Oh, Skye

We lost Skye last night. The girls and I worked on a poster and put it at the end of our road where everyone gets their mail. We live on a dead end road with only a few houses in the middle of forested land. I'd like to believe a neighbor would find him but fear the worst. We have wildlife everywhere.



Lexie made the above shirt. Yes, she drew him all by herself.

He is very much missed.

What's in a name?

Kim Shira and Leo Eickhoff named him Stoney. I wanted him from the get go and the more he matured the more I hoped. I wasn't sure if it was the right time for another addition and debated but I could tell Kim wanted me to have him, partly because we live close by and partly because we've become very close friends. I emailed her one day that I wanted him and would take him. The subject heading was Stone's Throw. She liked it as a registered name and it stuck. I like Tarren as a call name. If John Wayne's real name was Marion I think Tarren can also be as manly.

I love music, especially the kind that really talks about life and the lessons we learn (or should anyway) as we live. I found this today and I think it will be Tarren's theme.
A Stone's Throw From the Soul by Mary Black.
Listen to it here.
Read the lyrics here.

Tarren (Tarrin, or Tarran)

Well, I did a little more research and found that convention says Tarren is a girl's name. It means "from the knoll" when used as a name. The word itself means "rock" or "hill." Okay. So Tarrin is a boy's name and means "Earthman." Tarran means "thunder" and is also masculine.

Okay. So should I change the spelling or, ....
honestly, I don't care.

Calming Signals

The full title is On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by trainer and behaviorist Turid Rugaas.

"The vacuum cleaner makes this dog feel threatened. She lies down in order to indicate her discomfort at being in this situation." Uh, right. If a dog is uncomfortable it's going to lie down and rest.

"Scratching is often the dog's way of showing stress." Couldn't be 'cause it has an itch.

Other signals a dog is feeling emotionally stressed and threatened and is trying to calm itself or another down include panting, yawning and licking their own muzzle.

Give me a break.

words to live by

"Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that made you smile."

I can't find the author but I think it must be a dog.

Tarren stacked

Few things cuter than a puppy

My friend and mentor Kim Shira (see link over there) has two litters. One litter has been old enough for kids to socialize. Kim has taken a shine to my girls. (I can't say I blame her- I'm kind of keen on them myself.)

We've been over twice now. I'm waiting for video to get ready as Thomas has a new toy but the following are stills I'm particularly fond of.




Are you coming home with me? I think you are, yes, I do!!