A DAY OR TWO IN THE LIFE

It's been over a month since your Dog Obsessed Girl has been able to find the time, gumption and topic to share with you the goings on at Casa Curtin-Hess. Since I am frequently asked how we're doing, I thought I could make a huge post about what a Day (Or Two) In Our Life is like right now. Most people don't care about the minute to minute detail of anyone's life, but we think we can make anything sound fun and entertaining...!

Envision, if you will, our simple life and how we get through our days with smiles and appreciation.

For fun, let me start on a Sunday night!

SUNDAY NIGHT
11pm
My goal is to get into bed by 11pm each night. I may not always make it, but I make a good effort. On Sundays, I have just watched Mad Men, and Satchel, Luna & I talk about the episode.
Jason stays up later than the rest of us so he is on Satchel Watch.
By now, Satchel is usually relaxing a bit by lying down in either the office or the bedroom. He usually chooses his moving blanket area. He just loves a moving blanket...crazy Satchel.

Sweet Satchel getting sleepy...

I close the doors to our bedroom and office to contain Satchel's wanderings to a safe area and so that I can hear him as he tries to get up in the night.
Luna gets to "cuddle up." I like her to be on "my side," but she often chooses the roomier-for-the-moment area known as "Jason's side." He's very accommodating to her sleeping needs.

Spacious Jason's Side


Ready to snuggle up with Me!

The dogs and I find a good sitcom and put the TV on a 30-minute sleep timer.

12am
Luna and I are asleep. I hear Satchel get up some time between midnite and 1-ish am because he needs to go outside. Jason usually takes him at this time then "suits him up" for the nite.
Satchie has to wear a doggy diaper I create out of a human Depends with a cut in it for his tail. It is the most effective when combined with a diaper cover or Belly Band. He doesn't like it, but he has grown more used to it and doesn't seem bothered by the apparatus anymore.

Suited Up Satchel

2 - 4am
Somewhere in here Satchel wakes up with a start and a struggle and needs my help to get up and stand. He has to go outside to pee, but he is sometimes sleepwalking. Literally sleepwalking. About 30% of the time, he is still asleep until we get outside.
Satchel likes to walk the yard for several minutes. We have spent up to 30 minutes outside at this time of night admiring the stars and trying not to disturb the deer that sleep in our yard.

Traversing the yard at night...

Sometimes Satchie has pooped in his diaper. He's neat about it and a swipe with a baby wipe or Clorox wipe makes him perfect again. Maybe once a month he needs an extra shower due to this event.
We get back inside, put on a new diaper, Satchel drinks a ton of water, and we go back to the bedroom where Jason is usually snoring and Luna is usually sprawled and stretched out on her back - Totally Asleep.
"Why not limit his water?" some ask.
"Because it's good for his kidney function and digestion," I say.
On good nites, this process will take about 30 minutes. On rough nites, when Satchel's intestines are working slowly, it can be a 2 Hour Tour.
On a good nite, Satchel will lie down and go back to sleep. On a rough nite, after pacing and panting in the yard, he needs some snuggle time and massage. His upper back around his shoulders can get very fatigued. With a little bit of luck, and about 15 minutes of massage along his spine, upper back and tummy, Satchie might be relaxed for another couple of hours.

4 - 6am
Either Satchel & I are outside again, or I'm helping him walk around a bit to find a comfortable position.
Jason and Luna are deeply asleep.
On a good nite, this awakening may not even happen. On a rougher nite, Satchel is up for an hour or two.

Monday mornings I have a massage client 7-9am.
I'm stressed on Monday mornings because Jason leaves for a client's house at about 6:45am which means no one can attend to Satchel's needs. We have found he rests well and safely in the basement.

MONDAY
6am
Luna and I get up. Satchel sometimes wakes or is already awake.
I get dressed, and if Satchel is awake, Luna and I go outside with him first, then get him settled in either the bedroom or massage room before we go for a 30-minute walk in the neighborhood.

Luna has her Flasher on and we're ready for our walk in the dark

Doesn't it sound like the last 7 hours have been sooooo exciting!?!?

6:30-ish - 7 am
Luna and I have breakfast.
Luna gets her medicine.
Jason takes Satchel into the basement and gets him comfortable and settled while I try not to panic...

7-9am
Work.

9:10am
Shove client out the door so I can check on Satchel!
He is usually fine...on occasion I need to clean him up from some sort of mishap...
I'm still feeling stressed because every other week I have to leave by 9:20am to get to an appointment which means I have to pack 40 minutes worth of needs into 10.

Get Satchel upstairs - he walks the yard first of course!
Come ON Satchie! I've got to GO!
Hold Satchel up while he eats.


Helping Satchel eat

If there's enough time, give Satchel all his meds.
Suit Satchel up and leave.
Work really hard at not feeling panicky.

9:25am
Leave 5 minutes late.

9:35-ish am
Arrive at my friend's Korey's house.
She is a massage therapist too and we trade!

9:45-ish - 11:30 am
Work on Korey.

11:35-ish am
Leave Korey's house and head to dog walking client's house.
Talk to Jason on the way, confirming that he will be home by noon.

11:45-ish am - 12:30-ish pm
Walk my client's/friend's 3 miniature greyhounds.
So cute!

Honey, Tredder & Blaze

12:30-ish pm
Race home hoping I won't get a ticket.

12:40-ish pm
Arrive home.
Satchel is often just fine!
If I haven't had time to do it already and Jason forgets, I give Satchel his meds.

1pm
Feed myself some lunch!
I have until 3pm to be with my dogs and do household tasks.

2:30 - 3pm
Take the dogs out for a jaunt in the yard.
It is a project to get Satchel outside and then he hates to come back inside.
He seems to think he has a bit of Rudolph in him because he acts as if he's taking off to fly. He hippity hops down the ramp and attempts to jump off the end of it like it's a dock. It is very hard on my back, knees and wrists...


Helping Satchel get down his ramp


Continuing down The Ramp That Jason Built

And he's off...to wander the yard!

Once inside, I suit Satchel up because he has to be alone for about an hour and half.
I work at not being stressed about Satchel's safety and not being worried that I'm not meeting Luna's needs...

3-ish - 4pm
Drive to client's house and set up for 4pm massage.
Text with the kids in my life about their days. On average, I tell them I love them & miss them 100x/day.


2 of my favorite people in the Entire Universe

4 - 5pm
Work.

5-ish - 5:20pm
Pack up and head home to the puppies!

6-ish - 8pm
Arrive home. Feed puppies. Take them out.
Feed myself.
Try to work out in some way. Treadmill. Weights. Something. It's all downstairs.
Text with kids if they're not too busy.


Me trying to workout with the puppies nearby

Satchel will usually stay downstairs with Jason and his clients.
(Jason is a personal trainer and works from home some hours during the day.)
Maybe have a shower.

8-ish - 8:30pm
Set up massage room for 8:30 appointment.
Text kids that I miss them and love them.

8:30 - 9:30ish pm
Work.

9:30-ish - 10pm
Straighten massage room.
Laundry.

10 - 11pm
Go outside with the dogs.
Feel lucky that I have the time, energy and money to take care of my family like this.
Do dishes or fold laundry or something like that.

11pm
Try to be in bed!
Sometimes I take the laptop into bed with me to read emails and my favorite gossip sites!


Luna & I cuddled up
Luna had been cuddled up for over an hour when this picture was taken...I just hopped into bed for the picture and then needed to switch out some laundry...isn't that too often the way?! It would have been so nice to just stay there...

11pm - 6am
See Sunday night!

Snuggled up & getting sleepy with Jason in the office

The day has quite a bit of Satchel pooping and peeing and needing clean up, but I'll keep that detail sparse. What I will tell you is that just because a dog becomes incontinent does not mean his quality of life is poor. Satchel needs all kinds of support and I'm happy to give it all to him. He's a happy dog. Of course dogs don't want to poop or pee where they live and sleep. It goes against their instincts. But if Satchel was in the wild right now, his pack would have either killed him or abandoned him to die. He's not in the wild. I will not kill or abandon him. He's my domesticated pet who is an essential family member and I am honored to take care of every bit of him.


TUESDAY
Don't have to get up until 8am!
Sometimes Satchel will be up earlier, but sometimes he'll sleep even later than 8am.
Jason has clients that come to the house at 8am on Tuesdays so Luna and I are awake!

8am
Luna hears people in the basement. She waits for me to get up. She's so awesome in that she doesn't wake me up, but since Jason's alarm goes off at 7:30/7:45, I'm already up - we're usually talking about our day. Yeah. Luna & I. We talk!

8:05am
Luna and I, and sometimes Satchel, go outside.
Depending on whether Satchel is with us or not, it can be a quick yard jaunt or a lengthy one.
If Satchel is up, he will want to go see who is in the basement, and Luna and I can go for a walk and not worry about Satchel.
If Satchel is not up, Luna and I wait until he wakes up, then we take him outside, then into the basement, then Luna and I go for our walk.
Walking, feeding, and medicine can take 2 hours!

10am - 11:30am
Workout and shower.

12pm
Take puppies outside.
We walk around and around and around and around the yard.
The dogs lift their noses and discover many things from the air.
Luna finds fun things in the leaves. She sometimes does a crazy tear around all the yards which perks Satchel's ears up as he watches her insanity. It's fun!
I suit Satchel up and leave for client's house.
Work at not worrying...

Now why do I worry so much? Satchel seems fine every time, you say.
Wellllll, for several months, when I've returned from having to be away from him, I have found my Sweet Satchel in some stressful situations.
More than once, I have found him sprawled on the floor in an odd location as if he got stuck and couldn't get out and just fell from fatigue.
We have many light/dark sensitive night lights throughout the house to light our way when we're up at 2am. They are plugged into sockets near the floor. It's sad for me to see these nightlights twisted and sometimes unplugged as Satchel has fallen against walls when I'm not with him.
Even when I sequester him in what seems like a safer place with carpeted floors, I have found my lovey tangled in his poopy diaper, or worn out from trying to get up on his own.
I hate to think of him struggling or hurting or both and not having his magical humans protecting him. We make food appear and doors open and nature open up for him. We make getting up and walking around easier. We love and adore and need him, just as he does us.
So I worry about him, and I wake up with him, and I take care of him, and I smile at him, and I love the funny-ness of him, and I stay home with him every possible second that I can. And when I have to leave him, I envision him being more than fine when I return. It takes some work, but if I can be confident, I can leave my Satchel & my Luna with the energy that they are safe and secure and I will always come home to them.

1 - 2pm
Work.

2-ish pm
Pack up and head home to the puppies!

2:45-ish pm
Arrive home and see that my puppies are ok.
Take them outside.
Feed myself some lunch.
Pack up new massage stuff to prepare for next client.
Check email, dishes in the dishwasher, laundry in the dryer kind of stuff.

3:50pm
Take puppies outside one more time.
Leave for client's house.
Work at not worrying.
Text with the kids about their days if they're not at soccer practice.
Tell them I love them and miss them.

4:30 - 6ish pm
Work.

6:15-ish pm
Head home to the puppies!
If I have some errands to run, I do that now because Jason is home and has fed the dogs and is taking care of them.
I miss the dogs, but am thankful to have the time and money to buy groceries and other things we need.

7 - 9pm
Arrive home some time in this range.
If closer to 7pm, I'll get household tasks done after I reunite with the dogs and text with the kids.
If closer to 9pm, I do pretty much the same thing, just for not as long.
Sometimes there is an opportunity to do NOTHING!

9 - 11pm
Go outside with the dogs.
Maybe fold laundry, clean a bathroom, vacuum, work on the computer.
Sometimes there is an opportunity to do nothing and I get into bed to do more nothing!

And so it goes through the week, and I feel lucky every day, even though I'm tired.
There is a lot of love and a lot of life at Casa Curtin-Hess.
We've cultivated a lot of happiness here, and I thank God for it all!

A Happy Jason With A Happy Satchel

VITAMINS + SUPPLEMENTS = HEALTH

It continues to be a bit rough for the dogs and people at Casa Curtin-Hess.
We're all tired right now, and have one ailment or 10, and we all take a lot of vitamins and supplements to maximize our health. While up in the night with Satchel, I decided to figure out how much the dogs' vitamins and supplements cost per day. This is just an estimate because sometimes I can get a supplement during a buy one get one free kind of sale, and we just got some more added to the mix from today's vet visit, but here we go:

SATCHEL:
Duralactin for arthritis = $1.00
Fish Oil for brain health = 4¢
Multivitamin for mature dogs = 4¢
Acidophilus for digestion = 5¢
Glucosamine w/Chondroitin for joints = 24¢
Benadryl for Severe Post Nasal Drip = 8¢
Vitamin E for healthy skin = 5¢
Sotalol for heart arrhythmia = $1.00
Deramaxx for arthritis = $1.74
Glutamine powder for digestion = 25¢
Healthy Powder concoction for overall health and nutrition = Not Sure, but in the 50¢ range
-------------------
= $4.99/day
Newman's Own Dry Food for Senior Dogs = $1.17/day
______________________
= $6.16/day to feed and nutritionally support Satchel each day

~$2/day for doggie Depends and incontinence support
We're also going to begin an additional supplement regimen to help him more with his geriatric insomnia and nighttime discomforts. This will probably cost in the $1/day range.

Of course treats and an occasional other supplement or aspirin or Heartworm treatment add a bit, but in general, Satchel costs a little over $9 a day!
He's worth oh so much more!

We had to add on a few more meds and a shampoo and conditioner after today's vet visit.
Here's a peek at our vitamin & supplement organization.

LUNA:
Multivitamin = 4¢
Acidophilus for digestion = 5¢
Glucosamine w/Chondroitin for joints = 24¢
Benadryl for allergies = 8¢
Vitamin E for healthy skin = 5¢
Fish Oil Gummy Vites for skin and brain health = 12¢
------------------
= 58¢/day
------------------
Newman's Own Dry Food for Senior Dogs = $1.17/day
------------------
= $1.75/day to feed and nutritionally support Luna each day

Luna has strained her lower back and right knee recently and has new medicines to help heal her.
Together they cost 88¢/day.
She may need to take one or both for a few months.
She is of course worth much much more than money to us!

The happiness I feel because these canine creatures are loves in my life is honestly indescribable. They're just fun and great sources of energy for me. When Satchel and I are up at 3am I'm tired and wishing I was in bed and sleeping, but the years of constant smiles he has provided can't be matched by my nighttime devotion. Comforting him and continually researching ways to improve his days and nights are the least I can do to give back to this angel named Satchel.

Luna's strained back caused her much pain recently, and I couldn't do enough fast enough to relieve the sadness and stress her pain caused her and the entire family. If our Luna isn't happy, our entire family is out of balance and suffering. Her health is essential to our family's health and well-being. When she radiates her Luna-ness, everything feels right at Casa Curtin-Hess. We are not Us without our Perfect Peanut.

MISSING KOKO

I did something today I've been dreading...
I returned a bag of Koko food to PetSmart. I had purchased it in mid-July because it was on sale and we never opened it...
Taking it back solidified the empty space in my life. It hurts to live without her.


Oh, Sweet Koko...

And during my workout tonight, I started to cry when I did an exercise that she loved. With an exercise ball used for back support against a wall, I do my squats. Koko loved to stand behind me, between the backs of my legs and the wall, while I squatted. Don't know why she loved it so much, but she always came over to me and stood behind me while I did that exercise. Because I miss her so much, I want to both stop doing that exercise and do it all the time.

Just had to let some of the sadness out tonight...

GOODIES FOR GOOD DOGS

I'm so excited about the packages I sent to a K9 unit in the United States Air Force.
I listened to the book, "Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam" by Cynthia Kadohata, a fictionalized account of a human-dog team that found booby traps for troops during the Vietnam war. It inspired me to find out if there are still human-dog teams in the military. There are!
http://thehousehound.net/_wsn/page4.html

Through the Bruno Packs program, I was given an address to an Air Force Unit in Iraq consisting of 10 men, 2 women and 12 German Shepherds. I had so so much fun gathering goodies to send them!

I tried to take a picture of all that I sent, and I tried to get a lot of things from the wish lists of the soldiers. Luna helped me think of some stuff, buy some stuff and we wrapped and packed it all up into 3 military boxes from the Post Office.
We sent:
Travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and Kleenex packets
12 pads of paper with a penny taped on each one - Penny For Their Thoughts!
17 ball point pens
7 magazines / doggy catalogs
22 citrus flavored Emergen-C packets
Black tea bags
baby wipes
11# of dog treats, some of Satchel's Cinnabones!
8 plastic frisbees that we wrote sweet things on like "You're Such a Good Dog!" and "People in Commerce Township, Michigan Love You"
12 doggy rope toys
LOTS of Ziploc bags in gallon and quart sizes
razors
lip balm
Q-tips
Strawberry Halls

gum

Mini First Aid kits
pony tail holders
panty liners and tampons
emery boards
Furminator dog brush

I was encouraged to send a letter so I did that too. I have no idea how long it will take for the packages to get to them but I hope we get some notification that the boxes were received. I know they are very busy, but we had so much fun doing it that I hope I get to know that there were HUGE smiles opening up all the goodies.

"Of course you're good for Satchel. He's over 15 years old and on this Earth."

When you have love in your life, it's easy to see the sweet side of things.
Take Satchel's increasing incontinence. There's a lot of carpet cleaning and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in our home, but there's also outside time. Even if he says he doesn't need to go out, I get my Satchel down the ramp, and headed toward the grass, and he becomes an artist on the driveway...

Walking as he pees, Satchel makes a pretty pattern

I worry and wonder about Satchel night and day - if I'm meeting his needs; if he needs to go out, but is too tired to get up on his own; if he's comfortable - I just want his days to be stress free, and for him to feel I am able to speak dog and know what he needs before he even needs it.

I ask Jason to tell me how I am good for Satchel, and his usual response is, "Of course you're good for Satchel. He's over 15 years old and on this Earth."

I try to remember that, and I try not to say out loud or in my head, "But just being here isn't enough. I want him to be enjoying his day."

Then Satchel will lift his head and look at me, and I know he wants me to massage his neck and back. I ask/tell him, "You enjoy this don't you lovie?" He lays his head back down and is relaxed, and with that, he answers me. Our Satchel enjoys Us, and after all these years, we speak a little bit of Satchel and Satchel speaks a lot of English, and we know. We know there's good in every day because there's Satchel in it, and when Satchel's getting a massage....aaahhhhh, all is good.

Satchie enjoys a cool weather outdoor massage.
Isn't he delicious?!

CRAFT SHOW

While it was a beautiful day, and Luna and I loved spending the hours together, the craft show was not what we would consider a success and I'm sad.

Luna was of course the Star of the Day with everyone wanting to pet her, and everyone complimenting her on how well-behaved she is. My response is usually, "She's perfect," and I said that many many times. She just is.

We had a lot of people stop by our table.

Our little I'm a D.O.G.! station for the day!

We received A LOT of compliments on the bandannas and sold some dog treats, but most people wanted to know the simple, one-step, one thing to do to get their dogs to be like Luna, and to tell lots of stories of why their dogs could never be like Luna, and some told the story of how their dogs came into their lives. We listened. We gave advice only when it was really being asked for...and I might have gotten a bit sun burned it was so nice and warm!

Luna got hot too!

Sure, some people will tell me it's because of 'This Economy,' but I don't believe it. I believe a lot of people have plenty of money and will spend it on what they like. One of the women next to me was selling Beijo bags and she sold 3 "It's a Cinch" bags for $95 each. She also sold a couple of other small purses and some of her mosaic artwork. She had a very successful day and was so happy. It was really enjoyable to have a nice person next to us. She had a tent and Luna sat with her for a little while and we called Luna her Good Luck Charm!

So I still have quite a few things left over. I'm going to send the dog treats to the Air Force Unit I'm sending a doggy care package to. I'll post pictures of all of that next time. Anyone who is on my Christmas list and has a dog can expect to receive "A Biscuit A Basket" for Christmas! We'll find a way to use everything. No worries. Just disappointment.

After some rest today, we're ready to start tomorrow and the next day with positivity and thankfulness for all we have!

GIVING IT A GO

Luna and I are going to a Craft Show on Saturday!
I'm not sure that I have the discipline and drive to be a Craft Show Person, meaning Craft Show People are continually creating their crafts, keeping up inventory, researching craft show opportunities, paying sometimes big fees to be in shows, traveling all over to get to the shows and telling everyone all the time where they will be! I haven't been great at any of this... BUT I'm going to try my second 'show' this Saturday:

Fundraiser Flyer
http://www.shopsatgreenoak.com/events.php

The last 'show' I was at did not turn out to be the success I envisioned, so I'm going to go to Brighton with all my wares...plus a little tweaking to improve the success rate...and plan to come back with NO INVENTORY! Yay!

I have 10 doggy bandanas in each size: Small, Medium & Large.
I'm selling them for $5 each

I have 28 bags of "Satchel's Cinnabones" - dog treats!
Selling them for $2/bag of 10 bones

30+ packs of what I call "Philosophy Cards" which are 6 cards of quick reference for how to develop a positive & strong relationship with your dog.
Selling them for $5/pack

And 18 "A Biscuit A Baskets" - 6 in each size of Small, Medium & Large.
$15 each


Luna will come with me for company, and hypoglycemia safety, as well as to show how awesome dogs behave. Look how ready she is to go!

The Saturn is packed up and ready to head to Brighton!

So wish me luck that I come back with Nothing, but a great story of success!

Little Tidbits

Just some things I've been meaning to share...no main point to the two things, just little tidbits about life and plans at Casa Curtin-Hess.

At Casa Curtin-Hess, I tend to be the idea person and Jason often is the only one who can make the ideas happen. For several months, I have been saying that Satchel needs a ramp. His mobility was being limited by his constant desire to hop down and up the side porch steps when he needed to go outside. I was concerned he would break his teeth if not his neck even with our support and supervision. Jason wasn't confident a ramp could be built with a safe grade. I said we needed something and researched the many kinds of hip support leashes and gadgets. It didn't appear that they would meet Satchel's needs. I said, "We can find a way honey!" And Jason did.

Luna 'models' the ramp built for Satchel's safety. It's been wonderful for him even though he doesn't like it and is SURE he can hop down and up the steps on his own without breaking anything...that independent Satchie!

Since it's all dog all the time at Casa Curtin-Hess, names for pets come into my mind all the time. I don't have a limit for the number of dogs I could live with...Jason does. His limit is 2 unless we are able to live on our acreage in Empire, Michigan where he feels he could live with 4. Our dogs are immortal in my mind, so I know I'll only have room for 2 more names, but you can't always know what your dog's name is until you meet him or her...no matter what name they come to you with. Here are the names I have to choose from for now. So far, the only way the list has changed has been to get longer...

Hamlet - the Great Dane I will have one day - I have loved the play Hamlet since 1985 or so
Tallulah
Hud - one of my favorite Paul Newman characters is Hud Bannon from the movie Hud
Harper - one of my favorite Paul Newman characters is Lew Harper from the movies Harper and The Drowning Pool
Scout - daughter in To Kill a Mockingbird
Wrangler - LOVED my Jeep Wrangler 5-speed
Canaan - Biblical and really enjoyed the wonderful book The Rapture of Canaan
Otter
Atticus - the dad and lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird
Bosco
Ambler
Kaspar
Maillot - French word for 'jersey' as in cycling jersey as in Maillot Jaune, the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France
Dashiell - loved this name since I learned of the author Dashiell Hammett
Rudy
Ruby
Bixby
Joao - pronounced Zhhh-wow, a name from Brazil
Chewie - LOVE Chewbacca from Star Wars
Wookie - since seeing Chewbacca's love for Han Solo, I've always wanted my very own Wookie
Persephone - great song by the Cocteau Twins
Trotter
Lucas Jackson - title character from my favorite movie of all time Cool Hand Luke
Jack McCoy - one of my alpacas' name - I love Law & Order and Jack is my favorite character tied with Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe - one of my alpacas' name - I love Law & Order and Lennie is my favorite character tied with Jack McCoy
Knave
Frank Galvin - character from one of my favorite Paul Newman movies The Verdict
Calamity

I do hope to have chickens one day too, so maybe some chickens will have a few of these names!

THE FUTURE

There have been changes to The Pack recently, and I know I need to accept those changes and update some things I have in writing, but I'm not ready...

What I am ready for is to think about The Future in one way...I know I will one day have alpaca, and during my visit to the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch today, I was enlightened about a breed of dog I knew only a little about, The Great Pyrenees.

What I knew was from a couple of books and from a show I saw about an Italian sheepherder who sent his flock out with 3 Great Pyrenees each day. The dogs kept the sheep safe all day traveling many many miles and returning home. The sheepherder's most faithful dog wore a collar with huge spikes pointing outward so that any coyote or other predator of sheep would be hurt or killed if it attempted to attack the dog. When the dogs returned with the sheep in the evening they were given a big meal of pasta with red sauce!

Today I learned just a bit more, and I met one that was so big and so sweet and so good.

Lucca

~130# protector at the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch

I was told that the Great Pyrenees will detect a predator by scent up to a 1/2 mile away and will bark until the scent is no longer detectable. It will also defend and protect the people and creatures to which it is loyal to its own detriment. They are huge and gentle and their coats are weather resistant allowing them to live outside in all types of climates. The owners of the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch love them and protect their alpaca with Great Pyrenees only.

I asked many questions about raising alpaca and had a really nice visit. It was the Ranch's 2nd annual 'Alpaca Expo' and it looks like they've been doing it for many years. It was very organized and the Ranch owners were very kind and knowledgeable and made me feel like I was the only person there for a little while even though they expected to have over 800 visitors today!

These cuties were in LOVE with popcorn and walked over to whomever had some...being allergic to corn, I was definitely not very popular.

They were sooooo cute and soooooo soft.

I'm not sure when or why I started thinking about alpaca, but they have been on my mind for several years and I saw some snippet about a couple who left corporate life and started an alpaca farm. They were becoming very discouraged when their females gave birth to 14 boys in a row or something like that, but they kept at it and said that alpaca made them happy. Hearing that boys were less popular, I decided I'd be happy to adopt and care for the 'reject' boys who might not be profitable if their wool wasn't wonderful or if their bloodline wasn't award winning or something. I just want them as pets to enjoy so I'm not thinking I'm interested in the profitability that is possible with wool selling and stud fees, etc.

One of the boys...

The people at the Ranch were so kind in sharing information and suggested that when I'm ready, I could buy at least 2 alpaca because they are pack animals and need family members and board them at the Ranch for a year or so. During that year, I could learn all about how to take care of them. Brilliant!

Even if there aren't any coyotes or predators around my area, it was recommended I get a Great Pyrenees to keep the deer away who may bring around parasites. I said, "A ha...I never thought of that."

While it's a long way off for me, you never know where your life will take you and I feel like I have a great resource in the people at Triple Diamonds. (www.triplediamondsalpaca.com)

With one of the pregnant lovies in their pack

I can just see Luna, Satchel and our Great Pyrenees living on our acreage in Empire, Michigan snuggling our alpaca every day...maybe even walking with them along the nature trail!

I THANK GOD FOR LUNA

No good dog owner would ever claim to have a favorite within her Pack, and that is not what I am doing here. I love my Luna and my Satchel to the ends of the Earth and beyond, but today, it's all about the Wonderfulness of Luna.

It's been a rough summer at Casa Curtin-Hess with many many Pack health issues and many many many daily and nightly needs of our beloved puppies.
Because Koko and Satchel's needs have required so much of my time and energy, I have worried about neglecting Luna. There hasn't been a day I haven't worried about falling short in meeting the needs of family...I'm sure many people can understand that, but I'm usually pretty confident that I'm doing right by my family.
It's been a rough summer.

Two bits of trivia about my dogs:
1. They don't wear collars much of the day.
It started last year when Satchel had surgery to remedy his laryngeal paralysis. He had a large cut in his neck and it was recommended that he be walked with a harness from then on to avoid putting pressure on his larynx that was healing and would now be tied open permanently. Satchel hasn't worn a collar since June 2008 and I noticed how quiet the house could be without the jingle jangle of the license and rabies tags. I took Luna's off during the day and put it on when we went outside. Then I stopped putting it on when we went out in the yard during the day because I could see her. When we go out at night, I put her collar on and turn on the 'flasher' I attached to it so that I can spot my entirely black dog in the entirely black night.
She also wears her collar and her tags when we walk at the Richardson Center or go anywhere else public. Other than that, my dogs are collar-less and walk around like we're in the wild.

2. Due to genetics and training, our dogs prefer to poop in the woods rather than in any yard.
I don't think it's all due to my training, but both Satchel & Luna will seek out tree cover and/or a pile of leaves when they have to poop. It's so nice really because poop scooping becomes a virtually non-existent job.

Why do I mention these things when highlighting the Greatness of Luna?
I'm not sure I can really even explain how helpful and fantastic she is.
I'll try.

A typical outing since Satchel's arthritis and vertigo problems:
Satchel needs human hands on him at all times to walk to the door, walk down the ramp (Jason built it for Satchel. I need to take a picture for you.), and into the yard. Once Satchel is slightly steady, I have to sprint back to the door to shut it, then sprint back to Satchel and follow him CLOSELY for 10-15 minutes as he enjoys the outdoors.
All the while, Luna could run into any of the woods around our house, run to any of the neighbors running, walking, biking by to greet them, or simply walk into the ravine and dig around for deer poop and other treasures.
But Perfect Luna stays close. She may enter the woods to find the perfect place to poop, but then she returns with her prancing pace, and walks with me and Satchel around and around as we attempt to calm his agitated tummy.

Luna may find an interesting scent, and for a few seconds or a minute I can't see her.
I worry, but I can't leave Satchel who may fall at any time and break his neck or at the very least break some teeth. I pray for her safety and sweetness and in her general direction calmly say, "LuuuuNaaaaa, where arrrrrre you?"
I whistle her whistle (Both Satchel & Luna have unique whistles that they come to - kind of like the kids in The Sound of Music...), and she may slowly or quickly come out of the brush and sweetly walk over. My heart leaps in a bad way when I can't see her, and my heart leaps in a beautiful, happy, loving way when she appears through the trees.

I'm not sure that this description remotely illustrates the wonder of Luna.
She's more than just a good dog who stays in her yard that has no fence.
She seems to understand the needs of her family and she not only doesn't cause stress, she reduces it. She is beyond great.
She's the greatest.

I try to tell her a jillion times a day how much I appreciate and love her. I tell her with my smile and my snuggles and the softness of my directions. She still needs some guidance each day, but she only needs a gentle touch or word, which she takes to a higher level of goodness where she simply Is.

Luna. Is. Good.

RE-ENTRY CAN BE DIFFICULT

It's been a few days since I returned from the Utah desert, and the days have been eventful.
DogTown seems like it was 100 years ago and while I'm so happy to be home, there is some sadness about not being in the desert with the dogs...

Satchel & Luna showed me they were happy to see me by being completely relaxed.

Snuggling with my Satchel

Luna ready for me to cuddle up and go to sleep with her at my feet

I wish I could say we all slept fantastically. Jason said Satchel was ok while I was gone, but I quickly saw the signs of anxiety from constipation and that there was something wrong with his face. Saturday night was a kind of long one.

Sunday was spent attending to all of Satchel's tummy needs and worrying about a scrape on his face Jason said he got from a fall. Satchel is still unstable - more arthritis than Doggy Vertigo - and it stresses me.

Worry and a phone call diagnosed Satchel with an infection that can be cured with antibacterial soap and Gold Bond Powder.

Awwwww Sweet Satchie with an owie...

We had Jason's mom and dad's dog Maggie with us also while they were visiting Aunt Donna in Cadillac. Maggie is very sweet, but she didn't get much sleep either. Poor sleepy Maggie...



So the last few nights have had a lot of Awake-With-Satchel Time, and I'm hoping I've got his stomach feeling better. His skin infection looks better, but still has some healing to do. We're OK right now - on our way to good.

Planning to have some boring every day things to tell on imadog sooooooon.
Enough doggy drama!

DAY 6: Red Mountain Lodge & Spa

Easy Breezy Day.
Took us over 3 hours to get from the Grand Canyon National Park to St. George/Ivins, Utah, but Dana is finally done with mountain driving. This drive wasn't terrible like Mt. Zion, but there were descents and curves that we just don't have in Michigan.

I sadly forgot a very important watch hanging on the headboard at the Grand Canyon Lodge Cabin, but by late afternoon I was told it had been found, and with my credit card information to pay for shipping, it would go out in Monday's mail. Whew!

We arrived at the Red Mountain Spa & Resort and quickly went to the pool. It was boiling hot out!

Red Mountains at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa!

They had a buffet lunch at their restaurant. We felt fat after eating at a buffet, but we put on bathing suits anyway...ugh...
I read at the pool IN THE SHADE.
Then we shopped at Red Mountain Outfitters where I bought $30 Teva sandals to wear with my wetsuit at Owie Rocky Lake Michigan. I've been spending money this trip!
Then we decided to go out for dinner.

The rental car showed us we were right.
It WAS REALLY HOT OUT!

After some Magellan searching and concierge asking, we chose MEXICAN!

Chicken Burrito - YUM!
Ate it with A TON of sour cream.

We've packed up our suitcases, and made sure everything fits, and now it's time to shower in our luxurious resort room and snuggle up into the Serta bed with 4 pillows and a down comforter!

We're home tomorrow.
I miss my Jason and my Satchel and my Luna...

DAY 5: The Grand Canyon

Sad leaving Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, but had such a great experience and did everything we could think of, so it's time to go and see one of the wonders of the world...

It took us 2 hours to get to the Grand Canyon, and the driving was somewhat stressful for Dana, but she did it. That's been her attitude for the whole trip: Stressed but chugging along.

We got there at 10am-ish Grand Canyon time and couldn't check in until 2pm! We did A TON in that time!
We walked the Bridle Path and I walked up to Bright Angel Point (N-O for Dana, but she got to see the pictures). There was a talk on the California Condor that we listened to and we walked the 3 or so mile Transept Trail to the cute General Store at the Grand Canyon Campground. We felt smart and fit because we drank a lot of water and walked the entire trail no problem with the elevation being over 8000 ft you know! We also bought all of our souvenirs and I mailed 4 postcards.

Once we checked in, we sat on our cute porch in the rocking chairs and read some articles in our Best Friends magazines. There was an historical presentation on Lee's Ferry and then we watched the Aspen Fires glowing in the distance. The Aspen Fires were started by lightning at the end of July and have burned through both the Kaibab National Forest and the Grand Canyon National Park.

Bed #1 in our cute little cabins

Dressing Area

Funky Old Bathroom

Aspen Fires in the Day

To chronicle our trip in a unique way, Dana and I wrote interview questions and recorded an interview of each other on my HD flip. Can't download it here because it's just too big, and it was 20 minutes long, but it was cute to do. We're happy to have done it. It makes a great memory of our adventures.

Our Little Interview Seating Area

Most of our day was spent saying, "Wow." It really is magical at The Grand Canyon.

The View From Bright Angel Point

Another View From Bright Angel Point
I was supposedly looking out and seeing San Francisco!

The Canyon in the Evening Sun

View of where I took some pictures!

This area was seemingly totally unsafe. You can see teeny tiny people out on that point. It's a walkway and platform out over the Canyon. The platform - that's way out there over the Canyon - is completely eroding.

No complaints though. Every bit of the time at The Grand Canyon National Park was gorgeous, and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to see it.