Jackson's 5!

Jackson turned 5 yesterday!

Jackson's "Gotcha Day", June 16, 2007.

Jackson enjoying his birthday present, January 24, 2009.

Happy Birthday, Jackson. You make my heart sing each and every day.

Harvey's 2nd Adoption Day Anniversary

It's hard to believe, but Wednesday will mark the 2 year anniversary of Harvey's adoption day. Although he's just as sweet as ever, Harvey's made many strides since then, and just recently turned the corner to becoming a brave, confident boy.

Coincidentally, Jackson's sister Jewel also made the trip from Florida with Harvey on January 21, 2007. She lives with Nerice's Nook's family in North Carolina.

Happy Adoption Day Anniversary, Harvey, I love you!

Photo Tag

Happy New Year!

We've been tagged by Belle and Beau and Nerice's Nook to perform the following task: find the 6th photo in the 6th image folder and post it with a description.

Funny how things work sometimes. The photo that meets that criteria is of my beautiful hound Harper, who left this earth in 2006. She's the reason for my involvement with Greyhounds. She was a German Shorthaired Pointer/Greyhound mix, which made her a scent and sight hound. What a challenge! But she was so special, and her unique personality led me down the path to Greyhounds.

So, here's the 6th photo in the 6th folder (followed by 2 additional photos). Harper, I miss you, and I'll remember you always.

Harvey's Month of Surprises

December brought several turns and twists, some good and some bad. First with the good!

We were contacted by the family of one of Harvey's littermates, Muzzle Tuff. Muzzle Tuff, who is now known as Thai, lives in Nova Scotia. It turns out that Thai and Harvey share a lot of the same characteristics, including big schnozzes and cautious demeanors. Thai and Harvey both like to build nests out of their dog beds and sometimes sleep with their front paws tucked beneath them. We are so grateful that Thai's family took the time to contact us, thank you!

Pictures of Thai, courtesy of his mom.



And now for the bad. Harvey had an accident earlier this month, which resulted in surgery and an overnight stay at the emergency vet. We're not sure exactly what happened, but Harvey ran into something in the yard and hurt his leg. Because of his thin skin (a Greyhound trait), what began as a small laceration turned into a very large tear.

Harvey was the perfect patient. He never whined, cried, or tried to remove his e-collar. Oh, and that e-collar? Harvey had to wear the biggest collar available, which made navigating a challenge. But Harvey was a very good boy and his leg healed nicely. We're just glad that his injury wasn't worse and that there are no lasting effects. Go Harvey!

Harvey's ouchie.

Here's the first collar we tried, but it just wasn't big enough.

Here's the megaphone Harvey wore for the rest of his rehabilitation.




We have other stories to share, so look for a new post soon!

Dog Lessons for People

We saw these "lessons" on a t-shirt recently and thought they were worth sharing. I just wish I knew who to credit for the list.

Enjoy the simple pleasures of a walk.

Follow your instincts.

Never underestimate the value of a belly rub.

Be loyal and faithful.

Always drink plenty of water.

Sometimes it is best to just sit close and listen.

Be quick to forgive.

Avoid biting when a growl will do.

Keep digging until you find what you want.

Run and play daily.

Accept all of life's treats with gratitude.

Life is short, pet often.

Love unconditionally.

Byrd Park Pump House

Earlier this month we stopped by the Byrd Park Pump House. The Pump House provided water for the City of Richmond from 1883 to 1924. In addition to its utilitarian function, it was also a social venue and boasted a dance hall on the upper level.

Although normally closed to the public, the Pump House building welcomed visitors a couple of Saturdays ago. For one beautiful day folks could stroll through the pumping area and climb the steps to the old dance hall. The site is undergoing revitalization, and plans include reopening the building to the public as a reception space.

Please enjoy some photos from our day.

October

Hi Folks! We've been neglecting our blog, but we're back with a wrap-up of our October adventures.

First up... The Fall Festival at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy in Powhatan, Virginia. What a great time. Nice people, lots of games, crafts, and small town fun, including a cake walk, Plinko, and Alpacas!




Jackson thought someone made these marshmallow sheep just for him!

Alpacas!

Our friend Howard came along for the ride. He napped most of the way home.

Then, we met up with a bunch of our Greyhound buddies for an afternoon walk. Can you spot Harvey and Jackson in this picture?

Here's our friend Baxter!

On our way to another event... The Dog Days Festival in Ladysmith, Virginia.

These guys have it made.


These guys don't.

Our good friend Jello.


Then a side trip to Shenandoah National Park for a ride along Skyline Drive.

This is Thoreau the Bear. Where we go, he goes.

Big Meadows.

What a beautiful day.

And finally... Harvey and Jackson spent a few days away from home while I spent some time in Denver. I had a great view of the Rocky Mountains from my hotel room.

Another view from my room... The Denver Marathon.

And check out this bear!

While we were away the beds were stacked in a corner. Harvey was so exhausted when he got home that he couldn't wait for them to be dispersed to their proper places.


And that's a wrap!