February 29, 2012

OLIVER

August 12, 1999 (ish) - February 28, 2012

This is my beautiful baby boy, he came into our lives August 12, 2006, as a rescue from the Edmonton Kennel Club.  When I went to look at the dogs, he chose me and it was love at first sight for both of us.  I had to go to an acreage in Stony Plain, and got lost coming home, we had a lot of bonding time that day. He was found wandering on the Devon Freeway skin and bones, which is hard to believe when he tipped the scales at 106lbs.  I don't even try to figure out what happened to him, it just breaks my heart.
He was a pure bred English Lab and a true gentleman.  He was named after my all time favorite actor, Oliver Reed, who when sober was also the ultimate gentleman.  Everyone that met him loved him instantly.  He was the favorite in the Mill Creek ravine, and when he could no longer walk that far, everyone asked about him.

The first time we took him off leash at Mill Creek Ravine, he headed directly to the water, in fact he did the perfect drive off a small embankment right into the creek, any given day, any weather he could be found in the creek, taking a huge drink of creek water and then kaking it up. It made people laugh and said he sounded like a big seal.

He was the perfect dog. although he did have his health issues, he contracted Cushing's  a few years ago and beat that, then his ligaments in both back legs went and although we had to carry him in and out, once he got in or out he was one happy puppy.  He did what I called his bunny hop when I came home from anywhere, and of course almost unscrew his tail he was just so happy to see me. And don't even get me started on those big lovable lab ears.....

He has been to Jasper Park Lodge twice, and to Tofino.  I was so excited for him to see the ocean, he ran right into it and tried to drink it.  That was the end of the ocean for that puppy.  And if you don't think a dog can make a face, you are so wrong!  He was happy just to walk on the beach and smell all the smells and dig in the seaweed.

When the neighbours got chickens he was so excited, we would go over and feed them once in a while and he was quite at home with them.  He loved horses and always got nose to nose with them, and for the first little while when we got him, he would want to jump into almost any pick up truck, which leads me to believe that he may of been an acreage dog.

He loved his stockings at Christmas and couldn't wait to get at them, there was always toys and treats in them.  On his 10th birthday he even got a bbq'd steak,  It was the toughest piece of meat I have ever seen, but not according to him, he would get burgers when we were making them. And then there was the magic fence.  Our other neightbours would always make sure that he got treats hot off the grill and sometimes they just would cook a hot dog just for him, on the rare occasions that he would leave the yard you could count on him being next door.

He was one spoiled rotten dog, but I truly believe that is why God gave us dogs.  There is a reason the dog spelled backwards is God!
He went fast and I hope he didn't suffer, I was with him to the end, whispering in his ear and telling him how much I love him and what a brave good boy he is.

Thanks so much to the wonderful vets and staff at The Edmonton Holistic Clinic. They truly loved my Oliver and gave him the best treatment.

My beautiful baby boy, I love you so much and you are always in my heart, and I really didn't think I had this many tears in my body.

Oliver, you chose me and I know that you will choose my next dog for me, but please not too soon.
Good bye sweet dog...........

February 25, 2012

As look out of my office window and watch the snow and thinking about all the shoveling I have to do later, Oliver is sleeping my chair dreaming of just getting outside and rolling around in it.  Oh the life of a dog!  Not that I would ever not want my Oliver, I remember a time when the back yard was pristine and only bunny tracks were to be seen, no longer, bunnies don not even come to visit.  However I am sure that Mr. Oliver would not have clue what to do with them, they still give the yard a wide berth.  But looking out and seeing the snow all packed down and a few pee and poo spots seems to be much better.

So in honor of this snowing day I am sharing a few pictures of Oliver enjoying the winter!

 My favorite thing to do in the snow!!!!

I could just kiss this sweet face forever and a day

February 18, 2012

Did you know that it is absolutely impossible to throw popcorn?  And I know you really want to know how I possibly know this, I was having a lazy day later this afternoon, just poured a glass of wine and settled down with a bowl of popcorn and a new book. Oliver, as usually wants anything that even remotely looks like food, being far to lazy to actually get up I just lob a kernel his way.  I am suspecting that you may know the rest, it doesn't exactly land anyway in the vicinity of his open mouth, but bounces off his big cute nose and then he can't find it. Thinking that this was just my fault I try again, nope, popcorn is just not meant to fly.  So now I shift position and he almost surgically removes my fingers in his attempt to gobble up the popcorn. BIG memo to file, open palm when feeding non throwing food:)

Another big memo to file is that a tattoo on the top of your foot hurts like crazy even after a week, but since it is my Ollie paw print I can put up with the pain. Anyone that ever tells you it doesn't hurt is a) a big fat fibber, or b) has never had one done there.  And do you know how many times that foot gets stepped on by the biggest dogs you have ever met?  Hundreds.

Happy day after Valentines Day.  I worked all day yesterday, but my Valentine came through with dinner.  It was his signature dish of pork chops in a mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes. So yummy and so easy, and bonus there is enough leftover for tonight's dinner.  Yahoo!  This is the man that doesn't do Valentines Day!  Oliver gave his dad a card for the special day! Complete with paw print.

Today was a total me day.  Oliver and I, after a nail appointment, for me not Oliver, sat outside with tea and read for most of the afternoon.  Once the sun goes behind the big spruce in the yard it turns to winter again.  Laundry was supposed to on the agenda today, oh well there is always tomorrow now isn't there. You have to make hay while the sun shines!   My nieghbours  chickens were very vocal this afternoon, they act like they are the only hens in the world that actually lay an egg!  It it just too funny, and in the summer we have crows that can imitate them perfectly, it is so cool.  They hens are one way to us and the noise is coming from the other direction.

So another day off tomorrow, do not get two many days in a row off, but that is ok, because I love my job. Big fund raising on April 27th.  Between that fund raiser and the one for Pitbulls for Life I am very busy, but that is good also.

So off to warm up leftovers. Yahoo for leftovers. Are they not the best ever!

February 9, 2012

For my Oliver!   

 Just had this done yesterday, so it is a little red and swollen still.  I had been thinking about something along these lines for a long time, but wasn't quite sure where I wanted to put it.  I did some reading and found out the left foot is connected to your heart in reflexology, and I wanted it on my foot so he would be walking with me forever.

Now this isn't my first tattoo, but this is the one the hurt the most. There isn't a lot of fat on the top of your foot. The lettering was the worst, my reflexes kept jumping in, no pun intended, the artist, Bear, had to get someone to hold on to my leg.  This is taken from a picture I took of Oliver's paw print in the snow this year and as you can see it is life size.  This was taken on his very expensive Tempa-pedic dog bed.  Do you think he is a little spoiled?  I don't, I believe that is why God gave him to me was to spoil him rotten!

February 5, 2012

Well here it is three days after Groundhog Day, and admit it you watched the movie on Thursday:)  And Super Bowl weekend.  I am mourning the loss of my Sunday's, now that the NFL is over for another season.  My partner and his friends would go off to that  guy thing at the sports bar and do whatever it is that guys do on football Sundays. Now however he is home and Oliver and I have no more quiet time together.  Oh, well it is a short hop, skip and jump to golf.

We all got our vitamin D today and yesterday, I can't believe that I am sitting outside with normal clothes on and just a fleece and enjoying the sun in February!  A glass of vino and a book and what more could you ask for. Oliver is so much happier outside as all of us are.  His ears clear up faster and he is so much more alert.  But then nothing good ever lasts, and it is supposed to be -17 tonight, hope they are wrong with that forecast.

Started some tomato seeds today, I have decide instead of giving other people my hard earned money I will start my tomatoes and hot chilies.  We used to do this every year and every year our crop was wonderful. But laziness set in and how much easier is it to go to the farmers market and buy the ready made plant.  I will keep you posted, dear readers, on how the progress is, and perhaps even pictures.  We used to have cherry tomatoes that we started from seed grow to a height of 6 feet and give us cherries till the end of September, no word of a lie.  Surely to goodness if I can spin my own wool, I can certainly start seeds.

Well those of you that are awaiting the outcome of the Superbowl, I hope your team wins!  Who ever they may be.