Sadness in Our Family

last picture of Granny

Granny's chickens

This has been kind of a sad time for Mom.  Granny passed peacefully from this earth early Sunday morning.  I had spent a couple days going up to care for Granny with my mom and of course gave her a couple of my special kisses.  She liked me and kept reminding Mom to trim the hair on my face to make sure I could see.  There were lots of things we did to help like take care of the chickens, pick up her tissues on the floor (my job),  and just keep her company. I tried to keep her warm in bed but Mom wouldn't let me even though I was being careful.  All Granny's kids were there and lots of her grand kids.  Meg was there with her two border collies, Rodeo and Dutch.  I met Rodeo before but Dutch is new, young and loves to run.  Guess what we got to do!  Fun, fun.  Dad came after his sailing race and then I pretty much stayed down at the beach with him and Monty.  On Monday Mom sent me home with them.  That is the FIRST time I've been away from her and it was for 2 nights...spent a lot of time trying to find her at home.

Granny packing

On Wednesday, Monty turned 6 years old and I turned 18 months.  Dad was going to get him a bagel and cream cheese from Starbucks but he didn't do it.  We had hors d'oeuvre instead.  They were special chips and I got some too.  Dad keeps telling Monty that now that he's 6 he needs to "man up".  I don't think that's going to happen in this millennium.

We have to put in one more picture of Granny because it's everyone's favorite. She used to go hunting with Papa and knows how to use it.  There was a shotgun in the corner of her bedroom when she passed away. Protecting the chickens was important.

God Bless Granny.                                         Juno

The Cone!

As you can see, I am having a little problem.  Mom caught me chewing on my leg and started working on it herself with Bitter Apple and other stuff.  She clipped a bunch of hair off and realized I needed some help.  We saw Dr. Anne yesterday; she shaved the spot down pretty good and put some magic ointment on it.  It was starting to get bad because she said she could smell it! Yuck!  I was sooo good!  They put me up on the table, down on my side and I just lay there like a very good girl.  Dr. Anne said I was a poster child for good behavior. She also said most Portis she sees aren't as co- operative.  If I could talk, I'd tell her that I'm not like "most Portis"!  Maybe it's my condition???  THEN...for all that goodness I was rewarded with the cone!  Actually, it's not too bad...I can still jump up on the bed, sometimes I misjudge a corner but it all works. I even got in my new smaller car crate and lay down for the ride home.  Monty is scared of me in the cone;  if I come towards  him he leaves the room.  Once he couldn't come up the stairs because I was standing at the top.  I do get to have IT off when I eat and sometimes when I am on the couch with Mom, but Dad did have to help me into my chair for a nap.  My owie is healing so hope I don't have to wear IT too many more days. FYI:  I weigh 35 lbs.  Looking good!

I was a little better at class on Sunday.  Of course we did some things that I do really well like: "park it" (that means go to my blanket and lie down), "stay" (especially on a down), and greet my classmates.  That last one wasn't appropriate but I do it quite well.  This class isn't until 6:30.  I tried to tell Mom it's pretty late for me since I go to bet at 8:00.  I think she's getting the picture...we will keep going and I'll try my best. Maybe the next class will be earlier in the day.

I told you Annie was coming to stay overnight.  Here she and I are watching some Barbie movie on the TV.  I didn't get to sleep with her but that Monty did.  It's sure quiet when only one of the 3 are here.  Annie does a lot of helping like putting dishes on the table and taking them into the kitchen when she  is finished.  Lots of times when she comes we play tops.  Mom said she used to call them "goes" because they would say "ready, set, go" when they started them.     

This is something I've been meaning to show you.  Somebody has decorated a tree on the beach with clam shells.  Actually, there are a lot more on it than when Mom took this picture. I wonder if they've come down in all this wind we are having.  Mom and I will go see on Monday when we go to the beach. Last time we were there she laid track for our friends, Val and Pam, and  that was fun because I got to go play with one of Val's dogs afterwards.  Only thing is she lost her sunglasses and had to go order another pair when we got home.  With the weather we're having she won't need them for awhile.

Take care,

Juno