Holidays can be hard...

We had Christmas at my brother's last night and it was really nice. I got to meet 2 new additions to the family - my youngest niece's new hubby and oldest grandson's fiance'. They had all banded together and got a Google Nest Hub for me. Have no earthly idea what that is but they were all very excited about it so I profusely thanked them all. :o:D I DO know that my house ain't very smart sooooo.....we will see. LOL There were lots of dogs present as well so I was quite content. Still have a couple of small gatherings to come then it will be back to the norm.

Been a busy day but just for the sake of staying busy. ;) My house is in a perpetual state of chaos these days so I have plenty to do for sure! I have been enjoying putting together a Santa sack for a little boy who stays with his grandma down the street. Big lawn bag with bright ribbons tied around the neck and stuffed with a bunch of odds and ends designed to push the imagination....like some kitchen utensils with a tag that says "Dirt Works". :D

But now I'm tired and simply because it is Christmas Eve I am going to brew a cup of herbal tea and grab the book I'm reading (psychological thriller The Fifth to Die by JD Barker) then curl up in bed with the dogs for an hour or five.

Happy Holidays to you all! I hope your days are filled with laughter and joy shared with those you love most. And wishes for all the best in 2024 to you and yours.

Hugs,
Leslie

Merry Christmas!!!

Oh Les and Lori, how good to see you here. It cheers my heart so much as I greet this Christmas morning myself!

Sending much love and many blessings to you both! ❤️❤️

Welp, it feels to me as though this year’s winter holiday season has flown by! But here we are, already greeting another brand new year. Historically, I try to hold onto my Christmas tree for at least a few days after January 1st. The sparkling lights so brighten up the early winter nights. But for some reason my sweet little tree this year just didn’t drink any water, so it’s a bit of a fir mummy at this point. Off came the ornaments today, and it’ll soon be turned into mulch for a garden or to add to the path of a trail. Right at this moment, though, I’m being treated to a stellar pink winter sunset, so Mother Nature is brightening the onset of the evening for me tonight.

Anyway, as always, thanks to all who stopped in at our 2023 Holiday House! And I send my very best wishes for a safe and satisfying new year for all our family.

Take care, all, until our Holiday House reopens once again ;-)))
Marianne

Hello everybody <waving!!!> I truly can’t believe it, but another year has already rolled by and Halloween is almost here. For me, that means it’s time to reopen the doors to our Holiday House ;-). By now, I’m guessing you all know the drill — all through the fall and winter holidays, we’re here to share the good times as well as the hard times. We know the holidays can be especially bittersweet for those who are missing a loved one, be it human or a furbaby. Although our K9C family has grown smaller through the years, I like to think this thread will remain open throughout the holidays in case anybody — new or old — ever wants to stop by to talk.

As far as Halloween, we’ll be here at home, as usual. My mantel is decorated as is my front door, and the pumpkins are on the steps for carving on the Big Day. I haven’t bought my candy yet, but it’s on the grocery list. It’s always hard to predict how many kids we’ll get, so I definitely make sure to buy my personal favorites in case there’s a lot of candy left over…

The weather here in north Georgia has been crystal clear ever since the passage of Hurricane Helene. Bright blue cloudless sky and crisp days, with the leaves beginning to turn. After getting ten inches of rain with the hurricane, I didn’t think I’d ever be asking for more. But we haven’t had a drop of moisture since and none in the 10-day forecast. So we actually could use a shower once again. Crazy, crazy weather!

Still no new doggie in our hearts and home, so once again the orange Halloween collar will be gracing our front table instead of a sweet furry neck. But maybe by next year…

So that’s the news from my house, and I’ll look forward to hearing from anyone else who may stop by in the coming days. As always, much love to all our family here!

Marianne

I know, Marianne! It seems like I just put it all away....I'm not going overboard this year. Most of it is just going to go to the curb after Halloween, except for my inside things. I still have to find Lena's Boo shirt which is with my specialty things. It will go on the mantel again. Raina will not be wearing it. I bought her a couple of shirts, which I'm sure she will destroy and Sibbie will wear one of her old dresses.

I will do the same as you with candy. I bought a couple of big bags, and a few smaller bags of my favorites in case we don't get a lot of kids trick-or-treaters. I miss the days of sitting on the stoop with Lee, who just loved seeing all the kids and getting her picture taken with them. My last picture of Gable is Halloween 2021, standing behind the gate barking at the kids. He looked absolutely fine and I still can't understand what happened that night. I miss them both every day.

Glynda's post on Facebook about a new group on Librela has me trying to decide if I should continue the shots for Cooper. Some dogs have gotten very bad reactions. I have noticed a few, but can't remember if he showed them before. He was due for his next shot a couple of weeks ago and I think I'm going to stop them. I'll talk with my vet about something else we can give him.

Raina is a joy! And Sibbie seems to adore her, which still has me shocked! It's really just the four of us.

Hubby's cancer is spreading and he is sleeping most of the day and not interested in anything. I doubt very much that I will do Thanksgiving this year. It wouldn't seem fair, he can't really eat any of it, and he always cooks the turkey...I've never made one...none of us has. We'll see, one day at a time is my new motto (lol)!

That's my update for now.

Love to all of you!
Joan

Joan, you and your husband have been so often on my mind lately. I’ve been wondering how things were proceeding and am grateful for this update. I continue to wish peace and comfort to your whole family as the future unfolds.

I also send my greetings to all three of your sweet doggies. I am not familiar with Librela — I don’t think it was around when Peg and Luna were so hobbled with their orthopedic issues. I’ve just now Googled it, and will try to learn more about it myself. Especially if we do end up getting another “big” dog in the future, unfortunately I’m guessing arthritis may also be part of the package once again.

As always, so good to hear from you, my friend. Big hugs being sent your way!

As those of us in the U.S. prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I just want to send my well wishes to all of our family here. I know how our heartstrings are pulled by the absence of beloved faces seated at the table, or by our sides, or in our arms. But I hope our loving memories will sustain us all.

Hubby and I are spending the holiday week in the NC mountains this year. We’re in an area that was spared the hurricane damage, and being in the mountains — east or west — always soothes my soul. Without my mom and the doggies, Thanksgiving remains a tough holiday for me. So we’ll eat at a restaurant alongside a beautiful creek where we’ll be surrounded by other folks and can sample as much turkey, dressing, and pie as we want.

For all others who are also traveling, stay safe. And for all who are at home, be cozy and comforted.

Love, Marianne

Happy Thanksgiving, Marianne and to the rest of our family here.

My husband lost his battle with cancer last Thursday. He was inpatient hospice at the time. We are not doing anything on Thanksgiving, he was the only one who ever cooked the turkey and none of us feel in the mood. We were all together yesterday when we got back from the cemetery, and relatives have headed back home. Stairway to Heaven came on the radio today while I was cleaning up and since it was my favorite song that I used to dance around with Lena, I hope it was a sign that he was telling me that he was dancing with my precious and all the rest of them.

Love to all...
Joan

Oh Joan. Sending you my love. I’m playing Stairway to Heaven in my own mind now. I love that song. And I do believe your loved ones are all together. Now and forever.

I so hope you can feel my hugs from across the miles,
Marianne ❤️❤️❤️

I can, Marianne...thank you.

Oh Joan,
I am so incredibly sorry - my heart goes out to you and your family!!!!
Staying in my thoughts and sending big ((((hugs))))
Terry

Thank you, Terry. Hugs right back to you!

Oh Joan,

I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your beloved husband, and my heart goes out to you and your family.

With my deepest sympathy, Lori ♥♥♥

Thank you, Lori. It's been a long four years, but he's at peace and out of pain now.

It’s a quiet, peaceful Christmas Eve here at our house. It was a crisp but bright sunny day, and I’m enjoying a lovely winter sunset as I sit nearby the Christmas tree. We don’t expect visitors tomorrow, either, so it should also be a peaceful morning. “All is calm, all is bright.”

I’m wishing peace and comfort to all our family, as well. As always, I know the holiday can be bittersweet for many of us. But my wish for tomorrow is that the sweetness may outweigh all else, at least for a little while.

Sending my love to all, and to all a Merry Christmas ❤️
Marianne

Sending love and peace back to you Marianne!!! And to all of the members here worldwide.

It has been 24 years since my Aussie (Clancy) passed on Christmas Eve. And for a long time I was lost during the Holidays. But I know he is waiting for me and I know all of the pups who have passed are watching over us.

Wishing all here a time that is filled with Love and Peace!
Terry

Oh Terry, I’m here remembering and honoring sweet Clancy right alongside you. And also thinking about our dear members Patrick and Rags. After all these years, I still think about them on Christmas Eve, as well. Again, with my hopes for peace and comfort for all our family, always.

We had a quiet, peaceful Christmas. Just what we all needed, I think.

Wishing you all the same this Holiday Season!

Love,
Joan

And here it is already, New Year’s Eve. Amazing that another year has flown by! Just a quiet evening here at home for us, but again, peaceful and calm. And for that, I am very grateful. For one last time in 2024, I send my well wishes to all our family, far and wide.

Happy New Year — Happy 2025!!

With love,
Marianne

Happy New Year from me, too!

I know Marianne, not a year goes by that I do not think of Patrick and Rags!!!
My best for a safe and peaceful New Year to every one!!!
Terry

Hi again, everybody! It’s a beautiful autumn evening here in north Georgia. A bit warmer than I’d like, but by next week we should be cooling down enough for it to feel genuinely “crisp” during morning walks. At least I hope so!

I think you all know the drill by now — at any point during the upcoming holidays, we’d love to hear updates from any family members who might be dropping by. Hubby and I remain pretty much status quo, ourselves, which I consider a blessing these days. We made it back out to Colorado during August to stay in the family cabin and to host visits from several loved ones. For that we are very grateful.

No big plans right now for the fall/winter holidays. But Halloween remains one of my favorites, so the decorations are up and the candy is already in the pantry.

As I say, it’ll be great to hear from any K9C family members who happen to drop by during the coming months. And as always, whatever news you may wish to share — happy or not so much — we’ll be here, and anxious to listen.

In the meantime, all best holiday wishes from my house to yours!
Marianne

It's been cold the last few days here in Glen Cove, but supposed to warm up a little over the weekend. I am decorating a little at a time mostly outside since I am going through so much stuff in the house getting ready to hopefully sell. It will be one year in November since Victor passed away and trying to empty out almost 50 years of things is overwhelming, but I simply can not imagine not decorating.

It's just me and the girls now. Sibbie will be 10 in December and Raina will be three in March. Cooper left us in February. I'm pretty sure it was the Librela shots that did him in. I still miss my Lena and Gable...everywhere I look is a memory. Even though I was furious with Victor for getting Sibbie so soon after Lee died, I don't know what I would do without her now. She is my comfort and my joy, and Raina is the most unChihuahua like Chihuahua. She loves everyone and waits for visitors all the time, and is one of the smartest dogs I think we have ever had. I have to spell all the time because she knows so many words.

Josh has his Junior license! He is 17 and a Senior in HS now. Still can't get over him being old enough to drive. He's still small for his age after all the steroids he used to have to take, but so far is doing very well. Alex is gigantic! He gets that from my side of the family. He's 13 and will be in HS next year. I just got home from one of his soccer games. He plays the cello and is a Math genius, which he does not get from me LOL!

It's been a strange year. I've reconnected with a lot of my old friends, ex-coworkers, and my family has been a huge support, as well as my neighbors. I would like to stay on Long Island, it has been my home my whole life and I love it here...we'll see.

That's my update. I'm glad you are doing well, Marianne. I miss the old days...

Love to all!
Joan

Oh I miss the old days so much, too!!! You know, I was debating whether to go ahead and reopen this thread once again this year or not. But I decided, what the heck, if even one other person stops by to add a note, it’ll have been the right thing to do. So thank you, my dear friend! You’ve already made it worthwhile ;-). And I’ve been thinking about you, anyway, and wondering how things are going. I know this time of year holds so many hard memories for you, and I’m very grateful to hear that you’re holding your own in the midst of all the changes.

I’m so sorry this year also brought you the loss of Cooper. Thank goodness for Sibbie and Raina! Gosh, it seems like only yesterday that Sibbie made her surprise entrance into your life and your heart. I can’t believe this much time has passed. But I’m so glad you’ve got both girls with you now. Yesterday I saw this reply posted on a Twitter feed about kitties that I follow. I wish I could credit the writer, but I thought the sentiments were so sweet and so true:

Quote:

---

Animals give us purpose. We have to get up and live each day because they depend on us. Eventually we get up each day because we depend on them

---

We still haven’t committed to getting another dog, but I think we may be one step closer. There’s a wonderful service dog organization near us that needs volunteers to help socialize puppies and to host home stays for dogs in training in order to get them used to family life. The dogs are frequently retrievers, so right up our alley. I think we’re going to apply soon, and I hope we’ll be accepted. We definitely need some sweet doggie energy back in our lives.

Anyway, once again Joan, thanks so much for stopping by to update us!

I love that, Marianne! It is so true...

I took the girls to Hicks Fall Festival today, which I try to get to every year, and Josh and Alex don't really want to hang out with Grandma anymore! Sibbie has gone since she was a puppy, so many pictures of her with the boys. We got some pumpkins and mums. One little pumpkin to bring to the cemetery next week (I brought Victor a pumpkin 50 years ago and every year since).

You'll be great at socializing the service dogs, but I fear you will be a socialize failure (LOL). I know I would be!

Love to all!
Joan