Dog | Steele (the Day)

Weather Fit for a Dog

// October 31st, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

They say animals know more than we think they do. If the truth is known, they probably know more than we do. Usually on nice days, Lucky likes to be outside for prolonged periods, but only if someone is within sight of him. Go around the house with the pruners in hand, and he’s a barking, whining, canine fool.

But not yesterday. Or today.

By 0800 he knew it would be a beautiful warm fall day. He had already been outside 4 times. Either he didn’t get his business done, or he forgot he’d been out. Whatever, he just stood by the back door looking back at me expectantly to let him out again,while I was perusing all the good wishes from him friends at Doggyspace. People who blog may have their quirks, but dogs who blog are really special. (OK, I know how stupid that sounds, but stick with me – see for yourself – he does!)

I let him out yesterday afternoon while I baked cookies (OK, now my friends think I’ve really lost it! Me? Cookies?). He literally sat in the yard, wandered the length of his cable, laid under the crab apple tree, sniffed the wind, pinned his ears back – for about 45 minutes. Today I made a chop-a-lot salad for an exciting tailgate tomorrow, and there he was again. Sniffing. Wandering. Lounging. For over an hour.

Thousands of thoughts went through my head as my Kitchen Aid twirled the dough, I chopped away (knuckles in perfect position) and I watched him from the kitchen window. Is he taking in these beautiful days, thinking they are among his last? Is he looking for the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge? Why is he so content out there all by himself for the first time ever in his long life? If I unhooked him from his cable, where would he go?

I couldn’t risk that. He’s nearly blind and deaf. But oh, how I wondered.

He knows I’m writing this. His nose is resting on my leg as I’m typing, almost as if he wants to tell me what to say.

Perhaps if I trim his nails, he can say it himself. I’m the Lucky One.

Tea today: White cantaloupe

I AM Better Off Than I Was 4 Years Ago…

// October 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

And it has nothing to do with politics, government, the President, the war, the economy (duh!) or the country at large.

It’s all about me.

OK, so my retirement fund hit the skids, my bonus from work was worth less than the “Jelly of the Month” Club, my fitness level and core strength really took a nose dive, and most of the old clothes I took to the consignment store were rejected for “lack of style and excessive wear” – so they went back in my closet.

But oh, my heart is better. And my soul. I’ve become more faithful. I trust God implicitly to take care of things (like retirement funds, family. friends) and He has, I worry less, I pray more, I’ve really given Him a huge load these past couple of years and am trusting He will continue to carry it for me.

No matter what the outcome of this election, despite all the promises of CHANGE by both parties, I’m confident in my God who is the same, no matter who rules the country, no matter what the stock market does, and no matter if I have a job when I return from vacation. He never changes, and I’m so grateful.

He’s got me – right where He wants me. Wouldn’t have put myself here, but His plans are wiser than mine.

I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I rush down like a groupie this morning to see “Meet the Press” where Ron Burgundy was allegedly

to get an interview with McCain, but got the classic brush-off and a stern warning from the Secret Service to “hold it up here, sir” as he tried to chase him down. But the most exciting groupie part was seeing our friend Tom Brokaw again after 20 years. He hasn’t changed a bit. Still as kind, professional, and ordinary as ever.

Graciously signed his book “A Long Way Home” for us. Couldn’t pass up the photo-op. And I even got kisses from his dog Red who came along for the trip so they could go hunting.

Not Just Any Old Dog – MY Dog

// October 23rd, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I am in awe of dogs blogging. Yeah, they really do. And they do a woof woof job of it, too. Ever since Lucky signed up for Doggyspace and joined the Puppy Prayer Chain group, my email has been flooded with good wishes for us. Dog owners are so special. Dogs are so special. There are thousands of poems written about family dogs and their demise. Lucky’s still with us and has good and bad days, but he’s become more “clingy” and I’m fearing he’s starting to tell me things I really am not ready to hear. I will continue to listen attentively.

The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then will you do what must be done,

For this — the last battle — can’t be won.

You will be sad I understand,

But don’t let grief then stay your hand,

For on this day, more than the rest,

Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,

You wouldn’t want me to suffer so.

When the time comes,

please, let me go.

Take me to where to my needs they’ll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree

It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don’t grieve that it must be you

Who has to decide this thing to do;

We’ve been so close — we two — these years,

Don’t let your heart hold any tears.

~ Unknown

Tea tonight: Jasmine

Why I Love Lucky

// October 9th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Dogs
They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.
~Jerome K. Jerome

Tea today: Hy-Vee cheap stuff

Doggone It.

// October 4th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

It was, quite simply, only a matter of time.

How many of us live long past 90? (How many of us want to?)

Certainly not dogs who aren’t expected to live past 70. And not our precious Lucky.

We got the news today that our 90+ year old puppy has cancer in the bone above his upper teeth. He has a visible tumor on his schnoz, but we thought it was an abscessed tooth (and so did the vet). When he went to pull the tooth today the bone above it sort of fell apart.

That’s when they realized this was more than a dental problem. It was a large tumor.

Way down deep, where we haven’t hurt in a long time, our hearts ache. A shared family sadness, reminiscent of Buddy and the day we lost him. An end too near to even want to think about. An end that I pray is calm and peaceful for Lucky and for us. A pain-free end. And I hope he tells us when he is ready. I so wish I knew Lucky would be in heaven with me, but I’m not so sure. The scripture has a few things to say about that, but that’s in God’s hands. All I know is that He loved us enough to bless us with Lucky for so many years. God is so good.

“The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.”

~George Graham Vest

No tea tonight – can’t swallow

Prayers Please

// October 2nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Looking for some answered prayers – Lucky is having some surgery tomorrow. Why do I say “answered?” He always answers.

Yes….No…..Not Yet

Which will it be?

Tea today: green with lemongrass

cOrN dOg.

// August 10th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Lucky loves it when I freeze corn, or when I fix anything, really. He’s underfoot whenever I have a knife or spoon in my hand. He knows my antique electric (is that an oxymoron?) knife will make some random moves and throw a helping or two his way. He stands with his head between my legs to catch the kernels as they fall on his snout. He slurps and licks and my kitchen floor is as clean as a whistle when he’s done. The green beans and tomatoes? Not so much. And if he looks at me saying “More, please?” he knows I’ll throw him an ear of corn all his own. Golden gems for a puppy in his golden years. I have to be careful, though, because he’s terrified of the silks! I guess that’s the weiner in my little corn dog. Iowa State Fair’s got nothing on my corn dog!
Tea today: Young Hyson

Visit Lucky’s DoggySpace page

// August 8th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Lucky said he needs some new friends, so I fixed him up with his own spot on DoggySpace. Stop by and visit! He would sure like some of his friends to join him, too!
Tea tonight: Genmaicha

Broken and Beautiful

// August 2nd, 2008 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized

This is one of my favorite songs by Mark Schultz. I really love all of his songs and feel so blessed to have met and talked with him in person when he did a concert last year in Iowa during his “Mark Across America” tour for the James Fund. He is so genuine, so real, and just an awesome person. Not too shabby at song writing and singing, either! Don’t ever miss a chance to see one of his performances. I’d give anything to go see him in Iowa City next week

As I was trimming the hedges this week, that song just wouldn’t leave my head. You can hack away at shrubs and get rid of all of the gangly, useless branches that detract from that neatly manicured look, and no matter how deep the cut, no matter how big the “oops,” they will bounce back. Re-bloom. Re-leaf. Re-branch. Sort of like us – we get hurt and broken and violated but through God’s grace we come back. Most of the time, more beautiful, but always, with His help, stronger. We know we can depend on the strong roots and nourishment He has provided for us.

Though people are really the true testimony to Broken and Beautiful, one that reminds me every day of this is my flowering crab, or “Aunt Crabby.” Most of my plants have names. Harold reminds me of this song a bit as well. But this tree we planted was so beautiful, so perfect, until the ice storm of 2007 that made it so heavy that it split smack down the middle. A huge part of the tree was gone. Broken. Lopsided. Unable to bear the cruel icy burden cast upon it and the winds that finally brought it to submission. In the spring, we took the chain saw and finished off what was hanging there, leaving a huge scar, a wispier tree, and lots of hope that it would somehow bud and blossom again. It did. The leaves are actually a deeper green now, with a crimson gloss on the undersides. The crab apples are more bountiful, and the view from inside the house allows me to see my pond a lot better. It was supposed to happen. And it happens to all of us. Whether someone has intentionally taken a “Hedge Hog” to you, or whether it’s God’s will, it happens. I don’t remember praying for that tree, but I have certainly prayed for the brokenness in our lives and the healing that follows. The scar on that tree is tough and healed, but always a reminder that “He is the vine, we are the branches.” And as I write this in the cool Saturday breeze while sitting near that tree, my puppy, who is walking on all fours with only a barely discernible limp, is also reveling in the healing of the broken. A few days ago I imagined us burying him under that tree by now. How foolish I was to think that His plans were not mine.

Where do you see God’s healing? How has He spoken to you lately?

Tea today: Tazo Green Ginger

Heeling.

// August 1st, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I laugh at one of my friends who always charts about how patient’s wounds are “heeling” since I’m such a stickler for spelling. I usually say something like “His dog’s here, too?” – just to get us giggling. So it’s important to note that since the Healer has come into my home once again and helped my puppy turn a big corner today, that this post is aptly titled.

I took Lucky out for his morning visit to the yard in a sling made from a pillow case, because he couldn’t walk. He was so disoriented and couldn’t

bear weight on his front legs. His back feet are still bandaged, and the mysteriously disappearing bandages of earlier this week are the only thing he’s eaten since last Friday. We have yet to see them digested. I did the mom/nurse thing and bathed his feet in soapy water and diluted peroxide and re-bandaged them. I brought him a bowl of fresh water and gently slid an aspirin down his throat. I decided he was just hurting all over and surely an aspirin would help. I also think he had some PTSD from being in a strange kennel last weekend. Tonight he’s SO much perkier and gingerly ate about 1/4 cup of food for me. And at one point he purposefully came to the kitchen to see what I was doing. Hooray! I’ve never been able to get this dog to heel, but God sure helped him heal. Thank you, Lord. I was not ready to let him go just yet but he was sure acting like he was ready.

Tea tonight: Young Hyson

Steele (the Day)

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