A Dogs Life

 It has been a long time since I have even contemplated updating my blog.  The intent of the blog was to chronicle our snowbird travels.  For the past 18 months most of our travels have consisted of trips from the livingroom to the kitchen to the den and back to the kitchen.  As you may have guessed the kitchen was a popular destination.  We have made a few local day trips plus a one week retreat to our favourite Manitoba destination, Clear Lake.  While I have a ton of pictures to edit the never ending rendition of Groundhog Day did a number on my motivation.

The recent announcement of the opening of the US border has us preparing for departure on November 9 and excitement reigns supreme.  Our last Snowbird trip saw us leave in late October with our 5th wheel in tow and heading for what has become our winter home in Gold Canyon, Az.  While not part of the plan we ended up buying a Park Model unit in the Gold Canyon RV and Golf resort and we thoroughly enjoyed our first winter in our little home.  We completed a few updates to the unit and made plans for more extensive renovations the following year.  

Well, we all know what happened next.  The year's hiatus provided us with the opportunity to refresh our memories of what a Manitoba winter is all about.  As Manitoba winters go it was one of the milder ones on record but we reaffirmed our commitment to spend as many winters as possible in Arizona.  We are looking forward to renewing old friendships and making a few new ones.   

The desert awaits.  

This post unfortunately has a sad theme as for the first time in almost 15 years Lori and I will not have our shadow with us.  Charli had been our constant companion.  Often underfoot, always enthusiastic about the next walk or ready to snuggle with us on the couch.  The past 2 years have been an increasing struggle as her back legs started to fail with her discomfort becoming ever more apparent.  

We made the difficult decision a few weeks back and life has had a void in it since.  We are slowly adjusting to the quiet in the house although at times I find myself looking for her.  When I set my plate down on the end table I no longer have to worry about having the food vacuumed up by the hoover that was Charli's never ending search for snacks.  We are adjusting as we did 16 years ago when we had to put our little Sheltie, Niki, down.  Just like then we have promised ourselves that this will be our last 4 legged companion.  We will see.  

I have gone through the many thousands of pictures I have taken in the past few years trying to find a few that would reflect her part in our lives.  Of the hundreds that she was in I have cobbled together a few.

When Charli came to us she was a handful.  Literally

Come on dad.  Time for a walk
Too bad I missed focus but does give her a dreamy look.  

Willing the food to jump from Lori's fingers to her mouth

Always a great companion when out snowshoeing. 
One time she dug through the snow and came trotting back with a mouse gently held in her mouth.  
She was so proud of herself.  
Lori was of another mind. 

A couch potato one minute but in an instant she was ready
 for a 5 mile hike. 

No lap or chair too small.
We were definitely testing the chairs weight capacity.

Perhaps my favourite.  
Her intensity was at its peak when a stick was ready to be tossed.
She would circle forever till she found the stick.  

One time we stopped at a park by the Colorado river.  
A duck landed in the river and she was off to retrieve it.  
It was spring, the river was high and flowing fast.  
We called and called to get her to come back but
she kept swimming to get that duck.  
She eventually came back but we feared she would
be swept downriver.  
While not a pure bred lab the instinct was still there. 

A well travelled dog.  Here at the Grand Canyon.

Always ready for a hike in the desert.
Or anywhere else for that matter. 

Our first little girl.  
Not usually a lap dog but a very sweet disposition
and loved to herd everything.  

Well that's it.  Our home is now a little quieter, fewer slobber marks on the floor and travel plans will be a little easier.   Every time we see someone else with a dog in tow we will feel a few pulls at our heartstrings but we will carry our many fond memories with us where ever we travel.