasting 'memorial' to my pal. What better way than to have a story right?

By the way, Morris is doing well still. He sleeps a LOT. However after doing his business this morning at 3 AM, he thought it should be zoomy time around the living room, complete with barking, growling, and tail wagging.

I had to hush him and then bribe him with a dog treat to be quiet.

Now I have to take him out and bribe him with treats so he can do some posing for me.
That will be a challenge!

So, How is Morris?

I am happy to report that Mr. Morris has gained weight on his *new* diet of Kidney Food. He has regained strength and tail wagging strength.

He is bouncy and happy when anyone comes by to visit or we walk to the bus stop to get the kids.

He needs to be kept on a line of some sort while walking. It seems we go so far and he just turns around and heads home if we are near home. At a county park last week he turned and walked back the way we came.

Our 'free' hiking in the woods is no longer a thing we do. I used to take off a bit each day with Morris and check out certain areas. I choose a walk along the road or a well defined trail now so we can still make jaunts.

His mouth has a bad tooth and the vet had said it should be removed, however she didn't think he was healthy enough nor was his blood work good enough. She also explained that it was terribly expensive. The cost would nearly be what I pay in property taxes so I don't think that is going to happen.

I'll take him to the vet to weigh him tomorrow or Monday. But his improvement has been excellent.

It is hard knowing that at some point the other shoe will drop... so to speak. But for now, he is happy and wagging. I'll take it.

Upside Down

Well it certainly has been a tumultuous week.  Morris got ill a week ago and on Monday was diagnosed with Kidney Disease. It was an up and down week with moments of sheer sadness and joy.

Joy on the mornings that Morris decided to play after taking his medicine. Sadness during those moments that he stared at me and trembled.
We had two visits with the veterinarian and I discovered that even though I was being pragmatic about Morris and his disease I was having trouble facing it.
Truth is. I don't ever want this funny annoying little dog to ever leave my life. I can't picture it.

On another note. Due to the small drought we've had some trees made a rapid partial change. Colors blossomed last week and then it seemed that after 3 inches of rain...fall was put on hold.

Most of the soy beans are ready for harvest this fall before the corn is. That is backwards.

Mr. Morris perks up after having a 'bad' morning. He literally is full of energy and bouncy.
So we grab a leash and head out with the neighbor to take a long walk to the bus stop.

Allison leaps off the bus and asks if she can hold Morris's leash.
Off the kids run with Morris in tow.

And I am pleased.
A bit later Morris slows down and I carry him. He simply doesn't have the energy to keep up the pace.
But he is happy.

We are finally having some typical fall weather. Warm during the day and cool at night.
The harvesting has begun in earnest on the ridge and we are preparing things for winter.

It seems my life is in an upside down mode right now.
But that is okay.

We need to take just one day at a time.

Mr. Morris has a Bucket List

My long time pal Morris is showing more decline as the days go on. He can't see well any more. He isn't sure how far down in his bowl the water is, so he starts to drink in the air and carefully lowers his face down into the bowl.

If I move my buckets of flowers around he will either growl at them or walk into them at night.

We smile and assist him in most things because that is what we do. Treat the elderly with kindness and love.

Yesterday I was working on a an old milk can. I spray painted it white and left it near a stump in the yard to dry.

Morris came out and growled. He walked towards it with stiff legs and all his hair raised on his back.

I was amused but realized that it was probably not funny in his world.

He is losing weight gradually but still is eager to walk the neighbor kids home from school. He asked to be carried our last time out on the last leg of the walk. I obliged. He is enthusiastic with the children and conks out on the couch when he gets home.

More and more he starts out a hike with me and turns around and goes back to the house and to sit on the back step or the porch. Our outings will involve a bit of assistance from now on.

His mobility is just fine.

He likes cuddling or sitting in my lap more often. In fact every morning he asks to sit on my lap while I browse the news and have some coffee.

In the past he always entertained himself by dumping all of his toys out and spreading them throughout the house.

So the other day he laid out his plan for his own personal Bucket List.

Morris ~~~

Car rides. More car rides. I like car rides. 

Mule Rides. I want to take some more rides on mules.

Hikes. I like hikes. But I get tired like when I was a pup. So I want a doggie back pack.

Tractor Rides. I like them too. 

A good book to read. Or someone can read it to me...

Another sleep over with my best life time friend...

NO more puppy training! Please!

A ride in the new skid steer with the Grumpy Guy.

Cookies. I like cookies. Lots of dog cookies.

A nice quiet place to sleep. Oh wait. I have that.

Another cool trip with Her.

Lots and lots of love.

When I think of more...
I will add some.

Old dog

Most mornings I can find Mr. Morris like this. He prefers to sleep on HIS couch snuggled up with his blanket. He feels he has reached the age where he can dictate when he wants to get up and do something and when he should be left undisturbed.

On the mornings I go out to watch the predawn sunrise or those nights I go out to look at stars, he simply watches me walk out the porch door and lays his head back down on his blanket.

He never let me set foot outside of the house in years past without trying to go with me or voicing his displeasure with a bark.
I know it. He is starting to show his age.

We did go for a late afternoon walk together on Friday afternoon. I took him with me to the Merry Meadow to check out the wild apple trees.

I had to convince him that he wanted to go. Once we were out the door, he was his old self for a while, running, sniffing, and trying to 'water' everything he could.

Saturday morning I woke up and asked him if he wanted to go out on the porch with me and check out the *Moonset*. He yawned and dropped his head back into his blanket. He never even looked at me a second time as I gathered the keys for the Subaru.

When Ariel and her family arrived late afternoon on Saturday, he was happy and trotted around the living room for a few moments. Then he jumped up on the couch and promptly laid down in between Ariel and I. He dropped his head on Ariel's lap and shut his eyes.
We all sighed. Morris was surely showing his age. Our conversation leaned towards him and how the grand kids have grown up having him underfoot all of these years.

My biggest fear of time and age creeping up on my wonderful pal, was happening. I put my hand on his back and softly ran my fingers down it.

When Ariel's family left I asked Ariel if she'd like to take Morris for a ride in the Jeep. It was something I knew that Morris deeply loves. Car rides.

She said sure and off we went. She helped Morris into the Jeep and we went exploring the back roads.
We went down to Tainter Road and drove passed the Road Closed sign. The bridges and culverts have been out and under repair since the floods last September. There are only two places on the road. We drove down part way and parked to take Morris for a walk. Since the bridge/culvert is out and this road has no real year round residents, it is safe to walk down the road.

Morris was loving it. So many things to smell and stick his nose into! He trotted along and once disappeared into the tall grass. We found him digging out a rabbit nest.
Good ol' Morris.

We got back in the Jeep and let Morris enjoy his ride.

And he did.

What more could a dog ask for? A quiet road, a chance to hang out the window and let the breezes blow back your ears while you sniff the world going by.

Life is good when you are an old dog!

Bitter Cold and old dogs

If you want to call it that. I know that when the air temperature outside is -15 at sunrise and it was only get to something like -2 for the high, it was going to take chores time twice as long.

Of course you have to dress very stylishly when it is frigid.

You would not believe how much these goggles save my eyes from feeling windburned.

Morris used to love going out in the snow and yesterday afternoon he jumped and twirled as I pulled on my 'gear' for running water to the stock tanks. I made him stay in the house.
Watering is simple right? 

Nope 150 feet of hose goes to the large heated stock tank. Each section must be taken apart in frigid weather and drained. The hoses are stretched out on the hillsides after they have been drained and ready for the next time.
Which means to prepare one has to drag the hoses into the proper positions and then connect them, melting the leftover ice on the connections with their hands.

After the upper tanks are done, those hoses too are taken apart and laid out after draining.

Late yesterday afternoon when I came in to swap to some dry gloves Morris jumped and whined. Well, it seemed nicer out, so I went back outside with him.

Morris bolted out the door and ran up and down the plowed driveway. I joined him and then hiked over towards the meadow. The strong hearted little dog joined me, leaping into each of my tracks.

Until, when I turned and saw that he had stopped. He was overcome by a fit of shaking and lifted his paw. He turned and started to walk back.

He was having trouble so I scooped him up and unzipped my flannel jacket and stuck him inside. I took my hands out of their gloves and put them on his feet.
He licked my face. Well yuck. He does have some nasty breath.

We sat in the snow for a bit.

And looked back at our trail.

Morris the adventure dog who used to brave all of the elements no matter what, was not as adventurous any more. I had to face that fact.
No longer was he the young jack russell who flew in the face of cold weather and deep snow.

Photo from 4 yrs ago

Maybe he knew more than me. I didn't want him to age. I don't want him to age. 

But I know he spends more and more time on his 'spot' on the couch taking nice long dog naps.

He can hike in good weather, but cold? Not much any more.

He probably has better sense than I do to stay in from the cold.

I know he won't tolerate booties or a coat. So I'm going to let him be the boss of the couch as much as he wants to be.

Mr. Morris, you deserve your spot on the couch. 

And I promise not to try and take you on any cold hikes, but if you insist on coming, I will most certainly make sure that I can carry you inside my coveralls.

I know even old dogs like adventures.

Oh Really? by Morris

I don't understand why she doesn't take me out with her all of the time. 
If she is looking for a good photograph all she has to do is point the camera right at me.

I can make any camera take a good photo.

I mean, come on...look at this!

Do I not look incredibly cute and handsome at the same time?
I don't even mind that my face has gone nearly completely grey. No hair color for me! Just a silver muzzled handsome Jack Russell.

Yep I'm just what the cameras ordered.

She says it is hard to photograph me while I am in the bush and summer undergrowth.
Excuses, excuses. 

But she did find some other things I guess worthwhile looking at than just me.

She said she was looking for places and things to take her visitors to this weekend.

Oh yeah, she mentioned that they would be bringing their young dog. Some whipper snapper no doubt. His name is Scout. Any dog in MY house is called 'a nuisance'. Sigh. The things I have to put up with!

All I know is that it is my house so everyone should follow my rules. Right?
Dog cookies at any time of day.
Warm blankets and a nice bed to lay on at any given moment.

And best of all.
Access to nice warm places whenever I want.

Oh yes.
And did I mention Dog Cookies?

I will pose for Dog Cookies.
I like Dog Cookies.

I really really do.