Down Memory Lane

WOW!! 

 What fun I had reading the comments and emails that were generated from yesterday's blog post.  I love when you share your tales with me... I really do!   Interestingly, there seem to be three camps amongst us... the dog lovers, the cat lovers, and the anything-with-fur-and-and-feathers lovers.  I suppose you already know that I do fall into that third category.  I have loved so many critters over the years - and with some of them I have felt a deep soul connection.  And I would also have to admit that although I adore all of our cats... and yes, Jim (from yesterday's comments) we have seven cats on the farm (well, actually 7 ½)... more on this later...

So, although I adore those cats, it is most definitely the dogs with whom I connect on a deeper level.  Perhaps it is the fact that our dogs' whole lives center around us that gives me this feeling.  Let's face it, as wonderful and loving as cats can be... aren't they just a little more independent than dogs?  And seriously, don't you get the idea that we are here to serve the pleasure of our cats? 

I never get this vibe from dogs.  Dogs - at least the dogs that we have loved - live for sharing space and time with us.  Whatever it is we decide to do with the dogs is immediately their favorite thing and their enthusiasm is overwhelming.

When we are gone from home for any period of time, it is the dogs that excitedly greet us at the door and shower us with affection... assuring us that our return home was the very best thing that ever happened to them... EVER!  

I thought it might be fun to take a trip down memory lane to visit the dogs that have filled our lives with so much love.

 In case you missed this fact... Hubbs and I have a blended family.  We have been together for the past 20 years.  In those years we have always had canine companionship.  At one point, our canine family numbered 5 - due, in part, to a few rescues we could not turn away!  While five dogs sounds like a lot - somehow it just worked.  At the time, it all just felt natural.  

We began life on the farm with the first two dogs... Sadie and Maddie.  Sadie was a quirky Bernese Mountain Dog, 

and Maddie was a Newfoundland. 

 To this day I would tell you that my favorite dog breed is the Newfoundland!

Maddie was the perfect farm dog.  She was gentle with all of the animals...

even motherly towards the pigs when they were just babies.

Our third addition was Oakley... 

a rescue lab/spaniel mix.  Best farm dog, ever! 

In short order came Hickory... our elder rescue... (who loved to go for walks around the farm in her very own chariot)

and Sam... (we lost Sam last year... sadly)

Upon losing the older three, we adopted three-month old Annie,

 a rescue who is still with us.  She is now eight years old.

as is Chester, now five...

seen, here, as a puppy.  Thankfully, he grew into those ears!

We've been so lucky with all of our dogs that they were always respectful of the farm animals.  Hopefully our next rescue will follow suit!

By the way... (Jim)... as for that half cat I spoke of... This is Half-Cat-Pat.  He/she calls the barn home, but is still too shy to allow us to get near.  

Yesterday I found her/him lying on top of the refrigerator under the heat lamp, but she/he made a hasty exit up into the hayloft upon seeing me.

Over the years, I have written so many stories about our dogs.  Feel free to type any of their names in the search bar at the top of this blog... for more stories about each of them!

And thanks so much for sharing your stories with me!!