Think I'll sit down here for a bit...

[Jim47]

Oh Jim, that's a great story. It's hard to lose pets.

My all time favorite dog (a Springer) Max, was hit by a car right in front of me. It took a long time for me to get over it. It was 10yrs before I got rid of his collar.

I suppose that sounds silly.

Not at all silly. I can imagine how tuff that was to take. I lost a 4 month old puppy the same way about 7 years ago. I only had him a couple of monthes but he was a good little doggy

I remember when I was a kid, my GrandPa always had a picture of his old hunting companion on the wall. I think we all become very attached to our pets, which is good but also cause the grief of losing them.

 

[LilLamb219]

When I did portraits out of my home a few years ago (drawings and paintings), a lot of my customers would have portraits of their deceased pets done...or as gifts for relatives who lost their pets. We really do get attached to our babies

 

[DaRev]

My dog eats only dry. Lamb and Rice formula. It's good for his coat and he smells better, too (if you get my drift... ) His cookies (dog biscuits) are also Lamb and Rice. The problem is that he eats too many of those and not enough of his regular food. The dog will also eat people food if I give it to him. The people I got him back from gave him people food. I'm trying to break him of it.

My kitty has both wet and dry. She's picky... but she's a cat... and female. I get the Meow Mix pouches. There are some she likes and some she won't touch. I'm still trying to figure it all out. The cat won't touch people food. She's never had it and really doesn't care about any of it. I can leave a sandwich on the table and she won't go near it.
The dog would swallow it whole!

 

[Studeclunker]

When I was ten, some people gave me an English Walker Hound and Irish Setter Cross puppy. He took after the hound in size and the Setter in body type and colour, with the short hound coat. My dad named him Red. I believe it was after Big Red the literary classic.

We couldn't keep him contained. It wasn't so bad at the ranch. When we were back in So Cal it was a serious problem. He could jump a six foot fence from a sitting position. I know, because I caught him several times. Used to watch him from the kitchen window. He was a beautiful dog, but just impossible to keep in the yard. We tried to chain him to a VW Beetle body in the back yard (my brother had made the rest of it into a dune-buggy). Red would drag it around the yard with ease. He was amazing. My dad finally lost patience when Red snapped the fourth welded chain and traded him with my sister for a very abused and obedient German Shepard female.

Baby worked out fairly well for about a year. Then she got knocked up and dad had her put down. It was about this time that I found out that Red had been as well.

I never got close to another dog till my current one. Oh I had them. I showed Cocker Spaniels and Flat Coated Retrievers. My wife had Newfoundlands and German Shepards. Yes, we had a kennel for about ten years. But I never allowed myself to become attached to them.

I bought Nana as a companion for my son after my Mum died. Hence the name. Her full name is Darling's Nana. But the real reason was not Peter Pan, but the German Colloquilisim for 'beloved one' also grandmother. Garrett wanted nothing to do with her and she bonded to me.

Nana's a real sweetheart that's almost literally my shadow. She goes with me everywhere and half the county knows her by sight. She's eleven years old and I'm dreading losing her. This past six months of unemployment has been a blessing as I've been able to spend so much time with her. She won't be with me much longer, I'm sure. Old English Sheepdogs have a life expectancy of only eight years. So the Lord has greatly blessed me with three extra years so far. May he be gracious enough to bless me with at least three more...

 

[filosofer]

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
I love animals - always have. Two rather sad stories. In 1957 my father had poured cement for our new garage. We lived on a farm and had about 18 farm cats. Anyway, the next morning there were cat tracks across the cement. My father's solution? For my older brother and I to take all the cats to the edge of the woods on a hillside, and swing them by their tails to kill them against the trees. I was sick - but more afraid of my father not to do it.

When I was 10 my father and older brother were deer hunting (in those days they would go for the week). Our dog had been gut-shot by someone, and it limped home, but he was dying. It became my responsibility to shot my own dog. That was even harder.

50 years later, those event still affect me... Sadly, because we have moved so often (27 times in 36 years) in our married life, we have not had pets, and I miss them terribly....

Nuts, I wasn't feeling too bad until I remembered these events....

In Christ's love,
filo
[/font]

 

[seajoy]

I'm sorry filo. I, too grew up with a father who had no problem hurting animals. We never knew from one day to the next, if our pet would be dead that day.

I think that's why I have such a love for animals, especially dogs.

 

[DaRev]

When I was a kid we had a cat. He just showed up at the house one day and mom gave him some food... thus we had a cat. His name was T. Hewitt Edward. (We called him Hewitt.) He came in the house only when my father wasn't home. He didn't believe that animals belonged in the house.

Every once in a while the cat would come in while he was there and he would order us to take the cat out. He didn't hate animals, he just didn't think they belonged in the house.

One day, he was sitting on the couch and we were kinda joking around about the cat. He was in the house at the time but dad wasn't all that uptight about it at the moment. Without warning the cat jumped up on his lap, circled once and laid down... right on his lap. He petted the cat for a couple seconds, then the cat jumped down and went into the other room.

The cat never sat on him again... but dad never said he had to go outside after that.

 

[seajoy]

Awwww, that's a nice story Rev.

 

[seajoy]

I was afraid I looked like a pastor, so I got a new dress. What do you think?

 

[porterross]

It's very flattering and green, just in time for St. Patty's Day!

 

[seajoy]

It's very flattering and green, just in time for St. Patty's Day!

I'm not even Irish! It's my Easter dress.

If I may say so...you're kind of underdressed.

 

[porterross]

I'm not even Irish! It's my Easter dress.

If I may say so...you're kind of underdressed.

So DaRev keeps reminding everyone and he is obviously not a fan of ponytails.

I promise to change when we get back Wed. but I'm comfy.

 

[seajoy]

Oh, that's right...you're going camping.
I forgot.
Proceed to yonder woods.....

 

[KimLCMS]

Good evening everyone!

 

[porterross]

Hi Kim.

 

[The Princess Bride]

Hello

 

[porterross]

Not the woods, the canyons of the Caprock.

 

[seajoy]

Not the woods, the canyons of the Caprock.

Wow, pretty!

 

[porterross]

Didn't know we had such areas in Texas, did ya?

We've not camped in this portion of the formation before, but have further up where it's a bit more flat and tame. I figured it's time my daughter get challenged a bit more and the tent site will be fairly close to a ledge so we'll have gorgeous views to wake up and relax to in the evening.
I like to get close up to God's canvas and out of cell phone range and my daughter loves camping so we both win. OH!!!! and I found a battery powered, built-in pump air mattress today. I am not a fan of sleeping on the rocks as much as I love them.

When does everyone else have their Spring Break? Ours is next week.

 

[DaRev]

So DaRev keeps reminding everyone and he is obviously not a fan of ponytails.

What did I say??

I think she looks kinda cute.

Ponytails are OK... except when they're dunked in tea.