woolythyme

saying goodbye---for now

2004?-2019

 

Hi, My Friends.

Freddy here.  (Well, not HERE here.)

 

I couldn't not come into this space at least one last time.

Last time I wrote...a long long time ago...I said I had so much to tell that I could write forever and ever and ever.  Well, THAT didn't happen!!, did it??  It was just that all I had to say wasn't much fun to talk about.  You see, I was diagnosed with something called degenerative myelopathy.  Last time I went to see my doctor (oh, how I LOVE LOVE LOVE ---OOPS, that's LOVED!!! ---my doctor) he told mom the old 'I have bad news and good news and worse news' story.   The bad news of course, was my diagnosis, the good news was I wouldn't be in any pain with it, and the worse news was there is no cure.

OK then.

So I went from 'click, click, click, click' (my toenails on our hardwood floors) to 'click, click, click, click' to 'click, click, click, drag' to 'click, click, click, d-r-a-g----thump' (me falling down).  This really was not fun.  I couldn't jump on the furniture anymore.  (At least I still had the vent!)  I had to do my doggie pre-wash when I could grab a lick here and there, because I couldn't climb into the dishwasher anymore. I could still rummage in a knitting bag, and I could still find a ballband now and then, but I mainly just shredded it.  Somehow, it just wasn't quite as tasty as it used to be.  Purses, though, were a different story!  Especially if they had chewing gum or chocolate in them (oh joy! oh joy!!).  Maybe I'll save that story for another time.

Going potty had been a bit hit and miss anyway before my diagnosis, but now I had to get up two---sometimes three---times a night and even then, I sometimes STILL used the pee pee pad, which as you may remember was strategically placed by the front door even though I always officially went potty out the back door.  One of my quirks.  It took a whole lot of 'click, click, click, drag----thumps' to get all the way to that spot but I hardly ever missed.  I pooped whereever I pleased.  Hey---give me a break.  Old people always talk about their bathroom habits.  Why should I be any different?  (And I know what you are wondering...most definitely, I still found my poop very very delicious.)

My last few days were 'click, click, drag, d-r-a-g---thump...will someone help me up?; I was not having any fun at all.

So, I had a very peaceful send off, and now I am residing in the hole I left in my mom's heart.  And, I'm still teaching her stuff.

As she gathered up my belongings...my bed, collar, leash, cookies, heart medicine (you did know I had a heart condition, too, right?  I sort of forgot about that, because I got THAT diagnosis years ago!!!), it became quite clear that I traveled on this earth very lightly, yet brought unending joy to all around me.  I really did lead a minimalist life.

People are the very most important things...not things.  

And---Memories are forever.

 

Forever yours,

FreddyDogYoung 

 

photoshoot....

Hi, my friends.

Freddy here.

I'm exhausted.  I just finished a photoshoot for my mom.  

I'm actually feeling just a tad piqued.  After my last post....I had a really bad fall outside.  (Mom was in the shower and missed all the drama.)  Dad had to pick me up; I was crying (and you know, I don't make many sounds....I'm the handsome, silent type), and I sort of messed all over myself.  When Daddy brought me inside....I messed all over myself again.  I was mortified.  But, I was hurting big time.  

I've rallied, though.  My back left leg isn't good at all.  I personally think I need a hip replacement, but I might be too old to tackle such a thing.  I just wish I could be more careful, but you know how excited you can get when there is the possibility of a cookie in your future.  And when you HAVE!TO!TRY!TO!JUMP!ON!THE!SOFA!OR!CHAIR!!!!  (but sometime miss).

Life goes on.

Mom finished the Kauni vest

She asked if I could give her a hand with the photoshoot.  I took a couple pictures of her shoes at first.  (I'm short.)  But I finally got on the sofa and did a pretty good job if I do say so myself.  

What do you think?

I'm ready for her to move on to a new project.

I ate the ballbands on this project years ago.

 

**************

Several people have said it is very difficult to comment now that we've  switched typepad platforms.  I think the easiest way to comment would be to make yourself a typepad account (which is free) and then use that as the comment platform.  I know a couple people have done that, and it seems to work just fine.  We love you for it.  Mom may stay pretty busy in the course of the day, but since I'm pretty much a stay-at-home-pup now....I truly live for your comments.  I read them all.

 

 

Aging.....

Hi, My Friends.

Freddy here.

FreddyDogYoung?  You remember me, don't you?

Some people thought that we weren't blogging anymore because of my untimely demise, but that's just not so.  Granted, I'm very very very old...probably entering my 15th human year which would be my 105th doggy year, so I guess one might call that old.  I'm not ready to call myself old, though...not yet.

I would like to think that I'm just a fountain of well-lived knowledge on aging.  

 

• Like....you don't need all your teeth.

I lost some teeth a few years ago.  But I still have the ones that are most important....the ones I use to open my Buddha-ball and to get treats.  I might not be able to open it quite as fast as in my youth, but I still win the prize most of the time.  I must have lost the teeth, though, that keep my tongue in my mouth, because I have trouble doing that now.  I know it's not my best look, but it's the current me-look, and I've gotten used to it.

• Speaking of 'looks'...

My hair is unruly and dry, my eyes are rheumy, and my body is covered with fatty tumors.  My muzzle is grey.  I think I look very mature, distinguished, and actually quite handsome compared to all those baby cockers who all look exactly the same.  I--on the other hand-- have character.  I think I look great.  Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...and having eyes that are riddled with cataracts helps.

• Actually, if you are 'speaking', I'm clueless, because I learned years ago that you don't need to hear to live a wonderful life.

I haven't missed a beat with a soundless world.  And the funny thing is....I still love to have my ears scratched and rubbed, so my ears are still serving a very important purpose in my life.  

• New topic.  Shall we talk about incontinence?

Let's not.  But believe me, you quickly find out how much you are loved when your world is magically transformed into a marvelous doggy assisted living space.  (I only make a mistake a couple times a week, so I'm not sure that I'm actually an expert on incontinence yet.  I'll keep you updated.  I do insist, though, on going out several times during the night to do my business.  It's that 'love-thing' going on again that keeps mom and dad up most nights.)

• Exercise

Exercise is very important for your well being at any age, but particularly as you get older.  I spend all day resting up for my hour or two of frenetic running through the house after dinner.  This is usually paired with a lively game of 'find-the-hidden-cookie'.  I've noticed lately that my running results in my back legs losing traction and giving out... resulting in massive slides that need a solid, immovable object to stop.  I've also found that sometimes as I'm leaping on the sofa or chair that I fall down.  Sometimes I don't have enough momentum built up and simply miss my target.  This does not stop me from exercising.  Mom is afraid a dislocated hip will stop me, but until that happens....I'm full speed ahead!!!

And finally...

• Memory

I'm a master of 'find-the-cookie' game and I never forget where one has been hidden in the past.  In fact, I'm pretty relentless if I don't find one where I KNOW one should be.  I'm doing my best to train my mom but she seems to be having some memory issues herself lately.

Last week she found 5 pairs of 'cheater' glasses in her purse.  At last look, four of those pairs have migrated to the bathroom.  Once I spotted her with a pair around her neck, a pair on top of her head, and a pair on her nose.  I'm a bit concerned. 

Some of us aren't aging nearly as well as I am.

 

Your friend,

FreddyDogYoung

new game in town....

Hi, My Friends.

Freddy here.

I have some good news to report.  My mom is knitting more again.

Wanna see?

Pressed leaves hat by Alana Dakos.  Verdure Mitts by Alana Dakos.  I think mommy likes Alana Dakos.

Birthday socks for her friend....who has already had her birthday.  (oops. That's what happens when you don't knit a bunch any more.)  Her friend is OK with it.  I know mommy's back to knitting, though, when this was going to be her 'travel' knitting, she's almost done with it, and she's not traveling for a few more weeks.  (I'm sort of in denial that the 'travel knitting' reference means I'm going to camp.)

Anyway....now that she's knitting more at night, she's not as OK with me begging for cookies incessantly from 6:30 until we go to bed. 

Especially since sometimes this look also means I have to go potty, and we all know that when I have to go these days, I!REALLY!MEAN!IT!!!!!!! I!HAVE!TO!GO!RIGHT!!NOW!!!! and the fact that I just went 5 minutes ago is totally immaterial.

Filling my buddha ball for me wasn't really giving her much knitting time because, remember, I'm sort of a genius at opening it.  I sometimes have it opened, have eaten the treat, and am back at my begging spot before she picks up her knitting.  I'm telling you.  I'm really GOOD at opening that thing!

So....now we're playing a new game!!!  It's called hide-and-seek.  Have you ever heard of it before?  Maybe?  Mommy hides my treats all over the den and I get to find them.  She tells me to hide my eyes, but I cheat sometimes.  And anyway, it's my nose that does the most work.  AND!I!LOVE!LOVE!!!LOVE!!!!!THIS!GAME!!!!!AND!I'M!!!REALLY!GOOD!AT!IT!!!!!

This was a particularly hard find.  I just knew there was a cookie back here someplace.

These dang magazines were in my way.

Man.  It's way back there.

HA!!!! GOT!IT!!!!!

I know what you're thinking.

No.  I don't clean up after myself.

 

Your friend.

FreddyDogYoung

nap-fort....

Hi, my friends.

Freddy here.

Yeah, I know.  I'm looking particularly adorable today, don't you think?

 

This is my latest nap-fort.  I have them all over the house.  To make a good one, you must seriously fluff pillows. Sometimes, if there are too many pillows, I have to toss a couple of them off the sofa/chair. BUT...sometimes they plop in just the right place!    Pillows are always part of a good nap-fort, but they can be very persnickety.  Be careful, because if you fluff too hard it makes a really really big mess.  (Ask me how I know.  Actually, don't ask.)

Here was my 4th of July nap-fort.

and here was one of my best tunnel/cave nap-forts...

So now you know.  Be creative.  The weekend is coming up.  

Have you planned your nap-fort, yet?

 

Your friend,

FreddyDogYoung

balls, balls, and more balls....

Hi, my friends. 

Freddy...finally here.

These sporadic posts are NOT!MY!FAULT!!!

I'd post every day.  I have so much to say, you know. But, computer accessibility is my problem.  Especially, when I GOT!STUCK!IN!CAMP!AGAIN!!!!!!

 

This is getting old. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love my camp counselors.  And the bunk room has an earthy smell that I adore.  It's just not home.  You get it, right?

So, I was reveling in the fact that I was home and feeling that all was right with the world, when I discovered WHY I was in camp.  I am not a happy (former) camper at the moment.

My people went off and spent time with....balls.

That's MY territory. Although currently I'm partial to balls that have treats in them, in my youth I actually chased a ball or two.  I know what they are and what they are for.   THEY!ARE!FOR!FUN!!!!  I like to have fun.

They went here.

And took one of my favorite people with them...instead of me.

(He plans to be famous someday, so he was practicing in front of the camera.)

They met some famous people...

O-M-G!!!

THAT'S!JENNY!FITCH!!!!!SHE'S!SO!BEAUTIFUL!!!!I!LOVE!HER!!!!!!  and just think that could have been ME she was giving a ball to.....(sigh).

And they saw famous friends...

My mommy knows his mommy...which makes us almost brothers; and he went to the same high school as my boy who was there ...and they are both left handed, which makes them almost TWINS! I.CAN'T.BELIEVE.I.MISSED.THIS.

It gets worse.

They got to play with balls.  I can't throw, but I could have chased them and brought them back.  (I don't do this at home, but I know I would have if I was THERE!!!)

 

And look at all those 'ball' people.  There's Jenny again!!!  (be still my beating heart!!!) and John Wall?!? who plays with basketballs, and that short guy? HE just talks about balls...and HEY?!?  What's Bill Dye, the science guy, doing there?!?  Really? 

And, to top it all off.  I missed a ball-related parade.

I'm so depressed, I think I'll just take a nap on the vent.....

maybe dream about...

 

 balls.

 

A good idea.....gone bad....

This is the BEST napping place in the whole wide world and it just happens to be in my very own living room. I can see my mom when she is at her computer....or, tilt my head, and I can see her in another room when she knits.   (There is another 'perfect place' on the other side of the room that looks into the dining room, but I don't use that as often.)  You might think that this is a sunny 'seasonal' perfect spot, but it's not. It blows cold in the summer......and HOT in the winter.  See?  I told you, it's PERFECT!!!!

So, why it took me so long to drag my favorite ball to it is a mystery.

I!LOVE!!MY!BUDDHA!BALL!!!!BECAUSE!IT!HAS!!

COOKIES!!!IN!IT!!!!

 

oops!  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

Mystery solved.

 

Your friend,

FreddyDogYoung

 

oh, the humiliation....

Hi.

Freddy here.

I'm sorry.  I just can't look at you all this morning.

The worst humiliation the next to the worst humiliation has happened.  

The pee pee pad has appeared.

Now, I suppose I might be less embarrassed if it was in the bedroom or the laundry room, but of course, that's where I sleep and eat, so I wouldn't dream of doing my business in those places.  My favorite fort in the world is under the dining room table, so that spot is out, too.  And my people spend too much time in the den for me to sneak anything under their eyes/nose.  That leaves the living room.  Right in front of the front door.  Everyone who rings our doorbell (we have a glass front door) now knows that I'm having a bit of a problem.  

Mommy wanted to take my picture, but I ran as fast as I could across it.  WHAT!IS!WRONG!WITH!HER?!?  

Doesn't she know that you never ever ever take a picture of something that is embarrassing to someone?  Never.

Never, mom, NEVER!  Bad, Mommy.

So when the most humiliating thing in the world happens to me (diapers)....you all will never know.

I hope.

 

Your embarrassed friend,

FreddyDogYoung

Happy 4th of July.....

Happy 4th.

Hope your day includes a nap.

Boom!

 

Your friend,

FreddyDogYoung

oops.....

Hi.

Freddy here.

You know that 'doing better, feeling fine' post of a couple days ago?  Might have been a bit premature. (oops)  Oh, I'm definitely feeling better, but I seem to have a little pee-pee problem that I've been covering up. I don't think it's really my fault.  I'm blaming it on my miracle meds. Man, do they make me thirsty!!!

I love antique patterned rugs, don't you?  We probably like them for different reasons.  One rug---my favorite, front and center in the living room---has apparently managed to cover up a myriad of my mistakes over the past couple weeks.  If I hadn't squatted right in front of mommy yesterday, my secret would still be safe, I'm sure.  Anyway, after she cleaned up my 'oops'....she yanked up the rug and low and behold, there was a giant black spot under my favorite spot!!!  What potent pee-pee I have!!!!  I was sort of proud. She almost cried.

My rug is now gone.  It was a very nice extra large one that had many many more unsullied areas just waiting for me to explore.  Several months' worth at the very least.

Now I'm getting hustled outside every hour or so.  And you know....I almost always can go!!!  I know someone (like daddy!!?!!.....when mom is gone) is going to forget this new schedule, so I'm scouting out my next convenient spot.  I can't decide if I like the old brown rug in the den (awfully close to most of the family activity so I'll surely get caught early on) or the red one in the kitchen (smaller...I'll have to be extra careful I position myself correctly) or another red one in mommy's computer room, or maybe the hand-knotted antique Turkish one they brought back from a trip.....

Gosh.  There are so many choices!!! 

Which one would YOU choose?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Your friend,

FreddyDogYoung